Home | The Persistent

Dolly Parton — The One Person America Could Agree On

Dolly Parton built an extraordinary life out of songs, rhinestones, ambition and generosity; but her rarest gift may have been her ability to bring people together.

by Josie Cox

Why Women in China Are Saying 'No Thanks' to Marriage and Children

Growing up in China, I was told marriage was my destiny. For today’s young women, it’s a choice - and one many are rejecting

by Lijia Zhang

The Best and Worst States in the U.S. for Gender Equality

Hawaii tops a new ranking measuring gender gaps in the workplace, education and health, and political representation.

by Josie Cox

We put women at the centre of the story. Subscribe now for free

How to Make Your Mother Proud

History is rife with examples of women who effected change, then vanished into obscurity. When it comes to the story of how the 19th Amendment became a reality — irony be damned — it’s no different.

by Josie Cox

The ‘Triple Penalty’ of the AI Economy

Women are underrepresented in leadership, AI jobs and AI companies — and the disparities could be getting worse.

by Josie Cox

We Needed Ted Lasso in 2020. In 2026? It’s More Complicated.

Ted Lasso is back, now coaching a U.K. soccer club’s underfunded women’s team. It’s delightful entertainment, but the ostensibly feminist plotline lacks actual feminist punch.

by Josie Cox

When a Male Politician Cheats, Voters Look to His Wife’s Reaction

A new study shows that a wife’s response to a cheating husband acts as a powerful social signal.

by Josie Cox

Recipes for the Steamiest Summer Days

When it feels too hot to cook, try one of these easy-breezy recipes, no stove required.

by Han Goldstein

This is What a Congresswoman Looks Like

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is on Instagram talking about follicles, fertility and the biological clock. It matters.

by Josie Cox

When the Tide Goes Out, Family Equality Suffers

New research reveals how stubborn gender norms shape decisions about starting a family when a parent loses their job

by Josie Cox

Wait. Did the Competent Husband Just Replace the Tradwife?

The 'competent husband' meme, in which online influencers show off how capable their partners are, appears to be rising just as tradwifery falls out of fashion.

by Haley Swenson

Are Women Winning or Losing in the U.S. Economy?

Here’s what the confusing numbers actually tell us.

by Josie Cox

Road Trips Actually Worth the Cost of Gas

We’ve rounded up 8 car rides that will make you want to grab your keys and put it in drive.

by Han Goldstein

What We See When We See a Woman’s Body

I have no interest in speculating about whether Ariana Grande is ill or healthy. But I can't stop thinking about what our collective reaction to her body reveals about our culture.

by Josie Cox

A Dancer Most ‘Apolitical’ — Ha, Hardly!

She may have described herself as apolitical, but the work of the dancer Martha Graham spoke volumes. And it's more relevant today than ever.

by Clémence Michallon

See All