Women in the News: Positive Online Content

After writing a response to Matt Forney in defense of female self-esteem, I felt the need to lift my spirits and seek out some positive feminist media online, just to prove that it’s not all bad. My search certainly proved worthwhile. Here’s the best of what I found:

1. Wonderly: The Internet can sometimes be a difficult space for women, as countless statistics show that women are more likely to be harassed online than are men. Wonderly was created with this problem in mind, and has built an online community that supports female content creators.

2. Allies of Feminists: In a recent video, Liam Dryden, a long-time YouTuber, adds his voice to the discussion of women on the Internet. Dryden makes a point of saying that he is not attempting to speak on behalf of women; rather, he is showing his support. I hope this becomes a trend among men.

3. No Such Thing As Blurred Lines: A feminist rewrite of the song “Blurred Lines” called “Defined Lines.” It doesn’t get much better than this.

4. A Dad’s Letter To His Daughter: This heartfelt piece sends a great message to all girls who are struggling to find a good guy. As this father says, “the only thing you should have to do to ‘keep him interested’ is be you.”

5. Positive Body Image: “Happy, healthy, comfortable: the three things you need to be.” Carrie Hope Fletcher—a YouTuber of about two years—addresses the issue of body image in one of her recent videos. Recognizing that many girls struggle to feel good about themselves due to external pressures, Carrie takes her measurements to show that girls should feel comfortable in their own skin. Watch the video below!

6. Real Princesses: Artist David Trumble sketched ten women role models in the new Disney princess style, complete with tiny waists and plenty of glitter. His message is that not all women should be represented as dainty and sparkly, because real-life heroines are all unique.

7. Feminist Pop Music: Lily Allen’s new song “Hard Out Here” addresses so many problems that women face: objectification, traditional gender roles, body image…and this lady is not afraid to tell it like it is. Plus, it’s super catchy. Here’s some of my favorite lines:

“You’ll find me in the studio and not in the kitchen”
“Don’t need to shake my ass for you ‘cause I’ve got a brain”
“If I told you ‘bout my sex life, you’d call me a sl*t/When boys be talking about   their b*tches, no one’s making a fuss”
“You should probably lose some weight/’Cause we can’t see your bones”

• powerful women