Trauma survivors deserve complex heroes that make us feel seen in our justifiable rage, and stories that encourage us to hold onto hope and love, even in our darkest moments. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness chooses the entertainment value of writing the Scarlet Witch as a villain rather than honoring the character’s humanity as WandaVision did.
Read more of this piece over at Joysauce!
Read MoreBetween the infantile, submissive Lotus Blossom or the seductive, calculating Dragon Lady, Asian women have rarely been portrayed beyond these exotified, hypersexualized stereotypes for decades. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings intentionally challenges these gendered tropes, portraying compassionate, powerful, and above all, capable women. It’s possible to create a world where Asian femininity is a strength, and not something to fear or otherwise annihilate.
Read MoreWandavision affords Wanda the opportunity to move through the entire reality of her trauma, ultimately transmuting her loss to further her personal growth and sense of self.
Read more over The A.V. Club here.
Read MoreIn the middle of a depressive episode and writer’s block, Bitch Magazine commissioned me to write a piece on stan culture for their “Legacy” issue, marking the 25th anniversary of their first publication. The last thing I wanted to do was write about my experience getting harassed by Ariana Grande and her abusively obtuse and obsessed stanbase but I knew it was a story that needed to be told.
Read MoreThe modern retelling of Mulan seemingly sacrifices the humanity of its characters to establish itself as a war epic about filial piety.
Read more over at Bitch Media.
Read MoreMarvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. demonstrates a shining example of how to depict women friendships, that of Daisy Johnson (Chloe Bennet) and bio-chemist Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge).
Read more over at The A.V. Club.
Read MoreAmanda Rosenberg tells Wear Your Voice in a Skype interview, “The guilt and shame and repression got me institutionalized. So I figured that the opposite of that was actually better.” By that time in her life, she had come to terms with her mental illness, and understood that there was nothing she could do to change the minds of those who couldn’t accept that part of her, even her mother. The only thing she could do was help other people in the same situation by sharing her experiences.
Read MoreThe series makes it clear that it’s Elena Richardson’s white entitlement and massive, unchecked ego that spark the events leading up to the fire that ravages the Richardson family mansion. Through Elena’s relationships with her mother and her own daughters, we see how Little Fires Everywhere strikes at the oppressive cage of white matriarchy.
Read more over at Wear Your Voice.
Read MoreEmotions are a natural human instinct that help us engage with our environment. Yet for women, especially those who hold multiple marginalized identities, our emotions are often weaponized against us. Birds of Prey presents a world where women have agency and therefore humanity, where their emotions are normalized and not repressed.
Read MoreWithout the fear and shame of being punished and humiliated for his sensitivity, Jojo is afforded humanity and allowed to grow as a person. In turn, he recognizes and values Elsa’s humanity despite having been taught otherwise. Taika Waititi does a fabulous job with Jojo Rabbit, reminding the audience that we too are capable of change when we’re encouraged to love and not hate.
Read More#JusticeForJohnnyDepp was a misinformation campaign designed to provoke intense reactions and guilt people into supporting him at the expense of Heard.
Author’s Note, January 2022: Wear Your Voice Magazine has since ceased operation and the website that originally published this piece is no longer available. An archived snapshot is available here.
Read MoreThe misplaced and normalized aggression and the constant popularity contest have given rise to a poisonous subculture of fandom where violence is acceptable if it’s done in the name of a celebrity you love. It’s tragic that what used to be a safe haven for so many has turned into something utterly alarming and sometimes traumatizing.
Read MoreChani Nicholas’ horoscopes empowered me to draw from my own innate strength to overcome the immovable obstacles in my path. Astrology was the tool I needed to survive that day, and survive the next.
Read more at Wear Your Voice Magazine.
Read MoreBombshell masquerades as a biographical drama about courageous whistleblowers while dishonestly glossing over the network’s legacy of violent racism. It centers the plight of white women crusading against injustice while ignoring how they built their careers on demonizing and oppressing Black and brown people.
Read more at Wear Your Voice.
Read MoreAbusers put on a veneer of kindness, carefully crafting a progressive image to distract from the atrocities they commit behind closed doors. This is intentional and by design; a tool to further gaslight and marginalize the people they victimize.
Read more at Wear Your Voice.
Read MoreRegardless of their personal feelings towards each other, white supremacy facilitated the Thrombeys to quickly band together against this immigrant woman who they perceived to have infiltrated their family.
Read more at Wear Your Voice.
Read MoreFrozen 2 follows Elsa as she fully reclaims her identity after her childhood trauma. She’s presented with the choice of maintaining her comfort or using her powers to right the injustices perpetrated by generations past. By following her intuition and listening to her magick, she breaks a cycle of abuse, discovering the truth about her family and her identity.
Read more over at Wear Your Voice.
Read MoreTrauma is inherently isolating, but it demands an outlet for release. While my silence and denial amplified the pain, telling someone I trusted was my first step in healing. The dense emotional burden of my trauma eased with every person I told—support reminded me that I’m safe, loved, and valued.
Read here at Bitch Magazine!
Read MoreConflating constructive criticism with hatred is not only wrong, but extremely dangerous and damaging. Criticism is how we encourage growth and positive change, while shame and hatred serve to stifle both. It’s irresponsible for celebrities to use their platforms to perpetuate the idea that any and all criticism is nothing but a personal attack that serves no value.
Read more at Wear Your Voice.
Read MoreDirected by Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho (Snowpiercer, Okja), Parasite is a satire and thriller that explores wealth inequality and the lengths to which we go to survive. It’s a visceral, realistic lesson on the importance of class solidarity, commenting on the cyclical violence of poverty, and demonstrating why we must rise above the scarcity myth.
Read More
