Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Not Beautiful
Working in an industry that makes women feel insecure about their looks, the writer, a former celeb makeup artist, reflects on her role on our collective self-esteem, and her own self-scrutiny.
First Person
I Didn’t Just Fall Down the Stairs
Janay Palmer is not ready to share her story yet, and she may never. But she has inspired other women to, like this writer, who suffered at the hands of an ex 20 years ago.
In Despair, Time Is Endless
When she lost her twin sister to a drug overdose, the writer became overwhelmed with the need to die. And tried in vain to satisfy that need.
Is Failure the Secret to Success?
As this writer knows, a seemingly harmless slight from an authority figure as a kid can undermine your confidence as an adult. But she’s working on getting over it.
I Just Can’t Quit You
Breaking up has always been hard to do for this writer. But she's finding the most painful one of all isn't with a lover—but the city where it all happened.
I Was an Invisible Woman
The formerly Hasidic writer used to be covered from head to toe when she went out in public. Then she uncovered her true self.
I’ll Tell You Why I’ve Been Mistrustful of Cops Since Childhood
Eric Garner is just the latest casualty. This writer, a black upper-middle-class woman, has been stalked by law enforcement since she was a little girl. You can probably guess why.
My Mother Showed Me How to Hit the Jackpot
Our columnist was taught that vacations with friends are the key to a healthy adulthood. What better way to honor her mom’s memory than to go to Vegas with her three BFFs?
“I Don’t Want to Be a Girl”
A young girl’s questions about the Boko Haram abductions reveal an increasing consciousness of a misogynist world. How can her mother—a survivor of kidnapping and abuse—respond?