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Breakthroughs

breakthroughs

What Would Happen to Publicly Funded Contraceptive Care Without Planned Parenthood?

What Would Happen to Publicly Funded Contraceptive Care Without Planned Parenthood? Contraception is a critical component of health and well-being, allowing people to prevent pregnancy, space and plan their pregnancies, manage and treat medical conditions, and prevent sexually transmitted infections

Guttmacher InstituteSep 22, 2026

breakthroughs

You’ll do anything for your baby. The algorithm knows how to exploit that.

This piece was published in coordination with The Washington Post . The madness unfolded in a familiar pattern: Ellen FitzGerald would wake in the dead of night to nurse her baby for about a half hour, then hand him off to Dad to rock another half hour.

The 19thSep 22, 2026

breakthroughs

Decades of Male-Focused Medical Research Could Bias Healthcare AI

Many people will learn CPR using a flat-chested manikin. A 2024 study of 20 models of CPR manikins sold worldwide found that three-quarters were described as male or had no sex specified. Of the 20, only one offered a breast overlay.

Ms. MagazineSep 21, 2026

breakthroughs

The Beauty Look At Sergio Hudson’s SS27 Show Was For The Female Gaze

Gone are the days women try to look good exclusively for men. At Sergio Hudson’s Spring-Summer 2027 show, beauty was for the female gaze. “If you think about the James Bond woman, it was always seen through a man’s lens,” lead makeup artist Sir John tells ESSENCE.

EssenceSep 15, 2026

breakthroughs

The Physical Cost Of Carrying It All: How Our Beliefs Impact Our Health

On April 13, 2026, I arrived at the doctor’s office for a cardiac stress test . The technician, Josh, casually asked why I was even being tested. “You look too healthy to be here,” he said. I thought the same. Then the feeling I had previously experienced returned. The heat. The spasm.

EssenceSep 11, 2026

breakthroughs

Isabella Marte

Isabella Marte sramashwar September 11, 2026 US Communications Assistant

Guttmacher InstituteSep 11, 2026

breakthroughs

What Does ‘Salon-Quality’ Haircare Actually Mean?

Two weeks ago, Allure published an article explaining why natural hair influencers are trading in their Black-owned haircare products for salon brands like Redken, Amika, and others not marketed specifically for textured hair. “There’s a shift happening online,” the article read.

EssenceSep 11, 2026

breakthroughs

The Lindsay Clancy trial renewed focus on postpartum psychosis. What’s next?

The high-profile murder trial of Lindsay Clancy — which ended in a mistrial last week after a jury was unable to convict or acquit the Massachusetts mother in the 2023 strangling deaths of her three young children — put a renewed spotlight on postpartum psychosis, the severe psychiatric condition he

The 19thSep 9, 2026

breakthroughs

The Surprising Ways Hormones Can Change Your Body

Hormone therapy can have profound effects on our immune systems, gut bacteria, our brains, senses, and sex lives. This story was originally reported by Orion Rummler of The 19th , and republished through Rewire News Group ‘s partnership with the 19th News Network.

Rewire News GroupSep 9, 2026

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The “born free and equal” clauses and same-sex marriage

This is the fourth of seven introductory articles on the relevance for constitutional law and the Supreme Court of the “born free and equal” clauses, which appeared in the Declaration of Independence and in six out of 12 state constitutions when the federal Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791, and i

SCOTUSblogSep 8, 2026

breakthroughs

Lindsay Clancy’s case put a spotlight on parts of motherhood we don’t talk about

The nearly six-week murder trial for Lindsay Clancy, a woman accused of strangling her three children before attempting to kill herself in 2023, has been a fixture for women across the United States. Some gathered inside and outside the courthouse in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to show support for Clan

The 19thSep 4, 2026

breakthroughs

It’s a transformative moment for hormones. And kind of a weird one.

Dr. Heather Hirsch realized that she had to stop following politics as closely after the pandemic and 2020 election. It was hurting her mental health. Now, she tries to keep politics at arm’s length. Politics came knocking anyway.

The 19thSep 2, 2026

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The surprising ways hormones can change your body

The politics of hormone therapy depend on who’s taking it. But whether hormones are taken to treat menopause or gender dysphoria, we’re talking about the same drugs. They have powerful effects on our bodies. And in recent years, research has expanded our understanding of what they do.

The 19thSep 2, 2026

breakthroughs

Director of Digital Communications

Director of Digital Communications Organization Founded in 1968, the Guttmacher Institute is a global leader in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Through a unique and interrelated program of high-quality research, evidence-based advocacy and strategic communications, the Institute

Guttmacher InstituteAug 31, 2026

breakthroughs

How do you figure out if microplastics are affecting pregnancy?

This story was originally published by Science Friday , with the assistance of the Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) Health Journalism Fellowship, supported by The Commonwealth Fund. Toxicologist Sam Adams was thrilled to find out she was pregnant in the summer of 2025.

The 19thAug 28, 2026

breakthroughs

What ‘Recession Beauty Indicators’ Mean For Black Women

What’s the cost of beauty? Since Trump’s presidency, many economists have been left in limbo about the state of the economy—and beauty isn’t exempt. Trade wars levied up to 145% tariffs on Chinese imports last year, increasing the cost of products like braiding hair, hair oil, and wigs.

EssenceAug 27, 2026

breakthroughs

Should You Freeze Your Eggs? What to Know About the Costs and Process

Egg freezing is an increasingly popular fertility treatment, but there are multiple medical and financial considerations to take into account before starting the process . This story was originally reported by Shefali Luthra of The 19th , and republished through Rewire News Group ‘s partnership with

Rewire News GroupAug 27, 2026

breakthroughs

Murder-suicide among older Americans appears to be rising

This story was originally published by The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom covering gun violence in America. Sign up for its newsletters here. If you or a loved one are in crisis, please call or text 988 or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a live volunteer crisis counselor.

The 19thAug 27, 2026

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Children in a Faith-Healing Sect Keep Dying. The State Lets It Happen.

Newborn baby Malachi lies in the lap of his mother after dying from pneumonia and bleeding lungs — preventable conditions that could have been treated in a hospital — in 2023 in Idaho. Since the 1970s, the state’s criminal and civil laws have allowed parents who belong to Followers of Christ and oth

ProPublicaAug 25, 2026

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Natasha Cloud, Enes Kanter Freedom Confrontation Brings WNBA Debate Courtside

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from Sunday night’s game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever following a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud at Wintrust Arena. Freedom was seated along the baseline wearing a shirt with a message about the definition of a woman.

EssenceAug 24, 2026

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Colombia: Armed Groups Expand Child Recruitment

Click to expand Image A 17-year-old boy recruited by the 33rd Front of the EMBF, a dissident group of the demobilized FARC, operating in Colombia’s Catatumbo region near the Venezuelan border. © 2026 Federico Ríos Escobar Child recruitment by armed groups has risen sharply in Colombia in recent year

Human Rights WatchAug 24, 2026

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Celebrate Black Joy: This Week’s Best Uplifting Moments

These days, it is easy to feel like the world is on fire: all of our bills are too high , we’re somehow still at war with Iran , the government is…well, you know how stressful politics is right now. Our news cycle usually feels like one sad or depressing story after another.

EssenceAug 23, 2026

breakthroughs

The Do’s And Don’ts Of Growing Longer Natural Lashes

It’s late summer and what once felt like a necessity—eyelash curlers, mascara, and extra volume lashes—are now falling a little out of style . Instead, celebrities, like Zendaya and Meghan Markle, are skipping mascara in favor of their naturally long lashes.

EssenceAug 20, 2026

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Intersex Children Shut Out As Hospitals Halt Gender-Affirming Care

The Trump administration’s threats to defund facilities that treat trans minors is harming intersex youth who also need hormone therapy. “The federal government,” one mom said, “does not recognize, basically ” that kids like hers exist. This article mentions suicidal ideation.

Rewire News GroupAug 20, 2026

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7 High-Paying Careers for Black Women (No Degree Needed)

Back-to-school season is a wonderful time of year; especially for first-time college students preparing to live on campus. Whether staying in-state or traveling across the country, attending an Ivy League institution, another type of PWI, or joining the student body at one of our illustrious HBCUs ,

EssenceAug 19, 2026

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Better Call Mom: Schools Still See Mothers as the Default Parent to Contact

Men have taken on more caretaking responsibilities over the past several decades, but women still spend more time caring for children. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

Rewire News GroupAug 18, 2026

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15 Black-Owned Protective Style Essentials For Back-To-School Hair

It’s 6 a.m., you’re going back to school, and the last thing you want to do is your hair. Luckily, your protective style makes it so your ‘do is done for the month (at least, partially). All that’s left is a few small touch ups before you start your day.

EssenceAug 17, 2026

breakthroughs

Should you freeze your eggs? What to know about the costs and process

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to freeze her eggs — and to document the process on social media — has put a spotlight on the process, which is typically marketed to people hoping to extend their fertility. Egg freezing has exploded in popularity in the past decade.

The 19thAug 17, 2026

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A Look Back At Angela Bassett’s Most Iconic Beauty Moments

Angela Bassett is the definition of aging like fine wine . Since the 1980s, she has been growing her career through the most cultural television and film moments in history. From her eye-watering performances in Boyz N’ The Hood and Meet The Browns , to biopics for the iconic Whitney , Tina , Malcol

EssenceAug 16, 2026

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No, COVID-19 vaccines don’t increase miscarriage rates

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, has revived a years-old inaccurate theory that COVID-19 vaccines are linked to higher rates of miscarriages. As part of a Senate investigation into former U.S. infectious diseases chief Dr.

The 19thAug 13, 2026

breakthroughs

US: Federal Agencies Abandon Civil Rights Duties

Click to expand Image Demonstrators hold signs in support of voting rights outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on October 15, 2025. © 2025 Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images (Washington, DC) – The Trump administration has gutted federal civil rights enforcement in the United

Human Rights WatchAug 13, 2026

breakthroughs

Pakistan: Investigate Deaths of Woman, Girl in Police Custody

Click to expand Image A police officer stands guard in Peshawar, Pakistan, August 5, 2023. © 2023 Mohammad Sajjad/AP Photo (London) – Pakistani authorities should ensure a prompt, independent, and transparent criminal investigation into the deaths on August 5, 2026, of a woman and a 17-year-old girl

Human Rights WatchAug 13, 2026

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Keri Hilson Says It Was ‘A Tough World’ Being An NBA Wag: ‘I Did Not Enjoy It’

We are in the era of the celebrity WAG . The wives and girlfriends of athletes are no longer high school sweethearts or unnamed baddies. They are singers. Rappers. Even athletes themselves. And while the latest batch of sports love stories have had their highs ( Coco Jones and Donovan Mitchell , for

EssenceAug 12, 2026

breakthroughs

The 19 Best Scalp Products For Itchy Braids

Nothing ruins braids quicker than an itchy scalp. You’ve sat in the chair for hours, shelled out hundreds of dollars, and all of a sudden, your scalp has never felt itchier. Even reaching for a hair oil doesn’t give you relief.

EssenceAug 12, 2026

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She bought ‘GLP-1’ patches on TikTok. She got scammed instead.

Victoria Schmidt was scrolling through TikTok last July when the advertisement first appeared: a video of a woman promoting patches purporting to contain GLP-1 medication. The woman described herself as a busy working mom — just like Schmidt. She seemed relatable. “It was a great video.

The 19thAug 12, 2026

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New HIV Guidance Aims To Protect More Women

A leading medical group now advises OB-GYNs to “proactively” discuss and prescribe HIV prevention drugs with their patients. “You could have one partner,” said a doctor who helped author the guidance. “But all it takes is that one partner.

Rewire News GroupAug 12, 2026

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Trump Accounts could benefit kids. But can they access them?

Trinity Coleman of Boones Mill, Virginia, gave birth to twins in May 2025. Under a new program created by 2025’s One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, each of Coleman’s babies is entitled to $1,000 in a tax-deferred savings account through the federal government.

The 19thAug 10, 2026

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The Ritual Report: How Lymphatic Drainage Has Reconnected Me To My Body

ESSENCE Senior Beauty & Style Editor Akili King believes ‘glow’ is more than skin deep. In The Ritual Report , she shares personal healing practices—from acupuncture for skin and grounding benefits to ‘dopamine dressing’—designed to inspire readers to find creative ways to soothe their nervous syste

EssenceAug 7, 2026

breakthroughs

Hospitals say they found a tool to help reduce childbirth risks: Wristbands

Hospitals across the U.S. are trying to reduce maternal deaths and complications after pregnancies using one small tool: a silicone wristband stamped with the declaration “I Gave Birth.” The wristbands are part of a growing initiative first launched by North Carolina-based ECU Health as Congress sou

The 19thAug 7, 2026

breakthroughs

The Ritual Report: How Acupuncture Changed My Life

ESSENCE Senior Beauty & Style Editor Akili King believes ‘glow’ is more than skin deep. In The Ritual Report , she shares personal healing practices—from acupuncture for skin and grounding benefits to ‘dopamine dressing’—designed to inspire readers to find creative ways to soothe their nervous syste

EssenceAug 5, 2026

breakthroughs

By Us Beauty: The Best Black Beauty Launches From July

In the ‘By Us Beauty’ series, our editors discuss the hottest Black-owned products in the beauty sphere that you should know about. In this iteration, we discuss our favorite Black-owned launches from July 2026.

EssenceAug 3, 2026

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Running on empty: Can a red HIV outreach van outlast federal cuts?

The red van hands out food, water, clothes, first aid and free HIV tests. Locals recognize it across the Twin Cities: the van, nicknamed “Thrivey,” visits St. Paul on Mondays, drives up and down south Minneapolis on Wednesdays and Thursdays, then heads to north Minneapolis on Fridays.

The 19thAug 3, 2026

breakthroughs

15 Books By Black Authors We Can’t Wait To Read This Summer

Light that grill, break out the swimsuits and get ready to blast the season’s unofficial anthem, Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. Like you, we’re excited about longer days, unforgettable nights, (hopefully) less stress and the opportunity to create unforgettable memories.

EssenceJul 29, 2026

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What climate adaptation must do differently for women in Bolivia

In this Q&A, climate researcher Apolinar Contreras discusses how climate change is affecting women’s reproductive health, livelihoods, and resilience in Bolivian Indigenous communities—and what must change to better support them.

IpasJul 29, 2026

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South Sudan: Abuse of Civilians in Western Equatoria

Click to expand Image Makeshift shelters for communities displaced from Nagero County to Bazia, Wau County, South Sudan, November 18, 2025. © 2025 Joe Falzetta South Sudan’s army, opposition forces, and their respective allied militias abused residents and caused much of the population to flee durin

Human Rights WatchJul 29, 2026

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Renell Medrano And Adidas Hosted The Coldest Softball Game On Earth

Graffiti helmets, custom jerseys, and the coldest softball game on Earth. That’s how we’d describe this past Saturday afternoon at the second annual ICE Studios Series. The woman’s softball tournament in East Harlem was created by Bronx-born photographer, director, and creator of ICE Magazine (AKA,

EssenceJul 28, 2026

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How The ESSENCE Festival Of Culture Proves The Power Of Black Authors

If you want to hide something from a Black person, put it in a book. The origins of this controversial statement are sometimes linked to our fallen icons Malcolm X and Frederick Douglass . The particulars of where these problematic words originated are not nearly as important as what they symbolize:

EssenceJul 28, 2026

breakthroughs

How The ESSENCE Festival Of Culture Proves The Power Of Black Authors

If you want to hide something from a Black person, put it in a book. The origins of this controversial statement are sometimes linked to our fallen icons Malcolm X and Frederick Douglass . The particulars of where these problematic words originated are not nearly as important as what they symbolize:

EssenceJul 28, 2026

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Mississippi is getting hotter. Experts say it’s hurting moms and babies.

CLEVELAND, MISSISSIPPI – Going for nearly a year with broken heating and air conditioning has been miserable for Ashley Matthews. But the last few months have been unbearable – and potentially dangerous. Matthews, 27, is six months pregnant with her third child.

The 19thJul 28, 2026

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13 Bold Beauty Finds Perfect For Leo Season

Want your beauty look to be a conversation starter? This Leo season, it can be. Represented by the lion and ruled by the Sun, Leo’s live to be seen (Think: Halle Berry, Angela Bassett, and Whitney Houston). Hair is bigger, makeup is bolder , and nails are longer and more decorated than ever before.

EssenceJul 27, 2026

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DR Congo: Oil Company Operations Pose Grave Pollution Threat

Click to expand Image Oil well at Perenco’s concession in Democratic Republic of Congo. © 2026 Human Rights Watch Pollution linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s only oil producer poses serious health risks to communities near its operations.

Human Rights WatchJul 27, 2026

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An Alzheimer’s diagnosis changed their lives. They decided how.

Every year, roughly half a million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most common forms of dementia. Women represent more than two-thirds of those diagnosed, and researchers do not entirely understand why .

The 19thJul 23, 2026

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Best In Black Beauty Awards 2026: Beauty After 50

This year’s specialty category is putting a spotlight on the beauty in aging. Our guest editor and ESSENCE Beauty Awards 2026 model Coco Mitchell, known for her work with Christopher John Rogers, ESSENCE, Dior, Prada, and more, shares some of her top tips below.

EssenceJul 23, 2026

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Best In Black Beauty Awards 2026: Hair

Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Hair Regrowth Treatment This women’s minoxidil treatment stimulates fuller strands. Available at Carol's Daughter $30 buy now Wrappd Beauty the Shower Bonnet Ultra No need to layer your shower cap over scarves to protect your hair.

EssenceJul 23, 2026

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Best In Black Beauty Awards 2026: Nails

Kijibae Press On Toenails Available at Kijibae $18 buy now Suite Eleven Herbal Nail & Cuticle Oil Available at Suite Eleven $8 buy now Glamnetic Press-On Nails Available at Sephora $18 buy now ePhD Bond Repair Nail Available at Epres $20 buy now KISS Salon X-Tend LED Soft Gel System Available at CVS

EssenceJul 23, 2026

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5 Raw Quotes From America’s Largest Raw-Milk Dairy Owner

From left: Mark McAfee is interviewed by ProPublica audio producer Gabrielle Berbey and reporter Annie Waldman at Raw Farm in Fresno, California. Sarahbeth Maney for ProPublica I never thought I’d spend six months of my life investigating raw milk. But I did.

ProPublicaJul 23, 2026

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Tennis is the first major women’s sports league to require genetic testing

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has taken a step beyond most other women’s sports leagues by requiring genetic sex testing for female athletes. Despite being targeted at transgender women, this policy has the greatest potential to impact intersex cisgender women — especially because many of the

The 19thJul 22, 2026

breakthroughs

Aasna Sijapati

Aasna Sijapati sramashwar July 16, 2026 Senior Research Assistant

Guttmacher InstituteJul 16, 2026

breakthroughs

You’ll Be Able To Buy Non-Toxic Braiding Hair At Sephora Soon

Whether you’re a diehard boho braids lover or a queen of crochet, the innovation in braiding hair has been little to nonexistent. But Ruka, a Black-owned brand , is completely flipping the industry upside down.

EssenceJul 15, 2026

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An Ode To Missy Elliott: The Woman Who Taught The Culture A New Language

There are artists who make hits, or even, define an era. And then there are the rare few who permanently change the language of music. Missy Elliott belongs to the last category. Before “creative visionary” became the industry’s favorite buzzword, Missy was already showing us what one looked like.

EssenceJul 13, 2026

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Becoming The Canvas: My Beautycon Moment With Teyana Taylor

When I was asked to be a model for the Teyana Taylor Makeup Challenge at Beautycon during this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture , I thought I understood the assignment. As an intern, I’d spent days on the move, completing a myriad of tasks before and during the festival.

EssenceJul 9, 2026

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Why is gynecology still using a Civil War-era tool?

This article was copublished with Truthdig . Taylor Townsell remembers her OBGYN reassuring her that her IUD insertion would feel like “just a pinch.” The pain came a split second later. The 32-year-old described it to Truthdig in still-vivid detail: “Bright, electric, as if my body had become nothi

The 19thJul 8, 2026

breakthroughs

US Communications Assistant

US Communications Assistant Organization Founded in 1968, the Guttmacher Institute is a global leader in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Through a unique and interrelated program of high-quality research, evidence-based advocacy and strategic communications, the Institute

Guttmacher InstituteJul 7, 2026

breakthroughs

Gen Z women are the most pessimistic about the American dream

Gen Z women often show up in polling as the most progressive group. They’re also the most pessimistic about the American dream. That’s according to a new analysis of polling data by PRRI . Americans overall have become more pessimistic about the American dream — defined in the poll as “if you work h

The 19thJul 7, 2026

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EXCLUSIVE: The Hands That Built The White House: A Family Learns Its Hidden History

Ashley Swain was standing in a room, about to learn something that would rearrange her sense of who she was, when her mind went somewhere unexpected: a dorm room at Spelman College, the night Barack Obama was elected president. “I’m going back to the moment when President Obama was first elected.

EssenceJul 3, 2026

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America’s 250th anniversary marks 250 years of male sex work

This story was originally published by Rewire News Group , a national, nonprofit media organization exclusively dedicated to reporting on reproductive and sexual health, rights and justice. Since the nation’s independence, male sex workers have been intertwined with America’s history.

The 19thJul 2, 2026

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Looking to Black and Indigenous Foremothers to Resist Erasure

Free Black women and Indigenous women are the foremothers of generations of African Americans. Yet they remain largely absent from the official story of American freedom. Their lives, contributions and descendants have been systematically erased—from colonial records and legal classifications to pub

Ms. MagazineJul 2, 2026

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From online to on campus: The manosphere infiltrates college classrooms

Julie Shayne has spent the better part of her teaching career navigating campus politics made complicated by being a woman. Each semester, she once again finds herself on edge at the beginning of the Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies course she teaches.

The 19thJul 2, 2026

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“That Guy Is Still Out There”

Vanessa Saba for ProPublica It took less than a day for the detective to give up on the case. A patrol officer had reported a harrowing, violent midnight rape in a Syracuse, New York, park. Hospital records recounted that the victim, an 18-year-old freshman at Syracuse University, was “crying uncont

ProPublicaJun 30, 2026

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The Best Red Carpet Looks From The 2026 BET Awards

Tonight, Black Hollywood took to Peacock Theater in Los Angeles for the 2026 BET Awards, an annual celebration of the best in Black entertainment. Hosted by comedian Druski, the show will feature performances from entertainers including Cardi B and Kehlani, who will both perform at ESSENCE Festival

EssenceJun 29, 2026

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More Than Skin Deep: How Stress Affects Our Hair

One day, it happens. You slide your fingers down your hair from top to bottom and freeze—there it is again, a small bundle of hair caught between each finger. At first, you brush it off. It’s a phase, a fluke, a one-off. It speaks softly at first.

EssenceJun 22, 2026

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Serayah McNeill’s Top Beauty Hacks & Glam Moments

Fiancé? Check. Mother? Yes. Actress, model, and singer? Of course. Serayah McNeill—our May 2025 of the ESSENCE digital coverstar alongside Joey Bada$$—is a jack of all trades. Best known for her role as Tiana Brown-Lyon in Fox’s Empire , the multi-hyphenate also doubles as a beauty buff with a skinc

EssenceJun 20, 2026

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This Insurance Loophole Can Make IVF More Expensive for Queer Couples

When Becky Hayter and Leah Makarevich decided to start their family, they knew they wanted to do reciprocal in vitro fertilization (IVF). The process, which consists of one partner’s eggs being retrieved, fertilized with sperm, and implanted into the other partner’s uterus, allows both partners to h

Rewire News GroupJun 18, 2026

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Megan Willkens

Megan Willkens sramashwar June 16, 2026 Senior Research Assistant, AIU

Guttmacher InstituteJun 16, 2026

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High inflation is forcing older women on fixed incomes to make hard choices

Last month, inflation hit 4.2 percent, its highest level since early 2023, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Managing more expensive fuel, food and other necessities, like utilities and medical care, has been difficult for many, but older women — particularly those on a fixe

The 19thJun 15, 2026

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Shop The Best Black-Owned Father’s Day Gifts

We often hear dads complain that Father’s Day marketing is subpar, and in some cases, the gifts are too. Dads deserve to be celebrated—the value they add to our lives is invaluable. Those lucky enough to experience a present father know how precious the love, care, provision, wisdom, and play they p

EssenceJun 14, 2026

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America’s Medical Research System Has Been Failing Women for Generations

Last week’s announcement of a $215 million contribution by Melinda French Gates in support of women’s health couldn’t have come at a more urgent moment, especially considering that June 10 was Equal Research Day, marking the anniversary of the day in 1993 when women were finally required to be inclu

Ms. MagazineJun 12, 2026

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If ‘Roe’ Was Never Enough, Why Was It Everything? (Podcast)

Roe v. Wade was never enough. Reproductive justice advocates have been saying that for decades. So why did so much of the reproductive rights movement organize itself around protecting Roe anyway? In this solo episode, Imani Gandy explores how legal arguments became the center of the fight for abort

Rewire News GroupJun 11, 2026

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Misinformation

Misinformation mmartin June 10, 2026

Guttmacher InstituteJun 10, 2026

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Director of State Policy

Director of State Policy Organization Founded in 1968, the Guttmacher Institute is a global leader in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Through a unique and interrelated program of high-quality research, evidence-based advocacy and strategic communications, the Institute works to

Guttmacher InstituteJun 3, 2026

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Op-Ed: Is My Acne Too Black For You?

By Nyla Stanford · Updated June 1, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Growing up, my skin has found ways to shape shift into craters with deep valley pores . I’d look into the mirror and run my hands over my face, pretending it was smooth and even, like the beautiful women in the …

EssenceJun 1, 2026

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Three Ways Trump’s Weird Fixation on DEI Is Hurting Women

The Trump administration’s obsession with diversity, equity and inclusion has moved far beyond rhetoric. It is now reshaping how women’s stories get told, whose health crises are allowed to be named, and what kinds of research are permitted to survive.

Ms. MagazineMay 28, 2026

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19 Beauty Products To Pack For Essence Festival 2026

By India Espy-Jones · Updated May 27, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… In just over one month, your flight will touch down in New Orleans for the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture . In the meantime, when it comes to festival prep, remembering what to pack may not be as fun as the

EssenceMay 28, 2026

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The women who power America’s offices are making themselves AI-proof

At the administrative assistants’ conference, everyone wants to talk about AI. Among the workers who are most likely to have a hard time finding a new job if AI takes theirs, 86 percent are women , according to findings from a recent Brookings Institution study.

The 19thMay 27, 2026

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What is cortisol? Your questions, answered.

Want more stories like this? Subscribe to our menopause newsletter . When we asked you all during Deinfluencing Month what other topics you wanted us to dig into, we heard one thing over and over again: cortisol.

The 19thMay 26, 2026

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Pap smears are designed to screen for cancer. Why are people afraid to get them?

What’s worse: A cold rod inserted briefly inside your vagina or cervical cancer? The former is a key part of a pap smear, the cancer screening recommended every 3 to 5 years for people with a cervix under the age of 65. Pap smears — which can be uncomfortable and even painful for some — […]

The 19thMay 21, 2026

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The Dangerous Overlap Between Incel Culture and Trad Wife Politics

When people hear the words “incels” and “trad wives,” they might think of very different images. While “incels” are thought of as lonely, radicalized, or dangerous, “trad wives” might invoke associations with being soft, natural, or motherly.

National Women's Law CenterMay 20, 2026

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Abortion bans are restricting miscarriage care, new study finds

Across the country, abortion bans appear to have made it harder for people experiencing miscarriages to receive appropriate treatment — or even receive treatment at all — a new study suggests. The study is the first national look at the connection between abortion bans and miscarriage care.

The 19thMay 18, 2026

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I Don’t Squirt During Sex. Is My Vagina Broken?

Sex columnist Vera Blossom explains the elusive phenomenon of female ejaculation. The post I Don’t Squirt During Sex. Is My Vagina Broken? appeared first on Rewire News Group .

Rewire News GroupMay 15, 2026

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The fact of the matter

A Second Opinion is a recurring series by Haley Proctor on the Second Amendment and constitutional litigation. On the ground floor of the Supreme Court building, a statue of the Supreme Court’s most influential chief justice, John Marshall, greets visitors with an outstretched hand.

SCOTUSblogMay 14, 2026

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DR Congo: M23 Rebels Commit Atrocities in Eastern City

Click to expand Image The M23 armed group patrols Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo, December 13, 2025. © 2025 Jospin Mwisha / AFP via Getty Images The M23 armed group and Rwandan military forces carried out an abusive month-long occupation of an eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city beginning

Human Rights WatchMay 14, 2026

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Why is RFK Jr. so worried about sperm count?

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has, historically, been very public about his concerns about what is plaguing the nation’s well-being. His long, complicated history with vaccines is well-documented. So is his long-standing spat with fluoride.

The 19thMay 13, 2026

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Polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS, has a new name

Polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS, has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. PMOS impacts an estimated 170 million people worldwide and is one of the most common hormonal disorders experienced by women, trans men and nonbinary people assigned female at birth.

The 19thMay 13, 2026

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When Mothers Speak, Medicine Must Listen

When my daughter was 2 weeks old, she stopped eating. She would go nearly 24 hours without food, crying constantly and losing weight while seeming to be in excruciating pain. Over five months, I took her to more than 50 doctors appointments searching for answers, only to be dismissed as hysterical,

Ms. MagazineMay 7, 2026

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Women lead as health and wellness influencers. Why do so many men have more followers?

Sixty-four percent of health and wellness influencers are women, according to a new analysis. That dominance in the online health and wellness space comes as 4 in 10 U.S. adults — and half of those under 50 — say they get health and wellness information from social media influencers or podcasts.

The 19thMay 7, 2026

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They Blame Feminism for Falling Birth Rates—but Data Says It’s Saving Families

This month the newest fertility data dropped—and the U.S. fertility rate has fallen again, hitting another record low in 2025 according to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The number of births per 1,000 women of childbearing age, in 2025, went down by .7 to 53.1, compared to 53.

Ms. MagazineMay 6, 2026

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A 2-3-4 wild card court; and Blanche v. Lau made easy

ScotusCrim is a recurring series by Rory Little focusing on intersections between the Supreme Court and criminal law. In today’s column I first offer a different, nuanced, way to think about the current court composition. Then I’ll switch gears. Last month I previewed Blanche v.

SCOTUSblogMay 6, 2026

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May 2026 Reads for the Rest of Us

Each month, Ms. provides readers with a list of new books being published by writers from historically excluded groups. Whether or not you pick up the science books on our lists, or you try some poetry, or a new-to-you genre of fiction, I hope you find something here that’s both exciting and educati

Ms. MagazineMay 1, 2026

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Influencers are turning baby bumps into business models

There’s only one career where having a baby can boost a woman’s career: influencing. Other women in the workforce have to contend with the motherhood penalty, but moms-to-be making a living on social media can rake in cash with sponsorships that continue well past their due dates.

The 19thApr 30, 2026

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Does Depo-Provera Cause Brain Tumors? How To Read the Research

The FDA now cautions that this long-acting birth control may increase the risk of meningioma, a tumor in the lining of the brain. RNG explains the studies that prompted the warning. The post Does Depo-Provera Cause Brain Tumors? How To Read the Research appeared first on Rewire News Group .

Rewire News GroupApr 24, 2026

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Mother Jones

Mother Jones sramashwar April 22, 2026

Guttmacher InstituteApr 22, 2026

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Hair Loss In Your 30s? It Could Be Early Menopause

“Daily hair shedding is normal,” hair transplant surgeon at The Treatment Rooms London Dr. Roshan Vara tells ESSENCE. In fact, most people shed around 50 to 100 strands each day. […] The post Hair Loss In Your 30s? It Could Be Early Menopause appeared first on Essence .

EssenceApr 22, 2026

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Peptides do a lot. Do you need them?

This is the third installment of Deinfluencing Month, a series in our menopause newsletter where we explore some of the biggest viral health trends that the algorithm is constantly promoting to people in perimenopause and beyond.

The 19thApr 21, 2026

breakthroughs

Endometriosis Is Often Excruciating. Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help Some Patients.

Often prescribed following birth injuries, this treatment may improve common endometriosis symptoms, too, from painful sex and abdominal cramping to urinary dysfunction. The post Endometriosis Is Often Excruciating. Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help Some Patients. appeared first on Rewire News Group .

Rewire News GroupApr 20, 2026

breakthroughs

Esthetician Crystal Greene Shares Her Top Spring Skincare Tips

Should we use sunscreen more often? Is our moisturizer too heavy? Are vitamins more essential than before? As our skin returns to the sun after months of winter, as do […] The post Esthetician Crystal Greene Shares Her Top Spring Skincare Tips appeared first on Essence .

EssenceApr 19, 2026

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Fewer Teen Births Is Good, Unless You’re the Patriarchy

How on-brand for the federal government to announce that U.S. birth rates are falling—just as The Testaments , the long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale , dropped on Hulu. In the fictional nation of Gilead, first envisioned by Margaret Atwood in her 1985 dystopian novel and expanded on screen f

Ms. MagazineApr 17, 2026

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Black Women’s Health Care Undermined by Trump Policies: Analysis

From food assistance to reproductive care, Trump’s signature federal spending bill from 2025 has weakened programs that Black women disproportionately rely on. The post Black Women’s Health Care Undermined by Trump Policies: Analysis appeared first on Rewire News Group .

Rewire News GroupApr 17, 2026

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The (non-)partisan puzzle in the conversion therapy case

Please note that SCOTUS Outside Opinions constitute the views of outside contributors and do not reflect the official opinions of SCOTUSblog. In Chiles v. Salazar, the Supreme Court held that […] The post The (non-)partisan puzzle in the conversion therapy case appeared first on SCOTUSblog .

SCOTUSblogApr 16, 2026

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What cases might the court grant next?

Empirical SCOTUS is a recurring series by Adam Feldman that looks at Supreme Court data, primarily in the form of opinions and oral arguments, to provide insights into the justices’ decision making and […] The post What cases might the court grant next? appeared first on SCOTUSblog .

SCOTUSblogApr 16, 2026

breakthroughs

Should I try cold plunging?

This is the second installment of Deinfluencing Month, a series in our menopause newsletter where we explore some of the biggest viral health trends that the algorithm is constantly promoting to people in perimenopause and beyond.

The 19thApr 14, 2026

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What it’s like to go through perimenopause and menopause in prison

This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for The Marshall Project’s newsletters, and follow them on Instagram, TikTok, Reddit and Facebook.

The 19thApr 14, 2026

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Always Teams Up With The Fibroid Foundation To Debut Its Largest Pad Yet For Heavy Flow

Millions of women across the U.S. live with heavy menstrual bleeding, quietly adjusting their lives around a condition that can cause them to layer pads, set alarms during the night, […] The post Always Teams Up With The Fibroid Foundation To Debut Its Largest Pad Yet For Heavy Flow appeared first o

EssenceApr 13, 2026

breakthroughs

Can You Share Sex Toys?

Used vibrators, butt plugs, and dildos can spread infection. And some partners may find it sketchy to be offered a pre-loved toy. But there are safe and sexy ways to open the collective treasure chest. The post Can You Share Sex Toys? appeared first on Rewire News Group .

Rewire News GroupApr 10, 2026

breakthroughs

Allyson Felix Talks Life After Track, Family, And Staying Consistent

Allyson Felix has spent most of her life operating at the highest level of competition, building a career that highlighted what sustained excellence looks like in track and field. With […] The post Allyson Felix Talks Life After Track, Family, And Staying Consistent appeared first on Essence .

EssenceApr 6, 2026

breakthroughs

Female athletes’ fertility is still a blind spot | Letter

Dr Mireia Galian argues that paid, protected time off for fertility assessment and treatment should be standard across women’s sports As you report, changes to insurance cover for female athletes following the Carney review are welcome (

The Guardian WomenApr 5, 2026