Collegiette Issue 010

Issue 010 · Fall 2023

COLLEGIE T TE

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HER CAMPUS AMERICAN

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HER CAMP

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the tenth edition of Her Campus at American University’s Collegiette! For our Fall 2023 issue, we are so excited to immerse you in this innovative, thought-provoking and beautifully designed creation that represents who HCAU is. Our mission is to empower women and gender nonconforming people to write about what they care about, especially issues that are underrepresented in the mainstream media. We are thrilled to see the individual expressions of each writer and designer come together to build a manifestation of the ingenuity that exists within our organization.

To enter our double digits as a print magazine, this issue tackles questions of race, representation, gender and sexuality, mental health and more through editorials, investigative reporting and in-depth research. Paired with impactful imagery by our designers, our writers took on hard-hitting topics to make you, our reader, think, reflect and maybe even take action for something you believe in.

This edition of Collegiette fulfills roles of journalism to reputably inform the public, shed light on unsung themes and of course, entertain. In these tumultuous, unprecedented times, we hope with each article you gain a deeper understanding of the importance of the press, and why organizations like Her Campus at AU are more valuable than ever for stimulating thought, but also resonating with and representing people across identities.

Thank you to the HCAU team, the AU Student Media Board and to you, our dear reader.

Without further ado, the tenth issue of Her Campus at American University’s Collegiette.

HCXO, Sana Mamtaney Editor-in-Chief

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IN THIS ISSUE

1 An In Depth Look at the Department of Critical Race, Gender & Culture Studies at American University

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Jordyn Habib

Queering Athletics at American University: An Interview with Sarah Golder, Vice President of American University’s Dirty Ladies Sarah Metcalfe

9 Spotlighting S.T.E.M. at American University

The Importance of Representation in BookTok Sophia Rocha

Isa Iiams

7 13 Demand to Conform: The Model Minority Myth in Television Lani Khuu

The Unseen Difficulty of Building Strong Female Friendships

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Eleanor Mastin

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: The Unspoken, Debilitating Overlap Between Mental and Reproductive Health Sana Mamtaney

Rediscovering Girlhood: Trending Memories and Musings Annabelle Evans

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Barbenheimer and its Impact as a Cultural Phenomenon Sydney Kamin

23 The Problematic Use of ‘Hispanic’ Versus ‘Latine’ Ela Hernández

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AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CRITICAL RACE, GENDER & CULTURE STUDIES AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Illustrations by Cleo Pool Photo by Sophie Carter The Department of Critical Race, Gender and Culture Studies (CRGC) is a department within the American University College of Art and Sciences (CAS). CRGC is composed of seven majors: African American and African Diaspora Studies, American Studies, Arab World Studies, Asia, Pacific, and Diaspora Studies, Disability, Health, and Bodies Certificate, Latina/o/x Studies and, lastly, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

The Original Creation of the Department CRGC was created in the Fall of 2020 out of the former Critical Race, Gender and Culture Studies Collaborative that was created in 2015. American University lauded the creation of this department “A Milestone towards Inclusive Excellence.” The department is largely marked as a pillar in the university’s work toward inclusivity and equity.

The communications department for CAS stated in the announcement of CRGC that it “will exemplify the university’s long standing recognition of the connection between traditional academic work and social equity.”

Jordyn Habib Since its creation, the department has fostered a diverse educational perspective beyond the classroom by co-sponsoring events such as speaker talks and roundtables. Additionally, the professors within the department are impressive and outspoken with the majority being published authors in their respective fields. They are also intensely active on campus; even if it is in protest. Professor Zein El-Amine in the Arab World Studies department was a vital leader in the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) strike on campus in 2022.

The department describes itself as a “vibrant and inclusive community of faculty and students that explore diverse voices, histories and experiences.”

A Professor’s Take on CRGC Many professors share this sentiment. Professor Martyn Oliver in the Arab World Studies department claims that CRGC is essentially the “home of misfit toys” where intersectional identity matters. Oliver explained that CRGC being officially named a department caused these majors and areas of study to be given an immense amount of administrative support.

Oliver continues to explain that CRGC is unique in its intention and perspective. He stated Arab World Studies is the “spot to look at our common history but look at it from a different lens.” Oliver asserts that the department works to move on from the eurocentric

Cleo Pool

point of view and instead study the Arab World from Arabs themselves.

a way that is more critical than [she] would’ve in other departments.”

This principle is also shown in the faculty demographics of the department, such as in the Arab World Studies (AWST) major where the majority of Professors are Arab. Oliver himself left as director of the department in order for Irene Calis, a female professor of Palestinian descent, to lead the department.

Ultimately, when asked what other departments at AU have to learn from CRGC, Roselle stated that other programs should learn that “it’s okay to be critical of the world around you.”

Of course, the concepts of intersectionality and inclusivity should not solely exist within the CRGC department. The university will not achieve comprehensive inclusive excellence from a singular department. Oliver stated that other departments can learn from CRGC by placing “intentionality on community first.”

Beyond community, the ultimate goal of the department is to challenge students with diverse backgrounds toward giving space to shift perspective.

The intentional nature of this is unique from most other departments at the university.

Oliver asserted that CRGC is “not here to make safe spaces for students, we’re here to make challenging spaces which can be liberating for students.”

Student Stories From a student perspective, the structural mission of the department is liberating. At its inception the department was poised as a space for diverse voices and perspectives. This is a learning opportunity not often found in higher education.

Heather Roselle, a junior in the American Studies program within CRGC, explained that she joined the major as a way to learn from a perspective that she had never had the opportunity to hear in high school. When speaking about her experience in the department, Roselle was enthusiastic about the opportunities the program has given herself to challenge her learning.

Roselle asserts the claim that the CRGC department serves students in a way that many other programs do not. She explained that her past experiences in other departments “there wasn’t a lot of critical self reflection that was encouraged.” In contrast, American Studies has helped her through theory, peers and professors that have helped her think about her own identity “in

Roselle explained that she had not been able to find this critical perspective until joining CRGC. She stated “in the other departments I’ve worked in there is a sheen of positivity” and that “within American Studies the underlying tone is yes, you have to be critical, but if you’re criticizing the structures around you, it’s all with the hope that you will take action to change them.”

The Importance of Cultural Studies Cultural studies are a necessary part of a well rounded education that challenge students in a unique way.

For a student to obtain a holistic education various voices must be presented. CRGC at AU can be seen as an attempt to create a stimulating community for students in which they grapple with their own identity along with their relationship to others.

Bill Green and Andrew Hickey wrote in the “Journal of Media & Cultural Studies” that “cultural studies provides a means for interrogating the conjuncture as it is confronted, in context, and on the basis of personalized encounter.”

Cultural studies is increasingly gaining popularity within academics as a nuanced perspective to inclusivity. At its core it is a way to challenge students to diverge from their former mechanisms of learning.

Specifically, at American University the CRGC program helps create a community for students to feel comfortable to embark on this challenge.

Stuart Hall, a prominent scholar on cultural studies, asked the New Yorker: “What is culture…but an attempt to grasp at these changes, to wrap one’s head around what is newly possible?”

The Department of Critical Race, Gender and Culture Studies has positioned themselves as a program to address just this by questioning and analyzing societal changes and structures, and ultimately working to improve them.

QUEERING ATHLETICS AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: An Interview with Sarah Golder, Vice President of American University’s Dirty Ladies Illustrations by Cleo Pool Photo by Phil Goodwin

Spaces not traditionally for LGBTQ+ students in college culture have been coined as “queer” at American University (AU) due to the large population of students that identify within the LGBTQ+ community on the campus.

Club teams such as the Dirty Ladies women’s ultimate frisbee club team, challenge the traditional ways of understanding sports culture.

Sarah Golder is the Vice President of the Dirty Ladies and she expressed her feelings on the community the team brings to AU and the frisbee scene on a collegiate level.

Q: Tell me about ultimate frisbee. Go into it with your experience at AU or before, if you did that, or if it’s a new thing you just wanted to pick up.

Golder: I knew about Ultimate Frisbee before coming to AU. It was a big thing at my summer camp that I

Sarah Metcalfe

went to when I was little and my brother did it too, but it wasn’t a thing at my high school so I didn’t do it in a club or anything before coming to AU. I didn’t realize we had an AU club freshman year, which I’m really sad I didn’t know, because I totally would have done it freshman year if I knew. I found some table in the quad last year and was like, ‘Oh, I really want to join, I haven’t done frisbee in a while.’ Then I just kept going back because, A: it was fun. I liked Frisbee. I liked Frisbee already. It helped that I had a little bit of experience, but there’s so many people that come to the team that have absolutely no experience, and the fun thing about Ultimate is that it was made on a college campus.

It’s also really focused on community. For most of the games that you play you won’t have a referee. The idea is that if you feel like you’ve been fouled, you call it and you talk it out with the other person, and they can either say “no I didn’t foul you” and you talk it out or they can say “yeah I totally fouled you.” The only time you see referees is when you get to a really important game, like nationals or sectionals.

Q: What is it like to create that kind of community with other queer athletes?

Golder: Not everyone on the team is queer but it’s a joke that so many are. I’d say I’m comfortable with that term but I still don’t know what I am, you know, whatever, but there is still such an emphasis on it being a safe community. Everyone is always really focused on people being comfortable with each other and the spirit of the game. We’re mainly focused on

everything being fun and building a community rather than winning every single game. I think that kind of fosters comfortableness besides the fact that a lot of people, especially on the Dirty Ladies, are queer.

I think it also helps that we’re a no cut team. It feels like a more open space because it’s a no cut team and it allows people, like I said, who’ve never played the sport before to come and learn. And there’s no expectation. You could have never played a sport in your entire life.

Q: Have you had any conversations about identity and some recent controversies? For example, for transgender individuals, the bans on playing in the division that aligns with their gender?

Golder: I don’t think we’ve had direct conversations about that. We’re mainly a woman and non-binary team. I think there’s kind of an expectation there that wherever you are, you’re accepted there. The men’s team is also a really safe community and that’s really emphasized. This year especially, the captains on both teams made sure to do a meeting with the Title IX office at the beginning of the year just talking about how to build a safe community. We have programs that we do together and sometimes we play together.

Q: Can you share your own feelings on the discourse around LGBTQ+ issues within sports?

Golder: I used to play soccer so I followed the women’s world cup really closely this summer, and I know that there were a lot of people wanting to wear pride captain bands, or something. A lot of people ended up painting their nails certain pride colors because that was one way to get around bans.

It’s definitely something that should be talked about.

I think all sports should obviously be a safe place for anyone to play. I get frustrated because I feel like the main aspect of any sport should be having fun in that sport. And when you get so caught up with certain bans and stuff, it takes so much away from people that want to play. It’s like a release for people, you know, you’re supposed to like going to a sports practice and it’s something to get away from your stressful life.

Sports are an outlet for all people and can create a healthy community between rookie athletes and seasoned veterans. Club teams, such as the Dirty Ladies and other club teams, offer an inclusive environment whether that be of sexuality or gender.

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Sophie Carter

Sophie Carter

SPOTLIGHTING S.T.E.M. AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

Illustrations by Cleo Pool

Isa Iiams

Photo by Sophie Carter

When you think of American University, what comes to mind? Being located in Washington, D.C., Capitol Hill ‘hillternships’ may be the first thing you think of.

Or maybe you think of students dedicated to political engagement and activism. Science, technology, engineering and math, otherwise known as STEM, might not be one of the first things that comes to mind—but it should be.

Whether it be the associations with being in the political capitol or how the university brands itself, STEM tends to fall by the wayside in terms of visibility.

Dr. Anthony Riley, who has been at the university for an impressive 47 years and serves as Neuroscience Department Chair, explains that “students don’t really know that we do science here.”

Part of this might be because American University follows the traditional liberal arts model of having arts, pure sciences, humanities and social sciences in one umbrella school—the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). In this way, STEM departments are placed in the same administrative unit as other departments with vastly different goals and functions.

This made it difficult for there to be any semblance of a STEM identity at AU, especially because, as Dr. David Kearns, Department of Psychology Chair, highlights, “historically, AU hasn’t been thought of as a science school.”

Things are changing, however, especially with the development of the Don Meyers Technology and Innovation Building (DMTI) and the Hall of Science.

Just five years ago, the sciences were separated with the biology department in Hurst, chemistry in Beeghly and psychology in Asbury. With the physical landscape of AU changing, so has the STEM morale.

According to Riley, having buildings dedicated to STEM has been a great way to unite staff and students. Another neuroscience professor, Dr. Mark Laubach, says that the buildings have “changed the spirit” of the departments and created “a better home for science.”

Despite having their own buildings, STEM departments being within the College of Arts and Sciences still poses challenges. According to Kearns, the STEM departments heavily lean on external funding—money from outside the school—to run their research programs. As such, it is important to attract investors to the university and convince them to spend their dollars here as opposed to other institutions. But, as Laubach and Riley both highlight, because of the size of CAS and the constant flow of news coming from 19 different departments, it can be hard to advertise the STEM work going on at AU to get attention from funders. This exemplifies the importance of promoting what the STEM programs are doing at American University.

What, then, are STEM programs doing that are unique to the university? Dr. Karen Knee, Department Chair of Environmental Science, points to the ability of undergraduates to get involved at a higher level in research opportunities because of small program sizes. She spotlights the fact that undergraduates have more personal interactions with faculty—a relationship that Laubach believes is incredibly important, as faculty are not just educators, but active researchers and participants in their fields.

American University is also home to many labs.

Opportunities to get hands-on experiential learning in a lab might be limited to post-graduate students at other institutions, but that is not the case here. The Hall of Science has 12 state-of-the-art laboratories that have student workers participating in ongoing research.

Another selling point is that being in Washington, D.C. is not only a value to those going into politics.

Laubach and Kearns both emphasize the benefit of being the closest university to the National Institute of Health (NIH). There are significant post-graduate opportunities at the NIH that American University students routinely fill thanks to the aforementioned opportunities at the university.

This is information that professors wish students knew. Professor Jaime Miller, Senior Lecturer in mathematics and statistics, says that she wants the department to move past the image of “where you take your one math class”—something Miller has heard AU ambassadors say when giving tours.

Laubach recalls hearing tour leaders standing outside of the Hall of Science saying that they “don’t know what goes on in there.”

It is clear that the reputation of STEM at American University starts, in part, with the way we brand our school, down to the tours we give to prospective students. A potential way to address this issue is having presentations and tours that bring people to the buildings to tangibly grasp what is happening.

Aside from more effective promotion, there are other ways STEM is struggling to expand. Requiring a quantitative literacy and natural-scientific inquiry course to the list of classes needed to graduate added a significant responsibility to STEM departments— where these classes are usually taken—that the professional schools like the School of International Studies, Kogod School of Business and the School of Public Affairs did not have to undertake.

Knee explains, “AU Core created a whole new set of classes that need to be taught by someone, but there is no mechanism of allocating those classes fairly or efficiently.”

Additionally, though the STEM departments are growing, professors report that the internal funding from the school is not. This makes it difficult for the departments to hire the faculty necessary to fully serve students interested in the classes they offer.

Knee points out that if the departments have trouble accommodating current students, they cannot start to market the majors to new people. Professors reveal that budgets are tight across the university and that it can be hard to find new ways to expand funding, but faculty is the top priority in terms of developing the STEM majors to reach their full potential.

Despite challenges that are inevitable at any university, it is clear that American is home to a thriving and dynamic STEM community, where faculty members and students are engaged in cutting-edge research and innovation. American University is witnessing a transformation in the perception and vitality of its STEM programs, and that starts with the students. To find out more about what is going on in STEM here at the university, visit the department pages on the CAS website and look out for flyers, posts and other ways to engage with the very active STEM extracurriculars.

Miller explains that it is also up to first-year advisors.

She hopes to better educate advisors on what the STEM programs have to offer so that students who are interested in STEM aren’t turned away or discouraged by advisors who sway them away from courses that have the misrepresentation of being “too complicated.”

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OPINION: The Importance of Representation in BookTok Photos by Sophia Rocha & Sophie Carter BookTok has taken TikTok by storm as people rediscover a love for reading through sharing videos about book recommendations and favorite authors. A May survey from Book Riot found that 48% of TikTok users in the U.S. reported reading significantly more because of the influence of BookTok. Reading is great, especially in an era surrounded by screens, but one problem plagues BookTok and the resurgence of reading — the lack of representation.

On Goodreads’s list of the “most popular books published in 2023,” 17 out of the top 20 books on the list are written by white authors. On Barnes and Noble’s list of “the most popular TikTok books,” 10 out of the top 12 recommended books are written by white authors. This pattern repeats over and over again, and Black and brown authors are only awarded recognition when it is their heritage or history month.

Two of the most popular genres within BookTok are romance and fantasy, or a combination of the two known as “romantasy.” Some of the most popular authors within these genres include Colleen Hoover,

Sophia Rocha Emily Henry, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J. Mass and Tessa Bailey. Though they write different stories, they all have one thing in common: they are all white.

Not only are the authors of popular BookTok novels white, but they write stories with predominantly white characters. In the romance genre, fun graphic covers with the characters depicted in cartoon form are commonplace. On the romance table at almost any bookstore, covers with only white characters leave no real estate for diversity.

Amal Awad, an Arab author, saw this trend of white characters early-on in her career and decided to write her novel “Courting Samira” in 2011, which is a romance book about a Palestinian woman living in Sydney, Australia finding love. Now, after seeing BookTok books with white characters on the cover go viral, Awad is republishing the book featuring the main character — a Muslim woman wearing a hijab — on the new cover.

“I have always loved stories. Growing up, I consumed so many popular books that had characters I loved but couldn’t fully relate to, and I didn’t know of any books or authors who spoke to my experiences as the daughter of Palestinian migrants in the west,” Awad said. “Thankfully, that is changing, but it’s also why it was so important for me to find my voice when I finally began writing ‘Courting Samira.’”

Sophia Rocha

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Sophia Rocha

When white authors do attempt to write characters of different backgrounds into their stories, it can be problematic if not done with care, research and intention. For example, Sarah J. Mass has received criticism for her “Throne of Glass” series which, among several other unsettling aspects of the story like disrespecting bisexuality and glorifying abusive relationships, includes just one main character of color who is killed off to advance the white protagonist’s story. BookTok creators and viewers, similarly to the rest of social media, pick and choose what authors to “cancel” for offenses that they see fit, but Mass is still one of the most popular BookTok authors in the “romantasy” genre.

“I can’t really answer if an author’s work can be separated from problematic things they say or do, but clearly they often are. I know that my enjoyment of something can be affected by that sort of thing, but it doesn’t mean that the work is not good,” Awad said.

“We can certainly apply judgment to what warrants rejection of an author. For example, a writer who is clearly racist has no place on my bookshelf.”

decided to create an imprint under the publisher Penguin Random House called Joy Revolution that would do just that. Since 2022, Joy Revolution has published five novels with BookTok-style covers featuring Black and brown characters and is set to publish two more before the end of the year.

If you are at all a fan of BookTok or looking to get back into reading, it is not too late to make a difference and support Black and brown authors, or read some books featuring minority characters in a positive light. Pick up the new cover of “Courting Samira” by Amal Awad starting on Nov. 7. For romance lovers, read anything

by Talia Hibbert, but specifically “Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute.” For fantasy fans, “Legendborn” by Tracy Deonn is a must-read. For general fiction, Zakiya Dalila Harris’s “The Other Black Girl” is the way to go.

Feel free to read all the Emily Henry and Rebecca Yarros your heart desires, but next time you are adding a book to your “to be read” list, consider adding a book or two by minority authors to diversify your reading consumption.

Although it is hard to say who, if anyone, is at fault for the lack of representation in popular books, publishing companies play an influential role in which books and authors receive media coverage and which do not.

Nicola Yoon, author of popular novels including “Everything, Everything” and “The Sun Is Also a Star,” and her husband David Yoon saw that many publishing companies did not highlight love stories written by or starring people of color. So, the couple

Sophie Carter

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Sophie Carter 11 | COLLEGIETTE

Sophie Carter Sophie Carter

OPINION: DEMAND TO CONFORM: The Model Minority Myth in Television

Illustration by Sophie Carter Photo by Sophie Carter As summer collapses into autumn, students all over the world fall back into routine. For many, the golden cascade of September is accompanied by another cozy classic: “Gilmore Girls.” The hit television show’s pilot episode aired in 2000, and since then, the comedy drama has amassed a cult following.

“Gilmore Girls” follows mother-daughter duo, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, as they navigate their lives in the close-knit town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. For Lorelai, this means managing her career at the Independence Inn as well as her relationship with her estranged parents. For Rory, this means learning the ins and outs of her new prestigious preparatory academy. Aside from Rory and Lorelai, the town of Stars Hollow is home to a vibrant cast of characters. One of the most striking characters being Rory’s quirky, rock-music-loving best friend: Lane Kim.

Lani Khuu While Lane longs to be a drummer for her rock ‘n’ roll band, she is hounded by her ultra-conservative, religious Korean mother. Mrs. Kim is portrayed as your average Tiger-mom. She disapproves of Lane’s rebellious streak and romantic endeavors, only wanting Lane to pursue accomplished doctors and lawyers.

Eventually, Lane Kim’s story comes to a tragic close, when her storyline is shifted from one that centers around her love for music to motherhood.

For so many, Lane Kim’s character served as a demonstration of Asian defiance against the model minority stereotype. Until, she became a cautionary tale.

Defining the Model Minority Myth and its Harm The model minority myth refers to the set of stereotypes that encircles people of Asian descent. It often suggests that they achieve a high socioeconomic position due to the ability to outperform other minority groups in the United States. Oftentimes, the model minority myth is utilized as a tool of division or a method to compare different minority groups with one another.

“For every model minority, there is a not model minority,” said Professor Gautham Rao at American University’s history department. He describes the model minority myth as an “incredibly insidious and normative concept.”

Historically, the idea of the model minority was used to chastise other minority groups and justify their lower socioeconomic positions by utilizing a portion of Asian Americans as an example of the “ideal immigrant.”

In addition to hurting other minority groups, the

model minority myth hurts Asian Americans. This raises another question: how do seemingly positive attributes, like intelligence and model-worthy hard work, impact a group negatively?

The model minority myth “forces people who may be subjected to the myth to conform their behavior,” Rao said. The attributes that are most commonly associated with the model minority myth, like chastity, align with conservative American values. Pushing this perception of character onto Asian Americans can “act like a straightjacket,” Rao continued.

Additionally, the model minority myth raises the issue of conflating Asian identities. This paints Asian Americans as law abiding citizens with access to educational and career resources that set them up for success. However, many Asian Americans have refugee status, and struggle to thrive in the United States. By applying this concept to all Asian Americans, the struggles of many are erased, and therefore cannot be properly addressed or eradicated.

The Model Minority Myth in Popular Television: Why Does it Happen?

“Gilmore Girls” is not the first time we’ve seen the perpetuation of the model minority on television. So many American classics use the model minority myth as a cheap punchline. In John Hughs’s “Sixteen Candles,” the racist portrayal of the character Long Duk Dong as a sexually inept loser perpetuates the idea that Asian Americans must adhere to the model minority myth in order to not only thrive, but stay relevant. It is a demand to assimilate.

Although modern television has come a long way since Long Duk Dong, the model minority myth continues to persist in the media in much more subtle forms. In early 2000s television and movies, viewers see subtle side characters who only exist to add “ethnic flare,” as described by Rao. In the television show “Sex and the City,” an Asian woman with a thick accent describes her lackluster sexual relationship with her husband. In the 2003 romantic comedy “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” the main character, Andie’s, only diverse coworker is an Asian woman who wears chopsticks in her hair for the entire film in which she mutters a few anxious lines.

Widely, in television, the minimal roles of Asian characters are often reduced to their race, which is additionally used as a punchline. These side

characters not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes associated with the model minority, but reinforce the preposterous idea that Asian Americans, along with immigrants, are not leaders and cannot be taken seriously.

When asked about why we continue to see this happen, Rao said that “it sells.” He explains that the reason the “quirky Asian side character” continues to persist in television, through small unnamed characters and in characters that people often want to identify with, like Lane Kim, is because its success rests on the model minority myth. Though these moments and characters in television are often written off as harmless jokes and comic relief, they perpetuate a harmful stream of ideas that confine Asian Americans to western ideals that require them to remain voiceless and docile.

Where are we today?

Today, Lane Kim is happily married and a mother to two sons. The new “Year in the Life” spin-off of “Gilmore Girls” may have given viewers a slight sense of resolution.

Although the spin-off series attempts to make peace with Lane’s turbulent storyline, viewers everywhere remember Rory’s childhood best friend as a character who shined with defiance. One who was determined to be more than what her mother had planned for her.

Ultimately, when Lane marries her husband, Zack, she waits until her honeymoon to have sex for the first time, maintaining the model minority vision that was laid out for her. Lane’s first time is an objectively negative experience, and her plotline revolves around her becoming pregnant. For many Asian viewers who saw themselves, and their commitment to individuality in Lane, this tragic plot served as a reminder and reinforcer that maintaining and conforming to ideals of the model minority myth are the only way to thrive.

Will this myth continue to persist in the media? “It’s not going to be voluntarily removed. It has to be elbowed out of the way.” Rao also states that “this means that people are affirmatively placing Asian Americans in these very visible and central roles often.”

The perpetuation of the model minority myth in television has deep roots in oppression, and must be recognized and criticized. For so many Asian Americans who saw themselves in Lane Kim and were tremendously let down, resistance against the model minority and the fight for individuality remains.

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OPINION: The Unseen Difficulty of Building Strong Female Friendships Photos by Eleanor Mastin and Andrik Langfield Illustration by Sophie Carter

Sitting in a circle on the floor of Kalea Grant’s and Zori Rouleau’s dorm room, we gabbed about boys, gossiped about the most recent update on fellow freshmen and giggled over scandalous Halloween costumes. I lay on Anna Bemiss’s arm as she explained her feelings over her recent French exam, while Georgia Lageniere vigorously typed her upcoming Government assignment.

Bella Gourley scrolled through Pinterest as Zori curated a perfect Halloweekend playlist.

Different in so many ways, but connected through what Anna would go on to jokingly describe as, “trauma bonds”, referring to the common struggles college-age women experience that can create a close-knit community in a matter of days.

As I pressed play to record our conversation, Kalea and Zori sat down and spelled out their names into the microphone. I said, “so, Kalea, how would you describe your experience with female friendships?”

“Good!” she said, causing the room of women to erupt

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Eleanor Mastin into laughter. Upon elaboration, Kalea describes her childhood, growing up in Austin: few strong female friendships, until she reached high school when she met her long-time best friend through debate. This friendship blossomed into a friend group of strong female friendships, something Kalea has held close to her throughout her first few months at American University.

The same is true for freshman Bella whose first experience with genuine friendship was through her high school friend group of all women with similar interests to her. The longevity of these relationships is evident as Kalea, Zori, Bella and Georgia stated that these friendships are ones they expect to last for the rest of their lives with women they cannot imagine living without.

In contrast to the experience of one friend group holding out through thick and thin, Georgia and Zori both experienced a considerably more unstable friendship evolution throughout high school. Georgia struggled from elementary school to hold onto a female friendship without shame or insecurity.

After finding what seemed to be a solid friend group in high school, she faced a falling out that left her without the social security she was used to. Her best friend stuck with her throughout this falling out. The bond Georgia feels with this friend remains the same today, even being almost 3,000 miles apart.

Zori’s strong female friendship felt the same way: someone who had stuck with her through failed friendships and relationships in high school remains her strongest bond today.

The “summer of girlhood” in 2023 gave light to the impact women have on the world, but more directly on the individual lives of those in their life. “Girlfriend air,” “girl dinner” and so much more highlighted the impact women have on those around them..

Strong female friendships are a core piece of girlhood; Having a woman living through the same struggles and triumphs provides an outlet to vent to as well as a source of compassion to empathize with. Shared experience is an invaluable aspect of girlhood. The stories above of American University freshmen are no exception. Each of these young women has at least one other woman she can look to as a supporter and counselor.

Strong female friendships hold an essence that many can’t name, but know it when they feel it. The unique ability to sympathize, offer opinion and provide a comfortable space to speak freely is something women are very rarely offered in a relationship other than between two female-identifying people.

Kalea discussed how her friendships with other women have fallen into place without the need for too much

effort or design.

Another factor women must consider, that decreases the likelihood of longevity for female friendships is the “third lens,” as described by Georgia, referring to the consideration women take into account of how their platonic relationships are perceived by the outside world.

Judgment is imposed onto women in every aspect of life whether it be based on their career, education, family, romantic relationships or simply friendships.

The consideration that women take into account when deciding who to be seen with is a real and valid one, stemming from patriarchal society.

The idea that women should view other women as enemies implies that they should not form strong friendships. However, these friendships are hugely beneficial for women, especially those in a transitional period in their life, such as college. The emotional connection gained through strong female friendships surpasses that of what could be gained through shallow acquaintances.

Eleanor Mastin

OPINION: REDISCOVERING GIRLHOOD: Trending Memories and Musings

Illustrations by Cleo Pool

Annabelle Evans

Photo by Sophie Carter

The definition of the word girlhood, according to Oxford Languages is simply “the state or time of being a girl.” More recently, to many, girlhood has a deeper meaning that sparks nostalgia of that enchanting period in their lives.

This past summer, the “Barbie” movie and Taylor Swift’s “The Era’s Tour” ignited social media trends analyzing and discussing what it means to be a girl. On TikTok, #girlhood has 1.4 billion views, and many of the top videos under the hashtag are made up of moments people feel represent their girlhood. Common occurrences in these videos are laughing with friends, celebrating each other and freely displaying their emotions.

Rachel Snyder, literature professor at American University, when asked what comes to mind when she thinks of girlhood answered “laughter.”

To the same question, Sabrina McEvoy, a 20 year old college student, said “‘Barbie’ honestly, I think after that movie came out people really started talking about what it means to be a girl, it kind of made me feel seen as a woman and just made me think about how scary it is to be a woman in this world.”

In 2022, Taylor Swift released the song “Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve” which features the lyrics, “Give me back my girlhood, it was mine first.”

This lyric implies that outside forces can disrupt or end one’s girlhood, a sentiment many fans expressed agreement with following the song’s release. People took to social media to relate this lyric to their first moments of feeling as if their girlhood was being stolen from them. These memories ranged from having to grow up too quickly to take care of younger siblings, to being catcalled on the street for the first time. The common theme, however, was that people felt their girlhoods slipping away too soon, and wished they had more time in those meaningful years of their life.

However, the recent glorification of girlhood is not limited to the popular trends today. Dr. Elaine Cho, professor of literature and Critical Race, Gender and Culture Studies at American University, spoke on societal expectations placed on females at a very young age and the restrictions young girls face that their male counterparts do not. “What is innocent for girls is not innocent for boys. We were taught early on to cross our legs

and how to behave and it’s constantly reinforced, but how often do they tell little boys that?”

Girlhood was a simpler time for many people, before one was completely aware of the harsh realities in the world, but the period of youthful naïveté spanned years longer for some than others. Cho speaks on the diversity of girlhoods, stating, “Girlhood is not singular. It’s different for each girl and it’s also different for each culture and country”. Specifically, Cho highlights that young girls who are not white tend to notice early in life that they are underrepresented in shows they watch and toys they play with.

“For me growing up, what’s in the media, it was mostly white girlhood.

I didn’t learn much about the Asian-American girlhood. I think in America, we’re still struggling with that representation of girlhood being multifaceted,” Cho said. Cultural practices, religious views and family structure can also impact how long and extensively a child will be sheltered and able to remain in that stage of life known as girlhood.

After being asked about what she misses most about her girlhood, Sabrina McEvoy said, “I miss not being afraid of what people will think about what I say or wear or think”.

Cho also mentioned that girls start to feel self conscious from a young age, because society tells them to be. “Little girls don’t know about body shaming; that’s their innocence, but when that awareness happens, and they’re told ‘this is shameful,’ then it’s taking away that innocence,” she said.

“One of the defining moments of my girlhood I think was the first time my friends and I talked about our periods,” said McEvoy. “It sounds so silly now but just having that talk with them and knowing how normal it was and sharing stories of the first time we got our periods was very special and at that moment I didn’t realize how much that would mean to me later in life.”

Although it has recently gained significant attention on social media platforms, the idea of girlhood, and many patriarchal issues impacting girls early in life, is not new. “Barbie” only brought these topics into the spotlight, and made it more widely accessible.

Snyder spoke on “Barbie”’s accessibility compared to other modes of discussion on feminist issues, saying “I think for those of us who are privileged enough to have formal education, the movie has reaffirmed things we already think, if you’re not as lucky then you’re being shown the world in a different and vital way.”

Similarly, Dr. Cho explained that “Barbie,” and representation similar to it, contributes to an important movement. “The ‘Barbie’ movie reawakened us, not just women and girls, but the public, because the movie is global,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a trend, I think it’s a positive movement, because in a world where women and girls are constantly victimized, it’s important to constantly remind little girls that they matter and their voice matters.”

While girlhood comes with growing pains, it comes with plenty of pure joy too. Snyder encourages people to hold onto girlhood as long as possible, reasoning that with so much bad in the world, everyone should grab onto as much happiness as possible, in whatever form it comes in.

“I think hold onto that joy as long as you can. I have a daughter, she’s 15, I’ve tried to provide that very girlhood for her.”

While this idea of girlhood has many layers and different meanings, many people do seem to associate it with happiness.

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OPINION: PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER

THE UNSPOKEN, DEBILITATING OVERLAP BETWEEN MENTAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Sana Mamtaney

Content warning: mentions of suicidal ideation Illustrations by Sophie Carter

Rage at dropping the butter knife. Tears stream down my face as I rifle through my closet looking for an outfit. Trying to put my hair up in a ponytail calls for screaming at the mirror and throwing the hairbrush on the floor. I need to crawl out of my skin. Nighttime falls.

I have no control over my life. All of my friends hate me. I added too much paprika to the dinner I cooked. I should go lay in bed and listen to Boygenius until I’m sobbing so hard I can’t breathe. Everything I said in class today was stupid. After about two weeks of this, I wake up with what feels like a knife through my uterus.

The curse has been lifted. My period has started.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that affects people who menstruate for one to two weeks before their period begins in ways that can cause extreme distress and impairment. Unfortunately, the “time of the month” for people with PMDD is the easier part of their menstrual cycle. It’s what comes prior that is lifealtering.

PMDD is a disorder where reproductive and mental health intersect. While physical symptoms usually associated with PMS are typically heightened for people with PMDD, the emotional and mental effects of the disorder are thought to be much more difficult to reckon with for patients. Symptoms include irritability, rage, feeling a loss of control, anxiety, severe depression, paranoia, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, brain fog, poor self-image and even suicidal thoughts. For most, these symptoms subside soon after their period starts.

more depressed. Something switches…PMDD is a rollercoaster of emotions and debilitating symptoms that can be extremely isolating.”

For many, the disorder causes a sudden switch that can invoke serious symptoms. In addition, those who have the disorder often feel isolated and shameful as a result of their behavior when their PMDD symptoms are most prevalent.

Symptoms like rage and irritability can be hurtful to loved ones, who may be the closest people around during these episodes. In the aftermath, many people with PMDD feel an immense amount of guilt for the way they acted toward someone. For those who are undiagnosed, this shame is likely even worse because they do not know what is causing them to act the way they are and why they are potentially hurting important people in their lives.

“There’s a tragic reality that mental illness can make you selfish in a way…It felt devastating to be in a PMDD episode and sometimes have so little to give,” said Megan Rogers, a TikTok creator who spreads awareness on ADHD and PMDD. Additionally, symptoms like a loss of control, severe depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts can be even more difficult to share because they are coupled with rage and irritability which can be damaging to relationships.

This disorder affects five to eight percent of people who menstruate, however the true number may be much higher since PMDD often goes undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness about the condition.

While mental health issues should not necessarily serve as an excuse for treating others poorly, they can be an inadvertent cry for help. When people feel that they cannot share their PMDD struggles, it puts them in danger because of how pervasive the symptoms are to daily life and the risk for suicide.

As of 2022, 4,905 women are enrolled in American University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree. That means just on this campus, at a minimum, 245 of us suffer from PMDD, most of us in silence.

“I can’t imagine the number of people who have lost their lives either in full, ended their lives, or lost their lives in terms of losing their whole quality of life to this condition without ever knowing,” Rogers expressed.

A TikTok creator who uses the username “Chronically Emilly” said in a video posted to her account, “The day before I was perfectly fine. But then the next day I woke up and couldn’t think of anything else except screaming my guts out and driving off a bridge.” The creator, who focuses on PMDD, Autism and ADHD awareness, continued, “That’s what PMDD is. It’s not fair for doctors to think that we just get a little

Prevalence rates for lifetime suicidal ideation in women with PMDD were 45.8% compared with 17.3% for women without PMDD, according to a study from the National Institute of Health.

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The isolation is heightened by the fact that many doctors are not aware of the disorder because it was only recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical

Manual of Mental Disorders, known as the DSM-V, in 2013. Relative to most disorders recognized in the DSM-V, a condition added ten years ago is considered brand new. Paired with a general downplaying of reproductive and mental health issues, even some who seek medical help do not receive it.

“If you don’t have a name for what you’re going through you assume it’s a character flaw of yours,” Rogers said of the experience of feeling lost in not knowing about PMDD. The exact cause of PMDD is unknown, but researchers believe that it could be an abnormal reaction to hormone changes that happen along the menstrual cycle, which can cause a serotonin deficiency.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects mood, cognition, reward, learning and memory.

“Your hormones make up so much of who you are and how you interact with the world… your capacity for different things changes,” Rogers said.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a common treatment for PMDD. These are often prescribed as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication, which work by “blocking the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin into neurons. This makes more serotonin available to improve transmission of messages between neurons,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

Providers often prescribe SSRIs like Escitalopram (Lexapro), Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Sertraline (Zoloft) to be taken during the time of the month where PMDD symptoms are most present, so one to two weeks before the predicted cycle depending on each patient, or to be taken in higher dosages during this time of the month if the patient already takes an SSRI every day.

Hormonal birth control is also used as a treatment for PMDD. This is shown to work by interrupting signaling that links the brain and ovaries to regulate the menstrual cycle, according to Harvard Medical School.

Some providers also suggest taking supplements, including magnesium, vitamin B-12, calcium, vitamin D, ashwagandha and many other vitamins to alleviate symptoms.

Another form of treatment is psychotherapy, which works to understand and work through symptoms that

cause mental health decline through talk.

A community online, especially on TikTok, tries to band together to give each other advice on what worked to alleviate their symptoms, from supplements and dietary changes to prescription medications.

“So many people will put what worked for them in TikTok comments. I’m taking screenshots trying to remember this stuff…It is terrifying to experiment on your own body,” Rogers said of her experience in social media content creation.

To manage her life around PMDD, Rogers used to track her cycle in a spreadsheet and schedule her cycle in her calendar to plan her busiest tasks and events around it.

The most famous advocate for PMDD awareness is Dixie D’Amelio, a TikTok creator and singer. On her family’s reality television show that streams on Hulu, D’Amelio stated that, “People are going to be like, ‘Oh my god, everyone gets that,’” in a confessional. “No — I didn’t know that you weren’t supposed to want to die every month before you got your period…I can explain it to the people around me because it definitely affects your relationships with people but at the same time, there’s still not much you can do.”

D’Amelio brought PMDD to the mainstream media, sharing her experience with millions of viewers on streaming platforms and TikTok. In fact, I found out about PMDD through D’Amelio, which caused me to realize that many of my monthly symptoms mirrored hers.

Online discourse surrounding experiences with the disorder apart from TikTok are few and far between, with a handful of articles from the New York Times and a few other major outlets speaking for the community of people who suffer with the condition.

However, this online community knows the work that it does is necessary. “We can’t wait for research to catch up, we can’t wait for the medical community to catch up,” Rogers said. “It’s not perfect, the things I post aren’t perfect, I don’t always get it right, but we need to be talking about it at all. Something has to be done now.”

Suffering for people with PMDD is cyclical and seems never-ending. They deserve relief, understanding and awareness.

OPINION: Barbenheimer and its Impact as a Cultural Phenomenon

Sydney Kamin

Photos from Yosh Ginsu and Meiying Ng

This summer, while the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors American Federation of Television and Radio Artists raged on with their strikes, some of the big films of the season, such as “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and “Mission: Impossible–Dead Reckoning Part One,” made their releases, but these weren’t what everyone was talking about. People worldwide waited with bated breath for what most will consider the year’s biggest entertainment event.

It was the release of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” on the same day, July 21, or as it was referred to online, “Barbenheimer.”

“Barbenheimer” came to be because of an interesting contrast and comparison between the two films. Both movies have drastically different main themes, so both of them being premiered together was intriguing to the mass of moviegoers. “Barbie” is Greta Gerwig’s third directorial feature film released by Warner Bros. Studios. Gerwig focuses on making films with feminist messages and deeply explores central female characters, unlike other films that portray similar topics including feminism. Through her films, and “Barbie” is no exception, she explores what it means to be a woman in a society that dictates multiple versions of what that means in the world today.

“Oppenheimer” is a film directed by Christoper Nolan and released by Universal Studios. Nolan’s productions focus on dark themes and explore deep questions about humanity and society. It is not a coincidence that both movies had seemingly opposite themes by two directors that explored different topics released on the same day, but a calculated move from the studios producing them.

Nolan had a falling out with Warner Bros. Studios and a production company that had produced most of his past films, which served as the backdrop to the release of the films. Part of the falling out was Nolan not agreeing with the studio’s plans during the pandemic to home-release films on HBO Max (now known as Max). Nolan refused to release his 2020 film “Tenet” on HBO Max, holding steadfast to releasing it on the big screen. So, for his next film, “Oppenheimer,” Nolan associated with Universal instead and received a $100 million production budget, guaranteed levels of marketing support and a summer release date with assurance no other films from the studio would be released three weeks before or after his film.

It is rumored that Warner Bros. set the release of “Barbie” for the same date to help ensure the failure of

Nolan’s film. With a commitment to the release date, the film’s box office appeal and a relentless marketing campaign, “Barbie” seemed prepared to drown out its competitor. However, this seemingly competitive element between the two films accomplished something the studios never saw coming. It created international hype that intrigued people to see both as an event that came to be known as “Barbenheimer.”

“Oppenheimer” grossed $942.1 million at the box office and broke some records of its own. Its box office numbers solidified it as the second-highest-grossing R-rated and the highest-grossing World War II movie ever. Both films are in the top three highest-grossing films of 2023, with “Barbie” at number one and “Oppenheimer” at number three, ranking behind “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”

As people waited in anticipation, the discourse surrounding “Barbenheimer” was set in motion. People worldwide began debating which film to see first or whether to plan a double feature viewing of both movies on their release or in the coming days. A-list actor Tom Cruise, in an interview with The Sydney Herald, said he had planned a back-to-back viewing of both films with “Oppenheimer” first and then to see “Barbie” the next day. In a red carpet interview, “Barbie” star Issa Raesaid said, “see ‘Oppenheimer’ first, then cleanse your palate with ‘Barbie.’”

With the success of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, Spivak said that it “brought people in different sides of film interests together” and that its success shows that moviegoers are looking for “nuance and cultural shifts” in film.

All over the internet, amateur merchandise and fan art promoted “Barbenheimer” for moviegoers anticipating the films and their release. These portrayed pictures of both film leads, pink atomic explosions, split movie posters of scenes, items, or characters in the motion pictures edited together and an endless amount of other designs for sale on t-shirts. This fanfare leading up to the “Barbenheimer” release sparked discussions about how the attraction was caused by two films that complemented each other in the minds of their audiences with their opposite styles and cinematic themes.

“We are in this weird cultural phenomenon where these traditional sort of boy things and these traditional sort of girl things keep uniting,” said Sam Spivak, an American University sophomore.“People are starting to realize it is okay to like masculine and feminine things at the same time.”

“Barbenheimer” helped bring people back to the theater post-pandemic as both films discussed messages viewers want to explore. “Barbie” discussed women’s issues created by a female director, which female viewers want on screen. “Oppenheimer” explored deep human fears and philosophical questions on how humans or creations may lead to destruction as the film explores the man who called himself “the destroyer of worlds.”

In the Hindustan Times, Martin Scorsese said, “I do think that the combination of ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’ was something special. It seemed to be, I hate that word, but the perfect storm..”

This phenomenon signifies that films are returning to being seen as art more than just content and that studios will recognize that for future pictures. While another cultural phenomenon like “Barbenheimer” may or may not come again, viewers, writers, actors and directors hope that more excitement, creativity and originality will be found in future films.

It also didn’t hurt that during the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, Warner Bros. for “Barbie” launched an aggressive and unique marketing campaign.

Once “Barbenheimer” dropped, it became a summer blockbuster success. “Barbie” ended up earning $1.44 billion at the box office. “Barbie” became Warner Bros.’s highest-grossing film of all time, beating out “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows–Part 2.” Gerwing became the highest-grossing female director of all time, beating out Patty Jenkins’s “Wonder Woman.”

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OPINION: The Problematic Use of ‘Hispanic’ Versus ‘Latine’

Ela Hernández Illustrations by Sophie Carter Photo by Les Argonautes

The term “Hispanic” is defined by the MerriamWebster dictionary as “relating to the people, speech, or culture of Spain.” It derives from the word Hispānia, the source of the word “Spain.” “Hispanic” has been implemented in the United States to refer to people from Spain and Latin America. However, the grouping of different identities under an umbrella term has led to mixed feelings about being referred to as “Hispanic.”

In the 1970s, people from Latin America were considered white in the U.S. Census. The government then decided to set a new term – considered by the government as an ethnicity– that would identify and quantify the community, landing on the term Hispanic. It was mentioned for the first time by President Lyndon Johnson. However, in the 1990s, critiques began arising about the term.

The term “Hispanic” signifies historical roots to Spain, and their presence as colonizers of Latin American territory. Many argue that implementing this term would deny recognition of the impact of colonization. It also contributed to the erasure of preColumbian history, mainly indigenous contributions. “[Hispanic] is very Eurocentric and it denies our indigenous heritage,” wrote Matthew R. Fraijo in his book “The Transcendent Journey.”

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“[‘Hispanic’] creates this very strong line with Spain, and that has language implications, but also racialized implications. It is kind of this more conservative approach that we come from Spain and we are whiter,” said Professor Juliana Martínez at American University.

The term also introduces problems in disregarding identities. Brazil, the largest country in South America, was colonized by the Portuguese. Because their

cultural roots are not enmeshed with Spain’s, and because Brazilians don’t speak Spanish, they are left out when referring to “Hispanics.”

American celebrations such as Hispanic Heritage Month have contributed to the promotion of the term “Hispanic.”“Hispanic Heritage Month is even very exoticizing, which is the role we have played for whiteness, which is ‘oh we are the Cinco de Mayo, sombrero wearing, salsa dancing identity,’” Martínez said.

Since “Hispanics” are portrayed in a stereotypical way, a question arises of whose identities are really celebrated during this month.

“When you think about the type of Hispanidad celebrated, it is a very specific population, you don’t see a lot of Blackness, you don’t see a lot of AfroLatinidad being celebrated… It is like Black Latinos don’t exist, there is also not a lot of queerness celebrated,” Martínez said.

As a response to criticisms, the term “Latino” started to become more popular to make reference to those who are of Latin American descent. However, Spanish is a gendered language. “Latino’”as a masculine noun, does not comprehend people from other gender identities.

As a result, gender neutral terms started arising to refer to the Latine population. The first alternative construction appeared in the 2000s,‘Latin@,’ which meant to factor in the female termination -a and the masculine ending -o. Although it worked in writing, it could not translate into an oral pronunciation. One of the most popular and recent alternative terms has been Latinx, but this term also has been contested.

“These terms originated within academia, but they alienate the people they are trying to help. For example, Latinx is easily pronounceable in English, but the people that it is referring to, Spanish speakers, can’t pronounce it in Spanish,” said Daniel Domsky, an American University sophomore.

The way the terms are used is also an important factor. Though it can help for people to feel community, it can also be used as a point of leverage against them. “You can mobilize people around that term and generate awareness but it can also be deployed in a way where it obscures more than what

it illuminates,” Martínez said.

The Latin American community started to perceive that identity terms were being imposed on to them

by Americans, rather than created by real members of their community. In response, Latin Americans and Spanish speakers created the term Latine, a gender neutral term that is not U.S. centered. It fosters an inclusive community that does not belong to a gender binary.

Unfortunately, the myriad of terms can generate a monolithic identity of what is like to be Latine and erase the uniqueness in cultures within communities and ethnicities. Thus, rather than being addressed under a blanket term, some people preferred to be referred to as their individual ethnicity.

“I think that both [Hispanic and Latine] put you together in one big category instead of me considering myself Mexican first, and that is the biggest category I feel like I fall under. Not trying to homogenize every single Latin American culture into one,” said Domsky, “I am Mexican, not a subcategory of alienation.”

The question then becomes, what is the best way for Americans to address the Hispanic and Latine community?

“More than addressing, I would think about talking with. Addressing has a directionality, where I am talking to you, and I think the way to do it is to say less and listen more,” Martínez said.

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OUR TEAM Executive Board:

Print Team:

Sana Mamtaney Editor-in-Chief Jordyn Habib President Evelyn Middleton Vice President Ellie Blanchard Managing Editor Riley-Kate Pappas Events Director Cleo Pool & Lori Rampani Social Co-Director Ela Hernandez, Karlee Zolman & Isa Iiams Publishing Directors Sophie Carter Design Director Sarah Metcalfe Multimedia Director Belle Evans Multimedia Editor

Sana Mamtaney Editor-in-Chief

Cover design by Sophie Carter Logo design by Elaine Griffith 29 | COLLEGIETTE

Design Team: Sophie Carter Design Director

Ela Hernandez, Karlee Zolman & Isa Iiams Publishing Directors Karlee Zolman, Isa Iiams & Ela Hernandez Print Editors

Sophie Carter Illustration Manager Cleo Pool Content, Photos & Illustrations Sophia Rocha Photo

Sophie Carter

This magazine was designed by Sophie Carter 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.

@hercampusau @hercampusau @hercampusAU hercampus.com/school/american/ HER CAMPUS AMERICAN

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