10 Brilliant Women Writers

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Ruth Rendell. Aka Baroness Rendell of Babergh. How many crime writers are there good enough they got a baronetcy for it? Not too damn many. She also writes under a pseudonym, Barbara Vine. She’s known for the Inspector Wexford series, and for many one-offs that feature crazy people. Psychopaths and sociopaths. She’s known for her sharp insight into human (and inhuman) nature, and writes crazy people really, really well. A Judgement in Stone? Brrr. A Demon in My View? Brrr. Tree of Hands? Very uncomfortable look at mothers and daughters. Continue reading →

Outgrowing Daria

For the dorky girls of the 1990s and early 2000s, we were Daria and Daria was us. Daria was Daria Morgendorffer, the lead character of the cartoon of the same name, which ran on MTV from 1997 to 2002. When the show first aired, we saw what we thought of ourselves portrayed in pop culture for the first time – an intelligent, cynical and plain teenager who just wanted to be left alone.

So when MTV announced in 2009 that it would finally, FINALLY release the complete series on DVD, thousands of women in their twenties and thirties let out a collective joyous shriek. Eight long years of waiting, petitioning and begging had finally paid off. When the series was available to buy, however, I debated whether or not to get it. Continue reading →

A Funeral and an Elopement

Last week, Gawker had an article about women who are desperate to get married and have a fairytale wedding. I never wanted to get married, but then a strange circumstance nudged my husband and I toward city hall. Continue reading →

Woman Power, Girl Power, and How Truly Embarrassed I am by the Whole Thing

If you happen to be an individual in possession of two X chromosomes, a functioning e-mail account, and at least a few female relatives, friends, acquaintances, or co-workers, odds are that at some point in the last ten years you have a received a forwarded missive something similar to one I have simulated for you, below.

“Subject Line:  Forward this to 10 Awesome, Amazing Women in Your Life Right Now!!!! Continue reading →

The Ten Most Badass Women in American History

In honor of the Crasstalk Day of Womanly Things, here is a list of the ten American women who are the epitome of female badassery. What makes a woman a badass? Her smarts, fearlessness and ability to be a pain in the ass of those who would keep her down. Feel free to criticize my picks in the comments and add your own. Continue reading →

Confessions of an Androgyne

I was a tomboy from the jump.  While I played with boys and with girls, and had a female best friend, I detested “girls’ games” and girls’ things and hated going along with them.  For example, I refused to play House unless I could be “the dad,” refused to play Office unless I could be “the [male] boss,” and preferred to play-act a Wild West shoot-’em-up, Holmesian detective drama, or high seas swashbuckling adventure rather than dress dolls.  This is not an original story.  A lot of girls are tomboys growing up.  Many of them change their gender expression as they get older.  Some don’t.  Some people born with girls’ bodies and boys’ habits gradually discover that they will not be able to live authentically unless they change their bodies to be more visibly masculine.  Some don’t.  Continue reading →

Say Yes to Knope

Knope Knows Best

She’s blonde. She’s pretty. She’s upbeat. She’s sweet. And she may be the most transgressive fictional character on screen right now, big or small.  Her name is Leslie Knope.  And I love her.

Confession: when Parks and Recreation first hit the airwaves in 2009, I didn’t quite get the show—or its central character played by Amy Poehler.  I wanted to like it more than I did.  It came with great auspices (Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, both of The Office), so I watched it, but something didn’t quite work for me. 

I thought Leslie was a little too broad (starting with her joke of a name) and bordered on the silly.  She was so happy.  She didn’t seem all that smart.  She couldn’t “read a room”.  It felt like the creators were making fun of her, a comic technique that always leaves me cold.  (If you don’t love your protagonist, why should I?)  But as the show found its footing and improved (an oft reported ascension), and as the creators and Poehler refined and deepened the character, I started to see Leslie as something utterly fresh and new on television. Continue reading →

How To Be A Better Woman

Greetings and salutations! As some of you know, I am Woman. ROAR! As people who know me know, I am a non-stereotypical woman. For the Crasstalk Day Of Woman I decided to make a list of some things which I think help women be better women. This list is but a small part of the continual refinement which is every human’s job. Brave capable sisters, know that I have only your best interests at heart, and gather round: Continue reading →