gender norms

How ‘The Sims’ Decodes Gaming Gender Dynamics

Allegra Walker, University at Albany - SUNY

While there are many memes going around about how The Sims game series is popular amongst a female audience, the appeal to slice-of-life games for women starts in girlhood.…

April 3, 2024

The “Hot Girlfriend, Ugly Boyfriend” Phenomenon

Kimberly Vazquez, Columbia College Chicago

While many accuse women of yearning for male validation, it is usually other men who seek it the most. …

September 22, 2023

Two male skaters who represent the masculine and feminine sides of men's figure skating.

Men’s Figure Skating Has Some Major Work To Do

Myles Allan, University of New Haven

The struggle for free gender expression within the sport has been anything but easy, and issues still prevail in 2022.…

February 25, 2022

An illustration of two people breaking through doors, each of which are meant to represent a gender and its norms that are being broken.

The Idea of the ‘Alpha Male’ Is Rife With Contradictions

Jake Sanders, Rhodes College

Gendered constraints have only become tighter for men since the ideology was introduced, and many are arguing for its end due to the damage it causes to self-perception.…

November 7, 2021

An illustration of famous K-pop group, BTS

BTS Blurs the Lines Between ‘Femininity’ and ‘Masculinity’

Karen Lu, Yale University

The K-pop group presents an image that breaks away from traditional gender norms and propels us into a new era of self-love and acceptance.…

March 18, 2021

An illustration of Tom Ellen working on his novel, 'All About Us."

‘All About Us’ Is a Romance Novel Written by Gasp a Man

Eva McCarthy Mínguez, Stony Brook University

The romance genre has mostly been composed of female writers who cater to women. But today I’m here to recommend a novel by a male writer that is catered to … well, everyone.…

February 6, 2021