On the Issues was started by social psychologist Merle Hoffman in 1983 as a quarterly print magazine intended for an audience of "thinking feminists".

In 2008 after 25 years of publishing, Hoffman ceased printing the magazine and transferred it to an online-only format[4] based in Long Island City, New York.

[6][7] Animal rights advocates such as Carol J. Adams, Joan Dunayer and Roberta Kalechofsky have contributed articles.

[8] Leftist Mother Jones magazine described On the Issues as "a strong feminist voice that's reasoned, literate, highly readable, and tackles topics of concern to women.

"[9] The Utne Reader praised On the Issues as "articulat[ing] the female experience through many feminist voices and without resorting to male-bashing.