Divided States of Women

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What are the benefits of marriage for women? Liz talks to feminist writer Jill Fillipovic about how the institution has changed over the last decade, and what that means for women's happiness and economic stability in 2017. Hitha is hiding in a closet at her sister's wedding, but she calls in to talk about the pragmatism of her marriage being governed by "1950s" values.

Hugh Hefner was an exceptional businessman whose legacy is built upon the exploitation of women. Our hosts and guests, including Liz’s mom, debate how Hugh Hefner should be remembered, and discuss the role of the Playboy empire in the sexual revolution. 

We visit the NRA's first concealed carry fashion show, and learn about the firearm equivalent of a "nip slip." We also talk with Dr. Angela Stroud (a gun owner herself), who studies how race, class, and gender identity shape Americans' perceptions about private gun ownership.

In our debut episode, Liz talks to young women at a conservative summit in Texas to find out if they agree with her on...anything. We also interview the editor of the new anthology "Nasty Women," Samhita Mukhopadhyay.