Collegiette Issue 008

COLLEGIETTE

AMERICAN

LETTERS FROM THE EDITORS

Welcome to the Fall 2022 Edition of Her Campus American’s Collegiette! We are so excited to welcome you into this magazine full of creative and innovative designs, beautiful photography and incredibly meaningful articles. Through HCAU, we aspire to empower our members’ voices and foster a space of genuine expression. We are overjoyed to present each writer’s and designer’s individual and shared expressions through this vessel of artistry.

This semester’s Collegiette tackles discrepancies in the physical and mental health industry, critiques pop-culture, assesses campus life and shares personal narratives. These pages are filled with issues our members feel do not receive enough attention in mainstream media and the goal of Her Campus American is to create a safe and inclusive platform for these topics, as well as our team. And I believe Issue 008 does just that.

We hope with each article, you gain a new perspective, draw inspiration and have a deeper understand ing of why media organizations like Her Campus are more important than ever.

Thank you to everyone on the HCAU team, to our supporters and to you, our reader.

HCXO, Gianna Matassa, Editor-in-Chief

CAMPUS AT AMERICAN

It’s with great joy and excitement that we share our Fall 2022 issue of Collegiette with you! This se mester, our writers worked through different themes of identity, history and politics in their own lives while navigating school, life and unprecedented political circumstances. They worked hard to bring these ideas to their work and write about relevant, meaningful topics. I’m proud to share this collec tion of articles with you, and hope it offers some insight into personal, social and global issues that we deal with everyday. I’m also unbelievably grateful and excited for the designers’ work on this issue as well. Enjoy!

HCXO, Hannah Richards, Publishing Director

This issue of Collegiete contains opinion pieces. Her Campus American journalists are free to express opinions. The opinions in this article are not representative of Her Campus American’s opinions as an organization.

THE STORIES THAT

Queerbaiting in Media and the False Progress it Presents

SHOULD HAVE BEEN:

Sophie Carter

Progress. This is one of the few words that define the human race better than almost any other combination of letters. No matter what is happening in the world, whether that be a plague, destruction or war, the human race is always moving forward. When the bare necessities of life are met, humans turn their attention to how they are perceived and expressed. A prime example of this is the expression of sexuality, and how society’s perception of sexuality affects a person.

Sexuality has been a bone of contention for people since before the concept existed. In the modern era of extraordinary technology, free expres sion and advancements in all aspects of life, the freedom to exist outside of a heteronormative environment contin ues to be frowned upon. Queerbaiting in the media prevents the LGBTQ+ community from progressing in any meaningful way.

Some of the most effective portrayals of ideas, trends and information are through the media: Video Games, TV shows, movies and books. Queerbait ing, defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is “the practice of incorporating apparently or potentially LGBTQ characters or relationships into a film, television show, etc., as

a means of attracting or appealing to LGBTQ audiences, while remaining deliberately coy or ambiguous about the characters’ sexuality.”

Queerbaiting and capitalism are thick as thieves. LGBTQ+ characters, plotlines and subtext draw in audiences, only to leave them hanging. The profits made off of queerbaiting fuel the continued cycle of false LGBTQ+ progress. The idea that the only reason queer representation appears in media is to make a quick and easy buck demoralizes every one, LGBTQ+ people and allies alike.

Queerbaiting is also an easy way to fake inclusion while rak ing in profits from conservative audiences. As Isabel Long, a freshman at American University, puts it, “Queerbaiting is a cop-out.” Conservative, queer and neutral audiences all watch the same piece of media, and the profits made from

If they [a gay character] were an evil character, they

all those audiences are collected without any LGBTQ+ progress occurring. Since nothing queer is ever “canon,” the producers and directors of media can deny any questions brought up by queer consumers.

Some would argue that any representation is good represen tation. Ten to 15 years ago, gay representation was essential ly nonexistent. LGBTQ+ culture was much more under ground and covert, so as to not be dragged into the spotlight of ridicule or outright violence.

Going even further back in time, during the 1920s and 1930s Hollywood era, LGBTQ+ characters that were shown on screen were put into a villain role or eventually killed off.

“If they [a gay character] were an evil character, they had to die,” said American University Professor Robert Connelly.

had to die,

“ “

This showed the audience that being a homosexual was wrong, and that nothing good could come from being one. However, with progress in all forms of media comes a just demand for accurate and respectful representation. With this demand, the future of queer media is up in the air. Audiences actively want more respectful and accurate queer representation, but Hollywood and conservatives alike fer vently impede the progress of the queer media. Many media platforms are currently canceling many queer TV shows and movies. Shows like “Atypical,” “Batwoman,” “First Kill” and “Gentleman Jack” have had their planned future seasons canceled, despite protests from fans.

Even when shows are doing wonderfully in the profit department, and receive outstanding reviews, streaming services are still canceling them. These shows have queer characters in them, and they are still being canceled.

On the flip side, shows like “Supernatural,” “Hannibal” and “Supergirl” were all given multiple seasons and lots of marketing. Both queerbaiting and active cancellation are major parts of the false progress of the media.

An immense part of combating queerbaiting is to keep consuming queer media in all forms. Consumption of queer books, music, movies and TV shows actively spits in the face of a homophobic Hollywood and film industry. Watching queer media reminds everyone, whether they are supportive of the LGBTQ+ community or not, that queer people exist and not going to be silenced.

The concept of sexuality and being LGBTQ+ has been controversial for centuries. Heteronormativity has ruled society for long enough. This heteronormativity, being extremely hypocritical, leeches off of queerness for profit. Queercod ed characters, relationship dynamics often found in queer relationships and the genuinity of the community are stolen

by many media outlets that lead audi ences on, only to throw characters into straight relationships as a copout. Even when queerness is openly shown, many forms of media that depict it ac curately and respectfully are canceled, despite succeeding in the areas of profit and likeability., Despite media producers fighting the LGBTQ+ community tooth and nail, continuing to con sume and support queer media is the answer to gaining the support these stories deserve.

AU’S LIMITED COURSE OPTIONS:

Will There be a Change Soon?

Belle Evans

American University (AU) broadcasts their commitment to “diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusive excellence.”

As stated on its website, the school “was designed to train public servants for the future” and liberal activism is a central part of AU’s culture. But does it really live up to its claims? There are several areas of study with little to no courses in AU’s course catalog.

Less than 500 students total will be able to take a 3-credit Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) course next semester, as seats in these courses are very limited. Only 114 students will be able to take an introductory 100-level WGSS course, which is required for many of the other available WGSS courses.

Looking to study Africa? Hopefully, you have an early registration date, because there are only 221 seats in total in undergraduate courses that study Africa on campus in the Spring. This is across genres, including history, politics and economics. Several classes aren’t specifically focused on Africa, they only have a single unit or subtop ic relating to Africa.

While AU’s course options aren’t very diverse right now, Dr. Christina Riley, WGSS professor at AU, believes that the course catalog will expand within the next year.

“I am the first full-time hire outside of the director that the WGSS program has,” Riley said. “WGSS is actively ex

Kylie Finkelstein

panding. Once those professors are hired, that’ll really open it up to more offerings.”

Riley states that the course catalog will expand significantly as the Critical Race, Gender and Culture Studies (CRGC) and WGSS areas grow.

“WGSS and Critical Race, Gender and Culture studies are new, maybe a year old. There’s growth needed and it’s hap pening,” said Riley.

While there may be new classes diversifying the catalog soon, is it enough to make students actually receive a well-rounded education? Many majors can be completed without taking courses in these areas, meaning that students can choose not to take these courses and instead take classes with subjects they’re already familiar with.

While many AU students may be interested in these classes and are able to take them, they shouldn’t if they have other options. Many could receive their degree without taking limited courses about other countries’ cultures, politics and ways of life.

Can AU fairly continue to claim its priority of inclusion without ensuring every one of its students receives an inclu sive education?

Illustrations by Yutong Deng

Kylie Finkelstein

WGSS is actively expanding. Once those professors are hired, that’ll really open it up to more offerings

“ “

GIRLS ON THE RUN

It’s no secret that American University has garnered a reputation both on and off campus for being the most politically active school in the country. The title is well earned with countless politically inclined clubs and a seemingly endless flood of incoming students heading toward the School of Public Affairs and School of International Service.

Many of the students at AU grew up being told that they were destined to change the world, they were going to be the next president and that Generation Z is going to fix every thing. That’s a lot of pressure, considering the political mess that’s been unfolding for the last twenty years culminating in a recession as early Gen Z enters the workforce, rising inflation as younger Gen Z tries to pay for college, and extreme uncertainty as they cast their ballots every two years – many of whom have done so for the first time in 2022.

Despite the overwhelming political activity and encouragement to change the world, it’s unlikely that many women and nonbinary students will run and serve in public office.

The Barriers

Women and nonbinary people face high levels of discrimination and sexism when they decide to run for office. Some times, this can be so harmful, invasive and detrimental that it prevents them from running for office in the first place.

Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump and the Republican party hurtled a wave of sexism toward Hillary Clinton and her campaign, not focusing on her policy or strategy, but instead on her appearance, her clothing and her emotional stability. The term “nasty wom an” was popularized by the right and co-opted by the left, originally coined by Trump to describe Clinton’s untrust worthiness, appearance and existence- not as a politician but as a woman.

In her new book, “Electable: Why America Hasn’t Put a Woman in the White House… Yet,” NBC’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Ali Vitali references many instances in which the 2020 Presidential candidates she covered encoun tered sexism while on the campaign trail. She shares expe riences of women facing accusations of unprofessionalism, unpreparedness, and criticisms that their male counterparts would never hear. For example, she mentions critiques of unprofessionalism aimed at then-Senator Harris for trying on a sparkling jacket while on the campaign trail.

She also shares moments of inspiration and hope. She references Senator Elizabeth Warren’s slogan, “I’m running for president because that’s what girls do,” and the election of the Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman in her position. The title of her book ends in “…Yet”, implying that we will eventually get there.

Hannah Richards

Representation is one of the most effective ways to combat these harsh barriers.

The Importance of Representation

Throughout history, there have always been more men in elected office than there have been women or nonbinary folks. More recently, the large gender gap has slightly eased, but it’s nowhere near even.

According to the Congressional Research Service, women make up only 27.9% of the House of Representatives and 24% of the Senate, despite accounting for 50% of the United States’ population, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. By judgment of numbers, this makes no sense.

When women, nonbinary folks and others with marginal ized identities are elected to political office, they represent more than just a single election. Whether it is beneficial or detrimental to their candidacy and political agenda, many of these people represent movements much larger than their individual success.

When young women, young queer people and young folks of color look at the electorate and see an elected official who shares their identities, it sends a message that they are also capable of running for office- and winning. Representation is important to encourage others to run, and to raise awareness of their issues.

Performance on the Campaign Trail and In Public Office

When women run for office, they win at the same rates as men, according to a report in the New York Times. The difference is that women are significantly less likely to run for office in the first place.

There are a variety of factors that contribute to this unfortu nate truth. In a report written by American University Pro fessors Lawless and Fox in 2013, they highlight a gendered gap in politicized home environments and socialization, academic exposure to political information, competitive in volvement, encouragement to run and self-doubt in regard to qualifications.

According to their report, aptly titled “Girls Just Wanna Not Run,” on average 53% of women and 66% of men in terviewed had considered a career in politics. Some may call it a confidence gap, an ambition gap or a demonstration of men’s inflated egos. But one way or another, the likelihood that women’s names are on the ballot to begin with is much less than that of their male counterparts.

Women are forced to overcome more barriers, and therefore need to have greater qualifications, skills and background than men in order to achieve the same goal. This gap in qualifications and skills does not end on the campaign trail.

Though it may be less likely for women to enter public office, it is very likely that when they do enter office they significantly outperform their male colleagues. Women are less likely to believe they can run and succeed in the first place, therefore they are typically overqualified compared to their male counterparts. Congressional districts that are represented by women in Congress on average will receive about nine percent more federal program spending than those represented by men, according to a study from the University of Chicago by Anzia and Berry.

Emma Baumgarten

How To Run For Office

There are varying qualifications for each level of public of fice. Many local elections are conducted based on individual rules. In Washington, D.C. there are many options for local offices. Wards one through eight elect Councilmembers and Members to the Board of Education. They also elect an Attorney General and Mayor. With individual requirements for these types of positions in each state, more information can be found at Runforoffice.org.

At the federal level, Congressmembers are elected every two years. Candidates must be at least 25 years old, they need to live in the state or territory that they will represent, and they need to have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, meaning younger folks and immigrants are eligible to repre sent their state.

Senators have stricter requirements. Senators need to be at least 30 years old, have been a citizen for at least nine years, and live in the state they plan on representing when the election occurs.

In order to run for president, candidates have to be natu ral-born citizens of the U.S. and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years. They also need to be at least 35 years old.

In five years, most of the women and nonbinary folks at American University will be eligible to run for Congress, in ten they’ll be eligible for the Senate.

The presidency’s natural-born citizenship requirement will pose barriers, but there are still some students who, in fif teen years, will be more than qualified for the highest office in the country. Some of us are qualified to run and win local elections right now.

Support Systems

There are many resources available to young women and nonbinary folks through American University and other outlets that can help encourage and train people to run for public office. These include the Women & Politics Institute, which has recently launched its WeLead Campaign Training Program which “successfully positions young professional women to run for office or lead a political campaign.” The Women & Politics Institute also offers a handful of courses aimed at educating folks about women’s role in politics, most of which equip women with information helpful toward any future political endeavors.

Outside organizations that can be helpful toward future electeds are Running Start and She Should Run. Running Start is an organization started by Susannah Wellford (who teaches adjunct at American University) that highlights several programs encouraging young women to run for office with training and hands-on experience. One of their programs for recent college graduates allows participants the opportunity to shadow congresswomen for a semester, while their programs aimed at younger students work to educate and inform in a more classroom-based setting.

She Should Run is an organization that similarly works to elect women, however, takes this on from the angle of providing women with paths to leadership and encouraging women of all backgrounds to explore this career path. They directly address the issue of women deciding not to run and try to convince them otherwise. One of their tools, “Ask a Woman to Run,” functions as the name implies, to give people the tools to ask women in their lives to run for office. Other tools and programs provide women with the necessary information and tools to do so on their own.

When women run, they win. And when they win, women are capable of changing the way politics operate, improving the lives of their constituents and creating an image of representation for others to look up to. Running for office may seem like a daunting task, but it’s one that many women can, and should, rise up to.

THE STORY OF GAY PIRATES

People say that the victor writes history, that being mainly men. But, unfortunately, that just means that often wom en-centric moments in history get overlooked and ignored. One of these moments in history is the story between Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two of the meanest, savage swashbuckling pirates in history who ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Anne Bonny was born around 1698 in Ireland as the illegiti mate daughter to Irish lawyer William Cormac and his maid. When Bonny was born, Cormac dressed her as a boy to hide her gender and told everyone she was her relatives’ son to avoid scandal. However, Bonny and the affair were outed, Cormac and his wife separated and Cormac lost his business.

To escape, Cormac took his young daughter and her mother to Charleston, South Carolina. Unfortunately, Bonny lost her mother shortly after moving at the young age of 13. Growing up, there were stories of the antics Bonny would get into, such as beating a suitor with a chair or publicly undressing her fencing coach. Her father eventually found a man to betroth her, but Bonny fought him at every turn.

Emma McDowall

Eventually, she gained a reputation for drinking, swearing and sleeping with fishermen and other drunks, which her successful father hated.

Finally, all the rumors became too much, and he disowned her; this enraged Bonny, so she reportedly burned down his entire plantation, almost killing her father. Bonny fleed South Carolina and eloped with a man named James Bonny. They eventually landed in modern-day Nassau in the Baha mas, basically the real-life Tortuga, if you’re a Pirates of the Caribbean fan.

Here Bonny raised a ruckus. She ditched James Bonny and started an affair with Chidley Baynard, the wealthiest man in Nassau. To get some male protection, she shot a man’s ear off and started a different relationship with a pirate, Captain Jennings, and his mistress Meg.

However, after some time, Bonny fell in love with rouge pi rate John “Calico Jack” Rackman, following him to the seas by taking over a ship by creating a “corpse” with mangled limbs with the help of her friend Pierre Bouspeut. Report edly, Bonny took over as Captain from Calico Jack and spent time swashbuckling and taking no prisoners at sea.

Before Bonny and Mary Read eventually found each other on the waters, Read was forced to grow up as Mark Read. Read, the daughter of an adulterous affair, was forced by her mother into acting as Read’s older half-brother when he died because no one but her half-brother could have succeeded in the family fortune.

When Read was 13, her mother died, passing her fortune onto her young “nephew.” However, Read had already spent her entire life as a boy, so she continued to live as a man until she eventually worked as a servant in the military. Here, Read met her first husband in the military together; they left the military and opened an inn. However, Read’s husband eventually died. Resulting in Read selling the inn and taking to the seas, which English pirates eventually

Eventually, James forced Anne Bonny to appear in front of the courts, claiming she abandoned him and the only way to right this wrong was by “divorce by sale.” Anne Bonny refused.

She reportedly acted so enraged, scaring any potential buy ers away, until the governor had no choice but to release her back to her husband. However, by this point, James Bonny had already fled out of fear. That didn’t stop Bonny and Read from chasing after him and burning his entire business.

After this, Bonny and Read returned to the seas, where they fell in love with each other and were pillaging.

Bonny and Read were inseparable, sparking the jealous ire of Calico Jack, Bonny’s lover. This is where historians began

Many speculate on how the two met however it is believed that the ship that took over Read’s was Bonny’s ship. No one on board the vessel doubted Read’s gender because she was one of the ship’s most ruthless and aggressive pirates on board the vessel.

You could call them a match made in heaven—both women who spent their younger years dressing up as men and growing up in battle. Reportedly, Bonny and Read fought side by side, dressed in billowing jackets, baggy trousers and bandannas, wrapping their heads with each wielding a pistol and a sword in each hand.

Unfortunately, Bonny’s ex-husband, James Bonny, reappeared, claiming Bonny as his property and kidnapping her.

Illustrations by Simi Singh

to disagree. Some say that Calico Jack never interfered with their relationship. However, others believe that once Bonny revealed Read’s true gender, the three of them began a romantic poly-relationship.

Pirating is not a sustainable lifestyle. They were extremely reckless, pillaging and sinking ships without consideration. Many of them were Royal ships carrying the Queen’s cargo. This put them at the top of the navy’s list.

Eventually, their crimes caught up with them. In the middle of the night, their ship was boarded by pirate hunters. Unfortunately for the pair, most of their crewmen had already passed out from a night of drinking at this point of the night. The pair tried to rouse their comrades, screaming, “If there’s a man among ye, ye’ll come up and fight like the man ye are to be!” However, only a few appeared, Calico Jack being one of them, this enraged Read, so she fired multiple bullets down to the hold, killing two of her crew. A miserable battle ensued, resulting in Calico Jack surrendering. Leaving the women to fight by themselves, the pair fought for over an hour until eventually being overpowered and arrested.

Read, and Bonny’s entire crew were scheduled to be hanged for their crimes. However, the women “pleaded their bellies,” meaning they were both supposedly pregnant. This was a popular plea for women sentenced to death because the courts would never kill an unborn child. However, it is doubtful that either was pregnant. Calico Jack was sen tenced to death, and his last wish was to see Bonny. Howev er, Bonny was furious with Jack and only said, “If you had fought like a man, you need not have been hang’d like a dog.”

What happened to the pair after is also a disputed fact. It is reported that Mary Read died in prison. In comparison, Anne Bonny was released due to her father’s influence. However, this seems unlikely because Bonny could be killed for her violence against her father.

Unfortunately, these women’s story is extremely disputed. Much of their story comes from Captain Charles Johnson’s book “A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates,” published in 1724 shortly after Bonny and Read were arrested and brought to trial.

This raises the question of why we do not know more about these fierce, queer female pirates?

Author of “Pirate Queens: The Lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read” Rebecca Simon said, “Throughout history, women were seen as lesser beings and not important con tributors to society. This is reflected in historical writings because women are often missing or severely downplayed in historical narratives. As a result, it is a challenge - but a rewarding challenge - to reconstruct women’s history.”

History has never been kind to women. There is a lot of lost history and uncertainty about the history surrounding women. However, stories like Bonny and Read’s show that women have always been present in history and have always been extremely powerful and brave, sometimes more than men. Beyond femininity, these women were queer. They lived how they wanted and overpowered anyone who said anything. As a result, they add to queer history and queer empowerment.

Kylie Finkelstein

INSURANCE COMPANIES CATER TO THE RICH, AND GET RICH OFF THE YOUNG

At age 17, I had to choose between buying my birth control or gas to drive to work. My insurance coverage for birth control had changed, making the co-pay costs $100 instead of five dollars.

When people discuss insurance coverage of medication, the conversation generally centers around the financial struggle older people face acquiring the medication they need. Most people do not realize younger generations also struggle financially. When they cannot afford premium insurance, they must use low coverage or state insurance instead, which forces them to make a choice between medication and livelihood.

I never thought in high school that I would have to decide between medication or other necessities such as gas or food. Looking to my parents for support wasn’t an option. My mother couldn’t afford both our medications, leaving the costs entirely up to me.

Gianna Matassa

I thought that once I turned 18, my struggle to pay for my prescriptions would end. However, I continue to make these difficult choices since I became an adult. Many young people have to make these decisions.

In 2001, nine percent of the nonelderly adult population, which equates to nearly 14 million people, were insured but lacked prescription drug coverage. Fifteen percent of this population did not have health insurance altogether, accord ing to a 2004 study by The Commonwealth Fund.

The issue of young adults being uninsured or not having prescription coverage has been prevalent for almost 20 years. In 2019, young adults aged 19 to 34 had higher uninsured rates on average (15.6 percent), according to U.S. Census Bureau data. This is compared to children under the age of 19 (5.7 percent), other working-age adults 35 to 64 years (11.3 percent) and adults 65 and older (0.8 percent).

The inability of young people to obtain prescriptive medi cation or even adequate health insurance is a persistent issue

that isn’t acknowledged enough. Being unable to afford and purchase prescriptive medication is only the begin ning of the problems that young people have with insurance companies.

If young Americans cannot afford their medication, then they have to survive without it. They may find themselves seeking emergency health care services to save their lives because they did not have preventive care. Insulin, for example, is a necessary medication. Without it, many find themselves in life-threatening emergencies.

Uninsured Americans are more likely to use less costly and less effective insulin compared to peers with private insurance. They are more likely to pay the full list price for insulin than privately insured beneficiaries, according to a 2020 study on insulin affordability by The Common wealth Fund.

The uninsured spend more out of pocket on all prescriptions ($2,456) than the privately insured ($1,274) individ uals. The uninsured are also more likely to report being unable to afford prescription medicines (38% versus 10%).

The goal of insurance and the American healthcare system is to prevent Americans from losing their lives to health issues that can be improved through prescription medication, like insulin. If Americans, especially young Americans, cannot afford these medications, their lives are at stake.

If they cannot afford both insurance and medication, then they will have even higher bills to pay for emergency medical treatments that accrued because prescription medication is so expensive.

The only way that young people’s lives will ever be safe and affordable is if there is a change in the American healthcare, pharmaceutical and insurance systems. Reform of insurance companies’ approach to co-pays and coverage is vital. Until then, young Americans will have to face this continuous financial struggle and make choices that put their health and lives at risk.

If Americans cannot afford these medications, their lives are at stake.

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GETTING AHEAD ONE

Women in the Sports Industry

by Lily Kaiser Harry Scull Jr.

Illustrations

GAME AT A TIME:

Riley-Kate Pappas

The sports industry has been dominated by men since sports became popular. For years, women have been trying to join the conversation and level out the playing field. For too long have they felt the need to prove themselves worthy of doing what men can, if not better.

With severe underrepresentation and lack of visibility, it only adds to the struggles they may face on a daily basis. Three remarkable young American University alumni help pave the way for other women who dream of breaking down these barriers. From the National Hockey League to Little League Baseball, to the broadcasting booth and the writing desk, women are continuing to make their mark in the sports world.

History of Women in Sports

Women began working in the sports industry in 1894 when Sadie Miller became the first American sports writer for the Baltimore Orioles. To conceal her gender, Miller bylined her articles with S.K.M. It wasn’t until almost a century later that women would be allowed into the MLB clubhouses.

Sports reporter for the New York Yankees, Melissa Ludtke, sued the baseball commission for denying her access to the clubhouse during the 1977 World Series. Ludtke’s funda mental right to pursue a career under the equal protection and due process clauses guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. She went on to win the lawsuit the following year and ultimately opened the door for many women, not just into the clubhouse, but into the world of sports.

Fifty years ago, the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as Title IX was passed. It protected people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities. It allowed equal access to athletic programs manda tory, which led to the creation of female athletic programs. However, the question stands: Does this equal opportunity in sports reflect the equitable environment of a career in the sports industry?

Gender Disparities

Despite the increased success in women’s sports over the recent years, frustration and anger linger as those who are reporting or working to support these athletes are not equally represented.

Deputy sports editor at The Los Angeles Times, Iliana Limon Romero, told The Guardian, “Dating back to 2002, we’ve been having these conversations about why it’s important to have diversity of gender, race and class, really in all facets in news and sports media. And yet, we haven’t made a substantive difference.”

While little action is made in regard to equal representation, women are breaking through the industry and creating successful careers of their own.

According to the GIST Case Study on gender inequality in sports media, editors and producers point to low viewership and attendance at women’s professional sports games to make the claim that running lead women on sports pro grams will not increase viewership. While that does not real

istically reflect the outcome of a woman’s presence, it does show the internalized sexism within the sports industry. The problem isn’t fixed by simply hiring more female journalists and editors. What we really need is a cultural shift.

Lindsay Muri, an Associate Director at Optimum Sports stated that she believes women are very well represented at media agencies, “but when you drill down to who specifically works directly on sports-related media, I do think it is male-dominated.” Not only are women underrepresented in media agencies, she tells me that most of the media clients and broadcast partners she works with on a daily basis are men.

“I see women in nearly every role imaginable, but based on discrimination and judgement, there is more work to be done,” said Rachel Hopmayer, a multimedia jour nalist and sports reporter for Spectrum News 1 Buffalo. Growing up in Boston, she was lucky to watch some great women on NESN, such as Kathryn Tappen, Jamie Erdahl and Jenny Dell.

Hayley Salvatore, a high school sports reporter for the Wash ington Post, believes that women need to be in more visible roles within sports media. “I grew up, and still watch, a lot of male analysts calling games, whether that’s the MLB or NFL. The female sports reporters were always, and unfor tunately still are for the most part sideline reporters who

“

The problem lies within the female representation at all of the levels.

“

would be cut to for a quick shot or a post-game interview.” The visibility of female reporters in sports coverage has been found to be under 10% in content analysis, according to a study about Gender Byline Bias in Sports Reporting pub lished by SageJournals. Visibility is a large piece in inserting more women in a traditionally male field to increase trust, but also prove that they are just as capable of providing news as their counterparts.

“Women need to be allowed opportunities to learn and grow at every level of sports, media or not, in order for them to be hired and qualified for the same opportunities,” said Hopmayer.

At Optimum Sports there is a major initiative to promote women in sports, through agencies, broadcasters, sideline reporters and even those who participate in the various levels of sports.

“The problem lies within the female representation at all of the levels. It is a daunting task to break through and make an impact with confidence,” Muri said. She says because of this problem, Optimum Sports is launching an internal task force to combat gender inequalities in sports.

Muri wants to combat myths when it comes to women in sports, such as the idea that there is no demand for women’s sports, they lack popularity and influence and are not profit able. Her work disproves this day by day.

A particular way that her work is making a direct impact is by changing the ways brands and advertisers view women’s sports. Muri works on the investment team and negotiates

Lindsay Muri

and purchases national ad space for sporting events. Through education and pushing revenue towards women’s sports to attempt to close the gap, this money can help benefit its players and the league. Ultimately, the more money that is spent, the more money is generated for the broadcast networks and provides more leverage to write bigger contracts.

By facing discrimination and underrepresentation, women often feel like they need to work harder to earn their place somewhere. Hopmayer doesn’t feel she needs to compete with her male counterparts because she is confident in her abilities to provide different perspectives and has a keen interest in digital storytelling.

“Have I experienced sexism? Absolutely. But that can not distract you from your passion,” Hopmayer said.

At Spectrum News, she believes her employer provides equal and equitable opportunities and offers the empowerment that helps her grow and succeed. It is easy to feel incom petent or unqualified when working in a field where your identity is underrepresented. Identifying the struggles that many women face in the industry and working to imple ment initiatives that provide them with equal opportunities is crucial in creating equity.

Salvatore recalls this feeling being an everyday occurrence for her - but as she gets older and grows professionally, “that

feeling will go away.” However, she has not experienced gender discrimination but feels that her age is sometimes a deterrent. When colleagues have conversations or debate about sports, she is hesitant to chime in because she doubts herself.

“Although I am almost 23, I admit that I do still look like a high schooler. Oftentimes when I am at games to report, coaches will make comments about how young I am which can give me a bit of imposter syndrome,” said Salvatore.

Muri, who has been working in the industry longer, takes a different approach to this question. She knows the feeling is common, which brings her comfort. The best way to approach this is to focus on your own tasks and do the best work you can do - day in and day out.

“I learned early on in my career that you have to be your own advocate because if you don’t do it yourself, why would anyone else believe in you?” said Muri.

Regardless of advocacy, gender discrimination is still alive and well. Thirty-eight percent of women experienced active discrimination because of their gender, compared to 72% of men who said they saw no instances of inequality in the workplace, according to a 2018 study titled “Beyond 30 percent - Workplace Culture in Sport.”

Additionally, the study found that 30% of women had experienced inappropriate behavior from men. The study highlights issues such as the gender pay gap, feeling under valued, lack of opportunities, and a culture that supports an “old boys” club. There is a dire need to address the gender imbalances within the industry and bring meaningful change to traditional workplace atmospheres.

Rachel Hopmayer

Muri recalls the struggles she feels when speaking up in a male-dominated workplace, whether it is about sports or not. She felt it was easier to let her male counterparts handle it while she took a backseat.

“It wasn’t until I gained some confidence in my role that I knew I could be doing the same work just as well if not better,” said Muri.

In inspiring confidence for these women in sports media, trailblazers which I grew up watching on my local sports networks play a major role. Salvatore’s inspiration is Saman tha Pell, Capitals beat reporter for the past five years. Pell began as a high school sports beat reporter, just like her.

“Pell is honestly the coolest person ever. Despite working for the same company, I have never met her personally, but admire her so much from afar,” Salvatore said.

Trailblazers in the industry such as Kathryn Tappen and Jamie Erdahl led the way to Hopmayer fulfilling her dreams. She checked off one of her bucket list items; live coverage at the NHL draft. As someone who really enjoys covering hockey, she was also able to cover the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship when the Washington Capitals took home the win.

Additionally, Hopmayer covered the 2019 World Series where the Washington Nationals took home their first World Championship. She is now back covering the NHL and the NFL, reporting on her two favorite sports growing up and is excited to see where the future takes her. Hopmayer’s end goal is to be a hockey features journalist for the NHL Network or the NHL television rightsholder. She wants to be the Michelle Beisner Buck of hockey, who is a reporter for ESPN covering Monday Night Football and its pregame show.

While Muri works behind the scenes at the media agency, she loves to see her work come to life. Attending the amaz ing sporting events during the year is certainly a great perk, but seeing that your work makes a difference is one of the best, according to Muri.

Progress is not linear nor a fast process. However, through interviews with young women working in the industry, it is clear that there are more opportunities and less prejudice than women have experienced in the past.

Salvatore, Hopmayer and Muri are prime examples of women who recognize the obstacles they face but choose to persevere and focus on their own success rather than com pare themselves to their male counterparts. With increased visibility and opportunities for upper mobility, the male domination associated with the sports industry will slowly fade, creating equity.

I learned early on in my career that you have to be your own advocate

“ “

Hayley Salvatore by Neermala Persaud

SOUTH ASIANS ARE REAL PEOPLE –THE

MEDIA IS FINALLY SHOWING IT

Sana Mamtaney

Devi Vishwakumar, the protagonist of Mindy Kaling’s hit young-adult Netflix show “Never Have I Ever,” is exactly who I needed when I was in the seventh grade. She’s smart, she’s funny, she grieves, she makes mistakes. Most of all, she feels like a real person. She feels like me.

Netflix released its third season of the show in August, garnering praise and laughter. Throughout the series, Devi grieves the death of her father while competing for grades and boys. Simul taneously, the character embraces her Indian culture in a way that isn’t overly traditional, conservative or stereotypical.

I spent my childhood and adolescence believing that South Asian people had to be ridiculously smart recluses like Raj from the “Big Bang Theory,” convenience store workers or beautiful princesses like Jasmine in “Aladdin.” We couldn’t be real, normal people. I never felt pretty enough, smart enough, or enough in general.

The rise in South Asian representation in TV and movies in recent years steers away from stereotypes. This has the power to strengthen self-esteem for young people, who can watch strong characters who look like them. While these representations of culture can be inaccurate, they are a symbol of a step forward in creating real, South Asian characters, rather than manifestations of a monolith. As xenophobia pervades the country, this is more important now than ever.

Including a voice is not the same as representing a voice. Media stereotypes of South Asians as socially awkward, submissive or docile can cause Asian Americans to see their race as a limita tion to their own attractiveness and self-esteem, according to a 1998 study by Teresa Mok, Ph.D.

South Asians had a 0.5% share of screen in the 2020 to 2021 television season, according to the Nielsen Grace note Inclusion Analytics.

Illustrations by Lily Kaiser Kylie Finkelstein

Kylie Finkelstein

Over five million people in the United States identify with a South Asian ethnicity, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This means that half a percent of all American media represents over five million people. While this figure seems low, it is still an increase from previous years.

For children, “Mira, Royal Detective,” and “Ms. Marvel,” show major changes in South Asian characters compared to those from my childhood, like Baljeet from “Phineas and Ferb.” These new characters are confident, intelligent and embrace their culture. They are not just side characters who provide a cheap joke based on stereotypes, like Baljeet did.

These characters will impact the way South Asian children see themselves. With such positive depictions, these kids will be able to develop the self-love that underrepresented children always deserved.

Parents share this belief, too. Seventy percent of parents said it is important that their children are exposed to content that helps them “learn more about their own culture, reli gion, or lifestyle,” according to a 2021 report from Com mon Sense Media.

These representations will also affect the way outside groups view South Asians. Those who see South Asians as socially awkward based on characters like Baljeet and Raj may be less inclined to include them in their everyday lives. Depictions of our community as real people can change that.

Reality TV is also more inclusive of South Asians. Deepti Vempati gained a massive following for her confidence after her time on “Love is Blind,” a popular Netflix reality dating show. Dating shows, and even romance films and movies exclude South Asian people. In her quest for love, Vempati denied a common stereotype that portrays South Asians as unattractive and unworthy of love. This impacts those in and outside of the community in their relationships.

Parijita Bastola became the first Nepali American to audi tion for “The Voice,” in September and is already well-loved by fans. By being herself, Bastola’s relatability and charisma opposes depictions of socially awkward and uninteresting South Asians that motivate stereotypes.

This new direction for South Asians, unfortunately, is not always entirely accurate. Kate and Edwina Sharma from “Bridgerton” are played by Tamil actresses, while the name Sharma and home in Bombay imply that they are North Indian, along with several other inaccuracies. “And Just Like That..” the reboot of the infamous “Sex and the City,” inter changed two different traditional outfits, a lehenga and a sari.

These shows distribute this informa tion to their predominantly white audiences, who already have so little education, awareness and knowledge on South Asia. This perpetuates a one-dimensional version of who South Asians are, rather than conveying them as distinct cultural and regional groups.

Still, this is a step toward portraying characters with authentic culture. While the media may have a long way to go, it is beginning to refuse stereo types that don’t allow any room for nu ance and representation of real people.

The media must represent real South Asians, not the model minority that we have been trained to embody. Although it may seem like the bare minimum, the media’s impact is more influential than many realize.

Today, I am grateful that so many young people will have the opportunity to see versions of themselves. A young er version of me would be grateful, too.

Kylie Finkelstein

INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISM: Why Should We Care?

Throughout our lives, we observe and experience the obsta cles minorities may face in society. There is major injustice in this world, inspiring leaders to stand against these issues. As equality has become a more fruitful discussion, it raises questions about different minority groups and levels of infliction. There are even groups that identify as multiple minorities - labeled as intersectionality.

What is intersectionality? This term was founded by profes sor Kimberlé Crenshaw when she wrote a paper published in 1989 called, “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics.”

Intersectionality was used by Crenshaw to more fittingly explain the oppression of Black women. It describes the intersection and overlap of race, class, gender and other characteristics. This term can be utilized to label multiple minority groups. More specifically, intersectional feminism is used to describe any women who face oppression for another minority identity as well.

“Individuals have individual identities that intersect in ways that impact how they are viewed, understood and treated,” said Crenshaw.

Black women until 1964, only a couple of years before the layoff. The women argued they faced discrimination for being both Black and female. The court ultimately ruled in favor of General Motors.

This theory has become prevalent as more attention has been focused on the inclusion of all women’s rights. The Oxford English Dictionary adopted Crenshaw’s theory in 2015 and in 2017, the Women’s March encouraged the word to be used more regularly.

College campuses are reflecting this positive mindset towards all female students. According to The Wall Street Journal, female students make up the majority at colleges across the nation at nearly 60% of all students. In 2021, 63% of all students at American University identified as female. With an increasing majority of women making up the student body, there is also more focus and awareness of feminism.

“I completely consider myself a feminist,” said Michaela Stock, a senior at Hope College. “Being a feminist, to me, is the pursuit of equality between men and women, though I believe in equality regardless of one’s gender identity.” Despite what may seem like majority support for feminism, there is also pushback. Some people mock others for being a feminist, not understanding why these women want more than their given equal rights.

There’s also an aggressive connotation with the term. Many assume that feminists immensely hate men to a point that seems ignorant, disrespectful and extreme.

Instead of focusing on the dominance of gender or which gender is superior, there should be a collaborative effort to promote the inclusion of women. This should not only be implemented on college campuses, but also in workplaces. It’s important to note, how inclusive is feminism truly - is it the support for just white women, or all women?

A well-known issue women face in the workplace is the gen der pay gap. A woman makes about 72 cents to a dollar that a man makes. Does this statistic apply to women of color as well? The Equal Payback Project discovered that Black women make 63 cents, Latina women make 54 cents and Native women 57 cents for every dollar of a white man.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, the fast est-growing wage gap is currently between white women and women of color. Women of color need to be more properly supported against these inequalities - not only in the pay gap, but also equal opportunity to get hired, heard and promoted.

Intersectional feminism not only affects one’s career but poses obstacles to their identity. A subreddit user named Amarkov had a great take on how intersectionality feminism personally affects her life.

“If I’m a Black woman, I have some disadvantages because I’m a woman and some disadvantages because I’m Black. But I also have some disadvantages specifically because I’m [a] Black woman, which neither Black men nor white wom en have to deal with. That’s intersectionality; race, gender and every other way to be disadvantaged interact with each other,” she said.

As a minority woman myself, I find this topic incredibly important to acknowledge, understand and support.

Both women and minorities feel they are always a step behind in the world in terms of equal opportunity. As some one who proudly identifies as both, it is simply unfortunate and unfair to be stuck in these ways.

Why should we care about this? People will never support this issue unless there is more engagement around inter sectional feminism. While this issue affects a certain group of people, education on the subject will lead to change and advocacy. Dialogue is the key to encouraging awareness and a collaborative effort towards a more inclusive society.

“If you see inequality as a ‘them’ problem or ‘unfortunate other’ problem, that is a problem,” said Crenshaw.

WHAT HAVING CONNECTIONS DOES FOR A CAREER

Emma Baumgarten

by Sophie Carter

Have you ever had a conversation with another student who casually drops the line, “I have an internship lined up because my mom knows the hiring manager?” Throughout the undergraduate experience, it seems as if everyone has a connection to the field they want to work in.

Building a post-grad life is important. However, it is becom ing increasingly difficult. According to a study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it takes on average three to six months for college students to find a job after graduation. Depending on one’s academic and occupational field, find ing a job after college may be harder than expected.

College majors have a significant effect on the rate of em ployment. According to an article by Science & Engineering Indicators, STEM majors have an unemployment rate of 2.2% compared to non-STEM majors at 3.6%. One of the easiest ways to eliminate the jump from college to career is to build a strong network of connections that can be used when it’s time to get a job.

Networks have proven to be useful, but how does one estab lish them, and more importantly use them? It’s important to work towards connections that are both general and field-specific.

A good place to start and track your connections is Linke dIn. Having verbal connections is important, but LinkedIn is helpful when looking for jobs through your network and advertising your qualifications.

While this may seem silly, one of the best places to start is in your familial and social circles. Even if your parents don’t work in the field you want to go into, they add a mature fac tor to your network. Similarly, your parents’ co-workers can add you to their network, increasing your connections and extending an opportunity to learn from more professionals.

Additionally, college students are some of the easiest connec tions to make. They will be looking to rapidly increase their connections. This helps to bulk up an individual’s profile, which helps to garner attention from more established pro fessionals on the site.

Evelyn Middleton

Illustrations

Emma Baumgarten

One of the best places to begin working on field-related connections is at school. Teaching assistants or Ph.D. can didates that teach classes can be great resources. Instead of directly approaching professors, which can be intimidating, contact those who have some hands-on knowledge of your desired field.

Ph.D. candidate connections are a great bridge between the academic field and the career world. These candidates have been in your shoes recently and understand how hard it is to meet people in the field you want to work in.

More often than not, they want to be helpful in any way they can. Most of these candidates worked before pursuing a higher degree, meaning that they could connect you directly

to a specific institution or person. This method builds con nections that are more impactful than students in the same grade, but more practical than connecting with professors.

What’s most important is that you start early. A strong network cannot be built if it is never started. It can be a daunting task, especially if you feel like you don’t know anyone. Remember that the majority of students and those who currently hold jobs did not have the most perfect network, but instead simply built out their connections where they could.

Shriya Gunda

THE ETHICS AND TRUE CRIME

Illustrations by Shelby Drzewiecki

Sarah Golder

EXPLOITATION BEHIND ENTERTAINMENT

Abby Bacon

When someone logs onto Netflix to watch a show and relax, the last thing they would expect to see is a large photo of serial killer Jeffery Dahmer filling their screen.

What is even more concerning is the fact that you can scroll down to find a whole subsection on the streaming service fully dedicated to a large number of true crime documentaries.

Netflix currently has over 150 options for true crime fans, or “junkies,” as they call themselves, to pick from. These true crime fans have a wide variety of content on a vast number of serial killers and criminals available to them for their nightly entertainment.

For most of these viewers, the scary crime stories are mindless fun, something they consume for their own personal enjoyment. However, for others, these shows are their reality. The gruesome imagery and meticulous crime scene reenactments are reminders of their own experiences with crime. Not everyone gets the privilege to tune into these shows for pleasure.

True crime entertainment pertains to content produced that centers on different aspects of criminology such as serial kill ers, kidnappings, unsolved cases and white-collar crime. The content comes in many forms across various platforms. The most popular sources of this genre of media are televi

sion shows, documentaries, podcasts and YouTube videos. True crime creators discuss the details of the case, and then, their own theories on what happened if the case is unsolved. It is important to note that most of these creators find this as a hobby to engage with. They typically do not have a criminology background, nor have worked in the justice system.

“Three weeks from now when the Dahmer show wears off, people will still remember the name Jeffery Dahmer, but will they remember the names of the victims?... How many people can name a Ted Bundy victim, yet we still talk about Ted Bundy himself 40 years later?” said Kevin Boyle, a Jus tice and Law professor at American University.

He not only spoke on the lack of attention and respect given to victims in these TV shows, but how this genre of media spreads misinformation on crime.

“Dahmer’s case went on for years and years, and it’s being compressed down to X number of one-hour episodes. It’s being edited, it’s being filtered, but it gets people hooked. If you had a show that was just the real nitty gritty of how a case is actually done, I’m not sure people would watch it, it’s more boring,” he said.

Boyle further explains the possible negative consequences of these shows.

“These shows give people a false perspective of how common certain crimes are, they create fear in people, that fear then translates into ‘we need tough on crime politicians.”

The viewers of these shows are not only glossing over vic tims’ stories, but they are getting a dramatized depiction of crime in general. Being fed this information and internaliz ing it could lead these viewers to vote on crime policies/politicians based on distortions pushed by these TV shows.

The modern-day true crime surge can be traced back to these streaming service shows that focused on unsolved cases, notorious serial killers and dramatic abductions. The rise of true crime as a form of entertainment has posed many different moral questions as the genre of media expands and gains mainstream popularity.

Sarah Golder

At first, most people’s knowledge and consumption of true crime content came from the news and television shows such as “Blue Bloods,” “Criminal Minds,” “Law and Order” and “CSI.” As these shows gained traction from the public, streaming services seized the opportunity and began producing their own documentaries surrounding different serial killers and unsolved cases.

Netflix has produced a few noteworthy documentaries and docu-series such as “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes,” “The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez,” “Dirty Money” and “Dahmer.”

This rapidly increasing popularity of true crime content fails to highlight an important essence of their shows: the victims’ stories. Many of the shows listed above spend most of the run time focused on the offender, rather than the many victims of their violent crimes.

As these shows gained traction, they unintentionally spearheaded a movement within the entertainment industry centered around true crime. Creators started to produce content that fused together their own niche with true crime elements. YouTubers began to do their everyday makeup routine while talking about the latest kidnapping, or ASMR creators casually whispered about the gruesome details of Ted Bundy’s murder signature.

One YouTube creator, Bailey Sarin, is one of the most popular true-crime creators on the platform with over six million subscribers. Not only does Sarin joke about certain aspects of the crimes, but she also directly profits off the videos. Almost all her videos are monetized, meaning she runs ads on them and gets revenue. She also does sponsorships at the beginning of her true crime videos for different clothing brands and makeup companies, earning her more money. Sarin, like many other YouTubers in this genre, spends most of her videos talking about the offenders, barely touching on the victim and their life. Not only does she exploit the horrors real-life people went through at the hands of

criminals, but she goes one step further and profits off them. Sarin does not have a background in criminology, rather it is just one of her side interests. Now, she has made a career like many others, telling dramatized stories of crime, while completely disregarding the victims and the true account of what occurred.

The increase in YouTube content paved the way for another form of true crime entertainment to emerging. Podcasts have been gaining attention from the public for the past few years.

One of the biggest shows on Spotify is “Crime Junkie.” “Crime Junkie” has over 500 million downloads and 630 episodes. “Crime Junkie” has emphasized how their pod casts are perfect for fans to listen to while they do their daily chores or during their morning commute. Listening to a recount of gruesome details of a crime that impacted real people’s lives while doing mundane tasks is disturbing.

This highlights the concerning reality that people can detach themselves from the violence of the crimes being discussed, and instead view it as a form of entertainment. Listeners start to view the victims and offenders as characters in a fic tional story, not as real people who faced violent abuse, and many, who were killed.

I listened to five episodes of this podcast to get a feel for the tone used when victims were being discussed. What I found was that the two women spent more time theorizing about

Sarah Golder

who committed the crime instead of the havoc and death caused by the offender. They would state the name of the victim and sometimes give a fact about their life, but that was it. Their connections and personality were glossed over so more time could be spent on their theories.

“Most true crime content I have encountered is very one-sid ed with not a lot of thought put into how the victim’s family might feel, that is why I do not like to consume it, it just feels wrong,” said Grace Buchanan, a sophomore at American University.

Rita Isbell, a sister of one of Jeffery Dahmer’s victims Errol Lindsey, spoke out against Netflix’s new show “Dahmer.”

“I feel like Netflix should’ve asked if we mind or how we felt about making it. They didn’t ask me anything. They just did it… It felt like reliving it all over again. It brought back all the emotions I was feeling back then,” said Isbell.

Eric Perry, one of Lindey’s cousins, also spoke out on Twit ter after the show was released.

“It’s retraumatizing over and over again, and for what? How many movies/shows/documentaries do we need? Recreating my cousin having an emotional breakdown in court in the face of the man who tortured and murdered her brother is WILD.”

It is disappointing that people continue to engage with true crime entertainment when families of the victims have publicly expressed their frustration and discomfort with it all. Information being public record should not entitle large media companies to produce whatever content they want without consulting the victim’s families beforehand.

As shows like “Dahmer” gain popularity and podcasts like “Crime Junkie” reach record viewership, the demand for new true crime content skyrockets. This content is harmful to the victims of the crimes, but also to the viewer himself, who is being exposed to blatant misinformation. True crime content is exploitative and perpetuates a false narrative surrounding the crime, and people’s obsessions and interest in such content needs to be reassessed.

Most true crime content I have encountered is very one-sided with not a lot of thought put into how the victim’s family might feel

Sarah Golder

BEING NON-BINARY IN A FEMALE PRESENTING BODY

Navigating my sexual identity was difficult. I didn’t know how to label myself in the LGBTQ+ community. I labeled myself bisexual for a long time because I thought I had an attraction to male and female people. I thought I was pansex ual because gender didn’t matter to me when it was people I liked. I finally realized I hate having a label on myself and de cided to take back the term “queer” for the gay community.

And at the beginning of college, I started to question my gender. This was a whole new realm for me.

Am I a lesbian? Do I identify as queer? Am I a woman? I don’t feel like a man though. Are there other options?

Terms like genderqueer and non-binary were new territory for me. I had no idea how to navigate this new vision of my body and queerness.

There are specific terms we can use to identify ourselves with to express our gender identity. Some are more specific than others, which all can be under the “gender umbrella.”

Cisgender people are those who identify with their assigned sex at birth. If you were born a boy and still identify as a boy, you would be considered cisgender.

Transgender is the main term of the umbrella. Think of transgender at the top and the words trickling down like rain are the other terms of identification under the transgen der umbrella. This term can be used for someone that does not identify with the assigned sex at birth.

AFAB/AMAB is a term that you will see a lot when dis cussing gender identities. AFAB is “assigned female at birth” and AMAB is “assigned male at birth.” I use this term a lot when describing myself as a non-binary person.

Sarah Metcalfe

Illustrations by Gracie Flach

Genderfluid is used to express when your gender is fluid or “changing” from day to day. Some people who use this term can feel like a woman some days, a man some days, and sometimes even if they don’t feel like either.

Genderqueer is commonly used when a person doesn’t identify with an identity within the gender binary. As de fined by an article from the University of Nebraska Omaha, “Those who identify as genderqueer may identify as neither male nor female, may see themselves as outside of or in between the binary gender boxes, or may simply feel restricted by gender labels.”

Non-binary is a similar term to genderqueer. People can use it if they do not identify with the traditional gender binary of male and female.

Navigating this shift takes time, energy and balance. You don’t need to rush into your feelings and waste potential energy on your journey later. Everyone’s journey is going to be different but these are some examples of how to start and thrive by figuring out your gender.

1. Join communities! I found my communities and chosen families by participat ing in clubs and societies that I identify with pertaining to my LGBTQ+ identity or my interests. AU has an incredible, open community of LGBTQ+ students that hosts events, meetings and talks for all to participate in. My favorite event that they held was a Drag Show featuring students!

2. Find your support system. Finding your support system is a big choice that LGBTQ+ people have to make. A strong support system is necessary when life gets tough. This can be your biological family, chosen family or even a mixture of both. I am incredibly lucky that my parents are supportive of my queerness but that is not always the case. Finding your chosen family is finding who truly supports you through everything and will lend a helping hand when you need it most. I have a chosen family with my close friends and partner.

3. Do your Research. Research can help you understand what you are feeling and how to articulate your feelings. The terms I chose to include in this article only scratch the surface of the extent of iden tities that are out there. Start with describing how you are feeling, search it up and you will find multiple other people that are in the same boat as you. Journal your thoughts – get them out of your head and onto paper to visualize them.

Your journey through gender and sexuality will not be a linear one, and it can be a tough thing to navigate by your self. So find that chosen family and especially, take care of yourself–you are the most important person in your life.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVELING ABROAD

From the age of three, I have had the privilege of traveling to places like Ethiopia, Japan and Tanzania for my parents’ archeological and anthropological research. I was exposed to the injustices of the world by traveling to the Global South.

Seeing communities with no access to clean water, food or education gave me a different outlook on life compared to many of my peers. My childhood experiences inspired me to not only be grateful for my privilege but to fight for change for those who are underprivileged.

During my time living in rural Ethiopia, one memory that made me realize just how different my life was there than at home was on the Fourth of July when I was seven years old. There was a group of about 30 people living in a guarded and gated old Catholic mission. Two of the researchers had secretly surprised everyone by buying fireworks to set off on the Fourth of July.

We all gathered around the lawn in a big circle while my dad set them off. Everyone was laughing and smiling until the guards told us that the locals had run to our compound

Hannah Arthur

with all their buckets of water. The guards explained the Fourth of July custom to them–but this story shows these are two different worlds.

One where the appearance of fire means that you have to selflessly use the rest of your water to stop your neighbor’s house from burning down, and another where we have the luxury to create and purchase fireworks for fun.

I once had two best friends over the summers growing up in Ethiopia: two twin girls, Hawi and Ayana. Their father was a local business owner in the area where my parents and I stayed while they worked.

The three of us spent days running around the countryside barefoot, braiding and combing our hair with sticks, and playing with baby goats.

Like many girls in rural low-income areas, they were never sent to school and only learned minimal English. The rea son for the two different paths our lives took is no secret.

Emma Baumgarten

About three years ago, their family immigrated to the U.S. to start a new life.

The cultural differences and disparities that I was exposed in Ethiopia have helped me understand the inequalities that Americans typically learn later in life.

Through these experiences, I found that one of the reasons that Americans are divided and do not understand each oth er is that we do not understand each other’s backgrounds and cultures. We have become indoctrinated into thinking that anyone who lives their lives differently than us is abnor mal and should not be accepted in our society.

Many colleges and universities offer study-abroad programs to expose students to different cultures.

American University’s study abroad program is ranked eighth nationally and draws students to the campus. AU prioritizes its abroad program to allow students to travel and experience other cultures which they can apply to their major.

There is a strong correlation between traveling, empathy and understanding one another, according to National Geographic. Author Ruby Terry discusses how through traveling, “cross-cultural exposure through travel would at

least create conditions for checking conscious and uncon scious biases.”

Terry found that out of 1,300 business travelers “87 percent said that business trips helped them to be more empathetic to others.”

My travels to rural Ethiopia shaped me into who I am today and changed my outlook on the world.

Illustrations by Shelby Drzewiecki

Emma Baumgarten

Emma Baumgarten

UNPACKING GEN Z:

How does this generation view life?

by Grace Soares Kylie Finkelstein

Illustrations

Flavia Marroni

The more I talk about my plans for growing old, the more I notice an interesting trend - my peers around me do not understand why I plan to live long. They tell me they would rather not think so far ahead, but focus on the moment and not live long because life is stressful.

While I am sure past generations enjoyed life in their 20s, this gener ation seems to be exasperated by it. They seem to be constantly pushing themselves to achieve more, whether it be getting a new internship, growing their social media, building their own brand or starting a nonprofit. It is a never-ending pursuit of greater success, giving into the pressures of productiv ity culture. But where are they really going? Has family life and personal well-being lost all meaning for Gen Z? How do we compare to other generations?

In 2021, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published the article, “To be young and pessimistic in America,” naming Gen Z, anyone born in 1997 and later, the most pessimistic generation yet. Gen Z was described as being more worried about the world than any other generation, viewing the world through a lens of fear. Surely, the threat of a pandemic, which interrupt ed regular life and mobilized the entire

globe, did not help this generation see the world as a safe place. With the pandemic came an increased social media presence in our daily lives.

According to Statista, we are now spending an average of three hours a day on social media. This might not come as a shock, but social media has significantly impacted young people’s lives. It enables anything personal to instantly become public.

This sparks fear of messing up as we are essentially under the constant judgment of others. Through social media, we end up stuck in constant comparison of ourselves to others and unrealistic ideals. Altogether, social media becomes a noteworthy factor in creating negative attitudes toward life.

Millennials, the generation preceding Gen Z, were a much more optimistic generation. A Wall Street Journal article, “To Be Young and Pessimistic in America,” discusses how a generation’s attitudes toward life may depend on the generation that raised them. Millennials were brought up by Boomer parents who encouraged them to dream big and told them they could become whatever they wanted. On the other hand, according to the WSJ, Gen Z was raised by

Kylie Finkelstein

Gen X parents who had a more guarded view of the world, attributable to the pressures of achieving economic success in light of growing economic inequality.

Gen X’s attempts to shelter Gen Z from harm, disease, STDs and violence, combined with increasing social media interaction, have made Gen Z the loneliest gener ation yet. Reportedly, Gen Z goes out much less than any other generation.

This generation is sheltered and warned about the endless risks this world has to offer. In response, their anxiety in creases, they go out less and they would rather focus on safer bets, such as their careers and achieving success.

If you think about it, it is surely more difficult for our generation to trust each other because we are not spending enough time with our friends. “Members of Generation Z are far less likely to date, obtain a driver’s license, hold down a job or hang out with friends in person than millennials were at the same age,” according to the WSJ article.

Why is Gen Z forming fewer emotional connections? At first, I thought it was because of the phenomenon of pro ductivity culture, pressuring us to produce results, measuring our success not only in our professional lives but also in our personal lives and relationships. I certainly fell into this trap, trying to measure how well I was doing in every aspect of my life until I realized it was making me miserable.

Instead, contrary to my initial assumptions, research re vealed that the pandemic pushed a search for a calmer life, a “soft life” where stress and the traditional nine-to-five work schedule are being rejected.

“In the ‘80s people asked ‘How do we maximize?’ But now people are asking, ‘What’s the minimal amount I need to live a sustainable life?’ I love that idea,” said Royster, an NYU sociology professor, in a Yahoo article, “Milleni als Want to Live a Soft Life.”

However, this pertained to millennials, with no mention of Gen Z. Is it pos sible that the effects of the pandemic were completely different on Gen Z?

Overall, Gen Z seems to be taking a more isolationist route in life. The Trumpet highlights psychologist Jean Twenge’s findings that “...fewer and fewer teens are dating, drinking alcohol, working for pay, going out without their parents, and driving.” Twenge’s surprising argument was that teenagers have too much time on their hands today because they are sheltered, many do not need to have jobs early on in life, or get a driver’s license and they can socialize online instead of in person. According to Twenge, the consequence is spending much more time alone, overthinking and being distressed.

The phenomenon is one where teens just “don’t want to grow up.” Adult hood responsibilities are pushed off as much as possible and this can make

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it harder for teens to find a drive. Herbert W. Armstrong, author of Mystery of the Ages, expressed how “He wanted all those who had been searching for happiness in the wrong way—perhaps by seeking wealth, putting off responsibility, and enjoying the pleasures of the present at the expense of the future—to experience what he had,” a formula which he describes as a busy and abundantly rewarding life.

These arguments suggest that Gen Z is falling into a self-de structive trap by avoiding responsibility.

Has Gen Z fallen victim to the Peter Pan Syndrome? The Peter Pan Syndrome is a wish to remain like Peter Pan and the Lost boys, refusing to grow up and face responsibilities.

Those who fit this description avoid commitment, blame others for their failures, avoid socializing, experiment with drugs to take them back to their childhood, and hang on to short-sighted dreams which they did not work to achieve but still think could happen– mostly dreams of achieving fame.

Although this syndrome was associated with millennials, an article from Medium.com suggests this syndrome could be induced through excessive parenting, causing teens to be emotionally unprepared to face adulthood. People stuck in a Peter Pan syndrome do not settle down, they jump from job

to job, from relationship to relationship and take criticism poorly, remaining emotionally immature. The only way to fight this is to make a choice, commit to it fully and accept the sacrifice, because in life every choice comes with sacrifice. We need to take on responsibility and let go of the past.

Still, I wonder if responsibility is all Gen Z needs. In my opinion, what we are missing is the ability to love, which ultimately teaches us to grow up, to commit, be responsible and get our lives together. If not for ourselves, then for the people we love.

An interesting study conducted by the Harvard Gazette, tracked the health of 268 Harvard sophomores in 1938 to find out what factors contribute most to living happy and healthy lives. As of 2017, when this article was published, there were only 19 who were still alive.

The findings concluded that “Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives, the study revealed.” Building strong ties with others helps us deal with problems in life. They help us be happy even when things do not go our way.

Kylie Finkelstein

Executive Board:

Gianna Matassa

Editor-in-Chief

Sana Mamtaney President

Jordyn Habib Vice President

Karlee Zolman Managing Editor

Hannah Arthur Business Director

Riley-Kate Pappas Events Director

Cleo Pool Social Director

Hannah Richards Publishing Director

Abigail Greenberg Design Director Sarah Metcalfe Multimedia Director Kaitlyn Newport Section Editors

Evelyn Middleton, Faith Chung Print Editors

Ava Cowles, Laisa Graciela Multimedia Editors

Claire Baranovic

Tik Tok Curator

Cover design by Abigail Greenberg

Logo design by Elaine Griffith

This magazine was designed by Abigail Greenberg and the Her Campus American Design Team. The text of Collegiette is set in Avenir Heavy and EB Garamond. Collegiette is printed for Her Campus American University by Heritage Printing & Graphics, Waldorf, Maryland.

Print Team:

Gianna Matassa Editor-in-Chief

Hannah Richards Publishing Director

Evelyn Middleton, Faith Chung Print Editors

Abby Bacon Belle Evans

Emma McDowall

Evelyn Middleton

Faith Chung Flavia Marroni Gianna Matassa Hannah Arthuer Hannah Richards

Riley-Kate Pappas Sana Mamtaney Sarah Metcalfe Sophie Carter

Design Team:

Abigail Greenberg Design Director

LETTER FROM THE DESIGNER

Welcome to Issue 008, Fall 2022 of Collegiette. I was so excited to take on the role of Design Director this semester and to work with such an amazing team to put this magazine together! Our writers produced some amazing pieces this semester that focus on relevant issues pertaingin to life at AU, in the DMV, and as humans in general. Our designers, photographers, and content creators produced beautiful grpahics and photographs to accompnay these articles and I am so proud of all of the work they did Thank you to our Executive Board, our writers, all of the memebers of Her Campus who worked so hard to make this magazine possible. Thank you to Sophie Gilbery, former Design Director, for giving me so much guidance and helping me take on this role. We are all so proud to present Isuue 008 of Collegiette and we hope you enjoy it!

HCXO Abigail Greenberg