Bitchy History

Edit: There was some sound editing issues on this episode which have now been fixed. Apologies!

Well, I’m back. After packing up my entire life, moving across the Atlantic, and preparing to dive headfirst into a Master’s in Gender Studies (yes, I am now an even more insufferable feminist — send your condolences to anyone stuck in seminar with me), Bitchy History is officially alive again.

And I’m kicking things off with a subject tha...

Welcome back, Trekkies, historians, and lovers of media analysis! After a short delay (turns out getting a starship up to warp speed takes time), Warp Speed Woke: Lecture 5 is here, and this time, we’re taking a hard look at Star Trek: Enterprise, the series that marked the franchise’s first real foray into the post-9/11 world.

Enterprise is a bit of an anomaly in Star Trek history. It was the first series since The Original Series ...

When Star Trek: Voyager premiered in 1995, it carried the weight of expectations from both the studio and the fans. On the surface, it was a major leap forward for representation—the first female Starfleet captain leading a Trek series! But beneath the surface, Voyager became a battleground between feminist ideals and the male gaze, between bold storytelling and network safety nets.

This lecture explores how Voyager—despite being a ...

The wait is over, Trek fans! 🚀 My lecture on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine—the most complex and morally gray entry in the Star Trek franchise—is now available to watch. If you’ve ever wondered how a science fiction show could tackle the cultural clashes and anxieties of the 1990s with such precision, DS9 is the answer.

From Sisko’s chilling decisions in “In the Pale Moonlight” to the heartbreaking commentary on systemic injustice in “...

This lecture explores Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) as Gene Roddenberry’s vision of a utopian future shaped by the optimism of the late Cold War and its conclusion. Drawing from Francis Fukuyama’s concept of “The End of History,” we examine how TNG portrays a society that has achieved ideological harmony, where greed, poverty, and hunger are relics of the past. Through key episodes, we’ll analyze how the series critiques con...

Welcome back, listeners! This week, we’re tackling a tough but crucial topic: the history of domestic violence in America. This episode explores how domestic violence has been ignored, normalized, and fought against throughout history.

We start in colonial America, where men had the legal right to “chastise” their wives—aka, beat them—as long as they followed the “rule of thumb.” Women had no legal standing to fight back because the...

Welcome to the first lecture in the series Warp Speed Woke: How Star Trek Took on Society! 🚀 In this episode, we’re diving into the groundbreaking origins of Star Trek and its fearless exploration of social issues. From its debut in the 1960s, Gene Roddenberry’s iconic series was more than just science fiction—it was a mirror held up to society, reflecting its struggles, triumphs, and aspirations.

Join us as we explore:

✨ How Star T...

In this episode of Bitchy History, we dive into a topic that’s as frustrating as it is timely. While countries around the globe are electing women to lead and thrive, the United States still struggles to cross that critical threshold. Why? Because of systemic barriers, cultural biases, and a political system that loves to gatekeep.

We’ll explore the trailblazers who dared to put their names on the ballot—from Victoria Woodhull in 18...

In this week’s episode of Bitchy History, I’m diving into the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint for reshaping the federal government, gutting Title X, and rolling back civil liberties. Title X has been a lifeline for millions, providing access to contraception, STI testing, and cancer screenings for low-income families, rural residents, women of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. But if Project 2025 gets its way, those essential services...

Thanks for reading Bitchy History! This post is public so feel free to share it.

When Alice Paul penned the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) back in 1923, she probably didn’t imagine we’d still be debating it 100 years later. And yet, here we are. The ERA—a simple 24-word promise of gender equality—has sparked decades of fierce activism, cultural backlash, and political gridlock.

In the latest episode of Bitchy History, we dive into the ...

Let’s talk about something that should be a settled issue by now but, spoiler alert, isn’t: birth control. From Anthony Comstock’s 19th-century moral crusades to the fallout from Dobbs, America’s relationship with contraception is a case study in how rights, once won, are never truly secure.

This week’s podcast episode dives deep into the messy, frustrating, and often infuriating history of birth control in the United States. We tra...

In this episode of “Bitchy History,” we’re diving into the grim and often overlooked history of child labor in America. From the colonial era’s indentured servitude to today’s shocking headlines about minors working in hazardous conditions, we’ll trace the evolution of child exploitation in the workforce. We’ll uncover the chilling statistics, heartbreaking stories, and the tireless efforts of reformers who fought to protect childr...

Tune in for the Bitchy History Father’s Day Special! My dad joins the show to talk about getting drafted, waking Richard Nixon up at 3 am (more than once), the time he nearly got sent to an early grave by a case of Coca-Cola, and many other things from his life.

My dad has never met a random historical factoid he didn’t want to know or share with someone else, which is how you know we’re related.

Tune in this week for Bitchy History’s Mother’s Day special. My mom joins the show to share her experiences with sexism in optometry school, pregnancy employment discrimination, marrying a man she lightly stalked, and how she felt about Watergate after she voted for Nixon in her first election as an 18-year-old, among many other things.

By the end of the episode, you’ll know that I came by the “bitchy” in Bitchy History, honestly.

B...

Watch the video version here:

Also, check out my TikTok page for the blooper reel!

Welcome to this episode of Bitchy History, where we dive into the notorious Comstock Act of 1873. This legislation, named after moral crusader Anthony Comstock, marked a significant moment in U.S. legal and cultural history by enforcing strict censorship of materials deemed "obscene," including contraceptive devices and information on sexual health an...

Today is a super special episode! We have guest Gwen Levey from the musical group Gwen Levey and the Breakdown on the show to talk about the pro-life movement and her fantastic song, Barefoot and Pregnant.

From its roots in activism to its influence in modern politics, we explore the pro-life movement's journey through the ages, shedding light on the ideologies and controversies that have sparked heated debates across generations. ...

Join us on our history podcast as we delve into the remarkable story of General Harriet Tubman, uncovering her lesser-known role as a spy and soldier during the Civil War. From her courageous acts of espionage to her pivotal contributions on the battlefield, we shed light on Tubman's extraordinary efforts to secure freedom and justice for all. Don't miss this insightful exploration of a true American hero's legacy.

Resources:

Who Fr...

You can find Amanda on TikTok

Resources:

Boston Marriages and the Language of Lesbian Relationships

Boston Marriages

BOSTON MARRIAGES AND THE QUEER HISTORY OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

Public Faces, Secret Lives: A Queer History of the Women's Suffrage Movement

Professor Meredith's Bitchy History is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Join me with special guest Elena Bowman, a researcher at Columbia University, as we talk about the history of the Puritans and the longstanding impact puritanical beliefs have had on our social and political culture in America...spoiler alert, it's not what we'd call a GOOD impact.

—

There are no actual resources listed for this episode, though we reference several books and articles throughout the episode…I’m just too lazy to actua...