The hottest Gender Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

What's got my attention this week #21

The Shift With Sam Baker • 439 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. Isabella Rossellini, at 71, is defying age norms on the cover of Italian Vogue after being replaced by Lancome at 43.
  2. Actor Julia Ormond is taking legal action against Harvey Weinstein for sexual battery, shedding light on the dark facets of the entertainment industry.
  3. Women are exploring anger openly, redefining success on their terms, and sharing personal stories in a bold and empowering way.

Iris Murdoch, a novelist for now.

The Common Reader • 1630 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
📚 Literature Gender
  1. Iris Murdoch's novels focus on shocking readers out of themselves rather than offering consolation.
  2. Murdoch's works cover a wide range of themes like adultery, repression, homosexuality, and existential struggles.
  3. She believed art should entertain while also delving into the battle between good and evil, urging readers to escape the 'fat relentless ego.'

Lots of People Don't Know What a Woman Is

Bentham's Newsletter • 432 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. A woman is not just someone who identifies as a woman - the definition has flaws and circularity.
  2. Defining a woman as an adult human female leads to issues and does not match common understanding.
  3. A woman can be defined by a set of feminine traits, which is practical, inclusive, and well-supported by many philosophers.

How I rage, and how I forgive

Aditi’s Substack • 79 implied HN points • 17 May 24
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. The post emphasizes the importance of respecting and remembering the sacrifices and care provided by mothers.
  2. It highlights the need to consider the impact of decisions on children and mothers in the corporate world.
  3. The narrative prompts reflection on the cycles of life, the balance of forces, and the flaws in current societal systems.

'Mid'-century modern

Close-reading the reruns with Phoebe Maltz Bovy • 412 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. The concept of 'mid-century modern' extends beyond furniture and into discussions of attractiveness.
  2. The term 'mid' is used to describe women who are attractive but not considered exceptionally beautiful.
  3. For men, beauty is viewed as subjective while for women, it's often seen as a source of power and subject to rankings.
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The New York Times goes full right-wing transphobic bigot in agreeing that the permanent sterilization of kids who can't give informed consent is, like, totally messed up

Beck of the Pack • 196 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender
  1. The New York Times is criticized for supporting irreversible surgeries on kids without informed consent.
  2. Financial motives are highlighted as a driving force behind radical medical treatments for children.
  3. Criticism is directed at individuals promoting irreversible procedures on kids without considering long-term consequences.

Maybe women should design our sci-fi future

The Novelleist • 1411 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. Reimagining the design of our technological future with more feminine perspectives can lead to more visually appealing, sustainable, and community-oriented innovations.
  2. Women-led tech companies often prioritize healthcare, environmental conservation, and community well-being over traditional futuristic themes like cars and spaceships.
  3. By encouraging more women sci-fi writers to envision the future and women technologists to build it, we can create a more diverse, inclusive, and beautiful vision for our technological advancements.

More male teachers is not just about grades

Of Boys and Men • 173 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
🚌 Education Gender
  1. It's important to have male teachers in schools because they can serve as role models and mentors for boys. They can influence boys' development in many positive ways beyond just grades.
  2. The impact of male teachers on student academic success is mixed, meaning some studies show benefits while others don't. So, it's not just about grades; having diverse educators can help in other ways too.
  3. We shouldn't blame female teachers for the challenges boys face in school. Having more male teachers is about making the teaching workforce more balanced and representative, which is good for all students.

What chess taught me about the differences between men and women

The Joyous Struggle • 335 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. Men and women are different, and these differences are reflected in chess aptitude, with implications beyond just biology or psychology.
  2. The gender question involves social, cultural, political, and historical factors, and the conversation must be navigated carefully.
  3. Chess aptitude differences between men and women are complex, with sociological explanations being compelling but not fully convincing.

The Struggle to Find Male Role Models

Deep Fix • 334 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. The search for healthy male role models is challenging due to societal and digital influences.
  2. There's a movement to redefine addiction in a positive light, promoting openness and shedding shame.
  3. Creating and exploring new forms of media, like short videos, can be a way to share ideas and connect with others.

A Unified Theory of Marriage

The Great Gender Divergence • 334 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. People marry for social enforcement, loving devotion, or economic security.
  2. Marriage rates can fall due to factors like religion, companionship, and women's financial security.
  3. A surplus of single women can create a negative cycle impacting marriage rates and trust.

The Artist’s Work Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1206 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Gender
  1. Encountering artists that grant permission to be true to oneself is powerful.
  2. Redefining 'work' as a sense of purpose, like Rita Deanin Abbey did, can be a bold and pragmatic choice.
  3. Abbey's creation of her own museum challenges conventional gender roles and inspires self-trust and empowerment.

Feminism and the Position of Women in China

Moly’s Substack • 314 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Gender
  1. China faces challenges with sexism and gender inequality, impacting women's positions in society.
  2. The rapid growth of China has created societal problems, such as outdated laws and a skewed wealth gap.
  3. Sexism in China is intertwined with governmental, societal, and economic factors, affecting women's rights and opportunities.

Whose Lost Decade?

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 21 implied HN points • 20 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. The claim that white millennial men were primarily shut out by “wokeness” is overstated; shrinking humanities and media jobs, elite overproduction, credential inflation, and aging leadership explain much of their diminished opportunities.
  2. Both woke and anti-woke politics have often functioned as elite status games or marketing moves, which distracted energy from concrete material problems and led to elite capture of progressive language.
  3. Real change requires material fixes and collective coordination — more good jobs, reforms to stale hierarchies, and deliberate efforts to shift harmful gender norms — not just fights over elite hiring or word games.

A Techno-Trad Take on Fertility

Shakos Metaheuristics • 176 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. We need modern incentives to encourage women to have more children.
  2. Childcare workers are undervalued and underpaid, affecting the childcare infrastructure.
  3. Economic solutions, such as better wages and government support, can help increase fertility rates among women.

Sex, money, and pain: A personal story

Sex and the State • 27 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. Sex can hurt even when everything else is right, and women often experience that pain more than men.
  2. That imbalance can make women resent men because it’s hard to want sex when you also fear pain.
  3. The personal story connects sex and pain to bigger issues like gender, sexual stigma, and money.

A heartwarming work of staggering performativity

Close-reading the reruns with Phoebe Maltz Bovy • 294 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. Discussions around tipping behaviors and husband discourse often resurface periodically on social media.
  2. Many women share stories of seemingly perfect relationships with supportive partners to showcase their personal and professional success.
  3. Public narratives of idealized relationships may not always reflect the true complexities and challenges faced by individuals in real life.

Why Do We Coddle Gen Z Boys But Think Gen Z Girls Are Annoying?

Default Wisdom • 451 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. Gen Z boys are often seen as victims in media while Gen Z girls face negative stereotypes. The media tends to paint young women in a narrow and often unflattering way, ignoring their real issues.
  2. There is a rise in young women who critique their own generation, but they often cater to older audiences, which can twist their perspectives. This creates a disconnect between their true experiences and how they are perceived.
  3. The conversation about Gen Z boys can sometimes overshadow the concerns of young women, leaving them without a strong voice in the discussion. It’s important to elevate female perspectives and ensure they are heard.

A world without men

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 758 implied HN points • 08 Jul 22
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. The post discusses the topic of a world without men and what women want.
  2. The author references a 15th-century poem, _The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Lady Ragnelle_, which is related to the theme of the post.
  3. The post is available only for paid subscribers, highlighting the exclusivity of the content.

The 'Posie Parker' madness of New Zealand’s mainstream media in just seven days.

A B’Old Woman • 439 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender
  1. Kellie-Jay Keen, also known as Posie Parker, received a huge amount of media attention in New Zealand, with 158 news articles about her in just one week. This shows how much focus the media can put on one individual, especially when the subject stirs controversy.
  2. There was significant violence during the 'Let Women Speak' rally in Auckland, which media coverage seemed to downplay or misrepresent. The way the media handled this issue raised questions about their professionalism and objectivity.
  3. A few journalists, like Rachel Smalley and Sean Plunket, stood out by offering a different perspective and promoting women's rights, despite facing backlash from their colleagues. Their actions highlight how challenging it can be to present alternative views in a charged media environment.

Top Links 646 Defense tech. The Trump tower in Belgrade. Time-biased and space-biased media. The global gender crisis & the book DuBois could not finish.

Chartbook • 286 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender
  1. There is ongoing discussion about defense technology and its impacts on society. People are exploring how tech shapes our safety and security.
  2. The mention of the Trump tower in Belgrade shows that events and places linked to political figures continue to draw attention. The tower serves as a symbol of larger political themes.
  3. The global gender crisis highlights ongoing issues related to equality. It suggests a need for deeper conversations and solutions around gender disparities.

How Culture Get's Into Code

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 09 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. Culture influences code creation subconsciously, impacting software socially and culturally.
  2. Gender and racial biases influence code development, notably in AI tools like Generative AI and Neural Networks.
  3. Including sociocultural understanding in software development could lead to innovations benefiting human societies.

Catch up with Emily Howes on The Shift Bookclub Live

The Shift With Sam Baker • 59 implied HN points • 17 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Gender
  1. The Shift Bookclub Live featured a discussion with Emily Howes, author of The Painter's Daughters, covering topics like art, sexism, mental health, and societal expectations.
  2. Emily Howes, an existential psychotherapist and writer, delved into themes of women's roles in 18th-century society, freedom vs. money, mental health, and family dynamics in her book.
  3. The conversation during the live event explored issues like shaming women, family secrets, sisterhood, and self-sacrifice within the context of The Painter's Daughters' narrative.

What's got my attention this week #20

The Shift With Sam Baker • 219 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. The Shift With Sam Baker offers reading recommendations, including topics like embracing natural beauty and feral femininity.
  2. The Friday Round-up includes interesting articles on diverse topics like gender issues and personal stories.
  3. Consider supporting reader-supported publications like The Shift With Sam Baker to access exclusive content and show appreciation for the work.

Fertility Links, including a conversation with Lyman Stone

In My Tribe • 258 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender
  1. Fertility rates are dropping globally, mostly because fewer people are forming couples, which includes both married and unmarried partnerships.
  2. Smartphones and technology are isolating people by providing entertainment at home, which makes it harder for them to build social skills and form connections.
  3. Creating communities that encourage interactions and closeness can help strengthen relationships and possibly improve marriage rates.

Out Here On Our Own

Ladyparts • 439 implied HN points • 30 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. The erasure and vilification of talented older women in the media, especially when they speak out against corruption, is a recurring and troubling pattern.
  2. It's important to look beyond sensationalized headlines and incomplete obituaries to uncover the true stories of noteworthy individuals.
  3. Society often treats aging male artists more reverently and with more opportunities compared to aging female artists, highlighting a gender disparity in the industry.

Helen Garner's 'How to End a Story'

Kvetch • 77 implied HN points • 16 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. Helen Garner writes honestly about the struggles of aging, especially for women. She shares her feelings about insecurity and the challenges of being in a failing marriage.
  2. Her observations about men and relationships highlight the emotional toll that their egotism can take on women. Garner's reflections are relatable and show a shared experience of disappointment.
  3. Garner's life and writing illustrate the tough realities of being a writer in Australia. Despite her fame, she faces financial struggles and reveals the passion that drives her to write regardless of money.

[Updated] 'Speaking of Mothers' - a superb piece of writing from Sarah Henderson.

A B’Old Woman • 179 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. The word 'mother' has a deep and lasting meaning in many cultures. People feel strongly that this word should not be replaced with terms like 'birthing parent'.
  2. Society is moving away from using the word 'mother', which some believe is a troubling trend. It raises concerns about losing connection to important social roles.
  3. The importance of language in shaping our understanding of relationships and identity is highlighted. Words like 'mother' help create feelings of connection and belonging.

Ideas for the YIMBY Movement to Better Include Women | YIMBYtown 2024

Cornerstone • 79 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. Male leaders should take responsibility for inclusion in the YIMBY movement instead of relying on women
  2. Men could share the burden of administrative and backend work more actively to support women in the movement
  3. It is essential to seek out and affirm the qualifications of female leaders and candidates to enhance diversity and strength in YIMBY organizations

Costumed in Gender, Haunted by Patriarchy

Humanities in Revolt • 179 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. Halloween costumes often reinforce patriarchal gender stereotypes by limiting the options for boys and girls and associating certain traits with specific genders.
  2. Patriarchy's influence on culture is evident in the polarized definitions of maleness and femaleness in mass-produced children's Halloween costumes.
  3. Gender is a socially constructed concept, not a biological one, and it prescribes social norms and roles based on patriarchal assumptions rather than biological reality.

Suis-je polygame parce que je suis Noir ?

L'Atelier Galita • 299 implied HN points • 19 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Gender
  1. Polygamy is a form of marriage where an individual is married to multiple people, often an man to several women.
  2. In France, polygamy is prohibited by law, as it is illegal to have multiple marriages.
  3. Words carry connotations, and it's important to be mindful of the implications of the words we use, especially in sensitive or potentially racist contexts.