Cultural historian Benjamin Wild writes on a newly discovered portrait of Tudor monarch Elizabeth I — one that, unlike previously known depictions, doesn’t show her as a perfectly poised queen.

Medievalist Lucy Allen writes on the recent move among women in academia to add the title “Dr” to their Twitter name, which she views as “an act of faith, a promise to myself to keep my work from being erased.”

The discrimination and shame that often accompanies being fat can impede medical care, relationships, work — and your understanding of your own gender identity.

Looking for some good reading during the holiday season? Here’s every story that was chosen as number one in Longreads’ Weekly Top 5 email.

Western philosophy clashes with Rebecca Schuman’s birth plan in her hilarious, harrowing Longreads essay.

Lori Duron’s 10-year-old gender creative son: “I’m a boy who likes girl stuff. I don’t even like calling it girl stuff and boy stuff. There shouldn’t be girl stuff and boy stuff; it’s all just stuff.”

Elizabeth cried watching Wonder Woman. Why? “I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie where a woman character kicked ass and all of us didn’t have to pay the price for that by first watching at least one woman be violently dehumanized before us.”

At The Shooting Star, travel writer Shivya Nath writes on the positive social effects of responsible, sustainable tourism.

“I don’t have any sympathy for men who can’t handle a woman with cleavage.” At Ezer, Bailey Steger writes a critique of purity culture from an egalitarian Christian perspective.

After a long wait, C. N. Lester’s book Trans Like Me is out — so they take the opportunity to share advice any blogger-who’s-also-an-aspiring-author would find valuable.

C.J., age 8, on his first Pride parade: “I liked the vibe. I liked all the colors. But, most of all, I liked all of the people. Nobody judges anybody. You can just be who you want to be. There should be Pride every week, because it’s so much fun,” he explained.