by Camila Heredia Oranday. Cover image: Angela Davis by Margaret Mitchem for I’M Firenze Digest.
Let’s all raise our voices, shout it together and write it everywhere: #noexcuse. And voices through feminist podcast are tools to raise awareness. The slogan launched by the United Nations to stop violence against women and girls speaks volumes. Since late 1999, November 25 has now been marked as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in honour of the brutal murder of the Mirabal sisters in the Dominican Republic by henchmen of Rafael Trujillo, the dictator at the time.
Violence against women is still one of the biggest human rights violations in the world. According to the United Nations, almost one in three women globally (a number estimated at 736 million) has experienced violence at least once in her life.
Let’s hear from contemporary women activists powerful ideas. Here, you will find 5 impactful feminist podcasts that amplify voices and address important topics. Podcasts are a useful tool not only to discuss the pillars of feminism and intersectionality but also to raise awareness on themes like violence, abortion, and femicides.
From deep reflections on the #MeToo movement to critical analysis of radical feminism, these podcasts provide an outlook on the fight for gender equality. Join us on this audio-journey to celebrate the strength, resilience, and determination of women all over the world. #noexcuse
5 Feminist Podcast that bring Awareness about Violence Against Women
1. STUFF MOM NEVER TOLD YOU
“Stuff Mom Never Told You” is a fascinating feminist podcast that examines a wide range of topics related to the experiences of women in our society. With a genius and informational approach, the hosts, Anney Reese and Samantha McVey, explore feminist inquiries, from the history of influential women to cyberstalking and other violence against women, to contemporary debates about gender equality and reproductive health, maternity, job dynamics, all with an insightful yet accessible approach.
They demystify concepts and untangle gender stereotypes, proposing critical perspectives and reflective analyses. Whether discussing most recent topics or the overall evolution of feminist history, “Stuff Mom Never Told You” offers an educated and even humoristic outlook on the complex relationships of women with life, men, and other women.
2. INTERSECTIONALITY MATTERS! BY KIMBERLÉ CRENSHAW
“Intersectionality Matters!” is an essential podcast hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an outstanding academic, law professor and defender of civil rights. This podcast explores the concepts of intersectionality, a theory that Crenshaw herself developed to understand the complex interconnections of oppression that people face because of their different identities, like race, gender, and social class.
Through interviews and conversations, Crenshaw and her guests analyse critical topics regarding social injustice, civil rights, and equality. This podcast can serve as a crucial platform for reflection and action, promoting a deeper understanding of how to overcome systemic inequalities.
3. MORGANA BY MICHELA MURGIA AND CHIARA TAGLIAFERRI
“Male fantasies, male fantasies, is everything run by male fantasies? Up on a pedestal or down on your knees, it’s all a male fantasy: that you’re strong enough to take what they dish out, or else too weak to do anything about it. Even pretending you aren’t catering to male fantasies is a male fantasy: pretending you’re unseen, pretending you have a life of your own, that you can wash your feet and comb your hair unconscious of the ever-present watcher peering through the keyhole, peering through the keyhole in your own head, if nowhere else. You are a woman with a man inside watching a woman. You are your own voyeur.” (Margaret Atwood, The Robber Bride).
“Morgana” is a podcast created by Michela Murgia and Chiara Tagliaferri, sponsored by Maison Valentino, and it explores the concept of maternity. Through various biographies of different famous people, like Margaret Atwood (hence the quote), Nan Goldin, David Bowie, JK Rowling and many others, Murgia and Tagliaferri aim to represent all the ways maternity can express itself without judging the outcomes.
4. THE FEMINIST PRESENT BY THE CLAYMAN INSTITUTE FOR GENDER RESEARCH
“The Feminist Present” is an evolving podcast created by the Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford. Hosts Laura Good and Adrian Daub invite and interview a wide range of journalists, creators, activists, and more to discuss current feminist topics. The podcast provides a unique platform to explore crucial questions regarding feminism and the investigation of gender.
With expert participation, the programme analyses contemporary issues from a feminine perspective, covering topics such as gender politics, violence against women, pop culture and technology. It offers a balanced academic analysis and accessible dialogue, allowing the listeners to deepen their understanding of these complex themes with guidance from leaders in the field. The podcast highlights the importance of investigating and raising awareness to promote full gender equality.
5. MÁS ALLÁ DEL ROSA BY JESSICA FERNÁNDEZ
“Más Allá del Rosa” is a podcast in Spanish created in 2020 by activist, feminist, social entrepreneur, and lecturer Jessica Fernández García. It features interviews with women in the field of feminism, creating a space for modern women to empower each other. The conversations, which last around 1 hour each, cover a range of topics that need to be talked about, including feminist protests, abortion and pro-choice. This podcast encourages listeners to explore and fully recognise their power as women, embrace their femininity, and support other women like a ‘girl’s girl’.
