Even in the supposedly opened minded and “PC” time of 2016, the internet is still not the best place to be for a woman. From rape threats on Twitter, public shaming on Facebook, and overall female hate found in the dark corners of the internet, we have a long way to go in terms of gender equality. Despite this, all hope is not lost.
The internet giveth and the internet taketh away. For every website that sends feminism progress back a few decades, there is one that empowers the movement even more. Weeding through this junk is tough. Not to mention depressing. Hence, here are 10 feminist sites to get you started.
1. FEMINIST.COM
Feminist.com had humble beginnings in 1995 from a few women talking around a kitchen table in New York City. Seems like an episode of Seinfeld, yet it’s anything but. Since then, founder Gloria Steinheim created one of the most popular resources a feminist can find. The constantly growing website has a wealth of fresh columns, contributors, and spinoff sites. Whether you happen to be a student or a veteran of the cause, Feminist.com has something that everybody can learn from.
2. FEMINIST.ORG
Not to be confused with number 1, Feminist.org is the home website for the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF). The FMF was founded in 1987. Since then, it has become a leading organization dedicated to women’s equality, reproductive health, non-violence and more. FMF uses research and action to help women economically, politically and socially.
3. EVERDAY FEMINISM
According to the vision of Everyday Feminism, they want to live in a world where every single person is treated with respect. Seems like a wonderful cause. Yet, due to global abuse, people are often left alone or ignored as they struggle to define themselves. As a result, Everyday Feminism hopes to put an end to this by supporting individuals and groups who share their ideas of peace.
In addition, the site itself is an educational method for social and personal liberation. Since launching in 2012, Everyday Feminism has rapidly become one the more popular feminist sites in the world. Almost 4.5 million visitors from over 15 countries visit the site every month. Using their online magazine, they hope to speed up the progressive shifts taking place across the world. Because of their smart focus, it’s easy to see why feminists flock to this site.
4. FEMINIST STUDIES
Many important events happened in 1972. There was the Munich Olympics terrorist attack. Watergate, “The Godfather” and the birth of Feminist Studies. Feminist Studies was the first scholarly journal focused on women’s studies. Since then, it has remained a major source for groundbreaking news in feminism. The journal draws from both past and present while helping to raise important issues that have an effect on people worldwide.
Their issues contain groups of essays, activist’s output and creative work that attract many readers. Hence, many of the articles are based on feminism. Also, they welcome research from other sources. As their history shows, Feminist Studies is progressive. As a result, they continue to amaze readers with new ways to remain relevant for scholars and activists alike.
5. FEMINISM AND PSYCHOLOGY JOURNAL BLOG
Is it a journal or a blog? Neither, Feminism and Psychology is a journal blog. “Jog”, if you will. Since forming, it has become a place for healthy debate on all things feminism and psychology. The blog has become a popular place for feminism discussion on published works in their journal. Also, it offers a unique space for authors and readers to talk about other research.
Feminism and Psychology are also a friendly place to share news and events in the feminist community. Anyone is welcome to introduce their ideas and work on the blog. Additionally, they can enter larger conversations on feminism. In terms of intelligent and logical discussion, F&P is one of the best.
6. JEWISH WOMEN’S ARCHIVE: THE FEMINIST REVOLUTION
The Jewish Women’s Archive (JWSA) is a national group dedicated to collecting and sharing motivational stories of Jewish women. JWA looks at the past as a way to understand important issues regarding women and feminism. Furthermore, JWA uses Jewish women’s stories to create excitement for people to see themselves as a force of progress.
JWA is the world’s largest source on all things Jewish women. It attracts more than one million visitors a year looking for information, inspiration and a helpful feminist community. Additionally, JWA also hosts public programs, has it’s own fellowship and reaches out to an audience through a blog, podcast, and various social media outlets. It’s no wonder why JWA is a leading voice for feminism and Jewish women.
7. FEMINIST FREQUENCY
Feminist Frequency is a video series that looks at the image of women in pop cultures. Anita Sarkessian established the series in 2009. Since then, it has become a major resource for media literacy. As a result, it aims to help the media improve upon their works.
The media has always been guilty of misrepresenting women. Now, FF hopes to hold them responsible. The web series is a non-profit charity. All videos are found on YouTube, watch free of charge without ads. Yet, funding from these videos is possible through the donations of viewers interested in feminism.
8. FEMINISTING
For young people interested in Feminism, “Feministing” is a great resource. As a result, the site is a leading site that offers witty and informed feminist articles on everything from politics to pop-culture. Their diverse team of writers covers a wide range of feminist issues. Sexual violence on a college campus, reproductive justice and transgender rights are just a few of these.
Furthermore, Feministing serves as an intro to feminism for the global youth. With it, readers have a way to take meaningful action by connecting them with various groups and activists. Using this community, the work of feminist thinkings is elevated as their voice is heard from teens and organizations alike.
9. BITCH MEDIA FEMINIST MEDIA
First of all, don’t let the name fool you. Bitch Media is a nonprofit, independent media group dedicated to providing rich content for feminism. They’re best known for the magazine Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture. The popular zine was once sold out of a van in 1996. Since then, Bitch Media has made epic progress. Today, Bitch Media has a quarterly magazine, published online articles and weekly podcasts. They have their own library in Portland, Oregon and reach out to students and teachers through an on-campus program.
Most of all, Bitch Media is a new voice for modern feminists. They encourage difficult discussion and refuse to ignore the uncomfortable realities of our world. Their large audience keeps the talk unique and strong. Young readers just discovering feminism seem to flock to Bitch Media. Here, they will find a wealth of material regarding their personal discovery.
10. GEEK FEMINISM
As you may have found out, Geek Feminism is a blog that brings together geeks interested in feminism. The blog encourages discussions regarding women’s issues and other people in the geek communities (science, tech, gaming, SF fandom, etc.). As a result, though, this blog is a feminist space. All are welcome to discuss anything as long as it relates to feminism and geek stuff.
Well, there you have it. As you know, there are thousands of feminist resources out there to discover. This list of ten articles will hopefully show you a more hopeful side of the internet. It’s not all cat videos and reaction .gifs. The internet’s intention is for the healthy spreading of information. Consequently, stuff like this will create a greater global understanding. At least, we hope so. And that’s your speech for the day.
