For All The Girls Magazine - Issue 4 by For All The Girls Magazine

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T H E L L G A I

ISSUE 4 N O V E M B E R

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CONTENTS 2

EDITOR'S NOTE

THE WILD MISREPRESENTATION OF BISEXUALITY IN THE MEDIA

SPREADING KINDNESS AMIDST A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

WOMEN IN BUSINESS: GENDER DISCRIMINATION IS STILL ALIVE

HOW ONE MAN CHANGED THE FACE OF ROCK FOREVER: REMEMBERING EDDIE VAN HALEN

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN BALLET

THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL BREAKS

WRITERS FEATURED

MISOGYNY IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Georgia Pomozova-Mann

Managing Editor Ella Ionescu

Creative Director Alyssa Zhang

Public Relations Manager Sipora West

Content Curator Anastasia Dimas

Social Media Manager Izzy Gelman

Business Manager Leila Durante

EDITOR'S NOTE

Welcome back, dear readers! First and foremost, we hope you have been enjoying this last period of warmth before wintertime. Knowing this season is oftentimes busy and difficult for many, we wanted to remind you all of the importance of making time for yourself and protecting your energy during challenging times. No matter what, For All The Girls is always here for you. Once again, I am astounded by every individual on our team for their hard work, creativity, positive energy, and much more. For All The Girls truly would not be where it is today without the efforts of everyone involved. As per usual, we wish you all enjoy the articles featured in this issue and spend some relaxing time scrolling through the pages. Happy reading! 2

Georgia Pomozova-Mann EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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BISEXUALITY

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alyssa zhang Growing up, I listened to Katy Perry's ‘I Kissed a Girl’ on repeat. This song about a sexually curious young woman who kisses another woman was quite the sensation. At first, it could be looked at as a queer anthem and representation of sexual fluidity in the media; a bold, brave choice with a little spice. However, after further analysis, I've learned that this pop hit isn’t so innocent after all. This song represents a troubling trend in the portrayal of female sexuality - particularly that of queer females. Perry’s lyrics reflect the trivialization of queer female sexuality and the cultural norms which state that female sexuality exists for the pleasure of men. The questions which arise from this song lead to many harmful assumptions about female and male bisexuality and erasure. Performative bisexuality is defined as engaging in erotic acts with the same sex, most often in front of men or in social settings. Not to say that sexual fluidity and exploration is to be looked down upon, women should be able to explore their sexuality freely, the issue is performative bisexuality becoming common among women, creating a harmful environment where bisexual behaviour is only compulsory and is used as a weapon to gain heternormative validation. This issue is most common among women, as women are generally given much more room to explore sexual identity. This is the one time we have the advantage in society, because society does not view sexual exploration or fluidity in women as a detriment to our womanhood. We can try it out, decide whether or not we like it, and easily revert back to heteronormativity without any pushback. In contrast, men cannot do the same with the same support. They’re viewed as just gay but closeted, and once a man has tried something with a man, they’re viewed as gay forever - even if it was just an expirement. Just the thought of them being with another man makes society view their manhood as damaged. SOCIAL

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Wild Things (1998)

Jennifer's Body (2009)

Anaconda Music Video (2014) 4

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Though these “liquid lesbian” acts may seem experimental, wild, and fun, they are not done with genuine desire for women. Women performing sexual acts with other women as a show are done in response to a cultural demand, fueled by the male gaze. The male gaze is a term coined by feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey in 1975, explaining that the “male gaze” invokes the sexual politics of the gaze and suggests a sexualised way of looking that empowers men and objectifies women. In the male gaze, a woman is visually positioned as an “object” of heterosexual male desire. Her feelings, thoughts, and her own sexual drives are less important than her being “framed” by male desire. The male gaze is very common in much of the TV and film industry; female characters must perform their story function while also adhering to the heterosexual male sexual fantasy — though not always in a literal way. Simply being beautiful (or “sexy”) is all that’s needed. We have all been conditioned to adopt the male gaze because that is the way we were “raised” by traditional cinema. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see women using performative bisexuality in the music industry, even if completely produced and created by women, to adhere to the male gaze. We have heard the age old phrase - sex sells, and the male gaze is it’s avid consumer. This being said, much of what the media depicts as women-loving-women (WLW) relationships are not realistic or sensual, but more erotic and pornographic. This is because the media is conditioned to replicate how the male gaze would find girl on girl relationships desirable; how we can look, or act, or sound. For example, take Nicki Minaj’s famous Anaconda music video, where it depicts WLW relationships as overtly sexual engaging in acts not for the pleasure of each other, but for the pleasure of an audience. We watch celebrities dance around interviewers’ questions on bisexuality after painting a very explicit picture in their lyrics - only to come out later to say that they were doing it for attention or publicity.

Reader, you must know that the erotiscm behind this is not my problem. I believe that it’s essential and monumental that society gives women the freedom and support to explore their sexuality. I believe that women being depicted as sexy and erotic ways in the media is not inherently bad, because all of those things are true. It’s just that being sexy in sexual relationships with each other is not all that we exist for. My problem is with the objective of these representations, the integrity of these projects is compromised when it doesn’t come from an authentic place. These performances reinforce the idea that bisexuality is NOT real, and it’s just an ornament for people to look at and be entertained by. It also supports the concept that WLW relationships are only shallow and venereal, only for that woman to end up in a “real” relationship with a man later on. Personally, I've questioned my sexuality many times in my lifetime, but growing up constantly around the pressures of the male gaze, thinking about relationships with other women just seems so corrupted and subconsciously dirty. When I was in middle school, I had an extremely innocent first (crush?) on this one girl in my class - and I never felt as though I had to prove myself attracted to women by sexual encounters because I had already connected with her on an emotional level.

Before I saw how bisexual women were represented in the media, before I started sexualizing myself for the sake of male validation, those encounters with her were so… pure. All I knew was that I really liked being around her, and I liked being around boys too. Years later, when I’ve further explored my sexuality, I’ve noticed that the second a bisexual woman makes her sexuality known, it's like she's immediately erased as a person and is instead viewed as a puppet who is expected to, on command, prove herself by adhering to this salacious and oversexualized standard. Nobody expects straight people to sexualize themselves in order to prove their sexuality to everyone, and bisexual women shouldn’t be expected to make out with their friends or a random girl at a party in order to be taken seriously. The effects of society’s wild misrepresentation hasn’t only affected me outwardly, but I find it difficult to think about relationships with girls without subconsciously sexualizing myself for an audience in my head. The contrast between how I thought about WLW relationships in middle school and how I think about them now is extremely disheartening. If you’re reading this, and this resonates with you, I am so sorry - but I stand with you.

BISEXUALITY IS NOT A PHASE. BISEXUALITY IS NOT EXCLUSIVELY SEXUAL. BISEXUAL ERASURE IS NOT OKAY.

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THE MISOGYNISTIC ISLAMOPHOBIA OF QUÉBEC GEORGIA POMOZOVA-MANN Though much of Canada prides itself on the “inclusion of all cultures” and

well, it mostly creates issues for Muslim

“acceptance of varying beliefs,” Québec has

women as the Islamic symbols worn by them,

instead been known to stray away from this

like niqabs, cannot be taken off in public;

mindset--particularly towards those of the

additionally, Islam has many symbols that are

Islamic religion--by instead having higher

worn by women of different denominations

rates of Islamophobia than the rest of the

and beliefs. While it was enacted in the attempt

country. As well, governmental regulations

of creating religious “neutrality” across the

and systematic barriers are upheld in

province, it has instead created a dangerous

opposition to the religious expression of

world in which many Muslim women are

Muslims; particularly in relation to those who

persecuted and face governmental barriers

wear a hijab and other bodily coverings.

solely for their religious beliefs. Additionally,

Islamophobia within Québec, especially that which pertains to Muslim women, is a prominent issue that has continuously gotten worse as a result of many Québecers’ unwillingness to change their mindsets and, more importantly, the government continuously putting up new systematic barriers against the cultural expression of Muslim women. In April of 2021, Québec imposed Bill 21 which is a systematic barrier that bans workers in “positions of authority,” including police officers and lawyers, from wearing religious symbols at work.

While this law applies to other religions as

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since the enactment of the bill, many businesses aside from ones in the authoritative sector have witnessed cases of abuse against female Muslim co-workers--including attempts to rip off hijabs, spitting, intimidation, cyber-bullying, and more--which have overall created danger for female Muslim’s in a variety of workplaces.

On a more individual note, a Muslim woman

Most importantly, however, are the

named Nour Farhat who had been living in Québec

governmental and systematic barriers that have

since her childhood stated her “dreams are

made the quality of living very poor for Muslim

destroyed” as the bill came into place shortly after

women. They no longer have the same job

she received a degree in criminal law and resulted

opportunities as others, cannot even enter civil

in her now having to work within the English

spaces without their faces being completely

teachers union. This is due to the fact that one of

unveiled, and must oftentimes live their lives in

the few sectors not affected by the ban is the

fear. This greatly strays away from their religious

English education board.

beliefs which they must turn against if they wish to become a lawyer or even just go to a hospital.

In addition to this bill, Bill 62 was introduced in

While Québec politicians such as Christine St-

Québec which bans niqabs (face veils worn by

Pierre state niqabs and hijabs to be “attacks on

Muslim women) from being worn in public and civil

women’s rights,” their own measures can be seen

places; this includes hospitals, courthouses, and

as violations against people’s religious rights.

other government-owned properties. Interestingly

These actions continue to instill the gender role of

enough, a study found that 95% of Québecers were

Muslim women being unable to make their own

actually in support of the ban, which continues to

decisions, however, females of the Islamic faith

insinuate the narrative of Islamaphobia towards

oftentimes instead choose to wear these coverings.

women within Québec.

In the words of a Muslim-Montrealer named Fariha Naqvi-Mohamed, “Ignorance is little more

The combination of Bill 21 and Bill 62 are acts of

than the absence of knowledge. It is important to

great Islamophobia and religious misogyny as they

educate ourselves and each other about Islam,

create a decrease in job opportunities, prevention

arguably the most misunderstood faith.”

of cultural and religious expression, further the narrative of negativity towards Islamic women and

While Québec attempts to portray itself as

are overall meant to create systematic barriers--as

making strives towards neutrality and equality, it is

well as difficulties--for the lives of people solely for

apparent that their political acts have instead been

their identity and religious beliefs.

extremely harmful. With this, it is crucial that efforts be made to protect Muslim women, men,

The overall combination of “terrorist” labels,

people, and their religious freedom as a whole. As

gender roles, media representation, and systematic

members of society, it is necessary we stand up

barriers all stem from the negative stereotypes

and protect our peers in order to create a society

which have been placed upon Muslim women and

in which all feel loved. Together, we can make a

have over time become increasingly worse. More

difference.

progress has been made against Muslim women, as opposed to uplifting them and getting rid of these harmful stereotypes. SOCIAL

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THE MEANING OF LIFE SOMA SAVAGE

"What is the meaning of life?" Whether you were feeling lost in life or were simply just curious, it is definitely a question you have asked yourself before. Perhaps you are asking yourself right now and have decided to read this article for some insight. As humans, it is simply not enough to just plain old exist; there must be a purpose, a reason. What is the significance of living? What is the point of existence in general? Our search for life's meaning has produced scientific, religious, philosophical, and theological speculations throughout history. Depending on who you ask, the answer will vary. Though the Bible says the meaning of life is to know Jesus Christ, if you asked a performer they would say their meaning in life is to entertain, and if you asked a doctor or paramedic they might say they were put on this Earth to help people. From a theist's point of view, the meaning of life is to follow God's will. They believe God has a hidden plan that controls everything in the universe, and have full confidence that he created the universe. They say God

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is eternally infinite in his knowledge, and occasionally sees fit to reveal parts of his hidden plan. Another significant aspect to their meaning of life is rather, not life at all. Much of their meaning of what they do on Earth has to do with what happens after death and what they do to get into heaven. For them, that is their purpose, their meaning. But I don't really believe in God. Maybe there is no higher being. Perhaps it is solely related to what we do here on Earth. From a pragmatic way of thinking, one's purpose is to bring more value to humans. Meaning, we should seek a useful understanding of life. Thus, their perceptions of the meaning of life is a belief about the purpose of life that does not contradict the meaning of life. But in all honesty, that's awfully confusing. But how about a platoist's point of view? Platonism, named after Greek philosopher Plato, trusts that the meaning of life is the pursuit of knowledge. According to Plato, we are all born with all knowledge inside us but we have to recall it or rediscover it or, in other words, recover from predisposed anamnesis. Wait, what if our purpose on Earth has nothing to do with our daily actions? What if it’s not even in our hands? Determinism postulates that all events, including moral choices, are completely and utterly determined by previously existing causes. This philosophy precludes free will because it entails that we, as people, can not act otherwise than we do.

Or maybe it is feasible that we have more of a say in our purpose and meaning than we think. In the opinion of people associated with logical positivism, life has no meaning until you give it one. I appreciate this approach because it feels like everything is in my control, in my own hands. However, I don’t actually know what one would specifically have to do to give their life meaning. I guess that is for the individual to decide. If you are the one to give your life meaning, you won’t come to the same conclusion as the people you see when you turn your head to the left and the right at school. Subjectivism says there is no one meaning of life, but rather that purpose is different for each person. Though, that’s not exactly specific. On the other hand, the Japanese Concept of Ikigai gives specific questions to ask yourself to find your life’s meaning and purpose, almost resembling those career deciding quizzes you take online when you’re feeling particularly lost. Ikigai combines Japanese words iki, meaning life, and gai, meaning value or worth. Apparently, all one has to do to find their meaning in life is meditate on these four questions: (1) What do I love? (2) What am I good at? (3) What can I be paid for? (4) What does the world need? By asking yourself these questions, the Ikigai concept claims you will have the answer.

Often while sitting in the back of my stuffy, last-period math class, my mind begins to wonder. I start to question if us not knowing, pondering, and trying to find or explain the meaning of life is our meaning or purpose. One of my favourite theories I have heard about the Universe is the theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. To add on, there is another theory which says that this has already happened. I wouldn’t say I exactly believe that, but it’s interesting to think about. Related to the meaning of life, I question why we were placed on Earth. There are many pleasures that come with living, but with that, we go through quite a bit of suffering. Whether it’s the internal mental battles a person faces, such as anxiety or depression, or the external battles, such as being born in a war zone or living in extreme poverty, suffering is a prominent part of the human experience. In 2019, an interview between comedian Stephen Colbert and journalist Anderson Cooper took place in which they discussed the topic of grief and loss. The interview moved Cooper to tears, and Colbert said something that I think about a lot when probing about why we are here and the point of why we suffer. To summarize, Colbert basically argued this: To be alive is a gift, and yet to be alive is to suffer, and our suffering teaches us something about being alive, which is that we are not alone. Everybody suffers, and so suffering is not just a punishment for being alive, it’s actually a gift because through our suffering we realize that we are part of a human community.

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As a young kid, I would try to find my meaning in life in the media and in the events going on around me. One week I would watch Spy Kids and decide my purpose was to fight villains and use cool gadgets, the next week I would visit my neighbour’s dog and just know my purpose had to be to become a vet and help animals. Other days I’d be lying in the grass with my arms behind my head (as a kindergartener with no problems or worries yet does, though if I was thinking about my purpose this hard, perhaps I did have a few worries) and decide the meaning of life was to just relax, to be chill. Despite the fact that a large portion of my childhood was spent tackling the question, I still don't have the answer.

MAYBE THE MEANING IS GOD, MAYBE IT’S ACQUIRING MAXIMUM KNOWLEDGE, OR PERHAPS IT’S JUST TO BE KIND AND TRY TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE… OR MAYBE THERE IS NO MEANING TO LIFE, PERHAPS THERE IS NO PURPOSE AT ALL. IT COULD BE POSSIBLE WE’RE JUST THINKING ABOUT IT TOO MUCH. It’s human nature to stress over and question everything, we are anxious beings. But try not to fret about it too much. Enjoy the small delights we get to experience daily; waking up to your favourite weather whether it be rain or shine, seeing your friends on a Monday morning after not seeing them all weekend, realizing it’s Friday and you’re in your last class of the day when you thought it was Thursday, hitting the jackpot on finds when you go thrifting, or laughing with your friends over an inside joke until you’re gasping for air. If you chose to read this article in hopes of stumbling upon a definite answer, I’m truly sorry. You are possibly more confused about your purpose than you were however many minutes ago you started reading. I don’t have the answers. I’m in the same oblivious boat as you. I mean, it has been an age-long question for a reason.

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body neutrality HAZEL KURNIADI The oftentimes unfamiliar concept of “body neutrality” introduces sustainable self love by recognizing the fact that our bodies are instruments, not ornaments. All of us, if not most, have felt society’s demanding pressure of unrealistic beauty standards in today’s ever-changing world of trends. Previously, the body positivity movement has encouraged and inspired thousands of people to love their bodies no matter what shape or size. While the motive resonates with and is empowering for many, the concept of constant love for your body seems unapproachable to others. This mindset can quickly turn toxic by dismissing important negative emotions and leave you feeling guilty for not instantly loving what you see. On the flip side, body neutrality proposes peace with your body that feels much more attainable and sustainable.

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Body neutrality introduces the concept of disconnecting positive or negative emotions from your body and focuses on its internal purposes versus its external appearance. By detaching the value of your worth from your physical appearance, a safe space is created to begin your journey of self-love. Over-positive self-talk suppresses a healthy mindset by rejecting negative emotions, which is a key error within the body positivity framework. The insistence to always feel “good” about our bodies regardless of their state of health can do more harm than good. A more obtainable value of body neutrality is to love yourself at your own pace so that you can understand your mental needs. By validating days where you don’t feel 100% beautiful, you acknowledge that your self-esteem and confidence don’t equate to what you see. This eliminates the guilt that many people experience on days they don’t feel very bodypositive. Reminder: this doesn’t mean you can’t express love for your body and be confident in your own skin, but recognize that appearance is just one facet of your identity.

will change along with it, according to your needs. There should be no shame in recognizing your needs and catering to them. Being mindful develops a better mindset and approach to life in all aspects by altering the way you view things. An example of this could be thinking about how your body carried you through a trail rather than what your body will look like after five trails. It is evident that the power of words impacts your self-image and awareness and we must recognize the power of our words on those around us too. Compliments are always nice to give, and generally received with appreciation, but they enter a grey area when it comes to commenting on someone’s body. Body comments may unintentionally trigger various disorders, opposing the intent of the complimenter, so be mindful when commenting on someone’s body as it is a personal subject for many.

When we begin to realize that our thoughts that are projected into words and actions leave an everlasting imprint, it opens up awareness As I know many of you are probably aware, to the factors of our personal beliefs and social media is full of popular affirmations that opinions. These factors of our outlook on life are framed as positive statements to help you are the things and people we surround overcome self-critical thoughts. Many of these ourselves with, one of which is the media. affirmations lack the depth that acknowledges each individual’s qualities besides their The media’s fixation with outward appearance. Putting body neutrality into appearance, built off the obsessive and practice involves intuitive affirmations and consuming foundations of the beauty industry, self-talk, rather than just surface-level is incredibly deceiving and damaging. statements like “my body is beautiful.” The Remembering that you are more than a face statement “my body is beautiful” may and a body guides you to recognize yourself as temporarily uplift you, but a more realistic a whole, not just a trending feature. Body and comforting affirmation might be neutrality doesn’t shame people who express something along the lines of “my beauty is the love for their bodies, but it sees that there is least interesting thing about me.” Body so much more to an individual besides their neutrality centers on practicing mindfulness physical qualities. The philosophy of body by coming to terms with your emotions and neutrality provides a stepping stone to achieve needs. For example, mindful eating can inner and outer peace for those who struggle insinuate the mindset that your body with body positivity. shouldn’t be thought of as a result of what you eat, rather the foods you eat should be to fuel your specific body type. As your body constantly changes, the foods you eat 12

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Spreading Kindness Amidst a Global Pandemic ANASTASIA DIMAS

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I don’t know about you, but living through a pandemic can, to say the least, be stressful and challenging to many. Nevertheless, something we can always benefit from during these dark days can be a small act of kindness. No matter how big or small, a little bit of kindness during these trying times may be the solution to turning a frown upside down. Here are some ways to do just so, specific to our current battle with COVID-19:

1- Send letters of encouragement to those who are ill.

Send letters of encouragement to those who are ill. Aside from the many who are sick due to COVID-19, those with chronic illnesses are oftentimes forced to stay isolated and many have limited access to family or friends visiting; this can make it a very lonely time for them. Reach out to those whom you know could benefit from a hopeful message, or better yet, send a free card to a child at St. Judes Hospital at: https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/otherways/online-card-message-patients.html

2- Show some appreciation to frontline workers.

Show some appreciation to frontline workers. One of the many acts of kindness we can do in these times is show our support towards those who risk their lives for us daily. There are many easy ways to apply this into your life, whether it be something as easy as donating a baked good to the staff at a local hospital or getting involved in communityaiding organizations such as Feed The Frontlines TO at https://www.feedthefrontlinesto.org/

3- Support small and local businesses.

They have suffered heavily due to the pandemic--both socially and financially--and as a result, many are struggling to keep their operations running. Next time you are getting someone a gift or buying any sort of object, consider purchasing from a small business instead of a major corporation. There are a variety of small businesses catering to many different sectors, so I’m sure you’d be able to acquire your “next best thing” at a local shop.

4- Treat yourself with love.

Treat yourself with love. Sometimes, we can forget to take care of our very own selves. Do what you need to do to stay healthy, and don’t be afraid to spend time alone. Perhaps try a new hobby like journaling or painting. Taking care of yourself can even be as simple as setting time aside for some daily breathing exercises or making your bed.

5 - Stay connected.

Stay connected. A large fraction of different aspects of our daily lives, such as school events and work meetings, have taken place virtually through the pandemic. As a result, it may be difficult to check in on your friends and family, which therefore leads to life becoming quite isolated. Many could be suffering in silence, so taking a minute to send a quick message to someone and asking them how they are doing could bring them a sense of hope and appreciation.

6- Help the challenged.

Many errands that we run daily without much thought may simply not be as easy for many to accomplish, possibly due to physical limitations that have arisen in their lives. An example of this may be the elderly or those with weakened immune systems who cannot leave their home to get their groceries, buy household objects, and more. An act such as aiding someone with their groceries can be a great way to brighten their days and easen life’s burdens.

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In conclusion, committing acts of altruism can be beneficial to your own self, as well as those around you. Many have felt substantial losses throughout both the pandemic and their lives as a whole, and finding simple ways to give back that are within our personal reach is oftentimes a great way to raise spirits amidst the difficulties that have arisen in our world.

DON’T FORGET TO STAY KIND TOWARDS YOURSELF, AND FIND WAYS TO INCORPORATE KINDNESS INTO YOUR DAILY LIFE.

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Women in Business: Gender Discrimination Is Still Alive

MAYA AKKUS

Whenever we think of prominent figures within the world of business, the first few to come to mind are Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg. This was something I realized while planning my recently-approved CEOs Club for school–with the goal being to inspire other women to pursue business and aid them in learning how to succeed within a male-dominated field. There I was with my CoPresident, planning our first meeting when a moment came in which we decided we wanted to include a quote by a famous businesswoman in our advertising efforts. For several treacherously-long minutes, we sat in silence attempting to come up with one. I felt guilty that my mind immediately thought of men only. What kind of club head looking to inspire women can't even think of a businesswoman? So, after hitting a wall, we searched a few up. Several names popped up, though none of them recognizable other than Beyonce. I realized that few know of women with significant business-related accomplishments just as important as that of Musk and Bezos. I sulked as I realized how long of a way our society still had to go.

BUSINESS

The portion of female-identifying CEOs running Fortune 500’s–in other words, America’s 500 most profitable companies.

15%

The share of female-identifying CEOs that exist in Canada.

How many more numbers and statistics do we have to display? How many more times do we have to cry out solely for others to understand that women are underrepresented in leadership roles and relentlessly harassed. The ability to vote, cashing cheques, and going to school are simply basic human rights. I had never really considered business as a career option for myself, and had always thought it was a field too male-dominated for me to pursue. Even in my own household, my dad is the one who runs a business and spends time investing. Nevertheless, after taking a business class in the tenth grade, I discovered my passion for the field. However, the realization of how difficult it would be for me to rise to a position of leadership due to my gender was absolutely crushing. It isn’t fair. It isn’t fair that women put the same amount of effort to receive business-focused undergraduate degrees–and perhaps later graduate degrees such as a Master of Business Administration– though the probability of a man being picked over a woman for a position, simply due to their gender, remains so high. Even if we were to be chosen for a job we’ve been striving towards, we would likely still be underpaid in comparison to our male counterparts. Yes, you heard that right, the gender wage gap still exists in 2021. As stated by Forbes, “When comparing the median salary between men and women, a 2021 report from Payscale reports that women earn 82 cents for every dollar men make. This 18% difference is the raw gender pay gap.” This is extremely upsetting as women deserve to be paid just as much as the men in their field who they oftentimes have the same credentials as. A realization that many women–including myself–have had is that even if they do “make it” in the world of business, by great luck, no woman would ever go on to be as praised as someone like Zuckerberg. To be known purely for their accomplishments in business is something very few women have ever been able to experience before.

With this in mind, I believe the whole concept of business as a male-dominated occupation stems from the extreme romanticism of the field in the modern world of teenage boys and young men. The obsession they have over The Wolf of Wall Street, Elon Musk, and stock-related Reddit pages really enforces the exclusivity of business being “male only.” As stated by pop culture expert Bill Moyers, “Martin Scorsese’s new film, The Wolf of Wall Street, depicts a culture of hyper-masculinity and emotional immaturity, as Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Jordan Belfort, parties hard and cuts shady deals in a druginduced haze. A report by Max Abelson and Zeke Faux published this week by Bloomberg reveals that a different kind of male culture is dominant in the real world of high flying Wall Street executives. Abelson and Faux report that a network of fraternity brothers exists that effectively tilts the playing field against women, among others.” The only female we actually see be heavily involved in the film is Margot Robbie and, despite this, her appearances in the movie purely revolve around her looks and sexual appeal. Robbie talks about this feeling of over-sexualization in a Net-A-Porter interview, in which she confesses that shooting her infamous intimate scene in The Wolf of Wall Street was an uncomfortable experience. “It doesn’t come across when you’re watching the movie, but in reality we’re in a tiny bedroom with 30 crew crammed in. All men,” she said. “And for 17 hours I’m pretending to be touching myself. It’s just a very weird thing and you have to bury the embarrassment and absurdity, really deep, and fully commit.” In comparison, it is upsetting to see Jordan Belfort--a real person, though played by Leonardo DiCaprio--instead be praised for being an all-mighty, dictatorial, and powerful figure who is heavily romanticized by many men.

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Moreover, we must consider that business is not purely just stocks, marketing, and Elon Musk. It’s also hidden behind golf, for example, which has been utilized as a secret tool to success in business – especially as a method of networking and exemplifying monetary strength. Then again, golf is male-dominated as well. As stated by the Rivers Edge Golf Bend, 77% of golfers are male. It seems as though that the vast majority of business aids are also are male-dominated. This issue of misogyny is deeprooted in so many factors that it’s nearly impossible to remove said problematic aspects out of our culture, which makes it difficult to encourage women to pursue these types of career paths. One of my greatest inspirations and a businesswoman whom I have always looked up to is my friend’s mother who happens to work for the NHL as the Director of Business Relations. With this, I think it’s really important to see a representation of people similar to you achieving goals you also hope to accomplish. Otherwise, without said representation, it’s hard to believe in yourself and your abilities. Everyone wants a role model to look up to–it’s how we’ve been brought up. Even seeing that the Math Guru–a tutoring company–be run by female CEO Vanessa Vakharia is a small yet empowering form of representation in daily life. It’s the little things that count. In a world where women are oversexualized by the media every day, it’s crucial for young girls to be reminded that they aren’t only their bodies. These factors shouldn’t affect a woman’s success in any way. When seeing how women are portrayed and treated in the media as well as in the world in general, it’s really easy to fall into the trap of believing you are worth nothing more than your body.

BUSINESS

As stated by Diane Levin and Jean Kilbourne, “Sexualization emphasizes the “double bind” that girls and women face: they must be seen as sexually alluring in order to be noticed and admired.” It’s crucial to fight this image the media is trying to sell, urging women to just “shut up and take it.” When trying to fix the issue of sexism in the business world, we must examine how it ties into sports, movies, and social media. Unfortunately, in the end, it can be noticed that the main issue for all of these factors is that the business world is deeply rooted in sexism in every single shape and form. It’s not that women perform worse than men in business. It’s not that women are bad at golf, acting, or leadership. It’s plain sexism. In fact, there are certain arguments that the business world needs more women. As stated by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Women are in fact surpassing men in tertiary education by 53.3% in the world. Further, the ILO also states, “Women are better educated and more active in the labour force than ever, and are increasingly working in managerial roles. Yet despite these gains, their representation in top positions in business still lags behind that of men.” Clearly, we still have a long way to go. The more we examine said issues, the more we can see that the underrepresentation of women in business has many factors which must be addressed in accordance with both the issue as a whole and the many matters within it. By refusing to follow the “guidelines” society has set for women, we may be better able to represent ourselves in a variety of fields–whether it be business, sciences, sports or anything else. I refuse to be underrepresented due to my gender, and a field being male-dominated will never stop me from doing what I love.

MISOGYNY IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AMELIA D’AROLFI AND MAYA MILOSEVIC

When women threaten the gender power dynamic, they are forced to face the consequences. Sexism is littered throughout the music industry, hindering the careers of countless female artists with every advancement they make. As a result, female artists face a double standard that does not apply to male musicians. Society holds female musicians to a much higher standard, where small incidents can cause large amounts of criticism. There are countless double standards in the music industry that constantly affect the development of female artists' careers. Media sources oftentimes shame and belittle women for writing songs about their relationships, however, when top male artists do the same they are applauded for showing such vulnerability.

Additionally, a male artist having many romantic partners is praised, deemed powerful, and charming. While they are being uplifted, female artists are frowned upon for the same actions, being called names, and sent hate. This is harmful because these standards set up success for male artists and failure for female musicians. Miley Cyrus is an example of a female artist who has been criticized for her dating history. Whereas male artist Bruno Mars, for instance, has been glorified for his.

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As well, on multiple occasions, when female

Their fans did not think The Dixie Chicks were

celebrities voice their opinions on their platform,

at all educated enough to speak about their

their careers are ruined. For example: in 2003,

political opinions. The aftermath of this

The Dixie Chicks, a country group of female

controversy caused them to be blacklisted from

musicians from Texas, made a statement about

radio, receive death threats, and experience mobs

George Bush, former president of America,

of angry Americans protesting against them.

during a performance, which led to their

Backlash to this extent is an uncommon

unfortunate and unjust downfall. While

occurrence for male singers. For example, Kanye

performing live, lead singer Natalie Maines,

West, a famous male rapper, speaks out against

stated, “We do not want this war, this violence,

the government constantly over Twitter and in

and we're ashamed that the President of the

interviews, but he has never faced any

United States is from Texas." As American

repercussions for it from society that tarnishes

country musicians, The Dixie Chicks had a large

his career. For example, in 2016, Kayne West

following of conservative listeners. They did not

while on tour, performing in San Jose, stated, “I

take this statement lightly and did anything they

told y’all I didn’t vote, right?” “But if I would

could to retaliate.

have voted, I would have voted for Trump.” While some fans were upset, many defended Kanye, saying his quote was “entirely consistent

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with his character.”

Women are held to a higher standard

musicians top charts early in their careers, people

regarding their musical ability compared to men

find it hard to believe they got there with their

in the industry, causing them to be severely

own talents. This happened with the careers of

underappreciated. Artist Ariana Grande stated in

one of the biggest names of music today, Taylor

a Notes app manifesto in 2015 that she “would

Swift. When her breakthrough album Fearless

just love to see a chart with as many women on

won album of the year at the Grammys, she was

top as men,” “It’s just so male-dominated. It’s so

immediately criticized and accused of not writing

easy for them.” The industry is unable to accept

her songs, and rumoured to have male ghost-

that both men and women can work and co-

writers doing all the work. In her “Billboard’s

produce contentedly. Consequently, women

Woman of the Decade'' acceptance speech, Swift

receive more criticism for their music than men.

spoke about why she received such harsh

A study in 2015--conducted by Leanin.Org and

criticism, “Now I realize that this is just what

McKinsey & Company--found that in the

happens to a woman in music when she achieves

workplace, nearly a third of females reported

success or power beyond people’s comfort levels''

that they needed to constantly provide more

was how she responded to the hate and

evidence of their competence to their coworkers

conspiracies. Furthermore, in an interview with

in order to be respected. The University of

Vogue magazine in 2018, Swift acknowledged

Southern California conducted a study in 2019

how the industry treated her in her early career.

that showed that the ratio of men to women

They saw her as a kid and looked at her success

producers is 37 to 1 for 2019, while it was 47 to

as “cute” instead of empowering. “As soon as I

1 in 2018; this study shows that women are both

started playing stadiums — when I started to look

under-valued and underrepresented. Female

like a woman — that wasn’t as cool anymore”.

artists are looked at by society through a

When people started to realize Swift's true

microscope, picking out their imperfections and

potential, they felt threatened by it. Researchers

mistakes with every project they put out, with

from Forbes interviewed female songwriters and

every word they say, and every choice they

producers to gain a deeper understanding of the

make.

“lived experiences of women in music.” More than 40% of respondents revealed that their male

Within the music industry, there are

colleagues dismissed their abilities and work.

multitudes of people that cannot fathom having a woman succeed on her own, and must grab at straws to try and make sense of it. When female

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It is important to note that women of colour

Sexism in the music industry is inescapable

experience sexism in the music industry to a

for women as they create a name for themselves.

higher degree. A report released by Dr. Stacy L.

Women face a double standard that favours male

Smith, Inclusion in the Recording Studio,

artists. A man can do something which causes

showed that only 10.4% of Grammy nominees

them to gain praise, while a woman can do the

between 2013 and 2019 were female. However

same and receive the opposite. As well, women

only about 37% of all female nominees from this

are held to a higher standard regarding their

period were women from underrepresented

quality of music, forcing only them to overwork

racial and ethnic groups. Furthermore, the

themselves in order to reach an incredibly high

Inclusion in the Recording Studio study revealed

bar. A woman’s success is constantly

in its 2020 report that “women of colour are

undermined, causing insecurities and self-doubt

invisible as producers” due to the fact that only

when it comes to the work they put out. The

8 out of 1,093 producing credits went to females

music industry is clearly not built for the success

of colour. Fleur East, a Black English pop artist,

and promotion of female artists, as sexism

told BBC in an interview that when she was in a

continues to hurt women in music by mandating

group before taking part in the popular tv show,

them to unfair regulations. Improvements need

The X Factor, she “wouldn't be able to sell” her

to be made in order for the industry to represent

music if she decided to wear her hair naturally.

and promote all artists fairly. Mistakes need to be acknowledged and offensive standards need to be demolished in order for all artists, regardless of gender, to work and succeed in a just environment.

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MIDSOMMAR A SPELLBINDING, SCRUPULOUS, FOREBODING FILM

SIPORA WEST

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Ari Aster’s sophomore production, Midsommar, is a scintillating and horrifying exploration of grief, isolation, the concept of collective, and the void disjunction between heterosexual couples. Every audience of Midsommar has interpreted the film differently; while some claim that the film is a warning message about indoctrination by cults or radical idealists, others insist that Midsommar is simply a hyper-stylized breakup movie. Debates have broken out as to whether the film’s ending is genuinely “happy” or not. Participating in this discourse is not the only reason you should have watched Midsommar this Halloween season. Featuring meticulous attention to detail and some of the most gorgeous cinematography, costume design, and production design in horror film history, Midsommar is sure to satisfy your aesthetic cravings. With a slow-paced and eerily calm plot buildup, Midsommar manages to leave you with a pit in your stomach for the full two hours and twenty-minute runtime. Midsommar follows a young woman named Dani, played by the masterful Florence Pugh, who is grieving following the tragic deaths of her parents and sister; her sister, who suffered from extreme mental illness, killed their parents and then ended her own life. Dani is in a precarious relationship with a man named Christian, played brilliantly by Jack Reynor. Dani fears that Christian is going to leave her, and not for lack of reasoning - Christian consistently gaslights her, dismisses her, and excludes her from his life. At a party, Dani discovers that Christian has been hiding the fact that he is taking a trip to a rural town called Hälsingland in Sweden, where the local commune called the Hårga host an astonishing Midsommar festival every 90 years. Christian’s friend, Pelle, is a native of the Hårga, and he is welcoming his friends to the celebration because one of the men, Josh, is planning to write his cultural anthropology thesis on the festivities. After an argument that leaves Dani apologizing instead of Christian, he begrudgingly invites her to Sweden, hoping that she will refuse. However, Dani accepts, much to the dismay of Christian and his buddies. Once in Hälsingland, chilling events immediately begin occurring. The visitors are promptly given psychedelic mushrooms by the Hårga. They witness an ättestupa, in which two elders jump off a cliff to their deaths, and when one elder survives, the Hårga imitate his wails of agony while pulverizing his skull with a mallet. These sinister events continue, however, the tone of the film remains beatific and incandescent, which causes the aura of perturbation for the remainder of Midsommar.

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Florence Pugh excels as Dani. Her portrayal of a human who severely lacks meaningful connection and purpose carries the emotional weight of the movie. Cinematographer Powel Pogorzelski creates a glistening atmosphere that is in direct contrast to the horrors unfolding in Hälsingland. The set design is also marvellous; every furniture piece, wall mural, and greenery has a purpose. During one of the film's dining scenes, a mirrored table is used to reflect the luminescent glow of the sun. While the cameras were off the cast wore sunglasses to protect their eyes, and while the cameras were rolling the actors and actresses were forced to grit their teeth and attempt not to blink in pain. The costumes are also a magical portion of Midsommar. Costume designer Andrea Flesch created refined white dresses, many of which feature intricate embroidery, for the Hårga. These dresses signify a guise of virtue and goodness among the Hårga, as white is a universal colour of purity. The most famous dress from the film, the stunning floral gown that Dani wears in the final scene, includes ten thousand hand-stitched and glued-on artificial flowers. From an anthropological perspective, Midsommar brings up the topic of ethnocentrism vs. cultural relativism. Dani is horrified by the practices of the Hårga - in fact, she attempts to return to America after witnessing the ättestupa while anthropology student Josh approaches the Hårga from the viewpoint of not making hasty judgements about their culture simply because the Hårga’s methods of celebration would be unspeakable in America. The film reveals that

among the Hårga community, everyone commits suicide at 72, sexual partners are pre-determined based on astrological charts, and it is custom to feed your mate your pubic hairs. Midsommar raises the question of what is universally immoral, and what is universally repulsive. Do we, the audience, only find Midsommar horrifying because it is so far from our own realm of lived experience? Midsommar also tackles the profound loneliness of disconnection, and the extreme power of collectivity and community. At the beginning of the film, Dani has lost her family, her boyfriend is unattentive to her, and she has no relationships or connections of her own. When Dani arrives in Sweden, she is the most vulnerable person there. She is liable to indoctrination by, say, cult-like communes that feed on the forsaken and outcast. Midsommar aptly comments on the way cult-like groups attend to one’s emotional and psychological needs, before fully converting one to accepting that group’s behaviours. Without spoiling anything in Midsommar, I will disclose that contemplating topics such as where humans can find acceptance, the importance of humans finding acceptance, and the line between free will and coercion, make for a more pleasurable viewing experience. I would not call myself a horror film connoisseur. Horror is not my favourite genre, and I often find horror stories to be repetitive and boring. When I tell you that Midsommar is a truly original, engaging, and worthwhile horror film to watch, I hope you take my word for it.

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HOW ONE MAN CHANGED THE FACE OF ROCK FOREVER: REMEMBERING EDDIE VAN HALEN Natasha Bernstein

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Just over a year ago on October 6, 2020, the world lost a musical hero. Guitar virtuoso, Edward Van Halen, changed the sound of rock for the better. Formulating a technique so particular, so unique and foremost, so complex that it could merely be replicated not duplicated, he cemented a path that would be trekked through the rest of music history. Introducing the world to the “brown sound,” a distortion tone which resulted from the pickup the legendary guitarist used on his iconic “Frankenstrat” guitar, he inspired and continues to inspire copious amounts of guitarists.

On February 10th, 1978, the worldrenown quartet made up of Micheal Anthony, Alex and Edward Van Halen, and David Lee Roth, blazed a trail through the release of their classic self titled debut album, Van Halen. For the rest of eternity, electric guitar would no longer be played the same, scratch that, the world would no longer be the same. he opening track ‘Running With the Devil’ begins with the sound of a siren, firing right into an electrifying instrumental intro, and Diamond Dave’s howling vocals. Needless to say, the world was not ready for such magnitudes in terms of innovation, explosiveness, and a hint of submissiveness all jumbled into one record, but even if they were, would there have been any way to prepare them?

With fiery and melodic guitar licks, and neverbefore-heard techniques, Edward made an impression in the world of rock. It wasn’t until his shining moment on the mind blowing second track, ‘Eruption’, when he truly cemented himself in the place of, not only a musical prodigy, but as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. The song, a mere minute and 42 seconds, imprinted itself as the greatest guitar solo in all of rock history. The guitarist, using his technical mastery of rapid two-handed-finger-tapping, entirely altered what it meant to shred. His particular approach and technique has been attempted by many aspiring guitarists, but one thing has stood still all these years, and that is that there has never been an equivalent to Eddie Van Halen.

Forevermore, that solo transformed rock, as the 80s that followed the record were filled with guitarists in over their heads attempting to replicate his extremely accelerated approach to shredding. Edward Van Halen introduced the world to a sound that was so alien and so unique that it managed to leave behind an entire era of rock in awe, and would proceed to inspire the following generation. Just about every headbanging teenager of the 80s can remember the first moment they heard Eddie Van Halen rip his guitar apart and put it back together. His impact went further than his outfits and stage presence although many of the following bands replicated the flashy neon and spandex-filled ensembles that Van Halen paraded the stages with, including, but not limited to, Quiet Riot, Poison, and Def Leppard.

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It is not too outrageous to state that Van Halen were pioneers for the ‘hair metal’ genre that engulfed the 80s LA scene. Just about every short-lived hair band drew inspiration into their colourful outfits and over the top hair. There is, however, an extremely significant difference between Van Halen and the hair-metal posses that followed them. They blended the means of just about every genre they felt like dominating that day, all while the following generation of newbie bands practiced posing in front of their mirrors in preparation for their onstage performances. A vast majority of ‘Hair Metal’ can agree that the music came second to being in a band, (with some exceptions, i.e Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, and Def Leppard) consisted of looking pretty, making sure their sparkly outfits were form-fitting, and having the most outrageous hair in the business. Back to the music, Eddie Van Halen became a guitar hero the moment he laid down the first few guitar licks on the opening track of the band's debut album. His influence would go on to inspire some of rock's greatest guitarists, including the short-lived but painfully talented Randy Rhoads, who took his inspiration from Edward Van Halen's rapid technique as well as from classical music. Although it is an undoubted fact that Randy Rhoads was one of the most influential guitarists of the 80s, he was honest of his own talents and techniques in an interview with Guitar World circa 1982: “I have my own personality on guitar yet I don’t think I have my own style.” Proceeding with a straightforward response, “I do a lot of the same licks as Eddie Van Halen. Eddie is a great player, but it kills me that I do that.” He supposedly wished he could “take the time and come up with something no one else has done,” and following this, he said that it would take a couple of years before that could become possible. Whether it's true or not, Van Halen helped birth and shape some spectacularly unique and mind-blowing songs that moulded hard rock. ‘Mr. Crowley’, arguably Randy Rhoads' shining moment on Ozzy Osbourne’s, Blizzard of Ozz, birthed a guitar legend that was as influential as Edward Van Halen himself. 28

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Edward, not just as a musician, but as an honest, down-to-earth person, will continue to be celebrated as the years go on. His impact spreads across fashion, guitar playing, and rock altogether: his inspiration was and is vastly appreciated as an innovative, ahead of its time culture-change. The guitarist, who was never caught without a grin on his face whilst playing guitar, continues to be commemorated every time someone picks up a guitar and attempts to mirror his sound, every time someone presses play to a Van Halen song, and every time someone picks up one of their transformative records for the first time. Gone, but never forgotten, he will always be appreciated as one of the greatest guitarists to grace the planet.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN BALLET CADENCE PARSONS If you were asked to imagine a ballet dancer in your head and draw them out, what would you be sure to include? First off, they’re likely female, because ballet companies and dance studios are primarily composed of women. She has long slim limbs and a sharp facial structure, with bright blue eyes. Her silky hair is slicked back into a bun and is almost as perfect as her beautifully arched feet. Now, what if I were to tell you that this is rarely the case. What you may have just pictured is the ballet dancer stereotype that society has planted in our minds and a majority of the dancers we see on stage. Why is this what is presented to us when so many aspiring ballerinas do not fit into this mould? It is time to let this image go. Racism, fat-phobia, and homophobia are very prominent issues that have existed within the ballet industry around the world since the origins of the art form, and only now is the media talking about it. Amongst the controversy and discrimination that exists within the ballet community, the most commonly known issue is the physical aspect of it. Ballet dancers, both male and female, are expected to have and maintain a near impossible physique, one that is only healthy for those born with the genetics. Ballet is an art form where our body is our instrument. While having to be strong and capable of performing extremely difficult skills, it is frequently implied by teachers, choreographers, and companies all around the world that it is also equally as important that a ballet dancer is aesthetically pleasing and “looks the part.” As a dancer, and especially one practicing ballet, rehearsals and classes require you to show up in tight-fitting clothes, so that you are aware of and can see every inch of your body. You are surrounded by mirrors, to the front, back, and each side of you, just so you’re sure that every part of your instrument is perfect.

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While trying to understand why, when I Googled “what is a ballet body,” numerous links to potentially harmful diets and images of the same body figure would pop up. Nevertheless, I stumbled across a rather interesting history lesson, one I did not expect. Contrary to most beliefs, the astonishingly thin figure of ballet dancers did not become a part of the criteria until the 19th century. Before that, ballet dancers came in all shapes and sizes. This standard was introduced by George Balanchine, the founder of America’s first worldclass ballet school, the New York City Ballet. Popularly known as the father of American ballet, he produced more ballets than any other modernday choreographer in the world. As artistically talented as he may be, his idea of the perfect dancer caused many women and young girls to go through great lengths to meet his satisfaction– including sexual relations, marriage, drugs, and eating disorders–all in hopes of his approval and their rise to success and stardom. “Balanchine was looking for: length — length of leg, length of arm, length of neck, which goes right through to smaller heads,” explains Peter Boal, Artistic Director for the Pacific Northwest Ballet, in Pointe Magazine’s 2011 article “Too Fat? Too Thin? Too Tall? Too Short?” Thus, dancers began to compromise their health for the sake of the art of dance as a result of the establishment of American ballet and its excessively ideal image of the female body.

It is no secret that the majority of successful and professional ballet dancers have been white, ever since ballet's European and aristocratic background created substantial difficulties for racialized dancers. Only recently was this brought to light when Misty Copeland, the first AfricanAmerican woman to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, shared an image on her Instagram account of two dancers in blackface at the Bolshoi Ballet Company in Moscow. Not only do dancers of colour experience direct aggression, but they are also victims of ongoing microaggressions. For instance, African-American ballerina Jordana Daumec stated that she “always feels like the odd one out” due to her darker skin colour and non-European features.

After years of silence, professional dancers began to speak out about their difficulties to reach the ideal body type, ultimately exposing the world to the horrors that their directors were putting them through behind the scenes. Gelsey Kirkland, a famous ballerina, wrote in her biography Dancing on My Grave about how she openly blames Balanchine for her anorexia, bulimia, and drug addiction that almost killed her. Kirkland is not the only brave soul to speak up, as there have now been several voices, fighting against the discrimination of “normal bodies” in ballet’s culture.

Ballet demands extra talent, extra work, extra perseverance, and extra sacrifices from dancers of colour. This is especially prominent amongst black, Asian, Native American, and brown dancers who oftentimes need to work harder and make extra sacrifices to succeed, as well as just survive.

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Twenty-nine-year-old French dancer Chloe Lopes Gomes stated that her skin colour was criticized and she was often encouraged to apply lighter-coloured makeup to her skin, which left her feeling alone and ashamed. She attacked the lack of access ethnic minorities had to the classical art form, calling the ballet industry "exclusive and aristocratic." She also claims that in 2018, while she attended rehearsals at Berlin's elite ballet company Staatsballett, she was told her mistakes stood out because she is black. In response, the company stated it could not comment on personal matters, but that they took her complaints seriously.

Now you might have noticed how nothing mentioned has discussed boys and men in ballet, and the reason for that would be because of the stigma that still exists very prominently in the media regarding homophobia and misogyny within the industry. In a 2019 article, Deidre Tangorra talks about her 9-year-old son, Julius, who has been aggressively bullied for dancing. At school, he’s been put in a chokehold, tripped, and tackled while being called “twinkle toes,” “fairy,” and other homophobic slurs. He can’t ride the school bus because of other kids spitting on him, according to both Julius and his mother. She states that “if a boy wants to do something perceived as slightly feminine, they’re perceived as weaker. It’s not about being against dance, it’s machoness.” This is being worked on, and like “normal bodies,” “normal people” are being increasingly represented as well. Last year, Chase Johnsey, a male dancer who identifies as gender-fluid and uses masculine pronouns, made history in the English National Ballet’s production of “Sleeping Beauty” as the first male dancer to perform an ensemble role traditionally danced by a woman. One thing you may realize as you attend multiple ballet performances is that nearly every story is the same. While yes they are primarily classics based on old fairy tales, almost every single one includes a romantic duet between a man and woman. In an interview with Adam Sklute, the director of Ballet West in Salt Lake City, he discusses

his experience as an openly gay man. Sklute lives in Salt Lake, a generally gay-friendly city, despite Utah’s conservative politics and the home of the Mormon Church, which opposes same-sex marriage. While at a performance, he was mandated to put up a warning for a piece with a man-to-man relationship, saying that it was intended for a mature audience only. This warning wasn’t even put up for performances with violence and weapons, what is so “mature” about a gay relationship? There is no doubt that ballet has changed since it first made its appearance around the 1500s Instead, the question is: has it changed enough? Every day, new positive developments are being made in ballet culture. This is in addition to progressions amongst its teachers and choreographers because as they become those of younger and more progressive generations, are revisiting old criteria as to who can be successful as a ballet dancer. This article is by no means to say that there is anything wrong with you if you are a ballet dancer who fits into the images of what a “perfect” ballerina is, it is instead to open the minds of society into accepting that being a successful and accepted individual within the world of ballet should not be reliant upon what you look like or where you come from. We can only hope that, one day, everyone who has a passion and love for ballet has an equal shot of success as anyone else.

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LET'S TALK MET GALA Leila Durante and Teah Pacchiarotti *DISCLAIMER* This article is made solely for judging how well the celebrities’ outfits matched the theme rather than who they are as people/our opinions about them.

In America: A Lexicon of Fashion A ‘Lexicon’ is almost like an encyclopedia, when looking at this word in the context of the 2021 MET Gala title, we can assume the theme refers to a dictionary-like look of American fashion over the years. Anna Wintour, one of the most influential people in fashion history, views the theme as an opportunity for new designers to showcase their talents whilst looking forward into the future of the fashion industry (ie. sustainability, ending fast fashion, etc). The options are almost endless, and celebs could have been inspired by many iconic eras such as Old Hollywood, disco, western, and more. Compared to themes in the past, this year gives designers much more creative freedom, hence why many people were disappointed when many of the looks did not live up to the theme.

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UNDERSTANDING THE THEME LIL NAS X - Leila Durante Lil Nas X arrived on the carpet wearing a cape, later revealing the multiple layers hidden underneath it. Upon undoing his cape, he exposed a layer of gold armour that signified him coming out of his shell confidently in a world where it’s hard to do so. As a black, gay, American man in a straight man’s industry, it’s hard for him to truly express himself the way he wishes he could. That being said, after posing with his gold armour on, he once again undressed himself to surprise viewers with another look; this one being a full head-to-toe bodysuit, showing that he’s no longer afraid to express himself and not worried about receiving negative judgement. Although the meaning behind this look is truly inspiring, Lil Nas X created more of a personal statement on the carpet rather than abiding by the theme.

KENDALL JENNER - Teah Pacchiarotti Kendall Jenner wore a sheer beaded gown with a diamond collar detail. The dress was extremely flattering, which is not a surprise when considering Kendall's past MET Gala looks that have been very similar to that of this year. The glove detailing, diamond shoulder pieces, and choker were very eye-catching. Although Kendall Jenner looked absolutely stunning, she did not match the theme at all. In an interview, Jenner said her look was inspired by one of Audrey Hepburn’s costumes in My Fair Lady. However, Hepburn was born in Belgium and registered as an English citizen, which takes away from the America-focused aspect of the theme. Additionally, My Fair Lady takes place in London, England, which once again dissociates from this year’s MET Gala theme. Therefore, none of Kendall’s influences were truly American. FASHION AND ART

UNDERSTANDING THE THEME BILLIE ELISH - Leila Durante Billie Eilish’s thought process behind her look was exceptional, however, the execution was the exact opposite. Eilish decided to take inspiration from 1980 “Hollywood Barbie” dolls. These dolls were one of the most influential trends amongst young American girls forty years ago. Each year, a new Barbie would be created around the holiday season and people went crazy for them. Though they started out in America, they quickly became a worldwide phenomenon. Billie Eilish tried to create a Holiday Barbie look, and while her intentions were good, the overall result was most definitely not. The design of Eilish’s dress did not flatter her as well as it could have and looked as though it needed more effort put into it. For example, the stitching on the top part of the dress looked like it was never fully completed and that it was not altered to fit her correctly. The long trail to the already extremely poofy dress was unneeded and a huge waste of fabric. The colour of the dress washed out Eilish’s features, and to top it all off, having no necklace caused her look to come across as somewhat unfinished. Her hair was Marilyn Monroe-inspired but was done in such a way that caused her to appear like she was attending the MET with bedhead hair. Billie Eilish understood the Lexicon of Fashion theme, but she most definitely did not execute the look as well as expected.

FASHION AND ART

GEMMA CHAN - Teah Pacchiarotti Although the premise of the MET is to match the theme, execution is just as important. Unfortunately, while Gemma Chan understood the assignment, she only got a C- from me. Chan showed up in a beaded mini dress with a green fabric “train” paired with simple black studded heels. Her look was inspired by the first Chinese-American actress in Hollywood, Anna May Wong, and with the reference being American, it perfectly matched the theme. Chan is Chinese, so this “ode to Anna” clearly meant a lot to her, though it is clear she didn’t think the look through properly. The main inspiration is very clean and elegant. However, I personally believe if you are using an amazing look as inspiration, you have to do better. Chan’s version was short and oddly fitted; making it shorter “cheapened” the look, and on top of that, the designer added a pale green train, which seemed to be added last minute to spice up the bland dress. This seemed very out of place, random, and didn’t match the look whatsoever. However, I think, if executed better, Chan could have been one of the best looks of the night.

FASHION AND ART

OUR TOP LOOKS GIGI HADID - Leila Durante

Full-time model-mom Gigi Hadid served at the MET Gala this year. With her own personal take on 1930s fashion, mixed with a few hints of present-day style, Hadid’s look stood out more than any other. She arrived on the carpet wearing a head-to-toe elegant-yet-grungy Prada look that paid homage to oldtime American fashion. The style of the double corset dates all the way back to the 30s and matches the “Lexicon” theme perfectly. The incorporated slit tied into present-day American fashion by appealing to have more of a revealing effect. Her subtle mention of the American flag was present within her look through the incorporation of red hair, blue eye makeup, and a white dress. The high-ponytail styled hair resembled that of modern-day American style and was the perfect way to accentuate the cut of the dress. The main concept of the dress was inspired by former first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis, which provided Hadid with 1960 American fashion inspiration while allowing her to stick to her 1930s-inspired double corset look. Overall, this look is definitely my number one. With its inclusion of past and present American style, and its subtle blue, red, and white incorporations, Hadid executed the theme In America: A Lexicon of Fashion exquisitely well and definitely set the bar high for looks to come. LUPITA NYONG’O - Teah Pacchiarotti At first glance, Lupita Nyong'o's gorgeous Versace look reminded many of Britney Spears’ and Justin Timberlake’s iconic denim red carpet look from 2001. Although Nyong’o might have been influenced by that memorable fashion choice, her look has a much deeper meaning. Denim is a huge part of American fashion and has been a staple material in almost every American’s closet for decades. Being a black woman in Hollywood, she chose to do denim because indigo and cotton, throughout American history, were cultivated by enslaved black people, and these materials were used in the production of denim. Nyong’o’s hair, styled by Vernon François, was inspired by a piece done by photographer and multimedia artist Lorna Simpson. The American artist made a series of collages with images of black models in the magazine Ebony and Jet. The sculptural dress itself is absolutely fabulous, and the beading guides your eye down to the train of the dress. The sheer and glitzed slip-like dress underneath is still very beautiful but doesn’t take away from the real star: the denim. Her makeup is somewhere in between an old Hollywood movie star and a 90s supermodel. The blue and red makeup mixed with the bright white diamonds, accenting Nyong’o’s neck, wrist, and fingers, are obvious hints to the three colours present on the American flag. From head to train, Nyong’o aced the theme.

FASHION AND ART

The 2021 MET Gala was most definitely one for the books. With looks ranging from elegant, show-stopping gowns to full-length bodysuits, this year’s MET most definitely provides a wide variety of different takes on In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. Although a few guests didn’t execute the theme as well as hoped, a handful of celebrities created...

STUNNING, JAWDROPPING LOOKS THAT MANAGED TO MATCH THE THEME EXACTLY AS IMAGINED.

FASHION AND ART

Tips To Help You Stay On Top of School ELLA IONESCU With the overwhelming first couple months of school finally coming to a close, it’s normal to feel as though school is becoming too much; especially as many students have already started to feel troubled balancing their commitments. However, with these tips, you’ll be able to keep up and balance school with all of your extracurriculars in no time! Tip 1 - Although this is practically a given, getting at least seven hours of sleep needs to be prioritized! I know going to bed early is tough, especially with so many distractions around--such as screens and the enticing words of the For All The Girls Magazine--so accessible near you.The first thing you can do to help you get those refreshing long hours of sleep is putting your devices away by 10 pm. Although this is difficult for many, simply just turning on ‘Do Not Disturb’ and setting your phone on a table outside your room will help fight against the temptation to stay up and get sucked into an endless rabbit hole. The second thing you can do is purchase sleepy tea that has natural components, such as chamomile, infused in it which help you fall asleep even in your giddiest state. Make sure you check the ingredients, however, and be certain you don't drink it in large quantities.

LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS

Tip 2 - Paying attention in class is vital to staying on top of school, as this is the time in which you get to hear your teachers examples, explanations, and ask any questions you may have. Yes, materials are available to you at home and you can always get the notes from other people, however, these things do not give you the same knowledge as your teacher may in live class. Paying attention can be difficult for many, but do not fret as this can be easily fixed. The key to paying attention in class is to have an interest in what you are learning; don’t take any courses you may find boring or too challenging if they aren’t necessary, as you won’t have any interest in listening to your teacher talk about the content. Another easy way to ensure you pay attention in class is leaving your phone in your bag. Electronic devices are a temptation for many students as they can easily get distracted by their friends, feed, or even just feel the need to listen to music. By putting your device in your bag, not only are you getting rid of a huge distraction, but you are also leaving yourself to only have the option of paying attention. Tip 3 - Balancing extracurriculars is really important when it comes to staying on top of school, and it is therefore really easy to feel overwhelmed and as though you do not have a steady schedule. Make sure you do not sign yourself up for any commitments you won’t be able to keep up with because you will end up burning yourself out and not being able to complete anything to the best of your ability. Becoming overwhelmed is a big factor which causes procrastination and limits your work ethic; the less you feel you have on your plate, the more inclined you will feel to actually do it. This being said, I still do think you should join as many extracurriculars as you can as they are a great way to make friends and expand your knowledge; just don’t join so many to the point where something fun turns into something you dread. With these tips and tricks you will feel more than ready to take on the new school year and anything it throws at you. Just make sure to be disciplined and ready to learn! Always remember to take breaks and relax when necessary; we’re all going through hardships right now, and it is important to know that there are always people around you that you can lean on for support. We’ll all get through this school year together! LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS

THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL BREAKS nicole sandels It's Monday after school and you get home - only you can’ t seem to relax. The stress of clubs, that pile of homework, and your job keep biting at your brain, not allowing you to take some time for yourself. Whether you currently feel like this or not, everyone can relate to this feeling at some point in the school year. Many of us feel guilty for it, “Am I lazy?”, “I am not a good student.”, and “How am I supposed to be successful?” are some thoughts correlating with this feeling. It brings self-doubt, mood swings, stress, and many other unwanted notions. The key to avoiding these thoughts is knowing how to efficiently get through work, so we can make the most of our time. Since the start and slow continuing of the school year, it has and will continue to be crucial to know how to manage yourself as well as your time. Something that should always be a part of your schedule is that needed self-care: time set aside for something you love doing that helps relax your mind. The list for these things can be anything from watching Netflix, going out with friends, and even just spending time on your phone. If you’ re a crazy workaholic, remember that it is proven you are more effective if you give your brain rest. The following paragraphs will outline some of those benefits and explore the reasoning behind them.

Retaining Information. What do you think is more effective? Option A: A four hour study session with no breaks. Option B: A three hour study session with 15 minute breaks throughout. If you picked option B, you would be correct. During those breaks, you should take a walk, get something to eat, etc. Doing this will allow your brain to absorb the media you were focusing on properly. It also explains why studying before you sleep is so effective - you give your brain a chance to put all the information together. This method of giving your brain a rest also applies for creating new ideas and improving the creativity of them. Our brain is usually in two different settings: focused mode and diffused mode. When we are in “focus mode,” we are applying ourselves and concentrating on a single goal; such as getting that math problem done. “Diffuse mode” is when we allow our brains to daydream and our thoughts to wander; moments with friends, going for walks, and taking showers. That's why some of our best ideas occur in the shower or when we are sleeping. So if you can’ t seem to come up with an idea, give it a couple days and the answer will probably come to you when you are least expecting it. 40

LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS

Improving Focus. Taking breaks is directly linked to an increase in ability to focus. Humans are not wired to be able to focus over lengthy spans of time, and breaks are needed for a momentary deactivation. “Deactivating and reactivating your goals allows you to stay focused,” says University of Illinois psychology professor Alejandro Lleras. Brief mental breaks will really help, so try the break method the next time you can’ t focus!

Creating The Right Objectives. When we are always on the move completing task after task, we can get derailed from our original objectives. As a result, it is important to ensure you are working at your best and prioritizing the right tasks. Taking a break allows us to view the full image in order to ensure we haven't lost sight of the broader picture. According to the Harvard Business Review, “When you work on a task continuously, it’ s easy to lose focus and get lost in the weeds. In contrast, following a brief intermission, picking up where you left off forces you to take a few seconds to think globally about what you’ re ultimately trying to achieve.” Remembering the importance of mental breaks will get you through the year in the most positive way. Never feel guilty if you need to take longer breaks in order to work while keeping yourself happy, even if those breaks are a whole day of watching Netflix and seeing your friends. Taking breaks doesn’ t equal weakness; instead, it is a sign that you know what’ s best and are able to accomplish things in the most efficient way possible. So go ahead, take five!

LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS

Over the course of the pandemic, many took part in new hobbies that contributed to the curing of their inevitable boredom. Personally, my newfound hobby was learning how to positively spend time with myself. Growing up I always believed that, especially because I was so social, spending time with myself would be boring and a waste of time. The truth is, spending time with yourself is far from boring. Discovering yourself for who you are can help you in many situations, such as discovering who you want to spend time with, and can aid the flow of a conversation. Although it may seem intimidating, taking the time to find out who you are can be transformative. Sometimes, it may even take boredom to give you the push to get started. HESITANCY After discovering how transformative spending time with myself really was, I became curious as to why so many of us hesitate when it comes to spending a night in. Looking back, I personally found that I was a bit scared of truly finding out who I was. Often, we become pushed back to the idea of self-intimacy because it means you must learn what to do on your own and come to terms with why we are the way we are. I believe that with the standards set by ourselves, the media, and society, we can be ashamed of ourselves being short of those we look up to. From a young age, many of us rely on those in our lives, such as family or friends, to influence who we are at our core; this is instead of just sitting with ourselves and figuring it out on our own. FINDING A BALANCE Once you've mastered the art of spending time with yourself, a problem may arise that you need to find a balance between being alone and being with others around you. Although you may be hesitant to get immersed in whichever is comfortable for your personality, finding a balance between the two will be useful. Sometimes you may not feel like being with others, and at other times you may want the opposite. By listening to what's best for you, you can get the best of both worlds. When you get more comfortable with spending time by yourself, you may even crave nights in instead of nights out, which is totally fine!

LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS

THE

HEALING

POWER OF

SPENDING

TIME WITH

YOURSELF

ANASTASIA DIMAS

WHAT TO DO? When you come to realize the large amount of time you actually have alone, you may begin to want to make good use of the time at hand. Starting with a simple task, such as journaling, can be a great way to discover what's on your mind. There comes a point where you come to the conclusion that you are solely with you, and that you can learn to be authentically honest. Oftentimes, you are the only one that can answer the question of what to write. Write about anything, and the words will take you to the answer. Now if you are not too keen on writing, take the time to relax and get out of the same loop of overthinking and stress from your daily life. Perhaps take a bath, or sit outside to relax yourself. Cooking or baking are also great options to take your mind off of everything. One of my favourite activities I discovered over the pandemic has been going on long walks, but with a twist. I often found that when I would talk to many of my friends about my life, being the talker that I am, I was consistently afraid that they might lose interest, and I felt as if I was wasting their time. Instead of calling them, I decided to put on some earbuds, get my voice memo app, and just talk to myself about anything that was on my mind. As silly as it may sound, when coming home at the end of my walk, I felt relieved, relaxed, and heard. Additionally, when conversing with others about your personal life, their opinion may influence your emotions and your actions, whilst when talking to yourself, you discover everything on your own. Taking the time to step outside of your world, pay attention to your emotions, and reflect on your goals can be life changing. In conclusion, spending some time with yourself each day can be transformative towards the way you interact and feel daily. I found that once I spent more time with myself, it was easier to know what I wanted in difficult situations. Over recent years, being your own best friend has been popularized with self care growing in popularity. If you spend just a bit of time today for yourself through activities such as walking to a local coffee shop by yourself or exploring the new park, your day can be that much better. Discovering who you are may be difficult, however, spending time with yourself can be one step closer to that.

LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS

How To Skip the Small Talk Anastasia Dimas

Small talk, whether we realize it or not, is something we heavily rely on and use constantly within our daily lives; “how's your day” or “the weather is nice.” These questions and comments are something we utilize because of their practicality, however, we all know they lead us nowhere. Although it may seem intimidating, skipping the small talk in conversations can take your relationships to a deeper level of intimacy, and can save you lots of time.

LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS

Why small talk? We use small talk when meeting someone for the first time or seeing them after ages spent apart; this includes people such as our such as our friends, family, or colleagues. Although it can seem like the simplest route, it can often be boring and repetitive. After repeating the same questions everyday, you may even become annoyed at ‘how nice the weather is’. Changing it up every once in a while can show how interesting you can be in a relationship, and creates small steps to a closer bond. Personalizing the conversation In a conversation, we always crave the feelings we need the most: understanding, comfort, and quality. By making the conversation more personal towards the other person, you can make them feel these core feelings. A simple way to do this is by bringing up something they previously mentioned about themselves that they took particular interest in; or perhaps you even noticed they gravitated towards a certain topic, something that you may want to bring into a conversation to help it flow. People love to talk about themselves, so getting them to express their interests will surely set you up for a great conversation. Being authentic in conversation can build honesty within the relationship, so no need to sugar coat. Showing interest Showing the person you are talking to that you care about what they are sharing will tell them that you are interested. Add comments if you wish, and don't hesitate to further the conversation if a related thought comes to mind. When they show particular interest in something, perhaps say “tell me more” to show you are engaged in what they have to say. Don’t hesitate to use body language as well to express your interest. If they are leaning off from sharing about their personal life, share something interesting about your day!

In conclusion, have fun with your everyday conversation. Be creative and authentic when speaking, and show them you care. To try, mix it up today and use some of the tips shared. Despite its convenience, small talk leads to the same places it always takes you - nowhere. Skipping the small talk is sure to grow your relationships, and have a transformative impact on you as an individual. LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS

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All image via Google Images Cartoons via Canva

WRITERS FEATURED Maya Akkus Natasha Bernstein Amelia D'Arolfi Anastasia Dimas Leila Durante Ella Ionescu Hazel Kurniadi Maya Milosevic Teah Pacchiarotti Cadence Parsons Georgia Pomozova-Mann Nicole Sandels Soma Savage Sipora West Alyssa Zhang

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