contents I SPRING 22 VOLUME XXXI I • NUMBER 2


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5“With the rise of domestic violence and sexual assault cases during this COVID-19 crisis, the reauthorization of this transformative legislation empowers law enforcement agencies and advocacy groups to protect survivors with resources provided by this new law.” —REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE


UP FRONT


4 LETTERS 6 KEEPING SCORE


NEWS NATIONAL


8 The Battle for VAWA; Water Is a Women’s Issue; ‘Equal Pay!’; On the Board; Short Takes


GLOBAL


14 The Nun’s Story; ‘End the Patriarchy’; The Billionaire Feminist; Short Takes


STORIES FOR FREE CHILDREN


28 You Ruined It BY ANASTASIA HIGGINBOTHAM; INTRODUCTION BY JENNIFER BAUMGARDNER


An excerpt from a book for middle grade readers about familial incest—part of a groundbreaking children’s series covering tough, but real, subjects


www.msmagazine.com SPRING 2022 | 1 20


5 Inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as Congress was meeting to confirm the election of Joe Biden; autocrats try to maintain control by attacking the rule of law, separation of powers and fair elections.


FEATURES


20 The Patriarchs’ War on Women BY ZOE MARKS AND ERICA CHENOWETH


The backlash against feminist progress that’s overtaking the U.S. is part of a global trend. Free and empowered women are a threat to authoritarianism worldwide—and the autocrats know it.


24 After the Fall BY RENEE MONTAGNE


A Ms. conversation with Afghan leaders Fatima Gailani and Fawzia Koofi in the wake of the Taliban takeover


COVER: MUHAMMAD OWAIS KHAN; TOM WILLIAMS/GETTY IMAGES; ROBERTO SCHMIDT/GETTY IMAGES


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