DIG MAG March 2018

Feminism IGNITED

THE MODERN FIGHT FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS

‘THESE IS

BLOODY SHOES’

THE HYPE THE VIOLENCE AND THE FAKES OF THE SNEAKER INDUSTRY

#ASKMEMYPRONOUNS

GENDER NEUTRAL PRONOUN BREAKDOWN

March 2018

THE BEACH SUPPORTS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

4.5

MEGAWATTS OF ENERGY PROVIDED BY CAMPUS SOLAR PANELS

1.5

2017

MILLION LB TRANSIT BUS RIDES TAKEN

46+

2016-2017

ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING STATIONS

646,456 RIDES ON FREE CAMPUS SHUTTLES

4 LEED

CERTIFIED GOLD

2016

AND 2 SILVER BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS

400 BIKES 60 STATIONS AND 156 MILES OF BIKEWAYS LB BIKE SHARE PROGRAM 2016-2017

March

Features

We explore vegan food in Long Beach, campus Olympians, Spring Break outings and more.

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We’re Here

How gender pronouns are changing the way we speak, write and think about society.

The Modern Feminist

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Women have been waging an uphill battle against inequality for generations. How are they making an impact in the modern era?

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The Flip on Sneakers

Find out what goes on behind the battle for sought-after sneakers and the danger that goes with it.

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Photo by Giovanni Cardenas

CCOONN TT EENN TT SS

LB Insider

EDITOR’S NOTE

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he first warmth any of us ever know is in the dark embrace of the womb. The rhythm of our mothers’ heartbeats give us our first sense of stability and of the harmony of life. We’re given our first glimpse of power when mystically, miraculously, we were delivered. All of us, by women.

The sad truth is that we’ve seen that inherent power manifested in women through a constant struggle. Women have the longest tenure with mistreatment, with prejudice, with inequity. Progress has been made, and we live in an era with more female role models than ever before, but the struggle for equality is still far from finished.

At the micro level, the least we can all do is respect the women in our lives, understand that the hardships in their lives, as well as all their successes, are amplified by their womanhood. At the macro level, we can make decisions, make votes, make statements that enable women to succeed. We have the power collectively to even the playing field. We have that duty.

I was lucky enough to be raised by my grandmother, the most incredible woman I know. She raised my father as a 19-year-old single mother. Then she raised me, after over

Editor-in-chief Tanner Hewitt Art director Priscilla Aguilera Online editor Jody Johnson Photo editor Giovanni Cardenas Social media editor Michelle Mendez Features editors Kristine Banuelos Gioia McGuire Gillian Smit

a decade of taking care of her sick mother. She raised me while maintaining a very successful real estate career, as a loving wife and as a friend to many. She still works her butt off every day. I’ve never known a more giving person in my life, or someone with so much of themselves to give.

It would have been impossible to be raised by this women and not respect her.

As special as my grandmother is, she’s just one of countless amazing women. If you don’t already, think about the women you know and how you can make their lives any easier. They deserve it.

Tanner Hewitt Editor-in-chief

Assistant online editor Ashley Olmedo

Andrew Ruiz Meghan Sweeney Taylor Williams

Contributors Grester Celis-Acosta Sarah Duenas Agnes Escobar Christian Gonzales Mark Hyde Jade Inglada Camila Leon Amy Maramba Maria Martinez Madison McCann Caitlyn Mendoza Seth Paterson Louis Richard Cris Rivera Donna Robles

Faculty advisers Robin Jones Gary Metzker

ON THE COVER: Exploring feminism in the modern era. Story on page 18. Cover photo by Sarah Duenas; back cover photo by Giovanni Cardenas.

Business manager Jennifer Newton

California State University, Long Beach 1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA-4 203 Long Beach, CA 90840-4601 © DIG and 49er Publications Board 2018

DIG MAG is a student-run publication at California State University, Long Beach. We produce original content for the curious residents of Long Beach.

DIG MAG focuses on being the insider’s guide to Long Beach culture, reporting on the city’s latest food, fashion, entertainment and trends.

2 | DIG MAG | March 2018

DIG Magazine is a publication of the Dig and 49er Publications Board. Signed letters or emails are welcome, appreciated, and must include the author’s name.

LONG BEACH

–Tanner Hewitt and Priscilla Aguilera

INSIDER

January was three years long and now it’s almost spring. Time really flies when you’re having fun and learning new things everyday. Let’s slow down the next few weeks and become present again. This school is full to the brim with people of all walks of life, all of us marching toward our own success story.

We love shining a spotlight on our students and the truly beautiful community we get to be a part of – so let’s indulge for a while and celebrate our diferences.

Photo by Priscilla Aguilera March 2018 | DIG MAG | 3

LB INSIDER

WHERE TO NEXT?

SPRING BRO

KE

Story and photo by Agnes Escobar

Don’t let your low fund$ bring down your Spring Break!

Check out these quick, easy and not-so-walletcrushing outings here in Long Beach and Los Angeles.

B & B (Bicycle and Beach), Long Beach, anytime Start on campus at the evergreen Japanese Garden. Next, ride your way to the Naples canals for a snap of the picturesque water views. Cruise along the coast on the beach path for 20 minutes, ending at the Long Beach lighthouse just in time to catch the sunset and watch the lighthouse light up with all the colors of the rainbow.

Latin at the Pier, Santa Monica, March 23-24 Carpool, Uber or Metro to the Latin Food Fest, held at Santa Monica Pier. A $29 admission gets you a variety of specialty drinks and all the Latin food your little heart (and stomach) can handle. End your day by catching the sunset from the top of the famous Ferris wheel at the end of the pier.

Waffles and Beer Festival, downtown Los Angeles, March 24 Waffles and beer: Enough said! With $7 admission, this event has sweet food, good drinks and live music.

Take the Blue Line from Long Beach to downtown L.A. for $1.75.

Party Up LA, various Los Angeles locations, March 30 End spring break with a bang by partying it up L.A. style. Club crawl in downtown L.A. or Hollywood and, with a spring break student discount, pay $17 for access to four hotspots, with drink specials and no line.

Looking to hit the road this Spring Break? We have two great itineraries for you at digmagonline.com: LAS VEGAS - You know about the pool parties, casinos, clubs and shows this city is famous for. And you probably drive all the way there, only stopping for quick breaks. But there are plenty of reasons to slow down and admire the scenery on the road from here to Vegas. We detail them in our step-by-step guide.

SANTA BARBARA - Sometimes you need to just get away from the hustle and bustle of school, work and other obligations. Camping, hiking and beachcombing along the coast in Santa Barbara can give you just the boost you need to finish the semester strong.

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Mark Her Words Story and photo by Donna Robles

Mary Scarlett Amaris, a Cal State Long Beach English professor and spiritual leader, didn’t get her first tattoo until she was 30. She started with tattoos in areas where she could hide them, such as her ankle. Now, Amaris has 35 to 40 all over her body.

She’s been getting inked for almost 30 years, and each one of her tattoos has significant meaning to her.

Authenticity is what she wants her students to have as they pursue their teaching careers.

“What I learned is that the way I present myself, ink included, is telling everyone that this is me and I am authentic. You can be authentic too. You don’t have to be authentic like this.”

This year, Amaris is turning 60, and she is planning to add another work of ink on her body: a Joan of Arc-inspired tattoo as a reminder of her feminine power.

LB INSIDER

TELL ME ABOUT IT

MIND YOUR HEALTH Whether you are in your first semester or your last, the stress of projects, homework, a job (or two), friendships and relationships can be a lot. How does one manage to keep up with all of it? Work out? Meditate? Cry? “I treat myself as an incentive to keep working. This week, I had a lot of reading to do from all my classes, and I told myself that if I finished it all by Friday, I would be able to go to the museum with my friend that day. The reward doesn’t have to be super elaborate, just something stress-free.”

Eddie Infante Junior, Public Relations

“I go somewhere by myself and take time to breathe because school can be so stressful and half of the time, you just don’t feel motivated to do anything, so I try to have alone time for myself. A bad exam or a bad assignment doesn’t mean the end of the world.”

Jennifer Cervantes Junior, psychology

“I practice meditation for at least 10 minutes a day. A helpful app I use is Simple Habit. It brings me clarity and a sense of gratitude in life. The progress I’m making now keeps me motivated to attain my goals.”

Jake Ponce Senior, healthcare administration Compiled by Sarah Duenas

March 2018 | DIG MAG | 5

LB INSIDER

DIG THE LOOK

Designing Flores W hen it comes to women’s fashion, Cal State Long Beach senior design major Daniel Flores knows how he wants women to feel while wearing his brand.

“I want women to feel more empowered, fierce, as if they’re warriors, and feel beautiful,” Flores said. “With my clothing I just want it to enhance their natural beauty.”

Flores will show his first complete collection, with nine pieces, in his final Campus Couture Fashion Show of his college career this spring.

His collection will be named Flores, spotlighting his last name to get his brand out into the fashion world.

“I want my line to represent myself, the extension of how I hold myself to be; very humble, very out there, very spontaneous,” Flores said.

“I like to consider myself creative, a dreamer. So I want my line to just represent how crazy I am, how fun I am, how these designs can tell a story, and how much work I’ve put into them and how I aspire to be the best I can be: a perfectionist.”

His last name also gave him the inspiration to use floral themes in his designs.

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“The theme of my line is in accordance to my last name, so Flores, which is flowers in Spanish,” he said.

“So all my pieces in some way are going to have floral aspects, whether that be through trims, fabric prints or through actual fabrics like making flowers out of tulle.”

Like all designers, Flores thinks ahead when creating a line, asking many questions to make sure his vision comes to life. There’s the choice in fabric, the fit and the customer target to think about.

“The first step is to get the sketch done: How is this going to look, what is it going to be?” Flores said. “[Next,] you want to do the flap pattern sketch, which is where you look at it more structurally: How am I going to sew this together, how are the pieces going to fit together?”

Then, Flores decides on fabrics, asking himself: “Is this a type of material I want to use? Is this going to be functional for what I want to do? Do I want it to be this loose or have more structure?”

After that, he creates the flat pattern pieces, cut out of the fabric and used to sew the whole garment together.

Somewhere in between, he said,

Story by Caitlyn Mendoza Photos by Sarah Duenas

“you definitely want to think of your target market and if this is an actual item you can put out and mass produce.”

This will be Flores’s third time showing designs in the Campus Couture show. He was first chosen his sophomore year to join only four other sophomore classmates in the fashion show. He also showcased his work with the junior class and now gets to display his full collection.

“I’m very excited, it’s very emotional, just because I’ve been with my class for four years,” he said. “And just being able to go on the main stage with them, to see everyone’s work, to see how this whole process got us to where we are. As a senior I want to give it my all. I want to represent my name, show everyone I’m capable of doing this. This is my major, this is my calling, this is what I want to do and I was made for this.”

The Campus Couture Fashion Show will be held at 7 p.m. on May 11 at Carpenter Performing Arts Center.

Tickets will be available mid- to late April at the Carpenter Center box office and website or the USU ticket center.

Check in next month for more of Flores’s design processs.

Simple Spring Flowers

Easy and inexpensive DIY floral arrangements just in time for spring!

Story and Photos by Meghan Sweeney

Tulip Tuesday – This spring inspired vase is simply made with just a few items including: straws, string, a vase and double-sided tape.

Brown Bag Chic – So simple to put together! Place your flowers in a mason jar, put them inside a brown paper bag and complete the look with jute twine.

Spring Zest – Create this look with two vases. Place the smaller one inside of the larger one, and slide lemon or lime slices inside the gap.

Pitcher Perfect – No vase? No problem! Just put your favorite flowers in a bold patterned pitcher.

LB INSIDER

GET CRAFTY

March2018 2018| |DIG DIGMAG MAG| |7 TK March

LB INSIDER

Instagram-worthy vegan food

OFF THE CHAIN

Seabirds Kitchen 975 E. Fourth St., Long Beach Cheapest dish: $4 Most expensive dish: $17 Most popular dish: Beets Me Burger and Bibimbap Bowl Most popular drink: Pomegranate Lemonade – refillable If you want to enjoy the feeling of being on the beach without the long drive, Seabirds Kitchen is your go-to. With all wooden accents, floor-to-ceiling windows and a patio, this restaurant is a definite escape from the hustle and bustle of Long Beach. All their ingredients are organic and vegan, and they have a variety of dishes, from the Bibimbap Bowl to the Irish Stew. They are also LGBTQ-friendly, with only gender-neutral restrooms, and provide Wi-Fi. If you’re searching for a place to study or a quick beachy getaway with great food, Seabirds Kitchen is a must.

The Grain Café 4403 E. Fourth St., Long Beach Cheapest dish: $6.95 Most expensive dish: $13.95 Most popular dish: Wet Burrito Most popular drink: Pineapple Ginger Lemonade The Grain Café is a small, quaint restaurant on the corner of Fourth Street and Ximeno Avenue with all organic and vegan ingredients. If you’re looking for quick spot to eat a late-night breakfast or grab some dessert, this café is the perfect fit. They serve everything from pizza and crepes to sandwiches and salads. Although its surrounding area can be loud with street traffic, it has a serene vibe inside with a wall water fountain and tons of greenery around the entire place. Whether you’re on your lunch break or on the hunt for affordable, yet tasty, vegan meals, The Grain Café is right up your alley.

Under The Sun

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244 E. Third St, Long Beach Cheapest dish: $7 Most expensive dish: $14 Most popular dish: Spicy Papaya Sushi Roll and Tu-Nah Wrap Most popular drink: Reishi Cappuccino Under The Sun is a raw vegan restaurant and juice/smoothie bar located in the heart of downtown Long Beach. The entire restaurant, from the music to the décor, is overall very Zen. Each table is topped with either succulents or crystal centerpieces, not to mention that they also advertise yoga locations and sell tea and healthy vegan snacks at the counter. They also have sushi rolls, pie slices and spiced coffee lattes, which are all big hits with their customers. If raw vegan food and desserts sound good to you, then this place is just right.

Story and photos by Amy Maramba

Klondike and Portuguese Canyon 19-99 Burrell Lane, Rancho Palos Verdes If you’re looking for remarkable ocean views, this is the place. With a 5.7-mile loop offering several trails, you can find a route to fit your level of difficulty. It’s a 1,115- foot incline to the summit with little to no shade, so make sure to bring plenty of water. Although it’s close to the ocean, the trail doesn’t go down to the beach.

Turnbull Canyon — Turnbull Canyon Road, Whittier The Turnbull Canyon Trail is a 4.7 -mile loop with a 731-foot incline. The intense trek up the canyon is well worth the view at the summit: a view of everything from Malibu all the way to Orange County. The trailhead is located in a neighborhood with minimal parking, so plan for some extra walking.

LB INSIDER

NATURE IS CALLING

White Point Trail 1600 W. Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro This trail is 1.5 miles and relatively flat.

It’s in a neighborhood, but parking usually isn’t a problem. The trail sits on a bluff, overlooking the ocean, which makes it the perfect place to watch a spectacular sunset. Walk down the path and you’ll have the ocean on one side and hills on the other, which might make it hard to believe you’re anywhere near L.A.

Take a Hike!

Four great spots a short drive from campus where you can get some exercise and fresh air.

Car Wreck Trail 2829 Awma Road, Aliso Viejo Canyon Take a trip back to the 1960s. Cars from a mysterious accident line this half-mile path. The entire loop is 7.5 miles with over 800 feet in elevation.

But if you just want to see the Car Wreck Trail, start at the trailhead on Alta Laguna Boulevard, which is half a mile away. The end of the Car Wreck path leads to a fork for the Mathis Canyon and Dipping Cave routes.

Story by Taylor Williams Map by Jade Inglada

March 2018 | DIG MAG | 9

LB INSIDER

GOOD, BAD AND UGLY

BOTTOMS UP!

The Good The ‘Justice Lab,’ an initiative in Long Beach, aims to help keep Long Beach residents out of trouble with the law. In a statement released the city manager’s office, Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna said, “Connecting people to services that can help divert them from the criminal justice system and get their lives back on track is a win for us all.”

The Bad Long Beach did not make the shortlist of Amazon’s 20 finalists for their new headquarters location. Long Beach teamed up with Huntington Beach for their ‘Amazon Coast’ joint proposal and was one of over 200 proposals submitted to the tech giant from all around North America. Los Angeles is the only West Coast city to remain on their list.

The Ugly Gas prices are on the rise in Long Beach and across the nation. According to Gasbuddy.com, the average price of regular gas in the state of California rose from $3 in August 2017 to $3.32 in February 2018. In that same time frame, the average price nationwide went from $2.35 to $2.58.

By Cris Rivera

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The famous green beer is making its way again this year. St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, landing on a Saturday. Here are the top three Irish pubs that offer good food and drinks: Murphy’s Pub at the Belmont $ If you’re looking for a bar where you can just hang out with a group of friends and enjoy good beer, Murphy’s Pub is the place. They are popular for their good selection of beers and great prices. Draft beer ranges from $3 to $8, bottles are $5.50, and pitchers are from $14 to $22. Seating is limited, but they have a great balcony view where you can enjoy your food and drinks.

4918 E. Second St., (562) 433-6338, murphyspublongbeach.com Gallagher’s Pub & Grill $$ This pub screams Irish the minute you walk in, so it’s the perfect place to spend St. Patrick’s Day. Draft beer ranges from $5 to $8 and pitchers from $11 to $18. On March 17, they are scheduled to have live music throughout the day, along with Irish clogging dancers, bagpipers throughout the pub and, of course, green beer to go around.

2751 E. Broadway, (562) 856-8000, gallagherslongbeach.com The Auld Dubliner $$ There’s always a big celebration at The Auld Dubliner on St. Paddy’s Day. It’s such a busy day that waitress Annie Grant said, “You can barely walk in here because it gets so packed.” This famous pub is known for their more than 60 Irish whiskeys and variety of beers such as Guinness. Draft beer ranges from $5 to $8 and bottles are from $4.50 to $12. They are expecting a full house on March 17, so arrive early.

71 S. Pine Ave., (562) 437-8300, aulddubliner.com Story and photo by Maria Martinez

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STAFF PICKS

The TV shows we’re binging this month

“One Day at a Time. It’s on Netflix and it’s a reboot of Norman Lear’s 1975 sitcom. The show is about a Cuban-American family going through the ups and downs of life. It represents the reality and actual reactions of situations that may not be shown on other shows. It showcases social issues like feminism, LGBT+, immigration, depression, PTSD and more.

It brings light to these issues and helps the viewer understand them more. I love this show because it has me laughing and crying at the same time.”

- Michelle Mendez, Social Media Editor

“Grown-ish is aired on the Freeform network. It’s the sequel to the show Black-ish and it’s about a girl who is in her first year in college trying a figure out a way to balance her life, including school, parties, boys, and so on. The show is fairly new. There are only eight episodes right now, but I do recommend watching it.

The show is funny and the characters are relatable to college students.”

-Louis Richard, Staff Writer

“My favorite TV show is Breaking Bad. It’s about Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with lung cancer. In order to preserve his family’s future, he turns to cooking crystal meth after learning how much money one can make in that industry during a ride along with his DEA brother-inlaw. On the ride along, Walt recognizes an old student, and they eventually became a duo in the meth cooking business. However, Walt gets in too deep. It is a brilliant example of character development.”

-Giovanni Cardenas, Photo Editor

LB INSIDER

Now Watch This

“My favorite binge show is called Dark, a Netflix Original, about a German town that has a very long history of crime, where kids have gone missing for the past 66 years without a trace. It’s a show that argues that time travel does exist. I love this show because you want to keep watching it until you can put all the puzzles together, and you have to completely pay attention to every detail. It’s a complete mind trip and I highly recommend it.”

-Caitlyn Mendoza, Staff Writer

Compiled by Seth Paterson March 2018 | DIG MAG | 11

REPORT CARD

Our grades for recent music, movies, TV shows, concerts and more.

By Grester Celis-Acosta

Grade

12 | DIG MAG | March 2018

Subject

Comments

Monster Hunter World –Video Game by Capcom

Monster Hunter World has finally come to consoles, and it is everything you ever wanted. The basis of the game is going out and hunting monsters in a giant open world. When you defeat a monster, you can use its materials, such as its hide, pelt and fangs, to craft weapons and armor. The game can be played solo or with three friends. I suggest playing with friends because the thrill of the hunt is both strategic and adrenaline-filled. The game has few faults; the main one is the explanation of the mechanics. It’s one of those games that is easy to pick up, but hard to master. Overall, Monster Hunter World is a must buy, especially if you’re tired of Destiny 2.

Amen – Album by Rich Brian

Rich Brian dropped his debut album, and it is a joy to listen to. The 18-year-old Indonesian rapper has been releasing singles for about two years, and each one has been better than the last. This album shows off a culmination of spitfire bars, storytelling and stellar flow. None of the 14 tracks overstays its welcome. From the fire-spitting bars of the first track, “Amen,” to the melodic track “Glow like that,” each song gives the listener a glimpse into Rich Brian’s life and songs they can just vibe to. Rich Brian scores a slam dunk with his debut album, one that deserves a listen.

Man in the Woods – Album by Justin Timberlake

Man in the Woods is by far Justin Timberlake’s worst album to date. It’s a mixture of decent pop songs mixed with a hint of some weird country music that’s neither fully country nor enjoyable. The first half of the album mainly has pop songs.

Some are enjoyable to listen to, like his single “Supplies” and “Midnight Summer Jam,” but that’s about it. Other songs like “Sauce” and the other single “Filthy” have a terrible sound, whether it be the beat or his vocals. The second half of the album is where it goes from decent to just downright garbage.

Timberlake’s version of country music is not enjoyable, and the content makes no sense. He literally made a song dedicated to his flannel. Like, WTF? The last track, however, is touching, since he dedicates it to his son. Overall, Timberlake did not deliver with this album.

LB INSIDER

HIDDEN FIGURES

OLYMPIANS AT THE BEACH We found three former and current U.S. national team athletes among the coaching and player ranks at Cal State Long Beach. Here are their stories:

By Louis Richard

Scott Touzinsky Men’s Volleyball Assistant Coach 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Touzinsky was one of the best to play at The Beach. Receiving multiple honors such as American Volleyball Coaches Association Co-Freshman of the Year and All-America First Team, he went on to play 13 years of professional volleyball in Europe. He was part of the U.S. national team from 2007 to 2012 and won an Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He returns to The Beach as an assistant coach looking to win the one thing he did not win while playing here: a national championship.

TJ DeFalco Men’s Volleyball, 2016-Current 2017 U.S. national team TJ DeFalco, captain of the men’s volleyball team, has been a valuable asset since his freshman year. Receiving multiple honors such as AVCA Newcomer of the Year, AVCA All-America First Team, and Player of the Year, DeFalco, 19, competed on the Men’s US National team last summer. Currently in his Junior season at The Beach, DeFalco has received offers to play professional volleyball in Europe, but has denied them to complete his time at The Beach. With his Senior season still ahead of us, we can be sure to hear a lot more about him.

Gavin Arroyo Men and Women’s Water Polo Head Coach 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games Gavin Arroyo played water polo at the University of California, Berkeley. After his time at Cal, Arroyo played seven seasons of professional water polo in Europe and competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. Once he finished his playing career Arroyo began to coach, He was the assistant coach of the US national water polo team and later took on the position of head coach at California State University, Long Beach. Arroyo is looking to inspire this younger generation in the sport of water polo.

March March 2018 2018 | DIG | DIG MAG MAG | 13 | TK

We’re Here We’re Here We’re Here We’re Here Why Gender Inclusivity Matters

T

Story by Samantha Neou Photos by Giovanni Cardenas

ake a class and split it down the middle. Everyone on the right side is going to be called Bob. Everyone on the left side is going to be called Jane. It doesn’t matter if that isn’t your name. Someone else determined that for you based on where you were in the room. This is who you are now. When you’re called on, you have to respond. You can’t say what your “real name” is because it doesn’t matter.

That’s one of the ways Shae Miller, a professor in Cal State Long Beach’s women’s, gender and sexuality studies department, teaches her students how harmful it is to misgender someone, to categorize people based on what we perceive as their gender.

For many of us, making assumptions about people we don’t know is a natural occurrence. We believe these assumptions to be true without questioning how we arrived at them. How someone looks, acts and speaks are a few factors that we use to categorize the people we meet. One of the most common forms of stereotyping that many of us 14 | DIG MAG | March 2018

are guilty of is gender-based labeling. I didn’t realize how damaging this profiling could be until recently.

I met Jess Kung three years ago through a student media organization at Cal State Long Beach, where we were volunteers. During the first few months of our friendship, I noticed myself struggling with how to reference Kung in conversations with others. He or she? Him or her? I couldn’t tell.

As the weeks passed, I began to wonder why I was so preoccupied with Kung’s gender, when it shouldn’t matter.

Not to say that the gender Kung identified with didn’t matter, but more specifically, I was challenging my need to place Kung in a category. It had no impact on what I had known and admired about Kung. So I started concerning myself more with who Kung was.

One day after our conversation began to die down, Kung finally clarified what I had been hung up on for months.

#ASK ME MY PRONOUN “I use they/them/their pronouns, by the way,” Kung said.

It was casual, not confrontational. I tried to comprehend it, but it wasn’t getting through to me. I had never heard of anyone identifying themselves outside of male or female.

Admittedly, I never did any research. I just concentrated on making a conscious and constant effort to use Kung’s preferred pronouns.

It took me a solid year – a year of accidentally interchanging gender-neutral pronouns such as they/them and masculine pronouns such as he/him. I felt guilty for not being able to easily respect Kung’s request. It would take me two more years to be more cognizant of gender as a social construct and gender-nonconforming people’s experiences.

Gender and sex are commonly used as synonymous and interchangeable terms, when in reality they are completely different. Sex refers to our biological reproductive organs while gender encompasses the social roles ascribed to a person based on their sex, as well as how a person defines their own gender expression and identity. Some ways that people express their genders are through their behavior, appearance and interests.

The gender binary is considered the societal norm.

Many of us who are cisgender are unfamiliar with gender-neutral pronouns because we have been in the gender binary all of our lives. Trans Student Educational Resources defines the gender binary as “a system of viewing gender as consisting solely of two, opposite categories, termed ‘male and female,’ in which no other possibilities for gender or anatomy are believed to exist.”

From the moment we are born, it is determined for us – by parents, doctors and societal expectations – how we will live the rest of our lives based on our genitalia. Miller says it’s important to understand these gender norms as something coercive as opposed to something that’s innate.

For instance, Miller identifies as genderqueer.

“I’m not going to say gender doesn’t exist, but our understanding of it, the way we think about it, what it means, in this particular context, and how it’s applied to specific bodies, those are all patterned choices,” Miller says. “They’re not things that are written in stone or even in biology.”

For history major Sammi Lanthier, choosing between the male and female presenting body didn’t feel right.

“I discovered that even switching out one gender for the March 2018 | DIG MAG | 15

Terms You Should Know Genderqueer: People who don’t identify as male or female and view masculinity and femininity as a spectrum they fall in between, or even outside of.

Transgender: People whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Non-binary: An umbrella term for all genders that aren’t female/male or woman/man. It can be used to describe a person’s gender expression or presentation, and someone who is transgender does not have to identify as non-binary or vice versa. They can be binary.

Cisgender: Those whose gender identity correlates with the sex they were assigned at birth.

other still felt like a costume,” Lanthier says. “That’s when I kind of discovered this idea of non-binary, which for me, is existing in the in-between. Not really being male or female. And that really felt a lot more comfortable for me.”

Lanthier would go on to push for they/them/their pronouns, maintaining an outspoken attitude about it while correcting others who constantly misgender them. Still, it can get frustrating when they have to educate people who don’t understand what being non-binary and using they/ them/their means. It’s good to know that gender neutral pronouns don’t consist of just they/them/their but also ze, hir and more.

“It just gets really annoying to explain my identity,” Lanthier says. “I don’t necessarily feel like that’s my place.”

Kung identifies as non-binary and trans-masculine and admits to struggling with asking people to use their preferred pronouns, because they feel uncomfortable bringing it up casually in conversation.

“Once you ask that, you’re basically asking them to challenge their own assumptions about gender,” Kung says.

“If they’re going to accept using those pronouns, they have to think about their perceptions of gender somewhat.”

Kung doesn’t want to be defined by their queerness, so they resort to hiding. This is an all-too-common experience.

According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, 86 percent of non-binary respondents said the main reason for not telling others their identity is because most people don’t understand.

Eighty-two percent said it is easier to not say anything, 63 percent said most people dismiss it as not being a real identity, and 43 percent said they might face violence.

The survey also said that “nearly half (48 percent) of all respondents in the sample reported being denied equal treatment, verbally harassed, and/or physically attacked in the past year because of being transgender.”

While misgendering someone can be a genuine mistake, it can also turn into harassment and abuse if it persists, and is derogatory.

It truly pains Kung to be misgendered as she/her because then they can’t avoid gender dysphoria, which is when a person feels intense distress and discomfort over their assigned gender at birth. Their fear of being misgendered with he/him pronouns is linked to being “found out.”

“And that’s probably more dangerous,” Kung says.

“That whole trick narrative. Like, not even necessarily in a way that faces violence, even though that’s not off the table.”

and sexuality department, also uses ‘they’ pronouns. They believe it’s crucial to focus on how not using the correct pronoun or dismissing its importance perpetuates the invisibility of gender-nonconforming people.

“It’s not about having to,” LeMaster says. “It’s about whether you want to be decent or not. Someone can say ‘I don’t want to change this.’ Well, don’t. That just means you’re being inconsiderate.”

LeMaster knows the egregious effects of being misgendered consistently day in and day out, having worked with suicidal trans and gender-nonconforming people. LeMaster says this is why we’re changing the pronouns.

“I’m a transperson who’s non-binary and I make mistakes all the time,” LeMaster says. “It’s not what’s the wrong pronoun; the question is, how can I find peace with being wrong? Say the wrong pronoun? Get over yourself.

Correct yourself and move on.”

At the end of the day, they agree it’s about changing your language to acknowledge another person who’s hurting instead of being bogged down by terms or grammar.

Understandably, many find it difficult to integrate gender-neutral terms into their everyday lives.

Neil Hultgren is an associate professor of English at Cal State Long Beach who believes that the English language can accommodate these changes.

“There may be mild – and this is probably because it’s ingrained – grammatical annoyance sometimes when students use ‘they’ as a singular in their paper,” he says.

“But I’ve come to accept over the years that that’s a good or OK thing. I think the language needs to change on that front.”

He recommends staying with the verb form that sounds plural: ‘they are’ rather than ‘they is.’

“But even though ‘they’ traditionally has designated multiple people, I think using it in this case to offer genderneutral language is really important,” Hultgren said. “Because I don’t think people should have to choose between a binary gender system when they want to designate themselves.”

Lanthier agrees and just wants to see an effort.

“As long as you’re actually trying to understand or being respectful about it, I feel like accidentally misgendering someone a few times when you’re learning is OK,” Lanthier said.

Kung also understands how tough it is, but most important, wants people to acknowledge their presence.

“You can’t measure how many trans people are in America,” Kung says. “But you have to realize… that they’re there. We’re here.”

“I’m a transperson who’s non-binary and I make mistakes all the time. Say the wrong pronoun? Get over yourself. Correct yourself and move on.”

Benny LeMaster, a lecturer in the women’s, gender

March 2018 | DIG MAG | 17

THE RN E D O M IST N I M E F

A ING C N A L BA ACT

Story by Gioia McGuire Photos by Giovanni Cardenas

I

t is no secret or myth that women find themselves pigeonholed into feminist stereotypes. Society has recently grown tremendously in favor of strong and empowered women. However, in a post-election Trump nation, some find it difficult to balance empowerment with stigma.

Women are finding strength within themselves and each other more than ever. Women everywhere are stepping up to the plate and are ready to bat. To understand the complexity of feminism and gender equity in the present, it’s critical we understand parts of the past and look to the future to find balance as individuals and as a modern society.

Pam Rayburn, coordinator of the Women’s and Gender Equity Center on campus, shared her insight, advice and personal experience with femi-

18 | DIG MAG | March 2018

nism and gender inequality.

“We don’t always see women in charge or as CEOs or CFOs, and when I was growing up, I didn’t see that,” she says. “I didn’t see women in strong places; they were teachers, they were librarians, they were homemakers.”

Rayburn’s reflection on the past puts today’s stance into perspective.

Today, we have strong women leaders to look up to, mothers working in business, science and the medical fields. Mass media has opened up to the idea of strong leading women, an important step forward for an industry of gatekeepers who mold the ways women are portrayed and in turn treated.

Recently, it’s the men in entertainment who have been the focus of attention. The Harvey Weinstein

scandal sparked several women to come forward and further encouraged women everywhere to announce their personal experiences in similar situations.

Social media blew up with stories and confessions, the media began to investigate and more men fell under scrutiny. Kevin Spacey headlined under assault, Matt Lauer was fired from NBC, and Charlie Rose, a world-renowned journalist, was dropped from CBS and PBS after accusations of sexual misconduct from multiple women.

However, at what point does it go from women seeking justice to an influx of allegations, misrepresentation and a flooding of accusing men in power? How do women maintain strength and dignity without being pigeonholed as cry-baby feminists who are bringing up past injustices?

Suddenly, the word ‘feminist’ was being associated with women who were brash and independent, didn’t shave their legs, and above everything, hated men. The term ‘feminazi’ smeared women who had worked hard to make the feminist movement open and inclusive to all, including men.

“I hope that [the movement] doesn’t lose its power by maybe some women bringing forward claims that may not be legitimate,” Rayburn says.

“I also know that usually when women report these types of things, it’s a very small percentage of women who even lie about it, so I tend to say we need to believe these women because it probably happened.

“I think those doors to those skeletons in the closet have been opened, and I think men will think twice before they engage in this type of behavior,

rights? Or was it a boiling pot waiting to bubble over? Arguments are flying in every direction.

Somewhere during the secondwave feminist movement, between the 1960s and 1980s, women lost the empowerment and strength and gained a side of feminism that tarnished years of hard work.

Suddenly, the word “feminist” was being associated with women who were brash and independent, didn’t shave their legs, and above everything, hated men. The term “feminazi”

but I also know that we have to attack it on a social justice platform and bring men into the conversation.”

Is it really the election of Donald Trump that has spurred such a renaissance in the community of women’s

smeared women who had worked hard to make the feminist movement open and inclusive to all, including men.

Gender equity intersects with feminism and relates in many ways.

There’s so much intersecting of rights

20 | DIG MAG | March 2018

with equality and feminist ideals and empowerment, all lacing together to create this complex societal view on women. It’s just as important to understand the past and how it relates to our present.

Rayburn offered a bit of her own personal experience as a child.

“I can remember just before I was going into junior high, I was told the school policy is that you have to wear a skirt or a dress. I walked to school in the wintertime, and I told my mom, ‘absolutely not,’ and I wasn’t going to do it. Luckily for my mom, the policy changed right before I started junior high and we didn’t have that fight. She was a teacher in the same school district and she was probably just pulling her hair out because she had to wear dresses too.

“I do remember distinctly one summer before that policy changed, she was sewing up a storm to make pantsuits so that she could wear pants to work as a school teacher. And you don’t think about that now because that’s a privilege you have and nobody can tell you you cannot wear pants to work.”

Gender equity includes more than the way men and women dress. More recently it’s about closing the wage gap between men and women in the same positions. The focus on whether it exists should be turned to why it exists. Why is this happening and what can be done to fix it?

Rayburn discussed the relation to the wage gap and the importance of including more women in politics.

“Having policy changes, then maybe when we go to the next job interview and we’re going out for the same position as a man we aren’t going to be asked about our previous salary. If I go for a position, what I made previously shouldn’t factor in.”

It could be another 100 years before we see the gap close in wages.

That’s why having more women in political roles and in seats where they can affect change in areas like this is so important. It’s part of why women march and stand up to share their voices.

Last year, the Women’s March broke records in attendance in cities all over the country. Millions of men, women and members from the LGBT community came together to march the streets and fiercely support the women’s movement and many rights in response to Trump’s harsh words regarding women during the election.

Just as the conservatives found their voice in Trump, women found their voices in each other.

The election proved difficult to swallow for many as they realized

that it was not. I think that’s why the Women’s March came about and that’s what it represented; we realized our complacency and that we really needed to have our voices heard, and we can’t just stand by and let a man represent that.”

Our political climate today continues to rage on with the storm that is Trump. Whether it’s in entertainment, politics, the workforce or within the feminist movement itself, change is happening. Voices are being heard and women are stepping up to share

everyday when you wake up and say ‘What can I do to advance equity?’

Every day we should wake up and think about how to make this place better.”

The balancing act will forever be a part of being a woman. Women will always face the dangers and rewards of calling themselves feminists. Just because we’ve taken steps forward doesn’t mean it ends here. It’s our determination and strength in each other that will lead millions to a better future, as long as we stay on the path

the results might impede progress for women.

“For me, I think it was a wakeup call,” Rayburn says. “I think if we thought the war on equality was over, I think we became acutely aware

their voices and make changes in these areas of society.

Rayburn sums it up: “I think that we still have a lot of work to be done, and I don’t think it’ll be easy. You have to put your feet on the ground

ahead.

For Rayburn, it’s simple, “I remember my grandmother always saying, ‘You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution, which do you want to be?’ We all have that choice.”

March 2018 | DIG MAG | 21

22 | DIG MAG | March 2018

Story by James Chow Photos by Giovanni Cardenas

N

TH

E

FL

IP

O

SNEAKERS

March 2018 | DIG MAG | 23

T

hulani Ngazimbi reminds me he can’t talk for long because he’s hoping to cop a pair of Fear of God Vans, a heavily sought-after shoe collaboration created by Los Angeles-based designer Jerry Lorenzo.

“I had a timer and everything. It’s not looking good man. I’m not gonna get this,” he tells me while swiping down on his phone, hoping that’ll dismiss the loading circle.

Ngazimbi is a Cal State Long Beach business graduate student who doubles as a student senator and runs his own longboard and clothing business called The Rad Black Kids. On the side, he flips sneakers: He makes a profit out of reselling them. He’s constantly browsing his phone, searching through different websites like sneaker news platform Nice Kicks to see what sells.

The sneaker industry is not a simple shoe brand to Foot Locker. It’s more complex than that. The pair of soles one owns goes beyond the feet — from the way it is produced to how it is obtained. What one may not know is that money and sneakers can be a quick transaction without a paper trail. Sometimes, that paper may be stained with blood.

According to Ngazimbi, to be successful at flipping sneakers, one must know the hype. He says he works smart by narrowing his search for niche sneakers on the market as compared to other sneaker sellers who look to buy the most hyped product. He brackets his shoes in tiers.

“Yeezys and Fear of Gods are in my ‘hopefully, maybe’ bracket,” Ngazimbi says.

“Other stuff, I’ll quantify them in hype.”

Sneaker fanatics like Ngazimbi know that obtaining a pair of Yeezys is no easy task — unless you are willing to hand over a large sum of money. According to Mashable, on June 27, 2015, the day they were released, the collaboration between Kanye West and Adidas sold out in 12 minutes, and immediately pairs were on eBay for up to $10,000.

Dante Holley, a New Jersey hip-hop artist and clothing merchandiser, won a pair of Yeezys for being the first person to correctly decipher the acronym “TLOP” as “The Life of Pablo,” West’s seventh album.

Although Holley takes pride in owning the shoes, he suggested the price point is too much for him.

24 | DIG MAG | March 2018

t h ig m le p o e p e m o “S s e o h s e h t g in t t e g be t u b , m e h t r a e w to g in t t e g e r a s r e h ot ” . t a e o t t s ju m e th

“When Kanye gave me the pair of Yeezys, that was pretty awesome,” Holley says. “Those are my favorite pair of shoes, but I wouldn’t buy them if he didn’t give them to me.”

Yeezys, often presented on men’s fashion sites, are also featured on many social media accounts, such as streetwear site Highsnobiety, which hosts contests and giveaways for the shoes.

Some people create bots on social media configured to look for “retweet to win” contests, hoping to get pairs of the most coveted sneakers without spending more than the cost of Internet access.

Ngazimbi doesn’t use bots. He looks for and buys shoes from global sites and tries to resell them. However, after studying the supply-and-demand economic model, he doesn’t think he’ll be flipping sneakers for much longer. He predicts that next year, there will be even more people reselling shoes due to the popularity of shoe-flipping, and the supply will outweigh the demand. “[Last year], I could move stuff in a 24hour period, before I could even get it in my hands,” he says. “I could order something somewhere, get it within 15 days and ship it in an hour. But now that rarely happens.

My average last year [moving shoes] was a week. Now it’s like three weeks to a month.”

THE UNAUTHORIZED AUTHENTIC

I

f certain sneakers are supposed to be rare, why are they showcased all over the internet?

Because factories in Asia re-create coveted shoes and sell them for cheap. Sometimes, these factory manufacturers even find the blueprints for the real shoe design.

Some people call these counterfeits “unauthorized authentics,” or UAs. Others reserve the term for shoes that came from the legitimate manufacturer but were rejected for sale due to small defects.

Ngazimbi says UAs are “the highest-quality fake.”

“I think the UAs are made by people with similar technology and access to similar production methods,” Ngazimbi says. “ But the problem with the UA is the typeface of the box might be wrong, [or] the heel tab might be wrong. The [Nike] Off-Whites Vapormax with a print on the inside? Nike March 2018 | DIG MAG | 25

intentionally made that print faint. All the UAs are bold, so that’s one way you can tell.”

Though many people equate UAs with knock-offs, there is a clear distinction between the two.

According to Suzanne Marshall, a Cal State Long Beach professor of fashion merchandising and design, “A [product] that carries the name of the designer is a counterfeit. A product that has someone’s name on it but ripped off [the design] from somebody else is a knock-off.”

Marshall says both are illegal, and that Forever 21 is known for knocking off designs from other fashion companies. In 2017, Refinery29, a news website tailored to young women, reported that Gucci and Adidas accused Forever 21 of using stripes and similar colorways on its products.

“Forever 21 has gobs of lawsuits all the time,” Marshall says. “It’s a huge issue today. Lots of jobs and lots of money is lost to the person who actually designed that.”

Nevertheless, people buy knock-offs if they think they’re stylish and fashionable.

“At Forever 21, a lot of the people don’t know where the inspiration for those brands came from,” Marshall says.

“Forever 21 is copying the [designs] they think are the cutest and would appeal to their target customer.”

When putting together an outfit, Holley believes what makes or breaks a fit is the shoe. It doesn’t matter the brand of the shoe or whether they’re real or fake, he says.

What matters is how you rock it.

“Shoes is [sic] everything,” Holley says. “Shoes can make or break your whole fit ... Sneakers are like your personality. That’s why I wear them, to express myself.”

“I used to wear [fake shoes] at school and pretend they were real. It depends how you rock it. If you got some bo bos (generic shoes) and you know how to rock it, then get it off.”

SNEAKER VIOLENCE

A

pair of sneakers could cost you your life. A 1990 Sports Illustrated article detailed the life of 15-year old Michael Eugene Thomas, a proud owner of a pair of Air Jordans who would later be murdered over them. The GQ documentary series “Sneakerheadz” estimated that 1,200 people die over sneakers annually.

The statistic is why sellers like Ngazimbi never meet anyone in person to buy shoes.

“I’ve seen someone getting run over,” Ngazimbi says.

I’ve seen kids getting shot in news reports.”

He details a time where someone he met online wanted to do an exchange in person.

“I saw him online. We were both in L.A.,” Ngazimbi says. “He asked me, ‘Why aren’t you meeting me? Just come and meet me.’ I was like ‘Nah man, safety.’ You know what he said? He said, ‘Nah, I wouldn’t kill over these.’ Someone casually just said that.”

The normalization of violence in the sneaker communi-

26 | DIG MAG | March 2018

ty has brought concerns for many buyers and parents.

Marshall says she cautioned her son when he bought a pair of shoes when he was on the East Coast.

“My son was afraid to wear sneakers in New York,” she says. “I think that’s craziness. [Violence] seems over the top for a pair of shoes.”

Sneaker violence was all over the headlines in Holley’s world. Although he didn’t experience it firsthand, he was exposed to it when meeting the mother of Jamal Gaines, a man who was killed in his own sneaker shop.

Holley has since met with people who have been affected by violence over material things through his annual 5k charity run. He started this run to spread awareness of sneaker violence.

“A lot of people who come to the races, they’ll tell me stories about how they were affected, like ‘My brother got killed over an Xbox’ or this kid got killed over a car or money,” Holley says. “It’s just, like, over some kind of material thing.”

CORPORATE INTERESTS

N

gazimbi doesn’t believe that violence is inherently tied to the sneaker industry. However, he says that questioning why people are fighting over shoes oversimplifies the problem.

“My question is, what the hell is up with these corporations that would be willing to play these kids out like that? These kids are paying for new [shoes], and then you treat these kids like a burden even though they’re consuming your product.”

“I think that the rise of sneaker culture parallels with income inequality because the people I see who are fighting are people who are counting on getting that shoe in order to pay their bills,” he says. “Some people might be getting the shoes to wear them, but others are getting them just to eat.”

But the resellers aren’t the real problem, Ngazimbi says.

“I think kids who are in the sneaker culture fighting aren’t the problem,” he says. “Corporations are the problem.

I think the problem is creating or facilitating atmospheres like ComplexCon where you know you’re deceiving people into paying money to get into this thing, waiting in line to get this product, only to game them later and release the product for general release. In the sneaker game today,

that’s what I think is the bigger issue.”

Bobby Hundreds, creator of the Los Angeles streetwear brand The Hundreds, also complained of the negative atmosphere of ComplexCon. In an Instagram post, Hundreds said he had mixed feelings toward the event.

“I watched a kid today, caught up, pushed and shoved in the distended [Nike] line for six hours,” Hundreds wrote in his post. “He maybe moved four feet. I assume he paid the full admission. I’m sure he didn’t intend to spend his weekend like this. I’m positive he didn’t get the shoes.”

Ngazimbi says corporate interests paint resellers as the villains, yet corporations are the ones gaming them. He criticizes companies like Nike for viewing resellers with contempt.

“My question isn’t even do we fault the kids that’s doing it,” he says. “My question is, what the hell is up with these corporations that would be willing to play these kids out like that? These kids are paying for new [shoes], and then you treat these kids like a burden even though they’re consuming your product. Exactly what you want them to do is what they’re doing.”

Ngazimbi cited this case in point: Earlier this year, Nike partnered with Amazon. Formerly, Nike products on Amazon could be sold through third-party sellers.

But with the new partnership, third-party sellers aren’t allowed to sell Nikes on Amazon, a move Ngazimbi calls “contemptuous.”

“On principle, I just won’t buy Jordans.”

March 2018 | DIG MAG | 27

QUICK QUESTIONS

Getting to Know Gabe Levin The senior basketball player at Long Beach State recently scored a career-high 45 points. This ties the game high set by Ed Ratliff in 1971. To honor his accomplishment, we sat down and shot a few quick questions his way.

Here’s his take on basketball, life, and everything in between. To see the full interview, go to digmagonline.com.

Story and photo by Madison McCann

1. A trend you wish would die in 2018?

Selfies.

2. Current game day song? Waves by Kanye West.

3. Favorite musical album right now?

Childish Gambino 4. Best cereal on the market? Fruity Pebbles 5. You’re a crayon in a box. What color are you? Blue. That’s my favorite color.

6. If you never played basketball, what sport would you be playing now instead?

Soccer, I was nice. Goalie and midfield.

7. Your binge TV show right now?

Monk on Amazon TV. 8. Who are you taking in the NBA finals this year? Houston Rockets 9. If you had to compare your playing style to any professional player, who do you think you most try to emulate?

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

10. What movie do you never get tired of?

Up. 11. Instagram/Snapchat/Twitter?

Instagram. @gabelevin0 12. Choose a movie title for your life.

Determination 13. If you could have one superpower, what would it be? To never miss a shot.

14. Cartoon you loved to watch growing up? Tom and Jerry 15. Famous, a genius, or world-class attractive? Fame is fleeting, so I’ll be a genius.

16. You could get dinner with anyone, who would it be? Muhammad Ali 17. Nike or Adidas? Nike.

18. Favorite pair of shoes right now?

Those Off-White Retro 1’s.

19. What is your favorite thing about Long Beach?

All of the support I have.

20. What age, so far, was your favorite year in your life?

Age 23. My life right now.

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“You either have to be part of the solution, or you’re going to be part of the problem.”

- Eldridge Cleaver

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