A friend is “naturally” thin and women in our friend group always give her the teasing-but-actually-mean treatment. Like, “Oh whatever, Jane, you can eat whatever you want and still be skinny.” It happens every single time someone starts venting about their frustrations with weight — they say something like that to…

Hahaha. I’m near the city where State Farm is based out of. I am loving that someone specifically commented on his Midwestern accent. Like any accent, you think you don’t have one until someone points it out. I’m playing that commercial over and over again in my head, and wondering what parts sound like accents — haha!

Also, here is a similar story from Vice:

Great article. I did an uncover piece for my college newspaper by visiting a CPC 10 years ago. I didn’t have pregnant piss, just reported I was pregnant and wanted to know what my options were. The lady showed me all those tiny fetuses, listed off all the complications, and then asked me to consider how my boyfriend…

Sobbing in my coffee. What a great memory to have. Bless you and your mom.

This is awesome! I freaked out the first time I smoked weed my first semester in college, and called my mom in a panic. A few days later I got a “care package” at my dorm mailbox from her. It was full of snacks for “studying” and a list of drugs I was and was not allowed to try. On the “do not try” list was heroin,…

Scene: I’m 11. One afternoon after school, my mom was having her usual cig and gin on the couch. I was sitting on the floor, staring at the carpet, trying to explain to her that I saw a boy get “pants-ed” in science class and that there was this flesh that rested on other flesh, but it was different colors and I…

I literally sold tampons for $1 at a music festival. I only brought a pack of 48 and sold out the first afternoon. While I heard party kids around me asking who has molly, teens and 20 somethings would approach me and whisper in a lowered voice, “are you the lady with tampons?” while holding out a folded dollar bill…

The best part of this story is that you were watching Drop Dead Gorgeous. That is one of my favorite movies, and my *dad* is a huge fan and got me into it. I hope you at least got to have many a good laugh after your cathartic shower cry.

I just read Men Explain Things to Me and it’s spot on about this sort of stuff. I asked my (male) partner to read it and he keeps texting me “OMG I totally do that! OMG i’m such a dick! OMG I’m so sorry!” Life changer.

A gal at a party that I had seen around before came up and greeted me cheerfully. I smiled back and shook her hand. "Can I talk to you in private real quick?" she asked. "Oh, sure?" I replied, thinking maybe I had food in my teeth or something. She grabs both of my hands like she's about to launch into prayer and…

Oh all the time! As an adult who is now an educator, I think that teachers don't know what to do with students at the top of the bell curve. They have to aim for the middle., and then spend extra time helping struggling students get up to speed. My small town didn't have "gifted" programs, so they enrolled me in math…

I had the same experience as you — not only singled out by the kids, but by the teachers, like you said above. I distinctly remember hearing more times than I can count "You're so smart and special" and then, by the same person at a different time (usually when I did something wrong), "You think you're so much better…

I had a gal turn in the exact paper her sister had submitted when she took my class last year. Same exact paper, same last name — the only change was the first name. We met to discuss what a big deal this was and she didn't seem to give a shit and told me "i asked her for help, I must have just written down exactly…

OMG this is the season of plagiarism! More this term than in my last 16 terms teaching/grading/crying/drinking.

I didn't go to Sweet Briar, but I graduated from a small Liberal Arts college in a rural location and wouldn't trade that experience for the world. I pledged what I could in hopes that others who care about academic options for women might do the same. Thank you for what you're doing for the community and the students…

Project proposals and powerpoint presentations were an integral part of my LA education — being clear and concise in writing was also emphasized. We all know being a good writer does not mean long, winding essays. Grant applications are examples of skills students learn during internships as well as during graduate…

I see your point and agree with much of it. It is extremely difficult to teach "skills" in the classroom. Something like software you need for LIS, yes — but skills like ability to work under pressure, time management, navigating tense relationships with coworkers and clients, you really can only learn that "on the…

I'd add that the career-oriented experience varies greatly by school. While many of my peers went on to PhDs, I don't remember that track being discussed in class or advising. Many classes in the humanities, arts, and social sciences had service-learning components where students would go to local organizations or…

Exactly! One of my grad school colleagues had come from Bryn Mawr and we had to band together as the former Lib Arts kids to make our own study group because most of our classmates from state schools needed remedial coursework in concepts we'd learned frosh/soph year. I felt capable to go out into the world for a job…