LEGO: Brick by Ideological Brick
Toys, even ones marketed as tools for the imagination, are never value neutral.
The Surprising Imperial History of the Pekingese Dog
Upper-class British women in the early 1900s participated in a craze for Pekingese dogs, signalling the role of empire in their social identities.
The Bowling Alley: It’s a Woman’s World
Even when it was considered socially unacceptable, American women were knocking down pins on the local lanes.
Changing Playground Design, Changing How Children Play
The built environment of the playground influences children’s play styles, and even small interventions can affect cognitive and social-emotional development.
The Legacy of Bruce Lee’s Sex Life
Lee’s untimely death in 1973 sparked an argument between his widow and his girlfriend over his libido that played out publicly in international media.
Copenhagen: Bike City from Back in the Day
How did Copenhagen become a “city of cyclists,” where a third of all journeys are by bicycle?
First Comes Love
A top divorce lawyer collected strangers’ marriage certificates and other wedding-related ephemera—a testament to her perhaps surprising faith in matrimony.
How Science Might Help Keep Wild Places Wild
Recreation researchers are studying how to minimize human impact on public lands while maximizing accessibility.
Dear Deirdre: The Japanese American Agony Aunt
Using the nom de plume Deirdre, California-born writer Mary “Mollie” Oyama Mittwer offered advice on changing gender roles and cross-ethnic relationships.
Bring on the Board Games
The increasing secularism of the nineteenth century helped make board games a commercial and ideological success in the United States.