I think we can all agree that we’re at least a little guilty of spending too much time procrastinating by watching YouTube videos. (How can you not when there’s videos like this one, of a cat trying to lick a vacuum cleaner.) So while you’re on a YouTube procrastinating binge, why not check out a couple of these amazing female vloggers? Along with being talented and hilarious, these women often use their YouTube platform to talk about issues like feminism, race, sexuality, etc. There are a ton of women online who are both entertaining and informative (and don’t always get the attention they deserve), but here are just a few of my personal favorites!
1. Franchesa Ramsey (chescaleigh)
Franchesca is a YouTube vlogger, graphic designer, and curator for upworthy.com. One of the reasons she is one of my favorite people on YouTube is because of how passionate she is about the issues she cares about. She eloquently and unapologetically calls out racism and prejudice when she sees it happening in the communities she is a part of, despite backlash she may (and unfortunately does) receive. On top of that, she remains positive, funny, and well-spoken, and proves that humor can (and should) exist without hurting others or perpetuating negative stereotypes about groups of people. Plus, her hair is amazing!
Videos I Recommend: 5 Tips for Being an Ally, Here’s Why Racism Isn’t “Just Comedy”, Shit White Girls Say…To Black Girls
2. Hayley Hoover (hayleyghoover)
Hayley is a YouTube vlogger and writer who is also unapologetic about her feelings and doesn’t use her humor to make fun of others. And as a result, her videos are hilarious.Whether she’s writing about the weird outfits that people wear on Pretty Little Liars, talking about what PMS is really like, or explicitly telling people why catcalling is 100% never okay, I think most Collegiettes can find her content really relatable, informative, and super entertaining. And, she loves Chipotle as much as we do.
Videos I Recommend: What PMS is Like, You’re Allowed to Say No, Why Catcalling Sucks
3. Natalie Tran (communitychannel)
Natalie Tran is a YouTube vlogger who has been active on the website for over seven years. And even though she’s been around for a long time, her videos still remain as fresh and hilarious as they did when she started making them. Natalie’s videos are mostly sketch/vlog based, and what’s really amazing is that she makes most of her videos completely by herself; she writes, acts, and edits all of them. And the results are fantastic. Whether she’s wearing ridiculous costumes or stuffing her face with food, I’ve never seen a video on her channel that is boring. (Seriously, one time I spent three hours straight watching them.) If you ever hear someone try to say the stupid age-old myth that women can’t be funny, I seriously suggest you send them a link to Natalie’s YouTube channel.
Videos I Recommend: I Was Here First, Neglected Keystrokes, In Your Dreams
4. Marina Watanabe (marinashutup)
Marina is a college student and YouTube vlogger that I only found a few months ago, but I am already loving the stuff she does. She has a series of videos on her channel called Feminist Fridays, which she describes as “a series where we explore the social, the political, and the media from a feminist and intersectional perspective,” and it’s really, really good! Along with being funny and well-spoken, one of the other reasons why I like Marina and her content so much is because of how calm and respectful she is when talking about feminist issues. She’s welcoming and non judgmental to anyone who wants to learn more about feminism, even in the face of horrific and sometimes even violent anti-feminists comments she receives on her videos (yuck).
Videos I Recommend: I Am A Bad Feminist, Myths About Feminism, What is Cultural Appropriation?
So next time you’re looking for an excuse to not do your next essay or project, go check out some of these inspiring vloggers! You won’t regret it.