11 episodes

Too often, women are thought of as a monolithic bloc, and they were often discussed that way throughout the 2016 election. But women are in fact divided on major issues. Liz Plank (a progressive) and Hitha Herzog (a conservative) are friends who get along, but don't always agree. Together, they cover the complicated, multifaceted, intersectional debates that make up the life of the modern American woman. Produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Divided States of Women Vox Media

    • News
    • 3.8 • 227 Ratings

Too often, women are thought of as a monolithic bloc, and they were often discussed that way throughout the 2016 election. But women are in fact divided on major issues. Liz Plank (a progressive) and Hitha Herzog (a conservative) are friends who get along, but don't always agree. Together, they cover the complicated, multifaceted, intersectional debates that make up the life of the modern American woman. Produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.

    It's Here: the Backlash for Exposing Sexual Misconduct

    It's Here: the Backlash for Exposing Sexual Misconduct

    As powerful men are toppled one after the other for their sexual predation, why are some women still missing from the dialogue? Women in service industries, who are often subject to severe power imbalances with their customers, have not been centered in the conversation about harassment. And one response to widespread sexual misconduct allegations has been the implication (or veiled threat) that exposing sexual harassment will lead to fewer women being hired. So how will working-class women get attention around abuses in the industries? And what do these allegations mean for all the women who already have to be "twice as good"? We're joined by Vox.com Race and Identities Senior Editor Michelle Garcia, and Nell Bernstein, author of "Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison."




    Show Notes: The Floodgates Aren't Open Until Working Class Women Tell Their Stories
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    • 33 min
    The Women Who Get Left Out of #BlackGirlMagic

    The Women Who Get Left Out of #BlackGirlMagic

    CaShawn Thompson is credited with creating the social media movement that is #BlackGirlMagic. The hashtag is widely used as a celebration of black womanhood, beauty, and perseverance. But not every black woman endorses the term. When Dr. Linda Chavers saw the ubiquity of #BlackGirlMagic, she bristled—and she published an essay about why she felt the term was exclusionary. That's when the online backlash from other black women began.

    Writer and producer Aisha Turner brings us the story of how #BlackGirlMagic became a cultural phenomenon, and why it remains divisive for some black women.

    Show Notes:

    Here's My Problem With #BlackGirlMagic by Linda Chavers

    Black Girl Magic: song from "Empire"
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    • 20 min
    Lessons from a year full of toxic masculinity

    Lessons from a year full of toxic masculinity

    This week, an interview with Wade Davis, the NFL's first Diversity and Inclusion consultant and, well, a professional feminist. (Ok, maybe that one's not on his business card). Davis uses his public platform to talk to men and boys about masculinity as a societal construct -- one that is a performance as harmful to men as it is to women. We'll also hear from Vox.com reporter Anna North, who attended the Women's Convention in Detroit and talked to women interested in running for office in 2018 about how Donald Trump's win, and Hillary Clinton's loss, have motivated their candidacies.




    Wade Davis: Taking off the mask of masculinity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umKKrbmdHFM

    Anna North: https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/11/6/16571570/female-candidates-trump-clinton-2016-election
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    • 51 min
    Esther Perel: Why Women Cheat and Why Women Stay

    Esther Perel: Why Women Cheat and Why Women Stay

    Today, women are cheating nearly as much as men. But why do we judge women more harshly than men, whether they're the cheater, the victim of the cheating who decides to stay, or the mistress? Our guest today is Esther Perel, preeminent couples and family therapist whose new book, "The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity" looks at infidelity from multiple perspectives and attempts to contest some of the cultural stereotypes we hold about cheating. Also: we hear from women who say post-election politics has hurt their intimate relationships, and get Perel's advice on how to navigate this discord.
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    • 49 min
    Is It My Fault If I Hate My Body?

    Is It My Fault If I Hate My Body?

    Women of all shapes and sizes feel insecure about their bodies. Hitha and Liz compare notes, and discuss the economic and cultural ramifications of our stereotypes about "overweight" women. We hear from Emily Martin at the National Women's Law Center about how women's bodies are used against them in the workplace. And we'll hear from two women who are living with chronic illness about the insecurities and social pressures that come with the territory.
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    • 50 min
    Let's Talk About Disability Porn

    Let's Talk About Disability Porn

    You've probably seen it in your social media feeds without even knowing it. "Disability porn": those stories that use disabled people's narratives to inspire the able-bodied. Some disabled people reject these narratives, especially when they're in the form of memes that travel across social media. But there are plenty of disabled people who endorse and participate in "inspirational" storytelling, or don't see anything wrong with it. The distinctions in these perspectives can be nuanced, as you'll hear from our show guests today.

    Also, we'll also get a dispatch from journalist Raquel Reichard, who has been reporting from Puerto Rico, where she lived as a child, and where only 19 percent of the island's residents have power, and around one million Americans still don't have running water a month after Hurricane Maria. She's there with a group of media makers called PR On the Map.
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    • 23 min

Customer Reviews

3.8 out of 5
227 Ratings

227 Ratings

Rachel Kramer Bussel ,

Lively and informed take on relationships

I was a recent guest on #single and am also a fan. Jeanette brings such enthusiasm for her interviews, which always go much deeper than surface level. They’re real about the upsides and downsides of modern dating, and give valuable insights, whether the listener is single or not. I especially liked the Alexandra Laplante episode on her journey to polyamory.

MayflowerDAR ,

#Truth Spoken Here

These are smart ladies who cover interesting topics & present the facts w/in the scope of their personalities. Unfortunately, certain people feel the need to bash those who examine the world through their narrow world view & feel the need to go full blown whiny Karen in the review section

Seriously, there is a lot to be gleaned here & whether you agree or not, these women make it interesting

BaileyEHen ,

Great!

I have a hard time reading the low scores posted for this podcast. I found the women to be insightful despite me not agreeing with *everything* they said. It opened a door for me to learn and listen to a perspective outside of my own (something most of America needs to do!). I introduced the podcast to my boyfriend, and we listened to a few episodes together. He too found it insightful and we had some very evolving conversations. I would recommend to all people, even those who don’t call themselves feminist or liberal, it’s two intelligent women, intelligently laying out their perspective on our society.

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