209 days ago, the New York Times published the first piece chronicling the abuse endured by women from Harvey Weinstein. It opened with Ashley Judd sharing her own story, and included a powerful quote from the actress: “Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it’s simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly.” Within hours, Tarana Burke's #MeToo movement was being embraced by countless women sharing their own stories of sexual harassment and assault online. 121 days ago, women in Hollywood mobilized to start Time's Up, an organization working to end sexual harassment in the workplace. Judd was not only one of the first women to speak out about Weinstein but one of the founders of Time's Up. Five days ago, Judd spoke at the Tribeca Talks: Time's Up event about the next public conversation we need to have — the importance of healing for these survivors.

Below is the open letter – in Judd's own, powerful words – read at the event.

We can heal. That has been my experience. We may not, admittedly, know how to, or even from what we need to heal. It may be the event itself, or vivid or dull memories of it, and it is entirely plausible that we don’t even remember the event. There is a police record of a time I was sexually assaulted in high school. I was wearing a green and gold cheerleader uniform, my mother tells me. It was in a local store, and I have no memory of that crime. We may not even think we need to heal, that maybe we’ve just had some crappy relationships. Whatever trauma looks like in our lives, feelings can be healed.

Healing is our birthright. It was not our birthright to be sexually harassed or assaulted or raped based on social constructs of gender, biology, sex, identity, orientation, ethnicity, race, ability, or any intersection thereof. It is our birthright to know in our bones that it wasn’t our fault. We humans hurt each other, and sometimes we hurt ourselves, but we can make decisions and take actions that free us.

Everyone’s freedom may look a little different. For some it is calling the police, or reporting to HR, or contacting the legal defense fund. Often choices include healthy, cathartic processing with a safe, wise friend or a trauma-informed specialist. The particular freedom I’m describing does have one universal quality: It’s an inside job. It is peace of mind. Yes, we can have peace of mind, even as survivors of violent sexual assault. It does take work, and it does take time. It requires transformation, and we are worth it.

This meta-transformation is a powerful journey from being a disempowered victim who was aggressed upon to the wound becoming an integrated part of the whole that we are. Trauma lives in the cells of our bodies and it affects the neuroanatomical pathways of our brain; it is completely natural for being a victim to be a part of our bodies. It is, I am here to tell you, impermanent.

There’s no universal timeframe for this trajectory of healing, and everyone’s work looks a little different. For some, talking about it drives the trauma deeper into the brainstem, and for others, divulging every nuance and detail is liberating. Professional modalities have helped hundreds of thousands of us get relief from impossible burdens. Inpatient treatment, workshops, and retreats have brought us together and set us free. Experiential work and movement are necessary. Breathing is free, and it intercepts PTSD. Meditation is clinically proven to ameliorate the trauma that lies triggered and wired in our brains, waiting for life to trip us up. Exercise is still the best pill around. Twelve-step programs and other resources are so helpful because many of us, in our efforts to self-soothe, to find peace where there has been turmoil, turn to alcohol or give it a cookie, take it shopping, seek out relationships. And those behaviors can become out of hand or even compulsive.

Eventually, though, what happened to us becomes externalized, and we may hold it in our hands and look at it objectively. The facts remain the facts, but by God, we change. Resilience kicks in.

This is not fair. Let’s be plain. It isn’t right or fair that 1 out of 4 girls or 1 out of 6 boys will be sexually assaulted, by conservative estimates, by the age of 18, amongst other catastrophic statistics. But—and this is everything, my friends—when we become aware of our pain, and have some education about it, we become responsible for addressing our pain in effective and healthy ways. What happened to us will always have been wrong, sexist, and criminal, yet we are fundamentally and ultimately responsible, respondable to our own lives. This may sound harsh, but it means we have autonomy, we are powerful, and we have agency.

The final stage is that what happened to us merely becomes a story we tell that may be of service to another human being. Perhaps placed in God’s hands, or some other benevolent, compassionate higher power’s hands, this story makes life so worthwhile and meaningful now. With it, we can help others avert death and misery.

You are not alone, I believe you, and it wasn’t your fault, by now are our internal paradigm. We learn how to trust people who are trustworthy and have discernment about those who are not. We can artfully set and maintain healthy boundaries. We use our voices, we weather retaliation and act up anyway. We cease taking people, places, and things so personally, and what was that rage Tarana [Burke] spoke about becomes our strength, our energy, and our motivation. What was depression becomes expression, and self-pity and helplessness are transformed into dignity, integrity, and courage. We celebrate and enjoy our sexuality. We prosecute and forgive at the same time.

There will still be the hard days. The facts do remain the facts, but we know our preciousness and our fierceness. Healing, damn it, is our birthright.

With love and hope,

Ashley

Ashley Judd is an actress, author, and humanitarian. She serves as Global Goodwill Ambassador for UNFPA, as the Global Ambassador for Population Services International and Polaris Project, and is on the Advisory Boards of ICRW, Apne Aap Worldwide, and Demand Abolition. She is Chairperson of the Women’s Media Center Speech Project: Curbing Abuse, Expanding Freedom. Ashley is a sought after public speaker and widely published bestselling author who frequently serves as an expert panelist at international conferences. An accomplished actress both on film and stage, Ashley has been nominated for several Golden Globe and Emmy awards.

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Value sets are often reserved for price-capped holiday gift swaps or last-minute birthday parties for friends-of-friends. Although they're cute and great for travel, curated sets aren't usually the first thing you land on when you're browsing Sephora for yourself — but that's all about to change.

The sets out now aren't cheesy; they're the best way to find your favorite new sunscreen, try self-tanner a few times to determine whether you really want to commit to the upkeep, or just spring clean your entire vanity before Memorial Day. Ahead, check out the best deals.

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It's easy to fall in love with the idea of liquid eyeshadow. A fluid formula promises longevity, intense pigment, and shimmer that won't end up halfway down your face by midday. A tempting alternative to your usual powder shadows, indeed.

But unlike concealer or mascara, there aren't thousands of options to sift through. So, with slim pickings, how do you know which is best for you? Will the formula be as good on the lid as it looks in the tube? Will it melt off immediately or linger for hours? Are there enough colors to choose from?

These are the questions I set out to answer, in hopes of test-driving the most popular liquid shadows on the market to decide which are worth your money and which are... not. Ahead, the liquid eyeshadows I loved, the liquid eyeshadows I liked, and the ones I could probably, definitely live without.

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Over the last few years, H&M has dropped some heartbreakingly good swimwear. While bad for our indecisive shopping habits, that fact is far from a secret since sizes (plus and straight) tend to sell out pretty quickly. And with prices that typically ring in under $50, we can see why.

Featuring an array of cut-out one-pieces, off-the-shoulder monokinis, and even a long-sleeved bikini set, H&M's swim selection is still at the top. Where many fast-fashion retailers ( cough) have verged towards ripping off indie swim brands, H&M's found its own footing in merging up-and-coming bathing suit trends with classic silhouettes. The result? Cute and affordable swimwear that's trend-inspired as opposed to trend rip-offs.

Up ahead is a roundup of the best H&M swimsuits we're looking to buy right now, because la playa is already calling our names. Whether you're more of a one-piece-by-the-pool kind of gal or looking to skirt those tan lines with a string bikini, your must-have piece is just an "add to cart" click away.

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The doctor's office is touted as a judgment-free zone where we should feel completely safe to share everything. But sometimes those pre-appointment jitters are just impossible to shake — there's something undeniably nerve-racking about getting real (about our bodies no less) with someone we barely know.

We tapped into that exact feeling in the hilarious video above, which tackles everything from fretting over your outfit to worrying that your doctor won't think you're smart. The takeaway? Your worries are totally normal — and, more importantly, you've got this.

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Spending a beautiful Saturday afternoon getting your hair blown out or sitting down for hours to get a fresh set of box braids is fun and all — you can sense my sarcasm, no? — but, in our humble opinion, nothing beats a quick ponytail. Dressed up or down, it's the cheat code to looking chic. Hey, they don't call it the hair facelift for nothin'.

Sometimes, you'll see them bound with leather or decked out with old school barrettes for an extra kick. But as the adage goes, you can't go wrong with a classic. This spring, stars like Cardi B and Halle Berry are throwing it back and wrapping their ponytails with their own hair to hide the elastic. I know, I know...it's one of the oldest tricks in the book — and one that you probably used for prom. Even so, the easy style still looks fresh this summer. Scroll ahead for our favorite iterations of the look (plus a refresher on how to DIY it).

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The upcoming documentary RBG tells the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, going all the way back to when it was all a dream. It follows her from her childhood as the daughter of immigrants in Brooklyn all the way to the highest court in the land.

For young women growing up in a climate where we can no longer take our rights for granted, RBG is a reminder that we never should have. Directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West, the Sundance hit highlights Ginsburg's career at Harvard Law School, which she entered in 1956 as one of only nine women in a class of about 500 men. In an interview, she wryly recalls the dean asking the female students, "How do you justify taking a spot from a qualified man?"

Instead of shrinking, she persisted. While studying at Harvard Law, she took care of both her husband Marty, who was suffering from testicular cancer, and their toddler. Without any pride in her voice, she recalls working what would now be called a second — and a third — shift: She focused on her own law studies until about 4 p.m., went home to take care of their daughter Jane while Marty slept after his radiation treatments, prepared a late dinner for Marty, and then settled in to type up his law school notes (he graduated from Harvard Law in 1958). On top of that, she became the first woman ever to join the super-selective Harvard Law Review. The film presents all of this information matter-of-factly, but her resourceful backstory will clearly inspire a new generation.

When she graduated from law school in 1959, tying for first in her class, her parents were surprised that she even wanted to try her hand at becoming an attorney. They essentially decided to let her go for it because, why not, at least she had a husband to fall back on. Marty, on the other hand, always prioritized his wife's career, something you couldn't say for many men back in the day. "He was the first boy I ever knew who cared that I had a brain," Ginsburg says in one of the film's more touching moments.

She didn't just go to work after getting her diploma. She changed the world. After facing now almost unimaginable barriers to entry into the legal profession, she cofounded the Women's Rights Project at the ACLU and strategically took on cases through which she made significant legal advances for women. This was at a time when many states had ridiculous laws on the books — such as that a husband decides where the family lives, a woman needs her husband's permission to sign up for a credit card, and that it's legal for a husband to rape his wife.

In the 1970s, Ginsburg worked on a series of cases that challenged gender discrimination. In Frontiero v. Richardson, she argued that a female service member should be entitled to the same housing allowance benefit as a male one. In Duren v. Missouri, she argued that jury duty for women shouldn't be optional, just as it wasn't for men. In Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld, she argued on behalf of widower Stephen Wiesenfeld, whose wife had died in childbirth, leaving him with a son, that he should be able to collect the same survivor benefits under Social Security as a woman would. The all-male Supreme Court at the time was impressed with this take on sex discrimination. In many cases, we meet the subjects of these rulings, which helps humanize them and make Ginsburg's fight on their behalf feel that much more vital. (Side note: RBG officiated Wiesenfeld's wedding in 2014.)

The film is clearly geared toward a millennial and Gen-Z audience, and at times kind of hits you over the head with its references to that ubiquitous Notorious RBG meme — which Ginsburg says she loves; hey, they're both from the great borough of Brooklyn — and other pop culture homages to the 85-year-old justice. But honestly, we don't mind because the fluff is balanced with the meat and potatoes of Ginsburg's legal work. (Plus, we get a closer look at her intricate jabot collection than ever before, and that seriously deserves its own coffee-table book.) And we don't think it's premature to say that this documentary will help introduce Ginsburg to an even younger audience and further cement her legacy as part of the Feminist Icon Hall of Fame.

RBG is a supremely enjoyable, curiosity-piquing portrait of a woman who quietly moved the needle from behind the scenes for decades, and whom the spotlight only found late in life. Yet she hasn't seemed to change one bit despite all of the attention. It tells the story with an impressive array of interviews and primary source material. It will light a fire under the right people. The film could, however, have delved deeper into some of the interviews with her family, especially her granddaughter Clara Spera, who graduated from Harvard Law School in 2017 and is now a law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. In what ways does she plan to carry on her grandmother's legacy? Interviewing some of the women whose lives Ginsburg has touched in more depth would have helped, too. Who is the next RBG? Which issues will she take on?

While it may gloss over some aspects of Ginsburg's life, we've never seen as intimate a portrait of the usually private justice. The film makes a point to contrast Ginsburg's seriousness (she stays up working into the night and is nothing like her own SNL parody) with her now-late husband's boisterous persona. Her children even used to keep a journal called "Mommy Laughed," since she, well, didn't that often. But you can't fool us: There's a sly wink to everything RBG does. Come on, she works out in a "Super Diva!" sweatshirt. Lady has a wicked sense of humor.

You can check out an exclusive clip of RBG here. The documentary hits theaters May 4.

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When it comes to beauty, you don't need a new year to do something different. Every day presents a chance for new opportunities: You can finally start that YouTube channel you've been dreaming about, wear the blue lipstick you've been eyeing, or get a completely different haircut. And with the latter, who better to look to for inspiration than celebs like Beyoncé, Leighton Meester, and Selena Gomez?

So many of our favorite stars have already debuted some shocking hair transformations... and it's only April. Gone are the days of subtle layers and quick trims — if you're ready to make a drastic change at some point in 2018, you'll want to see these looks. Ahead, check out Beyoncé's curly bob, Halsey's Marilyn Monroe-inspired pixie, and Gomez's first hair change since going blonde a few months ago — and more.

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Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge have a new competitor in the crowded dating app ring: Facebook. Today, Mark Zuckerberg announced the launch of Facebook Dating — which he said will be for “building real, long-term relationships, not just hookups” — during his keynote at F8, the company’s big developer conference.

The launch of a dating feature is somewhat unexpected from Facebook. Although there have always been stories of people meeting on the social network — including one anecdotal couple from 2016 that, according to Zuckerberg, served as an instigator for today’s launch — the focus has always been on building friendships, rather than romantic relationships. You might reconnect with a friend you haven’t spoken to since elementary school or bond with someone in a group for writers, but there has never been a built-in way to connect with fellow singles.

The obvious concerns with a dating service provided by Facebook — ones that are heightened in a post Cambridge Analytica -era — are privacy and safety. Chris Cox, Facebook’s Chief Product Officer, addressed these concerns, and emphasized that a dating profile on Facebook will be different than a regular profile.

When you set up a dating profile, only your first name is shown and the profile is not connected to your normal Facebook profile. It is not entirely clear how Facebook plans to populate potential matches, but your Facebook friends will not appear in your queue, and you won't appear in theirs, either. Nothing will be shared on News Feed, so you don’t need to worry about others finding out when you make a match, and, most importantly, messaging takes place in a separate inbox that is not connected to Messenger.

The process of checking out potential matches looks more similar to Hinge than Tinder or Bumble. When you tap someone’s main photo, you scroll down to see additional photos and information about interests, instead of swiping through. When you want to start a conversation, you need to choose something from that person’s profile to comment on.

The main feature differentiating Facebook Dating from its romantic counterparts is an events option, which lets you "unlock" nearby events and see profiles for others who have also expressed interest in attending. You can start chatting with someone you're interested in and, if all goes well, make plans to meet up in person.

In the hours since Zuckerberg first announced Facebook Dating, Match Group's stock has tumbled 11%. Although Facebook is dealing with plenty of security-related troubles, it's still a formidable market force. Though it will be curious to see who uses the company's new dating service: Gen Z or their parents.

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Meghan Markle once wrote in an essay for Elle UK that she's far more interested in breaking the glass ceiling than she is wearing a glass slipper. The news around her now might be focused on her imminent wedding to Prince Harry, but the star has had a long career, not just as an actress, but also as a blogger, philanthropist, and women's rights activist.

When it comes to beauty, Markle has been decidedly low key — sticking to soft smoky eyes and flushed cheeks to complement her messy bun or loose waves. We decided to bring Markle's beauty evolution to life by recreating three of our favorite looks, the first of which is inspired by the star's seven year tenure on Suits. "It's easy for people to see Meghan in this new position as, 'Oh, she's just Prince Harry's [future] wife," says Maya, who modeled for the transformation. "I hope that people see that she's more than that."

Check out Maya's entire transformation above and subscribe to Refinery29' s YouTube channel for more videos like this.

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Maybe you've already made the switch to non-toxic nail polish or organic lipstick and are ready to take the natural next step in pursuit of a natural beauty routine, or maybe you're just tired of using deodorants that smell like a noxious combination of plastic flowers and baby powder. Either way, summer is approaching — which means it's about time to rethink the product you'll be rubbing into your armpits every morning.

For years, rumors have abounded that there's a solid link between certain cancers, and the aluminum and parabens found in antiperspirants. Although that may not be proven, what is certain is that many chemical antiperspirants are made with ingredients that aren't quite in line with the clean, green beauty movement. The entire ethos isn't exactly au naturel, either: Antiperspirants minimize sweating by blocking the sweat glands with aluminum salts, while deodorants allow you to sweat, simply masking any odor.

And it isn't actually the sweat that smells: body odor comes from the bacteria in our skin breaking down the acid in perspiration. Therefore, the best natural deodorants will contain antibacterial ingredients to keep any unwanted scents at bay. Bear in mind that you will notice a difference when you make the switch from a chemical antiperspirant to a natural deodorant, as your sweat glands which have been clogged by aluminum salts will have... well, a bit more freedom to perform their proper bodily functions. Though the floodgates won't necessarily open, there may be a transitional stage when you're more aware of your underarm sweating before your body reaches its natural equilibrium.

However, the natural deodorants ahead are worth sticking it out through that transitional period — fresh, healthy, paraben-free pits are waiting on the other side.

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If there’s one thing we look forward to this time of year, it’s finally getting a chance to infuse a little bit of our personality back into our wardrobes (is it just us or does bundling up in a heavy trench or throwing on rain boots just to go outside really kill a look?). From outdoor brunches at cutesy cafes to strolls in the park, this season offers endless opportunities to show off our personal style — and we're taking full advantage of every last one of them. So together with eBay Fashion, whose collection of new, on-trend styles is serving up major inspiration, we’ve tapped eight R29 editors to show us the wardrobe essentials that do just that.

For these fashion experts, classic pieces that have a bit of flair are key — think denim dresses, statement tops in bright colors, hoop earrings with stone details, and basket-weave bags. Ahead, all of the fashion-forward pieces you need to zhuzh up your arsenal this season. We wouldn’t be surprised if you’re already deep cleaning your closet to make room.

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Warm temperatures have finally arrived — fingers crossed they stay — and that means we have clothing options other than boots, jeans, and turtlenecks. For the first time in what seems like an eternity, we can show some skin without shivering. And while most people will take this as an opportunity to get a sunless tan (or a real one), we're here to bask in what we consider to be peak tattoo season.

With your collarbones, arms, and ankles finally naked enough to show off, there's no time like the present to finally get that ink you've been thinking about. (Think side-boob, arm, wrist, and neck for your key placement spots.)

Getting a tattoo requires a lot of thought before booking your appointment, though, so in case you need a little inspiration before going under the needle, we've rounded up the raddest designs we can't stop eyeing on Instagram right now.

Click ahead to check 'em out.

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For many career paths, the road to success can be winding — filled with plenty of bumps and roadblocks that seemingly get in the way of really “making it.” In the world of entertainment, this feeling of being on the cusp of success is practically unavoidable. That’s exactly what the Showtime drama series I’m Dying Up Here addresses. Starring Melissa Leo and Ari Graynor, the show follows a group of ambitious, aspiring comedians struggling to become household names in Hollywood.

Inspired by the show’s second season, the premiere of which is currently available to watch for free online, we partnered with Showtime to find out what it feels like to be a rising talent in the modern-day world of entertainment. Ahead, three up-and-coming female entertainers, Nikki Black, Taylor Simone, and Jeanté Godlock — whose careers span everything from comedy to music — discuss successes, sacrifices, and everything that's encountered along the way.

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We have a love-hate relationship with foundation. On one hand, what would we do without the stuff on mornings when we wake up exhausted, red-faced, and in major need of a complexion boost? On the other, attempting to find the right shade and formula when you're standing in front of a wall of hundreds is like trying to crack a nuclear code.

Thankfully, you no longer have to puzzle over finding the right base makeup. And you also don't have to spend more than $17. We tapped Refinery editors and professional makeup artists to share the drugstore picks they love. Whatever your skin type, desired coverage, or finish preference, there's guaranteed to be one that checks all the boxes. Click through to find the perfect one for you.

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Babies are blessings, and model Kamiah Adams simply wanted to share her joy. The former Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood star, who's dating Washington Wizards player Bradley Beal, posted a stunning maternity photo... along with a "joke" that didn't necessarily resonate with her 799,000+ followers. "Beyond thankful that God saw us fit to be your parents," she wrote. "Bradley, Kamiah, 5 dogs +1 coming soon... mommy and daddy can’t wait to meet you little one (& hopefully you have mommy’s Hair and not daddy’s. Sorry @bradbeal3 lol)."

A post shared by Kamiah Adams (@kamiahadams) on May 1, 2018 at 1:35pm PDT

Along with a flood of congratulatory messages, Adams' fans — and followers of The Shade Room, where the photo was reposted — expressed outrage about the jab. "Why have a child/relationship with a black man (who isn't ambiguously of color) if you're concerned with the texture of hair?" @humanharmony wrote. And that's just a sampling of the backlash over on The Shade Room.

Eventually Adams responded, maintaining that she didn't mean any harm by the comment. "Well I sincerely apologize for offending you and anyone else with an inside joke that my man and I tease EACHOTHER about," she replied. "Sincerely. Have a blessed day." And in a separate comment, she defended her ethnicity — "in case you weren't aware, I'M BLACK."

Of course, there's no telling what goes on behind closed doors. But there's certainly grounds for the outrage. In a society that has long placed a higher value on Western beauty ideals, people of color have continuously been told that their hair texture isn't desirable. Our curls and coils have been called "nappy," "difficult," and just plain "bad." Locs are still banned at certain workplaces, and children are still sent home from school for wearing braids. Adams was joking, but the discrimination against natural hair — that still persists in 2018 — isn't a laughing matter. And hopefully, her unborn child won't have to deal with that bias.

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A brief hiatus from bad Uber news ended on Monday, when CNN published a new investigation revealing that 103 Uber drivers have been accused of sexual assault or abuse over the past four years.

This is far from the first time Uber has faced issues over its drivers assaulting customers: Last year, an executive was ousted after obtaining the medical records of a woman raped by her Uber driver in India. In 2016, a BuzzFeed investigation of Uber's customer service system found hundreds of tickets tagged as "assault" or "rape". Uber is also facing an on-going class action lawsuit in California which alleges the company hasn't done enough to screen its drivers and ensure the safety of female customers.

The CNN investigation, which involved combing through court records and police reports, is one of the largest in scope. In a statement, an Uber spokesperson acknowledged the report and referenced recent safety changes.

"These stories are horrific and our hearts go out to the victims. We worked with CNN to understand their findings and determined that Uber did 2.4 billion trips in the U.S. in that same period. But even one incident on our platform is too many which is why safety is Uber’s top priority for 2018 and beyond," said Uber in the statement.

On Twitter, many users presented their own solution for in-car safety: Offer a way to request a female driver when scheduling a ride.

We're here to help! The Uber app cannot match you with a specific driver. When you request a ride, your app sends your request to nearby drivers to pick you up at your pickup location.

— Uber Support (@Uber_Support) April 30, 2018

@Uber should allow females passengers to request a female driver PLEASE

— Gem Gossip (@gemgossip) April 30, 2018

Even a former Uber driver weighed in, recounting her own experience listening to female customers who expressed relief when they entered her car.

@CNN reported over 100 #Uber drivers been accused of sexual assault. When i became an #Uber driver back in 2014. IN #NewHavenConnecticut. I had so many females passengers who felt more comfortable with me then a male #Uber Driver. The stories was ridiculous.

— LovinLeeLee (@LovinLifeLee) April 30, 2018

I would personally give my number to those who felt comfortable with me picking them up after the club/bar. It never bothered me to jump in my car to make sure a women got home safe or even a male. I no longer drive for #Uber

— LovinLeeLee (@LovinLifeLee) April 30, 2018

When #Uber had their 1 year anniversary. They had a dinner for the drivers. At that dinner my mom ( who was also an uber driver ) and i suggested to one of the district managers #Uber should have an option, choosing male or female drivers.

— LovinLeeLee (@LovinLifeLee) April 30, 2018

At the time their wasn’t many female drivers in #NewHavenConnecticut. But he said it was a great idea. Well clearly nothing happened. I loved driving for #Uber but things changed.

— LovinLeeLee (@LovinLifeLee) April 30, 2018

The ability to choose a female Uber driver might sound like a good idea when it comes to helping female riders feel safer — and, as noted previously, be a feature riders prefer — but it is not the answer to Uber's problems for a number of reasons. For starters, it would likely be illegal.

"Title VII of the Civil Rights Act allows employers to discriminate on the basis of sex in hiring drivers only when sex is a 'bona fide occupational qualification', or BFOQ, for a job," explains Vicki Schultz, the Ford Foundation Professor of Law and Social Science at Yale Law School. "The courts have construed this exception very narrowly, correctly in the view of almost all employment discrimination law scholars."

Title VII came into play in a key 1981 case concerning an airline's refusal to hire male flight attendants. The court determined airlines could not hire based on gender, since the BFOQ for being a good flight attendant has nothing to do with whether someone is male or female.

If Uber were to add a way for passengers to choose their driver's gender, the users would be the ones making the gendered choice. However, "customer preference is no defense, because it is precisely those preferences, or prejudices, that in many cases civil rights law was meant to overcome," Schultz says. "Here, permitting customers to choose female over male drivers out of safety concerns promotes stereotyped ideas that all or most men are potentially rapists or perpetrators of sexual assault — and that no women are."

Even if the law wasn't the issue, Kafui Attoh, an associate professor of urban studies at the CUNY School of Professional Studies, points out that introducing a way for riders to deliberately request female drivers could have negative implications for the drivers. Female Uber drivers have reported being assaulted by customers, and such a change could put them at greater risk. Basic logistics are also an issue. A gender-picking tool would mess with Uber's algorithm and probably increase wait times.

According to Attoh and his colleague Katie Wells, a post doctoral fellow at Georgetown University studying the work life of Uber drivers, the path to a more effective solution begins with data. There is currently no publicly available data for the number of sexual assaults by rideshare drivers — that's why CNN 's analysis is so important. In order for researchers and policy makers to determine the full of scope of these issues, and compare them across companies, it's essential to have this information.

Wells says the question of employment comes into play here, too. Uber has long treated drivers as independent contractors, rather than full-time employees, but this status is increasingly facing challenges in court. "If these drivers were employed it would be much easier to track what’s happening," Wells says. "It won’t solve it — people can be employees and things can still go unnoticed — but it would be easier to make decisions if we know where and when this is happening."

In the meantime, stronger background checks could help decrease the risk of sexual assault for ridesharing companies. Uber has come under fire — and faced fines — for lax background checks in the past, and announced last month that it will put money towards technology that proactively screens drivers for new criminal offenses. The company's CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, has made improving safety efforts a key priority for 2018. Schultz suggests requiring drivers to video record their rides as another safety measure.

Ultimately, there is no one clear solution to lowering the number of sexual assaults. But from the numbers, it is clear that this is a problem that Uber and policy makers need to address head-on — and fast.

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With stick-straight lashes like mine, it's always been a challenge building a fringe that points anywhere but down. That's why I always reach for waterproof mascaras. They give my wispy lashes a lift, and because of their budge-proof ingredients, they never end up running or smudging under my eyes.

So, as the temp and humidity start to climb, I find myself falling back on tried-and-true tubes that I know will hold a curl and survive the elements. Sure, these stubborn formulas are tricky to take off, but a good oil-based makeup remover (my favorite is Lather's cleansing oil) makes quick work of all that inky, clingy color. Looking for a waterproof mascara to get you through spring and summer? Check out the following slides for our fan-favorites.

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As part of their efforts to combat sexual harassment in the workplace, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and 20 other Democratic senators asked the U.S. Department of Labor to research the prevalence and cost of this issue. Well, the agency is refusing to do so because collecting that data is apparently too much work.

"The Department is committed to preventing and eliminating workplace sexual harassment and understand your concerns about sexual harassment in the workplace," Acting Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner William Wiatrowski told Gillibrand in a letter first published by CNN. "However, collecting this information would be complex and costly."

The group of lawmakers — which also includes Sens. Patty Murray, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren – responded to the agency in a letter, calling the denial "disappointing" and the Department's justifications "wholly inadequate."

"Another federal agency dedicated to the federal workforce, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), was in fact able to conduct this type of data collection and analysis starting in the 1980s. In an update to this study in 1994, the MSPB conservatively estimated that over the course of two years, sexual harassment in the federal workforce cost the government a total of $327.1 million as a result of job turnover, sick leave, and decreased productivity," the letter reads. "Federal agencies were able to continue conducting surveys after this time. Surely the government’s capacity to collect data has only become more sophisticated over the past several decades."

The Labor Department is not the only government body that's been slow to take action in the #MeToo era. A bill that would reform how Congress handles sexual harassment cases passed the House with bipartisan support in February, but has yet to be brought up to the Senate floor. All 22 women senators — and more than a few men — have called for a vote, to no success.

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“I just had to make sure you were real,” Francoise Isaac, a financial operations manager in Plano, Texas, says when she answers the phone.

Isaac’s concern is legitimate. A day earlier, I reached out to her on Messenger, the same place where she’s received messages from fake accounts masquerading as some of her favorite celebrities. Isaac started noticing a pattern: When she liked or commented on one of the real actors’ posts, she quickly received a message from the corresponding faux A-lister account.

“They would ask me personal questions about myself,” Isaac says. “My concern was, what is their intention? ”

Imposter accounts are nothing new, and that’s part of the problem. The fraudulent profiles have been around for years, and although they fall under the banner of malicious accounts — the kind social media platforms vow to fight — they’re still prevalent. In the past year alone, Chris Pratt, Robert Downey Jr, and Chadwick Boseman, as well as Parkland activist Emma González, have taken to their own accounts to warn fans about imposters who try to get money, spread false messages, or, in Pratt’s case, hit on female fans. As The New York Times reported last week, even fake Mark Zuckerbergs and Sheryl Sandbergs have popped up on Facebook and scammed unsuspecting users out of thousands of dollars.

Celebrities still hold the power to decide where and how they connect with fans. The issue with imposter accounts is beyond being just a nuisance, they threaten to drive A-listers away from the very platforms they helped legitimize. And that's a problem for platforms too: Remember how Kylie Jenner ’s single tweet about not using Snapchat reportedly led to a $1 billion drop in stock value? Whether it's fair or not, users care what celebrities think of social platforms. And for them, fake accounts are a very real problem. According to insiders, it's not crazy to consider the question: What would happen if there was a mass celebrity social media exodus because of fake accounts?

PERVY DUDE ALERT!!! (Not a joke) It’s confirmed: somebody is trying to pretend to be me on Facebook (and maybe other social media platforms) apparently hitting on a lot of different female fans, trying to get their numbers and who knows what else. I’m not joking. Please know, I find this behavior reprehensible. If I find out who it is I’ll have their account shut down and seriously would like to punch them right in the GD mouth. You hear that imposter!? Stop. My message to any fans who are contacted by someone claiming to be Chris Pratt: Look for the BLUE “VERIFIED” CHECKMARK next to the name. If there is no checkmark by my name that person is an imposter. I’m sorry. Tell your siblings. Educate our young ones. It’s probably mostly kids who would fall for this. Makes me sick. It terrifies me to think someone could be hurt, their feelings or much worse, by this imposter/potential predator. I’ve had many, many people tell me about this. It’s not an isolated incident. If anyone is in contact with this person block them immediately. If it’s you doing it, I’m warning you. Stop right now or you will@be very unhappy with the outcome. Go find Jesus. 🙏 praying for you.

A post shared by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) on Nov 30, 2017 at 10:52pm PST

As the social media manager to several A-listers, LaQuishe “Q” Wright is on the front lines of dealing with imposter accounts on a daily basis. She’s the one responding to fans who DM her clients, asking if another account is real, and reports the imitators to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Wright, who asked her clients not be named, has devoted much more time to the issue since the beginning of the year: One of the actors she represents appeared in a blockbuster movie this winter, and as their star has risen, Wright has had to deal with an unmanageable influx of fake accounts.

“Every day, there are new imposters trying to con people out of money for charities or meet and greets — even to fund the next version of the film,” Wright says. “It’s almost impossible to stay on top of it. It’s everywhere.”

The rapid increase in imposter accounts is alarming, and Wright is frustrated that the social media platforms her clients frequent still haven’t solved problem.

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat are well aware of the issue: It’s the reason every major social media platform has a version of the verification check. (Snapchat only deviates slightly from the standard blue badge by using emoji to denote public figures.) They were introduced as far back as 2009 for Twitter, and 2014 for Instagram, to fight the imposter problem by helping users differentiate between the real deal and a fake account. Unfortunately, impersonators are getting smarter.

Wright says imitators will claim their account is a celebrity’s private account, and go so far as to find — or steal — photos of an actor’s friends and family, to convince fans they’re real. She’s even seen accounts with fake (but real-looking) verification checks. These accounts usually have the same profile photo as the celeb they’re impersonating, and almost identical posts, with one word changed here or there. Once the set-up is in place, finding fans is the easy part — all you need to do is look at who is commenting on a celebrity’s photos or liking their posts — and Wright says followers are “sitting ducks” for the impersonators who want to exploit them and their desire to connect with a celebrity.

For rising stars, Wright says the fanbase is the most susceptible. “With a new fan set, they’re excited to connect with a celebrity and are getting fooled,” Wright said. “If somebody walked up to them on the street, they’d know, but in the social space they just don’t know any better.”

For celebrities who don't have a social media presence, there are no posts to copy, but online imposters are still a problem for them. Jennifer Lawrence, for example, has been outspoken about not having an Instagram account. Yet, when you search her name, you get more than 20 accounts, together amassing hundreds of thousands of followers. Some are clearly labeled as fan accounts, but many are not, and include posts with captions written as if they are coming from Lawrence herself.

Not all celebrities experience such high levels of impersonation. Allison Peters, a social media manager for Kerry Washington, says she only spends about two hours a week dealing with fake accounts, often finding 10 to 15 new ones at a time. Instagram is a bigger issue for her than it is for Wright, who has the most problems with Messenger, but she attributes the lower total number of impersonators to Washington’s strong, longtime presence online.

“[Fans] have so much interaction with her because of the show, and she’s always on Twitter answering their questions,’’ Peters says. “And these fans have become friends — they go to events together. Because her fanbase is such a community, they’re very sensitive to these new people popping up and pretending.”

Even for fan bases that are communities, the wisdom of the crowd only goes so far. While Wright and Peters both said Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are always quick to delete reported accounts, the onus shouldn’t always be on social media managers and fans to report them in the first place. “When you have verified profiles and someone tries to come in and create a profile with the same name and photos, why isn’t there a higher level of protection where they can’t do that?” Wright asked.

“Every day, there are new imposters trying to con people out of money for charities or meet and greets — even to fund the next version of the film."

The reason likely has something to do with concerns around blocking genuine users. Currently, there are two ways to clean up user-generated platforms like Facebook and Twitter: Manual reviews done by employees hired to look over accounts on a case-by-case basis; and automatic classifiers, software that is trained to pick out certain features indicative of faulty accounts. The latter is a far cheaper, faster approach, but one that comes with more risk of error.

“The problem with automatic classification is it’s never going to be right 100% of the time,” says Pete Hunt, CEO of Smyte, a company that uses machine learning to fight online fraud. “There’s a spectrum, where you’re either going to have high false positives or high false negatives — you’re throwing out a net and trying to get some fish, where the fish are the bad accounts. But you might catch some other stuff in that net in addition to the bad accounts, and shutting down legitimate users is not a great experience."

Hunt compares the experience to using your credit card in an airport and setting off the fraud alert on your own account — it isn’t fun. Because most social networks err on the side of a better user experience with fewer accidental cancellations, more imposter accounts are able to slip through.

In response to requests for comment for this piece, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook each pointed to their respective privacy policies, which expressly forbid impersonators and include instructions on how to report fake accounts. A Facebook spokesperson added reference to an automatic classifer, saying, “At the time someone receives a friend request, our systems are designed to check whether the recipient already has a friend with the same name, along with a variety of other factors that help us determine if an interaction is legitimate. It's an area we're continually working to improve so that we can provide a safe and secure experience on Facebook.”

At the end of the day, this isn't just a story about celebrities becoming annoyed about imposters: It's about fans getting scammed, which is something that affects all parties involved. Moving forward, the question about responsibility is the one that needs to be resolved: Is it up to social media platforms to do a better job? Or celebrity teams to seek out and report fake accounts? Either way, it's the fans who suffer. But platforms would do well to remember that we're living in an era where A-listers have zero qualms about using their star power to take a stand. And if they leave, they may well take their fans with them.

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