Nicole is a single mother working two jobs. She was a part of the first round of Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT), where she received one year of guaranteed income. MMT has helped more than 500 mothers since it began in 2018.

"My ideal future is one where we aren’t living paycheck to paycheck—where I can pay all our bills, provide stability, and even take a trip on the weekends for fun, just to enjoy life together. I want more for Kylie and me."

The post ‘I’m Working Just to Survive’: A Single Mom on SNAP Cuts, Two Jobs and Big Dreams appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

What Muslims need is nonjudgmental support grounded in compassion (rahma), the ability to consult (shura) experts with medically accurate information, and the agency to make decisions that align with their faith.

(This essay is part of a collection presented by Ms. and the Groundswell Fund highlighting the work of Groundswell partners advancing inclusive democracy.)

The post A Call to the Muslim Community: Fighting for Reproductive Justice Is in Line With Our Faith appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

She makes content to dispel medical misinformation, a frequent tool of the patriarchy. As ‘MAHA’ influencers decry everything from birth control to Tylenol, at the expense of women, she’s pushing back with evidence-based information.

Like most Americans, I felt uninformed about sexual reproductive health, even after my in-school health classes. In high school, I searched YouTube for information about reproductive health, where I found my way to Dr. Lincoln, who not only provided the health class I never had, but also ignited my interest in reproductive justice. Without her influence, I likely would not have become a feminist writer at Ms.

Over Zoom, I had the privilege of chatting with Dr. Lincoln about her journey from OB-GYN to viral educator, how the post-Dobbs landscape has reshaped her work, and why she believes accurate, inclusive sex education is one of the most powerful tools we have for liberation. Our conversation spanned everything from social media strategy to Christian nationalism—and what it really means to fight misinformation with empathy.

The post Meet Dr. Lincoln, the Internet’s Favorite OB-GYN appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

However, more than a decade after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) promised access to birth control, I found myself at the pharmacy counter, forced to walk away without it. My insurance refused to cover the pills I need to regulate my hormones, to prevent a third surgery for cystic breasts, and to alleviate excruciating period pain. That was my first confrontation with a false promise—but hardly the first loss of what I considered a secure right.

In theory, the ACA requires most health insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved contraceptive methods without any cost-sharing. In reality, that promise breaks down at the pharmacy counter—whether on account of delays, rejections, cost-sharing and a host of exceptions. In addition, states are eagerly stepping in to empower pharmacists to decide who does not get contraception.

The post The ACA Promised Access to Birth Control. The System Still Says No. appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

Adrian is a mother to three boys and the recipient of one year of guaranteed income from the Magnolia Mother's Trust.

"My income covers the basics, but sometimes unexpected expenses come up, and then things get hard. Some months are good, some aren’t."

"Having a bit more cash coming in ... has helped my mental and emotional health—I feel like I can breathe a little easier."

The post ‘Some Months Are Good, Some Aren’t’: A Mississippi Mom on Security, Self-Reliance and Showing Up for Her Kids appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

Cover-to-cover, full-color digitization preserves Ms.’ impactful graphic design, which functioned as the conduit and amplifier of the magazine’s content through engaging photographs, illustrations and layouts.

The revelatory rollout of this comprehensive digitized archive of contemporary feminism arrives at a germane moment as women’s hard-won gains are being pushed into the past. But it was in the past when women first won these battles, making the Ms. Magazine Archive an indispensable guide.

The post The Revolution Will Be Digitized: Online Ms. Archive Coming This Summer appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

"Every Friday, my boys and I have a special ritual. We go get snow cones and head to the snow park. We walk around, talk about our week and do affirmations. We discuss what we can do better, with each other and for ourselves. If I messed up, they let me know, and we talk about it. If I feel like they need to improve, we discuss that, too. ...

"I dream of going back to school and finishing my criminal justice degree. I fell short because of hard times. But I’m going back this year! I want to make my kids proud. If I can do it, they can do it, too. It’s not easy, but it’s not hard, either. You just have to push. As long as you have that mindset, you’re going to make it."

The post ‘It’s Always Been Me and the Boys’: How Guaranteed Income Is Helping Black Mothers Build Stronger Families and Futures appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

"My name is Jasmine, and I'm 33 years old. I'm a mother of three—there's Nehemiah, my oldest, who is 13. Then there's my daughter, Harmoni, who is 9, and my youngest, Joshun, is 8 years old. ...

"Finding reliable childcare has always been a struggle. There were times when I couldn't get a job because I couldn't find childcare or the process of securing a childcare voucher took too long. ... My mom isn't able to help due to being ill, and I don't hear from my dad much. So, I don’t have a lot of people I can rely on."

The post I’m a Single Mom Raising Three Kids. A Year of Guaranteed Income Gave Us Breathing Room. appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

"I'm lucky if I get four or five hours a day of sleep, but it’s what I have to do to make sure my kids are taken care of and I have enough money to cover all my bills. ... When I was part of the Magnolia Mother’s Trust, I was able to just work one job. ... I hate that it’s over, I really wish leaders would create a policy like that that would be permanent."

The post ‘I Just Wish I Could Have One Good-Paying Job’: A Black Mother’s Story of Hard Work and Hope appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

Front & Center began as first-person accounts of Black mothers living in Jackson, Miss., receiving a guaranteed income. Moving into the fourth year and next phase of this series, we’re expanding our focus beyond a single policy intervention to include a broader examination of systemic issues impacting Black women experiencing poverty. This means diving deeper into the interconnected challenges they face—including navigating the existing safety net; healthcare, childcare and elder care; and the importance of mental, physical and spiritual well-being.

The post ‘Set Up to Fail’: A Mississippi Mother on What the U.S. Gets Wrong About Poverty appeared first on Ms. Magazine.