It’s no secret we are a society consumed by scandal—from politicians to sports stars to radio hosts, an entire breed of pseudojournalism has erupted from this national pastime. But what is it about scandal that so titillates those of us who can’t look away? More ›
So you thought sexism was a thing of the past? Not so much, says Cordelia Fine. Instead, myths are being dressed up with new science and propagating dangerous new conventional wisdom. More ›
Ninety years ago today, the 19th Amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote. It was revolutionary for the time. But if our grandmothers were born into a world where they weren’t allowed to have a political voice, what will the world look like for today’s young women? More ›
Economists have long recognized what's been dubbed the “beauty premium”—the idea that pretty people, whatever their aspirations, tend to do better in most aspects of their lives. But however hard men have it at work, women will always face a double bind. More ›
Opponent purists may see Oakland's latest move as one more notch on the slippery slope, but it’s no big surprise that local politicians took the city's pot policy one step further this week—approving large-scale industrial farming. Advocates believe the industry could net the cash-strapped city a whopping $38 million each year. More ›
Illustration by Paul SahreIn 2010, when Heidi Montag’s bloated lips plaster every magazine in town, when little girls lust after an airbrushed, unattainable body ideal, there’s a growing bundle of research to show that our bias against the unattractive is more pervasive than ever. And when it comes to the workplace, it’s looks, not merit, that all too often rule. More ›
A funny thing happened late last year, as the health-care bill lulled in the Senate: the so-called Bo-Tax, a proposed (but ultimately rejected) levy on Botox, fillers, and other elective cosmetic procedures, was suddenly creating a feminist uproar. “It singles out women,” surgeons roared. More ›
We’ve all heard the stories about how pretty people have it easy: babies smile more around good-looking parents; handsome kids get better grades and jobs, and earn more money; the list goes on. More ›
Reuben Singh / Reuben SinghWhen historians write about the great recession of 2007–08, they may very well have a new name for it: the Mancession. It’s a term already being bandied about in the popular media as business writers chronicle the sad tales of the main victims of the recession: men. More ›
Jessica is a senior writer at Newsweek, covering culture, lifestyle, women's issues and national affairs. In 2010, she was chosen by the New York Press Club as the Nellie Bly Reporter, which honors the city's best young journalist. She has written on everything from the rise of polyamory to the dark side of the Web to the struggles of a new generation of gay activists, for which she won a 2009 GLAAD Award. In 2007, she authored a cover story about online virtual worlds, and more recently, led reporting on a story about sexism at work to mark the 40th anniversary of a landmark gender discrimination suit against Newsweek. She coauthors a blog, The Equality Myth and can be found on Twitter.
Bennett has served as an associate editor for Newsweek's Periscope section and as a reporter for Newsweek.com and the magazine's International edition. She has worked as a researcher for political reporter Wayne Barrett, contributing to his 2006 book on Rudy Giuliani and 9/11, and was a reporting fellow at The Boston Globe, where she covered crime. Originally from Seattle, she graduated from Boston University and the University of Buenos Aires.
