The hottest Gender Studies Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Education Topics

The World is a Morality Play

From the New World • 26 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Gender Studies
  1. The anime Madoka Magica shows how personal desires can lead to tragic outcomes. If characters aren't careful about what they wish for, they can end up worse off.
  2. Kyubey, the magical cat, uses the emotions and struggles of magical girls as energy to keep the universe alive. This creates a cycle of suffering that drives the story.
  3. Homura is a character who learns to understand her true desires, challenging the idea of sacrificing for others. She ultimately transcends typical morality by getting the power she wants and fighting against the system.

Some Sex Differences are More Problematic than Others

Unsafe Science • 125 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🔬 Science Gender Studies
  1. Efforts to address sex disparities in occupational representation focus more on male-dominated jobs, while issues in female-dominated jobs receive less attention.
  2. Participants, especially women, view male-dominated jobs as more problematic due to perceived sexism/discrimination, regardless of job status or pay.
  3. Perceptions of the causes of gender gaps influence how problematic they are perceived to be, with attributions to sexism/discrimination making the gaps more concerning.

What Josh Hawley gets wrong about me

Of Boys and Men • 131 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Studies
  1. More men should be encouraged to work in HEAL professions like healthcare and education for a variety of reasons.
  2. It's important to address the gender disparities in occupations like health care and education to better serve clients and address labor shortages.
  3. Supporting opportunities for men in both blue-collar jobs and growing HEAL sectors is vital for a balanced workforce.

Boosterism

Living Fossils • 10 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Gender Studies
  1. Boosterism is about supporting people doing things they aren't usually expected to do, like women running marathons or kids giving speeches. This support feels good and inspires others.
  2. When someone takes a risk to stand up for an underdog or challenges the norm, it creates a powerful feeling of uplifting others, which is essentially what boosterism is all about.
  3. Even when the fight for a cause is over and it’s safe to support it, people still feel the urge to boost because it shows their loyalty to that cause and can signal their group membership.

Jane Austen and Cognitive Bias—Or on Persuasion

Vremya • 139 implied HN points • 01 Jun 21
📚 Literature Gender Studies
  1. Jane Austen explores the idea of love and how men and women experience it differently. She suggests that women may find it harder to move on from love than men do.
  2. Motivated reasoning is a key concept, where people look for evidence that supports what they already believe. This means we often see our own experiences as proof for our opinions.
  3. Austen also hints at cognitive biases like the availability heuristic, which is when we overestimate how common something is based on how easily we can recall examples from our life. This can lead to skewed perceptions of reality.
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The Beauty Quandary

Polymathic Being • 77 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Studies
  1. Beauty is a complex topic that influences various aspects of our lives, from societal perceptions to evolutionary biology.
  2. Looking good involves presenting ourselves in a way that signals health, status, and genetic viability.
  3. Our appearance can impact our social and economic outcomes, and understanding these dynamics can help us address biases and stereotypes.

The Cost of Couple Equity

Logos and Liberty • 1 HN point • 09 Jul 24
🚌 Education Gender Studies
  1. The earnings gap between men and women often results from 'couple inequity' caused by demanding work environments that are incompatible with caregiving responsibilities.
  2. Couples face difficult tradeoffs between equity and financial security due to the structure of workplaces, like 'greedy work' and 'up or out' promotion policies.
  3. Solutions to reduce the gender earnings gap include increasing flexibility in jobs, lessening the cost of childcare, and changing societal norms around gender roles and caregiving responsibilities.

Book Review: Lost Boys by James Bloodworth

Theory Matters • 5 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
📚 Literature Gender Studies
  1. The book highlights how men today feel lost and vulnerable, leading them to dangerous online communities. It shows that even seemingly successful men can struggle with feelings of inadequacy.
  2. Bloodworth exposes the harmful tactics of influencers in the manosphere, who profit from men's insecurities. These leaders promise success and dominance but often lead followers into deeper issues.
  3. Ultimately, the book emphasizes the importance of real connections and self-worth. It argues that trying to dominate or impress others can lead to a spiral of negative feelings and isolation.

2024 S&tS Year in Review

Sex and the State • 13 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Gender Studies
  1. Focusing on gender was a big highlight in 2024. It helped shape the content and direction of the discussions.
  2. The author chose favorite posts based on personal value rather than popularity. This shows a desire to share meaningful insights, not just what's trending.
  3. Collaboration and guest appearances were significant this year. Engaging with others brought in new perspectives and growth for the newsletter.

Kill The Mother

Reactionary Feminist • 26 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Studies
  1. The article discusses the concept of 'killing the mother' as a psychoanalytic fantasy related to Oedipal complex.
  2. There is a trend of intense hostility towards women, especially mothers, in contemporary culture.
  3. Expressions of rage and fantasies of annihilating the mother are evident in various cultural aspects, leading to questions about the origins and implications of this phenomenon.

How masculine is your portfolio?

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
💰 Finance Gender Studies
  1. There are differences between how men and women invest, with studies showing that men tend to favor more 'masculine' industries like energy and utilities.
  2. The Portfolio Masculinity Index (PMI) helps identify the investment patterns of male fund managers and shows that portfolios with less masculine traits can perform better.
  3. If women managed the same assets as men, there would be a noticeable shift away from investing in traditional masculine sectors towards areas like technology and healthcare.

Men Vs. Women

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 9 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Studies
  1. There is a battle of the sexes in terms of political identity and beliefs, with young women becoming more progressive while young men are not.
  2. Economic imbalances and cultural resentments contribute to the divergence of young men and young women politically.
  3. The shift from in-person to online socialization has played a role in radicalization and extremist views among young men.

Life In Plastic Ain't So Fantastic

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 8 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Studies
  1. Barbie's history and impact reflect complex issues of feminism and economics
  2. Women's labor force participation has evolved over time due to various factors like economic conditions and cultural norms
  3. Gender disparities in wages and career progress are influenced by a mix of discrimination, societal expectations, and individual choices

And the 2023 Economics Nobel Goes to...

Economic Forces • 6 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
💼 Business Gender Studies
  1. Claudia Goldin won the 2023 Economics Nobel Prize for her work on women's labor market outcomes
  2. Goldin's research focused on supply and demand as a consistent lens to understand changing female labor market outcomes
  3. Goldin's work highlights the importance of historical context and technological changes in shaping women's career choices

And the Oscar for Economics Goes To... (2/2)

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 2 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🚌 Education Gender Studies
  1. Attending elite prep schools like the fictional Barton Academy can significantly impact future success, leading to better chances of admission to prestigious colleges and higher income levels.
  2. Distinctively Black names have always existed in the United States, and research shows that having these names does not necessarily imply disadvantages in the labor market.
  3. Moving to better neighborhoods during childhood can have a positive impact on future outcomes, such as higher education attainment and earnings, particularly if the move occurs at a young age.

Book Review: "The Two-Parent Privilege"

Data Taboo • 1 HN point • 05 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Studies
  1. The surge in single-parent households is a result of economic factors affecting marriage patterns, especially for non-college-educated men.
  2. Children of single-parent homes often face worse outcomes due to challenges faced by single parents such as financial strain, time constraints, and lack of supervision.
  3. Although economics plays a role in the rise of single-parent families, it is not the sole cause, and factors like legal rights, cultural shifts, and individual choices also contribute to this societal change.

The Inclusive City

Demodexio • 0 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Studies
  1. The built environment shapes politics, and politics shape architecture, although the changes are subtle.
  2. The needs of women and children were not considered in city designs, leading to significant daily challenges.
  3. Advocacy is important, but dedicated committees and structural changes are needed to address societal issues effectively.

Artistic activism, the genetics of personality & archeological strategies

The Strategy Toolkit • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Gender Studies
  1. Art can be a powerful tool for activism. Throughout history, artists have used their work to express resistance and challenge authority.
  2. Textile art, like knitting and embroidery, has been a form of protest, especially against domestic violence. These activities are often seen as simple, but they carry deep meaning and impact.
  3. Women's use of sewing as a form of resistance shows that there is a lot of thought and intention behind their actions. It challenges the assumption that crafts are purely trivial.