👩‍💻 Join us on March 11 for a live discussion with Lindsay Dahl! If you’re not already part of our Substack community, sign up here for your spot.

Last fall, our team at The Good Trade passed around a copy of “Cleaning House: The Fight To Rid Our Homes of Toxic Chemicals” by Lindsay Dahl — and it quickly became one of those books we couldn’t stop talking about. Grounded, personal, and deeply researched, it offers a clear-eyed look at the toxic chemicals woven into our everyday products, along with practical, empowering ways to lower our toxic burden. It’s equal parts memoir and call to action, blending lived experience with policy insight in a way that feels both accessible and galvanizing.

“In ‘Cleaning House,’ Lindsay pulls back the curtain on how these chemicals persist in our homes — and what it will take, collectively and individually, to create safer systems.”

Lindsay is a longtime environmental health advocate and policy leader who has helped shape state and federal efforts to reduce harmful chemicals in consumer goods. Today, she serves as Chief Impact Officer at Ritual, continuing her work at the intersection of transparency, science, and public health. In “Cleaning House,” Lindsay pulls back the curtain on how these chemicals persist in our homes — and what it will take, collectively and individually, to create safer systems.

We’re honored to sit down with Lindsay and have her answer a few of our burning questions, opening the dialogue to our community as we explore what it means to advocate for healthier homes, more transparent brands, and a future rooted in prevention.

Those who’ve read “Cleaning House” know that your personal story makes up a large part of the narrative. For those who haven’t yet, can you share the moment in your own life that pushed you to dive deeper into the world of toxic chemicals and product safety?

“The issue of toxic chemicals can feel overwhelming or dry, and I wanted the book to be the opposite of that: Easy to read, fast-paced, and read like a real story (it is!).”

The issue of toxic chemicals can feel overwhelming or dry, and I wanted the book to be the opposite of that: Easy to read, fast-paced, and read like a real story (it is!). I share how, when I started my career, I knew I wanted to work to protect the environment, but I quickly learned that not everyone was as passionate about protecting ecosystems as I was. An early job out of college helped me see that when you pass laws that protect human health and the environment, you win on a large scale. That type of change was very interesting to me, and I built a niche skill set focused on passing laws that address toxic chemical pollution in our air, water, and consumer products. I also found that by connecting the environment outside our homes to the products in our homes, more people were interested in learning and having a conversation. Twenty years later, I’m proud to say I’ve helped pass over 30 state and federal laws, all of which passed with bipartisan support.  

The book details how your lobbying and organizing have led to major legislative wins. Which accomplishment are you most proud of, and why?

I’ll pick two if you let me! The work a large group of people did to pass updates to our primary toxic chemical law (TSCA) in 2016 is what I’m most proud of. We spent years building bipartisan support across people from all different backgrounds, and the updates created much-needed policies that led to the EPA finally setting a ban on asbestos, TCE, and methylchloride. Right now, these safety laws are under attack in DC, and I hope we can raise a bunch of noise to let Congress know they can’t roll back toxic chemical laws. 

Second, when I was at Beautycounter (now Counter), we spent nine years asking Congress to update laws overseeing the toxic chemicals used in beauty and personal care products. We helped pass the largest update to cosmetic safety laws since the 1930s. While there is still so much work to be done for safer cosmetics, it was a huge step forward and one we should all be proud of. 

You’ve been involved in the clean living movement for about 20 years. How has your perspective evolved since you first started this work? What do you think is most important for this movement today?

“The biggest challenge the clean living movement faces today is misinformation online. “

The biggest challenge the clean living movement faces today is misinformation online. I wrote a book about toxic chemicals, but I end up talking mostly about how the most toxic thing in our homes is social media. I see how the conversation has quickly shifted from a common-sense, product-safety topic to one that is quickly and unfairly labeled: “pseudo-science”. The overstating of claims about toxic chemicals by influencers has created a backlash, and the issue of environmental health has been weaponized for political gains. Both are solvable, which is what I speak to in my book. I think the largest shift in the last 20 years is overall consumer awareness. When I first started working on these issues, no one had any background on why plastics may be unsafe, or even questioned anything on the shelves. The goal now is to parlay that widespread consumer knowledge away from just shopping for safer products, but to pass large laws that help take the job of spotting the toxic chemical off of our very busy to-do lists.  

What made you decide to write this book now?

I wrote “Cleaning House” because it has become very complicated to discern what is real science versus fearmongering. The enemy used to be clear; the chemical industry was using doubt around science as a tool to protect their market, like in the case of flame retardants, lead, PFAS, or plasticizer chemicals like BPA and phthalates. Now, misinformation is being shared — using the same talking points the chemical industry did for decades — by social media influencers. In a world of misinformation, I wanted to give people a solid grounding in how strong the scientific literature is about toxic chemicals, so they don’t dismiss the topic. And I also wanted to let people off the hook in feeling like they needed to take this on and shop their way to safety, which is impossible. 

“I wrote ‘Cleaning House’ because it has become very complicated to discern what is real science versus fearmongering.”

I think we have a huge opportunity to shift the conversation away from an individualized approach of “clean living” to look at the systemic shifts of toxic chemicals, far beyond a consumer product. I want people to start to understand that communities living in the U.S. next to chemical and plastics facilities are being impacted by the development of these chemicals. Strong science shows us both that exposure via products in our homes is also an issue. And that when products leave our homes and are incinerated, there are lasting impacts on communities and ecosystems. 

The time is to shift away from considering just the impacts of toxic chemicals in our homes and think with a more global perspective. 

For someone starting to think about what they bring into their home and put in/on their body, what are the simple, small shifts to start with? Are there categories that are more important to focus on?

I’ll give you my top categories and tips (and there is a helpful section at the end of my book that outlines all my consumer tips!):

• Kitchen: Switch cookware to stainless steel or cast iron. Opt for Clean Label Project certified supplements & protein powder (Ritual — where I’m the Chief Impact Officer — is my favorite!). Avoid takeout when possible, as many containers are coated in PFAS, known more commonly as “forever chemicals.” EPA Safer Choice is a great certification for household cleaners, and filtered tap water is best! 
• Beauty: Look for EWG-verified or MADE SAFE-certified brands. Shop at Credo if you’re looking for a one-stop shop. My favorite brands include Counter, OSEA, Dr. Bronner’s. 
• Furniture/Home: Look for flame-retardant-free couches and mattresses. When doing home renovations, avoid flame retardants and PFAS materials (commonly used in carpet padding, carpets, ‘stain-resistant’ finishes on couches, etc). 

What is your advice on how to remain engaged without feeling discouraged?

I have the benefit of seeing all of the positive impact of our choices in the marketplace and our laws, so staying hopeful is relatively easy for me. If people pull back from turning this issue into a rabbit hole of control and consumer choice, we can all tap into the momentum that happens when we pick up the phone and tell Congress no more rollbacks to toxic chemical laws! Or seeing the evolution of offerings in the market, 20 years ago, the only option for a flame-retardant-free couch was to have one custom-made; now they’ve been in the IKEA showroom for years at affordable price points. 

“If people pull back from turning this issue into a rabbithole of control and consumer choice, we can all tap into the momentum.”

What’s one myth about nontoxic living that you hope readers let go of after reading your book?

That it’s all on you to solve this problem. I encourage people to make smart choices and where they can purchase products from brands making safer products. But I want people to know that our collective power to pass meaningful, large-scale laws banning these toxic chemicals is actually where the solution lies. And as it turns out, picking up the phone is a lot cheaper than buying a new mattress or cookware. 

What are your favorite, trustworthy resources for people trying to make safer choices?

I sit on the board of Toxic Free Future and trust their work on the state and federal policy work. I encourage people to follow NRDC and Breast Cancer Prevention Partners for a meaningful translation of the science around toxic chemicals. And people can buy my book and subscribe to my Substack, where I bring a balanced approach to breaking headlines: Science, Politics, Culture of Wellness.

What gives you hope right now about the future of clean living and a safer world for all of us?

The bipartisan nature of this issue is really energizing to me. Consumer safety laws at the state and federal levels have been supported by both parties for decades. 

“I encourage all of us, regardless of our preferred political party, to hold ALL politicians accountable.”

Right now, we have a bigger, complex conversation happening at the federal level about environmental health, and sometimes the rhetoric lines up with the science, and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m watching with a cautious eye, and I encourage all of us, regardless of our preferred political party, to hold ALL politicians accountable. We can’t allow any more rollbacks to our existing laws on toxic chemicals. This is one of the many metaphors that “cleaning house” represents. 

We must talk openly about these nuances if we want to win long term. I am putting my confidence in the fiery and smart group of bipartisan moms who have led the way on this issue for the last several decades.

Ashley D’Arcy is the Senior Editor at The Good Trade. She holds an MA in Philosophy from The New School for Social Research and has contributed to esteemed outlets such as The Nation, 032c, and Yale School of Management’s Insights where she’s leveraged her expertise in making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. In addition to her editorial work, she is training as a psychoanalytic mental health professional and provides care to patients in New York City. Ashley also explores sustainable fashion, clean beauty, and wellness trends, combining thoughtful cultural critiques with a commitment to mindful living.

The post We Spoke With Lindsay Dahl On Clean Living, Labels, And Laws appeared first on The Good Trade.

We follow these 9 websites that are as resourceful as they are empowering and uplifting—covering everything from personal finance to mindful meditation.

Check out our favorite newsletters for women as well!

1. The Cut

Our Go-To For | News & politics
Topics | Style, self, culture, and power
A Feature We Love | 180 Female Execs Launch Time’s Up Advertising

When The Cut was launched years ago, it was an online publication for women with style and self in mind. Today, they’ve grown to be a leading resource for politics, current events, and the honest, challenging conversations we’re having with one another. Content some days will talk about Danity Kane and ‘Vanderpump Rules,’ while others revolve around March for Our Lives, career advice, and breastfeeding at work. Because what it means to be a successful woman can include style, self, and discussion around current events.

2. Salty

Our Go-To For | Body positivity
Topics | LGBTQIA+ lifestyle, sex & body, relationships, parenthood
A Feature We Love | How I Finally Liberated My Black Fat Femme Body

Unapologetic and intersectional, Salty is not here for censorship or the corporate brand of feminism. This volunteer-run, independent website is dedicated to amplifying the voices of women, trans, and nonbinary people on topics others may otherwise shy away from. Their perspectives around #MeToo, sex work, and body positivity are refreshing and insightful, and we’d all benefit from taking some time to dig in and read. With core tenets such as inclusivity, community, fun, and respect, their content celebrates and uplifts authenticity and living the most truthful lives we can. 

3. The Good Trade

Our Go-To For | Ethical & sustainable living
Topics | Lifestyle, fashion, beauty, self, home, culture
A Feature We Love | The 9 Best Meditation & Breathing Apps to Reduce Anxiety

Over the last seven years, The Good Trade has covered content around sustainable living and investing with socially conscious brands, knowing that we often vote for the world we want with our dollars. Today, it has grown to reach millions of readers with engaging content ranging from mindful living to personal finance to seasonal fashion. If you’re interested in fair trade fashion picks, local and sustainable spots to check out, or inspiring curated reads from across the Internet, you’ll especially love The Daily Good, a 30-second read sent each morning full of the team’s personalized recommendations.

4. Blood + Milk

Our Go-To For | Empowering wellness information and stories
Topics | Sex, body, menstruation, mental health, motherhood
A Feature We Love | Sacral Healing + The Importance Womb Healing 

Blood + Milk is more than an online publication or website for leisurely reading. It’s a community resource; a call for awakening; a collective cry for gender rights and the end of oppression for women. The editorial branch of organic tampon brand Cora, Blood + Milk is our favorite site for longer editorials, empowering stories, and inclusive advice about sex, body, menstruation, and more. For the kind of articles you’ll be forwarding to all your friends, add this site to your bookmarks. 

5. Darling Magazine

Our Go-To For | Inspiration
Topics | Culture, relationships, travel, style, creativity
A Feature We Love | The Habits of Highly Successful Women Condensed in One Infographic

Darling Magazine was born as a print mag to redefine the art of being a woman: all images they use are untouched and their content is written to empower readers. But today, Darling has evolved to so much more than just a print magazine—it’s the ideal resource whenever you need inspiration and motivation. And if you’re not sure where to start, they’ve handpicked choices for you when you’re feeling ambitious, overwhelmed, or adventurous. With powerful features from the likes of Meghan Markle, Joanna Gaines, and Rupi Kaur, Darling is media that makes us feel loved, not less.

6. Autostraddle

Our Go-To For | LGBTQ+ lifestyle
Topics | Arts & pop culture, sex & dating, community, identities
A Feature We Love | How Queer and Trans Women Are Healing Each Other After Hurricane Harvey

A past winner of the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Blog, Autostraddle has transformed the lives of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women (as well as non-binary people) for nearly 10 years. They offer a fresh voice and empowered perspective to make all women feel like they’re valuable, equal, and noticed, so it’s no wonder that they’re the number one lesbian lifestyle website worldwide. And what we love most are the values they apply to all of their content: never critical or teasing of women’s physical appearances, quality over quantity with a point, and diversity and inclusion with both imagery and written content. The Autostraddle team is also more than just online: they host worldwide meet-ups, sell merch, and arranged getaways, because their ultimate goal is to create a community wherever they reach.

7. Career Contessa

Our Go-To For | Career advice
Topics | Career tips, interviews, jobs, coaching & webinars
A Feature We Love | Empathy At Work—And Why It (Really) Matters

Whether you’re beginning your career, navigating a transition at work, or negotiating your next raise, Career Contessa has the resources you need to make the most of it. We love that they have resources for women in a wide array of industries, and their library of downloads, courses, and podcasts is unlike any other. Kickstart the career of your dreams with their guided 28-day plans for finding a new job, making more money, or learning new skills—or just browse their archives for plenty of valuable career content.

8. Create & Cultivate

Our Go-To For | Entrepreneurship
Topics | Career advice, women leaders, digital & tech
A Feature We Love | 3 Entrepreneurs Share Their Secrets On Building A Smart Brand

Create & Cultivate’s mission is to support women looking to create & cultivate the career of their dreams, and they follow through. The ladies behind Create & Cultivate are chock full of sage advice and resources for both budding and established entrepreneurs, from year-one tips to starting a business to handling an especially slow day at work. And they’ve taken their content on the road too, with their beautifully-branded conferences and pop-ups so you can engage with them online or IRL.

9. them

Our Go-To For | LGBTQ+ culture & essays
Topics | Pop culture, style, politics, news
A Feature We Love | Inqueery: Indigenous Identity and the Significance of the Term “Two-Spirit”

For our weekly dose of pop culture, style, politics, and news, you can find us reading them, a proclaimed next-generation community platform chronicling and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to sharing excellent and informative content (we love both the written articles and videos) them also sends out a newsletter for anyone who “wants the best of what’s queer” delivered right to your inbox.

The post 9 Lifestyle Websites For Women That We’re Obsessed With appeared first on The Good Trade.

“Online communities play a crucial role in connecting disabled people with each other, yet only 3% of the internet is accessible to disabled people.”

Lucía Feito Allonca is someone who has experienced this sense of normalcy firsthand.  Lucía and I know each other because she’s a strategic committee member of Voices in Action, a diabetes-focused not-for-profit that my spouse founded. Lucía told me that she used to be very private about living with type 1 diabetes, but being part of online communities made public disclosure feel less intimidating. She also told me that “I didn’t have that many people close to me living with type 1 diabetes. Then I discovered online communities. With access to these communities, you are not alone anymore.”

Since birth, I have lived with a neurological condition called dyspraxia. Dyspraxia presents challenges with the coordination, planning, and sequencing of movement. The core reason why I have found online community access particularly helpful is that dyspraxia can be a lonely journey. In fact, if you’ve never heard of it, you’re not the only one. Dyspraxia’s level of awareness and availability of resources is low globally. It wasn’t until the early days of the COVID pandemic that I met other dyspraxic people.

Friendships with dyspraxic people would never have been possible without online community access. Sometimes, I have managed to meet my online friends offline through the coincidence of being in the same city or at the same event. So far, I have had nothing but good experiences with in-person meetings. Every conversation has felt both comfortable and familiar. By the time we meet in person, there’s a strong sense of trust that we will find a way to reconnect.

How online communities address loneliness

You don’t have to meet in person to have a strong and worthwhile online friendship, because tackling loneliness is much more crucial. According to a British disability charity study on loneliness and disability, loneliness is “a mental health crisis that the disability community is facing,” a phenomenon not limited to the UK. So, why is this loneliness happening? And how are online communities making a difference, even without IRL meet-ups?

Pre-internet, all our relationships relied on communal experiences — work, schools, religious institutions, and restaurants, for example. It’s definitely still possible to have meaningful experiences in these settings. But there’s only one catch: Communal experiences are only enjoyable if the same social experiences and environments are as accessible to you as your neighbours, peers, and colleagues. Something that may be fun and easy to understand for your peers is something that you have to explain why it’s neither fun nor easy for you. Because not everyone is patient or understanding enough, the need to say that you can only participate if things are done differently can feel very intimidating. After all, the risk of peer stigma, bullying, and isolation is always lingering in the background.

“Communal experiences are only enjoyable if the same social experiences and environments are as accessible to you as your neighbours, peers, and colleagues.”

For instance, when I lived in Toronto, as much as I enjoyed yoga, I actually didn’t go to that many classes in person. That was largely because the instructor’s verbal instructions were conveyed without movement or visual demonstrations. Without movement or visual aids included in verbal instructions for movement-based activities, I cannot understand movements I haven’t practiced hundreds of times before. Since everyone else found verbal-based instructions straightforward to understand, asking for a different method of communication felt shameful, uncomfortable, and inconvenient. Much of my understanding and appreciation of yoga happened through practicing at my own pace and in my own environment.

Online disability communities typically serve a mutual purpose. Many of these communities are supportive and safe spaces to socialize in a context that feels comfortable to the entire community as a whole. Yet the answers to where to find online disability communities are much more complex than they used to be.

Accessibility to online communities in a new era 

X used to be a central discussion platform for the disability community. Yet, in its Elon Musk era, it’s an inaccessible platform for far too many disabled people. Everything from alt text to third-party applications that enable compatibility with screen readers is no longer widely available. Then there’s Meta, X’s competitor, which owns Instagram, Threads, and Facebook. Since Trump’s election, Meta has embraced right-wing policies and values. Because of Meta’s change in values, many disabled users have left Meta completely. Since both platforms are not as popular as they once were, users have scattered elsewhere. For so many disabled people, socializing online is the only option, so there is a rush to other platforms.

Take Mary Kilbane, for instance. Mary is an autistic and dyspraxic woman from Longford Town, a village in rural Ireland. Mary told me, “In our village, the only face-to-face social hub is the GAA football club. If you can’t kick a ball, that creates isolation. The GAA club is where people form connections for work, relationships, and marriage.”

Many of the skills required to take part in a football club aren’t what Mary is particularly good at. So, online communities allow her to interact with a supportive, neurodivergent-dominated peer group. Mary and I know each other from a virtual cardio fitness workout group, which is neurodivergent-run and consists of a proudly neurodivergent peer group. Typically, we meet up an average of once to twice a week to conduct an hour of gentle cardio stretches and friendly banter with one another. The main, unspoken rule of the group is that no one has to do any of the stretches perfectly; they just have to do the stretches in whatever way feels natural and comfortable for them.

“The main, unspoken rule of the group is that no one has to do any of the stretches perfectly; they just have to do the stretches in whatever way feels natural and comfortable for them.”

In addition to the fitness group, Mary is also part of her local Toastmasters group, a public speaking and communications skills development-focused not-for-profit. Both the fitness group and Toastmasters’ virtual programming are a central part of Mary’s peer group. Many of her experiences with online communities have been so positive that she said, “Online communities help me feel connected to the world.”

However, for Pippa Stacey, a core part of staying connected to the world is accessible event spaces. Pippa lives with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Because of her disability, she felt invisible to the wider world for many years. Accessibility is never a promise or a guarantee on any given day, but online activities give her full control over her own surroundings. She also added, “Managing my chronic illness consumed so much energy and brain space. I was starting to forget who I was outside of it.”

“Accessibility is never a promise or a guarantee on any given day, but online activities give her full control over her own surroundings.”

Even still, online events aren’t always accessible enough to every disabled person. Jonathan Lazar once said, “Websites often offer opportunities for one group. Yet it excludes another.” A common reason why this occurs is due to the affordability or quality of the internet connection locally, but much of the inaccessibility occurs through having a one-dimensional view of what accessibility even means. For instance, we cannot call a virtual event accessible simply because one person with a disability that affects their mobility in their arms had the right devices and accessories to interact with a Zoom-based event. If there was also insufficient closed captioning for deaf participants and a lack of compatibility with nonverbal autistic people’s text-to-speech software, then something about the event’s accessibility efforts clearly isn’t working. Although the problem may also be due to the platform’s accessibility features. Since many of these communities are founded in response to the inaccessibility of certain activities, there’s always room for improvement. Often, all efforts made to improve are based on the feedback of other group members.

One such example of what this looks like is my fitness group. Many of my group members found Zoom difficult to navigate so we switched over to Discord instead. As a volunteer-run group, we lack the budget to buy a Zoom Pro account. On Zoom, we had the added hassle of having to log everyone back in again after the time limit. Also, some group members’ internet servers are unable to handle a Zoom call with many people. With Discord, we have encountered far fewer barriers so far.

How to find an online community that suits you

With all the above in mind, you’re likely wondering: How do you identify a group that will be a good fit for you? Finding the right online community for you doesn’t always happen immediately. It can take a bit of self-awareness of what your ideal online community looks like, a bit of time, and some patience to experience results. But the only way to know for sure is to take a chance on groups that are of interest to you. As Lucía Feito Allonca explained to me, “If you don’t feel comfortable, you don’t have to stay in a space that is not meant for you. But if you are comfortable, continue being part of that space and even helping co-create and build it.”

“The only way to know for sure is to take a chance on groups that are of interest to you.”

I’m currently in a place in my life where I have not yet found online community with others who have thyroid disease, a chronic illness I live with. I have met plenty of women with thyroid conditions in person, however. Many of these interactions have happened because of my thyroid surgery scar. The scar alone tends to start a lot of conversations with others who have had the same surgery. But since I am still a firm believer in the value of online friendships, given how helpful it has been for at least one of the disabilities I live with, I’m considering how to find it again.

Here’s what I know from my involvement with online communities: To avoid having a bad experience, look for groups where the emphasis is on supporting each other. That experience of everyone supporting each other equally is crucial, because of what the alternative happens to be: A select number of group members being treated like unpaid therapists while getting nothing in return.

“To avoid having a bad experience, look for groups where the emphasis is on supporting each other.”

The truly worthwhile groups are the ones providing peer support, an attribute with immense emotional benefits. The Independent Living Institute once pointed out that peer support is especially crucial because disabled people are experts on not only the barriers they face, but also the strategies that help them tackle these barriers. In the right disability community, your disability symptoms will start to feel normal because you are regularly interacting with people with mutual symptoms.

Tech platforms themselves may shift and change in the long run. But communities that are worth your time will always create accessible experiences. In groups that people come back to time and time again, there isn’t one leader. Everyone is welcome to take part in all efforts made to make future activities enjoyable for all.

“Tech platforms themselves may shift and change in the long run. But communities that are worth your time will always create accessible experiences.”

To be ready to engage with these groups in a meaningful way, it is best to be in a very specific mindset. Mary Kilbane is someone who has learned a great deal about what that looks like. Mary told me that you should “be in a good mental space first. Research groups through Trustpilot or reviews. If someone recommends a group, talk to them about it. Ask questions. Attend as a guest if possible and see how it feels before committing.”

Most importantly, however, you should always engage with the people you meet on these platforms with an open mind. Many of these groups are full of people with differing life experiences. With a willingness to mutually support each other, you are likely to have a positive experience. 

My final thoughts

Although online communities aren’t for everyone, those who experience the benefits soon learn that they are truly worth it. For that exact reason, online friendships should be treated as just as deep and meaningful as friendships formed exclusively offline. After all, online friendships can make such a huge difference in the lives of disabled people worldwide when truly supportive and kind people are involved.

“Online friendships should be treated as just as deep and meaningful as friendships formed exclusively offline.”

If you’re disabled, however, these groups may truly surprise you by introducing you to like-minded people who can change your perspective on your disability for the better. That benefit in particular is crucial, given that having accessibility needs that not everyone is willing to take seriously can be an emotionally draining experience to navigate.

Online friendships, however, give you access to a network of people who can equip you with lived experience-informed coping mechanisms and discuss the joys and struggles of being disabled in your everyday life.

Rosemary Richings is a writer, editor, and public speaker specializing in neurodiversity and the author of two books: “Stumbling Through Space and Time: Living Life With Dyspraxia” and “Studying With Dyspraxia.” Rosemary’s writing has been featured in Travel + Leisure, Broken Pencil Magazine, Happiful Magazine, and numerous other print and digital publications. She has also done writing and editing work for organizations such as eBay, Lexxic, Uptimize, Lokafy, and Yellowpages Canada. Past public speaking engagements include Reach PLC, Railpen, and Delinian’s disability education program.  Rosemary is on the board of trustees of Dyspraxic Me, a charity for dyspraxic young adults. 

The post Why Online Community Is Essential For Disabled Individuals Like Me appeared first on The Good Trade.

I remember the desperate fervor that filled me and many others in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd and during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement. It was a familiar anguish — a grief I felt and still feel for people I will never meet, like Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, and so many others whose names I will never know. But it was an unfamiliar hope that change was not just possible, but inevitable.

“Now, I feel a shift. And it’s the shift I hope turns the key to real change.”

Somehow, I still feel it now. Not despite the past year of dinner conversations turning to words like “fascism” and “polycrisis,” but because of those conversations. I remember that old advice to never talk about politics at the dinner table. Or when even the term “anti-racism” felt too complex to broach in casual conversation. Now, I feel a shift. And it’s the shift I hope turns the key to real change.

Holding onto hope, however, is a practice. One that cannot be sustained alone. Hope is a community practice, and, now more than ever, it’s being sustained by communities online.

While real-life activism matters — from protests to engaging with local mutual aid networks — in our digital age, speaking truth to power often happens online and on social media. From bearing witness to the experiences of marginalized communities to educating ourselves and others, I find our access to information inspiring. However, as information floods our feeds, curating our sources is more important than ever.

“As information floods our feeds, curating our sources is more important than ever.”

What should we look for in the anti-racist educators we trust? My general rule is to trust research-based, credential-backed sources over sensationalist hot takes. By contextualizing our current moment in history, theory, and politics, these educators are also more hopeful. They know the power that collective action has had in the past. And they can help us hold the current moment to sustain our hope for the future.

Below are some of the most inspiring creators that I follow, and I hope you will too.

1. Nicole Cardoza

Nicole Cardoza, aka the Black Girl Magician, describes herself as a “magician, writer, philanthropist, facilitator.” She runs the newsletter and community Reimagined (@ardtakeaction, formerly Anti-Racism Daily) to platform and support movement leaders reimagining our collective future. 

In a recent post reflecting on the five years since 2020, she said: “This isn’t easy work. But we don’t do it alone. We’re still here.” We all need to hear that.

Website | Instagram

2. Rachel Cargle

Activist, author of “Author of A Renaissance of Our Own: A Memoir & Manifesto on Reimagining,” Rachel Cargle is an educator committed to providing resources to support Black women. 

She is the founder of the Loveland Foundation, which works to reimagine a mental health care system accessible to Black women. She also runs The Great Unlearn on Patreon, which offers “sources and critical discourse to aid in unlearning.”

Website | Instagram | Patreon | Books

3. Andréa Ranae

Feel called to participate in anti-racist action? Don’t know how and where to start making change in your community? Andréa Ranae is an artist, writer, and guide who creates resources to help people define and make their contribution to social change.

Website | Instagram | Music

4. 15 Percent Pledge

In 2020, award-winning designer Aurora James called on retailers to contractually commit 15% of their annual spend to Black businesses. This birthed the 15 Percent Pledge, which furthers this mission by providing resources, education, and grants for Black-owned businesses.

Website | Instagram | Podcast

5. Wawa

Wawa Gatheru is the founder of Black Girl Environmentalist, a national org dedicated to empowering Black girls, women, and gender-expansive people across the climate movement, through which she advocates for intersectional climate action and an anti-racist approach to climate justice.

Website | Instagram

6. Tomi Talabi

As the founder of The Black Beauty Club, Tomi works to challenge dominant narratives about beauty hierarchy while also expanding our notion of beauty beyond Eurocentrism.

LinkedIn | Instagram

7. Camille Tenerife

Camille Tenerife is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) advocating for healing and self-actualization through racially informed therapy for people of color by people of color. Her social media presence breaks down common patterns and challenges BIPOC people face, from family to relationships and career, creating an anti-racist space in the oft-inaccessible therapy space.

Website | Instagram

8. Janea Brown

An ex-influencer, Janea Brown left a successful content creation career in Los Angeles to pursue direct community action and share resources online. Her content is an entry-point for people curious about making activism part of their lives and decreasing their dependence on capitalist systems over community. With guides like “How To Boycott with Low Energy” and “What I Wish Someone Told Me Before Boycotting,” she’s like your boycotting big sister using her influencer skills for anti-racist collective building.

LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

9. United We Dream

United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led community in the country, and their work centers on advocacy for immigrants in the U.S. They provide resources for people affected by immigration policies and enforcement — and they also provide community for immigrant youth and their families.

Website | Instagram | YouTube

10. Maryam Ajayi

As the founder of Dive In Well, Maryam works to make the wellness industry more accessible and inclusive. She is a speaker, breathwork instructor, and yoga teacher, creating community through wellness. Her work helps people nourish themselves so they can pour into their communities. 

Website | Instagram

Langa Chinyoka is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a writer and strategist based in Los Angeles.

The post 10 Anti-Racism Educators To Follow And Support (2026) appeared first on The Good Trade.

Our editors have written about sustainable brands for a decade. For Earth Day, we’ve compiled some of our favorites leading the charge in eco-consciousness.

Earth Day is here, and what better time of year to take stock of the brands we’re giving our money to and how our consumption is impacting the planet from the moment a product is made to the moment we open the package. Of course, it’s best to buy less and limit our consumption overall, but in reality, we’ll always have to buy some things. Thankfully, these sustainable and eco-conscious brands not only offer eco-conscious and environmentally-friendly products, but they’re also leaders in environmental efforts, from sequestering carbon to innovating new ways to grow cotton that are better for the earth and for us.

How can you tell if a brand is environmentally conscious?

Any brand can claim to be eco-conscious (have you heard of greenwashing?), so how can we know if a brand is truly dedicated to sustainability and the environment? First, it’s important to look at the brand’s sustainability certifications — third-party standards that hold brands accountable — that verify their claims and ensure that they’re not just talking the talk, but walking the walk, too. There are a lot of them, but some certifications to look for include Climate Neutral, Certified B Corporation, and Forest Stewardship Council. Each of these has its own set of standards that companies must follow in order to be certified, and if they meet the rigorous standards, they’re doing something right.

But certifications aren’t everything. You can also tell if a brand is environmentally conscious by looking at their transparency about their supply chain, materials, carbon footprint, and how they’re working to ensure that these all keep the environment at top of mind. All of the brands below outline on their websites how they are being mindful about the environment and how they are working to better it, through their materials, giving back, donations, and more. Usually you can find more about their sustainability initiatives in the footer of their website (they might list their certifications there too!), or in some cases, right on the top menu bar of their page.

Our criteria:

Our editors have written on sustainable fashion, home decor, clean beauty, and more for the past decade. For Earth Day, we’ve compiled this list of our favorite brands with impressive eco-conscious initiatives and give-back programs across categories. We regularly update this guide with emerging brands when they meet the following criteria:

• SUSTAINABLE/ECO-CONSCIOUS | First and foremost, the brands on this list are thoughtful about their impact on the Earth. We’ve chosen brands with credible sustainability certifications that back them up.
• GIVE-BACK | We’ve prioritized brands that give back to their communities. By reinvesting their resources, they’re making business more sustainable.
• AFFORDABLE | Eco-conscious shopping can be expensive! We’ve chosen brands for this list with accessible price points so you can be thoughtful, no matter your budget.

These brands are a mix of the best sustainable and eco-conscious brands. But if you’re looking for sustainable clothing or furniture brands specifically, we have guides for those too! 

1. Patagonia

1% for the planet

B corp

Circular fashion

Eco friendly packaging

FSC

Fair trade

Gives back

Plant trees

Recycled materials

Second hand

Best For | Outdoor gear and apparel 
Sustainability & Eco Initiatives | Patagonia Action Works, Protect America’s Arctic, Protected Ocean, Global Sport Activists
Prices starting at | $45 (new), $10 (secondhand)

Patagonia is the gold standard of eco-conscious brands. The company received its B Corp certification in 2011, and today its B Corp score is 166, over double the qualifying score and way above the ordinary business score. Patagonia is also Fair Trade, has a secondhand collection called Worn Wear, and creates sustainable apparel and gear made from recycled and organic materials. With their Patagonia Action Works program, they connect individuals with environmental activism, grassroots causes, and organizations in their communities. Beyond their dedication to bettering the planet, their products are also high-quality, comfortable, and made sustainably and fairly — and they last a long time. 

Customer Review | “I love my new retro fleece. It’s so comfortable to wear that it’s unimaginable. It also keeps me very warm when I need it. I have had several over decades that I purchased from the first store in Ventura, CA and they have lasted this long.” – Andrew U. (Read more reviews.)

2. Avocado

1% for the planet

American made

B corp

Climate neutral

FSC

Handcrafted

Made safe

Natural materials

Plastic/Pfas free

Vegan

Warranty offered

Best For | Zero waste furniture 
Sustainability & Eco Initiatives | Zero Waste Collection, Donation program for returned mattresses
Prices starting at | $38

Avocado offers organic, safe, and responsible mattresses, bedding, furniture, and more. And not only are their pieces made from the highest quality materials with the environment in mind, but they are also design-forward statement pieces that will look and feel good for years to come. There’s no better example of their commitment to quality and sustainability than their Zero Waste Collection. From the stunning Zero Waste Round Wood Table to the elegant and playful Zero Waste Stool, each piece in the collection is handcrafted from exclusively upcycled wood from their FSC-certified Los Angeles facility. The luxurious pieces — like everything at Avocado — are made with environmentally conscious, ethical, and sustainable business practices behind them. Avocado is a leader in the industry on this front; it’s a B Corp, Climate Neutral, 1% for the Planet, and more. They have donated over $11.4 million to organizations and initiatives working toward conservation, climate action, and sustainability efforts, including to the National Parks Conservation Association, Seatrees, the National Young Farmers Coalition, and more. The company also gives back to the community through its mattress donation program. In 2024, 99% of Avocado’s returns were donated to organizations dedicated to veteran support, mental health and addiction recovery, and community and emergency assistance. 

Our Editor’s Review | “I think it’s important to note the benefits of choosing a brand like Avocado for your next furniture upgrade. There really are no other brands creating furniture with this degree of sustainable and nontoxic certifications that I’ve ever come across.” – Emily McGowan [Read the full review.]

The Good Trade Partner

3. Marine Stewardship Council

Gives back

Science backed

Best For | Sustainable fish
Sustainability & Eco Initiatives | Fishery certification program

The Marine Stewardship Council is an international nonprofit organization that recognizes and rewards efforts to protect oceans. If you see their blue label on seafood, it means that food meets their requirements for environmentally sustainable fishing, like only fishing healthy fish populations, being well-managed to help populations adapt to changing environmental conditions, not overfishing, and more. Doing this encourages and helps maintain healthy ocean ecosystems. Shopping for sustainable fish and seafood is a great way to be more sustainable in our lives, and MSC is a great resource for finding tips on how to eat more sustainably, cook delicious and eco-conscious seafood recipes, and overall keep the environment at the top of mind. Studies show that wild fisheries have a lower greenhouse gas footprint than land-based animal proteins. So if you’re looking to prioritize sustainability at the grocery store, look for the MSC blue label, and you’ll know it’s meeting the highest standards of environmental sustainability.

The Good Trade Partner

4. Outerknown

Circular fashion

Fair trade

Natural materials

Second hand

Best For | Everyday organic clothing
Sustainability & Eco Initiatives | Supported farmers in implementing Regenerative Organic Certified practices, Partnership with Project Vermont giving new purpose to materials
Prices starting at | $48

Outerknown is a clothing brand committed to protecting the environment and supporting fair labor practices. It was co-founded by pro surfer Kelly Slater and designer John Moore. The clothes definitely have a beachy vibe, featuring board shorts, swimwear, dresses, sweatshirts, and more, made from high-quality and sustainable materials like regenerative organic cotton, corozo nut buttons from the forest floor, recycled fishing nets, and recycled wool. For every product, you can see exactly where it was made right on the product page — showing how dedicated Outerknown is to transparency with its fair labor practices. Outerknown’s pre-owned platform Outerworn, offers secondhand pieces, with the intention of creating a more circular fashion economy. 

Customer Review | “Big fan of this new short. Fabric has more body so it doesn’t show as much (thank you!). Slightly slimmer feel to the cut but also a more tailored, modern look so I don’t mind it. Fits true to size. Beautiful update to an iconic piece of surf apparel! Well done Outerknown.” – Jackson (Read more reviews.) 

5. Dr. Bronner’s

American made

Budget friendly

FSC

Fair trade

Gives back

Vegan

Best For | All-purpose, purpose-driven soaps
Sustainability & Eco Initiatives | Regenerative organic agriculture, Offers refills in FSC-certified paper cartons
Prices starting at | $8

Founded in 1948, this is a true legacy eco-conscious brand. Dr. Bronner’s famous 18-in-1 Pure Castile Magic Soap can be used for laundry, body wash, mopping, toilets, and more. Plus, they also sell coconut oil, lip balms, bar soap, biodegradable cleaner, and even chocolate. It’s all made with clean ingredients by a company that cares about people, the environment, and advocating for both. And they’re extremely transparent about it all. Just look at their 2024 annual report, which highlights everything from their exact water usage to specific communities and organizations they’ve donated over $5 million to in 2024, their support ranging from environmental causes to social justice to animal advocacy. 

Customer Review | “This is the only soap I have used daily for at least 20 years. Including shaving and shampoo. Why? Because of its all natural ingredients, nontoxic. It cleans extremely well and never irritates my skin. I’m 72 years old and have no skin issues. You can’t put a price on health.” – Anonymous (Read more reviews.)

6. Thrive Market

B corp

Fair trade

Gives back

Best For | Eco-friendly groceries
Sustainability & Eco Initiatives | Reusable/recyclable packaging, working to be carbon negative
Prices starting at | $10/month or $60/year (membership)

Thrive Market is a grocery delivery service that focuses on sourcing brands that have the highest-quality ingredients and use ethical sourcing — you’ll find favorite brands like King Arthur, Amy’s, Honest, and Poppi, but they also have lesser-known brands committed to those values, if you want to try something new. Thrive also has its own line of staples, from laundry detergent to organic coconut oil. One thing that’s really great about Thrive is that for every annual membership someone buys, they donate an annual membership to someone in need. They’re also extremely committed to sustainability and working toward creating a healthier planet. Thrive Market is already carbon neutral, but they’re not stopping there. They’re currently on a mission to be carbon negative by optimizing shipment loads and continuing to invest in regenerative agriculture. All of Thrive Market’s warehouses are zero waste certified, and they’re plastic neutral too. 

Customer Review | “I wanted to give my children the options of having good, clean, healthy snacks, so it’s been so impactful to be able to do that and stock our pantry with options that are not high in sugar and that they both love.” – Andrea G. (Read more reviews.)

7. PrAna

Budget friendly

FSC

Plastic/Pfas free

Best For | Durable activewear
Sustainability & Eco Initiatives | Plastic-free-packaging, responsible material choices, using materials that would otherwise be discarded
Prices starting at | $25

Founded in 1992, PrAna makes sustainable, durable, stylish activewear for men and women. They have leggings, shorts, tanks, and other activewear for yoga, climbing, and more. The brand prioritizes using responsible materials in its clothing, from regenerative organic cotton and responsibly sourced wool to hemp and recycled rubber. PrAna is a part of Cascale (formerly the Sustainable Apparel Council), which focuses on reducing the environmental impact of the apparel industry. They also partner with organizations that protect and conserve the environment, including 5 Gyres, Canopy, The Conservation Alliance, and Outdoor Outreach.

Customer Review | “These are the perfect leggings. I teach very active yoga classes and these leggings are about as good as I could ever hope for. They offer slight compression without being restrictive. They move with me. The pocket fits my phone when I’m out in between classes. And they are VELVETY soft.” – Lacy K. (Read more reviews.) 

8. Ethique

B corp

Cruelty free

Eco friendly packaging

Plastic/Pfas free

Vegan

Best For | Plastic-free haircare
Sustainability & Eco Initiatives | Plastic-free products, removes plastic from coastal communities with CleanHub, donates 2% of sales to environmental and social causes
Prices starting at | $17

Ethique took the packaging and the water that usually comes with shampoo and conditioner out of the equation and made eco-friendly, plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars that come in compostable packaging instead. And one bar is the equivalent of eight bottles. Yes, eight. Having solid bars instead of water-based products has saved 6 million gallons of water — and you’re in the shower anyway, so the water’s there already! Plus, the way the bars are formulated uses less energy, giving them a much smaller carbon footprint than their water-based equivalents. Ethique also has plastic-free face cleanser, lip balm, and deodorant. It all comes in compostable packaging that breaks down within 12 months in a home compost. The B Corp also donates 2% of its sales to environmental and social causes. 

Customer Review | “This is my go to shampoo. It lasts a long time, lathers well, and leaves my hair feeling clean but not stripped. Highly recommend it!” – Natalie M. (Read more reviews.)

9. Pact

Budget friendly

FSC

Fair trade

GOTS certified

Gives back

Best For | Comfortable and stylish sustainable clothing
Sustainability & Eco Initiatives | Zero net carbon, Give Back Box program, paper packaging
Prices starting at | $19

Pact is a Colorado-based company founded in 2009 by Brendan Synnott that sells eco-friendly and ethical fashion that keeps the environment and the wearers of the clothing in mind. Pact partners with SimpiZero to measure the carbon impact of its products and offset it through reforestation, renewable energy, and community projects that sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Through this, Pact is a carbon neutral company. They’re also Fair Trade certified and GOTS certified, and they have a Give Back Box program, which takes clothes folks send in and donates them to nonprofits. What’s cool is it doesn’t even have to be Pact clothing; you can send in any used clothes (for free) and they’ll donate it to one of the five local charities they partner with. It’s giving back to the community, reducing clothing waste, and reusing old Pact boxes from returns. On top of all of that, the clothing is cute, comfortable, and lasts a long time!

Customer Review | “I bought the black Softspun Tank Midi Dress. It was so cute that I bought three in other colors. They are so soft and comfortable. They will pair well with a white or blue denim jacket for cooler evenings.” – Robin S. (Read more reviews.)

10. Veja

B corp

Fair trade

Recycled materials

Best For | Upcycled sneakers
Sustainability & Eco Initiatives | Transparent carbon footprint reporting, vegan line, and use of recycled materials
Prices starting at | Round up to the nearest dollar

Veja sneakers use Amazonian rubber purchased at five times the market price for the soles to protect and enhance the economic value of the Amazon Rainforest. And the rest of the sneakers are made from recycled water bottles and sustainably sourced materials. Did we mention that the sneakers are really cool too? They have lots of cute designs, like these and these, for example. Veja also ensures fair trade practices, and they’re very transparent about their environmental impact. For example, you can see the carbon footprint of their products, along with what they’re doing about it, here. They also have an entire line of vegan sneakers, made from CWL, which stands for “Cotton Worked as Leather,” a vegan alternative to leather that has a similar look and feel. 

Our Editor’s Review | “These shoes are everywhere on Insta and Pinterest style boards! If you want the immediate brand recognition of brands like Nike or Adidas but with a sustainable twist — Veja is the brand for you.” – Emily McGowan [Read full review here.]

11. Tentree

B corp

Circular fashion

Climate neutral

Second hand

Best For | Clothing that offsets carbon
Sustainability & Eco Initiatives | Offers carbon sequestration subscriptions, every item from Tentree sold plants trees
Prices starting at | Round up to the nearest dollar

Tentree is so much more than a clothing company (though they also have really great clothes!). For every item purchased, Tentree plants trees, but their climate action goes far beyond that, too. Their mission is to plant 1 billion trees by 2030 to reduce climate change. They’re also dedicated to circularity through their reselling platform The Reshop and their clothing recycling program, where anyone can send in clothes for credit, and they’ll sort and recycle or reuse them. Tentree also has Climate+, a program that lets people buy subscriptions to sequester carbon based on their lifestyle, with the ability to choose how often, how much, and even where they want to donate and plant trees. Beyond these initiatives, their clothes are made from eco-friendly materials like TENCEL, organic cotton, hemp, and more. 

Customer Review | “True to Tentree Apparel this flannel shirt is super soft and cozy, perfect for working from home, dog walks and going for coffee. Love it!” – Mary D. (Read more reviews.)

Brianna Schubert is a writer and editor based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade, an editorial assistant at Motley Bloom, and a freelance writer. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Since 2023, Brianna has combined her expertise and investigative skills to deliver thoughtful reviews of sustainable products and home goods, helping readers make informed, eco-conscious choices. Brianna is also the writer behind The Mood Board, a Substack newsletter for creativity and inspiration. When she’s not writing, you can find her cooking up a new recipe, reading and recommending books, cuddling with her cat, or yapping with her friends at a café. Say hi on Instagram!

The post 11 Eco Conscious Brands To Celebrate For Earth Day appeared first on The Good Trade.

“May I write words more naked than flesh, stronger than bone, more resilient than sinew, sensitive than nerve.” 

Poetry, like so many art forms, has a way of expressing the inexpressible and exposing human nature through musical rhythms, vivid imagery, and powerful metaphors. Throughout history, female poets have used their voices to be catalysts for social and political change, and their words are just as important today as they ever have been.

There are countless volumes of poetry written by women and non-binary people who deserve our praise and adoration, but we took some time to select some of the ones most inspiring us at this moment in time. These impactful poets range from the late 1800s all the way to the modern digital age, each with a different message that will inspire you to take action in your own life, to ignite social and political change, to reach out to a friend, or to take a stand for the environment we all share. 

If you’re new to poetry and want a little guidance, you can find our guide to reading poetry here. Or if you’re inspired and ready to pick up a pen, here’s everything you need to know about how to write poetry as a self-care practice!

1. Maya Angelou

(1928–2014)

To Read | Phenomenal Woman, Still I Rise, Caged Bird

Maya Angelou is essential reading: her political activism shines brightly through her words and inspires action. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., by President Barack Obama for her political and literary work.

Image source

“When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.”

— Maya Angelou, Phenomenal Woman

2. Mary Oliver

(1935–2019)

To Read | Wild Geese, Breakage, Hummingbirds

For the nature lovers, Mary Oliver’s powerfully feminine poetry inspires quiet moments of reflections based on everyday occurrences. Her poems begin grounded in the real, natural world and turn simple moments into impactful and beautiful life lessons.

Image Source

“Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.”

— Mary Oliver, Wild Geese

3. Audre Lorde

(1934–1992)

To Read | A Woman Speaks, Recreation, Who Said It Was Simple

Audre Lorde was a passionate poet, dedicated to confronting the social injustices of racism, sexism, and homophobia through her work. Her poetry is powerfully rooted in her experiences as a black woman, a lesbian, a mother, and a lifelong warrior for equality.

Image Source

“I have been woman
for a long time
beware my smile
I am treacherous with old magic
and the noon’s new fury
with all your wide futures
promised
I am
woman
and not white.”

— Audre Lorde, A Woman Speaks

4. Rupi Kaur

(1992– )

To Read | Celebration, [you tell me], [how is it so easy for you]

Rupi Kaur is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author who you’ve most likely stumbled across on Instagram. She’s a celebrated poet and stunning illustrator, and her concise, impactful words on womanhood and relationships will cut straight to your deepest emotions.

“the orange trees refused to blossom
unless we bloomed first
when we met
they wept tangerines
can’t you tell
the earth has waited its whole life for us”

— Rupi Kaur, Celebration

5. Joshua Jennifer Espinoza

(1987– )

To Read | This Is What Makes Us Worlds, Death Before Detransition, It Is Important To Be Something 

One of Joshua Jennifer Espinoza’s poems is called “Things Haunt,” which is the perfect way to describe her poetry: haunting, beautiful, powerful. She explores gender and the experience of being born in a human body—and reminds us all how connected our personal histories are to history as a whole.

“I paint my nails nice and pretty
and who cares. Who gives a shit.
I’m trying not to give a shit
but it doesn’t fit well on me.
I wear my clothes. I wear my body.
I walk out in the grass and turn red
at the sight of everything.”

— Joshua Jennifer Espinoza, It Is Important To Be Something

6. Edna St. Vincent Millay

(1892–1950)

To Read | The Penitent, Departure, Modern Declaration

Despite being the oldest poet on this list, Edna St. Vincent Millay’s work carries a wit and strength with it, making it timeless and accessible still today. Her work doesn’t shy away from issues of female expression, sexuality, or political progressivism.

“So I got up in anger,
And took a book I had,
And put a ribbon on my hair
To please a passing lad,
And, ‘One thing there’s no getting by—
I’ve been a wicked girl,’ said I:
’But if I can’t be sorry, why,
I might as well be glad!’”

— Edna St. Vincent Millay, The Penitent

7. Marge Piercy

(1936– )

To Read | The birthday of the world, To be of use, More Than Enough

As a feminist and a devotee of protecting our environment, Marge Piercy’s work is not subtle about the changes she wants to see in the world. Her work is grounded in nature and empowering in it’s calls to political and environmental action.

“No, this year I want to call
myself to task for what
I have done and not done
for peace. How much have
I dared in opposition?
How much have I put
on the line for freedom? ”

— Marge Piercy, The Birthday Of The World

8. Adrienne Rich

(1929–2012)

To Read | A Mark of Resistance, What Kind of Times Are These, Planetarium

Adrienne Rich’s powerful work spanned seven decades, and grew throughout her career into an influential feminist statement in free verse. Her poems range from straightforward to experimental, and she is a prominent figure in anti-war and pro-feminist movements thanks to her poetic political critique.

Image Source

“[I] can only fasten down
with this work of my hands,
these painfully assembled
stones, in the shape of nothing
that has ever existed before.
A pile of stones: an assertion
that this piece of country matters
for large and simple reasons.
A mark of resistance, a sign.”

— Adrienne Rich, A Mark of Resistance

9. Rita Dove

(1952– )

To Read | Demeter’s Prayer To Hades, Adolescence-II, I Have Been a Stranger in a Strange Land

Rita Dove is a Pulitzer prize-winning poet whose work pulls from her personal history and other art forms to weave enchanting stories and create wildly vivid images. At just forty years old, she was named US Poet Laureate in 1993, the youngest to date. 

Image Source

“ There are no curses – only mirrors
held up to the souls of gods and mortals.
And so I give up this fate, too.
Believe in yourself,
go ahead – see where it gets you.”

— Rita Dove, Demeter’s Prayer To Hades

10. Lucille Clifton

(1936–2010)

To Read | homage to my hips, poem in praise of menstruation, won’t you celebrate with me

Known for being able to say a lot within a concise poem, Lucille Clifton is a powerful poet to have on hand when you only have a few moments to read (and re-read) a poem. Her celebrated and award-winning poetry boldly celebrates women and explores African American family life and experience.

Image Source

“these hips are mighty hips.
these hips are magic hips.
i have known them
to put a spell on a man and
spin him like a top!”

— Lucille Clifton, homage to my hips

Emily McGowan is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. She studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University, and has over ten years of experience as a writer and editor in sustainability and lifestyle spaces. Since 2017, she’s been discovering and reviewing the top sustainable home, fashion, beauty, and wellness products so readers can make their most informed decisions. Her editorial work has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and BBC Worklife. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, playing with her two cats, or crafting. Say hi on Instagram or follow along with her Substack, Pinky Promise.

The post 10 Female Poets Through History To Inspire Us In 2026 appeared first on The Good Trade.

“Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while,” says Malorie Blackman, a Black British writer. The transportative quality of a good book is more than just entertainment — it’s a powerful experience that allows us to drop into another person’s consciousness. It is one thing to hear someone tell you about their life, but it is quite another to spend time in their mind and experience their story almost firsthand. Studies show that reading fiction increases empathy, and helps us to behave with more care and consideration for others.

“The transportative quality of a good book is more than just entertainment — it’s a powerful experience that allows us to drop into another person’s consciousness.”

Reading is also a powerful way to help us feel less alone when we experience grief, trauma, or heartache. James Baldwin said, “It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive or who had ever been alive.” Learning that the greatest hardships in our lives can connect us across time and space with other humans is not only healing but nearly magical. When resources and energy are scarce, it is incredible that we can still travel, find community, and connect with others just by opening a book.

If you’re seeking stories that spotlight Black voices, you’ll find many below — including writing below that reckons with difficult histories and generational traumas while, at the same time, showcasing incredible resilience and enduring joy. You’ll also find romance novels, comedies, poetry, and other collected writings that capture a diversity of experiences. Read on for my personal recommendations of books by Black writers, both fiction and non-fiction, that offer us the gift of experiencing someone else’s story.

What are some books by Black voices that you have read and loved? Let us know in the comments so we can add to our stacks!

1. Between The World And Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

This powerful work examines the American legacy of racism in a letter from the book’s author to his young Black son. Part memoir, part critical history, Coates asks us to consider the cost of the social construction of race on Black and Brown bodies by putting us into his shoes as he recounts revelatory personal experiences of his life as a Black man in America. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook to hear the writer read the work himself for an even more immersive and intimate experience.

Read Between The World And Me

2. Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey

This book of poetry is my most well-loved and often revisited collection for its precise and vivid imagery, powerful subject matter, and lines that I can’t stop thinking about. Titled for one of the first Black regiments called into service during the Civil War, Trethewey reclaims the lost legacy of these soldiers and blends their voices with the memory of her mother, a Black woman whose marriage to a white man was illegal in their native Mississippi during the writer’s childhood in the 1960s. Trethewey’s artful weaving of national and personal narratives of the difficult history of the Deep South won this profound collection the 2007 Pulitzer Prize. Another book I highly recommend listening to as the writer’s voice will give you chills.

Read Native Guard

3. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

If you want a rich, multi-generational family novel that digs deep into the shifting sands of social identities, this is the book for you. Spanning forty years and two generations of women, the story begins with the Vignes twins whose identical upbringing takes a sharp turn that results in one sister living and passing as a white woman while her twin remains Black, living in their home southern community she’d once tried to escape. When they have daughters of their own whose lives intersect, the story takes a compassionate look at the ways that our expectations, desires, and loyalties must reckon with the influence of the past. It’s a gripping read, and there is a point in the book where no reader (including this one) can put it down.

Read The Vanishing Half

4. Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

It’s no secret that I love romance novels, so this list would be incomplete without one of my favorite contemporary Black voices in the genre: Talia Hibbert. This book is the first in a series that follows the three Brown sisters and their romantic adventures, all of which are compassionate, deeply charming, and extremely sexy.

Chloe Brown has a near-death experience and decides to make some changes in her life. She makes a list of ways she can “get a life,” beyond the confines of her quiet experience bound by computer work and a chronic illness. Goals like “ride a motorcycle,” lead us to the perfect rebellion mentor: Red, the sexy bad boy with a gruff exterior and secret habit of painting shirtless that Chloe may or may not spy on just a little bit (and, yes, he definitely has a motorcycle). It’s sort of enemies-to-lovers but entirely funny, sensitive, and very hot.

Read Get A Life, Chloe Brown

5. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are at the beginning of a promising life together, deeply in love and poised to launch into success in their respective careers. But then Roy is arrested for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. While he is serving a twelve-year prison sentence, Celestial’s art career takes off, and she finds unexpected solace in the arms of the best man from their wedding. Roy’s conviction is overturned after five years, and while he is ready to return to their American Dream and resume their marriage, Celestial’s life and heart have moved on.

This work is a deft and masterfully told story about the realities of wrongful conviction on a Black family. It’s a heartbreaker, but the writer’s tenderness toward her characters amidst a hard look at the realities around race and the criminal justice system in America manages to keep humanity at the core.

Read An American Marriage

6. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

This book absolutely floored me for its sheer scope and absolutely unforgettable writing. Spanning eight generations of a Black family, the book begins in eighteenth-century Ghana with two sisters –– one marries an Englishman and lives a life of luxury in the Cape Coast Castle, and the other is captured in a raid and sold into slavery. Each chapter follows their descendents as the story moves through 300 years of the legacy of slavery and colonialism on both the lineage that remained in Ghana and the one that crossed the Atlantic in the slave trade. This book is a truly singular work of art, bringing our global history into an intimate, unforgettable reading experience.

Read Homegoing

7. New People by Danzy Senna

A perfectly crafted novel, this smart, darkly funny book inspired a passionate argument in my writing group that only made me love it more. The story takes place at the end of the twentieth century following couple Maria and Khalil as they plan their wedding while living in a Black bohemian enclave in Brooklyn. With their matching beige skin tone, they are co-starring in a documentary about “new people” like them, a designation that begs the question of the nebulous nature of social and cultural identities. But Maria, deep in her dissertation work about the Jonestown massacre, has a growing fixation on a Black poet she barely knows, leading her to blur the lines between fantasy and reality, as the bounds with which she has defined her very self begin to unravel.

Read New People

8. The Fire This Time edited by Jesmyn Ward

An essay collection in conversation with James Baldwin’s seminal 1963 collection “The Fire Next Time,” this book brings together some of the most powerful contemporary writers on race and racism today (including many names on this list!). Jesmyn Ward’s selections are alive with purpose, centering Black experiences across a breadth of topics from music to mass shootings. Each masterful poem and essay is grounded in a willingness to confront the brutalities of our country’s harshest truths, all while showcasing a level of piercing intellect that made me pause, take notes, and then go back to read each sentence again and again.

Read The Fire This Time

9. Born A Crime by Trevor Noah

As the title suggests, Noah’s mixed-race parentage was considered an imprisonable offense in apartheid South Africa, and the author was kept hidden for the early years of his life. Once liberated, he and his mother begin a new life together exploring a world suddenly free of centuries-long oppression and struggle in which Noah was never meant to exist. Despite navigating the bleak realities of poverty and violence, these stories are often laugh-out-loud funny, weaving together the ordinary drama of puberty and dating with the ups and downs of a nation recovering from apartheid. The relationship between mother and son is at the core of each story, with a nuanced, complicated, and deeply moving portrait of the ways they grow and change together. This is another I recommend listening to: Noah’s voices for the various characters, and his expert delivery, add a layer of comedy that only he can achieve!

Read Born A Crime

Bonus — On my TBR: Everything Inside: Stories by Edwidge Danticat

A collection of short stories is, in my opinion, the perfect bedside book if you are a compulsive “Just one more chapter!” type like me. Reading a complete story gives me a sense of satisfaction and something whole to think about as I drift off, carrying over with me into the next day. This collection from the great Edwidge Danticat is at the top of my stack, and I can’t wait to dig in.

Read Everything Inside

Stephanie H. Fallon is a writer originally from Houston, Texas. She has an MFA from the Jackson Center of Creative Writing at Hollins University. She lives with her family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where she writes about motherhood, artmaking, and work culture. You can find her on Instagram or learn more on her website.

The post 9 Books By Black Authors Our Editor Loves appeared first on The Good Trade.

With new information arising from the upcoming elections, finding unbiased information is more important than ever. Because we want to navigate the world as truthfully as we can, we’ve created a guide to thoughtfully fact-checking media, from finding neutral sources to checking our biases.

To stay up to date (and to learn more about other topics you enjoy, like sports or finance), you can head here for our favorite email newsletters.

1. Go straight to the source

When you read breaking news, sift through the story to find out who initially reported the news. Look for phrases like “according to,” and “originally reported by” so you can find the source. (What’s most ideal is to see when multiple credible sources are breaking the same story based on a variety of trustworthy reports).

“Political rhetoric and persuasive speech is designed to convince you, not always to educate you — which is why fact-checking is essential.”

Next, watch unedited coverage rather than curated clips so that you get the whole story. You can review transcripts of pivotal political speeches here, or even try attending events in-person at a local level. This cuts out the media — and their spin — in the middle. Because, when it comes to election-related news, it’ll be the candidate, not the news outlet, who will be working for you.

But you can’t always take every leader or spokesperson at their word. Political rhetoric and persuasive speech is designed to convince you, not always to educate you — so next, get to fact-checking.

2. Check the facts (then double check)

Whether you’re reviewing facts from a speech or information you’ve read or seen in videos online, Factcheck.org, Reuters, and Politifact are reputable fact-checking sites. You can even cross reference the sites with one another. And if you’re using the information to make a decision or plan on sharing it with others, it’s especially important to verify it’s true — even when you agree with something you’ve read or seen.

“If you’re using the information to make a decision or plan on sharing it with others, it’s especially important to verify it’s true — even when you agree with something you’ve read or seen.”

If you’re fact-checking through other sites not listed above, check for transparency about donors and stakeholders, potential parent company bias, and non-partisan leanings to ensure objectivity.

If you still find yourself unsure about claims, head to neutral and highly reliable sites. The Adfontes Media Bias chart outlines the reliability and factual accuracy of political media sources. Allsides offers a comprehensive left-right-center look at media bias, as does the app Ground News (we especially love how easy it is to swipe between different headlines for the same story). For $4.95 a month, you can also subscribe to Newsguard, a browser extension that gives outlets “nutritional labels” so you can identify websites that make false claims or lack transparency.

*Factcheck.org and Politifact have received donations from Facebook, which does not have input on the fact-checking, but is still something worth noting. Adfontes recieved funding from Aion Ventures and the New Community Transformation Fund, while Allsides operates on a hybrid revenue model so no one source of funding can be influential. Ground News is run by personal donations and subscription costs.

3. Watch out for angles & emotional appeals

Now that you have the factual backing for stories you’re reading and hearing, it’s important to understand that although these stories may be based on facts, at the end of the day, they’re stories. They’re designed to entertain, convince, infuriate, or evoke fear. Be extra observant of inflammatory or misleading headlines — this is how media outlets can interject opinion and partisan preference without the consumer’s full knowledge.

“Be observant of inflammatory or misleading headlines — this is how media outlets can interject opinion and partisan preference without the consumer’s full knowledge.”

Start by looking at the language, and asking yourself if it’s meant to evoke an emotional response. Be wary of outlets that use highly inflammatory language, such as “the end of  ___” or emotional appeals like “___ is our only hope.” Return to facts and research when you read euphemisms, exaggerations, or other unfounded claims. And of course, question these headlines and rhetoric even when it’s a story you want to agree with.

One useful question we can ask ourselves when reading a piece of content is, “who wins with this story?” You might find that a specific politician wins, or the news organization itself wins by convincing you to come back for more. If the information presented feels emotionally manipulative or leaves you feeling more angry than informed, it might be a good time to revisit those fact-checking sites or find a secondary source. (But don’t turn away just because a news story scares you — we do have to sit with uncomfortable truths sometimes!)

Don’t forget to question how frequently a media outlet covers a specific story, too; over-covering or under-covering a topic can be done intentionally to amplify or quiet a story to someone else’s benefit. 

5. Read trusted opinions, but don’t call them facts

Finally — there is space here for connecting with opinions from people you trust. To find reliable voices, research authors and journalists across their social platforms and bylines. Do you find their tone helpful and feel comfortable with who they follow, repost, etc. on social media? Are their past professional experiences likely to skew their perspective? Check their work on those fact-checking sites mentioned above. Are they reporting objective information as opposed to content that’s emotionally exhausting, enraging, or needlessly sugar-coated?

“You can and should disagree with the media personalities you trust; they have their own unique values and motivations, after all.”

You can and should disagree with the media personalities you trust; they have their own unique values and motivations, after all. If they present themselves as unbiased but you find their coverage inconsistent either in opinion, tone, or frequency, you can second guess and unfollow. Keep abreast of their background by searching for their name + “controversy” online and review any existing controversies. (Remember to look for reliable sites!) 

If we’re getting our news from a person or source that has a reputation of bias, we should acknowledge it to ourselves and with others. If we insist on consuming only news that upholds our existing beliefs, there is likely critical information — both facts and points of view — that we’re missing from our media consumption. When we find ourselves agreeing 100 percent of the time with the stories we read, perhaps it’s time to explore what the counterarguments (and supporting research) are to the issues we feel most connected to. This goes for everyone, regardless of political ideology.

And the final tip in fact-checking is to practice humility. We are human after all — personal, social, and economic factors contribute to our views. And if not examined, our worldview can be unconsciously informed by our upbringing, economic status, race, religion, education, gender identity, sexuality, and more. By identifying and naming our influences, we can keep our biases in mind as we consume media.

To honestly fact-check our media consumption, we may have to give up some of the things we once held as truths to uncover the facts — including facts we don’t like. Because the only way the world is going to change is if we’re willing to change our own minds in the face of new, and real, information.

What does your news habit look like — do you have a single favorite source, or do you regularly cross-check across platforms? 🗞️ Share in the comments below!

Emily McGowan is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. She studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University, and has over ten years of experience as a writer and editor in sustainability and lifestyle spaces. Since 2017, she’s been discovering and reviewing the top sustainable home, fashion, beauty, and wellness products so readers can make their most informed decisions. Her editorial work has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and BBC Worklife. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, playing with her two cats, or crafting. Say hi on Instagram or follow along with her Substack, Pinky Promise.

Psst! Google launched a new feature that lets you choose “Preferred Sources” — so your searches highlight trusted, values-driven outlets instead of clickbait. To add The Good Trade, tick the box beside our name. That’s it — our stories will be waiting whenever you search. Read more about it here.

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How we connect with our bodies changes during different stages of life: Whether we are back on the dating scene after a long-term relationship has ended, exploring new sides of our sexuality after having a baby, or facing some internalized shame that is suddenly causing intimacy road blocks, the evolution of our relationships with our bodies and sexual desires is a lifelong journey.

These books thread into a feminist view of radical self-love and deeply honor feminine energy and sexuality. Written by authors we admire — including psychologists, OBGYNs, and doulas—these books are reframing the narrative and helping us feel at home in our bodies.

As you explore your interests and spend more time thinking about self-pleasure, be sure to check out our guide for sleek sex toys (and the best natural lubes to go with them) for a total refresh!

1. Come As You Are 

Author | Emily Nagoski

Dr. Emily Nagoski is like your nerdy, sciency best friend. Pairing scientific studies with humor, she takes readers on a curious exploration and explains how psychology impacts sexual desires. Backed by modern science, Nagoski opens the door to our unique sexuality, and she removes judgment, helping us understand our anatomy, as well as the ways we find arousal. 

Review | “Emily Nagoski has written one of the most important books about sex any woman (or anybody else) could ever pick up, full of insights that are both fascinating and deeply useful.” — Carol Queen, Ph.D., Founding Director, Center for Sex & Culture

Price | $18.99

2. The Body is Not an Apology

Author | Sonya Renee Taylor

Sonya Renee Taylor is an activist and poet. In “The Body is Not an Apology,” she guides readers through new ways of awakening love for the body and dismantles shame created by society. Taylor’s book invites us to find peace in these beautiful bodies we were born with. 

Review | “I thought I had a very positive relationship with my body until I read this, and the new perspectives this book gave me helped me think differently. The Body is Not an Apology is definitely a book I’ll be referencing often and one whose message will stick with me for a long time.” — Julie Anna from Sincerely Juliana

Price | $18.95

3. Becoming Cliterate

Author | Laurie Mintz 

The name of this book says it all. Using science-backed research, Dr. Laurie Mintz invites us to explore how we receive pleasure. She argues that women’s anatomy requires a different approach for reaching orgasm, and she goes through the history, anatomy, and techniques for clitoral arousal, as opposed to intercourse. As a bonus, the final chapter is dedicated to men. 

Review | “This read doesn’t just zero in on the politics of pleasure inequality, it also offers up solutions that help the reader become more hands on (literally) with their own sexuality.” — Bust Magazine

Price | $12.99

4. Queer Sex

Author | Juno Roche

Juno Roche’s book offers an educational and transparent look into gender—especially as it shows up in sexuality. Written through the lens of the trans and queer community, it creates space for an essential conversation while also encouraging a broader look at the vast landscape that is intimacy. Roche helps readers explore intimacy and develop a deeper understanding of what sex means for all bodies. 

Review | “Queer Sex is an audacious and inspiring challenge to a system that shames trans bodies and desires. Roche’s words are a gift to anyone looking to open their minds and fall in love with the possibilities of love.” — CN Lester, musician and author of “Trans Like Me”

Price | $19.95

5. Doing It!: Let’s Talk About Sex

Author | Hannah Witton 

Targeted at a younger audience, “Doing It!” is for anyone beginning to learn about sex and what it means to them (ages 14+). This book is a wonderful starting point to help empower teens in their relationships and self-confidence. Hannah Witton also hosts a YouTube channel where she has honest and funny conversations about sex, adolescence, and being a woman.

Review | “The writing is frank and informative and suited for young adults of the 21st century. This book is not preachy, instead reading as if it was written by an extremely approachable sex ed teacher who is addressing questions from the anonymous “Question Box.”…an excellent resource for health curricula and is a must-have for libraries serving young adults.” — School Library Connection

Price | $10.99

6. Love Your Lady Landscape

Author | Lisa Lister

This book acts as a how-to manual for various areas of a woman’s life. Lisa Lister helps the reader reconnect with feminine wisdom through exercises that realign desires. She teaches earth-based spirituality, movement, dance, and breath-work, offering tools for reconnecting to the feminine. Lister also explores menstrual cycles and teaches readers how to be synced to the rhythms in nature. 

Review | “Lisa Lister doesn’t mess around. She’s here to break boundaries and barriers that have been created by what society defines ‘normal’ and in turn, remind us what’s real.” — Kyle Gray, Bestselling Author of “Angel Prayers”

Price | $20.99

7. Pleasure Activism

Author | adrienne maree brown

A powerful collection of essays, this book covers a wide range of critical topics, including sex work, orgasms, and sexuality. Rooted in honest essays from women’s rights activist and black feminist thinker, adrienne maree brown, “Pleasure Activism” pulls from black feminist traditions while weaving in conversations and insights from the likes of Cara Page and Audre Lorde. Read this one for new narratives surrounding important subject matters, as well as for critical insights about how humans can experience pleasure in everything. 

Review | “[adrienne maree brown] continues to stake her claim as one of our most critical thinkers and strategists by intentionally combining the power of story-telling with practical applications to help readers conjure their own definition of pleasure and how it is inextricably linked to every part of our existence.” — Monica Simpson, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective

Price | $20

8. The Vagina Bible

Author | Jennifer Gunter

Dr. Jennifer Gunter is a gynecologist, OB/GYN, and passionate advocate for women’s health. Her newly released book (Aug 2019) is a tell-all of sorts and answers every question you’ve ever had about vaginas. Using her knowledge and experience, she writes with clarity about the sometimes confusing and strange things going on with the female body. Don’t miss the chapter on clitoris anatomy, or the one debunking the “g-spot” myth. 

Review | “Dr. Jen Gunter is a fountain of critically important information and she’s funny as hell. Buy this book if you have a vagina or if you spend any time at all in reasonably close proximity to one.” — Ayelet Waldman, New York Times Bestselling Author of “A Really Good Day”

Price | $18.95

9. The Pleasure Gap

Author | Katherine Rowland

Using the insight she’s gained from hundreds of interviews with women and health care professionals, Katherine Rowland explores “our culture’s relationship with women’s sexual expression” in her newly released book (February 2020). Rowland argues that low libido and sexual desire are much more complex than society has painted them to be, and she aims to discuss this honestly while exploring how we can find enlightenment and freedom in sexual expression. 

Review | “Rowland skillfully synthesizes many different ideas and approaches, and encourages women to embrace a broader understanding of their own sexual desire as an ongoing process of self-discovery and self-assertion.” ― Publishers Weekly

Price | $28

The post 9 Books To Help You Reconnect With Your Sexual Desires appeared first on The Good Trade.

But it’s here. It’s right now. And there are so many women thinkers contributing to it. Don’t believe me? Here’s a quick test: did you see the Trolley Problem floating around on the internet in regards to the 2020 pandemic, lockdowns, and vaccine distribution discussions? The concept, which explores moral decision-making and the ethics of sacrifices, was developed and coined by two women philosophers, Judith Jarvis Thompson and Philippa Foot, in the 1960s and ‘70s. Philosophy driven by women is relevant today — and proves how necessary it is for navigating life in the 21st century.

“If you’ve got big questions, you’re not alone. Someone, somewhere, is dedicating their work to finding the answers for themselves — and for all of us.”

Below, you’ll find inspiring, quotable, and prolific philosophers to add to your reading list, but the list goes on. There are women exploring so many subgenres!

If there’s a topic you want to learn more about, start with PhilPeople’s “Find A Philosopher” tool to help expand your thinking. Consider Eva Kittay and Teresa Blankmeyer Burke, who work in the field of disability philosophy and bioethics, or Anne (Schulherr) Waters, who specializes in American Indian philosophy, or Talia Mae Bettcher who explores transgender philosophy. By viewing on the world through these lenses, we can learn more about who we are, what we are doing, and perhaps most importantly, why we are.

If you’ve got big questions, you’re not alone. Someone, somewhere, is dedicating their work to finding the answers for themselves — and for all of us. If philosophy isn’t for you right now, head here for some of our favorite substack newsletters that’ll help ignite your inspiration.

1. Hypatia of Alexandria
(355–415 CE)

Areas Of Focus | Mathematics and astronomy
Featured Work | The Wisdom of Hypatia

Hypatia is an early female philosopher who worked in spaces of mathematics and astronomy, and broke traditional norms as a female public speaker and academic. Her teachings were considered “pagan” and contradicted early Christian teachings emerging in Alexandria (formerly Rhacotis, a village in Egypt, before it was overtaken by Greek leader Alexander the Great). She ultimately was murdered for her teachings, which encouraged critical inquiry into religion. Read Hypatia if you’re ready to take a critical lens to your own belief systems.

“Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all.”

– Hypatia

2. Susanne Langer
(1895–1985)

Areas Of Focus | Art, philosophy of mind, linguistic analysis
Featured Work | Philosophy in a New Key: A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite and Art

The first woman to be considered an American philosopher, Susanne Langer explored music, creativity, and the ways art transcends language. She proposed an inherent need in humans to find, identify, and ascribe meaning in the world around us. Read Langer if you’re a writer, musician, or artist who wants to learn more about how your art connects to the human experience.

“Art is the articulation, not the stimulation or catharsis, of feeling; and the height of technique is simply the highest power of this sensuous revelation and wordless abstraction.”

– Susanne Langer

3. Iris Murdoch
(1919–1999)

Areas Of Focus | Morality, human relations and behavior
Featured Work | The Sovereignty of Good

Dame Jean Iris Murdoch rose to fame as a British and Irish novelist, and her skills as a writer allow her to portray moral and philosophical questions within accessible storylines. You can see this style clearly in Murdoch’s famous example of “M” and “D” in her essay, The Idea of Perfection. In the example, Murdoch explores how, through self-criticism and -exploration, altering our perception of a person or situation can change our moral behavior. Read Murdoch if you’re feeling called to challenge your attitudes towards things that are confronting you.

“One should go easy on smashing other people’s lies. Better to concentrate on one’s own.”

– Iris Murdoch

4. Mary Midgely
(1919–2018)

Areas Of Focus | Ethics, human and animal relations, myth
Featured Work | What Is Philosophy For?

Mary Midgely was a British moral philosopher who wrote across topics such as the importance of myth, animal rights, and how philosophy is still relevant today. Midgely proposed that science was not antithetical to religion, and vice versa, which infuses her inquiries with deep meaning, although she does not ascribe to a specific religion. Read Midgely if you’re an advocate for animal rights or if you feel that in a world full of technological and scientific advances, we still need philosophy.

“The trouble with human beings is not really that they love themselves too much; they ought to love themselves more. The trouble is simply that they don’t love others enough.”

– Mary Midgely

5. Angela Davis
(1944– )

Areas Of Focus | Race, social justice, prison abolition
Featured Work | Women, Race, & Class

Angela Davis is most well-known as an activist and grassroots organizer for civil rights, but her deep body of research and writing on the topics of race, feminism, and politics position her as an American philosopher as well. A now-retired professor of the History of Consciousness, Davis connects the dots between intersecting identities and explores oppression in America and beyond. Read Davis if you’re questioning the ethics of the prison industrial complex or if you want further context behind social justice movements, including Black Lives Matter.

“Whenever you conceptualize social justice struggles, you will always defeat your own purposes if you cannot imagine the people around whom you are struggling as equal partners.”

– Angela Davis

6. Martha Nussbaum
(1947– )

Areas Of Focus | Politics, justice, and economics
Featured Work | The Cosmopolitan Tradition: A Noble But Flawed Ideal

American philosopher Martha Nussbaum, a widely celebrated teacher and writer, contributes greatly to discussions around human rights and economic development. Nussbaum proposes the Capabilities Approach, which challenges GDP as a measure of the quality of life — deeply researching the idea that individuals are more than the economic factors of the country they live in. Read Nussbaum if you see yourself as a citizen of the world, not just your country or region, and believe in securing equitable human rights for all.

“To be a good human being is to have a kind of openness to the world, an ability to trust uncertain things beyond your own control, that can lead you to be shattered in very extreme circumstances for which you were not to blame […] more like a plant than like a jewel, something rather fragile, but whose very particular beauty is inseparable from that fragility.”

– Martha Nussbaum

7. Judith Butler
(1956– )

Areas Of Focus | Gender, sex, and identity
Featured Work | Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity

The American academic Judith Butler is non-binary and uses she/they pronouns. They’ve made significant contributions to thought on the performative aspects of gender and even the performance of sex. They propose that gender is a “doing” rather than something that exists innately. Read Butler if gender reveal parties frustrate you endlessly or if you’re interested in learning more about why we exist in the visible and performative ways we do.

“Love is not a state, a feeling, a disposition, but an exchange, uneven, fraught with history, with ghosts, with longings that are more or less legible to those who try to see one another with their own faulty vision.”

– Judith Butler

8. Ruth Chang

Areas Of Focus | Choice and decision-making, the nature of value
Featured Work | How To Make Hard Choices on TED Radio Hour

Are you at a crossroads and don’t know which path to choose? Ruth Chang has studied and consulted on decision-making in her career as a philosopher, following a career in law (her own “hard decision”). Chang, who lives in New York, has also consulted with large companies around the world on the aspects of choice and likewise offers individuals thought on comparing the factors of a decision. Read Chang if you’ve written all the pros and cons list you can—and still don’t have an answer for yourself.

“Far from being sources of agony and dread, hard choices are precious opportunities for us to celebrate what is special about the human condition, that we have the power to create reasons for ourselves to become the distinctive people that we are.”

– Ruth Chang

9. Sara Ahmed
(1969– )

Areas Of Focus | Feminism, race, queer studies
Featured Work | Living A Feminist Life

British-Australian scholar Sara Ahmed explores “how bodies and worlds take shape; and how power is secured and challenged in everyday life worlds as well as institutional cultures.” Ahmed’s interests span a wide range of topics, with books on cultural connections of emotion and happiness to her writings at feministkilljoys, a companion blog for her book, “Living A Feminist Life.” Read Ahmed if you’re seeking to deepen the intersectionality of your feminism—and if you’re ready to face the tactical ways of making systemic and institutional change.

“Indeed so often just talking about sexism as well as racism is heard as damaging the institution. If talking about sexism and racism is heard as damaging institutions, we need to damage institutions.”

– Sara Ahmed

Emily McGowan is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. She studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University, and has over ten years of experience as a writer and editor in sustainability and lifestyle spaces. Since 2017, she’s been discovering and reviewing the top sustainable home, fashion, beauty, and wellness products so readers can make their most informed decisions. Her editorial work has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and BBC Worklife. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, playing with her two cats, or crafting. Say hi on Instagram or follow along with her Substack, Pinky Promise.

The post 9 Women Philosophers To Inspire You appeared first on The Good Trade.