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Meredith Ralston

Professor of Women's Studies and Political Studies, Mount Saint Vincent University
My research work has been mainly in the areas of women and politics, slut-shaming and sex work in Canada and the Philippines.

In my new book, Slut-Shaming, Whorephobia, and the Unfinished Sexual Revolution published by McGill-Queen's University Press in June, I examine the common denominators between the #MeToo movement, the myths of rape culture, and the pleasure gap between men and women to reveal the ways that sexually liberated women threaten the traditional patriarchy. Weaving in history, pop culture, philosophy, interviews with sex workers, and anecdotes, I show how women will achieve sexual equality only when the sexual double standard and good girl/bad girl binary are eliminated and women viewed by society as “whores” are destigmatized. Illustrating how women’s sexuality is policed by both men and women, I argue that women must be allowed the same personal autonomy as men: the freedom to make sexual decisions for themselves, to obtain orgasm equality, and to insist on their own sexual pleasure. Dispelling the myth that all sex workers are victims and all clients are violent, the book calls out Western society’s hypocrisy about sex and shows how stigma and the marginalization of sex workers harms all women.

Kamala Harris’s run for president is getting ugly, but Republican misogyny may backfire this time

Jul 27, 2024 12:51 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

United States Vice President Kamala Harris is making a bid for the Oval Office, replacing President Joe Biden to square off against Republican Donald Trump. She may become the first woman and second racialized person to...

Sex workers' rights: Governments should not decide what constitutes good or bad sex

Sep 28, 2023 02:59 am UTC| Health

An Ontario Superior Court justice has dismissed a constitutional challenge to Canadas sex work laws, saying that the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) does not violate sex workers Charter...

Economy

Oil Prices Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions and Supply Disruption Fears

Global oil prices climbed sharply on Thursday as escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran fueled concerns about further supply disruptions in the Middle East. Brent crude oil prices surged by as...

Asian Stocks Slip as Oil Prices Surge and Fed Signals Inflation Risks

Asian stock markets declined on Thursday as investors reacted to a sharp rise in oil prices, mixed corporate earnings, and a cautious outlook from the U.S. Federal Reserve. The combination of geopolitical tensions, energy...

Dollar Holds Near Two-Week High as Fed Hawkish Shift Lifts Yields, Yen Near Intervention Zone

The U.S. dollar remained close to its strongest level in more than two weeks on Thursday, supported by a hawkish shift from Federal Reserve policymakers that pushed Treasury yields to a one-month high. Currency markets are...

US Stock Futures Mixed as Fed Holds Rates, Oil Prices Surge, and Big Tech Earnings Drive Market Moves

U.S. stock index futures traded mixed on Wednesday evening as investors reacted to the Federal Reserves latest policy decision, rising oil prices, and a fresh round of earnings from major technology companies. Market...

China Factory Activity Extends Growth in April Despite Global Pressures

Chinas manufacturing sector continued to expand for a second consecutive month in April, signaling resilience in the worlds second-largest economy despite ongoing global uncertainties. According to official data from the...

Politics

Russian Drone Strikes Hit Odesa Again, Injuring Civilians and Damaging Infrastructure

Russian drone attacks targeted the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa overnight, marking the second assault this week and leaving at least 18 people injured, according to local officials. The latest strike adds to the...

US House Advances $70 Billion Immigration Enforcement Budget Plan

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a three-year budget framework that could unlock an additional $70 billion for immigration enforcement, marking a significant step in shaping future border security policies....

Trump to Receive Briefing on Potential U.S. Military Action Against Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to receive a high-level security briefing on Thursday regarding new military options targeting Iran, according to a report by Axios citing unnamed sources. The briefing will be led...

Taiwan Independence Explained: History, Status, and Rising China Tensions

Taiwan independence remains a highly debated issue in global politics, especially as tensions between China and the United States continue to shape international relations. The topic is expected to feature prominently in...

Taiwan Activates Backup Communications After Undersea Cable Break on Dongyin Island

Taiwan has activated emergency backup communications for Dongyin, its northernmost and strategically important island, after an undersea cable was damaged due to shifting shipwreck debris caused by severe weather. The...

Science

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

Meta Raises 2026 Capex Outlook Amid AI Spending Surge, Shares Drop After Earnings

Meta Platforms has increased its full-year capital expenditure guidance for 2026, signaling continued aggressive investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure despite rising costs and market concerns. The company...

Amazon Stock Dips Despite Record Earnings as AI Infrastructure Spending Surges

Amazon (AMZN) shares slipped 2.6% in after-hours trading on Wednesday, even after the company delivered record-breaking quarterly earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations. The decline reflects investor concerns over...

Alphabet Earnings Surge on AI Growth, Cloud Revenue, and Strong Search Performance

Alphabet Inc. delivered an impressive first-quarter performance, surpassing Wall Street expectations with strong growth driven by its Cloud division and core Search business. The tech giant reported adjusted earnings per...

Qualcomm Stock Surges Despite Weak Guidance After Q2 2026 Earnings Beat

Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) shares climbed sharply on Wednesday, closing up 9% after a volatile trading session triggered by its fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings report and softer-than-expected forward guidance. The...

Microsoft Azure Growth Forecast Beats Expectations Amid Rising AI Competition

Microsoft has projected stronger-than-expected growth for its Azure cloud business, signaling continued momentum in the competitive cloud computing and artificial intelligence market. The company announced it expects Azure...