Remembering a Mind

Colleen McCullough, world-famous Australian author of The Thorn Birds passed away this Thursay, January 29th. She will be remembered for her masterful novels and work as a neuroscientist. And, according to one Australian newspaper's obituary, her looks, or lack thereof.

This particular obituary described McCullough as "plain of feature, and certainly overweight." They quoted her saying "I've never been into clothes or figure and the interesting thing is I never had any trouble attracting men." This description of McCullough is degrading and outright rude, and as a woman, I find it completely offensive and demeaning. The mention of McCullough's looks has no placec in her obituary, something that is supposed to praise her life and all she did with it, which was

Colleen McCullough

a lot. This newspaper is linking a woman's importance to her body and her "ability to attract men," something of little importance compared to one's mind.

The fact that this newspaper thought it was acceptable to post something about a woman's appearance in her obituary is concerning. A woman is not her appearance, and I can say with certainty that in a man's obituary, nothing would be said about their looks. So why is this the case for women? Why are women always inevitably linked to their appearance, as opposed to their work as an intellectual, their mind, heart, etc? And then, why does society oversexualize women?

Women in our society are portrayed as highly sexualized, even oversexualized, and this is seen in all forms of media, perhaps most prominately in advertisements. I won't post any pictures as examples because they tend to be inappropriate, but just think about it: How are women portrayed in advertisements? How are their bodies used to sell products? Once you start thinking about it, it becomes obvious that women are sexualized in the media as a way to sell products. The oversexualization of women in the media is an issue for many reasons. First, it shows society that women should be viewed as objects, and that they are always linked to their appearance. It appears that this sexualization has leaked into other aspects of society- a highly intellectual and influential woman's obituary. I hope that the world respects and remembers Colleen McCullough for the mark she left on the world, not for her looks. I hope that society remembers her for her mind, not her body.

The Newest Member of the Mouse's House

All young girls look up to the characters they see in movies and on T.V. shows, the dolls they play with, etc. It's inevitable, so shouldn't companies produce characters that a wide range of children across the country and even the world relate to and look up to? This is exactly what Disney is trying to do with the introduction of the newest Disney Princess, Elena. Elena is a 16 year old Latina girl

Elena of Avalor

who will "debut in 2016 in a special episode of Disney Junior's Sofia the First, and then star in her own spin-off series, Elena of Avalor."

So what does this new princess mean for young girls? It means that millions more girls will be able to play with a doll that looks like them, to see a princess that looks like them on T.V. and at Disney World. (Yes, millions. There are about 54 million Latina people in the United States, which makes up for about 17 percent of the population.) Michelle Herrera Mulligan, the Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan for Latinas states that "Having a princess/role model who looks like them is a huge step forward for girls' self-perception everywhere. Most Latina's haev darker skin tones, so Elena is very welcome!" While I agree that it is wonderful and important for all girls to see characters that they can relate to, I wonder how Disney will portray Elena. What will her backstory be? What is she like- confident, outgoing, smart?

Additionally, while I applaud Disney for attempting to diversify their characters, I can't help but notice that while they are becoming more diverse with respect to ethnicity and race (i.e. Tiana and Elena), Disney princesses are not truly diverse in every sense of the word. Think about it- every Disney princess is almost impossibly thin, with big, almond-shaped eyes and long, flowing, flawless hair. Doesn't this unattainable portrayal of a woman's body create unrealistic expectations for young girls? Shouldn't we be promoting healthy body types and all shapes and sizes for women? While Disney is on the right track with regards to ethnicity, they are far from diverse.  

Below is a side-by-side of the oh-so-popular Disney princess Elsa from Frozen. On the left is Elsa as she is portrayed in the movie; on the right is Elsa with a realistic waistline. Still fabulous, right? Check out more Disney princess with realistic waistlines here.

What's To Be Accepted?

I recently came across an article that described a Facebook status posted by Mary Cheney, the openly gay daughter of the former Vice President. In response to an ad for Logo TV's RuPaul's Drag Race, she posted: "Why is it socially acceptable- as a form of enterainment- for men to put on dresses, make up and high heels and act out every offensive stereotype of women... but it is not socially acceptable for a white person to put on blackface and act out offensive stereotypes of African Americans?" To some extent, I understand where Cheney is coming from- I realize that it is unacceptable for a person to impersonate someone else in a demeaning way as a form of entertainment. But what really got me thinking was the last part of her post. She asked: "Shouldn't both be accepted or neither?"

Did she really say that perhaps both blackface and dressing in drag should be accepted? That perhaps blackface should be accepted? Frankly, I thought we were past that point in history, that people had finally realized that the practice of dressing as an African American and impersonating them in a hateful and deriding manner is morally wrong. Cheney's post left me angry and worried.

Secondly, I don't really see a strong connection between blackface and dressing in drag. At the time that blackface was popular, America was running under the Jim Crow Laws, laws that legally segregated African Americans and whites. Blackface was used as a form of entertainment and blatantly racist. The fact that African Americans were the objects of this contemptful "entertainment" was purposeful. However, is it true that people dressing in drag are trying to make fun of women? Perhaps they are simply trying to become a character and be all that a woman is; perhaps drag is not done out of hate. Do you see a clear connection between blackface and dressing in drag? I don't.

A Plea For Change Answered

Recently, I wrote a blog post  called "A Plea For Change"

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

The other day at dinner, my parents were having a conversational that frankly, I was paying no attention to- until one phrase caught my attention: my father claimed that in the United States today, people are guilty until proven innocent. This is wrong, I thought: in the United States, citizens are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. I didn't want to take my father's words literally, but his comment got me thinking. Are we living in a society where alleged criminals are presumed guilty until proven innocent?

Above is a video from The Onion called "Judge Rules White Girl Will be Charged as Black Adult". Although this is a sytrical video, nota bene- the jury is told to assume that the girl is guilty, the jury was replaced by a single drug addict, etc. Well done, Onion- there is so much to learn from this sytrical clip.

And then, to what extent are the people who are imprisonated today actually guilty? According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2,266,800 adults were incarcerated in federal and state prisons, and 4,814,200 were on probation or parole at the end of 2011. This means that about 2.9 percent of the U.S. adult population were either incarcerated, on probation, or on parole. It seems hard to believe that 3 percent of the population is guilty of a crime. Either that, or we're living in a very crime-heavy, dangerous society. However, if you look at the facts, it seems as though the United States is putting people in jail for crimes that could potentially be solved in another way, such as community service, support groups, a fine, etc.

source: http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2012/07/chart-of-day-federal-drug-prisoners.html

The above image shows the number of inmates in federal prison by offense in 2012. Drug useage and possession is #1 marginally- more than three times as many people were imprisoners for drug-related crimes than for weapons and arson. Drug useage and possession is a very serious problem, and by no means am I trying to justify it, but it is a nonviolent offense than could potentially be solved in many other ways. Do we as a society assume that people are guilty, and imprison more people than need be because of this?

Selma Continues in Ferguson

"Selma", starring David Oyelowo, follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his three month journey to "secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition." The movie was at once heartbreaking and inspiring. Oyelowo's portrayal of Martin Luther King, Jr. can only be described as impecible and outstanding: he talks like King, looks like King, and acts like King. I especially appreciated the director's choice to pay attention not only to King, but to other important historical figures, such as Annie Lee Cooper, President Lyndon B. Johnson, John Lewis, and Coretta Scott King.

Arguably one of the most horrific (yet true) aspects of the movie was how violent the police were to Dr. King and his nonviolent supporters. Marchers were beaten mercilessly, tear gassed, and even shot for participated in nonviolent protests for their rights. The film was at some parts difficult to watch. While the movie was amazing in and of itself, it truly got me thinking about many important issues. In particular: how well do the police truly protect us today? 

Everyone remembers the recent Ferguson shooting, where a black, unarmed teenager was shot and killed by a police officer. Darren Wilson, the officer who shot Brown, was not indited. Similarly, in July, an unarmed black man by the name of Eric Garner was killed by a policeman who put Garner into a chokehold. Police officers are supposed to be keeping us from harm, protecting United States citizens, but to what extent are they doing their job? It seems to me that the Ferguson shooting and the death of Eric Garner, among countless other police brulatity cases this year, are racially targeted. This- the attacking of unarmed black men today- is no different than the attacking of nonviolent black protesters in the '60's.

It seems to me as if history is repeating itself.

Prison Within Prison

In the United States today, solitary confinement claims the lives of 80,000 prisoners. Not their actual lives, but with the countless, unimaginable effects solitary confinement has on a person, it's pretty similar. 

Solitary confinement, the isolation of a prisoner in a separate cell, is used as a "mechanism for behavior modification, when suspected of gang involvement; as a retribution for political activism; or to fill expensive, empty beds." Does solitary confinement solve the issues it seeks to resolve? Probably not to the extent officials would like it to. In reality, it creates even more issues.  

First, prisoners under solitary confinement are at a much higher risk of becoming mentally ill. In one report, it was found that 64 percent of prisoners in solitary confinement are diagnosed as having a mental illness, while only 24 percent of regular prisoners are. Craig Haney, a psychologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, argues that solitary confinement "precipitates a descent into madness." Because mental illness is so common among isolated prisoners and is becoming an increasingly bigger problem, the effects of solitary confinement have become known as SHU, which stands for Special Housing Unit Syndrome. The effects of solitary confinement include, but are not limited to: hypersensitivity to noise and touch, distortions of perception, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, increased risk of depression and suicided, and visual and auditory hallucinations. The medical community has recognized and even created a syndrome for the medical issues caused by isolation in prisons- so why hasn't solitary confinement been done away with? 

The Eighth Amendment states that no person should be given "cruel and unusual punishment." Recently, however, many have begun to see that solitary confinement constitutes as just that: cruel and unusual. In May of 2012, the Center for Constitutional Rights filed a federal lawsuit "on behalf of prisoners at Pelican Bay State Prison who have spent between 10 and 28 years in solitary confinement." The lawsuit was part of a larger movement to change policies and put an end to "cruel and unusual punishment" in prisons. This movement is justifyable and long past due; the facts support those fighting to end solitary confinement in the United States: "prisoners spent 22 ½ to 24 hours every day in a cramped, concrete, windowless cell. They are denied telephone calls, contact visits, and vocational, recreational or educational programming. Food is often rotten and barely edible, and medical care is frequently withheld." In addition, prisoners are often kept in forced solitude for years, decades even. The prison system is supposed to reform and educate prisoners, preparing them for a better life once they are realised from jail. How would you feel if you were left on your own after decades of having virtually no contact with not only the outside world, but other humans?

#AmericaInFiveWords

Aja Barber asked the Twitter community last week: "How would you sum up #AmericaInFiveWords?" Her question has since received over 99,000 responses. They were shocking and saddening and frightening.

One black woman responded: "#AmericaInFiveWords. Country founded on genocide/enslavement." This statement ties in to the ideas of Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in an Age of Colorblindness" and the concept of the Prison Industrial Complex, the use of surveillance, policing, and imprisonment as solutions to economic, social, and political problems. The prison system is often seen as an extension of slavery. While only 12% of the U.S. population is black, 40% of the prison population is black. As for genocide, American police officers shot and killed 1,029 people in 2014. In contrast, British police have killed only 43 people in the last four years.

Another response stated: "Liberty and Justice for Some. #AmericaInFiveWords." Again, this relates to the concept of the Prison Industrial Complex. Black Americans are discrimated against. A ProPublica report states that "black teens are 21 times more likely to be shot dead than their white counterparts." Why?

My father, an emergency room physician, told me a story the other day: There are about 50 other E.R. doctors that work at the same hospital as my dad. Once a month, actors impersonate someone with a medical problem, and evaluate all the doctors on how they respond, their bedside manner, etc. Last month, four actors came in to the E.R.: a white man, a white woman, a black man, and a black woman. They all said the exact same words, telling the doctors that they thought they were having a heart attack. When asked, 50 out of 50 of the doctors thought that the white man was most likely to experience a heart attack.

Why do we as a society discriminate against people of color? Where did this discrimination start, and how can it be stopped?

How would you describe America in five words?

Review of "The Theory of Everything"

The Theory of Everything, directed by James Marsh, is the story of British physicist Stephen W. Hawking and his first wife, Jane Wilde. The film begins in the early 1960's with Stephen Hawking studying physics at Cambridge, where he meets Jane. Just as Hawking is establishing himself as one of the leading scientists of his generation, he is diagnosed with ALS, a progressive nuerodegenitive disease, and is given two years to live. The film continues to tell the story of Stephen and Jane in the years after Hawking's diagnosis.

The Theory of Everything is a spectacular, inspiring look at an amazing and inspirational life. I was most impressed with the acting of Eddie Redmayne, who played Stephen Hawking. Just in physical terms, Redmayne's portrayal of Hawking is remarkable. Honestly, I don't know how he was able to move into some of the positions he did, and talk the way he did. The physical resemblence between Redmayne and the young Stephen Hawking is uncanny, and the emotion that he portrayed in his facial expressions alone was impressive, real, and heartwarming. I was fully convinced and deeply moved by Redmayne and the movie as a whole.

I have only one issue with this film: If I was Stephen Hawking, one of the smartest and most influential scientists in history and the longest ALS survivor, I would be a little upset that they made a movie about my love life.

Left: Stephen Hawking and wife Jane Wilde. Right: Redmayne and Jones

New Year, New America

As the new year begins, 21 states will see a rise in the minimum wage. Although the federal minimum will remain at $7.25 an hour, these states are well on their way to having a minimum wage of $10.10 an hour by Jan. 1 of 2017, the wage that Obama wants to pass as the federal minimum. These increases will introduce countless positive changes in the coming year, and hopefully the remaining 29 states will follow.

About 4.3 percent of all hourly paid workers, until now, were paid below the federal minimum. No wonder the poverty level in America is at an all time high. Perhaps these 21 states have kick-started a period of positive change for the United States, a period of increased prosperity and less poverty. About 12.5 percent of the United States population lives below the poverty line of $23,550 a year. Increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour (Obama's goal by 2017) would bring about 1 million families above the poverty line. Additionally, the cost of living in the U.S. is increasing rapidly: "Groceries cost 20% more, a gallon of gas costs 25% more, and average tuition at a community college increased 44%." As the cost of living increases, the minimum wage must as well, or else more and more families will be thrown under the poverty line. 

We as Americans pride ourselves in being the "land of opportunity." Realistically, though, we live in a land of opporunity for the rich. We've all heard the statistics: that 1% of the U.S. population controls a third of the wealth in our country. And it's true, and it's insane. To me, it seems as though until more Americans are able to afford basic necessities, we Americans have nothing to pride ourselves in, for we are not a "land of opportunity" for all. And until the minimum wage is raised to a reasonable degree, this cannot and will not happen.

A Plea For Change

Leelah Alcorn, a 17 year old teenager from Ohio, died on Sunday, December 28th. Leelah was born Joshua Alcorn, and struggled with depression because her parents were not receptive when she came out to them as transgender. In a note she left behind, she states

Leelah Alcorn

that "the life I would've lived isn't worth living... because I'm transgender." She hopes that her story will show the American public that something needs to be done about how we as Americans view the LGBTQ community, that something needs to change. In the words of Leelah Alcorn, "my death needs to mean something."

Leelah's story has sparked interest among social media. Many transgender adults have started a hashtag, #RealLifeTransAdult, to share their stories and show transgender teens that things will get better, that they have support. In addition, a petition was created in Leelah's memory to ban conversion therapy, the practice of trying to suppress or altogether eliminate a teenager's sexual orientation through therapy. The petition has over 88,000 supporters. Your death does mean something, Leelah.

"Gender needs to be taught in schools," said Leelah, and she was right. Gender identity and sexual oreintation need to be taught in health class, so that this does not happen again. Something needs to change.

About 3.5 percent of the United States population identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. About 1-2 percent of the population has red hair, a trait we consider to be a normal part of the scope of human diversity. Why are we so unnaccepting of the LGBTQ community, when it is even more common that having red hair?