BUST: For Women With Something To Get Off Their Chests

She The People Summit Propels Women of Color Into Politics

By Tessa Solomon In Feminism On Sep 18, 2018

It’s a historic year: a record 256 women are running for the House and Senate. Will this result in a record-breaking number of women elected? Democracy in Color president Aimee Allison believes success lies with women of color. “[Women of color] are the most progressive block,” Allison tells BUST in a phone interview. “We have the numbers to flip states blue. We are the potential that hasn’t been previously recognized.” Democracy in Color is a national political organization motivating what its founder, Steve Philips,… Read more

The First "Captain Marvel" Trailer Is Here, And We're Hopeful

By Tessa Solomon In Movies On Sep 18, 2018

We’ve waited through one decade and twenty movies for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to give us a female-led film. Well, the first trailer for March’s Captain Marvel is here, promising all the female badass-ery the beloved character deserves. When we meet Carol Danvers, played by Oscar-winner Brie Larson, she’s crashing into a Blockbuster. The movie is set in the mid-nineties, a prequel to the current MCU. There are some familiar (though digitally de-aged) faces: Samuel L. Jackson is a young, two-eyed Nick Fury. Rookie… Read more

Anita Hill Urges Senate Judiciary Committee Not To Repeat Their Mistakes With Christine Blasey Ford

By Lydia Wang In Feminism On Sep 18, 2018

This weekend, California professor Christine Blasey Ford spoke to The Washington Post about being sexually assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh when they were both high school students in the 1980s. Today, Anita Hill, the professor and attorney who accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment before he was ultimately confirmed in 1991, shared her thoughts on Kavanaugh and his upcoming hearings. “There is no way to redo 1991, but there are ways to do better,” Hill’s New York Times… Read more

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama Urge All Americans To Fight Back Against Trump

By Francesca Volpe In Living On Sep 18, 2018

As we draw closer to the midterm elections, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are pushing for all Americans to seriously consider our country's future. As the current administration deteriorates into more of a moral clusterfuck than anyone could have predicted, it’s becoming more difficult to keep track of core issues between all the information and Twitter distractions. As Clinton puts it in an op-ed, published on Sunday in The Atlantic, “I think that may be the point—to confound us, so it’s harder to keep our eye on… Read more

Stormy Daniels Gives Detailed Description Of Trump's VERY SAD Penis

By Francesca Volpe In Sex On Sep 18, 2018

Wow, Stormy Daniels has the best words. What I once considered to be a charming folklore relic has been reduced to being likened to Donald Trump’s junk. In her new tell-all memoir, Full Disclosure, Daniels stays true to the title’s promise and offers “salacious descriptions of her time with Donald Trump,” reports The Guardian, which obtained a copy of the book. In the book, Daniels colorfully describes Trump’s penis as “like a toadstool” with “a huge mushroom head.” I’ll never be able to watch "The Mushroom Dance"… Read more

How Do I Give A Blow Job Without Gagging?

By BUST Magazine In Sex On Sep 18, 2018

We're bringing you this Q&A from the Sex Files in our August/September 2018 print issue, featuring advice from sexologist Dr. Carol Queen. I have a super sensitive gag reflex and it makes it difficult to give blow jobs. I’ve read about different techniques and numbing spray. What would be a safe way to minimize my gagging? —Blow Job Queen I wouldn’t recommend numbing spray during sex and am not even sure this would do much good, since it’s not just the surface mucosa that’s responsible for gagging, and the spray… Read more

How Black Girl Magic Helped Me Dream Again

By Melissa Etienne In TV On Sep 18, 2018

Growing up, I was afraid of everything. And to this day, there are still fears that permeate my skin like needles with ink. The fear of driving on the highway, the fear of moving out of state, the fear of failing are all still there. As I look back on the exhausting 27 years of my life, I am thoroughly disappointed in myself. I have allowed all my fears to rule over me, and I have become someone I don’t believe I was meant to be. The summer after my first year of college, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the… Read more

Woody Allen and Judge Kavanaugh: Their Defenders and Accusers Speak Out

By Tessa Solomon In Feminism On Sep 18, 2018

Sunday evening, New York magazine published an interview (though we use the term "interview" loosely) with Soon-Yi Previn, Woody Allen’s wife of 20 years and the adoptive daughter of Allen's ex-girlfriend Mia Farrow. Throughout the piece, Soon-Yi accuses Mia Farrow of child neglect and abuse: Soon-Yi also says she and her adopted sisters were used as "domestics," while Farrow kept busy rearranging the furniture, ordering from catalogues, working on her scrapbooks, and talking to her friends on the phone. The abuses… Read more

6 Pieces of Jewelry Your Wardrobe Needs.. Maker Monday

By Katherine Martin In Blog On Sep 17, 2018

As we get closer to the BUST Craftacular at the World Maker Faire on September 22nd and 23rd, we wanted to share some of our favorite jewelry pieces by vendors that you can meet at the BUST Craftacular at the World Maker Faire on September 22nd and 23rd. Rectangle Hoopsby Polaris Jewelry, $38 How do you turn a passion project into a full-blown business? By making jewelry that never goes out of style! Designer and founder of Polaris Jewelry, Kaliska Sweetwater, hand solders delicate geometric jewelry that can be worn… Read more

The Real Betty Boop Was Whitewashed Out Of History

By F Yeah History In Feminism On Sep 17, 2018

Almost 90 years ago, Betty Boop first appeared in the 1930 cartoon Dizzy Dishes. Over the next few years, she’d transform from the anthropomorphic dog sidekick/girlfriend of leading man named Bimbo, to a woman who runs her own show. Decades later, she remains an icon, and a very profitable one at that! You can go almost anywhere in the world and pick up Betty Boop merch. Whether it’s a Betty Boop Red MAC lipstick, an emblazoned tee, or a $750 Boop-inspired Zac Posen dress. The Betty Boop business is still booming. But… Read more

Live As If Summer Will Lasts Forever With These 10 Vacay-Themed Accessories

By BUST Magazine In Style On Sep 17, 2018

In every issue of BUST's print magazine, Stephanie J. shares a roundup of her "good stuff." This issue's theme is Palm Beach. Shop these 10 vacay-themed accessories and trick yourself into thinking that summer will last forever. Go bananas for a personalized office tray. BANANA LEAF PETITE LUCITE TRAY, $43, BOATMANGELLER.COM Get an orange glow this summer. KARTELL FL/Y PENDANT, $355, ABCHOME.COM Piña coladas will be on point in this pineapple tumbler. PINEAPPLE TUMBLER, $35, UNCOMMONGOODS.COM Handmade trays for your… Read more

Dolly Parton And Sia Team Up In A Collaboration We Didn't Know We Needed

By Francesca Volpe In Music On Sep 14, 2018

The queen of country is teaming up with the queen of wigs. Dolly Parton and Sia have recorded a new rendition of Parton’s “Here I Am.” The song originally appeared on the album Coat of Many Colors, and NPR describes the new version as “a bit slower, as a gospel-infused statement of purpose.” The Parton/Sia version is featured on the soundtrack for Netflix’s Dumplin’. In addition to being the soundtrack’s executive producer, Parton contributed six new compositions, which were co-written and co-produced by Linda Perry.… Read more

5 Of Our Favorite Moments From New York Fashion Week

By Francesca Volpe In Style On Sep 14, 2018

For some, New York Fashion Week can be likened to a religious experience. I once overheard two women on the subway frantically whisper, “The shows are coming! Don’t you know? The shows are coming!” This cherished encounter will always be the most New York thing that’s ever happened to me. But I digress. In an industry known for embracing change and new ideas, fashion is helping lead the way when it comes to social activism. As the political climate attempts to silence the voices and basic right of individuals,… Read more

21 Female And Femme Music Artists To Listen To Immediately

By Alex Vasquez In Music On Sep 14, 2018

With so much incredible new music surfacing each day, we owe it to our ears to take a look around every once in a while. Peruse this list of 26 female and femme-lead projects, and for more, check out our previous list of 21 female-fronted bands. 1. Parisalexa Latest Release: Flexa (2018) Seattle-based rapper Parisalexa enchants with beautiful R&B-pop fusion tracks, hitting all the right curves with a liquid-smooth voice and flow backed by tight production that just manages to keep up with her brilliance. 2. Sapphic… Read more

Nightlife Legend Murray Hill Dishes To The "Poptarts" Podcast About Collaborating With Pee-Wee Herman On His New Show!

By Emily Rems In Poptarts On Sep 14, 2018

Murray Hill is a New York City nightclub pioneer who emerged out of the underground drag scene of the 1990s. A comedian and variety show host in the shticky tradition of ’60s borscht belt and Vegas comics of yore like Don Rickles and Dean Martin, he is a performer New York Magazine named “One of the 50 Most Iconic Gender Benders of All Time,” PAPER declared “One of the Top 10 ‘It’ Boys in NYC Nightlife History,” and BUST celebrated as one of our special “Boys du Jour.” These days, Murray is setting aside his usual… Read more

"Lizzie" Retells The Lizzie Borden Story With A Feminist Twist—But Doesn't Quite Work

By Erika W. Smith In Movies On Sep 14, 2018

On August 4, 1892, Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother were brutally murdered with an axe. Lizzie was arrested, charged with murder, and acquitted—and we, as a culture, have been obsessed with her story ever since. The new thriller Lizzie, directed by Craig William Macneill and starring Chloë Sevigny as Lizzie Borden and Kristen Stewart as the Bordens' maid Bridget, joins many modern retellings of the LIzzie Borden story—recently Lifetime's 2014 TV movie Lizzie Borden Took An Axe and 2015 miniseries the Lizzie Borden… Read more

Pussy Riot Says Member Pyotr Verzilov Was Poisoned

By Alex Vasquez In Feminism On Sep 14, 2018

Pussy Riot member Pyotr Verzilov has been brought to the toxicology intensive care unit of a Moscow hospital under suspicion of poisoning. The punk feminist band took to Twitter to announce, “Our friend, brother, comrade Peter Verzilov is in reanimation. His life is in danger. We think that he was poisoned.” Pussy Riot and other activist speculate that the poisoning is government-orchestrated backlash for the band’s frequent protests of Putin, CNN reports. Verzilov's partner and fellow Pussy Riot member Veronika… Read more

"The Bookshop" Has Promise, But Ultimately Falls Flat

By Samantha Ladwig In Movies On Sep 14, 2018

Forty years after its release, fans of Penelope Fitzgerald’s acclaimed novel The Bookshop are finally getting the opportunity to see it on the big screen. But don’t get too excited. Despite following the novel almost exactly, the adaption’s not that great. Directed by Isabel Coixet—the woman responsible for hit films like Learning to Drive, The Secret Life of Words, and My Life Without Me—The Bookshop follows Florence Green (Emily Mortimer), a widow in search of fulfillment during the late 1950s. After arriving in a… Read more

Artist Patricia Fox Loves Dressing "Age Inappropriate"

By BUST Magazine In Style On Sep 14, 2018

In our Fashion Nation series, we talk to people about their sense of style. Patricia FoxArtist New York, New York Tell me about this outfit.Nothing matches and everything goes, that’s how I refer to my sensibility. This is a color story. I’m wearing a vintage muumuu dress. The colors are magical and complement the vintage striped coat—it’s Boutique Loungewear New York and I find that loungewear is fabulous for daywear. I designed the headpiece and it’s made out of antique ribbons, hand-sewn by Carli Beardsley, a… Read more

President Trump Can Stop Pretending to Care About Puerto Ricans

By Tessa Solomon In Feminism On Sep 13, 2018

Researchers at The George Washington University have formally raised the death toll from Hurricane Maria to 2,975 from the initial estimate of 64. The Puerto Rican government has officially accepted this number. President Trump, however, disagrees. Thursday morning, he tweeted, “3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to… Read more

Dr. Leana Wen Is Named Planned Parenthood’s New President

By Lydia Wang In Feminism On Sep 13, 2018

Yesterday, Planned Parenthood announced its new president: Baltimore commissioner of health Dr. Leana Wen, who will take over as soon as Cecile Richards, the health organization’s president since 2006, steps down from the position. Wen will be the first doctor to hold the job in 50 years, reported Rewire News. Wen, who was born in China and moved to Compton, CA with her family following the Tinanmen Square massacre, has always been passionate about health equity. The New York Times wrote that Wen grew up with Medicaid,… Read more

Revolve Releases, Then Pulls Lena Dunham-Designed "Being Fat Is Not Beautiful" Sweatshirt

By Alex Vasquez In Feminism On Sep 13, 2018

In the latest misguided attempt at subversive clothing, Revolve released—and then removed—a capsule collection of sweatshirts designed by LPA and Lena Dunham in a collaboration. The sweatshirts were branded with misogynistic remarks left to different celebrities over Instagram. The quotes were seemingly pulled directly from the comments sections of photos posted by different celebrities involved in the project. In small font beneath the large letterings are citations showing who the insults were said to. One sweater… Read more

"Designing Women" Creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason Says Les Moonves Stalled Her Career

By Lydia Wang In Feminism On Sep 13, 2018

As of September 9, Leslie “Les” Moonves will be stepping down from his role as the CEO of CBS Corporation, and it’s about time. Since July, 12 women have come forward with accusations that Moonves sexually harassed them in the workplace, and though their experiences varied, they all said he used his power to hurt their careers, according to Ronan Farrow for The New Yorker. Another 30 employees at CBS said Moonves created a hostile work environment, one where men accused of sexual misconduct received promotions and… Read more

Week Of Women: September 14-20, 2018

By Erika W. Smith In Entertainment On Sep 13, 2018

This weekend brings us two women-led thrillers; a new song by Mariah Carey; and, of course, the Emmys. MOVIES Lizzie The story of Lizzie Borden gets a feminist twist in this adaptation directed by Craig William Macneill and starring Chloe Sevigny and Kristen Stewart. Premieres Friday, September 14. Review forthcoming on BUST.com. A Simple Favor Bridesmaid and Ghostbusters director Paul Feig takes on a mystery thriller this time. Anna Kendrick stars as a mommy blogger determined to solve the disappearance of her wealthy… Read more

Kate Harris' "Lands Of Lost Borders: A Journey On The Silk Road" Is A True Adventure Book

By Hilary Oliver In Books On Sep 13, 2018

Kate Harris’s memoir of cycling the length of the Silk Road from Turkey to the Himalaya succeeds in becoming a rare thing—a true adventure book by a woman. Not that women going on great adventures and writing about them are rare. But often their tales are wrapped in an additional plot: A breakup. A recovery. A great quest for true, inner self. Which are all important, legitimate stories in themselves, of course. But sometimes it feels that adventure for adventure’s sake is still considered the territory of men. One of… Read more

How "To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before" Gave Me Hope After A Breakup

By Elly Belle In Movies On Sep 13, 2018

“The more people that walk into your life, the more they can just walk right out,” Lara Jean Covey says in a scene from To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, explaining why she doesn't want to take a chance on love in real life, instead of inside her head. In the new Netflix movie adapted from the Jenny Han novel of the same name, we follow the story of teenage hopeless romantic Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor). Lara Jean is a rising junior in high school who, through the course of her life, has accumulated love letters… Read more

This 90-Year-Old Photographer Is An Avante-Garde Instagram Queen

By BUST Magazine In Arts On Sep 13, 2018

It’s hard not to picture an indulgent Insta #THOTTIE when you hear the phrase “selfie queen.” But in Japan, a hilarious (and sometimes hilariously morbid) 90-year-old photographer named Kimiko Nishimoto is gaining a social media following any millennial would envy. Her most popular self-portraits on Instagram (@kimiko_nishimoto) are also her most maudlin: crushed by a wayward vehicle; levitating while making alms to dead relatives; bagged on the street with the week’s recycling. Nishimoto’s satirical take on death and… Read more

FREE GIVEAWAY: Win A Pair of Weekend Passes to World Maker Faire NYC

By BUST Magazine In Sponsored On Sep 12, 2018

The BUST Craftacular returns to the World Maker Faire NYC on Saturday and Sunday, September 22nd and 23rd, for the 9th consecutive year, and we've got a pair of weekend passes to give away (valued at $147)! Known as the "greatest show-and-tell on Earth," Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly event attracting over 95,000 visitors. Makers from all over the world will be presenting, across multiple stages, focusing on health and technology and the latest developments in microelectronics, 3D printing, wearable… Read more

Morocco Officially Bans Sexual Harassment And Assault

By Lydia Wang In Feminism On Sep 12, 2018

As of today, acts ranging from street harassment to rape are officially criminalized in Morocco. Al Jazeera reports that the decision, dubbed the Hakkaoui law in honor of Minister of Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development Bassima Hakkaoui, not only provides an official definition of sexual harassment, but outlines fines ranging from $200 to $1,000 and prison sentences up to five years for threatening, coercing, and assaulting women. Back in early August, France pushed forward a similar law, but Morocco’s… Read more

Three Intriguing 19th-Century Dog Tales

By Mimi Matthews In Living On Sep 12, 2018

Here, I bring you three separate, but equally intriguing, dog anecdotes from the 19th century. The first involves a Scottish Terrier and a lady’s white petticoat. The second involves a Bulldog and a surgeon. And the third and final tale gives us a little insight into the professional and working class souls of 19th century canines. The Scottish Terrier and the PetticoatMr. Liang, who was steward to General Sharp of Houston, near Uphall in Scotland, had a terrier dog. This particular little dog was well known for his… Read more

40 Years of Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights”

By Joanna McNaney Stein In Music On Sep 12, 2018

A phenom for her time, Kate Bush debuted her first album The Kick Inside in 1978, when she was just 19 years old. This year marks the 40th anniversary of its release and our introduction to one of the most wildly unique performers of our time. Bush was not only one of the first British singer-songwriters to blend performance art and choreographed dance together (now categorized as “art rock”), but she was also the first female artist to reach #1 on the UK charts for her single “Wuthering Heights.” The track remains… Read more

How To Arrange Flowers, Freakebana-Style

By BUST Magazine In DIY On Sep 12, 2018

Freakebana (a name coined last year by an editor at The Cut and pronounced freak-eh-ba-na) is the mutant stepsister of ikebana, the Japanese art of arranging flowers. Ikebana dates back to the sixth century and utilizes natural objects that you can find in your vicinity, like rocks, branches, seedpods, and blooms. It’s more about letting the flowers do their thang as opposed to arranging them in a meticulous way like most mainstream Western bouquets. While ikebana highlights minimalism and balance, freakebana’s primary… Read more

4 Highlights From a Historic Night At the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys

By Tessa Solomon In TV On Sep 11, 2018

The 70th Creative Arts Emmy Awards was this past weekend, celebrating the unsung heroes of TV –production, editing, producing– alongside the celebrities. Though the Emmy Awards are still a weekend away, the Creative Arts was packed with historic moments: titles won, ceilings shattered, minorities represented, stereotypes-slayed with a fabulous dress (and dominatrix-worthy boots). Here are the highlights we're still talking: Image via NBC 1. Black Actors Make History Tiffany Haddish, Ron Cephas Jones, Samira Wiley, and… Read more

5 Earthy Gifts for Your Down-To-Earth Girl

By Katherine Martin In Style On Sep 11, 2018

If you're looking for a gift for a friend who loves everything natural, organic, and handcrafted, look no further. We're going to be featuring a ton of artists at BUST's Craftacular at World Maker Faire on September 22 and 23—you can learn more about the event here—and these are just a few of our favorite vendors who will be selling handmade soaps, jewelry, spices, and more. Check 'em out: The Activated Joe made with tea tree essential oils, activated charcoal soap and more. $16 1. Give Soap Give Soap is a company… Read more

Viola Davis On The Hollywood Wage Gap: "We Don't Get Paid What Caucasian Women Get Paid"

By Lydia Wang In Feminism On Sep 11, 2018

In her recent Variety cover story, Viola Davis talked her upcoming thriller, Widows, and her iconic role on How to Get Away With Murder. But she also took the opportunity to shed light on some of the more serious issues going down in Hollywood—including the pay gap. While actresses like Michelle Williams and Claire Foy have made recent headlines for receiving lower salaries than their male costars, Davis noted that we don’t talk about how women of color earn significantly less than white women in the entertainment… Read more

This Sex Toy Might Make Cis, Straight Men Less Shitty

By Sarah C. Epstein In Sex On Sep 11, 2018

There’s a design revolution going on in cis women’s sex toys. Gone are the days where neon-colored, animal-shaped vibrators, or dildos lifted straight from porn-star dicks, flooded the market. Now, pleasure devices come in all shapes, sizes, and materials: designers are increasingly creating products based on vulvar anatomy, and shying away from phallic imagery. These new toys look like everything from emojis to cupcakes to miniature Pixar robots. While these changes make sex toys more accessible to cis women (and,… Read more

"Rage Becomes Her" Validates Women's Anger—And Tells Us How To Use It For Good

By Crystal Erickson In Books On Sep 11, 2018

It’s an easy time to be a mad woman in Trump’s America, from reproductive politics to “grab her by the pussy” and everything in between—catcalling, harassment, intimate partner abuse, rape, diet culture, the wage gap, motherhood...the list goes on and on. Whether we hide it from the world or shout it from our laptops, the anger never goes away, and finding peace of mind seems basically impossible when faced with the problems women endure. So what do you do with all that pent-up anger? In Rage Becomes Her: The Power of… Read more

This Workshop Teaches People Of All Genders The Art Of Drag

By BUST Magazine In Style On Sep 11, 2018

I’ve been obsessed with drag for as long as I’ve known it existed. I remember watching The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert as a tween and loving it. So when I found out that one of my favorite local New Orleans performers, Vinsantos, offered a program that would teach anyone the art of drag, I was in. I enrolled in Cycle 2 of the New Orleans Drag Workshop in 2014 (Cycle 8 is about to start), along with 11 gay men and one other woman. The eight-week program is free, but you have to apply and prove you’re… Read more

Serena Williams' Defeat At The US Open Leads To Questions Of Double Standards

By Tessa Solomon In Feminism On Sep 11, 2018

On Saturday, the women’s final of the United States Open ended in tears, outrage, and a question of tennis’ double standards. Returning to the court after a perilous birth, and hoping to claim a record-tying 24th major singles title, Serena Williams was soundly defeated by 20-year-old Naomi Osaka. The win by Osaka is historic; she is the first tennis player born in Japan to claim the title. But the milestone seems fated to be overshadowed by the confrontations between Williams and umpire Carlos Romas. It began with a… Read more

Olivia Munn Spoke Out About A Sex Offender In Her Movie "Predator"—And Got No Support From Her Co-Stars

By Francesca Volpe In Feminism On Sep 10, 2018

The latest news regarding Shane Black’s reboot of 20th Century Fox’s Predator franchise gives the film’s title a more sinister meaning. On September 6th, The Los Angeles Times reported that the studio cut a scene featuring Olivia Munn and Steven Wilder Striegel, a longtime friend of Black. After filming, Munn discovered that Streigel is a registered sex offender: in 2010, Striegel pleaded guilty to risk of injury to a child and enticing a minor by computer in response to allegations of his attempts to seduce a… Read more

What Is A Saturn Return? Learn The Meaning Of This Astrological Phenomenon

By Lisa Stardust In Living On Sep 10, 2018

As children, we were asked, “What do you want to do with your life when you grow up?” As teens and young adults, we may jump from major to major and profession to profession in reckless pursuit of our true identity, as we try to find the ideal fit. After 28 years of this, Father Time knocks on our door, asking us, “Who do you want to be now that you’ve grown up?” Now that we are no longer children, in the eyes of the cosmos, the journey towards finding our truest identity begins—with some growing pains. This… Read more

Henry VIII's Third Wife Jane Seymour Was Much Less Boring Than You Think

By F Yeah History In General On Sep 10, 2018

The third of Henry VIII’s wives, Jane Seymour, is mainly remembered as the one that Henry liked the most (which is kind of damning with faint praise) and erm…that’s kind of it. She’s sort of seen as the wet flannel of his wives. Nice and mainly inoffensive, but…well, she had a reputation as boring. BUT that couldn’t be more wrong, you see: Jane Seymour was a wily motherfucker. And I mean that in the best way possible. Prepare to have all your perceptions of Jane smashed! So before we get cracking, let's have a quick… Read more

Kavanaugh Says Birth Control Is "Abortion-Inducing Drugs"

By Francesca Volpe In Feminism On Sep 07, 2018

Once again, a conservative white man wants to set up camp in women’s uteruses. On the third day of Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Democrats urged him to explain his stance on abortion rights. In response to a question from Texas senator Ted Cruz, Kavanaugh casually referred to contraceptives as “abortion inducing drugs,” The Cut reports. Cruz’s question was in regards to Priests for Life, a case in which a religious organization objected to the part of the Affordable Care Act that required employers… Read more

How To Make Your Own Altar

By BUST Magazine In Living On Sep 07, 2018

I’ve been building altars for as long as I can remember—of course, I didn’t realize back in 1999 that my nightstand covered in journals, a dozen Tamagotchi keychains, love letters to Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and pieces of jade (it is my name, after all) counted as one. That’s the beauty of an altar: it’s an aesthetic manifestation of what you want it to be, look, and feel like—there are no rules. Defined simply, an altar is a sacred place one can decorate, visit, and meditate on. If you want to sit at your… Read more

Multilevel Marketing Companies Sell False Hope To Women

By Farrah Alexander In Feminism On Sep 07, 2018

Hey girl! I can’t wait to share this exciting business opportunity with you… If you’re a woman on any social media platform, you’re probably familiar with these messages. You get a notification from a friend—even if it’s a casual friend, like someone you attended high school with, or someone you were in a book club with five years ago— and they have an amazing business opportunity to share with you. Their social feed is flooded with dollar signs, “boss babe” hashtags, and photos of products they know you’ll just love.… Read more

The Legacy Of "The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill," 20 Years Later

By Rodricka Foreman In Music On Sep 07, 2018

Drake’s “Nice for What” is the biggest hit of the summer. The single has been on the Billboard Hot 100 for weeks. “Care for me, care for me, I know you care for me! There for me, there for me! Said you'd be there for me! Cry for me, cry for me! You said you'd die for me! Give to me, give to me! Why won't you live for me?” These are the lyrics to the chorus of this summer’s hit with a New Orleans bounce influence. With New Orleans’ very own Big Freedia’s voice at the beginning of the song and throughout, this is one hit… Read more

How Burt Reynolds Became Cosmo’s First Male Centerfold

By BUST Magazine In Living On Sep 07, 2018

Helen Gurley Brown recalled that she was “taking a bath or making a sandwich or something like that,” when the thought occurred to her, “Why don’t we put a picture of a naked man in Cosmo? Wouldn’t that be fun?” It was the early 1970s; she had taken over the reins of the nearly century-old Cosmopolitan magazine in 1965 and turned it into a publication for the kind of kicky, career-oriented, sexually adventurous, unmarried woman she’d described in her 1962 bestseller Sex and the Single Girl. Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood,… Read more

Vaginal Eggs Cost Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop A $145,000 Settlement

By Tessa Solomon In Sex On Sep 06, 2018

A legal reckoning has finally come for Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle company, Goop—in the form of a $145,000 settlement, reports The Guardian. Investigations by the California Food, Drug, and Medical Device Task Force into three products by Goop, including two now-infamous vaginal eggs, found the products made unsubstantied scientific claims. Goop claimed the vaginal “eggs”—made of jade or quartz—increased bladder control, regulated menstrual cycles, balanced hormones, and prevented uterine collapse. Along with two eggs,… Read more

Week Of Women: September 7-13, 2018

By Erika W. Smith In Movies On Sep 06, 2018

This week in feminist-friendly entertainment brings us a new Netflix rom-com, this one starring Shannon Purser; the premiere of Emmy Rossum's final season of Shameless; and a buzzed-about debut novel by Wayétu Moore. MOVIES Sierra Burgess Is A Loser Shannon Purser (Stranger Things, Riverdale) stars in this teen rom-com directed by Ian Samuels and based on the classic French play Cyrano de Bergerac. Out Friday, September 7 on Netflix. Read our interview with Shannon on BUST.com. I Am Not A Witch Zambian-Welsh filmmaker… Read more

India's Supreme Court Revokes Colonial-Era Ban On Gay Sex

By Alex Vasquez In Feminism On Sep 06, 2018

A huge win for gay rights was achieved on Thursday when India’s Supreme Court revoked one of the world’s oldest bans on consensual gay sex, ending a years-long ongoing legal battle over jurisdiction conceived during the country’s colonial past, The New York Times reports. In their decision, India’s chief justice Dipak Misra described the British-colonial-era law, Section 377, as “irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary." “We have to bid adieu to prejudices and empower all citizens,” Misra said in court. The… Read more