2025 Global Women's Rights Awards Archives - Ms. Magazine

‘Ms. Does Not Flinch’: Why Independent Feminist Journalism Matters

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 19:00:00 +0000

Bonnie Thornton Dill on the enduring power of Ms. magazine:

"Opening minds and eyes is what Ms. is about, and there has been no time when Ms. is more needed than it is today. ...

"While major media outlets rarely, if ever, report on violence to abortion clinics and abortion providers ... Ms. keeps a constant tab and a laser focus on that sort of violence, including how the deadly violence that targeted lawmakers in Minnesota was the result of antiabortion extremism. ...

And what national media outlet is tracking the administration's attacks on women and gender studies programs?"

The post ‘Ms. Does Not Flinch’: Why Independent Feminist Journalism Matters appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

]]>

The Ms. Q&A With Democracy Defenders Norm Eisen, Skye Perryman and Jennifer Rubin

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In the middle of an accelerating democratic crisis, and a year defined by sweeping attacks on women’s rights, the Feminist Majority Foundation, publisher of Ms. magazine, gathered in Los Angeles to honor some of the most formidable leaders on the front lines of resistance. At the Nov. 18 Global Women’s Rights Awards, journalists, lawyers, artists, organizers, litigators, community activists and movement strategists came together to celebrate what I call the “essential trifecta” for defeating authoritarianism: the law, the press and culture.

We recognized The Contrarian’s Jennifer Rubin and Norm Eisen for building an independent media platform willing to call out authoritarianism plainly; Democracy Forward president and CEO Skye Perryman for her organization’s record-breaking wave of legal challenges against the Trump administration; and the creative team behind the Broadway hit Liberation—playwright Bess Wohl, director Whitney White, and former Ms. writer and editor Lisa Cronin Wohl—for reminding audiences that storytelling is itself a democratic act.

"The number one tool that autocratic actors use to try to consolidate power and take away power from the people, is to convince people that they have no power," said Perryman. "Their toolbox is one of isolation. They want you to feel alone."

"I grew up miles from here, family hamburger stand," said Eisen, "and now to be here, to have this opportunity with my colleagues to fight for this democracy that took my country, and my parents. ... When my mother was living, she loved to say the Nazis took us out of Czechoslovakia on cattle cars, and my son flew back on Air Force One. So, how can I not be hopeful?"

The post The Ms. Q&A With Democracy Defenders Norm Eisen, Skye Perryman and Jennifer Rubin appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

]]>

‘Liberation’ Playwright Bess Wohl on Theater as Resistance: ‘Theater Is Dialogue. Autocracy Is a Monologue.’

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:10:40 +0000

At the Feminist Majority Foundation (publisher of Ms.) Global Women’s Rights Awards on Nov. 18 in Los Angeles, FMF honored the team behind the Broadway smash hit Liberation: playwright Bess Wohl, director Whitney White and Lisa Cronin Wohl, an OG Ms. writer from the 1970s.

"Theater is made up of dialogue. Autocracy is a monologue. Theater is about community: We watch a play together. Autocracy seeks to isolate us. Theater is about curiosity: A good play asks a question. Autocracy is not interested in questions, only in control.

"So, thank you, because in honoring this play, you honor the role of dialogue, community and questions in creating social change."

The post ‘Liberation’ Playwright Bess Wohl on Theater as Resistance: ‘Theater Is Dialogue. Autocracy Is a Monologue.’ appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

]]>

The Resistance Is Everywhere

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:14:03 +0000

These past 10 months have been tough. Every day a fresh outrage, more trampling of the Constitution and a new attack on common decency. Taking a page from Hollywood, Trump and his administration seem to have embraced a strategy of “everything, everywhere all at once.”

But, unfortunately for them: The resistance has also been everywhere all at once, too.

There is no doubt that when historians look back on this sordid moment in history, they will conclude that it was women, and feminists, who led the way out of it.

The post The Resistance Is Everywhere appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

]]>

Feminists vs. Authoritarians: Honoring Leaders Holding the Line

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:07:33 +0000

Greetings from Los Angeles—on the heels of a very special evening to celebrate the heart and soul of the democracy movement. On Tuesday night, Ms. paid tribute at the Global Women’s Rights Awards to bold leaders operating at the intersection of media, the law and storytelling—recognizing these as the essential trifecta for toppling authoritarianism. And, importantly, for fueling a feminist future.

The post Feminists vs. Authoritarians: Honoring Leaders Holding the Line appeared first on Ms. Magazine.

]]>