Jessica Valenti Explained

Jessica Valenti
Birth Date:November 1, 1978
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Known For:Founder of Feministing
Children:1

Jessica Valenti (; born November 1, 1978[1]) is an American feminist writer.[2] She was the co-founder of the blog Feministing, which she wrote for from 2004 to 2011. Valenti is the author of five books: Full Frontal Feminism (2007), He's a Stud, She's a Slut (2008), The Purity Myth (2009), Why Have Kids? (2012), and (2016). She also co-edited the books Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and A World Without Rape (2008), and Believe Me: How Trusting Women Can Change the World (2020). Between 2014 and 2018, Valenti was a columnist for The Guardian.[3] She currently runs the Abortion, Every Day newsletter on Substack.[4] The Washington Post described her as "one of the most successful and visible feminists of her generation".[5]

Early life and education

Valenti was raised in Long Island City, Queens, in an Italian-American family.[6] She graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City in 1996[7] [8] and attended Tulane University in New Orleans for a year, and then transferred to the State University of New York at Albany, graduating in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.[9] In 2002, Valenti received a master's degree in Women's and Gender Studies with a concentration in politics from Rutgers University.[10]

Career

After graduating from college, Valenti worked for the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund and for the Women's Environment & Development Organization. She wrote a blog for NARAL Pro-Choice America and also taught at Rutgers University from 2008 to 2010.

Feministing

In April 2004, Valenti co-founded Feministing with her sister and a friend while she was working at the National Organization for Women's legal defense fund (now Legal Momentum).[11] [12] [13] Homa Khaleeli writes in The Guardian's top 100 women that the site shifted the feminist movement online, triggering the creation of blogs and discussion groups, creating a heyday for feminism just as its death was being announced, as Khaleeli puts it. She writes that Valenti "felt the full force of being a pioneer," her involvement with the site attracting online abuse, even threats of rape and death.[14]

Kymberly Blackstock included Feministing in her review of feminist blogs, praising them for being "successful in giving a new generation the chance to engage with as well as begin to direct which topics will rise to the top of the feminist agenda". While she criticized Valenti for the blog's lack of involvement in global issues. She also writes that blogs like Feministing are helpful in encouraging activism in young people, and allow them to see current events with a feminist lens.[15]

University of Wisconsin–Madison law professor Ann Althouse criticized Feministing in 2006 for its sometimes sexualized content. Erin Matson of the National Organization for Women's Young Feminist Task Force told The Huffington Post the controversy was "a rehashing of a very old debate within the feminist community: is public sexuality empowering or harmful to women?"[16]

Valenti left the site in February 2011, saying she wanted it to remain a place for younger feminists.[17]

Writing

In 2007, Valenti wrote Full Frontal Feminism, where she discusses the ways in which readers can benefit from being feminists.[18]

In 2008, Valenti published He's a Stud, She's a Slut and 49 Other Double Standards Every Woman Should Know.[19]

In 2008, Valenti was the co-editor of Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and A World Without Rape with Jaclyn Friedman. The anthology featured a foreword by comedian Margaret Cho.

In 2009, Valenti published (via Seal Press) The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women, about the way ideals about women's sexuality are being used to weaken women's rights. A documentary film based on the book, called The Purity Myth, was released in 2011 by the Media Education Foundation.[20]

In 2012, Valenti published Why Have Kids? A New Mom Explores the Truth About Parenting and Happiness.[21] [22] [23]

In 2016, Valenti published with the Dey Street imprint of Morrow.[24] [25] [26] The book was a memoir, a departure from Valenti's prior books.[27] [28]

Also in 2016, one of the Podesta emails mentions, alongside Valenti's name, a column she was writing for The Guardian.[29] [30] [31] [32]

In 2020, Valenti was the co-editor of the anthology Believe Me: How Trusting Women Can Change the World with Jaclyn Friedman.

Valenti's writing has appeared in Diane Mapes' Single State of the Union: Single Women Speak Out on Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Happiness (2007), Melody Berger's We Don't Need Another Wave: Dispatches from the Next Generation of Feminists (2008), and Courtney E. Martin and J. Courtney Sullivan's book, Click: When We Knew We Were Feminists (2010).

Her work has appeared in Ms., The Washington Post, AlterNet, as well as other publications. Valenti wrote for The Nation from 2008 to 2014.[33] Since 2014, Valenti has written regularly for The Guardian, where she is a columnist. She also writes a Substack newsletter, Abortion, Every Day, about abortion laws after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.[34]

Harassment

Valenti has been the target of online threats and harassment throughout her career. In a 2006 blog article by Liz Funks at HuffPost, Funks wrote about online attacks made about Valenti after a group photo that included Valenti at a luncheon with former President Bill Clinton went viral, focusing on her outfit.

In July 2016, Valenti announced she was taking a break from social media, after receiving rape and death threats aimed at her then five-year-old daughter. On Twitter, Valenti denounced the harassment as unacceptable. Immediately after that, Valenti made her Instagram account private.[35]

Personal life

In 2009, Valenti married Andrew Golis, former deputy publisher of Talking Points Memo, former general manager of Vox Media,[36] and currently the Chief Content Officer for WNYC.[37]

The couple has one daughter, born in 2010.[38]

Honors

Works and publications

Books

Anthologies

Selected publications

Other

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Wood. Gaby. Valenti. Jessica. The interview: Jessica Valenti. The Guardian. 10 May 2009. December 11, 2016. November 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181116124047/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/may/10/jessica-valenti-feminist-blogger. live.
  2. News: Solomon. Deborah. The Blogger and Author on the Life of Women Online. The New York Times. 13 November 2009. April 2, 2018. July 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160716184154/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/magazine/15fob-q4-t.html. live.
  3. News: Kolker. Gennady. Feminist writer and author Jessica Valenti joins Guardian US. The Guardian. 12 March 2014. en. Press release. April 2, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145117/https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-us-press-office/feminist-write-author-jessica-valenti-joins-guardian-us. live.
  4. News: Valenti . Jessica . 2022-11-05 . Opinion I Write About Post-Roe America Every Day. It's Worse Than You Think. . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-07-11 . 0362-4331.
  5. Web site: Valenti . Jessica . 2018-02-27 . Meet Jessica Valenti . 2023-07-21 . Eater . en.
  6. News: Lane. Dakota. Jessica Valenti and Andrew Golis - Weddings and Celebrations. The New York Times. 15 October 2009. February 25, 2017. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145138/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/fashion/weddings/18VOWS.html. live.
  7. News: Bussel. Rachel Kramer. Valenti. Jessica. Jessica Valenti, Executive Editor and Founder, Feministing.com. Gothamist. 15 May 2006. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081016102347/http://gothamist.com/2006/05/15/jessica_valenti_1.php. October 16, 2008. mdy-all.
  8. News: Valenti. Jessica. I graduated Stuy in 1996 and remember all of this and how badly they handled accusations. It was gross. I'm so sorry. Thanks for sharing. @JessicaValenti. Twitter. 6 October 2017.
  9. News: Valenti. Jessica. How to end the college class war. The Guardian. 27 May 2014. en. April 2, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145143/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/27/how-to-end-college-class-war. live.
  10. News: Alumni Profiles - M.A.: Jessica Valenti. Rutgers University. May 2002. en-gb. April 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225944/http://womens-studies.rutgers.edu/faculty/68#Jessica%20Valenti. April 2, 2018. dead. mdy-all.
  11. News: Valenti. Jessica. A Big Think Interview With Jessica Valenti - Video. Big Think. 21 December 2009. en. Video interview, including transcript. April 2, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145158/https://bigthink.com/videos/a-big-think-interview-with-jessica-valenti. live.
  12. News: Traister. Rebecca. Valenti. Jessica. Tough titties. Salon. 24 April 2007. April 2, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145125/https://www.salon.com/2007/04/24/valenti_4/. live.
  13. News: Oliveira. Rebeca. Feminist icon moves to JP. Jamaica Plain Gazette. 23 September 2011. September 25, 2011. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145132/http://jamaicaplaingazette.com/2011/09/23/feminist-icon-moves-to-jp/. live.
  14. News: Khaleeli. Homa. Top 100 Women: Jessica Valenti. The Guardian. 8 March 2011. en. December 11, 2016. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145126/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/mar/08/jessica-valenti-100-women. live.
  15. Blackstock. Kymberly. Media Reviews: A Selection of Feminist Blogs. Women & Language. 1 March 2010. 33. 1.
  16. News: Funk. Liz. 12 October 2006. Feministing: Feminist? Or Just -Ing?. The Huffington Post. January 31, 2009. February 18, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090218150707/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/liz-funk/feministing-feminist-o_b_31572.html. live.
  17. News: Valenti. Jessica. Farewell, Feministing. Feministing. 2 February 2011. February 21, 2011. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145122/http://feministing.com/2011/02/02/farewell-feministing/. live.
  18. News: Colbert. Stephen. Valenti. Jessica. Jessica Valenti. The Colbert Report. Comedy Central. 5 June 2007. en. Video interview. April 2, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145206/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/rsex2i/the-colbert-report-jessica-valenti. dead.
  19. News: Schillinger. Liesl. Reviewing 'Save the Males' and 'He's a Stud, She's a Slut'. 13 July 2008. The New York Times. en-US. February 6, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145133/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/fashion/13books.html. live.
  20. News: The Purity Myth. Media Education Foundation. 2011. April 2, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145158/https://shop.mediaed.org/the-purity-myth-p160.aspx. live.
  21. News: Goudreau. Jenna. Why Have Kids? Exposing The Motherhood Paradox. Forbes. 5 September 2012. en. February 6, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145225/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2012/09/05/why-have-kids-exposing-the-motherhood-paradox/#211ee3812ecd. live.
  22. News: Sandler. Lauren. Review of "Why Have Kids?" By Jessica Valenti. The Boston Globe. 25 August 2012. February 6, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145129/https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2012/08/25/review-why-have-kids-jessica-valenti/2uznLvBG01hxFmsqsWFHBM/story.html. live.
  23. News: Marcotte. Amanda. Why Parents Need Childless People Like Me. Slate. 21 September 2012. February 6, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145140/https://slate.com/human-interest/2012/09/why-have-kids-jessica-valenti-asks-the-right-question.html. live.
  24. News: Bates. Laura. Nonfiction Book Review: Sex Object: A Memoir by Jessica Valenti. Publishers Weekly. 14 March 2016. en. February 21, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145150/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-06-243508-8. live.
  25. News: Zeisler. Andi. Sex Object review – Jessica Valenti shares a story women know all too well. The Guardian. 6 June 2016. en. March 22, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145132/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jun/06/jessica-valenti-sex-object-book-review. live.
  26. News: Quinn. Annalisa. Yes, All Men (And Everyone Else) Need To Read 'Sex Object'. NPR. 12 June 2016. en. February 21, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145122/https://www.npr.org/2016/06/12/480478209/yes-all-men-and-everyone-else-need-to-read-sex-object. live.
  27. News: Schwiegershausen. Erica. The Memoirs of a Sex Object: A Feminist Project. New York. 3 April 2015. en. April 2, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145123/https://www.thecut.com/2015/03/memoirs-of-a-sex-object-a-feminist-project.html. live.
  28. News: Tortorici. Dayna. 'Sex Object: A Memoir' and 'Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman'. The New York Times. 13 June 2016. February 21, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145222/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/books/review/sex-object-a-memoir-and-shrill-notes-from-a-loud-woman.html. live.
  29. Web site: Emails show Clinton camp's plans to work with writers to hit Sanders. Nikita. Vladimirov. 21 October 2016. The Hill. October 23, 2016. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145124/https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/302228-emails-clinton-camp-coordinated-with-bloggers-to-smear. live.
  30. Sources agree the column was: Web site: Bernie Sanders must deliver more than platitudes about abortion. Jessica. Valenti. 22 January 2016. The Guardian. October 23, 2016. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145128/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/22/bernie-sanders-abortion-policy-women-voters-reproductive-rights. live.
  31. Vladimirov cites Valenti's response: Web site: @JessicaValenti 10:17 AM - 21 Oct 2016. October 21, 2016. Twitter (verified). April 11, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145158/https://pbs.twimg.com/hashflag/config-2020-11-18-14.json. live.
  32. For background see: Web site: Bernie Sanders takes a risky shot at the 'establishment'. 20 January 2016. Steve. Benen . Steve Benen. MSNBC. April 11, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145150/https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/bernie-sanders-takes-risky-shot-the-establishment-msna777901. live.
  33. News: Valenti. Jessica. An Appreciative Goodbye. The Nation. 7 April 2014. April 2, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145209/https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/appreciative-goodbye/. live.
  34. News: Valenti . Jessica . 2022-11-05 . Opinion I Write About Post-Roe America Every Day. It's Worse Than You Think. . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-03-04 . 0362-4331.
  35. News: Boggioni. Tom. Prominent feminist writer drops off social media after rape threat against her 5-year-old daughter. RawStory. 27 July 2016. April 2, 2018. July 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180708104810/https://www.rawstory.com/2016/07/prominent-feminist-writer-drops-off-social-media-after-rape-threats-against-her-5-year-old-daughter/. live.
  36. News: Lichterman. Joseph. This: Vox.com hires Andrew Golis as its first general manager. Nieman Lab. 26 September 2016. April 2, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145152/https://www.niemanlab.org/2016/09/this-four-times-its-size-at-launch-vox-com-hires-andrew-golis-as-its-first-general-manager/. live.
  37. Web site: Exclusive: New York Public Radio gets a new chief content officer, Vox's Andrew Golis. Locker. Melissa. 2019-02-06. Fast Company. en-US. 2020-02-21. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145136/https://www.fastcompany.com/90302845/exclusive-new-york-public-radio-gets-a-new-chief-content-officer-voxs-andrew-golis. live.
  38. News: Valenti. Jessica. Learning to love my baby. The Guardian. 18 August 2011. en. February 25, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145242/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/18/baby-pregnancy-premature-birth. live.
  39. News: Announcing the Results of the 2010 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Independent Publisher. Independent Publisher. 2010. Press release. October 7, 2016. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145137/http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1362. live.
  40. News: Strauss. Elissa. Sidney Hillman Foundation Announces 2011 Prizes Exemplary Reporting Fosters Social and Economic Issues: Awards Ceremony May 19th in New York City. Hillman Foundation. 20 April 2011. en. Press release. April 2, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145129/http://www.hillmanfoundation.org/sidney-hillman-foundation-announces-2011-prizes-exemplary-reporting-fosters-social-and-economic. live.
  41. News: PPFA Media Award Recipients 2014: Commentary. Planned Parenthood Federation of America. 2014. en. April 2, 2018. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118145132/https://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/campaigns/ppfa-media-excellence-awards. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jessica Valenti".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.