The Chic Mag - Sex, Love and Androgyny

EDITOR’S NOTE MASTHEAD CELEBRITIES NORMALIZING GENDER FLUID FASHION

“NO STRINGS ATTACHED” PHOTOGRAPHY KRISTINA AND ELIAS KERSHNER FEATURE ART BY YAZMIN SAGASTUME THE DEATH OF MACHISMO SEX, LOVE AND ANDROGYNY PLAYLIST POETRY ON COMPLICATED LOVE SWEET TALK WITH DAGANI AND LONESTAR PORNOGRAPHY AS AN ART FORM PORN, PATRIARCHY & THE EFFECT ON YOUNG BOYS

GUEST POETRY DO WE NEED A MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SECTION?

“NOSTALGIA” PHOTOGRAPHY COMMENTS & CONTACT INFO. 2

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The mystery of sex, love and androgyny comprise the golden trinity of bold and beautiful questions that perpetuate society’s growing discovery of what it means to be human.

for men. I remember feeling a bubbling sense of excitement mixed with the worry of what others would think. This was before business chic was fashionable among the youth.

Numerous people have tried to define me based on my affinity I remember the first time I put for suits, but the depth of my on a suit. I was seventeen, and human experience cannot be it was the first piece of clothing bottled into my fashion choices. that truly made me feel like Blazers and pant suits have myself. It had never crossed since become staple items in my mind that I would feel my closet and undeniably make most comfortable in a piece of me feel like the most “me” I clothing traditionally reserved can be.

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Fashion is a means of boundless expression, not definition.

From “men’s” and “women’s” sections at the department store, to society’s influence on porn in sex education (or lack thereof), “Sex, Love, and Adrogyny” explores the depths of the ongoing expression of humanity in culture and fashion.

At the end of the day, who’s to say we’ll ever truly define Sex, Love, and Androgyny, but is the ongoing pursuit of knowledge not one of the joys of life?

With much anticipation and excitement, I introduce to you, the February issue of The Chic Mag. Enjoy, Micah Rind

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AUTUMN SCHIEFERSTEIN -- PRESIDENT KENZEL WILLIAMS -- VICE PRESIDENT MORGAN COLE -- CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF ASHLYN ROBINETTE -- CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF GRACE COPPERTHITE -- MANAGING EDITOR ELLA HO CHING -- SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR IAN TAYLOR -- CO-SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR ALEXIS WATKINS -- CO-SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR CAMERON RUBNER -- MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR MICAH RIND -- CONTENT DIRECTOR ALEXIA HILL-- CREATIVE DIRECTOR DAVID ULLOA -- WRITER HAYDEN LARKIN -- WRITER JESSICA HERRERA -- WRITER DAILYN MORALES -- WRITER KYRIE ANGELIKA -- WRITER YAZMIN SAGASTUME -- ARTIST

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M A S T H E A D 7

Celebrity Culture

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Gender Fluid Fashion

STORY BY: JESSICA HERRERA

Gender-fluid fashion is more prominent now than ever before, and part of the reason why is the influence of celebrities in the mainstream media. What is in style and trending is usually seen first on movies, red carpets and social media platforms such as Instagram.

Celebrating the art of fashion can be accomplished no matter what section of clothing you shop in at your local department stores.

The demand for unisex designs has increased in recent times, while at the same time has challenged the dated traditions that inhibit individuals to embrace self-expression through clothing.

Nick Paget is a senior analyst for World Global Style Network, a global trend forecasting company that analyzes consumer shopping behavior.

“The notion that clothing as an expression of our personality belongs to one gender or another is the social construct that needs disassembling,” Paget said.

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A big proponent of gender-fluid fashion is American actor, singer and author, Billy Porter.

He has not only braced the stage on Broadway shows like “Pose,” but he has also been able to showcase his personal style on the biggest night in fashion at the Met Gala.

From voluminous ball gowns, to tulle skirts, thigh-high platform heels, feathered headpieces and embroidered capes, Porter always knows how to dress to impress. His style expresses a message of body positivity and encourages others to always be true to oneself.

“Your authenticity is the only option one has for survival on this planet,” Porter said on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

fluid clothing line in 2017 in hopes that it was not only inspiring for others to express their individuality but that her designs could be an affordable clothing line for all.

“I was lucky to have parents who let me wear what I wanted to wear and let me shop where I wanted to shop,” Zendaya said in an interview with Teen Vogue. “Nine times out of 10 I was shopping in the boys section. I wore cargo shorts and hoodies.”

Zendaya has proven that she is constantly reinventing herself in every public appearance, which has landed her on the best-dressed

Porter’s fashion looks transcend tradition and have made an impact on nonbinary clothing.

Some of his most influential looks include a black and white velvet tuxedo ball gown he wore to the Academy Awards, a shimmering blue body suit with bolero jacket and wide brim hat with retractable chain tassels, as well as a sheer hot pink chiffon dress with floral embroideries to the Peabody Awards.

The Emmy Award-winning actress Zendaya is another great example of the fashion influence she has on her fans.

At the young age of 25, the style icon has already pushed the boundaries of genderneutral clothing and challenged the stereotypes of “women’s wear” and “men’s wear.” She launched her very own gender-

PHOTO BY: KASSIE JACKSON

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The beauty of gender-fluid clothing is that there is no particular definition that is set in stone.

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list countless times. Some of her most popular looks include a sequined twotoned pink and red suit for the Power of Young Hollywood event and a custom Versace gown, which included chainmail and armor detailing for the Met Gala.

“Fashion is way bigger than that and it’s about wearing what you want and wearing what makes you feel comfortable and what makes you feel confident,” Zendaya told Elle magazine. “I do not believe a label on a shirt or dress should tell me that I can’t wear a T-shirt or a pant because it should say ‘women’s’ or ‘men’s’ on it... That’s just not how it should work.”

Zendaya recently received the 2021 Council for Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Icon Award for her global impact on fashion, which made her the youngest individual to win this award.

Pushing the envelope and creating awareness for gender-fluid fashion can be perfectly described by mentioning singer, songwriter and actor Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, also known as “Bad Bunny.” His sense of style is limitless and doesn’t shy away from creating controversial looks such as his experience wearing women’s clothing, hair and nails for his music video “Yo Perreo Sola.”

Creativity is at the core of the singer’s fashion style and challenging gender roles

is something that he takes on as a duty, especially being in the spotlight.

“I think it’s my responsibility, as a person of influence… to sometimes try to do what I can,” Bad Bunny said in an interview with Billboard.

Bad Bunny isn’t afraid to paint his nails for an award show or wear a skirt on the cover of a magazine such as Allure.

Comfort and style as well as living in the moment is the best way he describes his style. He attributes part of his fashion sense to going shopping with his mother and exploring the women’s department at a young age.

“I would get lost in the women’s department, seeing the combinations, the colors, the cuts, the designs,” Bad Bunny said. “And then it was my turn to buy clothes and it was boring as hell. The same jeans and T-shirts in different sizes.

The women had it all!”

You can combine styles, colors and clothing brands from whichever section of a store to build your style. Porter, Zendaya and Bad Bunny have proven that men can wear skirts and paint their nails, and women can effortlessly rock a pantsuit.

PHOTO FROM: @ZENDAYA ON INSTAGRAM

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“NO STRINGS ATTACHED” PHOTOS BY: RINDSTUDIO MAKEUP ARTIST: CRYSTAL PALACIO MODELS: MYA JAI AND KHRIS BEL

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STORY BY: ALEXIS WATKINS PHOTO PROVIDED BY: KRISTINA KERSHNER

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On Thursday, Feb. 3, I had the opportunity to interview a couple with my friend and colleague, Alexia Hill. We asked them about their love life and what their own personal journeys have been like, especially as a trans couple.

Kristina and Elias Kershner have been married for four years and live together in Phoenix. Kristina is from Arizona, and Elias is from New Jersey. The couple met on the dating website OkCupid, and they hit it off on the first date.

“I know it was love at first sight,” Elias said.

Kristina is a model for Willow Scott Models and is a doctor of psychology. Elias is a medical technologist; he is a blood banker at a local hospital in Phoenix. The Kershners are both veterans and have almost 17 years of military service between the two of them.

When asked about whether or not they feel accepted in our new and increasingly welcoming society in regards to being in the LGBTQ+ community, the Kershners had some similar and differing perspectives.

Kristina said she is not sure how much she feels accepted as opposed to her pushing her own acceptance. She struggled with that for a long time and tried to make other people comfortable with who she was.

“I kind of reached a tipping point that I’m done making other people feel comfortable, and if they are not comfortable with me, they can go away,” Kristina said. “So, I own my own space, and I’m comfortable with who I am.”

For Elias, he lives in many different intersections. On the surface, he feels that most people don’t recognize that. They see a Black man and may see the trauma and drama that comes with that.

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“I don’t identify as a Black woman, but I do understand their struggles and the struggles of Black men,” Elias said.

As far as acceptance goes, Elias said he doesn’t know what other people think of him, and he doesn’t know that he wants to care anymore.

“The reason for that is, I spent a lot of time caring about what other people thought of me and my experience and it made me miserable,” Elias said. “I realized the only person I need to please is myself— well people, and my wife.”

Elias said Kristina’s family has loved him in ways that his family couldn’t.

Kristina feels like everything Elias does makes her feel validated and seen, and Elias feels the same about her.

“You saved me from being bitter,” Elias said.

“She helped me find my heart again.”

Elias transitioned 18 years ago, and Kristina four years ago. Because they are both trans, Kristina feels it probably helps them connect on deeper levels. It allows them to see more than one Not tolerating people who are judgemental and viewpoint before they even have a discussion. She intolerant has helped the Kershners make friends said they very rarely argue. They both feel that who are accepting of who they are. being able to see “both sides to the gender coin” helps them to understand each other better. For “We don’t have to wade through all of the instance, Elias said Kristina will do something, minutiae of stupidity,” Elias said. and he can somewhat understand her thinking.

He also feels because they both have been on They know the type of people they would like to both sides, they can understand the thoughts and have around them, and he feels those are the type behaviors of each other. of people that come to them.

They also helped and supported each other As far as navigating relationships with family, through their transitions socially. They’ve talked Elias and Kristina have different experiences. about how women and men interact with each Kristina’s family has never questioned her or other. Kristina said as a child, she was always a given her a hard time and has accepted her girl; she was just socialized as a male. relationship with her husband.

“It really messes with your head,” Kristina said.

“My family is great,” Kristina said. “They come “As an adult coming into that, it has helped me, from a background of education and I feel that is it is so hard to explain it, to be socialized male the key to make life better. The more you know, because I understand what men are thinking, the better life is.” why they are thinking this.”

Elias comes from a fundamentalist pentacostal family and said it has been a struggle since the age of 18 to now.

“Some will never get it,” he said. “Some try, I know there is love there, but for the most part I choose to interact with them on my comfort level.”

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Elias said he was an outcast because he wasn’t going to say what he thought or not advocate for himself. Whereas women are taught to deny their own need to care for someone else, he wasn’t going to do that. He was always the tomboy.

“Honestly, I still don’t understand women— because I’m not a woman,” he added.

Before the interview ended, we asked the Kershners if they had anything else they wanted to say.

“Somewhere in my head I think that people think of a trans couple as some oddity or some weird thing, and we’ll just be doing the most mundane stuff, and I’m like ‘This is so funny.’

We’re just like everyone else,” Elias said. “We’re just people who love each other, we’re not different.”

Kristina said she usually hears stories about how hard it may be for trans people to find jobs and the homelessness many trans people may face. For her and Elias, she feels being educated has opened so many doors. Elias said that social support has also played a role in their success. He was a broken person, and he thought it would stay that way.

“Someone took the time, and it just so happens I married her, but someone took the time to actually see the beautiful human that I am and nurture that,” Elias said. “For me it is my heart’s desire to nurture that in you until I die.”

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A rt by:

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Y A Z M I N S A G A S T U M E

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THE DEATH OF

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f the buttons are on the right side of the shirt, then it is a men’s shirt.

If the buttons are on the left, it is a women’s shirt.

This was one of the lessons that we were taught in this machismo society.

However, the concept of machismo, an over-exaggerated masculine pride, is losing its grip on the way Latinos dress, which is freeing Latinos to express themselves through their own unique styles.

“With roots in Spain and the Mediterranean area, Mexican male dominance evolved into an institutionalized behavior,” James Diego Vigil said in his textbook, “From Indians to Chicanos.”

According to Vigil’s textbook, machismo and the “macho man” was born out of necessity.

It came about “because of the misfortunes that befell the natives at this time, there was a need for this male attitude and behavior especially to defend the honor of females, many of whom were victims to the Spaniards,” according to Vigil’s textbook where he referenced Susan Kellogg’s book, “Weaving the Past.”

However, according to Vigil, the “macho syndrome” also brought upon a “close-minded masculine tyranny” at home and in the larger society.

The textbook does not explicitly state this, but I believe this close-minded macho tyranny affected the way Latinos, specifically Mexican Americans/Chicanos, dress by establishing strict gender norms.

Let’s establish this early. The fashion created by my Mexican/Mexican American forefathers and foremothers is beautiful. I take issue with the concept of machismo that was developed centuries before my parents and grandparents.

The strict standards of the way people dress according to their sex at birth is common throughout several cultures.

However, in my opinion, these standards are elevated in Mexican/Mexican American culture due to machismo.

Machismo dictated that men must dress in a way that expressed their masculinity and physical power, while women had to dress in a way that makes them submissive to the man.

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MACHISMO

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If the person is a man, his buttons must be on the “correct” side of his shirt, or else he is committing a machismo fashion sin.

But if a man cared too much about fashion, he is somehow less of a man.

It’s bizarre. It’s not right, and this concept will eventually die.

In my opinion, the first real change in Mexican American fashion occurred with the rise of the Pachucas in the 1940s.

They did not dress to show they are submissive. Their style reflected that they can go toe-to-toe with their male counterparts.

The Pachucas styles varied. Some wore skirts with the long coats that Pachucos dawned, while some wore the full zoot suit.

However, whether they wore a skirt with a long coat or a full zoot suit does not matter.

Their style showed that one can express pride in being a Mexican American without having to follow strict machismo guidelines.

These machismo guidelines are continuously chipped away with each passing generation, but it is not completely gone.

The guidelines look different to everyone.

For some people, it is being looked down upon for deciding to become a part of the fashion industry while for some people it could be deciding if the shorts they bought are “too short” for guy shorts.

For me, it was the button rule.

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I am fortunate to have parents who accept me and all of my fashion endeavors.

They taught me this rule to avoid ridicule in this machismo society.

And the button rule eventually faded away, but I grew up with the button rule in the back of my mind for so long that I became obsessed with determining if the shirts and jackets I bought had the buttons on the “guy side” or the “girl side.”

I’m tired of this obsession, and I decided that I will not let it consume me.

I will wear the vintage dark purple and teal jacket my mom bought at the state fair.

The buttons are on the left side, but I don’t care anymore.

I like it, so I will wear it.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY: DAVID ULLOA JR.

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Chic Curated SEX LOVE AND ANDROGYNY THEMED PLAYLIST FIND IT ON SPOTIFY! PHOTOS FROM SPOTIFY COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT NOT INTENDED, FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.

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5SOS - Valentine

The Weeknd - Die For You

Gwen Stefani Sweet Escape

Tyler, The Creator - She

L’Equipe Du Son Lesson 1

The Turtles Happy Together

James Vickery Until Morning

Sufjan Stevens Futile Device

BORNS - Electric Love

Honorable Mentions l - Love T V Gir Rock

Mac Miller - ROS

Daft Punk Something About Us

Girl In Red - We Fell In Love With October

rs

Ed Sheeran - Dive

Panic! At The Disco Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off

Lloyd - You

Doja Cat - Need To Know

Flyleaf Around All Me

Ricky Montgomery - Mr. Loverman

Brent Faiyaz Language

The Neighbourhood - Pretty Boy

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Poetry By: Alexia Hill

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Poetry By: Alexia Hill

No. Love is like electricity Sometimes two fuses spark And we call it meant to be When really it was a faulty port.

Sometimes we think we meet the perfect match And that spark never comes And that’s okay, Or maybe it did and I missed my chance

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There will always be another spark waiting to happen Or happening because our phones are a gateway To meet new people and ship away.

It’s so easy to forget when you’re a thousand miles away, isn’t it?

I’ve heard people say We do our best for the people we love to stay But why keep putting a cord into a broken outlet?

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SWEET TALK WITH DAGANI AND LONESTAR STORY BY: DAILYN MORALES

Phoenix is a city rich in culture and art, home to various local artists and creatives. One young artist, in particular, has shown an impressive introduction to the music scene. Dagani made his debut on Oct. 8 with his single, “Sweet Talk.”

“Sweet Talk” is an indie-pop song with a nostalgic sound that will have you hooked from the first listen. The lyrics are inspired by the singer’s own experience with a lover who was all talk. I had the opportunity to interview Dagani and fellow artist LONESTAR. The latter takes part in the track’s backup vocals and production.

This interview took place two weeks after “Sweet Talk” was released.

Morales: So I know “Sweet Talk” came

out less than two weeks ago. How does it feel to finally have the project out? And to have other people listen to it?

Dagani: It’s weird, to be honest, ’cause I was stressed so much. She (LONESTAR) knows it. I was stressed so much to even release the song. I

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was like, oh my god, I don’t want nobody I know to listen to this. But getting all of the compliments from people really encouraged me.

Morales: I see them in your TikTok comments all the time. People are saying that they’ve been listening to the song on repeat.

Dagani: Seeing shit like that makes me weirded out. I’m like what?

Morales: It feels weird having people listen to your voice.

Dagani: Yeah, I’m like my voice? It’s trippy, to be honest. I think my “most listened to” audience is in the Philippines. I’m like, y’all are halfway across the world. That’s the part where I’m like, wow, this is weird.

Morales: What’s the story behind “Sweet Talk”?

Dagani: So when I released this song, I had a little fling. The person that I was with basically just was sweet-talking, to be honest. What the lyrics say where it’s like in person, they would say, “yeah we should be more,” but the actions didn’t

really match what was going on. They were just talking themselves up. And I was like, you know what I’m done with this. But thank you for the song.

Moments like these seem to be the inspiration behind Dagani’s music. The artist revealed that he takes inspiration from personal experiences and the experiences he sees others go through.

Whether it be people he knows or even characters from TV shows. In fact, one of his upcoming songs draws inspiration from a show the artist watched on Netflix. The track talks about losing a lover to New York even though Dagani has never known anyone who left him for New York. This creative choice makes his work feel more personal and allows his listeners to immerse themselves in the artist’s imaginative world.

Morales: LONESTAR mentioned that you work on music together often. What’s the creative process for both of you when you’re in the studio?

Dagani: Well she is easy to come off the dome with music.

LONESTAR: When I hear a beat, I kind of already plan out how I think I want this to go.

Like, oh I want this to sound like this, and right here, I need this drum to do this, and I want all this other shit, and it’s kind of like a fast-paced thing going on inside of my head. Which is good for me, but it’s hard when I can’t get that part to happen, when it doesn’t happen all the way.

I’m like, I know I can do it. I know it’s there somewhere, like come on, get it out. And when you run into writer’s block. I personally don’t write, but when you do run into writer’s block, it’s hard. With him, it’s easy too because we kind of just bounce off of each other like, oh that sounds good or beats come on, and I think of melodies, and he’s like oh stop everything stop everything, record that record that, or write that down. So it helps you because you have someone there who’s not judging you or being on your head constantly. It’s like an open thing.

Dagani: One of my next singles that’s

coming out she’s a co-writer on. It’s called “Anywhere.” Writing that, she’s the type of person; the lyrics just come to her. For me, I gotta do the melody and mumble it for a while until I come up with the lyrics. But there were parts where it was kind of hard for me to write, and she just came in clutch.

Morales: You guys seem to have a lot of chemistry when you’re working together. In your opinion, what’s something unique that the other person brings to the studio?

LONESTAR: He brings a lot, honestly, but one thing you need is just a companion.

Someone to be there to tell you if it’s right or wrong or how they feel about it. He brings his ideas and different things. Sometimes we’re in different genres of music, and he knows certain songs I don’t know, and I know certain shit he doesn’t know. So it’s really nice to have someone there to be like, ooh, I heard this in this one song you should try this, or we should see what that sounds like with you. Difference, he brings difference.

Dagani: For me, it would be honesty. We’re both very open with each other, so when we write music, we tell each other, “oh this is really good we should continue it,” or if we don’t think it’s good, we’re like, “oh maybe try to tweak that a little bit,” but if there’s no saving it we’re like yeah just scrap it. There’s a lot of people that be like, “oh yes that’s great that’s great,” knowing damn well the song is not. She just lets me know all the time.

As with every project, artists are bound to deal with stress. Dagani is no different, sharing that what troubled him the most was presenting the song the way he envisioned. The young artist recounted the hours he spent in the studio recording his single, only to come back and record again because the song didn’t sound how he wanted it to. As for LONESTAR, she admitted that the most stressful part was helping Dagani get out of his comfort zone and encouraging him when faced with self-doubt.

The duo’s love for music started at a young age and only grew as time went on. Dagani and

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LONESTAR met in high school and bonded over their shared passion. This was the turning point for both of them as they each decided to pursue music as a career. However, they admitted that their earlier releases were not up to par with their current style. LONESTAR even took a break from music, but is back now and is excited to see where their musical journey will take them.

Morales: Can we look forward to an album in the future?

Dagani: There’s an EP coming out next year. That’s with the New York song. It’s called “Don’t Forget Me in New York.” It should come out sometime during the summer. I’m still planning it out and writing it.

Morales: Last question, is there anything else you would like our readers to know?

Dagani: Honestly, I would just say go check out my music. If

you

rock with it, well, one song, it’s one song right now. (laughs) Morales: You’ll like it though. You’ll like this song.

Dagani: Yeah, it’s really good. You know it’s giving Clairo. It’s giving Wallows. It’s giving field in a park with candy. “Sweet Talk” (laughs) LONESTAR: I would just say to stay on the lookout for me, him, and our friends. Show love to your local artists, please. You think the city’s boring, it’ll be so much fun when we have artists. No one knew who Drake or Toronto was, then Drake blew up, now everybody wants to go

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PHOTOS BY: TRISH DELLEVA

to Toronto. (laughs) Morales: Do you want to let our readers know how to find and support local artists?

Dagani: There’s a valley bar where all these local artists go to. That’s one place people can show love to. It’s a new artist every night, but it’s good to see the variety of artists in Phoenix.

LONESTAR: What he said. That’s a great way to support your local artist. I find them personally on Instagram or SoundCloud.

You can find “Sweet Talk” on all streaming platforms and follow their Instagram @daganiiii and @abioyelone. Keep an eye out for this talented duo and look out for Dagani’s first EP in 2022.

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People have sex.

There’s no denying

it. Not only is it quite literally the reason that any of us exist, but recreational sex is a significant part of most people’s lives.

Despite this fact, American culture remains deeply repressed by the guilt-based puritan values upon which this country was founded. Sex is taboo. Families rarely talk about it, friends giggle and lower their voices when it comes up in conversations, and discussion in school ranges from barely scratching the surface to simply ordering teenagers not to do it at the time in their lives when they want to do it most. Even the most comprehensive “sex education” in public schools only covers the basic checklist of facts about genital arousal and pregnancy while shying away from the finer details of how to actually have sex.

I grew up in the Bay Area, one of the most liberal regions in the country, and at no point in my own high school health class did the teacher actually explain which parts went where. This education is also nonexistent for queer folks, as it focuses entirely on heteronormative sex. This failure in sex education leaves most young adults in the dark when it finally comes time to do the deed, which leads to increased teen pregnancy rates in states with abstinence-only education and a collective experience of bad first times.

The truth of the matter is that most people’s first exposure to sexual intercourse in explicit detail is mainstream pornography, especially for young men. With websites like Pornhub and XVideos receiving billions of visits each year, and with no legitimate age-verification process whatsoever, porn is easier to access than age-restricted YouTube videos. As regular internet access continues to weave its way into mainstream culture, that number is bound to increase.

Now, this wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if it weren’t for the basic fact that porn isn’t sex. It’s a heightened, stylized, and totally controlled depiction of fantasy. Pornographic films and videos never

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PORN ISN’T ALLEVIL. BUT IT NEEDS TO CHANGE. ART BY: YAZMIN SAGASTUME STORY BY: IAN TAYLOR

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never feature discussions of consent, boundaries, safe words, etc. Exposure to this type of harmful content can wildly distort young men’s and women’s ideas of what sex should be. This opens the door for toxic and abusive sexual habits before adolescents have even had the chance to experience sex with an open mind and discover themselves naturally.

never discuss consent, lube, kinks, aftercare, or any necessary elements to a positive and enjoyable sexual experience. Instead, much like the national standard of sex education, porn is hyper-focused on male pleasure and shot almost entirely in sync with the male gaze. Women in porn are sexual servants to men, using as much of their bodies as possible to physically please their male costars. It’s even male-centric in the way it’s shot, cutting most of the man’s body out of the frame so that the (usually straight male) viewer can subconsciously imagine themselves performing the sexual acts upon the woman, who is often featured fully in the frame.

Beyond the unrealistic sex acts, there’s a darker underbelly to easily-accessible, mainstream porn. Videos produced by Hookup Hotshot, a prominent porn company, always feature an entirely objectified woman getting choked, slapped, spanked, gagged, and generally mistreated all for the sake of male sexual gratification. Despite the fact that some people are into things like that, these videos

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Despite this toxic culture, there is hope on the horizon. Websites like Bellesa, described as “Porn By Women,” and Ersties, which focuses on “passion, joy, and natural beauty,” are both examples of porn created by women and for women.

The difference between their content and typical mainstream porn is strikingly clear.

These companies represent the feminine and gentle approach that porn desperately needs in order to shift from the shameful, guilty pleasure that most people consume into the positive, educational and beneficial art form it has the potential to become.

On top of these companies tackling mainstream porn, the subscription-based content site OnlyFans has permanently revolutionized the porn industry. Though OnlyFans was not created specifically for sex work, it was sex work that made it a household name. OnlyFans creators have full control over their original content and receive almost all of the revenue from subscriptions. This new approach not only created a service in which anyone can viably become a sex worker, but it also flipped the standard formula on its head by placing the power almost entirely in the hands of the creators and not the exploitative production companies. This unprecedented surge in content from new perspectives has changed the landscape forever and paved the way for more realistic, educational and empowering porn.

As little as it’s talked about, porn plays a role in the sexual development of many young Americans. Popular apps such as Twitter and Reddit feature as much explicit porn as they do SFW content. The instant accessibility of these apps means that it’s easier than ever for young people to see porn, and that’s a reality we have to face.

Another reality is that the much-needed overhaul in nationwide sex education may never happen, which is why it’s so important to change the landscape of pornographic content.

If young people’s first exposure to explicit sexual content comes in the form of creator-controlled, educational and realistic sexual interactions, it’ll dispel the warped perceptions of sex that current mainstream porn inspires. It may also influence bigger companies to shift the direction of their content and inspire open communication between young adults when the time finally comes for their own first experience.

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PORNOS, PATRIARCHY, Young men can be victims just as they can be perpetrators. Social conditioning and exposure to sex in such odd, disinegenious and often violent ways can wire us to view our partners and people we are attracted to less as humans and more as objects. Many can break out of this thought process and grow, but just as many never do. It is possible to break this cycle though. Masculinity doesn’t come from owning another person and using them for pleasure and company. It comes from being decent and loving of oneself and others.

Men— think about your first ever exposure to sex. It was most likely through porn, and that is not the best way to start. Porn is seen as an acceptable and everyday form of entertainment. It is so ingrained in our viewing habits that we don’t question it. The moment we start consuming it, our perception of sex is skewed, especially when you’re in high school and middle school.

When you’re 14 years old, it is likely that you have limited sexual experience. And, because you aren’t a woman and most likely aren’t asking them how they feel about men’s misogynistic tendencies, you

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adopt them by accident. You begin to think about that girl you like and suddenly it’s less about her as a person and more about her as an object— nothing more than a walking, talking pleasure bot.

When you were in high school and your male friends brought up girls, they automatically jumped to how they hooked up with them or how badly they wanted to do so. I was like this too, don’t get me wrong.

But I soon did the unthinkable, and I heard women out. I would never say I was a misogynist by any means, but to pretend I didn’t have problematic tendencies would be disingenuous. The girls who I surrounded myself with would always say the same thing with a look of defeat: “I’m just being used for my body.” The pressures girls face to perform sexual acts on a guy just to make him stay was a difficult truth for me to swallow.

It isn’t just porn, and to pretend that just watching it will make you problematic is a lie. It’s society as a whole as well. Growing up, men are told they have to provide and be a certain archetype of a “man.”

The woman on the other hand

AND ITS EFFECT ON BOYS!

is a quiet and obedient person who the man can do whatever they please to.

This construct, which is reinforced through media over and over again,

makes men believe that women have a specific place they are meant to be in and them breaking out of it is threatening. It all comes full circle in the end, as a caveman-like sexual dominance become a neccessity in the mind of the man in order to show who is “in charge.”

Men’s condition through the media leads to much of this. The classic patriarch of old has been repeated and has become an expectation for young men coming up. This archetype is the root of all of the problems that have been touched on. Men either adopt the misogynistic tendencies or become bitter at the idea and spiteful toward women’s disinterest, which is just as bad. The only way to truly attempt to have young men, including myself, deconditioned from this toxicity is to throw out these old fashioned caricatures and teach them kindness.

Make it less about “being a man” and more about being a person with morals. Hopefully, the future fathers of today will finally break the cycle and genders can coexist without one feeling the need to own the other.

STORY BY: HAYDEN LARKIN

PHOTO FROM: ACENDA HEALTH

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SE AN SE A S A S A

A E V O L X E Y N Y G O R ND D N A E V O L X E Y N Y G O R D N A D N A E V O L X SE Y N Y G O R D N A D N A E V O L X SE Y N Y G O R D N A AN Assign adjectives to feminine and masculine in my journal words are never as articulate as when written with a pencil, as a stencil to my progress try to sort why I feel less than the divinity that surrounds me as my inner child battles with defining and describing what in our souls we know to be true, the world seems so against displaying all the rainbow shades you shame and scream and cry and yell, I’ll never be the same exploring all my elements and all I feel is shame I play the blame game, tie her up with no room to escape if I let it loose I’m scared I’ll lose my place in line to understand can’t comprehend the unraveling ends to my saccharine tantric ways, I feel further tuned to my body, think I’ll pleasure map the days so that I know when love feels right and I’ll know when words feel wrong, think we place way too much pressure on the youth to know who they are because see, love, sex, and androgyny aren’t something you just know, yet we’ll never find our truth within them till we let them show.

POETRY BY: KYRIE ANGELIKA

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Fashion Has No Gender and Stores Should Reflect That 44

STORY BY: IAN TAYLOR

The gender and sexual revolution we are currently witnessing features one key idea at its core: shifting the cultural landscape so much that everyone can freely express themselves as they wish. Because humans are such visual creators, our physical appearance is monumental in self-expression, and it’s always subject to change depending on how one is feeling at a certain time. A term I’m quite fond of that’s recently been in circulation on TikTok is “avatar customization,” which emphasizes that our bodies are temporary vessels that we should feel free to modify in order to reflect what’s held inside.

When it comes to self-expression, fashion is arguably the most widespread and accessible form of showing the world how you feel about yourself and how you wish to be perceived. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a fashionable person, the moment you choose a specific outfit to wear, no matter how fashionable you may think it is, you’re expressing yourself. Because of the endless possibilities and outfit combinations that fashion provides, it’s almost counterintuitive that most clothing stores and brands tend to narrow their offerings down into two heteronormative categories: men’s and women’s clothing.

At face value, this may seem like an inconsequential issue, especially with the recent rise in gender fluidity in fashion. However, splitting clothing into two distinctly labeled categories is harmful and restrictive. First of all, there’s the issue of stigma – which stems from misogynistic sexism. We’ve all heard the term “like a girl” used as an insult equating femininity as inferior to masculinity. As gender fluidity in fashion becomes more mainstream, more cis men than ever before are buying and wearing women’s clothing as part of their regular wardrobe. However, this change brings with it prejudice, sexism, and homophobia.

Take, for example, Lil Nas X, an unapologetically gay hip-hop icon who has become well-known for the gender fluidity of the outfits that he wears. His looks are never boring, whether they be a bright-pink cowboy getup with BDSM-style chest straps or the lilac atelier Versace pantsuit with a flowing dress-like skirt that he wore to the MTV VMAs this year (POPSUGAR). Because of the boundary-pushing quality of his outfits, he often attracts vehement hatred and homophobia. One of his most consistent detractors is Boosie Badazz, a homophobic rapper who recently made headlines for telling Lil Nas X to “#commitsuicide” in a sincedeleted Twitter tantrum (@RemixdMag on Twitter). The hatred spewed by this man who’s pushing 40 years old is a brief glimpse into the intense prejudice toward people who dress any differently than our restrictive societal norms expect us to.

Though ultimately only education and the promotion of love and acceptance will extinguish this hatred on an individual level, the abolition of gendered clothing sections in stores would be a promising start to reconditioning how we as a culture view the intersection of clothing and gender expression. We are beyond the days when only men can

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wear suits and only women can wear dresses. Not only that, but gendered clothing sections are also exclusive of folks whose gender identities transcend the labels of “male” and “female.”

Nonbinary and gender-fluid people are at the forefront of the genderless fashion revolution like no one else. It’d only be fair to honor their efforts by doing away with gendered clothing sections.

A far more inclusive alternative would be to establish three designations for clothing in place of “men’s” and “Women’s” sections. Because masculinity and femininity still exist as cornerstones of gender expression, labeling clothes as “masculine” and “feminine” would be far more inclusive and progressive than “men” and “women.” The third section could be labeled “androgynous” for clothing that doesn’t particularly look masculine or feminine. Not only would this appeal to the current landscape and fashion trends, but it would create a new and inclusive world for younger generations and generations to follow.

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Believe me, the irony of a cisgender heterosexual white male writing this article is not lost on me. However, I’d say I’m qualified, because it’s my goddamn demographic that’s the root cause of all this restrictive bullshit. Having spent most of my time in high school around other white guys who walk, talk and act like me, I have an insider scoop on what makes the oppressor tick. This article, as well as many others I hope to write, is me putting my foot down and saying, “Alright, that’s enough.” Not only that, but I also hope to set an example for other young men like myself to resist the toxicity that our culture infects us with and break the cycle of misguided boys who grow up to become men whose suppressed trauma manifests as abuse and oppression.

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PHOTOS BY: ALEXIA HILL MODEL: OLUFEMI OMOLE

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MAGAZINE DESIGN BY: ALEXIA HILL