Passions to Purpose - A Collection of Opinion Editorials and Podcasts from SMLS'S EWC4U students

Class message: Hello, readers! This semester in Writer’s Craft class, we studied many subgenres of literature that we did not even know existed. From blended genre pieces, creative nonfiction, espresso fiction, and Spoken Word poems, our exploration of and experimenting with our own creative writing has been endless.

However, we also undertook quite an intensive journalistic writing unit, which we are sharing with you in this collection. After being inspired by the plights of the journalists introduced to us in the Writing With Fire documentary, we read Opinion Editorials and news articles on a variety of topics. We then each wrote our own piece on a topic about which we were passionate, and we aimed to make these pieces newsworthy, timely, reliable, and eye-opening. These are all included in this class e-zine. We wanted to create a class artifact that would be a nice memory of our authorial group but that would also make readers think about topics that are important to us.

The world is a much different place since Ms. Vickman was a student in her Writer’s Craft course (;)), and so we had to explore and enjoy the wonderful world of podcasting as well.

Our “Voice & Choice” texts at the end of our unit were selections from the Switched on Pop podcast series. These fit perfectly into our course theme of “Tales & Tunes: Music From the Many Walks of Life”. Yet, we were only ready to answer the “why THIS and why NOW?” about those podcasts after using John Green’s podcasts from The Anthropocene Reviewed podcasts and book as helpful exemplars. Interspersed between the Opinion editorial articles in this anthology are recordings of our podcasts. Each recording explores an issue in our “human-centered planet”, in the anthropocene, and ends with a five star rating a la John Green.

We would love feedback from readers, so if you see us on campus after reading our articles and listening to our podcasts, let us know what YOU think about these issues.

Enjoy!

Below is the QR code to link to the electronic version of our anthology so that you can pop in your ear buds and listen to our podcasts from wherever you are!

Ms. Vickman’s Semester 1 EWC 4U class The Writer’s Craft, 2023-2024 L-R: Tara Alhaffar, Rebecca Keough., Chloe Murphy, Stephanie Tang, Sophia Tice, Rania Kanu, Sarah DeCarvalho, Avery Shearn, Sydney Durrant Absent: Chloe Marshman Cover painting: Vanilla Pan

Table Of Contents Cover image

Vanilla Pan

Editors’ Note and QR code

EWC 4U

The Death of the Music Industry: It’s Your Fault

Sophia Tice

An Exploration on the Impact of Protest Music Around the World

Tara Alhaffar

What Hides Behind the Door of Motherhood?The Truth About Postpartum Depression

Sarah De Carvalho

The Athlete Diaries: Sports are America’s Religion

Chloe Murphy

Lunch Table Lessons: An Opinion Editorial on Microaggressions

Rania Kanu

The Evolution of Taylor Swift

Rebecca Keogh

Title IX and Beyond: The Future of Women’s Sports is Here

Chloe Murphy

Unveiling the Weight of North American Beauty Standards

Sarah De Carvalho

“The Players Are Not Protected”: Injustice and Discrimination in Women’s Football

Rebecca Keogh

Too Much News

Sydney Durrant

My Twin: An Op Ed Exploring ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

Tara Alhaffar

Growing Up A Girl in the 2020s

Avery Shearn

The Pretentious Structure of Education on Disability

Stephanie Tang

The Rise Of the Disco Ball

Chloe Marshman

The Dramatics of the News

Sydney Durrant

Aqua and Adolescence

Rania Kanu

Breaking The Silence: An Op Ed On Sexual Assault In Dance

Chloe Marshman

Murder Mystery: the impressive social behaviour of crows

Stephanie Tang

When is it no longer a joke?

Avery Shearn

Women vs. World: Females in Rock Music

Sophia Tice

The Death of the Music Industry: It’s Your Fault

Sophia Tice

We live in a technology-dominated world where music is readily available with just one click. For the music fan/consumer, free and easy access to music is the ideal. With virtually all music at our fingertips, why buy vinyl records, CDs, or concert tickets? It really is a great deal. For a small monthly fee to Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube, we can enjoy every song ever released. For musicians, however, this world is a nightmare. Loss of record and ticket sales, piracy, and low profit from online streaming services moves a musician’s career from difficult to nearly impossible.

What is the issue, you ask? Musicians are still making music, and listeners can listen and watch whenever they please. There can’t be a problem with that, right?

Wrong. Not only do musicians make little to no income from online streaming, they also make very little from the contracts with their record labels. Music is an industry motivated by money and record labels call the shots. Contracts with labels tell artists how to dress, with whom to write, what to sing, and what sliver of the profits

they will receive. The musician now has no power. In order to “make it” in the industry, you must do what you’re told and receive a fraction of what you earn. With Spotify and Apple Music paying rights-holders between $0.003 to $0.005 per stream, and record labels obtaining well over half of that, artists are left with essentially nothing (hHow Much Does Spotify Pay Per Stream in 2023? 1). So, when musicians are making little to no money from music sales, the only place which to turn is the live stage.

For centuries, live music has been a popular way to share talents and come together to enjoy ourselves. Historically, the performer also made a few bucks. With the internet and labels controlling an artist’s streaming earnings, the best way to make money is on the stage. That being said, if an artist has signed with a major label, that label can control that too. For any live show, labels set ticket prices, choose venues, add costs for supporting bands, light and sound technicians, dancers and singers, makeup artists, and wardrobe. This equates to the label paying away the artist’s live performance income. In addition, in the age of smartphones, fans recording and posting live performances to YouTube has been a recurring issue for artists. When you can watch Selena Gomez singing right on your laptop, why buy a $200 ticket to see her in person?

Up until the 1990s, artists could perform authentic music and that would be enough. Music fans were there for the music - to hear the most influential artists of their time say what they had to say through music. Today, with auto-tune and excessive music and video production, music has become a product. It’s no longer

about the music, it’s about the persona and the look. Billie Eilish went from dressing in oversized men's clothing to tight corsets on the cover of Vogue. Why? Her label wanted a reaction, and they got one. Fans were confused, angry, proud, and shocked all at the same time. Her name was on the front cover of every gossip magazine and she was the first thing you saw on Instagram.

So, from where does the next authentic hit artist come? The one that connects to listeners like Freddie Mercury or Kurt Cobain? Both have been gone for thirty years. New artists, the ones banging out songs at the local pub, on TikTok, or at your local arts center, have a choice…and a problem. If they succeed - think about that - if they succeed in getting a deal with a label, they can’t choose who to be, how to dress, or who writes their songs. And after this sacrifice, they discover they can’t make a living. They say that labels, technology, and the media have destroyed the music business, but really, they destroyed the authentic musician and we helped.

Every stream, every online concert, every piece of merchandise not direct from the artist is another dollar to an undeserving business. Until this changes, our generation and those after us will not experience its James Brown, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, U2, Nirvana. Go ahead and try to find someone from the last decade that reaches so high.

Taylor Swift, who is an artist that maybe, possibly, nearly, or has at least tried to touch such heights, has said, “I really believe we in the music industry can work

together to find a way to bond technology with integrity and I just really hope we can teach the younger generation the value of investment in music rather than the ephemeral consumption of it.” I sure hope so. Taylor. I sure hope so.

Works Cited “How Much Does Spotify Pay Per Stream in 2023?” LabelGrid, 15 September 2023, https://labelgrid.com/blog/royalties/spotify-pay-per-stream/. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Swift, Taylor. “"I really believe we in the music industry can work together to find a way to bond technology with..." - Taylor Swift Quotes at A-Z Quotes.” A-Z

Quotes, https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1273581. Accessed 12 December 2023.

The Soul of Lebanon: An Exploration on the Impact of Protest Music Around the World : a podcast

Tara Alhaffar

What Hides Behind the Door of Motherhood?: The Truth About Postpartum Depression

Sarah De Carvalho

Social media shines a light on many female health crises, particularly the ongoing protests for equal healthcare. Yet, there is more to these issues than what meets the eye. Women worldwide are forced to speak up about realities as simple as needing and deserving medical acknowledgment, but the fight for justice is all we ever hear about. Why are we not being educated on the steps that women can actually take to prevent these medical complications? Society is prone to disregard the breadth of a woman’s health, especially pertaining to motherhood and the detrimental effects many women face after childbirth. Postpartum depression is one of those potential struggles. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a debilitating condition that The National Library of Medicine states affects 6.5% to 20% of new mothers globally (Saba Mughal 1). Many often confuse PPD with the “baby blues,” which occurs during the first three to four days after giving birth. Symptoms of the “baby

blues” generally cease within a few hours, meaning no treatment is necessary.

However, the same does not go for postpartum depression. PPD has exceptionally higher health risks, typically occurring within the first month after childbirth. It can often develop into a long-lasting, chronic depression. The condition meets the same criteria as the diagnosis of general depression; the only difference is that the main focus of PPD revolves around childcare. CAMH: Centre for Addiction and Mental

Health describes the common signs of postpartum depression to include the following: anxiety, anhedonia (loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities), changes in weight or appetite, sleep disturbance, restlessness, excessive feelings of guilt or worthlessness, inability to think properly, and thoughts of death or suicide (“Postpartum Depression” 1). These symptoms are serious and have the potential to be life-threatening. Social media should leverage its influence to spotlight the significance of motherhood and educate society much more on postpartum depression.

Childbirth causes women to undergo an abundance of hormonal, physical, and psychological changes. A wide variety of risk factors can lead to postpartum depression. Anything from diet, sleep cycles, exercise, and social realities such as drug use and domestic violence can cause a new mother to experience PPD. Hence, women must be informed about this condition prior to childbirth or, better yet, before pregnancy. Doctors should be continuously educating females on postpartum depression, what it entails, how to alleviate the symptoms, and the significance of the issue. The medical field has yet to identify specifically what

causes postpartum depression, further proving the posteriority of women’s healthcare. The only research conducted shows that a history of depression or anxiety increases the risk of enduring the condition. Specifically, Harvard Health

Publishing discusses how women who have had a history of depression are seven times more susceptible to experiencing PPD (“Postpartum depression: The worst kept secret” 1). Additionally, the World Health Organization states that 6% of women worldwide have or still struggle with depression, and that is not counting the women who suffer in silence (“Depressive order” 1). This means that the majority of future mothers are expected to suffer from PPD at one time or another. There has been some discussion of some obstetricians implementing screening tools during postpartum check-ups. But, why are women not being warned about how to alleviate the risks of the condition before giving birth? Despite studies demonstrating the benefits of screening tools, women should not have to wait until postpartum occurs for support and knowledge of this serious mental wellness disorder.

Treatments for this condition are vital and crucial. Many women who struggle with PPD are prescribed antidepressants. These have a long list of side effects, and there is minimal data or research on whether the drugs affect breast-feeding.

Rather than dealing with the concern when urgently needed, it is crucial that doctors discuss postpartum depression with female patients of all ages.

Postpartum depression is a critical, life-threatening condition damaging the mothering experience of many women all over the world. The condition “may lead

to poor maternal-infant bonds, failure of breastfeeding, negative parenting practices, marital discord, as well as worse outcomes concerning the child’s physical and psychological development” (Mughal 1). For the sake of the lives of both mother and child, the medical field must actively work toward educating men and women in societies on postpartum depression and provide insight on how to avert this maternal crisis. It is time for women to be advised on topics that hold power over their safety without having to ask after the fact. Advocating for PPD is the first step towards a brighter future. As Mahatma Gandhi stated, let’s “[b]e the change you want to see in the world” and break the stigma surrounding female healthcare and postpartum depression.

Works Cited “Depressive disorder (depression).” World Health Organization (WHO), 31 March 2023, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression.

Accessed 10 December 2023.

“Postpartum Depression.” CAMH, https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/pos tpartum-depression. Accessed 10 December 2023.

“Postpartum Depression - StatPearls.” NCBI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519070/. Accessed 10 December 2023.

“Postpartum depression: The worst kept secret.” Harvard Health, 8 February 2017, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/postpartum-depression-worst-kept-sec ret-2017020811008. Accessed 10 December 2023.

The Athlete Diaries: Sports are America's Religion : a podcast

Chloe Murphy

Lunch Table Lessons: An Opinion Editorial on Microaggressions

Rania Kanu

The year is 2019 and I am conversing with my peers at the lunch table. When I casually contribute to the conversation, speaking no differently than the rest of the girls in the group, one girl, let's call her Lucy, is quick to interrupt my remarks and comment: “Rania, you are the whitest black girl I know.” Instantly, my heart dropped, but I didn’t necessarily understand why at the time. It was just a joke, right? As a stereotypical Middle Schooler, craving to fit in and be appreciated by those around her, I stayed silent. However, what was particularly bizarre was that everyone around me did too. After a few moments of painful silence, we went back to discussing whatever gossip we thought was earth-shattering at the time, and it was yet another unnecessary moment of microaggression swept under the rug.

In the wake of the world-changing death of George Floyd, and #BLM being brought to light once more in 2020, through a series of research, social-media threads, and protests, I later educated myself on a tremendous amount of black struggles that to this day, shock me. The term “microaggressions” was a completely new word to me; little did I know, I had been facing countless encounters with this concept throughout my life. I’ve had individuals pawing at my hair, staring at me with my white friends confused about how they could possibly want to include me in their circle, and comparing skin tones upon return from summer vacations (“Omg, I’m almost as dark as YOU now!”). According to research conducted by The

Foundation of Social Science at St. Olaf College, 73% of students of color respond to microaggressions by ignoring them and only 33% verbally respond to the perpetrator (Cardoza).

Over a year later, I began to process what Lucy had meant at the lunch table that day when she made the snide comment. Since I was black and spoke what society would consider “properly”, at a standard volume, and with elevated vocabulary, Lucy immediately equated this with a white person's tone of voice, as if black people were not allowed to be just as elegant. It was dismissed as a joke when, really, this was a deeper-rooted racism than anyone, including myself at that table, could have imagined that day.

According to Oxford Languages, a microaggression is “a statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority”

(“Microaggression” def.1). When we think about racism, we often associate it with slavery, police brutality, and other inexcusable hate crimes. Nevertheless, incidents of racism are happening every day that are dismissed at alarming rates. In a sample of 3,111 Canadians eighteen years of age and over, CBC conducted a survey on racism which found that 38% of people experience racism in the workplace, 29% at school or university, and 16% while using a public service (Gollom). To people who cannot relate to the struggles of experiencing microaggressions, these places would not automatically strike you as the in which you would face discrimination. Therein lies the issue. The places on this list are locations where you should be feeling safe and protected. The unfortunate reality is that they all involve an abundance of hidden microaggressions that are part of frequent realities for people of color.

One could argue that we need to deal with racism on a bigger scale before we begin discussing microaggressions, but I propose the opposite. By making subtle changes in our day-to-day lives when it comes to the language we use and how we articulate what we want to say more constructively, the normalcy of microaggressions will begin to alter. There are three crucial takeaways from this piece and what we can all do in our day-to-day lives to end microaggressions. Ask, enunciate, and educate. Ask! Ask yourself, “is this an appropriate thing for me to say?” To be honest, if you even have to question that, the answer is most likely no.

Nevertheless, engage your brain in this questioning process before the action of speaking. Enunciate! Do not be a bystander. When your friend makes a racist joke, don’t laugh, don’t stay silent; enunciate your allyship, and speak up. Staying silent

speaks in larger volumes than even making the joke. Educate! A classic excuse for a microaggression is that the person didn’t know it was offensive. Unfortunately, in 2024, with a plethora of educational resources everywhere you turn, not knowing right from wrong when it comes to racism is inexcusable. Go to your local library, the internet, or even check-in with a friend who is willing to discuss their own experiences and learn as best as you can about the generations of struggle that make these comments so hurtful. If everyone were to make these crucial alterations, we would see a phenomenal growth in racial equity.

I often reflect on that day at the lunch table and what I would have done differently if Lucy were to make that comment to me today. I never resented her for her actions, but I have comfort in knowing that now, I would immediately call her out and justify why that behavior was wrong. That truly makes me proud of my growth.

If you have ever been a Lucy, keep in mind that apologizing is one thing, but actions will forever speak louder than words. Show us that you care enough to mature. No matter how minor your decisions might feel, you have a brain to educate and a mouth to dictate. You can be a voice for change to stop microaggressions.

Works Cited

Oxford English Dictionary, https://www.oed.com/. Accessed 13 December 2023.

Gollom, Mark. “'It's a constant battle': 20% of Canadians say they experience racism, survey reveals.” CBC, 10 December 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/race-relations-study-racism-workplace-mi croaggressions-1.5389208. Accessed 13 December 2023.

“1 “He didn't really say that, right?”: The Impacts of Racial Microaggressions in Learning Environments Manuel Cardoza, Is.” St. Olaf College, https://wp.stolaf.edu/sociology/files/2019/03/Microaggressions-Impacts-on-Studen ts-Final-Paper.pdf. Accessed 13 December 2023.

The Evolution of Taylor Swift : a podcast Rebecca Keogh

Title IX and Beyond: The Future of Women’s Sports is Here Chloe Murphy

On June 23, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed the Education Amendments

Act. The law’s Title IX recognized gender equity in education intending to address vast gender inequality and sex discrimination (Mertens). Over fifty years later, equity for female athletes in North America has come a long way; Title IX was just the beginning.

The shift began with two major events in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (Armato). The first was the NCAA Women’s Basketball championship game between Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese. The latest was at Lincoln Memorial Stadium, home to the University of Nebraska’s Cornhuskers. Ninety-two thousand and three fans gathered to watch the

Cornhuskers women’s volleyball play the Omaha Mavericks, setting an all-time global attendance record for a women’s sports game (Armato). The future of women’s sports is now. With increased coverage on national broadcasts, female athletes are finally receiving the recognition they deserve. Prior to this coverage, women’s sports only had viewership at the Olympic level. However, this limits recognition to a small portion of athletes and leads to a discrepancy between male and female athletic coverage.

The NCAA is taking an important role in prioritizing the growth of women’s sports and equal representation for collegiate athletics. Charlie Baker, NCAA President said, “...women’s sports in particular — volleyball, softball, gymnastics, basketball — they’ve all shown enormous growth in both attendance and viewership over the last couple of years... Nebraska’s ability to "sell so many tickets in the opening 48 hours for an outdoor volleyball [game] is proof”(Armato). This shows how “Big Ten” women’s sports in particular are seeing huge growth. On November 1, 1.659 million viewers tuned into Fox: the largest TV audience on record for a college volleyball match. As Commissioner Tony Petitti explained, “[t]he profile of women’s athletics in the Big Ten Conference is at an all-time high…The collaboration between our staff, our schools, and our broadcast partners has been critical in elevating the platform we provide” (Big Ten Network). With the recent additions to the Big Ten conference, the market for women’s sports will continue to expand including UCLA and USC among others beginning in 2024.

This exposure has global implications for women’s sports. Anne Blaschke, Associate Lecturer at the University of Massachusetts Boston, explains: "[w]hen women play sports it shows them in very public ways as symbols of strength, perseverance and competitiveness in ways you don't usually get to see [them]” (Li).

Women must be represented as athletes as they are in other areas of their lives. Not all women want to work in corporate careers and it is valuable for young girls to see that they can succeed as professional athletes. Broadcasters, streamers, and social media platforms should be responsible for showcasing major events that engage new and existing fans and showcase female athletes in a positive light (Church). It will grow the game and introduce women’s sports to a new demographic of fans.

The media angle is transformative in how fans and investors view female athletes. In January, the University of North Carolina’s field hockey coaches announced they hired former player, Erin Matson, as their new Head Coach (Hunt).

Matson, 23, led the team to five ACC championships, four NCAA titles, and became the all-time leading scorer in both ACC and NCAA tournament history (Hunt).

Former UNC coach Karen Shelton, who handed the position over to Matson following her retirement, stated that “[s]he’s the best thing that’s happened to field hockey since we won the 1984 [Olympic] bronze medal” (Hunt). In her first year as Head Coach, Matson led the team to victory over their rivals Northwestern to clinch her fifth title. Though this win means so much more, it is a win for female athletes globally, since Matson explains that “[f]ield hockey doesn’t get this kind of coverage

at all” (Hunt). The media broadcasting her achievements is just another example of the growth and value of female athletes, and this should happen more for women’s sports.

According to Deloitte researchers, major women’s sports are on target to generate $1.28 billion in 2024, including professional leagues, NCAA Division I, and the Olympics (Li). Many global leagues have agreed to upgrade their coverage, expanding the market for women’s sports. Nevertheless, the $1.28 billion total is significantly less compared to revenues generated by men's sports (Li). High-level professional leagues such as the NWSL still face controversy over abuse, harassment, and low pay. However, there are several opportunities in the NCAA and the new Professional Women’s Hockey League to fuel growth and push a positive narrative, with increased promotion from the media, investors, and leagues. The popularity of NCAA women’s volleyball and basketball will continue with the championships in December and March respectively, set to be broadcast on ESPN (Li). It is important, as fans, to continue to watch and promote females as much as their male counterparts. Just as Coach Erin Matson stated, “[i]t’s more just reminding myself, you know why I do this, why we all do this…We love this sport. So, if it’s paying off for the sport…then we’re doing something right” (Hunt).

Works Cited Armato, Leonard. “Nebraska NCAA Volleyball Breaks Attendance Record And Fuels Growth Of Women’s Sports.” Forbes, 2 March 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/leonardarmato/2023/09/01/nebraska-ncaa-v olleyball-breaks-attendance-record--and-fuels-growth-of-womens-sports/?s h=6c6ed7c6f706. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Big Ten Network. “Record Setting 1.659 Million TV Viewers for Women's Volleyball Match Continues Historic Season For Big Ten Women's Sports.” Big Ten

Conference, 1 November 2023, https://bigten.org/news/2023/11/1/record-setting-1-659-million-tv-viewers-for -womens-volleyball-match-continues-historic-season-for-big-ten-womens-sp orts.aspx. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Church, Ben. “Elite women’s sports tipped to generate over $1.2 billion next year.”

CNN, 29 November 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/29/sport/elite-womens-sport-deloitte-revenue -spti-intl/index.html. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Hunt, Loretta. “Erin Matson: the 23-year-old coach making field hockey history at UNC.” The Guardian, 10 December 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/dec/10/erin-matson-unc-field-hoc key-coach-tar-heels. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Li, David K. “Women's sports to rake in more than $1 billion for first time in 2024, up 300% since 2021.” NBC News, 1 December 2023,

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/womens-sports-rake-1-billion-firsttime-2024-300-2021-rcna127622. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Mertens, Maggie. “Title IX 50th anniversary: How one law changed women’s sports forever.” Sports Illustrated, 19 May 2022, https://www.si.com/college/2022/05/19/title-ix-50th-anniversary-womens-sp orts-impact-daily-cover. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Unveiling the Weight of North American Beauty Standards : a podcast

Sarah De Carvalho

The Players Are Not Protected: Injustice and Discrimination in Women’s Football

Rebecca Keogh

Women’s football has grown drastically in popularity over the past few years with an attendance record of 1,977,824 at the Women’s World Cup tournament this summer (Brischetto). But, with widespread attention, comes backlash. Both insufficient funding and misogynistic attitudes continue to plague the world of women’s football, resulting in serious physical and mental damage to players.

With increased interest in women’s football comes intensified training, games, and tournaments. Yet, the funding and research needed subsequent to this has not been enforced. When Vivianne Miedema, Netherlands and Arsenal Forward, was asked about this, she said, “It’s down to FIFA and UEFA to say ‘okay ‘till here not any further’, but they won’t because to them it’s about money, it’s about trying to get as many games in as possible…[the players] are not protected” (Miedema 52:33-53:00).

Additionally, upwards of one hundred and ninety-five elite female football players

have suffered Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries in the last year, and almost three hundred in the last two (Hunter). Recent research by the European Clubs Association found that “80% of female players at top European clubs have suffered regular discomfort because of their football boots” (UK Parliament). The spike in ACL injuries could be combated with increased research and investment into women’s football boots and equipment. Physiologically, men and women are different. Consequently, a football boot designed for male anatomy is not safe for a female player competing at the same level. If profits earned from the increase in attendance at women’s football games were reinvested into research and production of equipment designed for women, the, as it has been recently titled, ‘ACL Club’ would stop growing.

Sexism directed at women’s football does not just come from major federations; the discrimination and hostility directed at players from the general public is rampant. Robbie Slater, a player for Australia’s men’s “The Socceroos” football team earned the title for most goals scored in Socceroo history. However, “The Matildas’’ Sam Kerr holds the record for most goals scored by an Australian player (both male and female). Slater released a comment stating that Kerr’s goals are “not equal” to his own based solely on the fact she is a woman (Rayson). An argument such as this, with no reasoning or evidence, is simply not valid. This attitude continues to harm young girls' aspirations of achieving their football

dreams and heightens the need for female players to fight for the right to play their sport at the same level and recognition as men.

This issue is far rampant in the world of social media. Comments regarding women’s football on various social media platforms range from moderate dislike of the sport to outright sexist and homophobic remarks. A few found in the past week alone include, “Women’s football, hahaha, what a joke”, “Even I can win by going solo in the women's category”, “I watch girl's football just to make me laugh”, “What the heck, Sam Kerr is a lesbian…very disappointing I’ve stopped following her”, and “Quit dreaming and go back to the kitchen where you belong!”. The normalization of this kind of commentary must stop. Just because some people do not enjoy a particular sport does not mean it should not exist. The same goes for women’s football; if you don’t like it, don’t watch it. Prejudicial and discriminatory remarks are never the answer.

There is not one simple solution to this issue, but a new approach to women’s football would make all the difference. Over the past few years, interest in women’s football has risen dramatically, resulting in increased profits for major federations such as FIFA and UEFA. This money needs to go towards research into the “ACL epidemic” being experienced, particularly in the Women’s Super League.

Additionally, funding for medical assistance, rehabilitation tools, and adequate training grounds and equipment is necessary if these female athletes are expected to compete at the same level as their male counterparts.

Action must be taken on an individual level as well. The normalization of misogynistic comments cannot be overlooked. Each individual has a responsibility to call out the actions of others and report comments on social media platforms. Only if we change the way we view and treat women’s football, can women’s football change.

Works Cited Brischetto, Patrick. “Women's World Cup attendance tracker 2023 with full breakdown of fans at matches in Australia and New Zealand.” The Sporting

News, 20 October 2023, https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/football/news/womens-world-cup-attend ance-tracker-2023-australia-new-zealand/cc1xymad2ikza8oepo7cnpv2.

Hunter, Laura. “Future of Football: Why ACL injuries have been on rise in women's game - and the technology and solutions to fix it.” Sky Sports, 12 September 2023, https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12926431/future-of-footballwhy-acl-injuries-have-been-on-rise-in-womens-game-and-the-technology-an d-solutions-to-fix-it.

Miedema, Vivianne, performer. “Vivianne Miedema On FIFA UEFA Greed, Women's World Cup, Panic Attacks & Relationship With Beth Mead.” Unfiltered, created

by Oli Dugmore, 13 July 2023. Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX_6taAr8c.

Rayson, Zac. “Football news 2023: Robbie Slater defends controversial Sam Kerr column, Candice Warner calls Robbie Slater sexist, Matildas, The Back Page, video, latest, updates.” Fox Sports, 10 May 2023, https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/out-of-line-warner-and-slater-clash-o nair-over-as-icon-defends-controversial-kerr-take/news-story/e2715249f717c c483187fde3efee482e.

“Why are there so few female-specific football boots and does this impact on the prevalence of ACL injuries? Football boot brands respond to MPs Committees - UK Parliament.” UK Parliament, 7 August 2023, https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/328/women-and-equalities-co mmittee/news/196873/why-are-there-so-few-femalespecific-football-boots-a nd-does-this-impact-on-the-prevalence-of-acl-injuries-football-boot-brands-r espond-to-mps/.

Too Much News: - a podcast

Sydney Durrant

My Twin: Exploring ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

Tara Alhaffar

In North American society, how do we decide what is “normal” in an individual? One would argue that the concept of “normal” is simply an illusion of our perceptual set. Others would argue it's not. The perceptual set is a subfield of psychology that concerns the conscious and unconscious innate aspects of the human cognitive system (Myers, David, G. and C. Nathan DeWall. Updated Myers'

Psychology for AP Course). Essentially, it determines what the human mind thinks is acceptable, which is influenced by external expectations, emotions, motivations, cultures, and experiences. When related to developmental differences, the word “normal” seems to carry more than one meaning. In Canada, around 1 in 50 children aged 1 to 17 years are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Just like any other person, those with Autism have needs. As Amanda Leduc states in her "It's Just a Figure of Speech essay, “...they are simply needs that must be met. If you characterize these needs as special, then you set up an outcome where meeting those needs is also special, not something to be upset about if it doesn't come to pass” (153). The lack of understanding in society and necessary accommodations

have a domino effect on the whole community, changing what we may perceive as “normal”. Communities should be safe environments where we respect and appreciate each other's differences and connect with our shared humanity; after all, we are all humans. So, I wonder, in Canada, a country that fosters diversity and prides itself on its inclusivity and education, why are we still unable to provide equal opportunities for those who have ASD? We must reduce the ongoing challenges in providing equal opportunities for individuals with ASD in Canada, and seek solutions for a more inclusive society.

Siraj, my twin brother, was diagnosed with ASD at a very young age. Since birth, we have done everything together. I have always taken on the “big sister” role despite being the same age as him. I was (and still am) very protective of my brother, shielding him from the not-so-kind world around him. Growing up, I always knew something was different about him. I never knew why I would go to school while my brother was homeschooled. Although at the time I did not know why, I eventually pieced it together, and it all made sense. It was a very sudden and strange shift in my life. After his diagnosis, many had said that Siraj was “limited” and would never be “normal.” This broke my parents' hearts hearing that their golden boy, full of joy and eagerness, was being torn apart by society’s expectations. Instead of embracing Siraj’s uniqueness, he was expected to change something that was out of his control. It's crazy how things would have turned out differently if we had listened. Since then, my brother has grown, overcome challenges, learned to communicate, and discovered more about himself beyond his

diagnosis. All it took was someone to believe in him. As his sister, I have seen him face challenges head-on, always maintaining a positive attitude, and refusing to let anything bring him down. I couldn’t be more proud.

As a society, we need to understand the wide range of the autism spectrum and that it comes in many different forms. We must move away from preconceived stereotypes in order to understand that being on the spectrum doesn't negate your capabilities. It is important to establish a strong support system for these children and their families, providing the assurance that their child can successfully navigate the complexities of the world.

Addressing the challenges associated with ASD demands a multi-faceted approach, including increasing awareness, developing empathy, and providing access to specific educational interventions. By doing so, we not only empower individuals on the spectrum but also cultivate a more inclusive and supportive community where everyone can thrive. Furthermore, it is important to educate yourself and others about ASD through books, documentaries, and others’ personal experiences to help broaden your perspective. Autism Speaks and Autism Society are two websites that provide unbiased information on autism. However, despite these efforts to include the autism community, some needs remain unmet.

Within the community, there is a pressing need for the implementation of more specialized systems within the education system to support individuals with ASD and their caregivers. Speaking from personal experience, my mom has sacrificed her time, job, and leisure to help meet Siraj’s unique needs. What

particularly comes to mind is my brother's transition from a special needs school, characterized by smaller classrooms with a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:3, to a public school. The differences between the two were striking. Larger classrooms, a lack of resources, and educators with little to no experience with ASD posed challenges for my brother. In addition, kids labeled with any form of disability or perceived “problem” whether physically or mentally, should not be grouped together and isolated, as it overlooks individual challenges instead of providing tailored support. This approach evaluates students based solely on age, which is insufficient.

A more effective approach would involve assessing students according to their capabilities, which will foster an environment that levels the playing field and provides a better opportunity for personal growth. With small changes like these, we can promote inclusion for individuals with ASD in any environment.

All in all, autism is like a kaleidoscope, a beautiful array of perspectives and experiences continuously changing. Whether classified as a disorder, difference, or disability, people on the spectrum need to be treated with respect. We must change our perceptions on autism, steering away from negative connotations and embracing a shift towards positive understanding and appreciation for neuro atypicalities. We must embrace diversity and create an inclusive world for individuals with autism. Educate yourself and others about ASD, break down stereotypes, and foster understanding. Support local autism organizations such as

Autistic Inclusive Meets, participate in fundraising events, and advocate for inclusive policies in schools and workplaces such as the Federal Framework on Autism

Spectrum Disorder Act. By taking action today, we will create a more inclusive and compassionate tomorrow.

Works Cited Canada, Public Health Agency of. “Message from the Minister of Health – World Autism Awareness Day.” Www.canada.ca, 2 Apr. 2023, www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2023/03/message-from-the-minister-of-he alth--world-autism-awareness-day.html.

Leduc, Amanda. It's Just a Figure of Speech. Book*hug Press, 2021.

Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act S.C. 2023, c. 2 Myers, David, G. and C. Nathan DeWall. Updated Myers' Psychology for AP®

Course. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (3rd Edition). Macmillan Higher Education, 2020.

Growing up a girl in the 2020s - a podcast

Avery Shearn

The Pretentious Structure of Education on Disability

Stephanie Tang

I didn’t know I had a disability until I was in the tenth grade. I can recount a number of times where teachers and students remarked my avoidance to social settings as “sensitivity”, and my headphones as a lazy man’s devil. I’ve had other students complain to teachers that they see me wearing headphones, and whine about equality, when just the other day, I heard them making a slideshow on equity.

Awareness around hyperacusis, a reduced tolerance to sound, is not as widespread as other disabilities. As a result, I’ve never not had to correct someone about my struggles. That’s not to say that the stipulation around disability had not improved.

Disability awareness has come a long way. Compared to the 2000s, research and advocacy done to support affected people have merged into daily education. With so much awareness highlighting the difficulties of disabled life there must be just a few things we miss, right?

In modern times, the widespread usage of historical words on disabled people has become common slang, incorporated into casual language, and

synonymous to “weakness” in everyday conversations. This seems like such great progress. The more exposure to disability, the more society could regard us as “normal”. When you look closer in history, casual words to describe disabilities actually dismiss associated “atypical” behavior.

For example, let’s look at the word “OCD”. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is what OCD stands for, appeared in the DSM in the 1980s. Since then, people have started describing themselves as “OCD” because of associated stereotypes, like being extremely organized or feeling a need to control how things go, and the order in which they appear. The Colorado State University site tries to explain this, stating: “[t]he terms used for people with disabilities all too frequently perpetuate stereotypes and false ideas. While some words/phrases are commonly used by many, including those with disabilities, usage is likely due to habit rather than intentional meaning” (CSU 1). In reality, the intense and insufferable intrusive thoughts sometimes experienced with individuals with this disorder go far beyond a “typical” daily experience. So, then, why did this become such a cool thing to say?

Why, even though disability research has come so far, are people still misinformed and still incorporating hurtful language into their daily language?

The solution is simple. Certification and background checks should be required for people speaking and educating about disability. Only those directly affected with these disabilities can truly speak of such experiences. There are users on popular social media, and one example is “ticsandroses”, a viral Tiktok user who pretended to suffer from Tourette Syndrome (TS). Her unresearched and

misinformed performances of how she thought Tourette Syndrome would manifest formed stereotypes and romanticized it as a “funny disability”. It is because of these stereotypes and assumptions that this behaviour and misuse of language is commonplace. Historically, we’ve assumed that a person struggling with sight would be unable to write. We’ve assumed that a wheelchair user could not stand and or grab top shelf groceries. We do not ever see the complete picture.

Education today is heavily reliant on the internet, an environment where anyone can say anything. There are no strict fact checkers. You can pretend to be anything just to prove a point, and “[we] younger people, we're so used to using social media, things like Instagram and Snapchat and TikTok… it's…easy to spread misinformation on those apps — and even disinformation, where someone purposefully wants to spread information that's wrong" (Wong 2). Can people really be that gullible? The answer is: yes.

Due to today’s AI and technology, anyone can fake anything. The internet now uses algorithms of our searched to provide to people information reliant on and heavily biased toward past searches. A 2016 study that “analyzed 376 million Facebook users' interactions with over 900 news outlets…found that people only tend to seek information that aligns with their views” (Pewresearch.org Anderson 1).

The first step to minimizing generalizations about disabilities is to educate instead by experts with credentials and credibility. Ask for backstory and experience before you believe anything you see. Education should not be limited to a mere Google searches. Daily, I see educational “experts” on disability lecturing younger people on

our struggles. I’ve had teachers tell me that my disability was not real and that I’m just easily distracted. On a subject so personal such as disability, educators should not use other people’s experience as their own, and certainly should not be attempting to educate or say something without a solid knowledge base. Words such as “I have a friend who’s like that'' do not mean anything in the face of someone who has lived that life. These reactions spawn only from brief glimpses of and perceived empathy for someone else’s pain. If you did not run the race, don’t speak of how hard the race was, and don’t drink the water meant for the exhausted finalists. Unfortunately, “[t]here is less in-depth news coverage of issues of particular importance to people with disabilities, such as lack of physical access to facilities, employment, and poverty, and people with disabilities are seldom asked for their views on stories dealing with issues such as transportation, the environment, or child care” (Canada.ca 1).

Stereotypical images about a certain minority groups are challenging to stop.

It’s important to keep in mind that you are able to support people who claim they have a disability whether or not you are knowledgeable on their specific challenges.

Taking extra care to ensure you are well versed in a subject before commenting and to speak only of your own experiences will avoid making hurtful assumptions, and make the world a more comfortable and safe space for people with disabilities.

Works Cited “A Way with Words and Images - Canada.ca.” Canada.ca, 2022, www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disability/arc/wor ds-images.html Accessed 14 Dec. 2023.

“Inclusive Language - Student Disability Center.” Student Disability Center, 24 May 2023, disabilitycenter.colostate.edu/inclusive-language/#:~:text=The%20terms%20used%2 0for%20people,habit%20rather%20than%20intentional%20meaning Accessed 14 Dec. 2023.

“Recommendations for Countering Misinformation.” Https://Www.apa.org, 2023, www.apa.org/topics/journalism-facts/misinformation-recommendations. Accessed 14 Dec. 2023.

Wong, Jessica. “Students Say Misinformation Abounds Online. Experts Say Critical Thinking Helps Them Navigate It.” CBC, 15 May 2023, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/education-mis-disinformation-1.6836531. Accessed 14 Dec. 2023.

“The Future of Truth and Misinformation Online.” Pew Research Center: Internet,

Science & Tech, 19 Oct. 2017, www.pewresearch.org/internet/2017/10/19/the-future-of-truth-and-misinformationonline/. Accessed 14 Dec. 2023.

The Rise Of The Disco Ball: a podcast

Chloe Marshman

The Dramatics Of The News

Sydney Durrant

Globally, it seems that every other day there's a new political issue overtaking the last. It is almost as if it's a competition for which media source will give the most attention to which issue. At some point, every news consumer moves on from one political issue to another as though they are new pieces of gossip, readers hungrily waiting to devour the next story. When we take a step back and remember the date when Russia invaded Ukraine, it feels as if it were a decade ago due to how many other issues have arisen over the past two years. When the media makes these real-life issues seem like they are competing against each other, it immediately takes any respect and severity out of the issues, which all involve real human lives being affected and neglected.

Stories related to the climate crisis, food security, and the American Presidential election are spotlighted by the media for attention and in hopes that people will join together to find ways to abolish often inhumane actions. On the

other hand, some examples of a lack of media coverage where it was needed, include the repression of the Uyghurs in China, the Palestinian and Israeli genocide, as well as the destruction of Myanmar.

One solution to gain a more effective and balanced perspective on global issues is to not have the news on at your home 24/7. My family has fallen victim to constant news updates on the television for what seems like my entire existence.

Every day, I come home from school, and CNN is being broadcasted on all forms of technology. In 2024, we’ve almost come to expect our media to include the most absurd stories with the greatest shock factor. We pine for the more dramatic narrative of “what’s Trump doing now?” Or, “what’s the latest with Putin?”. In 2013, Rolf Dobelli wrote an article titled “News is bad for you – and giving up reading it will make you happier”. Throughout this article, Dobelli states ten powerful observations about why the news is, ultimately, making humans worse. However, the one comment Dobelli didn’t make, was how news takes power away from the victims. .

For example, if the majority of citizens are watching the news today with a mindset of “excitement” or of needing “entertainment”, humanity is doomed. We are neglecting real-life issues that affect and debilitate real people. It seems as though, especially when people are most in need, we turn a blind eye and watch about their circumstances as if we don't care about the outcome of our neglect.

Processing too much news also hurts our mental health. The American Psychological Association states in an article discussing media overload that “[young adults] are perseverating on it—it's bothering them. When one is

overthrown by depressing media every day, it takes a toll on someone, even the coldest of people. Mental health professionals have reported individuals being diagnosed with “media saturation overload”, the psychological strain of living through and absorbing dismal news is by no means confined to recent years (Huff 4). This issue of overconsumption of the news can only be “fixed” by the larger community. Media guardrails have started to form in some media platforms, yet to impact people's mental health, there needs to be a set boundary of how much one person can consume of media and global politics each day. Psychologists have reported to the American Psychology Association that “regardless of the patient's age, patients [need to be] more active in issues they care about rather than being just a passive observer of the news” (Huff 40).

To make our world a better place, we need to act on the issues we hear about in the news. We can’t keep neglecting social justice issues but just consume information about them in our social media. We have to each take a personal stand as readers and viewers and also demand that news sources cover these issues in a manner that impacts our world in a more humane way.

Works Cited Huff, Charlotte. “Media overload is hurting our mental health. Here are ways to manage headline stress.” American Psychological Association, 1 November 2022, https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/11/strain-media-overload.

Accessed 13 December 2023.

“News is bad for you – and giving up reading it will make you happier.” The

Guardian, 12 April 2013, https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/apr/12/news-is-bad-rolf-dobelli.

Accessed 13 December 2023.

“White House says funding for Ukraine is running out in stark warning to Congress.”

CNN, 4 December 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/04/politics/white-house-congress-ukraine-fun ding/index.html. Accessed 13 December 2023.

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Aqua and Adolescence : a podcast

Rania Kanu

Breaking The Silence: Sexual Assault In The Dance World

Chloe Marshman

As a competitive dancer, I have attended multiple “Break The Floor” competitions, conventions, and workshops. I used to have fond memories attached to these competitions, staying in hotel rooms with my friends and learning from some of the biggest names in the industry. I’m sure you can imagine the way my heart dropped when I read the Globe and Mail headline: “‘Break the Floor’ dance company bred a culture of sex and silence, dancers say” (Linderman). It nauseates me that I have been in the same room as sexual predators, but what mortifies me the most is that I am now just finding out about this investigation when the story was published back in 2021.

The lack of awareness of sexual assault in the dance community continues to put dancers at risk. Urgent change is desperately needed. However, to truly understand why sexual assault is so prevalent within the industry, understanding the power dynamic between choreographers and their dancers is key. Pursuing a

successful career in the dance world is incredibly difficult; connections with well-known choreographers are the tickets that allow dancers to thrive in the tight-knit community. Nevertheless, choreographers “can single-handedly decide a dancer’s fate and can get away with inappropriate behaviour” (Wingenroth). This was, unfortunately, the case for 17-year-old professional dancer, Jeremy Hudson.

After being invited to see 30-year-old “Break The Floor” choreographer, Mark Meismer, he was sexually assaulted by him. Hudson thought that this “might just be his lucky break into professional dance” (Linderman). The sad reality is that because there are barely any clear protocols for preventing choreographers from abusing their powers, he wasn’t the first victim and certainly won’t be the last. While we can admire Hudson’s bravery in coming forward, very few other dancers will feel empowered to speak out against a choreographer for stepping over the line of professionalism. Awareness of the issue is simply the beginning.

After further investigation, I was shocked to read that “ four people removed from “Break The Floor” for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings” (Linderman et al.). Myles Lavallee was just one of the eight students who came forward to express his story of being sexually assaulted by Travis Wall (former BTF staff) when he was just 16 years old. He explains how “Wall made sexual advances on him when the two were staying overnight at Lavallee’s parent's house in Arizona while teaching a dance course nearby. Lavallee told the Star that Wall gave him ecstasy that night” (Maas). I was even more horrified when I realized I had attended a Travis Wall workshop the previous summer and was

completely unaware of his history. It is outrageous that choreographers can maintain successful careers despite horrifying behaviour like this. It is even more unsettling that studios are allowing this to happen.

The line between professionalism for choreographers is especially vulnerable because of a significantly blurred line of consent. For example, within “dance studios and companies, there is this tendency to label a dance relationship with family values, which it is not, and such a label could have potential dangers hidden within the idea of comfort and trust” (Conley). Dancers convince themselves that a relationship that borders the line of professionalism is acceptable because they have built trust in their choreographer whom they consider family. However, this is a dangerous opportunity for predators to take advantage of their dancers because of the trusting bond they create. Many choreographers will argue; “[i]f it is not a family, then what is it? Well, to be frank, it’s a business”(Conley).

Furthermore, greater responsibility remains in the hands of the studios.

If I have competitively danced for six years and didn’t know about these issues, how is a mom who is signing her daughter up for “Break The Floor” conventions for the first time going to know? Victims cannot reach justice unless, as a community, we do our part in protecting those we love who are simply trying to pursue their artistic passions safely. While the issue is uncomfortable to talk about and must be handled with sensitivity, survivors refuse to be silenced any longer. If more people are educated on the realities of sexual assault cases and the demand for reevaluation of protocol, we can

make impactful changes and protect young dancers from the horrors of situations like with “Break The Floor”.

Works Cited Conley, Assad. “Mixed Messages: On Power Dynamics and Abuse in the Dance Community.” Medium, 25 August 2020, https://medium.com/@Inventfmc/mixed-messages-on-power-dynamics-and -abuse-in-the-dance-community-5bcb32a9eb56. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Linderman, Juliet. “Break the Floor dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say.” The Globe and Mail, 20 April 2022, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-mega-dance-company-bre d-culture-of-sex-silence-dancers-say-2/. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Maas, Jennifer. “Travis Wall Sexual Misconduct Accusation, Cut From Break the Floor.” TheWrap, 23 October 2021, https://www.thewrap.com/travis-wall-sexual-misconduct-break-the-floor-dan ce-company/. Accessed 13 December 2023.

Wingenroth, Lauren. “#DancersToo: Is The Dance World Ready To Address Sexual Harassment?​.” Dance Magazine, 20 May 2018, https://www.dancemagazine.com/metoo-dance/. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Murder Mystery: the impressive social behavior of crows - a podcast

Stephanie Tang

When is it no longer a joke?

Avery Shearn

Jokes that integrate derogatory words about people with disabilities have gone too far. Yet, people in North America have yet to notice. Teenagers, especially in the 2020s, are using words in their jokes that have been long expelled from our day-to-day vocabulary. These words are offensive. Growing up, these words were taught to be taboo; but, somehow, it suddenly seems like people have given up trying to correct our language usage in North American society. Using words relating to disabilities in our jokes or insults is unacceptable, yet appears to have swung to a state of normalization within our society. For example, calling someone “autistic” when they do not have the neuroatypicality, is used by some teens to describe someone who is acting strange in a particular circumstance. This is wrong.

Even some of my close friends who are normally compassionate and well-educated individuals, use the word in casual conversation. I am torn as to

whether I should speak up or stay quiet. Their ignorance makes me feel uncomfortable. . Another word that seems to have become more frequent in daily language despite having been banned for insensitivity and inappropriateness is “retarted”. This word has been outdated for a very long time; yet, all of a sudden, people seem to think it is okay to use. It is not. Despite its newfound popularity, people fail to realize its roots. Up to the 1960s, the terms "moron," "idiot," "cretin," and "imbecile" were all commonly used, and deemed “polite” terms used to refer to individuals with lower intelligence and intellectual challenges. These labels were dropped in that form and replaced with "retarded". Following that insensitive term, the words "handicapped" became the new vocabulary in documents the US and "disabled" in the UK (ArcMorris “The ‘R’ Word”). When the term "retarded" is used derogatorily today, it is typically not used to describe someone who has a developmental challenge. Rather, the word is used as a generic insult or to tease friends who are acting silly. Some people have gone as far as altering the words to mask their use, saying things like, “restarted” or “acoustic”. This is just as problematic. Although you are not saying the exact words themselves, you are still implying a connection to real people with real development challenges or atypicalities. This kind of usage of these words should be obsolete. With more reading, research, and willingness to have an open-mind about how our language usage impacts others, the careless use of these words could be eradicated.

Many people also turn a blind eye to ableist language, meaning that this frame of looking at the world has become so normalized that many don’t even notice its use in everyday conversation. Ableism at a societal level can be as “simple” as staircases without a ramp, or calling an object “sped” because it isn’t working correctly. People with autism, in specific, experience many forms of discrimination against them. My aunt has autism and through her descriptions to me of her experiences, I have heard examples first hand. In Canada, “[a]bout 1 and 50 people between the ages of 1 to 17 are diagnosed with autism” (Public Health Agency Of Canada). In addition, “1-2% of people in Canada are on the autism spectrum, meaning there are around 135 000 people that have been diagnosed with autism in Ontario” (About Autism | Autism Ontario). Autism is a disorder that already sets people apart. Currently, “about 63% of people on the spectrum are bullied” (Ward-Sinclair). Therefore, using “autistic” as an insult creates further isolation for people who live with the disorder. To end the “new” use of these words, we as a community can collectively decide to educate ourselves and others.

Nevertheless, in life, you will encounter people who refuse to change their ways. This new way of throwing out an “insult” is a fad that may eventually fade with language evolution. But, this does not make it okay in the meanwhile. Those who have an open mind can stop using these words in inappropriate ways and eventually the “epidemic” of this incorrect language usage may end.

The best thing for individuals to do is educate themselves. People should do their research before they think of using a word, especially one that has been “extinct” or that is associated with an actual physical or intellectual disability. People with autism are already ostracized from society for solely being themselves. Using their lived experiences as an insult pushes them even further from the so-called “normal”. Once enough people are educated and make the conscious effort to think before they speak, the trend of using words associated with disabilities as insults will end. These words are not and will no longer be “cool” to use. Pressing that search button and learning how to be respectful to everyone in a community is the first step to stopping discrimination.

Works Cited

About Autism | Autism Ontario. www.autismontario.com/about-autism#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Ca nadian%20Medical,135%2C000%20autistic%20people%20in%20Ontario.

ArcMorris. “The ‘R’ Word.” ArcMorris, 27 July 2022, arcmorris.org/the-r-word.

Public Health Agency of Canada. “Autism Spectrum Disorder: Highlights From the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth.” Canada.ca, 21 June 2022, www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/ autism-spectrum-disorder-canadian-health-survey-children-youth-2019.html.

Ward-Sinclair, James. “Autism as an Insult: Harmless or Hateful? - Autistic &Amp; Unapologetic.” Autistic & Unapologetic, 24 May 2020, autisticandunapologetic.com/2020/05/23/autism-as-an-insult-harmless-or-h ateful.

Women vs. World: Females in Rock Music: a podcast

Sophia Tice

Passions to Purpose Editorial Team 2024: We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Vanilla Pan for allowing us to use her beautiful painting as our cover image

Tara Alhaffar Rebecca Keough Chloe Murphy Stephanie Tang Sophia Tice Rania Kanu Sarah DeCarvalho Avery Shearn Sydney Durrant Chloe Marshman Ms. Vickman Vanilla Pan (cover image) Ms. Clark (flipbooking)