All Of It Podcast Summary: "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print" Celebrates Ms. Magazine

Episode Release Date: June 10, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart
Podcast: All Of It by WNYC

Introduction

In this episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart delves into the influential history of Ms. Magazine, celebrating its role in shaping feminist discourse since its inception. The episode centers around the new documentary, "Dear A Revolution in Print," which explores the magazine's legacy through the perspectives of its three directors: Salima Karoma, Cecilia Aldorando, and Alice Goo.

Origins of Ms. Magazine

Alison Stewart provides a brief history of Ms. Magazine, highlighting its launch in December 1971 as an insert in New York Magazine. Founded by Gloria Steinem and a team of female editors, including Patricia Carbine and Leti Cotton Pogerbin, the magazine marked a significant departure from traditional women's publications that focused on topics like gardening and sewing. Instead, Ms. Magazine tackled pressing social issues such as domestic violence, workplace harassment, civil rights, and pornography.

"[Ms. Magazine] was the first to focus on issues like domestic violence and workplace harassment."
— Alison Stewart [00:31]

Documentary: "Dear A Revolution in Print"

The episode introduces the documentary "Dear A Revolution in Print," which is structured as a three-part film presented by the directors Selima Karoma, Cecilia Aldorando, and Alice Goo. Each director explores different chapters of Ms. Magazine's history, offering diverse interpretations and insights.

Collaborative Direction

Salima Karoma discusses the collaborative nature of the project, emphasizing the parallel between the magazine's utopian beginnings and the directors' teamwork.

"This project mirrors that for me, getting to work with other women and, you know, getting to hash out different ideas the way we think about it."
— Salima Karoma [02:09]

Alice Goo reflects on her excitement to work with fellow directors, noting the unique perspectives each brings to the film.

"We're three very different women... reflected in how we view the world and how our art comes out."
— Alice Goo [03:12]

Cecilia Aldorando likens the collaborative approach to a prism, refracting multiple facets of the feminist movement.

"Ms. was such a phenomenon because the women's movement was a phenomenon. Every social movement... needs to represent a whole range of experiences."
— Cecilia Aldorando [04:17]

Listener Engagement and Personal Stories

Throughout the episode, Alison Stewart invites listeners to share their experiences with Ms. Magazine, emphasizing its personal impact on readers.

Marjorie's Story [09:12]

Marjorie, calling from Nantucket, shares how Ms. Magazine provided her with invaluable information on sexual education and birth control, empowering her to make informed decisions in college.

"It was all because of Ms. I had this great access to knowledge girls didn't have."
— Marjorie [09:12]

Susanna's Experience [10:24]

Susanna from Westfield, New Jersey, discusses how Ms. Magazine was transformative during her teenage years, offering perspectives on sexual harassment and workplace discrimination that were absent in other publications like Seventeen.

"The no comment section was my favorite because I would see these outrageous... misogynist ads."
— Susanna [10:24]

Pamela's Reflection [18:59]

Pamela, a law school student in 1972, describes Ms. Magazine as a source of affirmation and support in a male-dominated field, fostering a sense of community among women pursuing careers in law.

"Ms. Magazine was like a shot of adrenaline for us and an affirmation that we were doing something that was the right thing for women to do."
— Pamela [18:59]

Tom Duane's Perspective [24:54]

Tom Duane, a former city council member and state senator, recounts how Ms. Magazine influenced his political orientation and provided content that he could share with his mother, bridging generational and cultural gaps.

"Ms. was a magazine that I could get a tremendous amount of knowledge from."
— Tom Duane [24:54]

Challenges and Criticisms

The documentary emphasizes the internal and external challenges Ms. Magazine faced, particularly in fostering inclusivity and handling controversial issues.

Inclusivity and Representation [13:41]

Salima Karoma highlights the pushback from Black women who felt Ms. Magazine was not fully inclusive, struggling to balance financial constraints with diverse representation.

"There’s a tension between making money and... telling all the stories of women."
— Salima Karoma [02:09, 16:19]

The "No Comment" Section [06:03]

Cecilia Aldorando explains the impactful "No Comment" section, which recontextualized misogynistic advertisements to raise awareness about societal norms and sexism.

"There’s something about that recontextualization that is political... consciousness raising."
— Cecilia Aldorando [07:28]

Sexuality and Pornography Debates [16:32]

Cecilia Aldorando discusses Ms. Magazine's position amidst the feminist debates on pornography, illustrating the magazine's attempts to facilitate dialogue without fully satisfying all factions.

"Ms. Magazine frequently tried to facilitate debate and not necessarily only have one strident position."
— Cecilia Aldorando [16:34]

Ms. Magazine's Impact on Feminism

The episode underscores Ms. Magazine's pivotal role in advancing feminist issues, providing a platform for underrepresented voices, and challenging societal norms.

"Ms. Magazine was the first to put a name to a lot of things... that were happening to women that they had never been able to speak about."
— Salima Karoma [05:31]

Legacy and Continued Relevance

Despite facing challenges in the digital era, Ms. Magazine remains influential, with ongoing circulation and opportunities to resubscribe, ensuring its legacy continues.

"Ms. is very much still in circulation, so you can resubscribe to Ms. You can go and read it right now."
— Cecilia Aldorando [12:03]

Conclusion

"Dear A Revolution in Print" offers a comprehensive exploration of Ms. Magazine's history, celebrating its achievements while acknowledging its shortcomings. Through personal stories, expert interviews, and critical analysis, the documentary—and by extension, this podcast episode—highlights the enduring significance of Ms. Magazine in the feminist movement and its impact on generations of women.

"Even when people were really, really, really attached to their position as a magazine, they tried to foster space for disagreement."
— Cecilia Aldorando [23:40]

Listeners are encouraged to engage with the documentary, now streaming at the Tribeca Film Festival and set to premiere on HBO later in the summer, to gain deeper insights into the revolution sparked by Ms. Magazine.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "[Ms. Magazine] was the first to focus on issues like domestic violence and workplace harassment."
  — Alison Stewart [00:31]

• "This project mirrors that for me, getting to work with other women..."
  — Salima Karoma [02:09]

• "We're three very different women... reflected in how we view the world."
  — Alice Goo [03:12]

• "Ms. Magazine was like a shot of adrenaline for us..."
  — Pamela [18:59]

• "Ms. Magazine frequently tried to facilitate debate..."
  — Cecilia Aldorando [16:34]

Final Thoughts:

This episode of All Of It not only commemorates the legacy of Ms. Magazine but also invites listeners to reflect on the ongoing journey of feminism and the importance of diverse voices in shaping cultural narratives. Whether you were a reader of Ms. Magazine or new to its history, "Dear A Revolution in Print" offers valuable perspectives on the power of media in driving social change.