Tag: feminist

Instagram Influencer and Model Katya Karlova on Body Dysmorphia and Learning to Love Yourself

Leave a comment

By Sophia-Joelle Oswald

According to Mayo Clinic, body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition that causes the person affected to carry endless thoughts about what they believe to be flaws in their appearance. These “flaws” tend to be small or non-existent to others, but in their own minds they are constantly feeling defeated, embarrassed, anxious, or even unlovable for those same things.  

Body dysmorphia is different from person to person, but it tends to suck up so much life out of those affected. Some people avoid social events and spend hours in front of the mirror focusing on what they don’t like about themselves. Others may spend tons of money on products designed to cover these perceived flaws, sometimes even seeking surgery. 

Body dysmorphia doesn’t discriminate based on gender, race, age, or other factors. Sadly enough, it has been found in children as young as 5 and in adults as old as 80. Studies find that BDD impacts between 7% and 2.3% of the general population. 

Continue reading →

Books to look out for in 2023

Leave a comment

By Nicole Mitchell and Sophie Oswald

New year, new TBR. Maybe you’re already on that reading grind and have finished 10 books so far; maybe you’re new to the scene and looking for where to start. Either way, there are incredible books coming out this year from well-known authors such as R.F. Kuang to debut novelists like Hannah Kaner. To make it easy, we’ve cut this list in half with months January through June—we’ll be sure to touch back with end-of-the-year must-reads! Hopefully this list helps you figure out what your TBR should be for the year.

What are some books you’re looking forward to that we didn’t touch on? Share your thoughts with us by using #catcallback and tagging us on socials!

Continue reading →

Some of our faves from 2022

Leave a comment

By Catcall Team

Before we get too excited about the new year, we want to take a moment to honor our favorite stories from the past twelve months. It’s hard to narrow the list down, but here’s a roundup that touches the surface. This year we shut down mansplainers, shared AAPI stories, and encouraged people to diversify their feeds. Of course, we wouldn’t be Catcall without sharing our favorite sex toys and other raunchy tales too! Take a look…

Continue reading →

Feminist-friendly frights: Horror movies worth a watch

Leave a comment

By Sophia-Joelle Oswald

For a movie to pass the Bechdel Test it must have at least two named women who talk to each other about something other than a man. Which is, quite frankly, the bare minimum. Thousands of movies have been tested for the Bechdel Test, but less than 57% of the films in the database meet all three of these criteria. 

Horror is the only film genre where women speak as often as men. Shocking, right? (Ha, see what we did there.)

Many horror movies put women at the center, giving them a chance to tell their own stories and share their points of view. 

As with all genres, there was a time when horror movies constantly portrayed female characters in an unempowering light. The final girl trope is the perfect example of this. The final girl is the last woman left alive at the end of a horror or slasher film. She alone is still standing, left to either defeat the killer or describe the series of events to the authorities. The final girl is a major part of many successful horror movies like Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Halloween. 

Continue reading →

Midnights: Swapping Stories at Swift’s Sleepover

Leave a comment

By Hanna Ellington

A master of reinvention, Taylor Swift pivots toward reflection with her latest release, Midnights. 

The album in its entirety feels similar to being at a long-awaited sleepover, where the brazen story-swapping continues long after the lights are turned out. Her 10th studio album serves as a formal departure from the imaginative stories of folklore and evermore, capturing an honest exploration of personal faults and private vulnerabilities. Accented by the return of her ever-catchy pop sound, Midnights illuminates the subtle intricacies of late-night talking and restless ponderings through its substance under the moody, synth-pop surface.

Midnights toys with what keeps you up at night, with subjects ranging from self-examination, karmic revenge, and notches in the bedpost. Combining elements of candid, late-night musings with polished and dreamy synthesized backings, Swift’s personal examination fuses her past personas and experiences to create a matured, subdued, and introspective package. Defined by her color-coded and recognizable eras, Midnights analyzes “13 sleepless nights scattered through my life,” according to her August 29 Instagram announcement, giving an intimate perspective on the inner workings of her mind and life in the spotlight.

Continue reading →