Why Do Boys Dress as Warriors and Girls as Princesses? It Starts With the Books They Read
Research shows that children develop their understanding of things like gender and race before the age of 5 from the characters they meet in stories.
YES! Article archive
How Filipina Beauty Queens Are Lobbying for Trans Rights
In the first episode of their new documentary series, A Woman's Place, filmmakers explain how transgender beauty queens are lobbying for their rights outside of pageants.
Our Favorite Books on How to Live a Happy and Meaningful Life
Thinking about your New Year’s resolutions for 2016? Here are 13 of this year’s most thought-provoking and useful nonfiction books on the science of a meaningful life.
Project Fatherhood: Uniting the Men of LA’s Toughest Communities
In the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, Project Fatherhood helps end the cycle of absent fathers and gives men a place to discuss what it means to be dads, partners, and sons in one of the city's roughest areas.
Six Hopeful Breakthroughs from 2015
Despite conflicts and crises at home and abroad, 2015 offered glimpses of the road to a more just, compassionate, and sustainable world.
How Sustainability Almost Ruined Christmas
As a new parent I tried to delight over stocking stuffers, wrapping paper, and battery-powered plastic thingamabobs. But none of it made me happy.
Was 2015 the Year Big Food Began to Lose Its Sway?
Companies like Coca-Cola and Monsanto were called out for conflicts of interest, leaving many in the public health sector to wonder if next year transparency might become the new normal.
Filipina Trafficking Survivors Launch a Co-op—And They Own Their Jobs
After Judith Daluz escaped from an abusive employer and reunited with her children, she struggled to make ends meet. So she started a cleaning business with other Filipinas—where she’s her own boss.
A West Virginia Family Leaves Coal for Local Food—And Wants to Help Others Do the Same
In a place where coal’s legacy has left residents struggling, one family has a vision of a healthier future.
Why We Should Care What Climate Scientists Think
As a scientist at the Paris agreement discussions, I hoped to see a fruitful collision of the climate scientist and climate activist. I expected strong words regarding science and broader social change.
Black Activists Need Black-Only Spaces. Here’s Why We Should Respect That
What the media are missing in the controversial call for safe spaces.
These Girls Founded a Savings and Loan Club in Kenya’s Biggest Urban Slum
Halima and her friends had to stay home from school when they couldn’t afford sanitary pads. So they launched their own businesses and pooled their money for investment.
What Star Wars Taught Me About Being a Mindful Parent
After years reporting on the science of mindfulness, I now realize that the practice of moment-to-moment, nonjudgmental awareness darts in and out of the series. But as a kid, I just wanted to blow stuff up.
8 Amazing Muslim Women Who Would Be Banned From Trump’s America (and Other News to Chew On)
The inner lives of drone operators, refugee camps through the eyes of children, and women who would be denied entry to the United States under Donald Trump’s “total shutdown.”
Standing With Malala: Meet the Teenagers Who Survived the Taliban and Kept Going to School
In the Taliban assassination attempt on Malala Yousafzai, Shazia Ramzan, and Kainat Riaz were also shot—for no more than daring to go to school. Three years later, they’re more committed to education than ever.
The Risks of Being Heard at COP21: How I Ended Up In a Parisian Jail Cell
At international summits like COP21, diplomats and dignitaries dominate the dialogue. To see how voices outside the negotiations are heard, I joined a peaceful protest at the Louvre Museum.
How to End 30 Years of Wage Stagnation
Rebuilding workers’ rights is possible—if we are willing to face the tough issues.
18 Holiday Gift Ideas—From Co-ops
Here’s how to use your holiday shopping to support cooperatives.
Love in the Time of Mania: Six Ways Americans Are Defying Islamophobia
If you watch the news, you'd think anti-Muslim hysteria is everywhere. Thankfully, that's not true.
How Aziz Ansari Helped Me Embrace My “Otherhood”
Movies and TV shows are like the mirror American society looks into to understand itself. I didn’t see myself in that reflection until Aziz Ansari’s show, Master of None.
Locals Dig Deep to Save Himalayan Springs From Drying Out
Water has become increasingly scarce in northwest India. As rain patterns shift and temperatures rise, communities are using small-scale local solutions to avoid dire drought.
Las Vegas Becomes a Model For Police Reform (And Other News to Chew On)
The Supreme Court denies a pro-gun appeal, Beijing closes streets due to smog, and Las Vegas curbs police violence with body cams, education, and accountability.
Soon, Oregon Polluters May Have to Pay Residents for Changing the Climate
A group of activists in Oregon wants polluters to pay residents for using their air. I spoke with Camila Thorndike, director of Oregon Climate, about this unusual effort to put a price on carbon.
Amid Tensions, Christians Show Support for Syrian Refugees in Dallas
As a Syrian family seeks safety in Texas, some voice outrage against the “Islamization” of America. This Sunday, I attended church services in Dallas where I found a commitment to live out the welcoming, compassionate side of Christianity.
Why We Need More Shame-Free TV Characters Who Reflect the Reality of Abortion
The internet has been buzzing about Olivia Pope’s abortion on ABC’s Scandal. If nearly one-third of American women have an abortion by age 45, why don’t we see more female characters make the same decision?
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