Her Choice
Does sex seem more satisfying for your partner than it does for you? Do you give pleasure, but not receive it? You may be a victim of the orgasm gap—snappy branding for a shabby situation. The dispari
During Pride month last year, almost 70,000 LGBTQ+ young people sought specialized help from 988, the national suicide and crisis hotline. That was the last time they were able to do so. As of today,
Unlike her late brother Lindsey, whose political career spanned 33 years, Darline Graham has never run for or held elected office — until she was appointed to serve the remainder of the U.S. senator’s
Click to expand Image Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri appeared before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, December 3, 2025. © 2025 International Criminal Co
Aasna Sijapati sramashwar July 16, 2026 Senior Research Assistant
Imagine yourself at 90 years old. You can do the splits, dance, and maintain a high quality of life. Seems impossible, right? It’s not. Founder of Ageless Mobility Aliya M Brooks’ grandmother, Millie
Guttmacher Releases New Data on Travel for Abortion Care in 2025 July 22, 2026 sramashwar July 16, 2026 News Release Homepage featured title Patterns of Travel for Abortion Care Continued to Shift in
Genevieve Meyer describes her childhood in the 1980s as being filled with “a lot of violence, a lot of volatility and a lot of instability.” She was raised in Southern California by a single mom who s
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Tuesday, June 30, that states may prohibit transgender students from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity, holding that the Equal Protect
The Dangerous Unraveling Of The United States’ Family Planning Safety Net Policy Analysis jloewenberg July 16, 2026 July 14, 2026 Exclude from search No Automatic Redirect Off
In every issue of Ms. , we track research on our progress in the fight for equality , catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones . We’re
One of the more controversial topics concerning the Supreme Court is how attuned justices should be to public opinion. An even more fundamental question, however, is how closely public opinion matches
In September 2016, a distraught mother sent infant formula maker Mead Johnson a message: “REMOVE ME FROM YOUR LIST!!!! DO NOT EMAIL OR MAIL ME ANY MORE! “It is because of your animal based pre-term ar
Click to expand Image Robert Taylor in Reserve, Saint John the Baptist Parish, in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. October 17, 2023. © 2023 Eli Reed for Human Rights Watch On July 13, the Trump administratio
Click to expand Image A mother hugs her children after their return from the occupied territory of Ukraine via the Ukraine-Belarus border, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Volyn region, Ukraine, on
This page tracks recent state actions to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage, including approved and pending 1115 waivers, legislation that will require the state to seek federal approval through a SP
Click to expand Image Residents walk through the rubble from Pakistani airstrikes that killed civilians in the village of Mandokhail, Chamkani district, Afghanistan, June 29, 2026. © 2026 Saifullah Za
ATLANTA — Kecia Ellick doesn’t see herself as having much in common with Keisha Lance Bottoms, beyond them both being Black women in their 50s who are mothers and neighbors — and having names that sou
Whether you’re a diehard boho braids lover or a queen of crochet, the innovation in braiding hair has been little to nonexistent. But Ruka, a Black-owned brand , is completely flipping the industry up
Courtesy of Coca-Cola® At the ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola®, Dr. Virginia W. Harris, National President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women , reflected on how the organi
When women think of their earliest beauty memories, their mothers often come to mind. From watching them put on their lipstick (then sneaking some when they’re not looking) to stealing their favorite
While United States Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey joined the Global Black Economic Forum’s (GBEF) Business Summit and Public Convention during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, helping shape c
Domestic violence organizations are raising the alarm over a proposed federal rule change that policy analysts say politicizes the federal grantmaking process and clears the way for officials to cance
Patterns of Travel for Abortion Care Continued to Shift in 2025 Report sramashwar July 15, 2026 Exclude from search No Facebook Image MAPS July 2026 preview social@4x.png Twitter Image MAPS July 2026
Approximately two weeks after the final opinion of the 57 argued cases decided by the Supreme Court in the October 2025-26 Term was filed, this column presents an overview of the “pure” criminal law d
The summer months are a perfect time to lose yourself in the pages of a juicy page turner . Even if your bank account or PTO balances are coming up short, the right book allows you to easily escape wi
The fear of losing their lives is precisely what many pregnant Texas residents say they’ve experienced after four young women died in the state when they were unable to access medically necessary abor
Misinformation about abortion care is rampant and being weaponized at state and federal levels to justify wide-ranging restrictions across the United States. Ensuring awareness of these narratives, an
Editor’s note: This story contains sensitive content, including depictions of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments and transphobic extremism, conversion practices, and discussions of suicide. If you or a loved one
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 2025 Kennedy Center honors gala. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images The rich and famous who filed into the Kennedy Center’s opera ho
In the first appearances by members of the Supreme Court before Congress in seven years, Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified on Tuesday in both the House of Representatives and the Se
Havaianas may have laid the groundwork, but they’re no longer the only flip-flops defining the category. Once reserved for beach vacations and poolside afternoons, the simple sandal has evolved into o
This story was reported in partnership with LA Public Press , an independent nonprofit newsroom advocating for a better Los Angeles. When Areli Ramos arrived for her appointment at the women’s health
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is so staunchly anti-abortion that his office observes June 24, the anniversary of the overturn of Roe v. Wade, as a holiday. The Republican’s actions to block aborti
I’m cold. Freezing in fact. I’m on a flight from Los Angeles to New Orleans and Delta insists on keeping the cabin temp at a balmy 58°. But my teeth-chattering, frigid plane flight will be soon worth
Guttmacher Institute Opposes Proposed Federal Funding Rules That Threaten Reproductive Health Programs and Research July 14, 2026 jloewenberg July 14, 2026 News Release Homepage featured title Guttmac
Preschoolers with disabilities in New York City will gain access to an unprecedented set of programs and services thanks to a major expansion in special education announced Tuesday by Mayor Zohran Mam
Judges, lawyers and sexual abuse survivors have raised very strong reasons why it would be reckless and unconscionable for the Senate to confirm Todd Blanche to the post of Attorney General of the Uni
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett deserve high praise for the pivotal role they played at the end of the just-concluded term in two key cases. One is Trump v. Barbara , the monu
“I got plummeted into Hell and realized I was in perimenopause,” Halle Berry tells ESSENCE exclusively. Without warning, the rest of her body felt the changes, too. “I had vaginal dryness and it felt
At the end of a recent talk on the Supreme Court’s latest term I was asked what surprised me most about the term. I was not surprised by the results in the most high-profile cases of the term, such as
Watch on YouTube Please note that this transcript has been edited for clarity. Zachary Shemtob: [00:00:00] So first of all, thank you so much to Amy. I’m really excited to have this conversation. Ther
This story was originally published by CalMatters . Sign up for their newsletters. U.S. Navy sailor Chase Humes is moving back to his dad’s house in Texas. Last month, the 25-year-old was notified tha
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday for a confirmation hearing to consider his official nomination to a post he has held since April. Pr
Illustration by Vanessa Saba for ProPublica. Source images: The Washington Post/Getty Images, Leonardo Cendamo/Getty Images, Onondaga District Attorney, County of Onondaga, State of New York, Courtesy
If you spent any time scrolling through your feeds this past weekend, you already know that Beyoncé and Rihanna completely dominated the internet during JAŸ-Z’s historic concert. While their presence
The politicians who have spent years claiming to "protect women's sports" have been remarkably absent when it comes to enforcing the law that actually guarantees women equal athletic opportunities. W
“Precocious” is probably the word I would use to describe Samara Cyn . At just 27 years old, the rapper is a sponge of everything Hip-Hop. With co-signs from Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Denzel Washi
Idaho voters will weigh in on their state’s abortion laws this November. The secretary of state’s office certified a ballot measure that could, if passed, overturn one of the strictest bans in the cou
True crime brain is easy to slide into, experts say, especially for women.
Click to expand Image Plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detain an immigrant leaving their scheduled court appearance at a Federal immigration court in New York City, June
Mona Scott-Young ’s selection as one of the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women in Music honorees reflects a career spent opening doors, creating businesses, and helping steer the direction of music and televisi
Few teenaged talents have emerged on the scene with the presence, voice, and staying power of Monica. With a career spanning decades, the musical alchemist has solidified herself as an industry titan,
I love Brandy. I love that raspy, textured voice. The tone of it, the warmth of it, the way it wraps around a lyric and gives it life. I love that we’ve grown up with her, “Sittin’ Up in My Room” blas
Before building an audience in reality television, becoming a restaurateur, lighting up screens both large and small, and establishing herself as a multidimensional entrepreneur, Kandi Burruss first c
There are artists who make hits, or even, define an era. And then there are the rare few who permanently change the language of music. Missy Elliott belongs to the last category. Before “creative visi
To address the maternal health crisis in America, Washington must invest in a proactive agenda of healthcare access, affordability and equity. American healthcare was fundamentally reshaped a year ago
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has welcomed a new group of honorary members into its sisterhood, adding several notable women from entertainment and public service to its Alpha Omega Chapter. Th
Dr. Annie Andrews, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, is getting national attention following the death of her Republican opponent, Sen. Lindsey Graham, over the weekend. The De
Click to expand Image Rescuers work at the site of a landslide at a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, July 8, 2026. © 2026 Shamimul Islam Faisal/AP Photo (Bangkok) – The deadly risks f
