Reading List #19 (Patreon)

Zombies, economics, lesbianism, mole people, OH MY! 

1) The 9.9 Percent is The New American Aristocracy (Matthew Stewart)

An in-depth look at the growing class divide. 

Read Length: Long

Related: Why The Wealth Gap Hits Families The Hardest  (Christina Gibson-Davis and Christine Percheski)

2) A Brief History of Oral Sex, From Ancient China to DJ Khaled (Kate Lister)

Read Length: Medium

3) The Truth About New York’s Legendary ‘Mole People’ (Anthony Tanille)

Illuminating and heartbreaking. I had no clue that "mole people"- aka people who live under the city of New York- were so numerous. Nor before reading this article did I understand the problems facing that community. Someone tweeted it after seeing a viral video of a guy climbing under a grate in NYC.

Read Length: Long

4) The Handmaids Tale (Margaret Atwood)

I couldn't watch the tv show past the fifth or sixth episode (too painful and traumatizing), but I needed to know what happened to Offred. So I read the original novel. Amazing and haunting, especially with the latest restrictions on women's reproductive rights. 

Read Length: Book

Related: Why America's Handmaids Tale Doesn't Look Like Hulu's (Christopher Douglas)

5) How Zombies Inform our Understanding of Racism (Shuang Guan and Tiauna Lewis)

Pop culture and history collide in this essay, and even includes an interactive map. 

Read Length: Medium 

6) Monica Lewinsky: ‘The shame sticks to you like tar’ (Jon Ronson)

I've laughed at Monica Lewinsky jokes multiple times in my life. This article made me realize the jokes were never funny. 

Read Length: Long

7) What Happens When Sex Workers Put Women of Color First (Allison Tierney) 

Ever since backpage and other escorting sites have been banned, I've been thinking about how more dangerous (and more ruthless) the sex work lane will become. One thing that really worries me is the further marginalization of black sex workers, who face racism. In this article I learned how a black woman started a much-needed convo about discrimination in the industry. 

8) Hundreds of people in Mexico are kidnapped every year. And the problem’s getting worse. (Rory Smith)

What does trying to stop the drug trade have to do with the wave of kidnappings? Read this. 

Read Length: Medium

9) Lesbianism (!) at the Convent (Hannah Steinkopf-Frank)

I always wondered why some women throughout history chose to be locked away at convents. 

Read Length: Long

10) The Roaring Girls of Queer London (Peter Akroyd)

More of that gay history shit I love.

Read Length: Long

11) How To Be A Plain Girl: A Black Woman's Hair Biography (Lolly Bowean) 

Gripping and funny! Also learned some new hair history. (particularly the bits about the jheri churl) 

Read Length: Long