Despite illusory notions of “law and order,” the criminal justice system has failed to truly help survivors of rape and abuse.
Life & Family
I Said ‘No’ In Three Languages
Street harassment forces women to contend with unwanted male attention, and the orchestration of this attention is significant in women’s daily lives.
My STIR: Three Days In A Relapse
The realities of alcoholism often include falling off the wagon, which is both more mundane and absurd than many people realize.
What Gets You Sober—God Or Your Neurons?
In battling addiction, neuroscience offers a complementary and alternative approach to twelve-step programs.
Wine in the Baby’s Mouth
To cut or not to cut? Circumcision is influenced by cultural forces and religious tradition, especially for secular Jews and Muslims.
Young STIR: Keep Women And Men Safe From Sexual Assault
After being raped in her dorm by a friend, a young woman reaches out to sexual assault survivors.
What Everyone Needs To Know About Depression
More people are talking openly about their depression, but is public perception changing?
A Shared Road
In a society of technology-driven isolation, is the key to a more compassionate world simply taking the time to really see one another?
Going to the Dogs Eased My Child’s Cynophobia
How one woman created her own exposure therapy “bootcamp” for her canine-phobic daughter.
Living In A World Of Rape
From a tiny village in Ghana to a university in West Virginia, the legacy of violence against women is inescapable.
Polygamy: As Seen On TV
Many couples who pursue modern polygamist lifestyles find that creating the “perfect family” is more difficult than expected.
Why I Plan To Hover As My Son Becomes A Teen
What drives young men who commit horrific crimes? It may be a simple lack of basic morality.
My STIR: On Forgiveness, Trust, and Desire (Part Two)
In response to Elizabeth Switaj’s piece on forgiveness culture, a story of abuse and survival.
My STIR: On Forgiveness, Trust, and Desire (Part One)
In response to Elizabeth Switaj’s piece on forgiveness culture, a story of abuse and survival.
For My Child, Actions Teach Louder Than Words
Educators’ focus on language skills marginalizes kids who learn through physical, play-based activities.
I Didn’t Breastfeed And My Kids Are Healthy And Happy
Women who can’t nurse — or choose not to — shouldn’t be pressured or judged.
Why I Reject Forgiveness Culture
For trauma survivors, there are many paths to healing and moving on. Why demand that survivors forgive their abusers?
Why Trigger Warnings Don’t Work
Because trauma survivors’ memories are so specific, increasingly used “trigger warnings” are largely ineffective.
The Times I Wasn’t Raped
Carelessness does not make sexual assault an expected outcome any more than self-protection necessarily prevents it.
How The Food Industry Endangers People With Soy Allergies
Avoiding soy is complicated by its prevalence in processed foods, the food industry, and labeling laws.
My STIR: A Foster Care Success Story
In response to Deb Stone’s essay on foster care, former foster child Jaquel Pitts shares his successes.
As Children, Truths About Our Friends May Be Too Obvious to See
An elegy for junior high, and how we often barely glimpse the home lives of even our closest friends.
U.S. Foster Care: A Flawed Solution That Leads To Long-Term Problems?
Abused children placed in foster care face challenges greater than those who remain with their families.