Stuff Mom Never Told You

Why are women getting plastic surgery to slim down their ankles? Cristen and Caroline explore how slender ankles became a feminine beauty standard and the etymology and science behind the dreaded cankles. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is egg freezing the most hotly discussed health benefit in Silicon Valley? Cristen and Caroline put the science and success rates of oocyte cryopreservation, or egg freezing, under the microscope to determine whether it really is the great workplace equalizer for women. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As many as 75 percent of women develop uterine fibroids, yet few are aware of this women's health issue. Cristen and Caroline break down what fibroids are, when they should be treated and why African-American women are at a higher risk of developing them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pocahontas myth has perpetuated the "Indian Princess" stereotype since the 17th century. Cristen and Caroline explore how this stereotype mangles the true history of Native American women and mythbust the Disney version of Pocahontas. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where did basic bitches come from? Cristen and Caroline take an etymological journey through the history, gender politics and reclamation of women's most-used curse word. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Oxford English Dictionary declared "vape" its 2014 Word of the Year, and it's not just men getting into vaping culture these days. Cristen and Caroline puff on how the rapidly growing e-cigarette industry is selling women on vaping and how it compares to how Big Tobacco lit up female smokers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is the Ebola virus killing more women than men in West Africa? Cristen and Caroline chart the spread of the Ebola virus and the gender roles that put women more at risk for contracting Ebola virus and other pandemics. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nail polish that changes color in the presence of date rape drugs is just one of many products and apps being developed to prevent rape. Cristen and Caroline parse out the pros and cons this emerging cottage industry and whether it ultimately contributes to eradicating rape or perpetuating victim-blaming. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The verdict on female lawyers' proper courtroom attire is murky at best. Cristen and Caroline investigate why workplace wardrobe is particularly vexing for women attorneys and how that reflects on broader gender equity issues in legal professions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It might seem like a preposterous question, but many researchers wonder how much of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is physical fact versus culturally constructed fiction. Cristen and Caroline chart the medical history of PMS and how moodiness most commonly associated with might not be a byproduct of menstruation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do our death rituals come from? Kate Sweeney, author of "American Afterlife: Encounters in the Customs of Mourning" talks to Cristen and Caroline about the role women have played in death and mourning from Victorian hair jewelry to modern-day memorial tattoo artists. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is gang membership among girls on the rise? Cristen and Caroline explore the history of girl gangs and what gang life means for young women past and present. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost as soon as The Golden Girls premiered in 1985, it became one of the most beloved shows on television. Cristen and Caroline discuss the show's history and incredible legacy as a sitcom that wasn't afraid to tackle important issues such as aging, sexual health and even gay marriage. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Intimate partner violence, or domestic violence, accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime in the United States. Cristen and Caroline uncover the cycle of domestic violence and manipulation that keeps female and male victims from leaving their partners and the long-term health impacts of this epidemic of abuse. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent years, tattoos have become a common part of breast cancer recovery. Beginning with a brief refresher on the history of women and ink, Cristen and Caroline discuss the different ways tattoos are providing new and empowering choices for women who've undergone mastectomies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The clitoris has been one of the most misunderstood and maligned female features in medical history. Cristen and Caroline uncover the incredible geography of clitoral complex and why it took so long for doctors to figure it out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What exactly is a sociopath, and why are women with antisocial personality disorder so rare? Cristen and Caroline confront the clinical realities of sociopathy and why it's become pop culture's favorite character flaw. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stereotypes about Latinas' bodies and behaviors abound, and perhaps none are more pop culturally persistent than that of the "spicy" Latina. Cristen and Caroline, trace the history behind this on-screen trope that's endured from Carmen Miranda to Sofia Vergara. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do women care so much about their eyelashes? From science and ancient history to to a mascare inventor named Rimmel, Cristen and Caroline get deep about these not-so-superficial hairs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black hair contains an entire history of ethnic pride, discrimination and assimilation. Lori L. Tharp, author of "Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America," talks to Cristen about black hair from the tragic to the triumphant and why more black women today are celebrating the beauty of their natural hair. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do girls' relationships with their fathers influence who they grow up to become? Cristen and Caroline unpack the psychology of "daddy issues" and the unique dynamics of father-daughter bonding. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do boys' relationships with their mothers influence who they grow up to become? Cristen and Caroline unpack the psychology of "mama's boys" and the unique dynamics of mother-son bonding. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What "perfect" teeth look like depends on where in the world you are. In this episode, Cristen and Caroline shed light on the intersections between beauty, social status and teeth. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the "grandmother hypothesis," humans have grandmas, nanas and bubbies to thank for their longer lifespans. In this episode, Cristen and Caroline reveal the compelling science and evolution behind these important maternal figures. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is late night television resistant to women hosts and writers? Cristen and Caroline explore the past and present of late night TV to answer a question critics and viewers alike have been asking increasingly in recent years: where are the women? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since ancient times, women have been advised to cover up in order to protect their dignity. More recently, a so-called "modesty movement" has gotten underway, and Cristen and Caroline undress how the "modest is hottest" message ultimately strips agency from women and men alike. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As cosplay has become more popular outside of Japan in recent years, it has raised fascinating questions about gender, sexuality and authenticity in fandom and the fictional realms cosplay strives to mirror. Just in time for con season, Cristen and Caroline share how there's far more to cosplay than dressing up. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curly-haired women often feel like they're living in a flat-ironed, staight-haired world. Cristen and Caroline untangle the science of curly hair and get to the root of the cultural stereotypes regarding ringlets. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women are far likelier to suffer from insomnia than men, but why? Cristen and Caroline put the science to rest on the biological and psychological female factors that lead to sleepless nights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do women have larger buttocks than men, and why are they considered attractive? From Hottentot Venus to Instagram's Butt Selfie Queen, Cristen and Caroline get to the bottom of our longstanding cultural fascination with women's big butts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do middle children really get the short end of the familial stick? Cristen and Caroline explore the psychological history of middle children, the influence of birth order and the cultural biases against the in-between siblings. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Greek fraternities become a part of college life? Cristen and Caroline investigate the history of fraternities and how problems hazing, drinking and sexual assault threaten their future existence. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the scientific function of best friendship? Cristen and Caroline put besties and bromances under the microscope to discover the pros and cons of how these influential relationships shape our lives. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women who travel alone have long raised suspicious eyebrows for bucking convention in order to see the world. Cristen and Caroline take a trip from the 19th-century Golden Age of Travel to today to find out why women travel solo and whether their independent itineraries are really a safety risk. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The earliest seafaring women had to disguise themselves as men just to be allowed aboard ships. In this aquatic installment of their series on exploration, Cristen and Caroline chart the incredible adventures of women on the high seas past and present. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cristen and Caroline visit the Stuff Mom Never Told You listener mail bag to answer questions about asexual dating, modesty, the "hot convict" meme and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of all the places on the globe, Antarctica has been the hardest for women to reach, barred even from South Pole-bound ships. Cristen and Caroline bundle up for an adventure with the persistent women who fought their way to explore the icy continent. Antarctica-bound ships, women have had to fight their way to explore the icy continent. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the Golden Age of Exploration, discovering unknown lands was something that typically required a lot of money -- and being a man. Cristen and Caroline highlight the women who dared to defy convention, explore and change the world. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exploration has long be considered a manly pursuit, but a new generation of women explorers and adventures are changing that. Cristen and Caroline survey the women's rich and exciting history of exploration and how they've fought for the right the investigate the natural world -- even in petticoats and corsets. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1986, Jane Pratt founded Sassy, a magazine which revolutionized teen girl media and culture, and now she helms xoJane.com. Cristen chatted with Jane how the pressures on young women have changed -- and stayed the same -- over the years, feminism, and the importance of xoJane and Sassy today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Among professional sports, tennis often is cited as one of the most gender equitable for female athletes. Cristen and Caroline serve up the evolution of women's tennis and the players who trailblazed the way to diversity on the court. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Lupita Nyong'o won her Academy Award in early 2014, she was widely hailed as an "exotic" starlet, despite her not-so-exotic rise to stardom. Cristen and Caroline explore the broader intersections of race and Western beauty constructs and the multilayerd problem of exoticizing non-white beauty. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, and in recognition, Cristen and Caroline discuss the often unsung women who helped set an enslaved people free, despite tremendous race- and gender-based prejudice. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More men than ever before are raising kids as single dads. To celebrate Father's Day, Cristen and Caroline trace how single fatherhood has become the new normal and spotlight how and why society treats single dads differently from single moms. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the 2014 Stuff Mom Never Told You Summer Book Extravaganza, Cristen and Caroline explore the massively popular world of YA fiction and its enduring appeal into adulthood. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World War II often is cited as a watershed moment for getting American women in the workplace. To commemorate D-Day, Cristen and Caroline reexamine whether the war really helped Rosie the Riveters climb career ladders. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer Jen Doll has attended so many weddings, she wrote a hilarious memoir about the nuptial tradition from the guests' perspective. Cristen chats with Doll about weddings and relationships, feminism and her new book, "Save the Date." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With same-sex marriage increasingly becoming legal around the world, Cristen and Caroline celebrate with a look at how gay weddings combine somethings old and new. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To celebrate World Children's Day, Cristen and Caroline explore the science of children's vivid imaginations and why our imaginations fade as we age. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know an army of Disney "animation girls" helped bring its classic films to life? Cristen and Caroline highlight women working in the early days of Disney and women in animation's continuing quest to shatter the celluloid ceiling. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.