The Profess-Hers Podcast

Saint Dolly | 50 Dec 11, 2020

In our 50th episode, we celebrate a woman so talented, kind, sincere, and funny that many people call her “Saint Dolly.” That’s right - it was long past time that we dedicate an episode to singer, actress, philanthropist, and Christmas-enthusiast Dolly Parton.

We’ll discuss her history, her rise to fame, some of our favorite Dolly songs and films, her charitable work and giving, and how she became the best thing about 2020 and just about the only thing all Americans can agree on.

Want extra reading? Check out our sources:

NYT: The Grit and Glory of Dolly Parton
LA Times: Country Stars 'Break the Silence' on AIDS : Campaign: Clint Black, Tammy Wynette, Wynonna Judd, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson are among 35 performers who will appear in print, radio and television ads beginning Jan. 13.
Guardian: Working-class women are too busy for gender theory – but they're still feminists
CNN: Dolly Parton learned she funded the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine when the rest of us did
The Boot: Dolly Parton and Charity Work
NPR: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Delivers 100 Millionth Book : NPR Ed
Tennessean: Obama says it was a 'screw up' not awarding Dolly Parton the Presidential Medal of Freedom
PARTON, DOLLY, and Karen Jaehne. "CEO and Cinderella: AN INTERVIEW WITH DOLLY PARTON." Cinéaste 17, no. 4 (1990): 16-19. Accessed December 1, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41692590.
Hoppe, Graham. "Icon and Identity: Dolly Parton’s Hillbilly Appeal." Southern Cultures 23, no. 1 (2017): 49-62. Accessed December 1, 2020. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26391677.
Pennisi, Elizabeth, and Nigel Williams. "Will Dolly Send in the Clones?" Science 275, no. 5305 (1997): 1415-416. Accessed December 1, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2892255.

Profess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.

Stories for Suffragette City | 49 Nov 12, 2020

In our second episode celebrating and discussing Women’s Suffrage and the 100th-anniversary of the 19th Amendments, we interview best-selling authors Fiona Davis and MJ Rose, who edited the short story collection Stories from Suffragette City.

Their book focuses on one day in the history of women’s suffrage in the United States - October 23, 1915- the day of the suffrage parade in New York City (about 25,000 women marched). Many of the stories include historical figures, such as Ida B. Wells, Alice Paul, and Mabel Ping-Hau Lee, who were also on our recent episode. This book, which is available as of last month, includes short stories by Fiona and MJ, as well as 10 other authors.

Fiona and MJ were also gracious enough to share with us their writing processes, and advice for writing students.

To see the colorized footage of NYC from 1911 that MJ Rose refers to: https://youtu.be/hZ1OgQL9_Cw
To find the book Stories from Suffragette City: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250241337
For more about MJ Rose: https://www.mjrose.com/content/
For more about Fiona Davis: https://fionadavis.net/
To see more images from the 1915 NYC Suffrage Parade: https://nyheritage.org/exhibits/recognizing-womens-right-vote/parades

Profess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.

Cults and Women | 48 Oct 30, 2020

In our third (!) Halloween episode, we discuss cults - how they affect women, how they work, and historical and modern American cults.

What do silverware, self-help groups, and science fiction actors have to do with cults? You’ll find out!

Misty discusses the Oneidas - their surprising beliefs on gender roles and their dangerous approach to communal living. Allegra shares an overview of how Keith Raneire built NXIVM on misogyny.

Whether it’s a doomsday cult or a utopia gone wrong, cults are dangerous, sometimes especially for women.

Want extra reading? Check out our sources:

The Vow, HBO
Dr. Janja Lalich “Why Do People Join Cults?”: Ted Talk
On the Oneidas: http://www.nyhistory.com/central/oneida.htm
The Oneida handbook: https://library.syr.edu/digital/collections/h/Hand-bookOfTheOneidaCommunity/
Women and Cults: https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/power-female-cult-leaders
“Holy Shit, We’re In a Cult” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3ess8txBX0&feature=youtu.be
“I Grew Up in a Cult. It was Heaven - and Hell” (Ted Talk) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS7mBbXxJYA&t=396s
Nice Try! Podcast, Episode 4 “Oneida”
The Truth About True Crime Podcast, Season 1 (Terror in the Jungle, about Jonestown)
The Truth About True Crime Podcast, Season 2 (Ministry of Evil, about the Alamos)
Uncover Podcast: Season 1: Escaping NXIVM
“The ‘Not Me’ Myth,” by Margaret Thaler Singer. Published by IDEA: http://www.ideajournal.com/authors.php?id=4
“NXIVM leader found guilty,” NPR: https://www.npr.org/2019/06/19/734116183/nxivm-leader-keith-raniere-found-guilty-of-all-charges-in-sex-cult-case
Lost Women of NXIVM - Investigation Discovery
Seduced - Starz

Profess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.

Votes for Women | 47 Oct 16, 2020

In this episode, we discuss the fight for women’s suffrage, the imperfect history of suffragists, and what it means for women to vote. Misty gives us the history (of course), Allegra recommends some books, and both share insights about voting patterns, voter suppression, and important women in the battle for universal suffrage.

Women gained and lost the right to vote a few times in American history, and even when we achieved the victory of the 19th Amendment in 1920, not all women were able to vote. This is the story of how women fought for suffrage, and then of how women have accessed and used that right. In a future episode, we will talk even more about some of the suffragists who did the work, and some literature about that fight.

Want extra reading? Check our sources:

What We Mean When We Talk About 'Suburban Women Voters' - NPR
Mattel adds Susan B. Anthony to its Barbie lineup - CBS
Don't Mess With the Jiu-jitsu Suffragettes
Women's Suffrage Reads for Fiction Lovers | The New York Public Library
Ida B. Wells-Barnett - National Women’s History Museum
The 1913 Women's Suffrage Parade - The Atlantic
This Day in History: The 1913 Women's Suffrage Parade - White House Archives
Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment - National Archives

Books we recommended in this episode:

Profess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.

Women and Social Media | 46 Oct 02, 2020

We’re back! In this episode, we discuss women in Social Media, including some famous women from social media and internet history, a recent social media whistleblower, and facts and research about what happens to women online (it’s not all bad, but it’s mostly bad).

Women are more active on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, though they are less likely to be listened to and more likely to be harassed. Allegra shares some history about Radia Perlman, whose inventions helped make the internet possible, and Joan Ball, who was the first person to make computer-based dating successful. Misty discusses Facebook whistleblower Sophie Zhang, and what Facebook has been up to (it’s almost entirely bad).

We’re inspired by all three women. Plus, we talk about what we’ve been up to since March.

Want extra reading? Here’s where we did our research:

A brief history of Facebook | Technology- The Guardian
Facebook Is Failing in Global Disinformation Fight, Says Former Worker - NYT
Whistleblower Says Facebook Ignored Global Political Manipulation - Buzzfeed
How Social Media Has Reshaped Feminism - Council on Foreign Relations
Twitter still failing women over online violence and abuse - Amnesty International
Women equal men in computing skill, but are less confident - The Conversation
Toward a cyberfeminist future: A new study centers African women as protagonists online - Global Voices
15 of the most important women in tech who changed the world - Mashable
Radia Perlman: Don't Call Me the Mother of the Internet - The Atlantic
The Mother of All Swipes - About Joan Ball - Logic Magazine
Rewind - Before Tinder, there was Dateline | 1843 magazine - The Economist
Women have about half the followers of men on Twitter and otherwise diminished influence - IHE

Profess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.

Unstoppable Texas Women Part 1 | 45 Feb 04, 2020

In our first of three episodes about Unstoppable Texas Women, we discuss two women who were great friends, awesome political forces, and very funny Texas women: Ann Richards (our 45th governor) and Molly Ivins (reporter and writer). We’ll get into what made them unstoppable, some favorite quotes from each, ordeals they overcame, and their best barbs aimed at the Bush family.

We’re inspired by Ann Richards and Molly Ivins because they told the truth, worked hard for others, and weren’t afraid to be themselves on a public stage.

We start the episode with a round-up of other women notable in Texas history, like Ma Ferguson and Clara Driscoll.

Want extra reading? Here’s where we did our research:

A Texas Monthly article about the legacy of Ann Richards: https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/the-renaissance-of-ann/
Ann Richards’s bio from the Texas Politics Project: https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/exec/governors/31.html
Info and photos of Ann Richards, from the Austin Public Library: https://library.austintexas.gov/ahc/ann-richards-54629
Ann Richards’s Keynote Address to the DNC, 1988: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtIFhiqS_TY
“The Price of Being Molly Ivins”: https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/the-price-of-being-molly/
“Why We Need Molly Ivins’s Wisdom Now More Than Ever”: https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/molly-ivins-raise-hell-film-janice-engel-politics/
Profile of Molly on “Americans Who Tell The Truth”: https://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/portraits/molly-ivins

Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.

What We've Been Watching | 44 Jan 27, 2020

We’re back, and we’re ready to share what we’ve been watching (binging) and loving. We discuss the (possible) gains the TV + movie industries made toward better representation, what’s terrible about the Oscar nominations (basically everything), and lots of great shows and movies we’ve been watching and want to share.

We’ll discuss feminism, female representation, gender, sex, language, and why they can’t say “vagina” on a medical drama.

In this episode: Little Women, The Good Place, Watchmen, The Witcher, Grey’s Anatomy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Marriage Story, Greta Gerwig, Awkwafina, Jennifer Lopez, 911: Lone Star, Regina King + more.

Want extra reading? Here’s where we did our research:

Time Magazine thought the “era of female-run TV was coming to an end” last year: https://time.com/5511730/female-run-tv-shows-ending/
The latest “Boxed In” study from San Diego State: https://womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2018-19_Boxed_In_Report.pdf
Variety’s comment on progress of female representation last year (“it’s not all good news,” they said): https://womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2018-19_Boxed_In_Report.pdf
Variety’s comment on that progress this year (it was better news): https://variety.com/2020/film/news/captain-marvel-little-women-female-protagonists-study-1203460436/
An LA Times article highlighting that most gains for female representation were for white women: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-01-08/women-film-hollywood-gender-study
Den of Geek’s discussion of gender on HBO’s Watchmen: https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/284399/beyond-silk-spectre-women-hbo-watchmen
Den of Geek on fantasy and feminism in Netflix’s The Witcher: https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/netflix/282415/the-witcher-netflix-series-magic-feminism-fantasy
Empire’s review of Little Women: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/little-women-2019/
NPR’s review of Little Women: https://www.npr.org/2019/12/20/789740628/little-women-again-greta-gerwig-s-adaptation-is-both-faithful-and-radical
Published in the New York Times, “The Bearable Whiteness of Little Women”: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/opinion/sunday/little-women-movie-race.html

Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.

Profess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Frozen + Disney Princesses | 43 Nov 12, 2019

This episode is all about Elsa, Anna, and all your favorite (or least favorite) Disney princesses - Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Moana, Tiana, Merida, Mulan, Jasmine, Ariel, Pocahontas, and Belle. We discuss why folks love Disney, what princesses do to girls and girl culture, how to keep girls from being “eaten” by Cinderella, and the impact of Disney around the world. We get into unhealthy body images and relationship models, giving your voice away, and getting “princessified.” It’s not all bad news, especially once we get to Frozen and our hopes for Frozen II.

Want extra reading? Here’s what we consulted for our episode:

Peggy Orenstein, Cinderella Ate My Daughter
Rebecca Hains, The Princess Problem: Guiding Our Girls Through The Princess Obsessed Years
The Washington Post article that published findings about female characters in Disney movies: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/25/researchers-have-discovered-a-major-problem-with-the-little-mermaid-and-other-disney-movies/
This Time magazine article defending The Little Mermaid: https://time.com/3586569/sexist-little-mermaid/
This NPR story about how Disney affects girls around the world: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/05/24/726129132/how-disney-princesses-influence-girls-around-the-world
This Bustle article with lots of love for Ursula: https://www.bustle.com/articles/155394-why-ursula-from-the-little-mermaid-was-actually-the-movies-hero

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

(W)itches vs. The Patriarchy, Part 2 | 42 Nov 05, 2019

In our second episode about Witches, we talk about women who embrace the label of witch because they don’t accept typical gender roles, and women maligned as “witches” by others, including Hillary Clinton and AOC. Plus, WITCH protest groups, Lindy West, and pop culture witches that made a statement about gender and feminism, including The Craft, AHS: Coven, and Sabrina. We also discuss Disney witches, including Maleficent and Ursula. It won’t surprise you to know that most witches in film and TV are not great representations of women. Still - why are so many of us drawn to the idea, imagery, and symbolism of a witch? What is inherent to witches that leads feminists to identify with them?

Want extra reading? Check our sources and recommendations:

About Kristin Sollee’s book: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jul/05/witches-feminism-books-kristin-j-sollee
About the 1960s WITCH protest group: https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/43gd8p/wicked-witch-60s-feminist-protestors-hexed-patriarchy
“The Real Reason Women Love Witches” by Annie Theriault: https://medium.com/the-establishment/the-real-reason-women-love-witches-647d48517f66
Witch protesters from 2017: https://www.lifesitenews.com/pulse/witches-violent-protestors-show-up-to-support-planned-parenthood-at-pro-lif
About AOC being accused of belonging to a coven: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2019/02/conservative-christians-claim-ocasio-cortez-is-a-witch-leading-attack-against-trump/
Review of AHS: Coven from Mic: https://www.mic.com/articles/80723/let-s-talk-about-the-extreme-racism-and-sexism-of-american-horror-story-coven
Review of AHS: Coven from Feministing: http://feministing.com/2013/12/04/american-horror-story-coven-is-getting-race-all-wrong/
There’s a great article from Critical Studies in Media Communication (a scholarly journal), but you’ll need access through a library or institution, called “There’s Nothing I Hate More Than a Racist: (Re) Centering Whiteness in American Horror Story: Coven,” by Amanda Kay LeBlanc.https://doi.org/10.1080/15295036.2017.1416418

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

(W)itches vs. The Patriarchy, Part 1 | 41 Oct 28, 2019

In our Halloween-themed first of two episodes about Witches, we’re both really in our elements - Misty gets to talk about history, and Allegra gets to talk about witches. We focus on historical witches and witch hunts, the Hammer of Witches, Salem, Macbeth, the Crucible, what made someone more likely to be seen as a witch (surprise: Being a woman! Being a marginalized woman! Not having a husband or children!), and a lots of modern pop culture references to witchery.

Want extra reading? Check out our sources and recommended books:

The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege, Marilynne K. Roach
In The Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692, by Mary Beth Norton
“Witchcraft and Old Women,” accessible on JSTOR: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3600840?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
“Salem Witch Trial Victims” from Refinery 29: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/03/192115/salem-witch-trials-victims-date-history-march-1
An article about Tituba from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/unraveling-mysteries-tituba-salem-witch-trials-180956960/
From the University of Virginia Salem Witch Trials Archives, a list of important people in the historical records: http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/people/?group.num=G02&mbio.num=mb22
From the University of Virginia Salem Witch Trials Archives, an entry about Sarah Good: http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/people/good.html
From Newsweek on the increasing number of people who identify as witches and / or wiccans: https://www.newsweek.com/witchcraft-wiccans-mysticism-astrology-witches-millennials-pagans-religion-1221019
From the LA Times, on wiccans in the military: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-nov-26-la-na-air-force-pagans-20111127-story.html

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Misunderstood 90s Women, Part 2 | 40 Oct 08, 2019

Many women who became famous in the 1990s were and continue to be misunderstood. In the second of two episodes about these women, we’ll discuss Joycelyn Elders, Anita Hill, Monica Lewinsky, and Marcia Clark, and what why it seems like we’ve started repeating themes of the 90s in the last few years.

The 1990s were full of scandals and crimes that continue to grab our attention, including two political sex scandals that somehow publicly shamed the women and left the men relatively unscathed, and the trial of the century that made a woman prosecutor’s hair, make-up and clothing more important than her serious skills as a lawyer.

Want extra reading? Check our sources:

The book 90s Bitch by Allison Yarrow
“How the 90s Tricked Women Into Thinking They’d Gained Gender Equality” by Time Magazine: https://time.com/5310256/90s-gender-equality-progress/
“The Joe Biden and Anita Hill Controversy, Explained.” https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/27/18262482/joe-biden-anita-hill-2020-christine-blasey-ford-brett-kavanaugh
“Here Are Some of the Questions Anita Hill Answered in 1991” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/here-are-some-of-the-questions-anita-hill-fielded-in-1991/
“Maureen Dowd Smeared Monica Lewinksy. Now, She’s Undermining #MeToo” https://www.vox.com/2018/3/25/17159732/maureen-dowd-monica-lewinsky-metoo-barry-diller-interview-new-york-times
“The Clinton Affair: How We Remember the Women” https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/11/clinton-affair-how-we-remember-women/576271/
(From 1995) “A Good Hair Day” https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-12-mn-53816-story.html
“The Devastating Truth Behind Marcia’s Clark’s Leaked Topless Photos” https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/03/marcia-clark-topless-photos-people-v-oj-simpson-american-crime-story
“Marcia Clark: Stop Calling Women Ambitious Like Its a Bad Thing” https://time.com/4306010/marcia-clark-sexism-blood-defense-interview/
“Was Marcia Clark’s Hair Really Such a Big Deal in 1995?” https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/was-marcia-clarks-haircut-really-such-a-big-deal-001903473.html
“Marcia Clark’s Husband Cites Trial in Custody Fight” https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-03-02-mn-37861-story.html

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Misunderstood 90s Women, Part 1 | 39 Oct 01, 2019

Many women who became famous in the 1990s were and continue to be misunderstood. In the first of two episodes about these women, we’ll discuss Anna Nicole Smith, Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan, and what life was like for women and girls in the decade that was supposed to make everything better for us.

1992 was supposed to be “The Year of the Woman,” and women had more career and educational opportunities than ever before. We still somehow ended up having to walk a fine line in both public and private, and weren’t yet really seen as people. Girls reading teen mags and women navigating sexist social structures created a decade of misunderstood women.

Want extra reading? Check our sources:

The book 90s Bitch by Allison Yarrow
“Making an Ice Queen,” about the movie I, Tonya: https://thebaffler.com/latest/i-tonya-marshall
“Remote Control,” by Sarah Marshall, on Tonya and Nancy: https://believermag.com/remote-control/
“How the 90s Tricked Women Into Thinking They’d Gained Gender Equality” by Time Magazine: https://time.com/5310256/90s-gender-equality-progress/

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Everything is Terrible | 38 Sep 25, 2019

This week’s episode is called “Everything Is Terrible.” We couldn’t help it. In this episode, we run down all the things that terrible for women right now, and unfortunately - it’s a lot. We discuss why it’s important to discuss things that aren’t positive, keeping the powerful in check and recognizing the work and challenges that women have experienced.

We discuss sexual harassment and assault and criminal justice, women not being believed by doctors, a terrible list by Forbes, and why we’re more likely to die in car accidents, and then we do get to some good news: women being seen as competent, women’s groups shoring up political power, and great books and good TV to look forward to.

Want extra reading?

From Vox, on Brett Kavanaugh: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/9/16/20868426/brett-kavanaugh-fbi-investigation-susan-collins-joe-manchin-jeff-flake
From Madame Noir, on Ja’leyah Jamar: https://madamenoire.com/1100519/jaleyah-jamar-trans-woman-murdered/
From Pro Publica, on the Marshall project: https://www.propublica.org/article/false-rape-accusations-an-unbelievable-story
This American Life episode called “Anatomy of Doubt” https://www.propublica.org/article/false-rape-accusations-an-unbelievable-story
From Texas Tribune on donating money to rape kit testing when we renew our drivers’ licenses: https://www.texastribune.org/2017/09/18/how-texas-drivers-can-help-texas-tackle-its-rape-kit-testing-backlog/
Atlantic article called “An Epidemic of Disbelief” https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/08/an-epidemic-of-disbelief/592807/
Think podcast episode on serial rapists and rape kits: https://think.kera.org/2019/08/12/why-serial-rapists-stalk-among-us/
From Jezebel, on women and crash test dummies: https://jezebel.com/women-are-dying-in-car-accidents-because-the-only-femal-1836527298
From NYT, on doctors and female patients: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/well/live/when-doctors-downplay-womens-health-concerns.amp.html
From Time, by Dr. Cottom, on not being listened to as a patient: https://time.com/5494404/tressie-mcmillan-cottom-thick-pregnancy-competent/
From NPR, on the Forbes list: https://www.npr.org/2019/09/11/759899375/female-ceos-blast-forbes-list-of-innovative-leaders-that-includes-only-one-woman?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social
The LA Times article on women and competence: https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-07-18/women-more-competent-than-men-study
From MSNBC, on two years into #metoo: https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/men-sound-metoo-i-definitely-look-back-cringe-ncna1054886

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Summer Movies | 37 Sep 17, 2019

Our episode about Summer Movies is here! We discuss Wine Country, Spider-Man: Far From Home, It Chapter Two, The Kitchen, Toy Story 4, and Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. Plus Aladdin, John Wick 3, and The Lion King.

We also get into this summer’s biggest winners and losers at the box office, and which of this year’s movies inched us forward in their discussions of gender. Misty shares some summer movie history - from the first season of summer hits to the origins of the terms “Blockbuster” and “Nickelodeon.”

We have a lot of fun discussing gender, representation, progress and problems in this summer’s biggest movies. Was Bo a feminist icon or just a token character in Toy Story? Which movies would we recommend, and which would we never watch again?

Want some extra reading? Here are the sources we used or mentioned in this episode:

From Jezebel, about Quentin Tarantino’s female representation fail: https://themuse.jezebel.com/quentin-tarantinos-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-double-1836675763
From Polygon, about Zendaya in Spider-Man: Far From Home: https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/5/20683227/spider-man-far-from-home-mj-character-zendaya
More about Toy Story and Pixar’s gender progress:
Entertainment Weekly’s List of Summer Movie Winners and Losers: https://ew.com/movies/2019/08/14/summer-2019-box-office-winners-losers/

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Summer TV | 36 Aug 26, 2019

We have a lot of fun discussing summer TV: reality shows, Stranger Things 3, OITNB, Handmaid’s Tale, Euphoria, and lots more. What did these shows tell us about gender? How well are they reflecting us? Which ones made us laugh? What makes a show “prestige TV”?

We also discuss some random summer competition shows, like Holey Moley, Blown Away, and Ink Master, what Fall shows we’re looking forward to, and why summer TV is so different.

Want some extra reading? Here are the sources we used or mentioned in this episode:

From The Hollywood Reporter, “Why ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Broke Its Rules for First Same-Sex Romance: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bachelor-paradise-airs-first-same-sex-romance-demi-burnett-1233460
From Vice, “‘Stranger Things 3’ Seems to Be Moving Backwards of Its Treatment of Women”: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/gy47gj/stranger-things-3-seems-to-be-moving-backwards-on-its-treatment-of-women
From Essence, in 2016: “Orange is The New Black, Except in The Writer’s Room” https://www.essence.com/entertainment/orange-new-black-except-its-writers/
From Slate, “OITNB’s Final Season Is the Best the Show Has Been in Years” https://www.essence.com/entertainment/orange-new-black-except-its-writers/
From Vulture, “Holey Moley and Blown Away Should Be Your Go-to Summer Reality Competitions” https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/holey-moley-blown-away-perfect-summer-tv.html

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Getting a Job, Part 2 | 35 Aug 20, 2019

Getting a job is hard for everyone - but can it be harder for women? Why are women less likely to apply for jobs, and what can workplaces do to make applying, interviewing, and hiring more equitable?

This is Part 2 of our 2-episode series on the challenges women encounter in job ads, in interviews, and sometimes even when building their resumes. We have stats, personal experience, advice (good and bad), and some good news, too. We'll discuss applying, interviewing, negotiating salary, promotions, and hiring committees.

As college faculty, something we think about all the time is preparing students for their future studies and careers, making sure they get both our content and the skills they need to be successful in a place where they can thrive. So, how can we make sure that everyone gets a chance to do that?

Want some extra reading? Check out these sources, which we used for this episode:

“Evidence that Gendered Language in Job Advertisements Exists and Sustains Gender Equality,” published by Harvard Kennedy School’s Women and Public Policy Program: http://gap.hks.harvard.edu/evidence-gendered-wording-job-advertisements-exists-and-sustains-gender-inequality
“Facts about the Gender Wage Gap,” published by CNN Money: https://money.cnn.com/2015/04/13/news/economy/equal-pay-day-2015/
“Gender Bias in the Job Market: A Longitudinal Analysis,” from the University of Chicago: http://people.cs.uchicago.edu/~ravenben/publications/pdf/gender-cscw18.pdf
“Diversity Policies Rarely Make Companies Fairer,” published by the Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2016/01/diversity-policies-dont-help-women-or-minorities-and-they-make-white-men-feel-threatened
The totaljobs Gender Bias Decoder: https://www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/gender-bias-decoder/
Gender Decoder for Job Ads: http://gender-decoder.katmatfield.com/

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Getting a Job, Part 1 | 34 Aug 13, 2019

Getting a job is hard for everyone - but can it be harder for women? Why are women less likely to apply for jobs, and what can workplaces do to make applying, interviewing, and hiring more equitable?

This is Part 1 of our 2-episode series on the challenges women encounter in job ads, in interviews, and sometimes even when building their resumes. We have stats, personal experience, advice (good and bad), and some good news, too. We'll discuss gendered language in job ads, what makes women want to apply, and how employers can make smarter choices about recruitment.

As college faculty, something we think about all the time is preparing students for their future studies and careers, making sure they get both our content and the skills they need to be successful in a place where they can thrive. So, how can we make sure that everyone gets a chance to do that?

Want some extra reading? Check out these sources, which we used for this episode:

“Evidence that Gendered Language in Job Advertisements Exists and Sustains Gender Equality,” published by Harvard Kennedy School’s Women and Public Policy Program: http://gap.hks.harvard.edu/evidence-gendered-wording-job-advertisements-exists-and-sustains-gender-inequality
“Facts about the Gender Wage Gap,” published by CNN Money: https://money.cnn.com/2015/04/13/news/economy/equal-pay-day-2015/
“Gender Bias in the Job Market: A Longitudinal Analysis,” from the University of Chicago: http://people.cs.uchicago.edu/~ravenben/publications/pdf/gender-cscw18.pdf
“Diversity Policies Rarely Make Companies Fairer,” published by the Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2016/01/diversity-policies-dont-help-women-or-minorities-and-they-make-white-men-feel-threatened
The totaljobs Gender Bias Decoder: https://www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/gender-bias-decoder/
Gender Decoder for Job Ads: http://gender-decoder.katmatfield.com/

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

The Books Were Better | 33 Aug 05, 2019

We get to recommend some great books with female lead characters, relatable story lines and realistic development, plus compare them to their on-screen counterparts. We also discuss the success of female authors, and the rise of women-written books being adapted into successful movies and shows.

In this episode, Allegra celebrates three women-led books: Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler, Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer, and Big Little Lies by Liane Moriaty, and gets into the strengths and drawbacks of their TV or movie adaptations. Misty shares her take on Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman, and compares it to the popular Netflix show.

We also talk about both the rising success of female authors, and an industry that’s still trying to hold them down. We also get to revel in Reese Witherspoon’s support of women-written books through both her production company that focuses on adapting those into shows and movies (including Gone Girl, Big Little Lies, Little Fires Everywhere, Where the Crawdads Sing, and lots more), and through her book club.

We also do a quick call out to a show that was much better than the books: True Blood.

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Guide to a Feminist Wedding | 32 Jul 30, 2019

Take his name (or hers) or don't, throw bouquets or keep them forever, toss garters or never wear them: it's all up to you.

This one is about feminist weddings, the history of weddings and Western wedding traditions, and some literary weddings you might love (or hate).

In this episode, we each get to share some details about our own weddings and the choices we made about dresses, decor, and being “given away.” Misty gets to talk history, but promises not to stay in the Middle Ages too long, and Allegra shares some literary weddings - including, well just about every Jane Austen novel, and the pitiful story of Miss Havisham.

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale | 31 Jul 22, 2019

We’re very excited to discuss the influences, context, and legacy of one of our favorite books, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Misty gets to talk about history, Allegra gets to discuss literature, and they both share what they think the book means, and why it’s still so important.

We include what we know about how and why Atwood wrote this book, what literary and historical influences helped shape the novel, and what its themes are. We also discuss why the book resonates with so many who read it, why it was set in America, and how it has impacted literary works that came after it.

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

Women in WW2 | 30 Jun 17, 2019

In our 30th episode we talk about women during WW2, their service, work, and achievements. Women were helping to win more than one war, as they made contributions to the nation’s efforts abroad, while also moving women closer to equality and fair treatment.

Misty schools us on Rosie, rationing, Victory Gardens and the AWVS (American Women’s Voluntary Service). Allegra recommends some great books about women during WW2, including Code Girls, a nonfiction book researched and written by a woman about the hundreds of women who helped write and decrypt codes during the war.

A lot changed for American women during the 1940s, including how many women worked, and what kinds of jobs women were (finally) able to hold. If you are able to uncover the stories that have been overlooked, you’ll see the progress toward equity and inclusion these women were able to make, while helping the Allies win the war.

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

29 | Girls Who Game Jun 10, 2019

Girls are gamers, too. How far have we come since Ms Pac-Man? How many women play video games, and why don’t all women feel welcome? In this episode, we talk about female players of all ages, from the 80s until now.

We get into all-female esports team, Overwatch leagues, tournament play, barnacle characters in WOW, and whether Candy Crush counts.

Links and extra credit reading:

Blackgirlnerds.com blog entry on WOW:

https://blackgirlnerds.com/world-warcraft-women-problem/

More info on GamerGate:

More about the Frag Dolls:

https://kotaku.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-frag-dolls-a-group-that-blaze-1832991370

The “Insights into Sexism” research article abstract and media coverage:

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

28 | Warrior Women in Real Life Jun 03, 2019

Women warriors have always been pretty common, and women have played major roles in historical combat and modern special operations command forces. In this episode, we’ll talk about some women whose stories you (probably) haven’t heard, including gladiators, a short-term warrior queen, and someone nicknamed “angel of death.”

Misty gets back to history - ancient history! - and Allegra shares stories from more recent women at war.

To see the statue we discuss, click this link and scroll down: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/gladiators/amazones.html

More reading for those who want extra credit:

https://www.ancient.eu/article/35/female-gladiators-in-ancient-rome/

https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/dispelling-the-myth-of-women-in-special-operations

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/08/us/shannon-kent-military-spy.html

https://www.cfr.org/article/demographics-us-military

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

27 | Warrior Women of Westeros May 21, 2019

In our last Game of Thrones episode, we first address some questions about the show’s depictions of women and sex, and focus on the Warrior Women of Westeros, including Arya Stark, Brienne of Tarth, and Yara Greyjoy.

No season 8 spoilers!

Of course, we can’t resist talking about gender roles or the show’s portrayal of gay characters, along with some male characters who grapple with the patriarchy, including Ned Stark, Ser Loras, Renly, and Theon Greyjoy.

Of course, a Game of Thrones episode will be full of twisty stories, strong women, some laughs, and connections between history and HBO. Find out what Misty almost blindly predicts for Westeros, and which character Allegra thought should have ended up on the throne.

Synonyms for nuanced: shaded, exact, subtle, fine, showing fine grades or distinctions.

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

26 | GOT Queens? May 14, 2019

Queens and female leaders in GOT have stories full of family drama, battles for the throne, and questionable choices. It turns out there are lots of historical queens with all that, too.

No Season 8 spoilers!

A 7th Century Chinese empress, Cersei Lannister, the Spanish queen who sent Columbus to the “new world,” the Mother of Dragons, and Sansa Stark - each has a complex story, interesting relationships, and struggles against the patriarchy.

We also discuss the feminism of the show: its treatment of women and of misogynists, its representation on screen and off, and when it will be safe to decide whether it really is a feminist show.

Of course, a Game of Thrones episode will be full of twisty stories, strong women, some laughs, and connections between history and HBO. Find out who Misty would be if she lived in Westeros, and which character shares a motto with Allegra.

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

25 | Fangirls May 07, 2019

What does it mean to be a fangirl? What are some things worth fangirling about?

In this episode, we examine and discuss the term “fangirl” - its positive and negative implications - and we get to talk about things we are total fangirls for! We also (somehow) discuss Joe Rogan, being called sir, grading finals, and wearing swimsuits.

Misty tells us about the power and fun of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, a musical show that just ended on the CW that she wishes we would all watch already. Cristina talks about the new show Shrill on Hulu, based on the book by Lindy West. Allegra (of course) can’t shut-up about Grey’s Anatomy, which will (apparently) never end (it’s been 15 years!).

All these shows give female writers and producers vehicles for telling women’s stories, showing female characters with depth and nuance, and showing us people we can relate to, care about, and learn from. They’re all also fun, honest, and easy to stream.

Written by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens, with guest Cristina Martinez Sullivan. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.

24 | Bosses Who Happen to Be Ladies Apr 23, 2019

We discuss the frightening term “ladyboss,” the more frightening company “LadyBoss,” stats on women business leaders, and two female tech execs.

Blondes probably don’t really have more fun, but they do have more high-level management positions. This, and lots of other weird, awful stuff is true when it comes to the obstacles women face in the workplace. We’ll talk tokenism, Leaning In (blech), and Theranos, too.

There’s a pretty narrow path to success for women, and especially for women whose identities have multiple intersecting factors like race, disability, nationality, and age. We strategize how to get more diverse perspectives at the top, and how leaders have to be intentional to make real change.

Some sources we mention, if you want to do extra reading:

About Elizabeth Holmes’s appearance and not her fraud:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/03/26/elizabeth-holmes-defrauded-investors-why-are-we-obsessed-with-her-appearance/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.dd96cb19b232

On Lean In and its weaknesses:

https://www.vox.com/first-person/2018/12/6/18128838/michelle-obama-lean-in-sheryl-sandberg

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-i-wont-lean-in_b_3586527

https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-sheryl-sandberg-lean-in-problematic-advice-2018-8

Blondes have more success?

https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/08/why-are-female-ceos-and-senators-disproportionately-blond-blame-sexism.html

Why Women Don’t Want to Work For Women:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEXVQiN49V0

Slate: Lady Boss of Me -How the “lady boss” rhetoric of female empowerment places women in charge of little more than themselves.

https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/08/lady-boss-women-empowerment-rhetoric-doesnt-equate-to-actual-power.html

Forbes: How A Millennial Couple Spent Their Last $1,000 To Build An 8-Figure Business-

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tinamulqueen/2018/09/20/how-a-millennial-couple-spent-their-last-1000-to-build-an-8-figure-business/#3ad77fa704cf

HER MONEY: Why Women Don’t Want a Female Boss- https://www.hermoney.com/earn/careers/why-women-don-t-want-a-female-boss/

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us are professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written and hosted by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna.

23 | The Uneven Bar - Women in Gymnastics Apr 15, 2019

What's changed in American women's gymnastics since Mary Lou Retton got that perfect 10? Were they all changes for the better?

In this episode, we discuss the history of women's artistic gymnastics - from when females were first able to compete, to when women started doing the aerial impossible. We cheer for Simone Biles, Kerri Strug, and other favorites, and contrast the strength and power of these athletes to the murky mess of institutional failure that's surrounded the sport for decades.

Lots of great highlights and good memories (especially for those of us who love the Olympics!). We also get into new scoring systems, feminist gymnasts and feminist gymnastics, gold medal counts, and our hope for the USA Gymnastics of the future (as long as Simone Biles will be there, we're in!).

You'll also get a couple of good book recommendations - whether you're into novels or nonfiction.

Written and hosted by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens.

22 | The No-History Episode - Updates on Women in TV, Sports, Music, Science, Space and More Apr 08, 2019

In this (kinda short) update episode, we discuss recent developments for women in horror, TV, sports, music, math, science, movies, and space. Most of the news is good - but all of it is essential.

Who's broken records in music? What happened to our all female space walk? Why are people still telling women what they can't wear to play sports? How did women already become more impressive at math since just last month? Also, more to say about Captain Marvel, lady detectives, and horror.

It's a fun episode, with guest spots from Cristina (Brooklyn 99!) and Austin, some great recommendations for binge-watching and normal watching, and some news that will outrage but also inspire.

Written and hosted by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens.

Clips from "7 Rings" and "Thank U, Next" and from Jordan Peele's "Us."

To read the Tweets we quote about the space walk, follow Erin Blakemore (@heroinebook): https://twitter.com/heroinebook/status/1110313517599449088.

21 | Female Investigative Journalists - Women's History Month 2 Mar 29, 2019

Nelly Bly, Katherine Graham, Marvel Cooke, Lorena Hickok, Joan Didion: they wrote stories that sometimes only women could write, elevating women's voices and revealing otherwise unknown details of our society.

We are going to (of course) discuss a brief history of women in journalism, and share stories about four of our favorites. Allegra also shares some book recommendations, and we (try to) end on a positive note, analyzing these women's long lasting and beneficial impact on history and writing.

Intrepid and important, these real-life women writers have their stories told in some novels we recommend in this episode.

This episode was recorded in Galveston, where we were attending the Texas Distance Learning Association Conference.

Books we recommend: Woman 99, The Address, The Dollhouse, White Houses. and Slouching Toward Bethlehem.

Find us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com.

Written and presented by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens.

20 | Women of Science - Women's History Month 1 Mar 22, 2019

The history of women in the sciences is not stellar, but we’ve got lots of good news, and several female scientists to celebrate, from the 1700s to right now.

We can’t pronounce the names of all of the dinosaurs whose fossils she found, but we can tell you how much we respect the achievements of Mary Anning; Misty takes us back to the time when women were welcome in science, but also to a time when a woman couldn’t become a surgeon, so she helped invent a different medical subfield; and Allegra brings you promising updates from NASA, where women are rocking rocket science. Other women we dig in this episode: Dr. Virginia Apgar, Tiera Fletcher, and Kristen Facciol.

Some sources we mention, if you’d like extra homework:

Report from National Academies of Sciences: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/shstudy/index.htm
“How Women Are Harassed Out of Science”: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/07/how-women-are-harassed-out-of-science/492521/
“NASA Head Says First Person on Mars ‘Likely to Be a Woman’”: https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/12/us/nasa-woman-on-mars-trnd/index.html

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna

19 | Women in Space and Flight - MCU Part 2 Mar 08, 2019

How do the MCU movies in space represent women? How important is Captain Marvel? What’s the history of women in flight and space?

In this episode, we discuss the three MCU movies that take place in space: Guardians of The Galaxy, Guardians of The Galaxy 2, and Captain Marvel. We also discuss some famous women of flight - piloting military planes, space shuttles, and commercial airlines. There’s a lot of great representation in the films, and in our history, as well as some unfortunate moments.

Hear about women who helped train pilots in WW2 and how they never gave up fighting to be recognized, women who took flight for NASA and the Air Force, and how our first female combat pilot has kept fighting on behalf of herself and other women in the armed forces after retiring.

Also: Spoiler-free quick review of Captain Marvel, and discussions of representation behind the scenes of these three movies (Female writers! A female director! A score composed by a woman!).

We’re taking Spring Break off - so we’ll be back March 22 to continue celebrating Women’s History Month!

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna

18 | MCU Part 1 - Representation and Women in Superhero Films Mar 01, 2019

Is the Marvel Cinematic Universe a feminist universe?

In this episode, we discuss the history of some of our favorite heroes and the comics code that prohibited both “the walking dead” and drawing women with “exaggerated” physical qualities. We talk about screen time for women in the last 20 Marvel movies, representation in the writers’ rooms, and the things to look for in a feminist viewing.

We agree that most MCU movies give us some good news, like female scientists, world class assassins, and even some cool lady villains, but also bad news like limited development and some serious male gaze.

At least one of us is a huge Marvel fan (and the other is hugely oblivious to everything except which one Thor is), so there are no takedowns here. And, there’s lots to love, like the many kinds of progress Black Panther includes, the first named female superhero in the MCU, and the (fingers crossed) upcoming Black Widow movie. Plus, strong friendships, perfectly awkward teenage Peter Parker and the academic decathlon team, and us not remembering what to call the clothes superheroes wear (We know now! They’re suits!).

Part 2, which covers heroes in space and Captain Marvel, is coming next!

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna

17 | 80s Ladies at Work Feb 22, 2019

In the 1980s, the percentage of American women who worked outside the home rose above 50%, so in this episode we talk about the history of women at work, and get into some great 80s shows and movies that reflected the experiences of working women.

What was it like to be joining the workforce - or trying to move up in it? What social changes were causes and results of the evolving workplace? Misty, for some reason, brings a graph to a podcast, and Allegra actually looked up historical research. Don't worry - Misty still hasn't watched most of the shows and movies we discuss, including:

Cagney & Lacey
A Different World
Murphy Brown
Family Matters
Designing Women
9 to 5
Working Girl
Die Hard

These texts take on challenging topics, ridiculous fashion, changing gender roles, and about 200 cans of Aqua Net.

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

16 | The Trouble With Tropes Feb 15, 2019

What’s a “woman in a refrigerator”? Are you more complex than an Old Maid or Bridezilla? Nagging wife or desperate for a husband?

We’ll discuss what tropes are, and what tropes storytellers use in their depictions of women. How do these tropes undermine or over-simplify women’s complex ranges of emotions, ideas, and personalities? How do tropes affect our own biases, and why does this matter?

With lots of examples from TV and movies, we get into crazy women, old maids, wedding-obsessed ditzes, and perhaps the most pernicious: straw feminists and women on the sidelines.

Don’t worry, we end with examples of TV shows, movies, and books that bust tropes with realistic, complex, nuanced female characters that bring women’s identities into the forefront.

Audio from: Wedding Crashers, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, King of Queens, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends, Community, Powerpuff Girls

With more examples from: Married With Children, Roseanne, New Girl

Shows We Recommend in This Episode: The Kids Are Alright, Orange is The New Black, The Wire, Grace and Frankie, Big Love, Parks and Recreation, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Black-ish

Books We Recommend in This Episode: The Wife (Wolitzer), Manhattan Beach (Egan), Asymmetry (Halliday), Burning Girl (Messud).

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna

15 | Math Class Feb 08, 2019

We’re taking you to math class, as best as we can, to talk about math education for women, and some of our favorite female mathematicians and math experts.

From women in the 1800s who fought to go to college or invented computer programming, to women still alive with mathematical achievements that helped defeat Nazis and move us all forward.

This episode includes discussion of 4 awesome women, featuring a guest spot from our friends in the STEM Fatale podcast:

Ada Lovelace, who understood the concept for the first computer (the analytical engine)
Katherine Johnson, who completed flight path calculations for John Glenn using paper and pencil (and chalk and chalkboards)
Elizebeth Friedman, who helped create the field of code breaking and used her skills during both World Wars
Grace Hopper, who served in the Navy, worked on the Mark I computer, and invented programming compilers

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna

14 | Dudes + Feminism (Featuring a Profess-Him) Feb 01, 2019

Do men need feminism? Does feminism need men? Is toxic masculinity real?

The answer to all of these questions is a very emphatic yes, and in this episode, we discuss examples from TV, academic research, and our own lives that can attest to that. While this episode includes discussions about serious stuff that we take seriously, we have lots of fun (and so many laughs) with our guest, a real-live dude professor who shares his perspectives and experiences.

We discuss the Big Bang Theory, Gamergate, Urban Dictionary, Man Wipes, Wonder Woman, a Gillette ad you may have seen, and satire.

Toxic behavior isn’t exclusive to men, and it’s certainly not universal among them, but there are expressions, actions, products, ads, and media that illustrate and amplify the toxic version of masculinity. Toxic enough to make many men feel not strong enough, toxic enough to make women wary, and toxic enough to put people at odds.

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna, Guest Rik Sehgal

13 | Villainy, Crimes, and Musicals Jan 25, 2019

Female criminals, anti-heroes and villains in history, literature and TV.

Why are female criminals oddly fascinating? How has their depiction changed over time, and what does their depiction tell us about ourselves? What’s up with playground chants about murder? Why do we need more female anti-heroes on TV?

We discuss some famous felonious women, and some lesser known lady criminals of history - including an exploration of the continued (and possibly sexist) depictions of Lizzie Borden, the women who (mostly) inspired the musical Chicago, and others.

We also get into the literary tradition of writing female villains inside and outside of stereotypes, inspiring performances by female actors, and accomplishments of female authors. Not happy to let Walter White and Tony Soprano have all the fun, we trace the history of televised female anti-heroes and decide on whether their representation is, in the end, beneficial representation after all.

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

12 | Lady Detectives on TV Jan 18, 2019

From Charlie’s Angels to Brooklyn 99, how have female detectives and crime solvers been depicted on TV?

We discuss some notable TV detectives from Honey West to Jessica Fletcher, talk about how shows like Law and Order made progress in representation, and get into CSI and other shows that (thankfully) start to show more complex female characters. This episode also includes discussions about The Closer, Veronica Mars, Major Crimes, and some new shows this season that have us feeling hopeful.

It’s pretty obvious from the start that we think Brooklyn 99 is the most progressive example we have - and guest Cristina Sullivan shares her take on Latina representation in the show. We commend its humor, diversity, portrayal of LGBT characters, and its approach to important topics. But how did we get here - and why is this show a rarity?

In this episode, we end on a high note of progress, with some optimism about the future of female detectives on TV.

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna

11 | Lady Detectives in History and Literature Jan 11, 2019

Women solving crimes, preventing assassinations, gossiping to find killers, and breaking into archetypes and police forces.

Who are the notable female sleuths from literature, and how does their development reflect the changing nature of police departments? How does Agatha Christie’s most famous lady detective fit an archetype, but break the mold? What happened to the first generation of women who grew up reading Nancy Drew?

We start in the 1840s with literary traditions and the creation of modern police forces, introduce you to the real Kate Warne and a novel about her, and discuss literary and real-life legacies of women who changed crime solving.

In this episode, we make powerful connections between history and literature, and between modern policewomen and recent crime novels. You'll also get lots of great book recommendations!

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna

10 | Modern Holiday Dec 21, 2018

All we want for Christmas is non-oppressive media representation.

In our second holiday special, we get into seasonal sexism, Hallmark and Lifetime holiday movies, Elf on the Shelf, Dolly Parton, diamond rings, and non-problematic Christmas and holiday jams.

Remembering that the personal is political, we discuss some of our holiday memories and how women balance extra expectations around the holiday season. Remembering that we support each other’s choices, we discuss representation and gender roles in Christmas TV movies, but also why those movies are valuable.

We discuss lots of things that sneak up on us during the season: extra work, sexist advertising, Pinterest and other sources of pressure, and what should really matter.

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna

9 | Classic Christmas (Or, How English Teachers Ruin Everything) Dec 14, 2018

Baby, it's cold out there for a feminist.

In our first of two Christmas specials, we get into Little Women, and three classic “Christmas” carols. We're sure you're already familiar with how English teachers ruin stuff, but do y'all know how surprisingly rad Louisa May Alcott was?

This episode has everything: Literature and literary analysis, book-to-film adaptations, songs, jokes, history, women's movements, and what we want for Christmas!

Find out what Misty's historical final take on “Baby, It's Cold Outside” is (it may surprise you?), and learn about why “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” was banned for a year.

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna

8 | Women In Sports: Play Like a Person and Look However You Want Dec 07, 2018

Play like a man but look like a girl? We are going to hard pass on both.

Make-up, hair-dos, playing in dresses (or worse), having chaperones and going to charm schools: Playing professional sports seems to come with some serious restrictions for women.

We talk about women playing professional sports in the US: the woman who was too good for Babe Ruth’s liking, the All-American Girls’ Professional Baseball League, women who play football the only way they can, what hasn’t changed since the 1940s, and how much we love that Geena Davis movie.

We have a lot of fun on this episode, and get to discuss history, culture, sports, and film. We promise even the non-sports fans among us will be glad they’re here.

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna.

7 | Pop Charts, Not Pop-Tarts 2 (Women of Music Part 2) Nov 30, 2018

Rebel girls, girl power, lady rock stars, Lilith Fair, and shaking off scrubs.

In our second music episode, we rock out with some of the greatest women of music from the 1980s and the 1990s. Listen as Madonna, Cyndi Lauper embrace their personal power, and Joan Jett and the Go-Go’s make space for female-led bands. In the 90s, we get alternative, and discuss songs that speak to what it was like to be a girl - or man, to feel like a woman.

Which songs speak to us about the complexity of womanhood? How does the history of female musicians relate to to women’s movements?

You’ll hear some of your favorite songs, and you’ll pick a side on our debate about Britney and Christina.

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Audio engineering by Austin Haynes. Written and presented by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna.

6 | Pop Charts, Not Pop Tarts 1 (Women of Music Part 1) Nov 16, 2018

What counts as a lady anthem? In this episode, we discuss (and listen to!) girl groups, Janis Joplin, queens of disco, and some of the original divas.

In our first music episode, we jam out with some of the greatest women of music from the 1960s and the 1970s. Listen as women go from crying over a man to singing “hear me roar,” and from waiting on “Mr. Postman” to singing odes to “The Pill.”

Which girls groups staged a protest to get their royalties? How does the history of female musicians relate to to the women’s movements?

You’ll hear some of your favorite songs, and you won’t believe what songs made chart-topping history (clue: they’re not the ones we are still singing).

Find Profess-Hers on Twitter and Instagram @professhers. Email us at professhers@gmail.com. Listen to us everywhere you find podcasts.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna

5 | Lifestyle Leading Ladies Nov 09, 2018

Was Julia Child a very tall spy?*

In this episode, we share stories about our favorite lifestyle TV leading ladies. Misty schools us on just how hardcore Julia Child was, Allegra may change your mind about how important and inspiring Martha Stewart is, and we take turns celebrating Oprah.

How did these three follow their interests and passions into high-profile careers? How have they used their power and influence to be of use to other women (and to give them free cars)? Are Martha and Oprah always on the covers of their own magazines?

Cooking, decorating, and interviewing become platforms for advocacy, doing it yourself, and health. (With a shout out to runner-up Rachael Ray, and apologies for how Oprah unleashed Drs. Oz and Phil upon the world).

*Kind of, but not really

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna

4 | Women of TV Through Time Nov 02, 2018

How did we get from June Cleaver to SVU? What does Friends get right in its representation of women, gender roles and sexuality, and which scenes make us cringe? Why hasn't Mariska Hargitay won every Emmy ever?

We’re going to dig into some of the golden girls of TV in every decade - from the 1950s through the present. We highlight landmark shows from every era and discuss their representations of women and how they reflect social progress. Misty takes us through the history of consensus culture, reasons to love Lucy, and what Mary Tyler Moore did for all the women who just wanna wear pants. We also talk about Roseanne, Friends, the Golden Girls, and Law & Order: SVU.

We promise there are more TV episodes to come: Handmaid’s Tale, Grey’s Anatomy, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Kristen Bell everything, Orange Is The New Black, plus lots more.

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

3 | The Haunting Prose of Female Authors Oct 26, 2018

Monsters, Hitchcock, psychological horror, hauntings, cults, vampires or the hunt for a killer: female authors are killing it in horror and suspense writing.

Expect many ghastly puns and lots of literary criticism in this episode, our second Halloween special, about women writers who can really scare us: featuring Mary Shelley, Charlotte Perkins Gillman, Shirley Jackson, Joyce Carol Oates, Gillian Flynn, Tana French and many others.

What kinds of achievements are female authors making in the genre? How well are their characters developed? How did these authors use literary works to create, emphasize or reflect social messaging on women’s issues and women’s movements? Are the best female horror and suspense writers already gone, girl? Or are there some great new voices writing Power-ful books? Do any of these books not have the words “girl” or “woman” in the title?

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna - Guest host Cristina Martinez Sullivan

2 | Scream and Other Queens Oct 19, 2018

What's your favorite scary movie?

In this episode, Misty and Allegra talk about the representation of women in horror movies. Are there movies that have accurate, fair or progressive representations of women? How do horror movies mirror the progress of women’s movements? We’ll also talk about common problems of female representations, films that get it right (or at least get it a little right-er) and the difference between final girls, scream queens, and damsels in distress. We also discuss the Scream movie franchise and how it gets some things right in its satirical series. Like most things from the 1990s, though, Scream represents progress and not perfection in its representation.

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Hanna; produced by Austin Haynes and Scott January.

1 | As Tough As The Times Oct 03, 2018

Spice Girls feminism or Twitter feminsim? To Kill A Mockingbird or Carrie?

In this first episode, Misty and Allegra introduce themselves, their podcast, and the history of that dirty "F" word... Go through a quick (and funny) history of feminism, which includes notable acheivements by the women's movements, and literature that reflects the social progress.

Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.

Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Hanna; produced by Austin Haynes and Scott January.

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