India is one of the most populous countries among the rest. There is a change of cycle from past to present. People’s lifestyles and living patterns have changed and along with that the leap of authorization. The term reservation is nothing new, it is running for a long period. History speaks that people in past have faced discrimination in name of caste, crude, and sex. Although the terms have been given by humans themselves still some communities faced bias. Before independence, there was a hierarchy of class where different people were put into a different class box. According to a person is brahmin or Dalit they were given task and place to live. No doubt backward class people had to suffer a dark past. An individual was not allowed to touch the bowl of brahmin because it was a symbol of impurity. People behaved and formed a mentality among themselves that, if one belongs to the lower caste they should behave like a slave and if one is from an upper class, they should lead a glamorous life. The long injustice within a certain community was not justified. And due to this, after independence, the new government introduced a reservation system. Needless to say, the reservation policy was a much-needed gift to the people who mostly suffered from the unfairness. A scheme for ST, SC, OBC, and the backward class was initiated to empower them and ensure their participation in the decision-making process. Reservation was applied in the job sectors, education field, and economic field as well.The issue that arises at present time is that “whether there is a need for reservation in 2021?”. With a lot of discussions and eye-witnessed scenarios, it can be said that there is a demand for change in the system. No doubt we can’t repay the injustices that happened in the past but looking at the present picture it is becoming very hard for the common people to survive in this race. The change in a generation has led to great progress in all communities irrespective of caste or class. A Dalit man like Raja Nayak has turned his business to 60 crores. He currently serves as President of the Karnataka chapter of Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DICCI) and runs schools and a college under the banner of Kalani Ketan Educational Society for the underprivileged and disadvantaged sections of society. So, it is in itself is the sign of change.Thus, it’s a request and a demand from the commoners to revise the scheme and at least serve all people equally. We see a student committing suicide just because she could not reach the cutoff and some others with less number book the seat because he/she is from a reserved category. A qualified employee has to lose his chance because that seat is for some other category person. If this is not partiality then what is? The revival of a year-long plan could change the whole picture and could provide justice. After all, people want democracy and not quotacracy.
Category: social issues
A Vow Doesn’t Change It
Today important news caught my attention. It was on my mind so much that I made up my mind to write an article about it. My article today is going to be about something that legally needs approval by the court as an act of crime. Yes, we are in the 21st century, and yet here we are still trying to legalize acts that violate human fundamental rights and equality that are by the constitution themselves. By reading the title of my article and a few lines at the beginning of the article, I am guessing that the readers have some idea about what my article is going to be about. It is about how even in 2022 there are still many countries that legalize marital rape.
Everything about Marital Rape
Let me put out an important fact for our readers so that they know why this topic is important and in urgent need of change. When a husband rapes a woman then it is marital rape. Yes, this is very traumatizing for every reader out there regardless of which race, ethnicity, religion, or community one belongs. There are still 36 countries out there that legalize marital rape. This means that when a husband rapes his wife then it is not considered a legal crime in these countries. This is the harsh reality of our society that needs to change. The sad part for any woman who lives in one of these 36 countries is that they are still in deprivation of their fundamental rights and equality.
I am not going to name any specific country that is a part of these 36 countries because the change in one country will not provide equality to every woman and girl living on this planet. I a woman myself feel so much anger and dismay that even today women are still fighting for their basic rights as human beings. It is also an appeal that women from countries that consider marital rape as a crime stand up for their community of women living in the countries so that every woman feels safe and has complete authority over her rights as a human being and as a woman. The reason I am stressing so much about the urgency for the need for change is that we women are constantly fighting every single day to do what we, as women are capable of doing and yet there are so many larger things that also need our attention, awareness, fight, and pushing by a large number of people which will not happen in a few days.
We as women of this planet need to fight and bring about change so that women and girls in the future will have less to fight for and have better and productive lives. Let me make this as clear as possible that marital rape does not have consent from women and that is why we know it as rape and not anything else. There is no difference between rape and marital rape apart from the fact that it is happening in a marriage. In any religion, when people marry they take a vow in their marriage they promise to be there for each other and standby each other with respect, value, trust, and protecting each other until the very end. There is nothing extraordinary rather things that need to be there in any relationship. When relationships do not have one, then it is wrong and nothing will say otherwise.
Ideas behind marital rape
It is surprising how patriarchy seems to flow in everything in society. It is responsible for creating problems for women that they have to constantly fight to get rid of these and that too for generations together constantly without a stop to see some slight change and betterment. Patriarchy exists with the idea that men are superior to women. This idea plays a major role in marital rape.
Men who grow up with this idea consider women to be objects or things that they own through the institution of marriage. This idea engraves into them so much that they think that their wife’s whole purpose is to please and look after their needs and have no place in society. They think that marriage gives them the consent to abuse their wives in any manner that they wish to. This is a reminder that these 36 countries approve of this behavior and even consider it legal. This is not just shocking but also a real and frightening image of the state of women in society around the world. Women have become objects that men believe have full authority because of the patriarchal and horrendous ideas that exist in society.
If you are wondering that marital rape happens only in small villages and towns where there is a lack of knowledge and awareness then you are wrong. This happens anywhere regardless of whether these places are towns or even the urban city. This shows how things are not just limited to a certain group of people but the entire community. If it exists in the society then every single member is responsible for its existence and well as its eradication. What people fail to understand is that by normalizing, legalizing marital rape women are stripped of their dignity, value, respect, and everything as human beings first and then as a woman.
As usual, there have been people who are justifying the crime of marital rape with sentences such as “Considering marital rape as crime disrupts the institution of marriage.” I cannot begin to explain the amount of misogyny that is present in this sentence. If any institution in this world considers rape a part of it then it is time that people rethink and redefine this institution. The other sentence that comes in against criminalizing marital rape is “What if women are lying?” “What if they are lying to gain something?” The fact that every time women stand up for their rights and equality they are often under the scanner of the misdeeds that will supposedly happen by them. Why is it that women are always under scrutiny and questioning when they expect things that any normal being would? The other important thing is that every crime has loopholes but that should not stop us from doing things that are for the betterment of the greater common good. According to this theory then none of the crimes should have been criminalized by the court, which makes no sense at all.
To conclude, it is high time women stop fighting for their equality and rights rather they are present in the society by the people without constant, struggle that women have to suffer for generations. It is way beyond time that all the countries in the world criminalize marital rape so that every woman lives with the fundamental rights and equality that they deserve like anybody else. Any rape is a crime and a vow taken by people will not change it otherwise.
References
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Should student’s textbooks be replaced by notebook computers?
We don’t have to stop using textbooks, each has its pros and cons, and they are better suited to a given situation. We just have to use them in a healthy way, mostly electronic devices that are more likely to get someone added.
We must understand that this can and cannot be replaced, it mainly depends on the person who uses the electronic device and what applications are used. Students should be aware of the potential dangers of using these devices and how to avoid them. Computers should not replace textbooks because the use of computers reduces concentration, increases learning costs, and creates physical health problems.
With so many distractions, using a computer to study has a negative impact on students’ ability to focus on their work. Computers give students a lot of freedom, allowing them to deviate from a lesson planned by teachers, or even access sources with incorrect information. Students with below-average reading skills may find it difficult to keep up when they have to read everything from a textbook.
However, in order to learn effectively, textbooks must always be at the center of a student’s academic journey. Textbooks play an important role in a student’s learning process over the course of many years. Textbooks provide students with a way to learn about physics and help them process information in a way that is easier than on a screen. Each chapter of the textbook builds on what students have learned before so they have all the information they need to understand what is being taught.
Textbooks are limited in what they can offer students beyond the text and images on the page, and tablets offer users the ability to take notes and highlight without ruining the next student’s textbook. Students can easily avoid reading and analyzing text on their own because they can quickly look up passages in e-textbooks and search for answers online. Students are used to finding information electronically rather than manually reading textbooks. But Notepad makes it easier and easier for them to find the information they need, and they can get help with Google Search to find the answer.
You mean, students are willing to carry any outdated textbooks with them if they want to bring a computer or laptop and keep the details they need. The increasing use of tablets in place of printed textbooks will also help students have “light backpacks.” The tablet also offers a built-in dictionary, so students can easily look up words they don’t know without leaving the textbook. There are thousands of educational and instructional apps on the tablet, so teachers can tailor student learning to individual style/personality rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
As the popularity of tablets grows, many schools are debating whether to move from textbooks to tablets or introduce a personalized program on one computer that all students in the district can use. As tablets become more popular, many schools are debating whether to switch from textbooks to tablets and are also introducing one-on-one (one device per student) programs in their districts. Since everyone is always holding some sort of tech gadget in their hands, the idea that tablets are replacing textbooks in schools makes sense to a lot of people. Our society revolves around technology, so if we replaced textbooks and notebooks with laptops, students would be more motivated to complete their schoolwork because they are using something more modern instead of old and boring books.
While I was reading this, I realized that if students actually use computers instead of textbooks, this could lead to students visiting social networking websites or just other websites that are not recommended in school, such like gaming websites or even inappropriate websites. places. As you can see, the concentration of students would be significantly reduced due to the use of a computer instead of a textbook. On the contrary, it can be assumed that these students who did not use computers as textbooks were probably much more focused and could concentrate and understand the concept contained in the school textbook. Many high school students would agree that using laptops would be easier, more functional, and more efficient than using textbooks and laptops.
Second, if students use laptops instead of notebooks, workbooks, and textbooks, they will be more focused and organized in class because our generation prefers modern technology over old, boring and used ones that aren’t even updated Information textbook. .If students have access to textbooks instead of textbooks, workbooks, and textbooks, they will be more focused and organized in the classroom because our generation prefers modern technology to old, boring textbooks that aren’t updated with new information. Most high school students agree that writing from textbooks is easier, more effective, and more effective than writing from textbooks and notebooks.
With tablets for teaching in schools, students won’t have to learn from old and outdated textbooks, especially in ever-changing areas of study like computer science. With tablets for teaching in schools, students no longer need to learn from old and outdated textbooks, which is especially important for frequently changing fields of study, such as computer science.
Firstly, the amount of paper each school uses each year is killing many trees, and if we continue to use textbooks and paper instead of laptops, we will lose many trees, which will lead to even more air pollution and may deprive many habitats. animals. Therefore, based on these facts, it is recommended to replace textbooks with laptop computers, as this will make work more relaxed and, at the same time, increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the functioning of researchers and home students around the world.
In a school environment, if computers or tablets are used and controlled appropriately, they can greatly improve student achievement. The tablet is more convenient in studying for students. Increased use of tablets instead of printed textbooks could help lighten school backpacks.
In addition to notebooks and binders, students should also bring pencils, pens, and spare paper. What I mean is that students are less willing to carry around any outdated textbooks and instead want to take a lighter notebook where they can store all the information they need. Textbooks usually cost about a hundred dollars or more, but information quickly becomes outdated and schools have to raise more money to buy up-to-date textbooks.
With portable computers, textbook publishers and teachers will be able to more easily edit and update information in electronic copies of texts. Now laptops are designed not only to easily download the latest updates on certain topics, but also to allow students to learn new information without having to buy new books every time.
Using a laptop, students can use computer-based tools such as Microsoft Office documents, Google Docs, PDFs, slide presentations, and infographic tools. They may have up-to-date information, and using laptops is much cheaper than buying expensive books.
Styling And Beauty Tips
With expert advice and care tips from a couple of plant experts, we’ve identified 15 beautiful plants that will thrive in even the least plant-friendly places. Getty Images Shine up your look with these in-depth beauty tips drawn from over 75 years of Women’s Day magazines. If you’re out of eyeliner or don’t know how to wash your bathing suits, the following fashion and beauty tricks will make your life easier.
Rip your new shoes by putting on a pair of thick socks, then put on your shoes and blow dry your feet over medium heat for a few minutes. Also, apply a heat protectant setting spray to damp hair to protect the hair. Let your hair dry by sitting in the sun or use a hair dryer – the heat will lighten the strands.
If you often use straighteners and curling irons, spray a heat protectant spray on your hair before styling. Always start with a primer as it helps smooth the skin and creates the perfect base for the rest of your makeup. It will help to apply an even, smooth pencil to the mark the first time. Use a moisturizing body lotion every day and try applying it to damp skin (as this ensures maximum absorption).
The oil can prevent the penetration of surfactants (found in shampoos and other hair care products) that can damage the hair. Constant shampooing will make your hair dry and your scalp will produce more oil to compensate for the loss of moisture. Instead, use dry shampoo and tie your hair into a braid or ponytail when it gets a little thicker. Also, be sure to protect your hair from moisture (rain will definitely ruin your mane) and touch up your hair in the morning with a hairdryer and a round brush.
To keep your hair looking lively, use a sea salt spray or thickener before drying. For quick root coverage, use a dry shampoo spray to color your hair. If you don’t have this product on hand, use eyeshadow (the shade closest to your hair color) for a quick fix. Dip the angled makeup brush into the mascara brush and apply to the lids like a liquid eyeliner.
Blend with your finger or a cotton swab, then apply to the skin as a regular moisturizer. Do not apply moisturizer to your face, as it will take 10 minutes or more for it to absorb into the skin before your face is ready for makeup. Using too much of this product occasionally throughout the day will make your skin look chapped because you’re just layering your makeup on top of other makeup. Take good care of your hair after coloring and use color-protecting shampoos and conditioners to prevent further damage to your color-treated hair.
When your hair is 60%-70% dry, you can blow dry your hair from the roots with a blow dryer. For long-lasting curls, make sure your hair is completely dry before you start using the curling iron. Use a root makeup remover for quick styling, followed by hairspray.
So your jeans will last longer, and the color will not fade as quickly. Constant application of nail polish will make them brittle and brittle. For a perfect nail polish application, apply petroleum jelly to the nail cuticle with a Q-tip and your fingers won’t look dirty.
Getty Images Getty Images 7 of 75 Add shine to your hair Always rinse out conditioner (which should be applied to the ends) with cold water to seal cuticles and enhance shine. Jupiterimages Getty Images 3 of 75 Comb your hair from root to tip Comb your hair from root to tip every night.
It will also help prevent dandruff and other irritating conditions of the hair and scalp. The conditioner will soften the hair on your legs, making it easier to shave (and make your skin silkier). Rinsing your hair with beer helps restore moisture to the strands, while using vinegar will increase light levels.
When using shampoo, dilute it in half a cup of water and use it to wash your hair. Choose a sulfate-free shampoo, as sulfates can irritate and dry out the hair cuticle. Beauty Photo Studio Getty Images 13 of 75 Choose Your Shampoo Carefully If you dye your hair, look for shampoos and conditioners that are sulfate-free and free of harsh detergents.
Thinkstock 15 of 75 Beautiful Brows Soften skin before pinching by dabbing with a cotton swab dipped in warm water or cream. Westend61 Getty Images 16 of 75 Pluck in the direction of hair growth with tweezers. Lena Clara Getty Images 19 of 75 Straight Brow Hair To keep your brows unruly, apply hairspray to an old toothbrush, then comb your brows up and down.
Use tape under your eyes to catch any deposits and keep the color away from your cheeks. Also make sure to wear them correctly, with the waves facing down so your hair stays in place. “Be light on your bronzer and make sure your neck is the same color as your face.
You may like the warm, bronzed skin you get from sunburn, but this will lead to sun spots, wrinkles, and discoloration later on. Make sure the toner is alcohol-free so it doesn’t dry out your skin. To keep your hair color vibrant longer, use shampoos and conditioners designed for color-treated hair.
Coloring your hair in a salon has a number of advantages over having it done in the bath, as professional stylists usually do trials to make sure you get the exact color. Those suffering from sensitivity and hair damage should try a “scalp detox” to cleanse the skin without stripping it of its natural oils, according to Lin. Eugene Davis, celebrity hairdresser, suggests using an avocado oil hair mask. To make the perfume last longer, apply a small amount of Vaseline to the skin where you will be spraying the perfume.
For makeup that lasts all day and night, use a make-up fixer, such as a setting spray. According to makeup artist Kelly Bartlett, this will help the product fully absorb each wipe, starting with the one you use next. Just outline the lips as usual and then fill them in with color. Because exfoliating lips is the key to flawless lipstick application, you won’t want to skip this step of your beauty routine.
If you don’t give your body time to recover, your skin won’t look fresh and radiant. If left uncleaned, dead skin cells can make skin look dull, dark, bumpy, and dry.
You can get makeup brush cleaner from a pharmacy or beauty store, or just use shampoo and conditioner to clean your brushes like you would your own hair. To tame frizzy hair, spray a small amount of hairspray on your toothbrush and then use it to comb through frizzy strands.
Yoga And Mind Healing
Yoga becomes a healing practice once one is exposed to existence. When you practice yoga from the perspective of awareness or presence, your mind begins to calm down and become more connected and present. The more often you consciously practice yoga, the more calm and mirrored your mind and heart will become. Once you get out of the way, life naturally rebalances the mind and body.
To access mindfulness during yoga practice, focus on your breath, not thoughts, feelings, emotions, or maybe even pain. If you try too hard and your mind starts holding your breath, you may end up not hearing what’s going on in your body. When you begin to breathe deeply and focus on your postures, you reduce anxiety.
Meditation at the end of most of the practice can help retrain the mind and body to relax. When we energize the body through yoga and other means, the physical and emotional qualities corresponding to this frequency are also energized, as is our consciousness. Therefore, yoga can promote the healing process and help a person experience symptoms with more focus and less stress. Regular yoga practice can reduce stress levels and inflammation throughout the body, promoting heart health.
According to research analyzed by Harvard Medical School, yoga practice can help reduce symptoms associated with serious mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Scientists have found that regular yoga practice helps reduce the amount of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress and depression, in the body. In another study, subjects who practiced yoga twice a week reported “marked and significant” improvements in stress, well-being, and fatigue. In one of the studies mentioned above (related to anxiety), subjects who practiced yoga also experienced a statistically significant reduction in depression.
Yoga and meditation can relieve tension and stress while strengthening the mind and body. The benefits of yoga and meditation can improve recovery outcomes and help build lifelong sobriety behaviors.
For many people, the practice of yoga involves simple yet powerful meditative movements that anyone can do. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation.
In recent years, it has become popular as a form of posture-based exercise that promotes better control of the mind and body and improves well-being. While it is now a popular form of exercise and meditation, this has not always been the case. Story Share on Pinterest Yoga has long been helping people achieve mental and physical balance.
DISCUSSION Quickly emerging in the Western world as a discipline for bringing mind and body together in unity and harmony, yoga, adopted as a way of life, improves physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual health. According to the National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence shows that yoga promotes stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss, and quality sleep. As part of your daily routine, yoga will most likely make your body more toned, leaner, and stronger.
In addition to these yoga benefits, researchers have also found that yoga poses may have some unexpected benefits to our metabolism, allowing them to improve body shape and help with weight loss. Research shows that yoga can have an invigorating effect on mental and physical energy, improving fitness and reducing fatigue. Aside from the physical benefits, one of the biggest benefits of yoga is how it helps a person deal with stress, which is known to have a devastating effect on the body and mind.
Yoga, which includes meditation and breathing, can help improve a person’s mental well-being. Yoga and meditation promote physical and mental health, improving recovery outcomes. There are many tools used in the recovery process to achieve this goal, and yoga and meditation can help achieve this both at the beginning of recovery and throughout the journey. Yoga is an ideal practice as it combines the healing of all aspects of the body.
Yoga can help improve balance, strengthen muscles, prevent injury, and calm the mind. Yoga should be considered as a complementary therapy or alternative drug therapy in the treatment of stress, anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders, as it has been shown to create a greater sense of well-being, increase feelings of relaxation, increase self-confidence, and improve well-being. body image, increase efficiency, improve interpersonal relationships, increase focus, reduce irritability and encourage an optimistic outlook on life. Yoga is recognized as a form of mind-body medicine that integrates the physical, mental and spiritual components of an individual to improve aspects of health, especially stress-related illnesses. As a powerful form of mind-body medicine, yoga approaches health holistically, recognizing that physical ailments also have emotional and spiritual components.
Health is not just freedom from disease, every system of the body must be in perfect balance and symmetry, which is what yoga does. The genius of yoga is that it keeps us in good physical, mental and spiritual shape. Yoga not only improves the overall quality of life, but also gives meaning to everything we do.
I encourage you to use the power of yoga to improve your mind and body and continue on your path to a healthier and more purposeful life. Develop a clear mind, a calm heart and a free body by combining the therapeutic methods of yoga with the principles of Chinese medicine. Using breathing, meditation, and channeling energy through mindfulness to reduce stress and tension.
Practice yoga every day and repetition will enhance the physical and mental health benefits, creating an even deeper spiritual connection. Yoga is a great way to improve strength, flexibility and balance.
To help you better understand the benefits of yoga, we’ve looked at the many ways your practice can heal the mind, body, and spirit. There is a growing body of research showing that yoga practice can help reduce many types of chronic pain. Other studies have shown that yoga can help improve sleep quality, improve spiritual well-being, improve social function, and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in cancer patients (18, 19). Many believe that yoga can also help relieve stress and improve mental clarity.
Yoga is often associated with meditation because it helps relax the mind and encourages participants to rethink. There is no doubt that yoga can fully develop a calm, stress-free mind and body when practiced from the heart and with sincerity. It also helps balance and integrate the mind, body and spirit, improving energy flow and stimulating the body’s natural healing process.
This holistic and powerful mind-heart approach to healing the body is explored through targeted yoga poses known to have beneficial effects on the body. We offer ongoing group yoga classes and private yoga therapy sessions with a focus on the health and wellness of the mind and body.
The Deadly Fashion Trends that Actually Killed People
Beauty is the subject of a magnificent exhibition of around 150 objects assembled in the British Museum—Defining Beauty: the Body in Ancient Greek Art. One quoted epigram from Socrates sums up the central idea of this show—”It is a disgrace to grow old through sheer carelessness before seeing what manner of man you may become by developing your bodily strength and beauty to their highest limit.” But as Ian Jenkins, a Senior Curator at the museum, argued in a talk at the preview, this exhibition is really about “the quarrel between art and philosophy”.
The definition of beauty has changed a lot with time. The feminine beauty ideal, which also includes female body shape, varies from culture to culture. The feminine beauty ideal traits include but are not limited to: female body shape, eyelid shape, skin tones, height, clothing style, modified facial features, hairstyle and body weight. From a very young age, women are raised to live up to unrealistic beauty standards put upon them by society. They are expected to be hairless all over their body, have to be slim with no tummy but big butt, smell like daisies and roses all the time, not have regular bodily fluids and gases, and be an all-around perfect Barbie. It is hard to live up to something so unobtainable especially starting at an age as low as three. Having a normalized yet extraordinary societal implication drilled into you as soon as you are out of the womb is and can be mentally and physically draining. Social media, magazines, newspapers, and even televisions tend to push high and barely achievable standards. You must look a certain way for society to at least acknowledge your “beauty” even when you have tried to mold yourself to please them. Even then there is always criticism behind it all. Women have to be slim but not too slim, thick but not too thick to where you have a tummy. Women can wear makeup but not too much because it would look like we are trying too hard. We can show skin but not too much because we would get shamed. It is considered weird or impolite for a woman to even have bodily gases. What can we do but try to love ourselves as is?
All these beauty standards are not modern things. These are going on from the past and today I am going to show you how women used to make their body beautiful by using the following “so called” beauty stuffs or hacks which were actually killing their body.
1) ORGAN CRUSHING CORSETS
The ideal of what a woman’s body should look like has changed dramatically over time and varies by culture. One of the most well-known historical attempts at changing a woman’s body shape, corseting of the waist to make an hourglass figure left lasting effects on the skeleton, deforming the ribs and misaligning the spine. Corset-wearing was common in the 18th and 19th centuries across Europe and across different socioeconomic classes. Women wore corsets to shape their bodies away from nature and toward a more ‘civilized’ ideal form. A woman would wear her corset for almost her entire life. Very young children were placed in corsets, as advertisements from Paris at the time mention sizing “pour enfants & fillettes.” Even in pregnancy, special corsets were made to fit a woman’s growing belly and, later, her need to nurse her baby. Side gussets or special snaps over the breasts, were used to accommodate their changing form while still allowing them to follow the fashion of the time. While scholars still debate the extent to which patriarchal control over women’s bodies and women’s own clothing choices affected corseting practices, it is clear that long-term use of these garments caused changes in women’s skeletons. By looking at the variation in corsets and their physical effects on the spine, and correlating those observations with age-at-death.
2) EATING TAPEWORMS TO LOSE WEIGHT
Individuals seeking to lose weight are constantly confronted with a variety of diets, supplements, and weight-loss regimens to choose from. Whether in magazines, on television or on the Internet, the consumer can be bombarded with any number of advertisements that claim to offer them the opportunity to lose weight with their products. However, individuals need to be cautious and well-informed when considering what products to use, as certain weight-loss marketing claims are not only misleading but also potentially detrimental to your health. The use of tapeworms for weight-loss purposes illustrates this risk. Sometimes the affected individual may notice a segment of the tapeworm in their feces. More serious complications can also occur in some individuals. Tapeworms rarely can cause obstruction of the intestines, requiring surgery in order to resolve the blockage. Infection with the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium) can sometimes result in a disease called cysticercosis, which occurs when the eggs of the pork tapeworm are ingested by humans. The larvae can then penetrate the intestinal wall and disseminate into the bloodstream to other parts of the body, leading to the formation of cysts throughout the body. These cysts can sometimes spread to the brain (neurocysticercosis), leading to headaches, confusion, seizures, and rarely, death.
3) HOBBLE SKIRTS
A hobble skirt was a skirt with a narrow enough hem to significantly impede the wearer’s stride. It was called a “hobble skirt” because it seemed to hobble any woman as she walked. Hobble skirts were a short-lived fashion trend that peaked between 1908 and 1914. Hobble skirts were directly responsible for several deaths. In 1910, a hobble-skirt-wearing woman was killed by a loose horse at a racetrack outside Paris. A year later, eighteen-year-old Ida Goyette stumbled on an Erie Canal bridge while wearing a hobble skirt, fell over the railing, and drowned.
4) THE STIFF HIGH COLLAR
Not only women but men were also the prey for this so-called fashion trends. The detachable collar sound innocuous enough, but in reality it was a deadly hidden killer. Known as the “Vatermorder” (father killer), this collar was designed to keep the necks of men straight and, er, erect (you can guess what parallels they were attempting to draw there). This meant that they were essentially corsets for the throat. The stiff, high collar could easily cut off blood circulation and air supply, leading to death by asphyxiation at the slightest pressure or swelling, and there were even reports of the torture collars literally cutting through the neck of the wearer.
5) FOOT BINDING
There’s nothing worse that a woman galumphing around the place with her normal-sized feet, is there? Well, something just had to be done. Foot binding was practiced by the Chinese for more than a thousand years, and is thought to have claimed the lives of more than a million women during that time. First, a girl of around four years old was treated to a nice foot spa of vinegar and botanicals. He toenails were then removed, her feet broken and bent in on themselves and wrapped in tight bandages. The broken and bound feet were highly susceptible to infection, and bits often dropped off due to lack of blood supply. If a girl’s feet were still considered too big, shards of broken tile were sometime inserted into the bindings to encourage the toes to fall off through infection. Death by septic shock was common, as was gangrene and broken bones from “falling off” bound feet.
A Battle That Must Stop
Every country and nation has its specialty. Its recognition is through its tradition, culture, ethnicity, language, animals, birds, etc. Apart from all of this, what truly defines a nation is also a sport. Every nation, city, district, and village holds a lot of pride in their sportspersons. Today my article is going to be something that we have been seeing a lot in recent years. However, it is a sad, bad and disheartening thing it has become obvious in our society and needs a desperate amount of change. My topic is going to be about how people who play sports experience criticism that goes beyond the sport.
Constant Battle with criticism
When a group of members plays on an international level, they represent the entire country in that game. Many people’s expectations are on their shoulders. The players are well aware that many things depend on their performance and sometimes even winning. They prepare themselves every single day to give their hundred percent and do well in the matches. They even prepare themselves for all the hurdles and problems that they have to face during the matches. Nevertheless, what they do not expect is the amount of criticism they receive when they do not do well or sometimes do not win the match. I am not saying the criticism is bad however when the criticism negatively affects the player and their family it is very disheartening and unwelcomed. When I mean criticism, I am not referring to the lapses that we see in the game. I am referring to the troll, backlash, unnecessary boycott, shaming, targeting, death threats, and rape threats to the players and their family members. These are just some of the things that players suffer when their performance is not up to the mark of people’s expectations or have not won the trophy.
We often expect sportsmanship and the right spirit from the players. However, this needs to come from normal people as well or people who watch any kind of sport ardently. Speaking negatively, harshly, rudely is not going to help anyone. If people think that poor performance or not winning does not affect the players of any sport then you are wrong. If we as an audience feel sad or angry about winning or not doing well, imagine the amount of the same feelings that these players go through. Their intensity will be much higher than ours will because these players give their lives away to playing for their country. They work hard and go through rigorous practice and training because they are well aware that they are playing for their country and not just for themselves.
I have often observed people justifying their actions in many ways. It is sad to know that just because these players are good at their sport their identification as human beings are completely lost. They are expected to win and do well every single time. The only time they are given an exemption is when they have a physical injury that will not allow them to play. People forget that just because these sports players are amazing at their work does not mean that they cannot have times when they do not do well. Sportspeople are not robots or even humans who have an unimaginable amount of superpowers that, they will win and do extraordinarily well every single time. Neither should we expect that from them nor should we expect that from ourselves.
It is high time that the ideology of ‘If one is doing well, working hard and giving their hundred percent all the time then they will always win’ goes away from society so that becomes more humane and compassionate for all. People might not know this but giving your hundred percent every single time and trying to win every single time drains an individual constantly until they have nothing left for themselves. This has to change and the acceptance of not doing well or even for that matter, the people should accept not winning.
The other problems that play an important role in the process of criticism are politics, religion, caste, etc. We have been seeing this so much around the world that it often questions the very idea of unity and diversity at least for me. Their personal choices are a medium for people to criticize them negatively so much, so that is nothing less than a traumatic experience. I am not referring just to a few countries; rather I am talking about this problem as a whole. It is not fair that the sportspersons who represent their countries with all their heart and soul be constantly under the radar of negativity and criticism for their religion, caste, etc. It should rather come out as a fact that when these sports players represent their country and play matches with their opponents, they forget about everything else and only focus on making their nation proud and bringing a good name for their country.
The most heart-wrenching thing that has come to my observation is about how this constant criticism drags family members of these sportspeople. This happens not just to members such as parents or wives or siblings but also to their children, which is disgusting and inappropriate. What is worse is that now it has become a trend among people to throw death and rape threats at these players and their family members. This shows that rape has nothing to do with the way women dress rather it has everything to do with the mentality of the people. Even though we are in the 21st-century wives are still responsible for the performance of their husbands in the matches and games. Even his or her family members are in the picture for no joy or valid reason. People solely for creating havoc and problems have constantly intruded on the personal lives of these sportspersons, which need to change.
Social media also plays a major role in spewing negative comments and posts about sports players and their family members. There is constant competition between different fan groups of players though these players in real have nothing between them. It is high time that when people call themselves fans of a sports player, they also have some kind of sportsman spirit in them and behave more ethically towards low performance and not winning.
I wanted to put some examples of these happening with sports players but then I realized that most of the players have gone through this in their life at some point regardless of what sport they play. Putting all of them in this article would not be possible therefore if readers want to know, the things players go through they can check it on the internet, which has all the information out there.
To conclude, I hope this never-ending battle comes to an end. There has been progress and change but it has to keep going on until we win the battle against this negativity and bad situations. There is no victory if people do not support each other and stand for each other through good and bad times and this plays a very important role in the relationship of sportspeople and the people of his country.
References
- Google searches for images and quotes
Beauty And Brains
Usually, I start an article by writing a quote and speaking about my topic. Today, however, is one of those days where a quote will not speak about the importance of the topic. My article today is going to be about something that is alarming and yet very normal in every society. Let me ask all the readers out there how many times have you heard people say the sentence ‘beauty and brains’ to you or other people around you. I am sure the number of people who have heard it is very high. This is because society has set certain standards for beauty, which is highly questionable and even for brains though we know very little about this organ. Today my article is going to be about how problematic the idea s behind the sentence “Beauty and Brains”
Understanding the Sentence “Beauty and Brains”
The sentence beauty and brains mean that people who meet the societal standards of beauty and smartness fall under this category. The typical understanding of beauty in society is being fair, slim, long hair, clear skin, etc everything is perfect according to a man’s eyes. This is not just limited to women it is for men as well as men themselves. The idea of beauty that society holds is often questionable because beauty is not something that is just for a certain group of people rather it is a feeling that everyone must have for themselves and others. The idea that people who do not fall into this is category is not racial discrimination but also much more than that.
The idea of beauty stems from the rules and regulations that are by patriarchy, which tells people how they are supposed to look even though people have almost no control over how they will look. The idea of inclusion and exclusion plays an important role in categorizing people especially concerning the way they look. How many times have people with a darker shade of skin been asked to apply various kinds of cosmetic products just so that they can belong to the category of beauty? Alternatively, how many times have people been told to try various products so that one’s skin is clear and does not have any acne or blemishes? I am sure every woman or girl has been through this process because I have been through this myself. It takes a lot of time to unlearn such unhealthy practices that often push us to be a part of this category and that is completely normal. I would also like to say that having anything perfect is disbelief and it is high time we get over it. Nobody can nor should define your beauty.
The idea of beauty that is present in society is because of the perception of beauty made by people who made these rules. A few perceptions cannot be universal. Natural things are blessing should not be made something that needs to be rid of. It is time we accept the way we are and love ourselves for the way we look rather than trying to achieve the impossible standards set by others.
The other that is also problematic in this sentence is the idea of brains. In a constant society where smartness is parallel to the number of marks that one score, the “brain” of a person being put at stake is very sad and yet annoying. Another thing that needs consideration is that every human being is different and therefore each one will have a different level of intensity of intelligence. Just because, someone is not good at one thing does not mean they are not smart or do not have brains. People are learning something new every single day. The amount of time taken to grasp information is may vary but does not make them less smart or anything else.
The idea of brains again comes from the line of perfection and unattainable expectations that is set by people who themselves cannot reach them. We are in the 21st century and we are constantly developing so much yet there is a large amount of our brain that we do not know yet. A few subjects or a few exams cannot define our smartness. Therefore, it is very problematic when someone questions or judges a person based on a few situations and circumstances.
Things are slowly changing. People are redefining the sentence beauty and brains by bringing about changes, awareness, etc. However, we still find so many people enforcing this idea and sentence through the positive direction. This is not just problematic to them but also the society and community as well.
Why the sentence “Beauty and Brains” is problematic?
Saying the sentence beauty and brains to someone is problematic because it means you are subjecting to a kind of category. The belief that if someone has beauty then they will not have brains is portrayed in society in so many ways. Let me give you all an example. If a movie has to show a person who scores well then what do, they do. They show that person does not have clear skin, wears glasses, or has braces, which are inclined to show that the person has brains and no beauty. In the same manner, beauty with no brains is also shown this shows how categorization is deeply embedded in the minds of the people.
If you have both beauty and brains then you are good enough. If you have either one of them then you are not that great and the worse thing is that if you do not have both according to society then you are nothing in society. It is painful to know that this still exists in society. Such ideas are responsible for creating a negative impact on people. People lose their self-confidence, feel worthless and useless and so much more. They might start doing things that they do not like just so that they are accepted in society. During this process, they put what others are saying and even lose themselves in this process.
We must stop categorizing people and bring about a better change in society so that people do not have to change themselves so that people are accepted in society.
To conclude, it is important to bring the natural self into society so that there is more acceptance, harmony, and understanding among the human civilization and bring about a happy future for the next generation.
References
- Google searches for images
Lessons By the Greatest Teacher
We hear or see quotes or statements through social media posts, stories, messages, etc. We find these readings sometimes meaningful or sometimes it is very cliché. However, they do have a lot of importance or have come true in our daily lives even if we do not realize it. Today my topic is going to be something along these lines. Whether we accept it or not one of the greatest teachers in our life is our life itself. Nobody can teach us better than our own experiences in our lives. What we go through as individuals is something that will help us grow, develop, and change for our betterment. Today we are going to discuss the life lessons that we have learned during the pandemic.
Life during the pandemic
Our life during the pandemic has been nothing but a big, dangerous, and very long roller coaster that nobody was ready for in their fast pace life. The pandemic is responsible for the changes that we see in our lives. Nothing is the same anymore. The pandemic has been there for almost two years now and we as human beings are still trying to adapt and get in touch with the new normal. The pandemic is responsible for teaching many new things and even remembering the things that we first made a point to learn and follow and then eventually we human beings forgot about it. The pandemic is one situation that is responsible for reminding us that though we consider ourselves the superior and most powerful creatures, there is nobody that can stand against nature, not even we human beings.
The pandemic made us realize that we are not something away from nature rather we are a part of nature and mother earth. Pandemic acts as the harsh mirror that we had to face at some point in time. During the pandemic, people have had a large amount of suffering and pain, which has no comparison to anything. We had so many things that made us happy but there were much more things that made us all sad and think about human beings being the smartest animal in the world. It might sound that I am exaggerating but life during the pandemic is very stressful. One of the most important reasons for this is because stressors that have a negative impact on individuals not just were internal but also external that too with a lot of intensity. A person regardless of their class, caste, country, religion has had a really tough and unimaginable amount of things affecting them during the pandemic. The pandemic shows us that the things that we are so selfish, greedy, and proud of will be nothing if human beings cannot look after their nature and mother earth.
The other thing that needs consideration is that this is not the first pandemic that the human population has come across during their existence on this planet. As and when man has attempted to overpower nature and its cycle, we as human beings have seen the consequences. Yet, we still seem to be making the same mistake even after we have had our part of consequences. Yes, the making of the vaccines to these various pandemics is a big milestone in human evolution but what we fail to understand is that most of the pandemics happen because of our actions of messing with nature and mother Earth. A famous saying written by us human beings ourselves is something that has been forgotten and needs to be put out there which is “Prevention is better than cure” I do not have to go on and on about life during the pandemic because each one of us has had a first-hand experience of it. However, what I would like to go about is how important it is for people to realize their mistakes, make changes that will help us connect to nature and our surroundings, etc so that the future generation will at least remember them as history and be more confident and proudly works towards things that help avoid further pandemics.
The pandemic has been a part of all our lives and therefore has been responsible for teaching some lessons that we should make a point to never forget and make a discipline that is a part of our daily lives.
Life Lessons we learned during the pandemic
- Kindness: One of the most important life lessons that we learned again as human beings was about the importance of kindness. Every single individual during their childhood has learned in their textbook that being kind is a part of good manners that we should inculcate with time. However, as we grow up we forget what we learned as kids because as we grow up we learn more complicated things that we need to remember to score well and do well in life. The pandemic taught us how none of the things matter if we are not kind not just to other people but also to ourselves.
- Generosity: Another important lesson that we learned during the pandemic was generosity. We understood the importance of being generous so that everyone gets basic facilities during tough times. Being generous does not make a person great, it just makes them humane and normal. When a person is generous, there is a sense of happiness that is no comparison with anything else. I think we understood the true meaning of generosity during the pandemic.
- Compassion: A very important life lesson we learned during this pandemic was compassion. Love and understanding are some of the things that we forgot about in our mechanic lives. We during the pandemic realized the importance of love and understanding that we need to have not just for other people but also more importantly for ourselves. We learned to be compassionate towards animals during these tough times. Street dogs would have had a tough time living during the lockdown if it is not for the compassionate people giving them food and shelter.
- Trust: Trust is something we had lost tremendously during our life when there was no pandemic. The pandemic made us realize the importance of trusting people. We learned to trust doctors with our lives and the lives of our loved ones. We learned to trust the immense research done by scientists who made the life-changing vaccines. We learned to trust our instincts and ourselves during the pandemic. We as human beings learned to trust the process even though it was difficult, painful, and life-threatening every single day.
- Importance of Family and Friends: While we all were, confined to the four walls of our house, we understood how easy and granted we had taken the people around us such as our family and friends. We understood the importance of time and how need to take some time off from our busy schedule to spend time with people who mean everything to us and play a role in our personal life. During this pandemic, we have lost a lot of people who we love, value, and respect, therefore; we have to learn to value our time and our people.
I have just mentioned the five most important life lessons that I have seen, learned, and observed during the pandemic. I am sure everybody else has learned much more than this. Yes, the experience we have had is the most terrible one however, we should use this experience of our pandemic to make sure things get better for everybody and life becomes much more peaceful, harmonious, and worth living not just for us human beings but every single living thing on this planet.
To conclude, let us remember the things we learn through life and experience so that, life slowly gets better for us and every single person gets their happiness, fulfillment comes back.
References
- Google searches and quotes
The Right Kind of Freedom
As Maya Angelou rightfully says, “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without calming it, she stands up for all women.” Everyone must be wondering why I choose to write articles that mainly revolve around equality, freedom for women most of the time. The reason is that we are moving so rapidly in the world and yet slow when it comes to feminism, equality, and freedom for women. I believe by writing some articles I have at least some kind of contribution towards speeding up this process that needs to change for a better future. This is not just for women but for society and the world as well.
Today the topic that I am going to talk about is something that every woman, a girl goes through daily. It is about how women are supposed to dress. It is very sad and disheartening when I realize that I have gone through similar instances myself and while writing about this topic, I have a flashback of several instances. It is time we realize that the only person who can decide what to wear is by the individual and nobody else. Let me ask all the readers out there a question. How many times have you seen or even had an experience of family members or relatives or friends or anybody else questioning the attire you are wearing? It is sad and disheartening how women or girls do not have complete control over their attires and clothing while under several circumstances men and boys have all the control over their attires and clothing.
Another thing that I have come across is that men or boys of any class, race, religion, and economic hierarchy can wear whatever they feel comfortable. One of the most common examples that I can give is shorts. However, that is not the case with dressing sense with women or girls. There are certain rules regulations that they need to follow while choosing to wear what they want. I am not specifying any one religion, caste, race, or ethnicity. It is seen everywhere. While women and girls are dressing up so many external factors that play a role and often whatever they choose to wear has to pass through these factors. One of the biggest reasons for this gender clothing discrimination is patriarchy. It seems to root itself in every single aspect. Unfortunately, patriarchy and the rules and regulation of women’s dressing sense seeps in not just men but also women. It has come to a pathetic state where the way one treats a woman is according to how they dress.
The fault does not lie just with the common people but also with the way movies, series, etc represent women according to the way they dress. To show a shy, timid, and introverted woman or girl they dress in ethnic wear, or with glasses, hair tied into a braid, etc. While to show a so-called “out of control” woman or girl they wear shorts, dark color clothes, hair left open, etc. The basis for ideal and non-ideal dressing for women is about in this way to the society, which needs to change. Over the years, we have had politicians and other famous people make the horrendous connection of rape to women’s dressing sense. It is a frightening reality of today’s world. Even if it is burning hot summer and men roam around with a sleeveless shirt and shorts, women still cannot do that. The reason is not because of choice but because they would have to deal with snarky comments, catcalling, etc. I am not saying this will happen to everybody but I can say that a majority of females will have to face this. Labeling of women happens even today according to the way they choose to dress and it is not surprising. Let any woman or girl dress the way they want whether it be jeans, pants, tops, kurta, or sari, the society still manages to give them a name and a label.
In the millennial world of social media where people are trying to bring about some change and create awareness about how it is time for women and girls to dress according to their ideas and perspectives without keeping any factor in mind. However, often even these people face backlash, mean comments, rape, and death threats by people who do not even know them. The idea of culture and tradition is always brought up while making such horrible comments. Limiting women’s choice of dressing in the name of culture, tradition, and even upbringing is visible even today, which is sad and painful.
Under several circumstances, I have seen people justify this behavior saying things like ‘we stop or object women from dressing the way they want for their safety and protection.’ To everyone who says this, I would like to ask shouldn’t the safety and protection of women and girls be a priority regardless of what kind of dress they choose to wear. The other thing that we fail to recognize is that the idea of protecting and safe keeping that is done by the society is towards something that comes by the society. Society, community, government, every single person is responsible for the emergence of these evils in the society that threatens and plays a role in the way women and girls choose dress. It is high time we stop blaming women’s attires and rather hold the problems into account and find solutions to bring about a better change in the society rather than making it a normal thing.
It is high time women get their freedom and equal opportunities to dress according to their wish and will they choose to without any restrictions or barriers. Women and girls should be able to dress the way they want at any time, place, or event and should not face any negativity because of that. This is not something that needs to be asked for rather that should be naturally present as it is for men and boys. This article today revolves more about the freedom of women’s dressing choice than men though men also suffer the same kind of problem under several circumstances is because the percentage of women and girls going through this still a higher number than men and boys. This does not mean men do not deserve their freedom or equality to dress but it sure means that the press and requirements for women are needed at a faster rate.
To conclude, with just a single line that I read and says, “All women and girls should be respected regardless of their clothing.”
References
- Google searches for images and quotes.
The Stream of Judgment
Before I start with the topic of this article, I would like to quote a great man’s wise words where he says, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you use to change the world.” The great man is none other than Nelson Mandela. I would like to ask all the Indian readers specifically out there. How many times have you come across criticism and comments about choosing the arts and humanities stream? I do know a lot of people would have because I too have seen and come across criticism, comments, statements, judgments for choosing the arts and humanities stream and not science, medical, engineering, or commerce stream like people around me.
Importance of the Stream of Arts and Humanities
Though we all know that all streams of education are important for society, community, and the world we still seem to be shunning and showing negativity to the stream of arts and humanities. Not many people realize this but, the stream of arts and humanities is so very important in human society and its well-being but people still seem to show negativity towards it due to prejudice and assumptions. I also have to put it here that people who graduated from the stream of arts and humanities and took the role of psychologist, journalist, dancer, painter, comedian, or any other job with this stream played an equally important role like doctors, biologists, engineers, and investors during the tough and gruesome time of the pandemic. That is something we should not forget. This stands as proof of how equally important the stream of arts and humanities is in the world.
The stream of arts and humanities has equal importance like any other stream or sometimes even more in other countries. However, in India that is not the case at least, this is what I feel. I will also agree when people say that things are slowly changing and people have become more accepting with the stream of arts and humanities. This has been possible because the younger generations are standing for their choices, breaking the stereotype, creating more awareness, breaking the chain of choosing to engineer, medical or science stream like everyone else in the family and so much more. This has been possible not just because of a certain age group but also because of the collective work of the community, society, government, and people of the country. Nevertheless, this is not enough. There is still a lot that needs to be done so that all streams are considered equal in the eyes of the people.
Let me tell all the readers out there something very important that we need to remember before we make critical statements and judgments about the stream of art and humanities. Our daily lives would be incomplete even till today had there not been people taking the stream of arts and humanities. Let me explain. We would not have content in the newspaper if people had not chosen to become news reporters, journalists, editors, or even for those matter writers. Yes, with the use of science and technology, people invented the machines that print newspapers but then what is the point of that invention if there are no people who have taken arts and humanities stream and decided to become a part of writing and bringing the news to people. We all enjoy and entertain ourselves with movies, TV shows, OTT series, and so much more these days. However what we fail to understand is that without people choosing the stream of arts and humanities there would not be actors, cinematographers, content writers, makeup artists, costume designers, production houses, etc. psychologists, therapists, etc play such a massive role during the pandemic and in our daily lives. If these people would not have chosen the stream of arts and humanities and pursued psychology then our mental health would have a negative impact on our physical and emotional health.
I can go on and on for a long time by giving basic and daily life examples about the importance of the stream of arts and humanities. It is high time now that we stop giving our judgment and criticism about the people who have chosen this stream and this stream in general.
Is the Stream of Arts and Humanities easier than other streams?
Let me ask all the readers out there, how many times have people around you, ask the question “Did you choose arts because science was tough?” or questions like ‘Did you choose arts because you don’t like it or you are weak in math?” or something like “Did you score less in your board exams and that is why you took arts?” I for sure came across all this. I still do under so many different circumstances. The prejudiced idea that arts are something very easy and people who study this do not have to work hard is one of the biggest reasons for these kinds of questions.
However, what people fail to understand is that there is nothing easy about arts. If you ask me, it is tougher than the other streams. Let me tell you why. The reason is that in other streams there are definite notes, definitions, diagrams, tables, etc. Yes, some streams of arts and humanities have these too, for example, psychology. However, there are still many more subjects under this stream that do not have these definite things. Students who study the course of arts and humanities have to do their research, go through different sites and read about different things for their answers, should know the information of the past, present and sometimes even the future to be able to write their answers. These are just some of the things I mention that arts and humanities students do most of the time. There is so much more.
I have even met people who say “Arts is so easy and you still do not score well why?” This statement comes not just from outside people but sometimes even from our parents. This is because of the belief that arts and humanities are easy. Nevertheless, the stream of arts and humanities is over the years has become more complex with the rapid growth and changes in society and the world. The other thing, which many people are not aware of, is that students cannot get the complete marks for their answers even if their answers have everything that needs to be there. This is something that is often omitted and not taken into consideration by people who are not part of the arts and humanities stream. Just because answers do not get full marks, does not mean some people score above 95% and just because some people do does not mean everyone can.
The stream of arts and humanities is so important in society. Students who study through this course are aware not just of the information that is there in their syllabus but also so much more than that. This includes everything that is happening in society and the world. I can go on and on about the benefits of the stream of arts and humanities stream. The reason I chose this topic for my article is that it is high time that this stream is not judged and rather accepted with an open mind and heart.
To conclude, with a quote by Michelle Obama where says, “The arts and humanities define who we are as people. That is their power to remind us of what we each have to offer, and what we all have in common. To help us understand our history and imagine our future. To give us hope in the moments of struggle and to bring us together when nothing else will.”
References
- Google searches for images and quotes.
How BTS Saved Millions of Lives
In 2013, a group of seven boys, all from different backgrounds, who left behind their friends and family to follow their dream of becoming K-pop artistes, were about to debut. But soon afterwards, their hopes were crushed as the bad press from the media, internal strife and lack of proper finance forced them to almost disband multiple times. But they kept on fighting for their dream, even if that meant living in one cramped dorm room and having to beg people to come to their concerts. These boys had very humble beginnings – one of the members, Yoongi, recently had a surgery to repair a torn shoulder labrum. The tear was related to an injury that occurred in 2012, when the performer was hit by a car during one of his delivery-boy shifts.
Flash forward to years later, that same group of boys from South Korea, Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS), are now one of the biggest boy bands in the world. Among other outstanding achievements, they have multiple No. 1 albums in the US Billboard Hot 100, 15 Guinness World Records and over 300 awards. BTS are the youngest recipients of South Korea’s Order of Cultural Merit award and the first ever K-pop act to receive a Grammy nomination. They are changing the world and the face of K-pop forever, paving the way for others.
For years, BTS struggled to get their music heard. They were not an overnight success, like some people might believe. But because of their struggles and despite of it, they became worldwide superstars and South Korea’s pride and joy. BTS refuse to be confined within the boundaries of the “K-pop” industry, instead often experimenting with different, versatile styles and musical genres like Hip-Hop, Jazz, EDM, R&B, Latin pop, Ballad, Country and Rock among others. Each of the seven members embody various roles and positions in the group, such as dancer, vocalist, leader, rapper, producer, choreographer, and more.
BTS’s music transcends language, time and cultural barriers; their raw and relatable lyrics resonates with people, going through different stages of life. The healing power of their music does not discriminate. The majority of their self-written and self-produced songs discuss socio-political issues found in contemporary society such as mental health, toxic-masculinity, women’s empowerment, self-love, capitalism, burn-out and the struggles of growing up among other things. Most of their topics are still taboo in the culturally-conservative Asia and are often brushed away as non-existent.
The Korean music industry is known for their “manufactured” and “engineered” sound, where the artistes themselves have no say in what they are singing about, but instead, have their music written and produced by a group of professionals fit for the industry standards. BTS breaks all those preconceived rules by having a voice in their own music. They have started a new trend for Korean singers to explore more complex and impactful themes.
These motifs are often seen in both their studio albums and individual mixtapes. In their latest album “BE”, which was released on November 20, 2020, BTS shared their experiences and hopes during the pandemic, as they as embrace “Be”-ing in this new reality. The relatable lyrics and catchy beats in titles like “Fly to my Room”, “Dis-ease”, “Stay” and “Telepathy” are contrasted with the raw, emotional ballads like “Blue & Grey” and “Life Goes On”.
This album also features their first ever completely English language song, “Dynamite”. It consoles anyone struggling with their mental health during these times and is a beacon of hope for listeners that everything will be okay and life goes on. To me, this album feels like a warm hug from a loved one on a cold winter morning.
BTS’s fans, known as ARMY (short for Adorable Representative MC for Youth) are a group of passionate and creative individuals, from all walks of life, who stand by BTS and each other through thick and thin. Shehrin Tabassum Odri, a digital marketer and an ARMY since 2018, shared her story of how much of an impact BTS has had in her life. “When I was at my loneliest, having hit rock bottom and losing the will to live, BTS was there for me. It was the day they released their ‘Life Goes On’ music video,” she says. “The song was like a wakeup call. It made me realise how many future opportunities and loved ones I will be losing if I give up now and that I’m not the only one feeling this miserable and lost, the members of BTS have gone through this phase too. If they have found a way to stay hopeful for the future to change and better times to come, maybe I should hold on a bit longer too. BTS gave me the hope to keep living.”
“In conservative countries like ours, masculinity is associated with tall, bearded men with deep voices,” mentions Sumaiya Islam, a Nuclear Science and Engineering student. “In a society where men struggle to be vulnerable and be seen as ‘manly’ enough, BTS breaks the gender norms by wearing makeup, jewellery, gender-neutral clothes, and long, colourful hair. They have completely changed my viewpoint on Asian men.” Sumaiya has been an ARMY since 2018.
Atanu Roy Chowdhury shared that the band makes him feel “seen”. “Mental health is affecting our lives, but people don’t want to talk about it. BTS is using the universal language of music to tell the world how important mental health is,” he says. “One of my closest friends died by suicide in 2012, and there are times when it still breaks my heart thinking that I will never see her or talk to her again. Songs from BTS albums help to ease the pain. Having my favourite musicians talk about such issues makes me feel more connected to them.”
By breaking down age-old, ignorant ideas like “men don’t cry” and “only girls can wear makeup”, openly talking about their struggles and sharing their emotions, BTS are showing the world that gender does not have to confine anyone and there should be no one standard of being. Group members Min Yoongi (Suga), Kim Namjoon (RM) and recently, Kim Taehyung (V) and Kim Seokjin (Jin), are known for being open about their struggles with anxiety, depression and burn-out. “I have been called ‘girly’ because I like cooking, cleanliness and keeping my hair long. Even the way I walk has been criticised. Terms like ‘girly’ and ‘gay’ are so easily used as insults, when they should not be,” adds Atanu. “Toxic masculinity is so ingrained in us, and it affects people of all ages. BTS is fighting a difficult fight, and kudos to them for that!” Seeing someone like BTS’ Jungkook be named “Sexiest International Man Alive 2020”, in a sphere usually dominated by white men, can do wonders for brown, Asian men worldwide, giving them an ideal person they can actually relate to. Another ARMY, Niaz Ahmed, shared that messages from the band to “Love Yourself” (a trilogy of their albums in 2018) resonated with him. “Their music was eye-opening, and helped me to start thinking that being happy with who I am is very important,” he says.
Subyeta Sarwar mentioned how being a part of the BTS fandom in Bangladesh has helped her connect with other ARMYs easily, creating deep bonds and long-lasting friendships. Going to different events such as the BD Korean Festival, hosted by BD K-Family, has helped her socialise and meet fellow ARMYs. Since there is a lack of K-pop concerts in Bangladesh, these events are the closest fans can get to experiencing them.
For fans who have been with BTS for a couple of years like myself, it feels like we are growing up with them, experiencing the highs and lows of their lives and career alongside them, not as a distant fan, but as a close friend. There is a popular saying in the fandom, “If you are not a fan of BTS now, it’s because you’re not at a point where you need them yet. Just wait, they’ll find you and come to you when you need to be healed, never too early or too late.”
In the pop-dominated culture we live in, BTS have successfully utilised their music platform to spread the message of social inequality and injustice, which the youth often face. By speaking up about these issues, BTS are not only breaking the preconceived societal stereotypes and creating awareness, they are also urging their fans to do the same. To quote the group’s leader, Kim Namjoon (RM), from his UNICEF speech at the United Nations in 2018, “No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin colour, gender identity: speak yourself.”
A Non – Negotiable Protection
Just a few days back, I decided to open a Facebook account. To my surprise the moment I created my account, it showed my personal information. Information that I had not even filled. To everyone reading this it might sound very scary. Being scared of such things especially when you hear them from people it becomes even more truthful and genuine. Today the topic that I am going to cover is something that has been a problem and issue for people all around the world. With this article, I hope to speak about the existence or non-existence of privacy in one’s life and the role of social media tech giants in it.
The word “Privacy” creates a mix of feelings. Gary Kovacs rightfully says, and quotes “Privacy is not an option. Therefore, it should not be the price we accept for just getting on the internet.” The reason I am stating this quote is that the world is slowly moving from the real to the virtual world at an uncontrollable pace. At the same time at a much faster rate, we tend to provide or give out all our information into the virtual world while also losing a sense of identity of oneself in the real world. It is a fact that, in the real world people do many things to protect their privacy and personal information but unconsciously tend to do very little about their privacy in the virtual world. The reason for this may be that people cannot see each other physically. This, therefore, brings in a sense of feeling in an individual that the person is not around me and hence they do not know things about me.
Does privacy exist or not?
I think that this question needs to be taken into consideration and find answers for it as we are moving constantly ahead in the field of technology every single day. When I question myself about the existence of privacy, there is only one answer that I get. Privacy does exist but not with the intensity that needs to be present in the 21st Century. Privacy is such an important thing in everyone’s life. People get to decide what information about themselves they want to put out to the world and what they do not want. Any other person regardless of what kind of money, power, influence, etc they have cannot decide this. In recent years, privacy is slowly losing its importance and value. Therefore, we must decide what kind of information we want to put in the virtual world.
Cyber crime seems to increase every day. Let me as you this, how many times have you or people around you have had an experience of your fake account being opened, which you have asked people to report and block? I am sure we can think of one or two instances in our head, which stand as proof of how our personal information is lost and later seen for the use of wrong things. This is just one of the incidents that I have brought out. There are many more incidents whose intensity of danger and trouble is at a much higher rate. Through various ways, we give out our information that we would think twice before doing it. We would not tell everyone where we stay or where we are going to be all the time. Often we tend to let go of our location in the virtual world without even realizing it. Our privacy happens to be the invisible protective shield that will protect us from uncalled dangers. This shield cannot be negotiated for anything else whether it is the real world or the virtual world.
Role of Social Media Tech Giants concerning Privacy.
I think we all are aware of the recent incidents taking place in the social media world. We all remember the controversies of Whatsapp, Facebook, and other social media platforms regarding their privacy policy and the threat of information of common people. Talking about the incident in a few lines, these social media tech giants want to make our personal information more public to gain more productivity and revenue. We all remember Whatsapp putting out on different newspapers on the front page saying that their privacy policy is completely secure and nothing will go wrong. A lot of governments and the public itself were not okay with the new privacy policy that has questionable statements that had to be accepted by the people if they wanted to continue as members of the app. The reason many people agreed to the policy even though they were not okay with it was that a lot of people’s daily lives and activities whether they were students or people working had a lot of reliance and dependency on being an active member of Whatsapp. The most shocking part was that when that the US Senator asked the CEOs of these Social Media Tech giants about their work towards privacy and protection they did not have an answer to the question and rather kept revolving around how it is not that simple. These CEOs have been made to come to court several times to answer and provide an explanation in the lapses of their app but they just do not do enough to make things better for people and it is the people who face the consequences of these lapses.
Yes, I completely agree when people say that online or the virtual mode whether it is social media or any other apps that we use brings people together, increases production and economy, continuous learning and communication, progress, development and so much more. However, what we tend to forget is that with advantages there are disadvantages that need to be looked into or else will result in grave loss of privacy. How many times have we heard on the news that Facebook, Instagram, or even food apps like Swiggy or Zomato have been hacked and information of different accounts has been accessed? It is high time we take such matters seriously and take some action towards them rather than leaving them as incidents that keeps happening every other day.
During the same time, we also had seen incidents regarding government-running apps such as the Aarogya Setu app in India. The justification provided by the different governments around the world was that the privacy of the people matters but the security of the people is also more important and the responsibility of the government. My question to this perspective is how privacy can and security is two different things? Only when the privacy rights of the people are taken into proper consideration only then will bring about the proper security of the people.
To conclude, the protection of privacy of every individual should come from themselves, the community, the governments, and the world. Only when we work together as a whole will be able to make the virtual world a safe place for every individual using it in any form. As Bruce Schneler rightly says, “Privacy is an inherent human right and, a requirement for maintaining the human condition. With dignity and with respect.”
References
- Google searches for images and quotes.
A Right Not A Privilege
Judy Grahn once beautifully said and I quote “Menstrual blood is the only source of blood that is not traumatically induced. Yet, in modern society, this is the most hidden blood, the one so rarely spoken of and almost never seen, except privately by women”. By this, everyone knows what this article is going to be about today. As women are slowly growing stronger and learning to stand up for themselves, it is time, not just women but also men start talking about menstruation, periods, and the entire process that girls, women go through every month for several years. It is high time topics like menstruation are brought out openly rather than hiding among women.
Understanding menstruation and the taboo behind it
Menstruation is the process where girls and women lose blood for a period of five to seven days, every month. This process is the menstrual cycle. The blood is usually old blood cells that detach themselves from the uterine walls. This is a process that every girl and woman goes through around the world no matter which religion, race, ethnicity, countries women belong to. Sounds pretty normal right? Then everyone just is wondering what the taboo is all about. People need to understand that menstruation, menstrual cycle, period cramps, etc are not something that has emerged very recently. These have been there from the time humankind has been existing.
The idea of menstrual blood being impure and something bad for society comes from a place of women idealization, gender discrimination, the gendered identity that has come into creation by the one and only patriarchy. Menstruation has become a medium to suppress women and limit their creativity, intelligence, feelings, emotions, and everything else that makes women as important as men or more in society. Let me ask people reading this. First, to all women and girls, how many of you have covered your pad in a newspaper and or taken your sanitary napkin like a secret bomb to the washroom? In addition, the second question to all men and boys who have seen this and found it weird until you know why women or girls have been doing this? This is how the inclusion of patriarchy happens in society and the idea of impurity and purity seeps into everyone’s lives. The very idea of how girls in co-ed schools and college are only in the class while the teachers are talking periods and the boys are in another class during that period shows how the societal taboo behind them. This is the very reason boys have no education about menstruation and how it works.
Until today, the awareness of menstruation is so less, that a lot of action and awareness is in great need to make things better for women and girls in every district, village, and country. Over the years, the taboo has come down about the menstrual cycle at least in the metropolitan areas of different countries. There was a time when women were in deprivation of communication with other people during their menstruation, and there were places separately for women and girls during their menstruation that was usually away from the house. So many more things were happening that no are longer happening in the developed parts of the country. Nevertheless, there are still so many places that these things take place. These are small villages, districts that have no connection with the mainland. That being said, many castes and religions have a cultural tradition of celebrating the commence of menstruation with great joy and pomp and bringing down the menstruation taboo that has such a strong grasp on the minds of the community.
Yes, things are much better in the metropolitan areas but let me ask you this how many times do we hear jokes or statements made about women “PMSing” when they are genuinely angry or irritated about something at work or home. Linking something as natural as menstruation to religion, caste, and gender is still present in every part of the world whether it is a village or a metropolitan area. People believe that period cramps are nothing because every woman goes through the menstrual cycle. What people do not understand is that though every woman suffers from period cramps the intensity level is very different. If you believe that women who have low tolerance levels have high-intensity pain, then you are wrong. Several studies have proven that period cramp pain is equivalent to the pain of several bones breaking together. Therefore, it is time we think twice before making comments or statements about menstruation.
Menstruation products and their prices
Though the world is moving forward and developing rapidly, women are still paying a huge amount for menstruation products that are in use for a natural process of losing blood every month. It might seem very surprising that women all over the world have to keep aside a lot of money just for menstrual products such as sanitary napkins, tampons, etc. Basic things like these have become a privilege. Products that are necessary during the cycle are not available for the lower section of the economy because the price of these products is so high. How fair is it that some sections of girls and women get menstruation products and some women and girls cannot? Menstrual hygiene is such an important thing in every single female’s life. If menstrual hygiene is not cared for then it can lead to many physical problems as well. It is time that governments all over the world look into this problem and make things more accessible to women and girls whether they belong to the higher economy or the lower economic class. Scotland and New Zealand are some of the best examples of other countries. These countries have made sanitary napkins free for everybody. These countries have shown that menstruation products should not be a privilege rather products everybody has a right to.
The argument that has been made is that these countries have a lesser population, therefore; it is easier for the government to bring about these laws. To this argument, the only answer can be that, even if you cannot make sanitary products free for everybody, things can at least be done to make them free for people who cannot afford menstruation products. The thing that needs to be kept in mind as well is that the quality of these products should be equally good as the products that are being paid for. The rights of women and girls should not be made into a monetary business from which only the rich benefit. In recent years, awareness, protests, and petitions have been increasing to bring about some change and remove patriarchy from the root so that women can get what they deserve. These actions should not stop until we as people have some change in the community and the world.
I would like to conclude that women do not expect to be treated as supernatural beings or goddesses rather what we do expect is to be treated as human beings who deserve respect, trust, proper treatment, and everything else like any other person living on this planet. Finally, it is time that the people of the world realize that periods are not gross, weird, or inappropriate to talk about.
References
- Google searches for quotes and images.
The Natural Self
As Wayne Dyer rightfully says, “Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.” Today my article is going to be about one of the evilest and most common things that happen in every society around the world. The topic for today is going to be body shaming. It is not surprising if this word rings a bell in your mind. The reason is very simple. It has become so common in our daily lives of listening, experiencing, and feeling negative after we experience body shaming. We in our real-life have also seen how body shaming comes into normalization and justification even today. It is sad and disheartening to know that even though people are aware that body shaming someone will bring about an upsetting consequence and still say or do things concerning body shaming.
Understanding Body Shaming
The definition of body shaming is very simple. When you make a derogatory comment, regarding the shape, size, weight, looks, color, or anything else that defines an individual or yourself for that matter then, it is body shaming. Now, that I have defined body shaming I am sure all of you are having flashbacks of instances where you have had an experience of body shaming yourself. The unfortunate thing is that society has set a certain standard for looks, and when that is not in a meeting, people experience body shaming. The standards are set for both men and women. Women have to look thin, fair, should have long hair, and have to dress in a particular manner, etc while it is nothing less for men as well. They have to be tall, strong, muscular, fair, etc. Body shaming is not just limited to a certain gender, race, age, etc. It is to everybody.
Body shaming has been there for generations now. Its roots come from prejudice, idealization, male gaze, fantasy-filled standards, and one of the most common things, which is patriarchy. Body shaming initiation in our minds has been happening right from the time we were small children in several ways we now understand. Let me give you an example. Remember the time when we as children used to watch cartoons like Barbie or Ben 10? The women in both the shows were thin, fair, had long hair while the men were tall, fair, handsome, and even well built. The villains on the other hand had a crooked faces, fat, dark, and so on. This is just one example out of all the hundreds of cartoons that are out there even today. The standardization for body shaming is through this process. Let me give you another example. Next time while watching a movie just give it a thought of why the main characters have the standard body while the co-actors do not. Pay a little more attention to the subtle, indirect, or sometimes even the direct body shaming that is through dialogues.
People should understand that body shaming could be done by anybody. Your friends, relatives, or even your parents could do it. Whoever does it is wrong and nothing can justify those actions. Another that also needs to be here is that comparing two people for their bodies is also body shaming. Body shaming does not necessarily have to be just about a person being fat. It could even be about a thin person. It is very simple. Body shaming anyone about anything is bad and should not happen. If you are being critical about yourself and questioning your own body then you are body shaming yourself. This is also bad. There are many reasons why one is body shaming themselves. One of the most prominent reasons because of the engraving one has had from childhood about meeting the standards. There are several other reasons such as social media, peer pressure, etc.
Effects of Body shaming
The effects of body shaming are so many that one cannot even imagine. Suppose someone insults you about something, then the things that one feels are the same when but the intensity is much higher when someone body shames you. When an individual has experienced body shaming then they lose self-confidence, self-trust, a sense of guilt, obsessive thoughts, fear and so much more. These are just some of the small effects that I am referring to. There are so many more. If body shaming is persistent for a long period in individuals, it could also result in mental disorders, eating disorders, etc which is something nobody deserves to suffer. The effects of body shaming are seen physically, mentally, and emotionally. We have seen people justifying body shaming with the idea of helping, fitness, concern for health and so many more things. Let this be clear that the reasons that it is justifying body shaming are the ones that take a toll on the individual. As Laci Green has rightly said, “You do not encourage people to take care of their body by telling them to hate it.”
Yes, there is change because of awareness, people talking about it, the spread of the right kind of information, therapy, change in thinking in society and so much more. This should not stop here. It should go on until body shaming becomes history. Nobody should feel horrible or ugly with the way they look. Everyone deserves to be happy with themselves and nobody should or gets to say otherwise. It is high time standards are thrown away and everyone has their freedom with their own body. It is now that we learn to embrace our natural self and make sure that our future generation does the same too. EVERY BODY IS BEAUTIFUL. I am not going to disagree when people say it is going to take time to unlearn things, but while being in that process one should be able to change and not repeat the same things as well. The responsibility of removing body shaming is not just on one individual or a certain group. Every single person, society, country, government, and world should collectively do it. A new year is just starting which is giving us time to remove evils and make this world a better place to live. Let us come together and use this year to bring peace, happiness, and harmony not just with others but also with our inner self.
To conclude with a beautiful quote by Eve Ensler where she says, “Stop trying to fix your body. It was never broken.”
References
- Google searches for images and quotes.
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