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Ask a Feminist

Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 11 Episodes May 12, 2026

Ask a Feminist is a podcast from Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society. It features interviews with leading feminist thinkers on feminist issues that arise from current political life or social justice concerns. The show aims to foster an ongoing conversation between feminist scholars, media activists, and community leaders. It is part of the Signs Feminist Public Intellectuals Project, enhancing the journal's role as a bridge between intellectual production and activist engagement.

Episodes

Feminist Scholarly Writing under Authoritarianism, a Conversation with Debjani Chakravarty, Patti Duncan, and Jennifer C. Nash May 12, 2026 38:59 This episode of Ask a Feminist looks at how the Trump administration’s attacks on women’s and gender studies, and universities more broadly, are affecting the production of feminist scholarship. The editors of four interdisciplinary feminist journals (Frontiers, Feminist Formations, Feminist Studies, and Signs) talk about the subtle and not-so-subtle ways that the Trump administration’s crusade ag

Pronatalism, a Conversation with Nandita Bajaj and Michele Goodwin Mar 4, 2026 44:30 This episode features a critical dissection of a political movement and philosophy that is unfortunately enjoying a global resurgence: pronatalism. Having successfully killed Roe, the Trump administration pursues policies incentivising certain groups to have more children. Many key administration figures—most prominently JD Vance and Elon Musk—are avid promoters of pronatalist worldviews, in which

Online Abuse and US Politics, a Conversation with Moya Bailey and Nina Jankowicz Jun 25, 2025 0:00 This episode focuses on the harassment and abuse that women—particularly women in politics—face online. Signs associate editor Sarah Sobieraj, an expert on US political culture and digital media, speaks with Professors Moya Bailey and Nina Jankowicz. The conversation delves into the strategies used by misogynists online, the racialized abuse faced by women of color, and the role that digital haras

Trump’s Anti-Trans, Anti-Gender Executive Orders, A Conversation with Libby Adler and K.J. Rawson Apr 28, 2025 0:00 For our first episode of the second Trump Administration, Carla Kaplan (chair of the Signs editorial board) speaks to Libby Adler and K.J. Rawson about the administration's anti-trans, anti-gender executive orders. While we’ve known for quite some time that the anti-trans attacks would be coming, their speed and breadth have still been breathtaking. Adler and Rawson tease out the implications of t

Public Feminism, a Conversation with Marcie Bianco and Andi Zeisler Apr 24, 2024 0:00 Ask a Feminist is back after a long hiatus with an episode about the current state of public feminism! Signs editor Suzanna Walters is joined by Marcie Bianco and Andi Zeisler. Andi is the cofounder of Bitch Media and the author of the book We Were Feminists Once: From Riot Grrl to CoverGirl, and Marcie is the author of Breaking Free: The Lie of Equality and the Feminist Fight for Freedom. Their e

Reproduction in the Age of Epigenetics, a Conversation with Rene Almeling, Sarah Richardson, and Natali Valdez Apr 19, 2022 46:59 Three esteemed feminist science-studies scholars—Sarah Richardson, Rene Almeling, and Natali Valdez—discuss reproduction in the age of epigenetics. They offer a critical appraisal of recent developments in the much-hyped field of epigenetics, particularly as those developments have focused on reproduction. Their discussion provides a crucial corrective as the biological sciences push for more epig

Jennifer Fluri Discusses the Gender Politics of the US Withdrawal from Afghanistan with Sandra McEvoy Feb 8, 2022 57:07 On this episode, Sandra McEvoy speaks to Jennifer Fluri about what the United States’s withdrawal from Afghanistan means for Afghan women and for the feminist movement in Afghanistan. Jennifer’s expertise as a geographer and her transnational feminist perspective are sorely needed in this perilous moment. As the withdrawal was under way, we heard familiar concerns--voiced by pundits and politician

Susan Stryker discusses Trans Studies, Trans Feminism, and a More Trans Future with V Varun Chaudhry Apr 22, 2021 45:18 A conversation about the field of trans studies between V Varun Chaudhy and Susan Stryker. V is an assistant professor of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Brandeis and a member of the Signs board of associate editors. Susan is a founding editor of the journal TSQ and a major figure in the development of trans studies as a field. In the interview, they discuss the social and political cont

Patricia Williams Discusses Rage and Humor as an Act of Disobedience with Carla Kaplan and Durba Mitra Feb 22, 2021 43:16 Patricia J. Williams, the renowned feminist theorist and legal scholar joins Carla Kaplan and Durba Mitra, two of the coeditors of the upcoming special issue of Signs on “Rage,” to talk about the multiple crises we face at the current moment, from Donald Trump’s cruel legacy of misogyny and racism to the failures of market-based approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discuss new forms of s

Eesha Pandit and Paula Moya Discuss Activism and the Academy with Carla Kaplan and Suzanna Walters Dec 18, 2019 37:11 Activist, writer, and advocate Eesha Pandit and professor of English Paula Moya discuss the relationship between feminist scholarship and feminist activism, and how feminist activists and scholars can best support one another's work. What makes a good ally? How can we build systems of accountability among and between scholars and activists? How can we most productively use identity as the basis fo

Byllye Avery Discusses the Past and Future of Reproductive Justice with Susan Reverby Nov 12, 2019 37:09 Byllye Avery, cofounder of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, speaks to historian Susan Reverby about her activist work, beginning in the 1970s, to increase women’s access to abortion. She discusses the state of reproductive rights before and after Roe v. Wade, the genesis of the “reproductive justice” movement, and the tactics that might be needed in a post-Roe future. Ask a Feminist is part o

Ask a Feminist

Episodes

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