female representation

Plath vs. Steinbeck: Gender in Classic Literature

John Steinbeck and Sylvia Plath construct their women characters quite differently.…

December 6, 2023

In an article about female rage, three prominant female characters that represent the trope stand together under the word 'rage'.

The Age of Female Rage

Ally Najera, California State University, Northridge

As female-rage edits garner more attention on social media, they beg the question — is the portrayal of these emotions beneficial?…

June 21, 2023

An illustration of batgirl shows the character facing to the left while a batman's shadow lurks behind her.

Shelving ‘Batgirl’ Is a Step Backward For Everyone

Ashley Hagan, Virginia Commonwealth University

Keeping the female protagonist in the Bat Cave risks starting a troubling trend.…

August 19, 2022

A Drawing of Thor: Love and Thunder shows the female Thor crouching while a man facing away from the camera stands in the background.

Strong Women Fail To Shine in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

Ashley Hagan, Virginia Commonwealth University

Director Taika Waititi delivers a colorful movie with powerful female characters but still falls short of true representation.…

July 22, 2022

Oriini Kaipara and Her Māori Heritage Show the Power of Representation

Amandine Shadia, The University of Arizona Global Campus

The broadcaster recently became the first person with Māori face markings to anchor a primetime news show.…

March 7, 2022

Why ‘Supernatural’ Is Simultaneously the Best and Worst Show To Exist

Jenna Amore, Oakland University

The plot holes are big enough to fit a pack of hellhounds, but no one can deny their love for the series’s annoyingly attractive and lovable characters.…

January 24, 2022

One of many hypersexualized female video game characters.

Why Are Female Video Game Characters Still Being Hypersexualized?

Peyton Conner, Indiana University

As these women continue to be clad in revealing outfits that add nothing to their personas, fans are demanding better representation for them.…

November 30, 2021

A still from fantasy series, 'Xena: Warrior Princess.'

Muscular Women and High Stakes: Why Lesbians Love Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror

L.R. Staples, Sarah Lawrence College

While some genres continue to rely on outdated tropes like female submission, others provide a beacon of hope for queer female audiences as they portray women as strong, independent leads.…

September 8, 2021

In an article about We Are Lady Parts, a number of women in hijab climb and sit on a giant guitar.

‘We Are Lady Parts’ Radically Represents but Conventionally Entertains

Anna Hupp, University of Wyoming

Nida Manzoor’s Peacock sitcom follows five Muslim women and their punk rock band while advocating that 'music is about representation.’…

August 2, 2021

Biased Binging With Babish: Why the Channel Needs To Be More Diverse

L.R. Staples, Sarah Lawrence College

When you make content that relies on already established entertainment in the way that this show has, bias may ensue...…

July 6, 2021

In an article about Kamala Harris, an illustration of three people looking at images of Kamala Harris

A Kamala Harris Vice Presidency Is a Big Deal for Women

Anna Wurm, Texas A&M University

The second-highest office in the nation is now held by a Black, South Asian female politician — a historic milestone. …

January 31, 2021

An illustration of two people playing chess for an article on "The Queen's Gambit."

‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Isn’t Just About Chess

Eva McCarthy Mínguez, Stony Brook University

In a show seemingly just about a board game, the writing and character representation go way beyond the sport.…

January 5, 2021

‘The Wilds’ Reminds Us of the Hardships of Being a Teenager, but With a Disturbing Twist

Eva McCarthy Mínguez, Stony Brook University

Have you been missing 'Lost' lately? 'The Wilds' may have fooled you into believing they were similar, but are they really?…

December 28, 2020

Representation in government. (Photo by Darren Halstead from Unsplash)

2020 Was a Victory for Diverse Representation in Government

Emma Watts, University of Arizona

This year's elections made history, with more and more women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community taking political office. …

November 20, 2020

A picture of an F1 racing car going around the track.

F1 Racing Has a Long Way To Go Before It’s Truly Inclusive for Women

Emily Jewett, University of San Diego

While Formula 1 racing has become more welcoming of female fans and female engineers, the sport still needs significant changes to become a genuinely friendly environment.…

October 26, 2020

Image of woman of different body types posing in clothing

Nowadays, Body Inclusivity Sells, and Brands Will Ignore It at Their Peril

Imani Benberry, Columbia University

Ads and social media posts show that women's fashion is turning away from fatphobia and body stigma.…

September 8, 2020

Learn How the Kilroys Are Bringing More Diversity to Theater

Olivia Dimond, Bates College

The group is dedicated to getting the theatrical works of female, trans and nonbinary playwrights onto the Broadway stage.…

August 22, 2020

In an article about the OwnVoices Movement, a man outside reading a book

OwnVoices Reviewers on Goodreads Call For Authenticity in Minority Representation

Juliana Fujii, Biola University

People who share protagonists' identities shouldn't only author books. Their feedback can vastly improve how books represent marginalized groups.…

August 5, 2020

Kayla Cromer Breaks Down Barriers for Neurodiverse Representation on TV

Lisa Lilianstrom, Northern Illinois University

As both the star of 'Everything's Gonna Be Okay' and an actress on the spectrum, she's eliminating harmful stereotypes of autism that other shows often perpetuate.…

March 8, 2020