This week, Hannah Giorgis wrote about surviving a long summer of street harassment. Read that and other essays from Quartz, Gawker, Medium, and more.
"My Long, Exhausting Summer of Street Harassment Is Over" —BuzzFeed Ideas
Summer is over; that means the exhausting days of constant sexual harassment is over — for now. In a BuzzFeed Ideas essay, Hannah Giorgis describes what women are all too familiar with. "Going out tonight without enough money for cab fare? Maybe I need to add a pair of jeans," she writes. "See a stranger walking toward you, looking to start conversation? Smile long enough to be pleasant but not solicitous, walk fast but not so fast it seems like I’m running away." Read her piece here.
Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed
"The Monetized Man" —Medium
In her own words, Alana Massey writes about "how the unrestrained, unaccountable emotional lives of men wreak havoc on women." In an epic essay for Medium, Massey explains how she was able to turn the suffering an ex had inflicted on her into a successful career — an "empire of pain," complete with an ample checkings account and a book deal. In the piece, she recalls the harrowing relationship and explains why she continues to write about what she does. Read it at Medium.
Illustration by Ana Benaroya / Via medium.com
"Why It’s So Mind-Blowing (and Important) to See Asian Parents Kissing on TV" —Quartz
As much as we love Fresh Off the Boat's Jessica and Louis Huang, it's weird seeing them kiss. At least, it's weird for those with parents who were born and raised in Asia, parents who rarely show affection at all. For Quartz, Jeff Yang explains why these public displays of affection are so mind-blowing, reflecting on his own family. "My parents are task mates and complementary life partners ... But they never kissed, or hugged, or held hands, or snuggled on the couch when we were growing up," he writes. Read it at Quartz.
Reuters / Mario Anzuoni / Via qz.com
“Mostly I Fear the Fuck Out of It” —Standard Issue
Sadie Hasler lost her father to bipolar disorder 13 years ago this week, which coincidentally also happens to be when the U.K. recognizes Bipolar Awareness Day. In a devastating essay for Standard Issue, she describes how he kept his illness a secret and ponders whether or not she may have bipolar disorder herself. "Are the sudden shifts to blackness just due to outside factors triggering latent memories? Is my subconscious full of landmines, ready to be stepped on at any moment; no knowing exactly where they are?," she writes. Read it at Standard Issue.
