The sounds of their house, Latin folk, maddening lullabies, heavy metal, and R&B soul come together to make up the soundtrack of Kimberly’s life. For her, music has always been a help with feelings of isolation and loneliness. Using music, Kimberly walks readers through her journey of self-discovery growing up from the age of four […]
Eden Ball expertly navigates the nuance of sociocultural influence on the female orgasm. Ball examines the multipronged way by which social media, scientific bias, and social standards of sexual interaction impact a culture’s view of female pleasure. Ball links her own experience as a young woman participating in Western culture with larger trends and evidence […]
In this pressing, topical piece, Musayeroh Bah addresses some of the issues with the United States transportation system, focusing on its inaccessibility to many citizens. Coming from New York City, she brings a perspective that values walkability, which not only shines through, but also influences what she sees as solutions to these long-standing and systemic […]
Aurezuh Sikes expertly articulates the parallels between the zealous practices of drag and traditional religion. This work is a beautiful representation of the intimate exercises that bind our Smith community together, and through Sikes’ work, we are able to examine and appreciate the differences and, more importantly, the similarities we have with one another. Sikes […]
Corin Ford’s essay explores Beyoncé’s groundbreaking visual album, Lemonade, and its themes of Black unity, empowerment, and resilience. Ford walks us through Beyoncé’s sources of inspiration, which include both her own personal experiences and the work of other black activists, such as Joan Morgan and Audre Lorde. Ford also emphasizes Beyoncé’s inclusion of Black men […]
Referencing Virginia Woolf’s work Mrs. Dalloway, Boulanger eloquently carries the reader through a current critique of societal takes on feminine consumerism. Since Woolf’s times, she argues, the reductionist, frivolous views of stereotypically feminine shopping habits actually map quite clearly onto both the feminist pursuits of belonging, agency, and emotional freedom as well as onto the […]
Weaving together archival documents and keen analysis, Sarah Mitrani’s investigation examines Smith students’ balance between traditional and modern femininity throughout World War 1. Mitrani inspects all facets of student life on campus, expertly detailing the changes Smithies faced from 1917-1919, from wardrobe to academic endeavors, religious life to community building. Beyond describing the Smith experience, […]
Sabrina Hatch draws a shocking and insightful connection between the early horrors of slavery and today’s similarly oppressive prison-industrial complex. Noting the universality of the falsely-accused Calvin Duncan’s story, they bring attention to the widespread destructiveness of our country’s prison system and incisively argue in favor of its abolishment. With inspiring tones of hope and […]
Shalom Mhanda’s essay offers a comprehensive look into an often neglected issue: menstrual hygiene management in Zimbabwe. Growing up in Zimbabwe herself, Shalom uses both research and personal anecdotes to illustrate the ways rhetoric surrounding menstrual hygiene has hindered young women. Ultimately, she advocates for a versatile approach, recognizing the way in which different communities […]
In “When Art Has No Answers,” Vee Fidati introduces readers to “Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue III, a piece by artist Barnett Newman. Through this seemingly straightforward painting, the artist prompts questions about how the general public views art. Fidati furthers these same questions, all while offering valuable historical and cultural context, as […]
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