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Overturning Roe disproportionately burdens marginalized groups
A person tearing up in a crowd of people. The person, who is holding a green bandana, wears a shirt that says "We Won't Back Down." Other people hold up signs in the crowd, including "Keep Abortion Legal."

Abortion-rights activists demonstrate in Washington, D.C. on June 30, 2022. (Image: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Overturning Roe disproportionately burdens marginalized groups

For low-income people and people of color, lack of access to safe abortions in the U.S. will have a range of health and financial ramifications, compounding factors like poverty and systemic racism.

Michele W. Berger

‘Abortion and Women’s Rights 1970’: A film that’s newly timely
Screen grab of woman from 1970 Abortion documentary transposed over an image of the 2017 women's march on Washington.

In 1970, Mary Summers (not pictured) of the School of Arts & Sciences worked with a group of women to create one of the first documentary films about abortion. In April, Summers and her collaborators launched a website to reissue the film, just a month before the leaked Supreme Court opinion on abortion. (Image: Courtesy of Mary Summers)

‘Abortion and Women’s Rights 1970’: A film that’s newly timely

Five decades ago, ahead of the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade, political scientist Mary Summers worked on a documentary film. That film is gaining new viewers through a recently launched website.

Kristen de Groot

Possessed: The Salem witch trials
Historical rendering of a courtroom in the era of the Salem witch trials.

In many ways, the witch hunt fit in with New England folk beliefs and theology, says Kathleen M. Brown. The idea that the devil had a hand in human affairs and “could seduce you away from God” was a very normative belief, she says.

Possessed: The Salem witch trials

This spring marks the 330th anniversary of the Salem witch trials, during which a total of 20 “afflicted girls” accused around 150 people, 19 of whom were executed. Historian Kathleen M. Brown discusses why this episode is still fascinating today.

Kristina García

Bridging Wikipedia’s gender gap, one article at a time
Person’s hand using a mouse and a keyboard at a computer.

Bridging Wikipedia’s gender gap, one article at a time

Wikipedia has a major gender inequity problem. In a new study, Annenberg researchers evaluate how feminist interventions are closing the gap, and how they could improve.

From Annenberg School for Communication

The ‘music’ of one poet’s words, translated
Huda Fakhreddine holding the poetry book outside

(Homepage image) As a scholar, Fakhreddine works hard to retain as much of a poem as possible when it moves from Arabic to another language. “It’s a challenge that all translation involves. We talk about what’s lost and what’s gained,” she says. “It’s all exaggerated here with these short musical pieces. Their meaning is ground in their sound.”

The ‘music’ of one poet’s words, translated

With help from her daughter, scholar Huda Fakhreddine published an English version of 30 poems for children written by her father in Arabic, paying tribute to their endearing and enduring subject matter and to the musicality and richness of their sound.

Michele W. Berger

Ten years later, examining the Occupy movement’s legacy
occupy wall street 99%

(Homepage image) Occupy Wall Street protesters join a labor union rally in Foley Square before marching on Zuccotti Park in New York’s Financial District on Oct. 5, 2011. (Image: AP Images/Jason DeCrow)

Ten years later, examining the Occupy movement’s legacy

For Jessa Lingel of the Annenberg School for Communication, a decade after Occupy Wall Street’s beginnings presented an opportunity for reflection, which she led this fall semester in a new course.

Kristen de Groot

Gender and identity: A lecture on diversity
An image of a Black woman with a flower crown. Text reads "no pride without Black trans lives"

The work of BIPOC activists is integral to the history of women's rights and LGBTQ+ rights, says Melissa Sanchez

Gender and identity: A lecture on diversity

In the first in a series of diversity lectures offered through the Office of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity Programs, Melissa E. Sanchez of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke on “Addressing a More Complex and Encompassing Understanding of Identity.”

Kristina García

Conference celebrates worldwide impact of Penn women
two people walking on campus with face coverings

Conference celebrates worldwide impact of Penn women

Momentum 2021: The Power of Penn Women online conference takes place Oct 1-3 with a who’s who lineup of speakers comprised of alumni and Penn community members.

Dee Patel