Elizabeth O’Connell-Thompson is an Irish-American poet and photographer leading the Chicago Publishers Resource Center’s Wasted Pages Writers’ Workshop Series.
10 Fight
When A Man Decides to Hurt You—Series by Emily Smith
In the spring of 2015, Emily Smith was assaulted by a stranger on her walk home from the gym. She was left unconscious on the street with a severe concussion, broken jaw and sinus, and shattered tooth.
Poetry: For My Mother by Erin Mansur-Smith
Erin Mansur-Smith received her MFA in Dramatic Writing from Ohio University after working for the National Domestic Violence hotline and a literacy program with AmeriCorps. She started losing her hearing as a child and is now profoundly, and proudly, deaf.
The Fight to Make It as a First-Generation American
The question “Will I make it?” leads a first-generation American in her career aspirations and continues to drive her independent journey far away from her family.
Here’s Exactly What’s Wrong With the Phrase ‘Calm Down’
Women who argue with men are often told to “calm down” simply because they’re expressing themselves. This gaslighting term, used in one form or another around the world, often acts as a quick phrase meant to brush off women’s ideas and opinions …
Why Negotiation-Free Workplaces Are Not a Quick Fix for Women
While “Lean In” may have made the biggest splash in recent years, it joins a slew of other books and articles about how women can and should behave when trying to advance their careers.
Violence of the Mind: Women and Manic Disorders
Despite the strides that have been made in recent decades toward understanding mental illness, we’re still uncomfortable admitting that women can be violent—a discomfort that may have dangerous consequences.
The Little Girl & The Single Mom: “The Little Prince” in the 21st Century
“The Little Prince” became a phenomenon for good reason: It reminds us how strange the “grown up” world is while articulating simple truths about friendship, love, and distance.
Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube by Blair Braverman
Blair Braverman’s memoir, “Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube,” is filled with excitement and tells of her toughness, her determination, her passion. And though the specifics are unique to Braverman, her message is universal for all women …
Biking the Big Easy: How I was Freed by the Very Thing That Scared Me
Growing up, I was afraid of my body. My mother, who I have never seen break a sweat in my life, taught me that I was fragile and sickly, that the more I used my body, the weaker I would become and that the only safe place to live was inside my brain.
Fighting for the Lady Vols: Pat Summitt’s Legacy Lives On
In the wake of Pat Summitt’s death, activists fight to keep her legacy and the Lady Vols’ name alive.
What’s Next For Indie Women’s Media?
Independent voices have always been needed to challenge the status quo for minority groups and viewpoints. What happens when a beloved indie publication closes its proverbial doors?
The Burning Season
Uncertain if she should stay close to home, Minoru goes off to work for a nonprofit in Thailand to pursue her passion: train with professional Muay Thai fighters who themselves are fighting for stronger bodies and a chance to escape poverty.
What Losing a Friend Taught Me About Feminism
Morgan was a friend who, despite spending nearly all my time with her for the last two years of high school, never fell into my category of “best friend:” the coveted, teenaged-girl honorific.