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Separating Sports by Sex Doesn’t Make Sense
Though school sports are typically sex-segregated, a new generation of kids isn’t content to compete within traditional structures.
That’s It. You’re Dead to Me.
Suddenly everyone is “toxic.”
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The One Social-Media Feature That People Still Love
Instagram’s Close Friends toes the privacy line by offering users a safe, semipublic space of their own creation.
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The Risk and Opportunity of Online Fertility Groups
Seeking health advice on the web is precarious. But for some people, internet strangers provide helpful information and emotional support.
The Black Religion That’s Been Maligned for Centuries
Vodou has been condemned for much of its history. But some Haitian Americans are reclaiming the narrative through their own journeys with spirituality.
The Conservative Women Radicalizing Amish Literature
A growing network of Christian writers is pushing past tradition to broach topics like depression and marital conflict.
Want Closer Friendships? Move Away From Your Friends.
Distance, as it turns out, isn’t the barrier to deep relationships that some may think.
Standing Now Counts as Exercise
Americans have become far more sedentary over the past two years, and that’s changing how we view what constitutes a workout.
Airlines’ Premium-Economy Trick
Carriers are banking on the psychological allure of marginal luxury.
The Miraculous Comeback of the Field Trip
What we can learn from a group of third graders on their first school outing since the start of the pandemic
The Women Naming Their Babies After Themselves
Female “Juniors” are rare. But for certain mothers, passing down their name is a no brainer.
The Only Good Thing Left About Facebook
Some people believe that the company’s scandals are reason enough to quit the platform. Others have found one compelling reason to stay.
How a Polarizing Best Seller Became Required Reading for Orthodox Jewish Women
The book, rooted in modern Christian fundamentalism, has captured the attention of this insular community.
The Resurrection of Retail
Buying online became even more of a utility during the pandemic. But for some, IRL exchanges will always beat clicking a button.
One Community’s Complicated Relationship With SPAM
A conversation about the canned meat’s lasting cultural impact on Filipino American life
What the Anti-work Discourse Gets Wrong
Tech companies are offering spiritual care to make employees more productive, and it’s likely a sign of what’s to come in other industries.
What You Find When You Leave Your Job
The “Great Resignation” isn’t really about rejecting work—it’s about redefining one’s sense of self.
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Death Is No Laughing Matter. But on DeathTok It Is.
An unlikely group of influencers on TikTok is using cheeky skits and viral songs to change our relationship to mortality.
What College Students Really Think About Cancel Culture
Despite the common refrain from pundits, a grassroots movement is seeing politically divergent undergraduates come together for uncomfortable discussions.
The Religious Leaders Caught in the Vaccine Wars
People seeking to obtain an exemption from the shot have found that some clergy see no theological foundation for an excusal.
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The Year of Practical Thinking
After so much uncertainty and loss, many Americans are abandoning the unbridled optimism of a new year and adopting a more pragmatic outlook.
The Beloved Filipino Tradition That Started as a Government Policy
How sending 100-pound care packages to family in the Philippines became a cherished diasporic practice
Grief Is Evidence of Love
Yes, mourning is an acknowledgment of loss. But the late scholar bell hooks argued that it is also a way of honoring our commitment to those who have died.
The People Using Role-Play to Prepare for the Future
In theater groups around the country, physical performance is revealing better ways to handle life’s unknowns.
The Football Game That Transcends Tradition
The historic rivalry between Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University goes beyond sports.
Loving Your Job Is a Capitalist Trap
Doing work that is fulfilling has become ubiquitous career advice, but no one should depend on a single social institution to define their sense of self.
The American Workplace Isn’t Prepared for This Much Grief
The pandemic has highlighted the fact that without a federal bereavement policy, many people are subject to the whims of state legislatures and individual companies.
The Most Famous Low-Wage Workers in the Country
Players in the National Women’s Soccer League are speaking up about the abusive work environments that can develop when women are underpaid.
When the Place You Live Becomes Unlivable
After Hurricane Ida, New Orleanians are weighing the emotional, cultural, and financial costs of leaving the place they call home.
The Unorthodox Art of an Ultra-Orthodox Community
For a particular group of Jews, art is typically a form of decor, not commentary. But a new generation of artists is trying to make nonconformist pieces while remaining observant.
How Shrek Is Connecting People During the Pandemic
In lieu of face-to-face interactions, some communities have turned to anonymous gift-giving to feel connected.
This Summer Was Destined for Failure
It’s not just Delta whiplash that’s getting people down. Even when the pandemic ends, post-vaccine life is going to be awkward.
The Persistent Joy of Black Mothers
Characterized throughout American history as symbols of crisis, trauma, and grief, these women consistently reject those narratives through world-making of their own.
The Surprising Innovations of Pandemic-Era Sex
Many queer people are reimagining their own boundaries and thinking of this reentry period as a time for sexual self-discovery.
America’s Investing Boom Goes Far Beyond Reddit Bros
Robinhood traders have earned the most attention, but they’re only part of a larger story about class stagnation and distrust.
The Fastest-Growing Group of American Evangelicals
A new generation of Latino Protestants is poised to transform our religious and political landscapes.
The Pride Flag Has a Representation Problem
Since its debut, the symbol has had several redesigns in the name of inclusion. But some fear that the changes are merely for the sake of branding, absent material steps toward real equality.
What the Push to Celebrate Juneteenth Conceals
The recent effort to make the anniversary a federal holiday is undermined by the simultaneous attack on critical race theory and curricula focused on the enduring legacy of slavery.
The Americans Who Knitted Their Own Safety Net
Mutual-aid groups are helping Americans envision communities that meet everyone’s needs.