12/29/2017 0 Comments Dear 2017.Let’s be honest, this year was rough. Looking back on the political turmoil and the constant heartache of tragedy, it is surprising we all made it through. But hey, here we are! I learned a lot this last year, despite the utter chaos that was. I went into 2017 thinking I was ready for anything, but I was kind of knocked off my feet. I learned so much about the importance of the light at the end of the tunnel. I became aware of the necessity of empowerment and standing up for what I believe in. I have never been faced with so much anxiety at once. Between the stress of school, politics, and self doubt I was sure that 2017 would break me. But with the help of those around me, I got off my feet and I found hope within myself. I had several epiphanies about myself this year. I have learned that I am capable of much more that I thought. I developed a love and compassion, mixed with a few nerves, for what is ahead. I have always struggled with self doubt, and this year really put that to the test. Who I am is not defined by the major I am studying, by the clothes on my back, by the rolls on my tummy when I sit down, or by who I love. But, I am defined by the choices I make, by the kindness that I share, and by the words that I speak. 2017 taught me that life is completely unpredictable. I cannot control what is yet to come, but I can make goals and set the bar high for myself. Separating yourself from the heart attack of life that is around us, can give you time to breathe and to remember that life isn’t just a success story. 2017 showed me that despite what is going on around me, what remains true in my core is what really matters. Despite what people have to say about who I am, is irrelevant when I know I am capable of love and drive and compassion and kindness. So here’s to 2018. Here’s to pushing forward and fighting back. Here’s to believing in yourself and loving the parts the make us whole.
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10/27/2017 0 Comments Take a deep breath.It has been a while since I last sat down and let my mind wander. It has been a busy few months.
With a schedule that is the same every single day, life becomes repetitive, boring, a pattern that soon feels like a trap. Sometimes it’s all too easy to get caught up in the shuffle of chaos. It is easy to get lost. I often forget that it is okay to let the drum beat a little off track, to step outside the box. To step outside in general. I’ve been feeling cooped up. Locked inside a textbook of words that I am forced to define. A computer screen full of commands I must fulfill, and expectations, and deadlines. I am in desperate need of a reminder. I need to be reminded to breathe. Take a deep breath. The stress will soon be lifted from my aching shoulders, and I can be. Simply be. Be the person I have been striving to be for many years sat behind a school desk, rapidly jotting down the perfect notes. It will all be worth it soon. This is just one chapter of my book. A chapter that is soon to be complete, and a fresh page will be waiting at the next turn. A page just waiting to be filled top to bottom with adventures, memories, love stories. You just wait. Sit pretty, and wait. 6/1/2017 1 Comment The Month of JuneAll right, all right, ladies and gentlemen. It is the month of June, which means you might be coming across an abundance of rainbow flags splashed upon your social media platforms. Now, before you get your panties in a twist, we need to talk about a few things. June is Gay Pride Month. This is a time where all members of the LGBTQ+ community can come together and share their differences openly and freely. This is a month where we honor those who have risked their lives in order for same sex couples even to walk hand in hand down the street. This is a time where we acknowledge the progress that has been made towards equality and the achievements that are yet to come. Despite some misunderstandings, this is not a month to “rub our gayness in your face.” Heterosexualism is the majority. We see in the streets, we see it in every movie ever made, and we even see it in public classrooms across the nation. We get it; you’re straight. This does not mean that a minority group who has been putting literal blood, sweat, and tears into the war against equality does not deserve one month out of the year to dance around wearing rainbow colored assless chaps, okay? Being a member of the LGBTQ+ does not make you any less deserving of love, equality, and compassion. Being straight does not give you the right to discriminate on a minority group simply because you are too ignorant to educate yourself. If you cannot bite your tongue for just one post on your feed in order to brag about the privilege that you’re swimming in, then find someone who wants to listen. The LGBTQ+ community does not want to hear your ignorant slander. We don’t want to hear conspiracy theories, we don’t want hear how uncomfortable it makes you feel, and we do not want to hear that we are sinners because, friends, we all are. Religion is not a weapon against the ideals in which you do not understand. We live in nation of religious freedom; this is not a one way street. Where you come from, or who you were raised by, does not determine your sexuality. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being proud of who you, and who you love. This has been a long road of heart ache to get to even where we are today. It is not disgusting to share my story, or show my love publicly. Many minority groups across the globe have been silenced for far too long. Individuals should not have to shield their lives because of ignorance. Ignorance is never an excuse. We are here, we exist, and we are not going anywhere. Happy Pride Month, lovelies. 1/28/2017 1 Comment Ignorance is not an excuse.I’ve been in what some might call a “funk” these past couple of days. I’ve been cranky, exhausted, and down.
No, it’s not my period. I have come to realize it’s because I’m disappointed. I am disappointed in this nation. My heart is broken. My heart is broken for the millions of people who have had their lives altered since this year’s election. It is broken for the families who are no longer going to be able to provide healthcare for their loved ones, for the men and women being banned from our country because of who they pray to, for my LBGT friends and family, for the Native Americans who have already sacrificed too much, for the women who fear that the rights to their body will be taken away… And so much more. I scroll through my social media feed and see post after post regarding the Trump Administration’s actions. It is shocking to see the reactions of those who I follow. It is shocking to see that so many are willing to place their opinions before the needs of others. My mom has always told me to be kind. She raised me to put others before myself. Just because Trump’s action do not directly affect you, does not mean that they don’t matter. Look around. People are marching for a reason. Our nation is being ran by fear. It’s not the protesters who are afraid. It is those who are not willing to accept the traits that set us apart. Rights should not be questioned due to another’s fear of diversity. Individuals are asking for equality, nothing more. Why is that so scary? Why are people so afraid of allowing others the same rights? We are living in a nation where instead of asking questions and opening our hearts to diversity, we shut it out. We, as a nation, need to stop making excuses for ignorance. So, if you're finding yourself in a little bit of a political "funk;" you're not alone. You're not the only one who is confused and heartbroken, and never will be. We need to stand together, now more than ever, to prove that we are better than this. Together we are stronger. Together we will strive. 12/23/2016 0 Comments WelcomeWanna come play in the treehouse? Built from broken homes and shattered hope. Wanna come see a world filled with doubt? Where the children are crying as they try to cope Bridges burning, heads turning In the wrong direction It's not too late For a resurrection 11/9/2016 0 Comments I will not be silenced.November 9, 2016 will forever be known as the day that we elected a reality television star as our president.
November 9, 2016 will forever be the day that we allowed blatant racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and islamophobia to become leading notions for a nation who has taken significant strides to prevent such. But also November 9, 2016 will forever be the day that I will proudly say that I will not remain silent. I will not remain silent when there are social issues burning up in flames right before our eyes. I will not remain silent when our fellow Americans are fearing for their lives because of who we, as a country, have elected our leader. In a time where hatred seems to overshadow what is deemed moral, let us stand together with love and open hearts. Our fight towards an equal nation is not even close to being over, and with this election, we have taken so many steps backward. But, together we can obtain a victory that is much greater than Trump’s. We can be the people we know we are destined to be, and continue that fight for equality. Stand taller than his tower. Stand together. Until we can stand united, accepting, and willing to listen, not a single progression will be made. Be kind. Be eager. Be strong. It is not over. Do not give up. 8/7/2016 1 Comment Be the changeIt has been hard to comprehend the amount of hate being tossed left and right. I’ve been asking myself so many questions.
Was it always this bad? Is it the media’s fault? Have I been blind to other’s oppression? We tell ourselves that privilege is something that we earn. Something that we have had to fight for. But what we don’t tell ourselves is that sometimes that privilege is handed to us on a big, shiny platter, with a glowing label reading “mass majority.” We live in society where we feed on pointing out one another’s differences. Color, shape, size, gender, sexual preference, sexual orientation, religion, ect. Our differences should make us individuals, not minorities. Equality does not, and should not, lead to sacrifice. When you have lived a life habituated with privilege, equality can often feel like oppression. Giving the same rights to everyone, does not mean that your rights are oppressed. All it means is that you can share. Something that you should have been taught in preschool. There are several minority groups who have been experiencing injustice for centuries. No law can change society. We, the people, have to change society. Until you have experienced the brutality, discrimination, or misfortune of a group of individuals, it is not up to you to belittle their triumphs. It is not up to you to tell them how to cope with their losses. Until the day that we can celebrate victories and mourn losses as one society, it is not up to you. 5/19/2016 0 Comments Nip SlipThe female body is sexualized to the point in which a woman cannot show her bare body in public without there being political and ethical uproar. Breasts are a target and this is a social problem. For example, cleavage, nipples, and breastfeeding. Nudity hasn’t always been something that was frowned upon. Dating back to hunter-gatherer times, in warm climates, the naked body of men and women was the norm. Ancient Greek warriors fought in the nude. Nudity has been the subject of ceramic and sculpted art dating back to 21, 000- 26,000 years ago, such as the famous fertility goddess statues of naked pregnant women. Before WWII, public nudity of all genders was legal in Japan. It wasn’t until the U.S. occupied Japan that female nudity became a crime. Sexualizing the naked body has lead to the lack of acceptance of nudity. Magazines, porn, movies, and other platforms have turned the naked body into a sexual object. In the United States today, it is legal in all 50 states for men to freely show their bare nipples in public, the same is not true for women. Seventy-five years ago, it was still prohibited for men to show their nipples. It wasn’t until protesters stood up against the status-quo that change began. It is still illegal in 37 states for women to show their nipples publicly. Even in a few states where it is legal, women are still being cuffed and hauled off to jail for exposing their breasts. This includes breastfeeding as well. Women are fighting a battle for freedom that men were granted a long time ago. In 2014, a movie was released on Netflix called “Free the Nipple.” This movie has brought an immense amount of support to a once small campaign for equality. Free the Nipple was thought up when a woman was arrested and incarcerated in New York for being topless in public. Considering that the public display of female breasts has been legal for over 15 years in New York, the woman was released and later received compensation for damages. This was only the beginning of the Free the Nipple campaign. Support of this movement has come from dedicated groups of women that include Miley Cyrus, Liv Tyler, and Lena Dunham. Today, they are bringing awareness to this equality act through art, media, and protests. The female breast is simply an organ that produces milk for offspring. It is, and always will be an existing feature of the human body. Content in the media pertaining to women breastfeeding in public has been a hot topic. Many argue that the feeding of a child should be done in a secluded location. They feel that it is distracting and inappropriate. There are videos being shared of women who are approached and yelled at for publically breastfeeding their children. They are told that it’s disgusting and shamed for doing one of the most natural occurrences in the human world. Others feel that this should not be illegal in any way. For some, bottle formula feeding their child is not an option due to financial status. To others, breast milk is an essential piece to the baby’s health. It is also considered a significant way of bonding with their child and it brings them joy. It isn’t just the streets that women are shamed for showing their breasts. It is all over social media platforms as well. Instagram neglects the posting of any photos or videos that show a bare female nipple. In Instagram’s policies section on their website, they state that they are aware that some might want to use nudity as a form of artistic expression, but they do not allow nudity. Photos of mastectomy scarring, women actively breastfeeding, and paintings or drawings of nudity are allowed. While there is a ban on Instagram for posting a woman’s nipple however, there are no restrictions on men posting topless photos. When a woman posts a photo that includes her nipple, the photo is flagged and taken down, but not a man’s. To take a stance against Instagram, women have started to Photoshop men’s nipples in place of their own. These photos are not flagged and allowed to stay on the site. An example of discriminating the female nipple on social media was on Chelsea Handler’s, a famous comedian and talk show host, Instagram page. She posted a photo of herself posing topless while riding a horse. It was a replica of Vladimir Putin. The photo was quickly flagged and taken down. She along with many others ranted over the unnecessary banning of the photo. Outside of the online double standards, the sexualizing of the female body has resulted in horrific consequences. Cat-calling and slut-shaming are social issues on their own. Women’s bodies are often the blame of sexual assault. Women are constantly told how to behave, including what to wear. We live in a society where we question the attire of a woman before acting on the behavior of a predator. Women are told from a very young age that the way they dress affects how they are treated. For example, school systems regulate the length of shorts, dresses, and shirt sleeves. They tell young women that it is a distraction to show too much skin. Shaming of bare skin is the reason that victim blaming exists. A CNN reporter recently praised a Utah high school for enacting stricter rules regarding the length of homecoming dresses. She stated that how women are viewed by the public is how they will be treated. In a skit performed by the University of Oregon’s Sexual Wellness Awareness Team, they compared the blaming of a victim’s attire to the welcome mat outside one’s home. If their mat says welcome, then it must mean that anyone is welcome to enter, right? Wrong. The clothing, or lack thereof, on a person’s body is not an invitation for invasion. Society will never take the steps that are needed towards equality if we don’t stop sexualizing the human body. Breasts will always exist, but the negative view of society can change with time. Nipples are not weapons. They are part of the body, a part of the body that we cannot boycott, nor should we, based off of sexual desires. Stop using sex as an excuse to act inhumanely. America is a nation that strives for freedom, so let’s free the nipple. 4/5/2016 0 Comments Because it's importantNot all feminists hate men. Not all feminists don’t shave their legs. Not all feminists hate families. Not all feminists are lesbians. Not all feminists are women.
A feminist is any person who supports the advancement of women's rights within a political, social, and economical sense of equality to men. The stereotypes of feminists are shying away from the true purpose of the movement. In comparison to a male dominant culture, women should be treated equally, as should everyone. Feminism is not about putting women on a higher pedestal than men, but one of equality. Feminist stereotypes are masking the intention of equal rights between all genders causing a lack of appeal for the movement. Man hating is not feminism. Slut shaming is not feminism. Body shaming is not feminism. Just because some feminists burn bras, does not mean that all feminists do. The extreme feminist demographic is turning off public attraction to the movement. To most, the feminist mindset means being accepting and open minded to the similarities and differences of all genders, and to break down the barrier between them in order to achieve balance. The first step towards making a dent in this barrier is changing how society raises children. A mass majority of boys are raised to be big, strong men who provide for families. They are taught to mask feelings because it dims the light of their masculinity. Most girls are raised to be proper, polite women. They are brought up being taught the ways of a caregiver. Instead of forcing roles, plant the seed of independence. Men should be able to show emotion; expressing emotions is healthy. Women can be strong and powerful. Success is not, and should not, be based off of gender. Gender roles are an enormous factor in the cause of this divide. Women all around the world are joining hands to fight the demographic that has formed a toxic bubble around the feminist community. Women face struggles on a daily basis. Examples include discrimination in the workplace, prominently in pay wages. The wage gap between men and women averages around 21 percent. Women also deal with cat-calling, sexual assault, slut shaming and victim blaming. There is also the placement of the motherly role stereotype. Feminine hygiene products are even taxed as a luxury items in 40 states. Just an update: a menstrual cycle is not a luxury. These struggles are some that other people face as well, but are most common with women and gender minorities. We don’t have to burn bras and be man haters to crave equal rights. We shouldn’t have to start petitions and form rallies to get the attention of society, but that’s an unfortunate reality. Feminism matters; equality matters. Feminism is important because human rights are important. Stop stereotyping and start listening. 1/24/2016 0 Comments SimplicityLife is busy, chaotic, and sometimes heartbreaking. Between school, jobs, relationships, and even technology it is so easy get swallowed up in the overwhelming madness of life.
On days when I feel my lowest, I enjoy making a list of the simple things that make me feel content, or at peace. Of course, coffee is always at the top. Find a glimmer of serenity in the confusion. Take time to appreciate the little things. The steam coming off the rim of your coffee mug, the phone calls from home, the birds crossing the street, the warmth of the sun peeking through the clouds, rain drops on a cloudy morning... The simplicity will see you through. |
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