Lavender is a color that has represented the LGBTQ+ community throughout history. Lavender, a mix of pink and blue, represents the fluidity and blurring of gender lines in society. When lavender graduation was first introduced in 1995, it was no surprise lavender was the color chosen to represent this ceremony. Lavender graduation was an event […]
Read More SOGIE’s lavender GRADUATIONSummer is just about a month away, and everyone is starting to prepare for the warm weather. Planning vacations, buying new outfits, and working hard to get their summer body. The phrase “summer body” stems from the phrase “bikini body“, which become popularized in a 1961 ad campaign from a chain of weight loss salons […]
Read More Let’s Talk About The “Summer Body”This semester I am taking a class on the Sociology of Energy and Society. It focuses mainly on how humans interact with forms of energy. We recently watched a documentary in this class, Blood Cobalt, which focuses on the mining going on in the Congo for cobalt. I recommend everyone to go and watch this […]
Read More Cobalt mining killsAs a senior here at JMU, I have recently spent some time reflecting on my time as a first generation, FAFSA student. And man, has it been a journey. The purpose of this blog is to share my story in hopes that others can relate or even learn a thing or two. The first thing […]
Read More A College Experience by a First-Gen, FAFSA StudentOn April 14th I attended a discussion panel that spoke on the political complexities of the Latino/a/x community. This event took place on campus in the College of Business building and featured three professors, Dr. Carlos Aleman, Dr. Veronica Davila Ellis and Dr. Sergio Gonzalez, chairman of the Virginia Latino Advisory Board, Lyons Sancheconcha, Rockingham […]
Read More Campus event: U.S. Democracy & the Latino/a/x COMMUNITYLOCAL NEWS Liz Wheeler will be coming to campus next week to speak in the Madison Union Ballroom April 26th. She is a conservative political commentator, who will be speaking at a lecture titled, “The Ideology of Transgenderism.” It is to be hosted by JMU’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, which “brings students together […]
Read More News Room Roundup 4/18I have never agreed with the idea of sororities. Never, ever. Growing up, seeing movies with sororities in them and big, girl-only friend groups reminded me of the girls that relentlessly bullied me all throughout school and even out of school online. My mindset on sororities was confirmed when I came to JMU and saw […]
Read More I Don’t Like SororitiesIt is evident that black women in the United States face more inequalities and injustices than many minority groups. Black women in the U.S. face these obstacles in all aspects of life, but many people may not know the injustices black women face during childbirth. When discussing childbirth survival rates, people say the wealthier you […]
Read More First Do no harm: unless you’re a pregnant black woman.Dylan Mulvaney is a transgender influencer. She is followed by millions, and has a prominent social media presence. Her followers and others, decided to give their opinions, and felt the need to speak out on social media platforms such as Tiktok and Twitter. They expressed their thoughts regarding any videos with her and tampons. In […]
Read More Bloody BattleDrag. It is a form of expression that has helped people explore themselves and their identities for years. This form of self-expression has existed since at least the 1870’s, and possibly even longer. There has been a long history of Drag existing and shaping the world. However, recently, there have been many bills that have […]
Read More Dragged through the CoalsIs there a division between feminism and religion? In most religions there seems to be a patriarchal system that places men in positions of power. Women are not often seen in leadership and sometimes do not even have the same religious rights that men do. The exclusion of feminism in religion happens all over the […]
Read More Is Religion Against Women?Quinta Brunson, a Black comedian from Western Philadelphia, is best known for creating, executive producing, co-writing, and starring in the award-winning TV series Abbott Elementary. For those who don’t know anything about Abbott Elementary, it is a mockumentary-style comedy show surrounding a group of hard-working, dedicated, and passionate teachers at a Philadelphia public school; it […]
Read More Abbott Elementary: Supporting Public Schools & TeachersLOCAL NEWS Posted on James Madison’s school news page this past week was a podcast by Future U which featured JMU’s President, Jonathan R. Alger. Before he was JMU’s President, Alger was most notably assistant General Counsel at the University of Michigan, in which his skills in law proved crucial to UMich’s efforts in two Supreme […]
Read More News room round up 4/11*TW: mentions SA and Sex Trafficking** We as women live in a scary scary world. Sex trafficking, sexual assault, and just overall women’s safety issues are rampant in the US and disgustingly normalized. Which is why…I am a big fan of protection dogs or “scary” dogs in general. After everything that has happened with the […]
Read More Hot Girls Have Scary DogsMost people know the typical Disney princess movie plot line. It goes, “once upon a time, in a far-away land there is a beautiful princess who is waiting helplessly for her prince to swoop in to rescue her from her tragic backstory so they can live happily ever after.” In most of these movies the […]
Read More Not Your Typical Fairytale: Disney’s FrozenThe Miss America Pageant is known to many and has certainly been prone to controversy and differing opinions over the years. The pageant is now over 100 years old and with its longstanding presence in society I feel it is important to recognize Miss America’s evolution over the years. The contest originated in 1921 at […]
Read More Does Miss America Miss the Mark?The recent decision by Iowa’s governor to sign a bill that bans gender-affirming care has set back the United States in terms of progress towards equality and human rights. This decision is a clear violation of the basic human rights of transgender individuals and shows a disregard for their lives and well-being. The bill, which […]
Read More Iowa signs Gender Affirming Care banHookup culture is a common part of lots people’s college experience, however, many people do not know or understand just how harmful this culture has the potential to be. My experience with hookup culture is not something I regret, but rather something that has formed me into who I am today and contributed to what […]
Read More is Hookup Culture harmful?The portrayal of female characters in popular culture has been a topic of much debate and analysis over the years.I was recently watching the movie pretty women with my mom and I noticed that a lot of movies from the 80s to 90s hypersexualized women, and I can see the difference in more current movies. […]
Read More Evolution of Female Characters in Popular CultureRecently, I was thinking about how different our society would be if everyone had to take a course like SCOM 301, or Feminist blogging. A WGSS generalized class could be proved useful to our society as a whole, based on its content. I find myself and others who are engaged in this course, or discourse […]
Read More Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in SchoolI attended Sigma Sigma Sigma’s Annual Leslie George Speak Out on February 28rd. This is my second year in a row attending the event. Every year, in February, Tri Sigma hosts the annual Leslie George Speak Out to raise awareness on eating disorders. Leslie George is a sister of Tri Sigma who tragically lost her […]
Read More Leslie George Speak Out“There’s growing evidence to suggest that some individuals can develop a dependency on social media that’s not unlike an addiction to alcohol or drugs,” Paul G. Simeone, Ph.D. This week, when I was supposed to be studying I found myself distracted. Like most people from my generation, the first thing I did was reach for […]
Read More My Life Revolves Around My PhoneSexual assault and sexual harassment are terms known all too well to women, and specifically women attending college universities. Individuals most at risk for sexual harassment or assault on college campuses are females, transgenders, and non-gender conforming individuals. Around 36 percent of undergraduate and graduate female students experience nonconsensual sexual contact and 37 percent of […]
Read More Sexual Assault & Harassment At UniversitiesThere’s so much evil in this world. You know it. I know it. It is almost like we cannot escape it. It is everywhere. Well, here’s your chance to escape! Let’s talk about something positive in the news. Washington Post published an article about a month ago in February saying that Spain is giving women […]
Read More Go Spain!I’m sure everyone has heard of stereotypes like “the crazy cat lady” and “the boy-crazy fangirl”. While stereotypes like these have become a normalized part of our society, they’re harmful, sexist, and completely objectify women and their interests. Starting with the “crazy cat lady”, “it represents a sad and lonely [single] woman who uses felines […]
Read More The Crazy Cat Lady & The Wild FangirlThis past week, the United States congress held a hearing to vocalize the desire of government officials to ban TikTok. Child safety, cybersecurity risks, and unwanted access to user data were all key points of discussion during the hearing. Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, made four commitments to the U.S.- More than 1 in […]
Read More Is TikTok Getting Banned in the United States?On Tuesday, March 28th, I attended a film series hosted by JMU’s Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) department. This event was located within JMU’s campus on the ground floor in Burris Hall. The movie was introduced by JMU’s French Professor Dr. Dorothee Polanz and was entitled “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” In a […]
Read More Portrait of a Lady on Fire: A WGSS Film Series EventThe World Health Organization views health care as a fundamental human right. If this is true, why can rural hospitals not keep their doors open? Between 2010-2022 more than 130 hospitals had to close due to a lack of funding and limited healthcare professionals. There are many causes of this, including the COVID-19 pandemic and […]
Read More rural areas need hospitals tooThe 75 Hard is a challenge created by Andy Frisella in 2019. It is known as a program meant to improve general mental toughness. The overall goal is to changes ones life permanently for the better. It says that it not only helps one physically but changes their thinking. With that being said, there has […]
Read More Is it realistic?I want to preface this post by saying that not all Catholic schools are bad and I acknowledge the privilege I have in being able to attend one and share my experiences. Honestly, in some ways I am grateful for some of the experiences I went through because they helped shape me into who I […]
Read More My thoughts on Catholic schoolSome days I wake up feeling happy, ready to take on the day, productive, and enthusiastic to get shit done. On other days I wake up feeling sluggish, tired, emotional, unmotivated, and getting out of bed to tackle my many responsibilities feels like an impossible task. I sometimes think to myself, “what is wrong with […]
Read More Why the Work Week Isn’t Working for WomenLOCAL NEWS On March 6th, Irvo Otieno was killed by Henrico police officers and Central State Hospital employees during the hospital’s inpatient process. During a time of mental health distress, Otieno was met with aggression, criminality, and excessive force by officers and employees. Before being brought to the psychiatric institution, Otieno spent 3 days in […]
Read More Newsroom Roundup 3/22Like many other women, when I had my IUD inserted, I was not prepared for the extreme pain I was about to endure. The feeling was far more than the “slight pinch” my doctor claimed I would experience and was instead a blinding pain that encouraged a skew of curse words and tears. As more […]
Read More The Truth about IUdsMenstruation, the natural process by which a woman’s body sheds the lining of the uterus every month, has been subject to shame and stigma for centuries. The social stigma around menstruation has led to a lack of education, resources, and access to menstrual products for women worldwide. Down below I will explore the roots of […]
Read More Taboo of Menstruationmasculinity noun mas·cu·lin·i·ty ˌma-skyə-ˈli-nə-tē Synonyms of masculinity: the quality or nature of the male sex : the quality, state, or degree of being masculine or manly Merriam-Webster masculinE ADJECTIVE mas·cu·line ˈma-skyə-lən Often defined as aggressive, strong, and unfeeling or stoic. Being masculine means in modern times, at least, no shows of emotion, no flamboyance, no hugging or even looking at other men, must be […]
Read More Masculinity and the digital takeoverPain. Excruciating pain. Unending pain. That is what Anushay Hossain felt for thirty-three hours while she was giving birth to her first child in 2011. According to The Washington Post, Hossain had received an epidural, a shot that provides anesthesia that numbs you from the waist down, and yet she could still feel every ounce […]
Read More Pain & Prejudicelocal news On March 2nd, Congressman Ben Cline spoke about the reauthorization of the Debbie Smith Act. The Debbie Smith Act was passed in 2004, and distributes federal funds to law enforcement across the country to reduce backlogs of rape kits and DNA evidence from crime scenes to expedite the analyzation process of these pieces […]
Read More Newsroom Roundup 3/7I remember when I was sixteen trying to put a tampon in for the first time the summer after I got my period. It just could not go up there for the life of me. I was getting worked up and on the verge of tears as my mom said we were leaving in a […]
Read More LIVING WITH VAGINISMUSFor most of us, Disney was an extremely large part of our childhood. As a young girl I was OBSESSED with all Disney princesses, Sleeping beauty, Ariel, Snow white, and Pocahontas. From ages 2-5 I genuinely don’t think I left the house without a costume dress and my plastic glitter heels. For years, Disney has been […]
Read More The Happiest Place on Earth?The highest heels, the biggest wigs, the most extravagant makeup, and of course, only the most exotic of outfits for the drag queens of America!! Drag shows have been traced back in America since the 1920’s and for over 100 years drag shows have been a form of expression for many. Expressing femininity through fashion, […]
Read More The Attack on drag showsWomen’s representation in American politics has remained significantly lower than the representation of men. The pattern of women’s representation in national government falling below 50% is seen in most countries, with a few exceptions in countries such as Rwanda, Cuba, Nicaragua, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates. In June of 2022, only 28% […]
Read More Women’s Representation & Diversity in PoliticsContent Warning: Eating Disorders On Monday, March 6th, I attended Lauren Hackett’s speech on campus regarding women’s mental health. This event was presented by Alpha Sigma Tau as a panhellenic point for sororities on JMU’s campus. Lauren went into depth about her own mental health struggles, her experiences with eating disorders, chronic illness, and the […]
Read More If Women Started Talking About Mental Health: Presented by Lauren HackettDomestic violence affects many women throughout the United States, as well as the rest of the world. The United States’ culture has different expectations of men and women regarding domestic violence. The societal expectation of domestic violence is that a male partner is the aggressor and abuser toward the female partner. Not all instances of […]
Read More Domestic Violence, A WOMAN’S Problem?If you have been online at all lately, you have probably heard of the Willow Project, which was just recently approved by President Biden’s Administration. However, if you haven’t heard of it, or have, but aren’t quite sure what it entails and what it means for the future, I am here to give an explanation. […]
Read More the Willow project and what you need to knowThe directors and screenwriters of the top ten grossing domestic films of 2022 portray a perfect example of the lack of diversity in media industries. When taking a closer look behind the scenes of these muti-million-dollar movies, it is clear to see a pattern of gender, race/ethnicity, and nationality of the people who run the […]
Read More Behind The ScenesI’m tired of arguing with people over why Trump is unfit to run a country and not someone to be idolizing or supporting. I’m not trying to argue that being a good person will make you a good president, but the person who runs our country should care about everyone within it. In November of […]
Read More Stay Out of office Trump!Social media use is growing every year. Teenagers average about nine hours of social media use every day. Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are the main avenues teenagers use for posting and communication. Although social media is portrayed as a fun way to share pictures and communicate with your friends, instead it has created anxiety and […]
Read More Social Media Causes Eating DisordersImagine this: The country you were born in, raised in, and started a family in is no longer safe. You scrape up everything you have to find a way out. After the treacherous journey, you and your family are finally able to set foot in a place of freedom. Or so they say. What’s the […]
Read More $1,275This post was edited on March 21, 2023 by theartfemale TW: Blog talks about violence, child abuse, and mental illness. Recently you might have heard of a case where a mother was accused of strangling her three children and attempted to take her own life on January 24,2023. Her name is Lindsay Clancy. It is […]
Read More postpartum PsychosisMoms are so multifaceted. The ability to manage a steady job while also caring for a child full time is something only a mother can do. Mommy vloggers have become very popular on platforms like Youtube and TikTok. You might be wondering: What is a mommy vlogger? Basically, moms all over social media have started […]
Read More The Rise of Mommy Vlogs
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