The U.S. ranks as the 19th most dangerous country for women, 11th in maternal mortality, 30th in closing the gender pay gap, 75th in women’s political representation, and painfully lacks paid family leave and equal access to healthcare. But Ms.

Ms. MagazineJun 16global

Novi Brown’s BÜHNE NOIR Is The Beauty Brand Your Sensitive Skin Has Been Waiting For

“My skin has always been sensitive,” actress Novi Brown tells ESSENCE. But, it wasn’t until Brown’s esthetician noticed discoloration on her neck that everything changed. “Have you been spraying perfume?” she inquired. “Yes,” Brown responded.

EssenceJun 16activism

Why Pride Matters Now

Blog Post Why Pride Matters Now Pride Month honors LGBTQIA2S+ history, resistance, care, and the ongoing fight for liberation and safety. By Mani Vinson, Communications Manager | June 16, 2026 Share https://prh.

Physicians for Reproductive HealthJun 16lgbtq

Making a Killing: Who Profits From Trump’s Foreign Policy? Trump and His Inner Circle.

As we wait for the details of the Trump administration’s proposed deal with Iran, one thing is already clear: The people benefiting most from U.S. foreign policy are often the people making it. From Jared Kushner’s role in Middle East negotiations, to the Trump family’s rapidly expanding business em…

Ms. MagazineJun 16global

Join Ms. Magazine and Get Our Landmark FEMINIST 250 Print Issue for This Pivotal Moment in American History

As the U.S. prepares to mark its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, questions loom over the celebration: Whose America gets remembered, whose gets erased—and how do we imagine and build a democracy that includes all of us? In the Summer issue of Ms.

Ms. MagazineJun 16resilience

People ‘Don't Want To Drink Abortions’: Republican AGs Make Bizarre EPA Request

The remarks support the belief — backed by zero scientific evidence — that abortion drug remnants and fetal remains are polluting drinking water.

HuffPost WomenJun 16choice

Out-of-Pocket Costs for Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Among Individuals Enrolled in Employer Sponsored Insurance Plans

In this analysis, published in the journal Contraception, KFF’s Linda Li, Brittni Frederiksen, and Alina Salganicoff look at intrauterine device (IUD) and contraceptive implant insertion-related costs among privately insured individuals to better understand why patients are experiencing unexpected e…

KFF Women's Health PolicyJun 16contraception

State Choices, Unequal Access: Policies Shaping Reproductive Health Care Across the United States

Authored by KFF’s Alina Salganicoff, Ivette Gomez, and Usha Ranji, this article for The Milbank Quarterly examines how state policies create varying levels of access to reproductive healthcare services.

KFF Women's Health PolicyJun 16choice

Megan Willkens

Megan Willkens sramashwar June 16, 2026 Senior Research Assistant, AIU

Guttmacher InstituteJun 16breakthroughs

Nine days in June

As we await the usual late-June flurry of decisions – some of them quite significant – I wanted to reflect on what I believe to be the most extraordinary June in the modern Supreme Court, which took place four years ago in 2022. In decisions between June 21 and June 30, the court overruled Roe v.

SCOTUSblogJun 16politics

US Agriculture Bill Cuts Vital Nutrition Aid

Click to expand Image A woman and her daughter in Revere, Massachusetts, US, December 11, 2020. © 2020 Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images On June 4, the United States House of Representatives passed the 2027 agriculture appropriations bill.

Human Rights WatchJun 16health

Carré Otis Has Opened a Door for Survivors of Abuse in the Modeling Industry. Will Others Walk Through It?

A new legal door opened earlier this month in the fight for survivor justice. But it's not in the United States, where survivors and advocates continue to press for transparency and investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's larger network and the modeling industry's potential role in it. It's in France.

Ms. MagazineJun 16safety

Carré Otis Has Opened a Door for Survivors of Abuse in the Modeling Industry. Will Others Walk Through It?

Ms. MagazineJun 16safety

Abortion Bans, Restrictions Could Cost U.S. Economy $140 Billion: New Report

State abortion restrictions and bans have done substantial damage to the U.S. economy since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022. A new report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research , a national think tank focused on economic equity and eliminating barriers for women, es…

Rewire News GroupJun 16choice

Many cancer survivors can’t breastfeed. Insurance often doesn’t cover alternatives.

Erika Nyhus thought she was done having children. The mother of two had required medical intervention to become pregnant in the past, and she’d been told that the breast cancer treatment she’d completed would further diminish her fertility.

The 19thJun 16breakthroughs

‘Nope, You’re Fine’: This Black Doctor Nearly Died After Giving Birth in Reno

Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell nearly died after childbirth when her symptoms were repeatedly brushed aside, despite her high-risk medical history. She says her experience reflects the broader maternal health crisis facing Black women in America.

Ms. MagazineJun 16resilience

In anti-LGBTQ+ Idaho, an Episcopal camp offers queer Christians a haven

This piece was copublished with FāVS News , America’s only digital newsroom devoted exclusively to local religion journalism. The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, Washington, has maintained Camp Cross—a 130-acre property on the west side of Lake Cœur D’Alene, Idaho—for more than a century.

The 19thJun 16resilience

Americans agree that childcare is expensive. Democrats are running on it.

Three top Senate Democrats are accusing the Trump administration and Republicans of “taking a wrecking ball” to childcare programs, highlighting the issue in a midterm year where many Democrats are running on inflation and the high cost of living.

The 19thJun 16politics

Why This New YSL Beauty Foundation Is Laura Summer Makeup Staple

For Laura Harrier, beauty is simple. “The goal isn’t perfection,” she tells ESSENCE. “It’s feeling like the best version of yourself.” And, this summer, her “best version” is wearing a foundation that feels like her skin, but cushier: YSL Beauty’s new Skin Affair Soft Glow Cushion Foundation .

EssenceJun 15global

JD Vance Admits 'Childless Cat Ladies' Comment Is '1 Of The Dumbest Things' He's Ever Said

The vice president admits a 2021 comment attacking women without kids "was a boneheaded comment," designed to provoke rather than illuminate.

HuffPost WomenJun 15equality

Josh Hart’s NBA Finals Braids Were A Love Letter To New York

It’s the fifth game in the 2026 NBA Championship. The Knicks are playing on the San Antonio Spurs’ home court, yet the air is full of love for New York—and so are Josh Hart’s braids. The buzzer hits zero, the Knicks are up 4-1, and the guard just clutched his first-ever finals trophy, the first for …

EssenceJun 15resilience

As men fought in cages at the White House, women urged Americans to take a ‘deep breath’

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Tina Koumoutsos was inside a downtown events space organizing postcards about voting rights for the women’s issues group she leads for the county Democratic Party when she noticed a familiar face on the big screen Sunday night.

The 19thJun 15activism

JD Vance admits his ‘childless cat lady’ insult was ‘boneheaded’

Vice President JD Vance admits years later that it was a “boneheaded” move to impugn Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, as “childless cat ladies.” Vance calls the insults, which he made in 2021, “one of the dumbest things I ever said” in his forthcoming book “Communion,” accor…

The 19thJun 15politics

Dating Decoded: When There Are More Options, But Less Commitment

In modern dating, situationships are everywhere. People are hooking up, talking every day, even building routines together, but if you ask if they are in a relationship, the answer is no. Dating didn’t always look like this.

EssenceJun 15equality

Abusive Anti-LGBT Proposals Resurface in Türkiye

Click to expand Image In defiance of a ban on all Pride events in Istanbul and full police lockdown, demonstrators assembled in the backstreets of Nişantaşı neighborhood near Taksim, Istanbul, Turkey, June 25, 2023.

Human Rights WatchJun 15lgbtq

The dissent that became a statute

Near the end of her career, Lilly Ledbetter received an anonymous note: she was being paid far less than every man doing the same job. Ledbetter was one of the first female supervisors at an Alabama Goodyear tire plant, working the 12-hour 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. overnight shift for nearly 20 years.

SCOTUSblogJun 15politics

Wisconsin still allows child marriage — but efforts to end it have stalled

This story, originally published by Wisconsin Watch , was produced in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Investigative Journalism class taught in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The 19thJun 15politics

Alabama responds to court’s order on nitrogen gas execution

We have reached the halfway point of June, meaning the justices have just over two weeks left to wrap up the current term if they want to begin their summer recess in early July. We are awaiting 20 more opinions in argued cases.

SCOTUSblogJun 15global

They Never Left Pulse Behind. They Just Learned to Carry it Differently.

This story was originally reported by Brooke Migdon of The 19th , and republished through Rewire News Group ‘s partnership with the 19th News Network. Ten years ago July 12, a man armed with a semi-automatic rifle and semi-automatic pistol opened fire at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Rewire News GroupJun 15resilience

Star Gazing: Tribeca Film Festival, 2026 FIFA World Cup, ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Premiere, NBA Finals And More

Summer is in full swing, and the calendar reflected it this week. From New York to Los Angeles and beyond, celebrities stepped out for premieres, special events, and a few major sporting moments. Tribeca remained one of the busiest destinations in entertainment, while television, music, and sports e…

EssenceJun 15empowerment

High inflation is forcing older women on fixed incomes to make hard choices

Last month, inflation hit 4.2 percent, its highest level since early 2023, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Managing more expensive fuel, food and other necessities, like utilities and medical care, has been difficult for many, but older women — particularly those on a fixe…

The 19thJun 15breakthroughs

Global Surge in Attacks on Education Continues, Rising More Than 40 Percent Worldwide

Click to expand Image Gaza’s education system lies in ruins. © Plan International / Ahmed Salama (New York) – At least 8,500 attacks on education took place globally in 2024-2025, a more than 40 percent increase from the previous two-year period, according to Education Under Attack 2026, releas…

Human Rights WatchJun 15global

Kyrgyzstan: Anti-Trans Bill Threatens Rights

Click to expand Image Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov speaks during the first session of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of Kyrgyzstan of the 8th convocation in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, December 17, 2025. © 2025 Igor Yegorov / Sputnik via AP Photo (Bishkek, June 15, 2026) – A harmful draft law before the…

Human Rights WatchJun 15global

Shop The Best Black-Owned Father’s Day Gifts

We often hear dads complain that Father’s Day marketing is subpar, and in some cases, the gifts are too. Dads deserve to be celebrated—the value they add to our lives is invaluable. Those lucky enough to experience a present father know how precious the love, care, provision, wisdom, and play they p…

EssenceJun 14breakthroughs

The Untapped Power of Post-Menopausal Women

Melinda French Gates announced last week a historic $215 million commitment to women’s health, including a $10 million gift to the Menopause Society. It is a beautiful and necessary act of generosity. It arrives on the same day a new Mayo Clinic study showing hormone therapy use among menopausal wom…

Ms. MagazineJun 14equality

Houston Raised Them, Podcasting Made Them Global: Inside Pour Minds’ Houston Homecoming

Before there was a brand, before the tour dates and the national recognition and the half-million-strong fanbase , there were two Houston women bartending, figuring out Atlanta, and recording themselves talk.

EssenceJun 14resilience

Whose America Turns 250? Democracy Is Still a Feminist Fight

As the U.S. prepares to mark its 250th birthday, questions loom over the celebration (UFC Fight Club matches at the White House aside). Whose America gets remembered, whose gets erased? What can modern ebbs and flows of democratic principles teach us? And how do we imagine and build a bold, inclusiv…

Ms. MagazineJun 13politics

Tyra Banks Sues Netflix Over ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Documentary, Alleging Defamation

Tyra Banks has filed a lawsuit against Netflix over its docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model , alleging that producers selectively edited her interview and misrepresented her role in some of the show’s most controversial moments.

EssenceJun 13activism

ACCESS—The New Currency of Cannes

Under a canopy of stars, amid swaying palms, gleaming yachts, and the golden glow of the Riviera sun, flashbulbs erupt, diamonds shimmer, and cinematic magic unfolds as day dissolves effortlessly into night.

EssenceJun 13global

New Law Requires Parental Consent for Sex Ed in Italy

Click to expand Image OSA students perform a flash mob in front of the Ministry of Education and Merit to request sexual and affective education in schools in Rome, Italy, on October 31, 2024. © 2024 Andrea Ronchini/NurPhoto via Getty Images Last week, Italy’s senate passed the “Valditara bill,” a r…

Human Rights WatchJun 13global

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Novi Brown’s BÜHNE NOIR Is The Beauty Brand Your Sensitive Skin Has Been Waiting For

Why Pride Matters Now

Making a Killing: Who Profits From Trump’s Foreign Policy? Trump and His Inner Circle.

Join Ms. Magazine and Get Our Landmark FEMINIST 250 Print Issue for This Pivotal Moment in American History

People ‘Don't Want To Drink Abortions’: Republican AGs Make Bizarre EPA Request

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Megan Willkens

Nine days in June

US Agriculture Bill Cuts Vital Nutrition Aid

Carré Otis Has Opened a Door for Survivors of Abuse in the Modeling Industry. Will Others Walk Through It?

Carré Otis Has Opened a Door for Survivors of Abuse in the Modeling Industry. Will Others Walk Through It?

Abortion Bans, Restrictions Could Cost U.S. Economy $140 Billion: New Report

Many cancer survivors can’t breastfeed. Insurance often doesn’t cover alternatives.

‘Nope, You’re Fine’: This Black Doctor Nearly Died After Giving Birth in Reno

In anti-LGBTQ+ Idaho, an Episcopal camp offers queer Christians a haven

Americans agree that childcare is expensive. Democrats are running on it.

Why This New YSL Beauty Foundation Is Laura Summer Makeup Staple

JD Vance Admits 'Childless Cat Ladies' Comment Is '1 Of The Dumbest Things' He's Ever Said

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As men fought in cages at the White House, women urged Americans to take a ‘deep breath’

JD Vance admits his ‘childless cat lady’ insult was ‘boneheaded’

Dating Decoded: When There Are More Options, But Less Commitment

Abusive Anti-LGBT Proposals Resurface in Türkiye

The dissent that became a statute

Wisconsin still allows child marriage — but efforts to end it have stalled

Alabama responds to court’s order on nitrogen gas execution

They Never Left Pulse Behind. They Just Learned to Carry it Differently.

Star Gazing: Tribeca Film Festival, 2026 FIFA World Cup, ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Premiere, NBA Finals And More

High inflation is forcing older women on fixed incomes to make hard choices

Global Surge in Attacks on Education Continues, Rising More Than 40 Percent Worldwide

Kyrgyzstan: Anti-Trans Bill Threatens Rights

Shop The Best Black-Owned Father’s Day Gifts

The Untapped Power of Post-Menopausal Women

Houston Raised Them, Podcasting Made Them Global: Inside Pour Minds’ Houston Homecoming

Whose America Turns 250? Democracy Is Still a Feminist Fight

Tyra Banks Sues Netflix Over ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Documentary, Alleging Defamation

ACCESS—The New Currency of Cannes

New Law Requires Parental Consent for Sex Ed in Italy