Stories by Mary Elizabeth Williams

Mary Elizabeth Williams is a staff writer for Salon and the author of "Gimme Shelter: My Three Years Searching for the American Dream." Follow her on Twitter: @embeedub.             subscribe to Mary Elizabeth Williams's feed

Why Jenny McCarthy Is Too Dangerous for "The View"

Posted on: Jul 11, 2013, Source: Salon

The 'warrior mother' is pretty, funny and divisive. Great. She also spouts dangerous, anti-scientific ignorance.

Guys Actually Do Worry About Sex on the First Date

Posted on: Jun 18, 2013, Source: Salon

We assume men just want to have sex as early as possible. But the truth is more complex

Nigella Lawson Apparently Choked by Her Husband in the Middle of a Restaurant -- and Nobody Stepped in to Stop It

Posted on: Jun 17, 2013, Source: Salon

Society still has a long way to go.

Atheists Can Be Just As Obnoxious As Christians

Posted on: Jun 14, 2013, Source: Salon

Just because you’re in the right doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk about it.

What's Behind Michael Douglas's Cunnilingus Confession?

Posted on: Jun 5, 2013, Source: Salon

He says oral sex caused his illness -- but what's the whole story?

A 22-Year-Old Woman Is About to Die for the Sake of a Fetus With No Chance of Survival—This Is "Pro-Life?"

Posted on: May 30, 2013, Source: Salon

El Salvador's strict abortion laws mean a woman's likely to die. Laws in other countries, and here, aren't all that much better.

Author Compares Rape Victims Who Go Out Late to Leaving a Lap Top in Back of Car

Posted on: May 28, 2013, Source: Salon

When will rape apologists stop saying things like this?

Atheists Rejoice! Pope Francis Says You're O.K.

Posted on: May 23, 2013, Source: Salon

It's not about being right, it's about being loving, the unusually tolerant Pontiff tells his flock.

Atheists Rising: Wolf Blitzer Learns a Lesson and Arizona Lawmaker Says "Don't Bow Your Heads"

Posted on: May 22, 2013, Source: Salon

Watch: Asked if she "thanks the lord," Oklahoma survivor tells Wolf, "actually, I'm an atheist."

Horrifying New Trend: Posting Rapes to Facebook

Posted on: May 20, 2013, Source: Salon

Three Chicago teens are charged with a horrible sexual assault. They allegedly posted the video on social media.

Inside the Controversy Over Man Charged with Murder for Slipping an Abortion Pill to Pregnant Girlfriend

Posted on: May 18, 2013, Source: Salon

Florida man told her it was an antibiotic.

Merida And The Disturbing Disney Princess Syndrome

Posted on: May 15, 2013, Source: Salon

The taming of the flame-haired warrior princess doll is just the latest example of the sexualization of American girlhood.

High School Students Teach Us How to Talk About Rape

Posted on: Apr 11, 2013, Source: Salon

One California high school addressed the topic of rape culture head-on, and we should all learn from them.

Why Is Beyonce Reluctant to Call Herself a Feminist?

Posted on: Apr 3, 2013, Source: Salon

She tells British Vogue "the word can be very extreme." This from the woman who coined the word "bootylicious."

Is This the Dumbest GOP Op-Ed. of the Year So Far?

Posted on: Apr 1, 2013, Source: Salon

A Kansas congressman writes the dumbest anti-gay marriage op-ed ever. We don't think it's an April Fool's joke.

Why Are Stores Charging Customers to Browse?

Posted on: Mar 26, 2013, Source: Salon

Two very different retailers take heat for -- really -- asking customers to pay to shop.

The Osmonds Hate Gay Marriage

Posted on: Mar 22, 2013, Source: Salon.com

The singing Mormon brood (minus gay-marriage advocate Marie Osmond) returns with a rally to "protect" marriage.

Boy Scouts Survey Members About Whether It's Okay to Be Gay

Posted on: Mar 13, 2013, Source: Salon

The BSA still has a long way to go in their attitudes towards gays and lesbians.

Can Men Be Taught Not to Rape?

Posted on: Mar 10, 2013, Source: Salon

Zerlina Maxwell said men can prevent rape — and recounts the nightmare that followed thereafter

Why Are Knives Now Allowed on Airplanes But Not Moisturizer?

Posted on: Mar 7, 2013, Source: Salon

New TSA rules make no sense.

Did the Internet Kill “Girls Gone Wild”?

Posted on: Mar 1, 2013, Source: Salon.com

The Joe Francis empire faces bankruptcy, marking the end of an era. But don't worry, you can still see naked ladies

Hooters New Ad Campaign Feeds Fat-Phobia

Posted on: Feb 28, 2013, Source: Salon

The boob and fried-food chain thinks it can appeal to an even baser side, male fear of overweight women.

Did a Gay Blackmail Scandal Bring Down Pope Benedict?

Posted on: Feb 22, 2013, Source: Salon.com

The pope's abrupt retirement gets stranger. Now, an Italian newspaper alleges corruption at the Vatican.

Heart Attack Grill Delivers on Its Promise

Posted on: Feb 13, 2013, Source: Salon

Devoted patron John Alleman died after eating in a Las Vegas restaurant that boasts a "Taste Worth Dying For!"

Heart Attack Grill Lives Up to Its Name

Posted on: Feb 13, 2013, Source: Salon

Daily diner at Las Vegas eatery dies of heart failure at 52 after steady diet of high calorie, high fat foods

Waxing Our Way to the Emergency Room

Posted on: Feb 7, 2013, Source: Salon

The rate of grooming accidents is exploding. When did we start hating pubic hair?

Is Sitting Worse Than Smoking?

Posted on: Jan 10, 2013, Source: Salon

Yet another report says that staying seated for hours on end is dangerous. Maybe it's time we take a stand.

Work for Free or You're Fired! What a Terrible Job Posting Tells Us About Modern Work

Posted on: Dec 13, 2012, Source: Salon

America's worst job posting goes viral because it reminds us of all of the bad gigs we've ever had

Hollywood's Real-Life Hunger Games

Posted on: Nov 17, 2012, Source: Salon

Jennifer Lawrence — a "fat actress" — refuses to starve herself, while Anne Hathaway gets even skinnier for a part.

Network Splits With Actress Over Gluten: Is Celiac a Real Malady or a Dietary Choice?

Posted on: Oct 24, 2012, Source: Salon

The reactions to Jennifer Esposito’s story can be neatly divided between those who empathize and those who think this is some spoiled actress’s crazy diet issue.

The War On 12-Year-Old Girls

Posted on: Oct 21, 2012, Source: Salon

An epidemic of high-profile trolling is a testament to how pathological misogyny is — and how early it begins.

Inside the Mind of a Serial Rapist

Posted on: Jul 29, 2012, Source: Salon

A discussion thread on Reddit asked members if any of them had ever committed sexual assault. One response in particular stood out.

Stop Calling it a Sex Scandal

Posted on: Jul 1, 2012, Source: Salon

Dear media: Learn the difference between abuse and sex -- otherwise, you're sensationalizing violence and rape

Exposing "The Invisible War" on Women in the Military

Posted on: Jun 27, 2012, Source: Salon

A new documentary shows how the military has, across the board and in every branch, failed to protect its members from sexual assault.

Bring on the Gay Boy Scouts

Posted on: Jun 10, 2012, Source: Salon

A new challenge sheds light on a horribly outdated policy. It's time for the Scouts' exclusionary rules to end.

No, Bill O'Reilly, Glee Will Not Make Your Kid Transgender. And So What if It Does?

Posted on: Apr 22, 2012, Source: Salon

Transgender people take an overwhelmingly disproportionate amount of abuse and harassment. That's why it's awesome when they're depicted positively on TV.

When Bullies Go To Work

Posted on: Mar 8, 2012, Source: Salon

The hidden epidemic of workplace mistreatment affects over a third of workers -- and is hurting us all.

Ellen Stands Up to Right-Wing Gay Bashing Group

Posted on: Feb 9, 2012, Source: Salon

"One Million Moms" is angry JC Penny is sticking by Ellen, their spokesperson. Ellen had some choice words for them in return.

Son of New York Police Commissioner Accused of Rape, Media Smears Alleged Victim

Posted on: Jan 31, 2012, Source: Salon

A prominent New York TV anchor is accused of rape -- but the tabloids smear the accuser. What's so dismaying about the coverage is how pathetically typical it is.

Should Teens be Screened for Drug Use?

Posted on: Nov 7, 2011, Source: Salon

Pediatricians call for drug screening for teens, but doctors' lectures may be more drug "education" for teens to ignore.

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