Essays from The Persistent | Covering women for a change

An illustration shows a woman's face and a pair of justice scales covered over with scraps of paper in green and orange.

Sexual violence

A Colonial-Era Law Made Marital Rape Legal in India. The Government Refuses to Change It.

In India, arranged marriage is a common practice. Some marriages work out, of course, while in others, a family’s honor is protected, whatever the cost.

A photo illustration shows a scattered collection of packets of the pill, depicted in bright colors.

Birth Control

The Popularity of the Pill Is Plummeting—at the Exact Moment It Shouldn’t Be

Birth control gave women control over their bodies, their careers and their futures. A cultural campaign against the pill risks rolling all this back.

An illustration of a bride and groom embracing under a chuppah. The chuppah is held up by friends.

Love

A Wedding Today Costs How Much? I’m Glad You Asked.

When my daughter was married last month, we bypassed everything extravagant, opting instead for a wedding built on friends, community and love.

An illustration of three pregnant women holding interventional medical devices and medicines

Birth

How Do We Make Birth Better?

Little has changed in the way we bring humans into the world since the popularization of the cesarean section in the 1960s. It’s 2025. What is going on?

Peppa Pig

Oh, Creators of Peppa Pig, Did You Have To?

For many people, pregnancy announcements are a joyous thing, but when you’re struggling to conceive, they really are not.

Sports

When Soccer Wasn’t Such a Guy Thing

Women’s soccer in the U.K. goes way back in history. But at one point it was banned. By the time the ban was lifted, the damage had been done.

Illustration of a green cake with cherries on top on a pink platter. We see a slice being cut: inside the slice is a dollar bill.

Finance

‘Eff You’ Money Is On the Up, and You Need to Know About It

Women are taking secret control over their finances—just in case.

Read view of a packed White House room as Antony Blinken stands at a podium, flanked by women

Politics

Distracting From the Task of ‘War-Fighting?’ Good Grief.

Canceling the Women, Peace and Security Act might seem like no big deal. But it’s a very big deal. And such a waste.

Science

So You Think You’re a Rocket Scientist? Not. So. Fast.

Media coverage of Katy Perry & Co.’s Blue Origin trip to space failed to acknowledge the many of women in space exploration who actually made history.

An artist's illustration of two hands grabbing a medical needles which is inserted into a petri dish.

Infertility

‘Ethical IVF’ May Be the Problematic Solution to Donald Trump’s IVF Dilemma

By supporting IVF, Trump drove a wedge between two factions of his followers. So-called “ethical IVF” may be how he stitches them back together.

An illustration of a woman wearing a jumpsuit, with her hands in her pockets, looking at art in a gallery.

Culture

How Everyday Sexism Is Sewn Into Our Clothes

An illustration of a woman laying on a blanket in the grass with her baby boy.

Motherhood

When Did Boy Mom Culture Become So Problematic?

There’s science to back up the idea that parenting boys is different—but social media has made it weird.

Gretchen Whitmer, surrounded by surrogacy advocates and their children, signs the new act into law

Infertility

‘I Never Set Out to Be An Advocate'

Surrogacy is once again legal in Michigan. With good old grassroots activism, here's how I helped make it happen.

A photograph of demonstrators holding up signs at a rally. One cardboard sign reads: Victimes on vous croit — Victims, we believe you

It's 2025. Has France’s #MeToo Moment Finally Arrived?

France has a long tradition of protecting powerful men accused of sex crimes. Feminists are mixed on whether that’s about to change.

An artists's rendering of a woman floating on her back in a lovely swimming pool. Next to the pool is a powerchair.

Bodies

Disabled in a Swimsuit

I can’t explain how being noticed beside a pool is materially different to being noticed in the snacks aisle at the supermarket. But it is.

A painting of a stylish woman walking in a city street with the moon rising. She is looking around her.

Design

Yes, Cities Can Be Sexist. Here’s How to Fix Them.

The idea that urban design can be discriminatory has become more established in recent years. Some city planners are making changes accordingly.