It’s taken me quite a while to compile this list. I wanted to do a list of 25, but ultimately I decided to choose quality of quantity.

From Body Mass Index, to filthy diamonds, to the Playboy myth, here is a list of 20 posts that all women should read. Some will inspire you, some will upset you, but most of all these posts should educate you. It wouldn’t hurt for the men to check them out as well.

1. Illustrated BMI Categories I’ve never been a fan of BMI but its nice to see it in pictures how off it can be sometimes.

2. Women of Color Talking About Sex I don’t believe that all, or even most women of color have issues with sex. But that’s my experience. Here is someone with a different perspective.

3. Reshaping the Sexy Filipina Image Images of Filipina women is something that was never on my radar. I fully support this cause.

4. Just Say No to Diamonds Have women (and men) been brainwashed?…Yes. Need more proof? Watch this somewhat disturbing DeBeers parody.

5. Women Entrepreneurs Changing the World We often think about helping women entrepreneurs in this country, but what about the women abroad who are depending on their businesses to survive. You can help them make a better life for themselves and their children.

6. Women Aren’t Victims Finally someone who gets it.

7. The Joke is on You Posing in Playboy is not empowering. Here is why.

8. The Power of Airbrushing We all know that celebrities are airbrushed but that doesn’t stop us from trying to achieve a level of perfection that doesn’t exist. Sometimes you just have to see it for yourself.

9. Women shouldn’t objectify themselves Like number 7, this also discusses women getting caught up in the faux empowerment of “my body is beautiful and there is nothing wrong with showing it to thousands of men who see me as nothing more than an object”

10. Everything I Know I Learned from InTouch Magazine the author adds, “Everything about misogyny, fat-hating, postcolonialism and consumerism, that is” Sad, just sad.

11. Stop Rape Now how do you stop rape? I don’t know but you certainly don’t do it by making it solely a woman’s problem.

12. Pretty isn’t a look, it’s a feeling says the marketers of a body hair removal product for children. My question is, should 10 year old girls be worried about their bikini line? That’s kind of sick.

13. Emasculation? The author says “This you’re just trying to emasculate men attitude is often used as an excuse for the perpetuation of misogyny by equating masculinity with scurrilous behaviour and attitudes.” I couldn’t have put it better myself.

14. Today in disembodied things is a part of a series that highlights misogynistic products on the market. This is by far the most disturbing.

15. My Face/Her Face So you get plastic surgery to fix what you perceive as a flaw. That’s fine, but what happens when your daughter ends up looking just like you?

16. How to Succeed Without Being a Man is a great interview with tips on how women can succeed in Corporate America.

17. Girl Power highlights a moms reflection on some of the obstacles that her daughter will encounter as she grows up. She says “I grew up believing that women could do anything they wanted. I believed they had the same opportunities as men. I think that not being able to play baseball because it was for boys and softball was for girls should have clued me in, but it didn’t.”

18. Zero is how many women presidents there have been in the U.S. but how do you explain “why” to a child?

19. Hippie does not describe a woman who decides to use alternative products during her time of the month. Whether you agree or not, it’s good to know what options are out there besides Kotex and Tampax. [Edit 12/7/07- This site appears to be down but you can currently access the cache of this page here.]

20.The Feminine Cover Up Because every woman has dealt with this issue at least once.