Arielle Bernstein

X: @NotoriousREL

Arielle Bernstein's work has been featured in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The Millions, and RogerEbert.com, among other publications. She teaches writing at American University. You can follow her on Twitter @NotoriousREL

Uzo Aduba as Suzanne Warren in "Orange Is The New Black" (Netflix/Jojo Whilden)

Lost in the Litchfield riot: “OITNB” shows how precarious mental illness treatment is behind bars

Arielle Bernstein

The “personal essay boom” is dead. Long live the personal essay!

Arielle Bernstein

The human cost of a forced upgrade: What we lose when technology platforms fade away

Arielle Bernstein

Daria; Bojack Horseman; Not a Wolf twitter account (Paramount Television/Netflix)

Reassessing “Daria”: The legacy of MTV’s deadpan “misery chick” is not one of cynicism, but hope

Arielle Bernstein

Cover detail of "How to Win at Feminism" (HarperOne)

Yes, feminists can laugh at themselves: “But don’t be lazy with your rape joke”

Arielle Bernstein

Alan Aisenberg and Taylor Schilling, "Orange Is the New Black" (Jojo Whilden/Netflix)

When “I’m sorry for your loss” doesn’t cut it: “Orange Is the New Black” explores the limits of easy apologies

Arielle Bernstein

Ellie Kemper in "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ;" Maria Bamford in "Lady Dynamite" (Netflix)

Killing with kindness: “Lady Dynamite” and “Kimmy Schmidt” prove nice women can be funny and complex, too

Arielle Bernstein

Beyoncé in "Lemonade," Lana Del Rey in "Freak"

Beyond the “girl power” anthem: Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey and pop’s radical embrace of female vulnerability

Arielle Bernstein

Ilana Glazer in "Broad City" (Comedy Central)

Joy is a feminist (comedy) act: With her playful, dirty swagger, “Broad City”’s Ilana is breaking the mold

Arielle Bernstein

Our Barbies, ourselves: The new diverse Barbies are progress — but we’re giving them too much power

Arielle Bernstein

Nobody has to “man up” here: Feminist shows “Jessica Jones” and “Transparent” are also a win for men

Arielle Bernstein

Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Schumer, Anne Hathaway, Taylor Swift (AP/Reuters/Arthur Mola/Jordan Strauss/Mario Anzuoni/Greg Allen)

The new cool girl trap: Why we traded one set of rigid rules about who’s “likable” for another

Arielle Bernstein

The existential genius of Lana Del Rey: Performing yearning self-destruction as meaningful as Don Draper’s — and just as uniquely American

Arielle Bernstein

Girl swagger and blood lust: Rihanna, Taylor Swift and repackaging toxic masculinity for a female audience

Arielle Bernstein

Bryan Cranston in "Breaking Bad," Taryn Manning in "Orange Is the New Black" (AMC/Netflix)

Pennsatucky’s redemption: How “Orange Is the New Black” pulled a reverse “Breaking Bad”

Arielle Bernstein