"When we tell women that sex isn't worth the risk during pregnancy, what we're telling her is that her sexual pleasure doesn't matter ... that she in fact doesn't matter," says sex researcher Sofia Jawed-Wessel. In this eye-opening talk, Jawed-Wessel mines our views about pregnancy and pleasure to lay bare the relationship between women, sex and … [Read more...] about The lies we tell pregnant women | Sofia Jawed-Wessel
Glass Ceiling
How online abuse of women has spiraled out of control | Ashley Judd
Enough with online hate speech, sexual harassment and threats of violence against women and marginalized groups. It's time to take the global crisis of online abuse seriously. In this searching, powerful talk, Ashley Judd recounts her ongoing experience of being terrorized on social media for her unwavering activism and calls on citizens of the … [Read more...] about How online abuse of women has spiraled out of control | Ashley Judd
How racism harms pregnant women — and what can help | Miriam Zoila Pérez
Racism is making people sick -- especially black women and babies, says Miriam Zoila Pérez. The doula turned journalist explores the relationship between race, class and illness and tells us about a radically compassionate prenatal care program that can buffer pregnant women from the stress that people of color face every day. TEDTalks (video) … [Read more...] about How racism harms pregnant women — and what can help | Miriam Zoila Pérez
The data behind Hollywood’s sexism | Stacy Smith
Where are all the women and girls in film? Social scientist Stacy Smith analyzes how the media underrepresents and portrays women -- and the potentially destructive effects those portrayals have on viewers. She shares hard data behind gender bias in Hollywood, where on-screen males outnumber females three to one (and behind-the-camera workers fare … [Read more...] about The data behind Hollywood’s sexism | Stacy Smith
Why women should tell the stories of humanity | Jude Kelly
For many centuries (and for many reasons) critically acclaimed creative genius has generally come from a male perspective. As theater director Jude Kelly points out in this passionately reasoned talk, that skew affects how we interpret even non-fictional women's stories and rights. She thinks there's a more useful, more inclusive way to look at the … [Read more...] about Why women should tell the stories of humanity | Jude Kelly