Maya Dusenbery

Maya Dusenbery is executive director in charge of editorial at Feministing. She is the author of the forthcoming book Doing Harm: The Truth About How Bad Medicine and Lazy Science Leave Women Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Sick (HarperOne, March 2018). She has been a fellow at Mother Jones magazine and a columnist at Pacific Standard magazine. Her work has appeared in publications like Cosmopolitan.com, TheAtlantic.com, Bitch Magazine, as well as the anthology The Feminist Utopia Project. Before become a full-time journalist, she worked at the National Institute for Reproductive Health. A Minnesota native, she received her B.A. from Carleton College in 2008. After living in Brooklyn, Oakland, and Atlanta, she is currently based in the Twin Cities.

Posts Written by Maya

serena williams on vogue
By Maya Dusenbery • 6 years ago

Serena Williams had to push for treatment for life-threatening postnatal complication

The headline of one of ProPublica’s recent articles in an excellent and devastating series on maternal health in the United States reads: “Nothing Protects Black Women From Dying in Pregnancy and Childbirth.”  The subtitle continued: “Not education. Not income. Not even being an expert on racial disparities in health care.” You can apparently add to that: Not even being the greatest athlete in the world. 

The headline of one of ProPublica’s recent articles in an excellent and devastating series on maternal health in the United States reads: “Nothing Protects Black Women From Dying in Pregnancy and Childbirth.”  The subtitle continued: “Not education. ...

red silohette of women holding phone
By Maya Dusenbery • 6 years ago

“Pregnant? Don’t Want To Be? Call Jane.”

This fall, Elisabeth Moss signed on to star in a movie about the underground abortion service Jane. There are, in fact, at least three films currently in the works about this legendary network that was once known as “the best kept secret” in Chicago.

This fall, Elisabeth Moss signed on to star in a movie about the underground abortion service Jane. There are, in fact, at least three films currently in the works about this legendary network that was once known as “the ...

#metoo
By Maya Dusenbery • 7 years ago

#MeToo: On Trust

#MeToo, of course.

I consider myself exceedingly lucky to have only experienced minor forms of harassment and mostly as an adult, so that its impact on me has felt comparatively very small. But to paraphrase Jessica Valenti, who would I be if I didn’t live in a world of pervasive sexual violence? That’s a question none of us can answer. 

#MeToo, of course.

I consider myself exceedingly lucky to have only experienced minor forms of harassment and mostly as an adult, so that its impact on me has felt comparatively very small. But to paraphrase ...

Jen Brea's head on pillow with electrodes
By Maya Dusenbery • 7 years ago

Watch: The powerful new documentary on living with chronic fatigue syndrome

Jen Brea was a 28-year-old grad student when her health began to deteriorate after a high fever. As she suffered from recurrent infections, profound dizziness that left her unable to stand, and eventually terrifying neurological symptoms, doctors told her that she was stressed, or just dehydrated, and finally that a repressed trauma was the source of all her ailments. 

Jen Brea was a 28-year-old grad student when her health began to deteriorate after a high fever. As she suffered from recurrent infections, profound dizziness that left her unable to stand, and eventually terrifying neurological symptoms, doctors told ...
By Maya Dusenbery • 8 years ago

Daily Feminist Cheat Sheet

We are all this girl.

Baylor University demotes its president over sexual assault handling.

Every 10 seconds, someone on Twitter calls a woman a “slut” or “whore.”

Facebook rejected an ad featuring Tess Holiday ​because “the image depicts a body or body parts in an undesirable manner.”

We are all this girl.

Baylor University demotes its president over sexual assault handling.

Every 10 seconds, someone on Twitter calls a woman a “slut” or “whore.”

Facebook rejected an ad featuring Tess Holiday ​because “the image depicts a ...

screenshot of video showing CPC ad
By Maya Dusenbery • 8 years ago

Anti-choicers Use Surveillance Tech to Target Ads to Women Visiting Abortion Clinics

What do you get when today’s surveillance culture is combined with the anti-choice movement’s shameless ends-justify-the-means attitude? A mobile advertising company teaming up with crisis pregnancy centers to track the phones of women entering abortion clinics and send them deceptive anti-choice propaganda.

What do you get when today’s surveillance culture is combined with the anti-choice movement’s shameless ends-justify-the-means attitude? A mobile advertising company teaming up with crisis pregnancy centers to track the phones of women entering abortion clinics and send them deceptive anti-choice ...

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