The Berkeley Beacon
January 27, 2022
4
Opinion
Illustration Lucia Thorne
Performative activism can’t change fast fashion Stephanie Wallace
Beacon Correspondent People love to feel like they are doing some noble thing for the greater good while in reality, they are accomplishing the bare minimum. This usually takes place through “performative activism,” the idea that pretending to do something is better than doing nothing. Sustainable fashion has become a re-
cent example of this trend. Thrifting has gone from an easy way to save money to a status symbol for activism. While more people are learning about how harmful clothing production can be, there have been large miscommunications about how to solve the problem. Last October, a group of protestors disrupted a Louis Vuitton runway show by walking along the runway with the models, most notably a woman who jumped on the runway holding a sign that said
“OVERCONSUMPTION = EXTINCTION.” It’s fair to say that high-end fashion brands contribute to a long-standing issue in classist consumption. They dictate fashion trends in all spheres yet aren’t affordable to most. However, fighting high-end fashion companies such as Chanel and Versace is not the way to go about slowing down the environmental impacts that fashion has. People have higher expectations for luxury brands than they do for fast fash-
ion. Due to public image and the higher standards their companies are held to, luxury brands tend to be more conscientious about their impact on the environment, as well as society. However, fast fashion brands such as Zara and Forever 21, who use mass production to create products, are the companies that should be receiving criticism for their environmental impact. E-commerce brands such as Shein and Fashion Nova are in the same boat and should also be addressed when it comes to holding brands accountable for their production processes. Fast fashion gained popularity due to the inexpensive prices of their products and the large array of options they offer. These companies also promote themselves heavily on social media platforms, making them even more noticable and enticing. Their social media presence–– being the most talked-about brands on TikTok and YouTube––leads consumers to these fast-fashion retailers, making them the most visited fashion and apparel sites in the world, according to the web analytics platform Similarweb. When calling for sustainable fashion, we must take into consideration that it is the clothes we are most likely to consume that contribute a considerable amount to the problem. Reuters reported that Shein has yet to disclose information about the working conditions of its factory employees to the British government, which the retailer is required to do under U.K. law. Shein had also previously falsely stated that its factories were certified by international labor standard bodies, according to Reuters. However, because they have become such an influential company, it’s easy for that to get swept under the rug. Protesting fast fashion means discussing the layers of class and interconnect-
It’s okay to put your orgasm first Mariyam Quaisar Beacon Staff
The other night, I came to the realization that every time I’ve ever told a guy that I orgasmed, it’s been a lie. While these lies were never meant to be hurtful or disrespectful, the truth came as an intense shock. Since becoming sexually active, my perception of what an orgasm is has been warped, leading me to believe that the pleasurable sensations I was feeling were of an orgasm, not just something that felt good, hence my dishonesty. Other times, I was just too scared to say, “no I didn’t finish, you weren’t doing it right.” Guess what friends, women are meant to orgasm, too… Sorry, I thought I had to reiterate it for the people in the back who seem to forget that. Too often I’ve heard stories about women who are denied their climax because a partner does not prioritize it or tries to, but fails miserably. There are several reports proving the imbalance between the experiences of men and women during sexual activity. Ladies, two things: don’t be afraid to tell a guy when they’re doing something wrong, and know that it’s okay to put your orgasm first. The idea of what sex should be must be reinvented as the exchange of intimacy, trust, and pleasure to counteract the dominant male culture that fails to respect mutual benefits from sexual activity. The female orgasm is just as important as the male’s—it should not be ignored, by neither men nor women. To accomplish this, partners should start by exploring a variety
of erogenous zones—common ones are the neck, inner thigh, ears, and breasts. From there, gently build up the sensations. Figure out what feels good to your partner, and ladies, make sure to verbalize what you enjoy. It is very rare for women to orgasm from penetration (the insertion of a penis or other objects into a vagina), but sex is more than that anyway—it is a ceremony. Start with exploring the female body to understand all its sensitive spots and then, hit the jackpot: the clitoris. Of course, some women can experience an orgasm with vaginal penetration, but, according to the Mayo Clinic, most women climax from clitoral stimulation. After exploring the female body, partners should start their sexcapade with oral sex or fingering, or better yet, women take initiative and bring your own or your partner’s hand downtown. Either way, make sure that you orgasm before, during, or after intercourse… or all three times. Sex isn’t meant to be a one man talent show. It is important for women to expect their pleasure to be taken seriously and to not be ashamed of demanding it. I understand it may be difficult to effectively communicate with your partner and express your dislike with what they’re doing, but it’s necessary to do so. What’s the point in laying there and waiting for them to actually find your clit? Sometimes they just need some guidance, literally, to where the sweet spot is. If you’re already butt naked and sweaty, then what’s the shame in saying, “Hey kiddo, a little to the left.” Most importantly, if your partner
reacts in a negative or disrespectful way when you comment on their “work ethic,” then they shouldn’t be anywhere near your vagina. It’s as simple as that. Sex is about both (or all) parties’ enjoyment, not just the male. We all know a guy can finish, but that doesn’t mean fun time is over because their penis goes back to hibernation. And to those who have the honor of pleasuring a vagina: get your head in the game. I’m not saying
that all men ignore the female orgasm, but from the stories I’ve heard––and unfortunately from personal experience––way too many don’t. But guess what, watching your girl finish will make you feel tingly as well. According to Women’s Health Magazine, men feel a different type of high after making a girl come. They feel accomplished, but also tend to feel closer to their partner. After all parties orgasm, the bonding hormone—oxytocin—floods
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Editor-in-Chief Lucia Thorne
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edness. After all, those living on normal paychecks benefit from a clothing outlet where there are many different options every few weeks. This gives people the financial power to replace clothes as soon as they are bought. Instead of waiting until a shirt is too small or old, stores like H&M make it easier to simply buy a new clothing item instead of replacing an old one. If we are to create tangible change, we need to do it in a way that benefits those that consume fast and cheap clothing. That mostly starts with brands targeted towards women, like Shein, seeing as more than 70 percent of the world’s poorest people are women. The good news is that there is a growing general knowledge of the fact that the fashion industry has to change for the betterment of the environment and human rights. However, there is more to it than buying a second-hand item. With the increase in thrifting, two problems have risen. The first one being that thrift shops such as Goodwill have increased their prices making it harder for low-income people to afford clothing from stores they could rely on for cheap style options, which can lead to an increase of shopping at Shein or Fashion Nova as an alternative. Secondly, more people are donating their clothes, and oftentimes these clothes don’t get sold and are thrown away. The real solution, and one that is much more inconvenient, is working with politicians in order to create laws that hold fashion companies accountable, however, this is necessary. Placing an emphasis on companies’ impacts on climate change as well as humanitarian rights are ways to make strong impacts on the fashion industry. stephanie_wallace@emerson.edu
Illustration Lucia Thorne through their brains to make them feel more connected. Also, watching a girl come is hot. Watching her lose control will get you going, so why not do it? The female orgasm is sexy, and it can happen over and over again. The person you are with should want that pleasure for you, ladies. So claim it and show ‘em what you got. mariyam_quaisar@emerson.edu Tyler Foy (Sports) Kaitlyn Fehr (Copy) Advisor David Dahl
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