Francesca Donner - The Persistent

Film and TV

Will the Real E. Jean Carroll Please Stand Up?

For years, a confident E. Jean on the outside masked a wounded E. Jean on the inside.

The Interview

People Were Calling Me an Economist. And I Was Like, ‘Am I?’

In her book “The Double Tax,” the economist Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman explains why Black women pay more for their hair products and their homes, get paid less at work, and are underestimated at every turn.

Photo of a large crowd in a built-up area. They carry signs including "ICE Out!", "GTFO", "Do You Hear The People Sing?" and "No Kings, No ICE".

Activism

In Minneapolis—Their Community is Our Community. Our Community Must Be Theirs.

What's happening in Minneapolis is an "everywhere" situation and an "all of us" situation.

A watercolor painting of Aubrey Hirsch, a white woman with short, blonde wavy hair. She stares straight at us. She wears a short-sleeved red and white striped blouse.

The Interview

'No One’s Dreaming of a Day When Women Would Be the Default.'

The comics in Aubrey Hirsch's new book, "Graphic Rage," blow the lid open on the indignities in women’s lives and push back, one small rebellion at a time.

An illustration of a woman holding a newspaper, "The Persistent" surrounded by other women smiling at her. The image is joyful.

Who Doesn't Love a List?

On our last newsletter of the year, we invite you to make a hot mug of tea and get stuck in to these treasures. Enjoy.

An illustration of Francesca Donner, editor-in-chief of The Persistent. She sits in a wing chair with a cat by her feet.

Editor's Letter

I Promise This Letter Won’t End Badly

A reflection on 2025, from our editor-in-chief.

A portrait of Jane Goodall. She looks directly ahead; wearing a red shirt.

Women You Should Know

Remembering Jane Goodall

The barrier-breaking primatologist, who dedicated her life to conservation and humanitarian projects, died aged 91.

An illustration of a woman sitting on a giant coin, holding a giant coin.

Personal Finance

Why Women Dislike Talking About Money. (And What We Can Do About It.)

Ultimately, it might not be about how much you make or how you spend, it's about how money makes you feel.

A watercolor of Rachel Feldman, a white woman with green eyes and short dark hair, wearing a colorful jacket.

The Interview

Lilly Ledbetter Has Made It to the Big Screen. It’s About Time.

It took the writer and director Rachel Feldman years of doors being slammed in her face before she got her movie off the ground, but she’s finally done it: LILLY is out May 9.

Cecile Richards smiles widely at a lectern. She wears navy, with gold earrings, a gold broach and cerise lipstick.

Women You Should Know

Thank You, Cecile

The activist and former president of Planned Parenthood died on Monday, aged 67.

A painting of a woman in a red dress walking away from the viewer, down a path in a park.

Mental Health

A Handful of Reasons to Be Hopeful. (Yes, We Found Some!)

Wars, wildfires and felonious world leaders are dominating the news cycle. But also: Diseases are being treated, solar power is booming and some animals are back from the brink of extinction.