GEN-ZiNE
volume 1. issue 3.
health and wellness: in full bloom
Front Cover by Helen Lazenby
GEN-ZiNE 1
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CONTENT 05 06 09 11 13
Letter from the Editors
Health and wellness as the vehicle to bloom into our fullest potential
You Good, Bro?
A male perspective on toxic masculinity and the toll on men's mental health
I'm Shmacked
The normalized culture of substance and alcohol abuse in college and its impact on the body and mind
Mind Games
Are you present in your life when you're fixated on the voice in your head?
Democratizing Wellness
The health of a nation depends on the health of the individual, but it starts with equal access
16 20 31 33 36
Ditching Diet Culture
Diet culture: the worship of thinness and equating it to health and moral virtue
Let's Talk About Sex
An open, honest and candid conversation about sex and all of its glory, its awkwardness and its stigmas
Becoming Enough How discovering confidence in yourself leads to happiness and success, and the journey to finding it
Period Poverty Females around the world cannot maximize their full potential without meeting their natural needs
Afterword
We only get one body and one mind. So treat it well–if not for you, then for those you share your life with
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GEN-ZiNE
-ZiNE
GEN
Health and Wellness: In Full Bloom
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FALL ISSUE EDITORS
ANUSHKA JOSHI EDEN BURKOW SAM GIBBS
CONTRIBUTERS ADRIANO SAITTA HARLEY MCKEE JACK BEKOS JOSIE BULLEN
ARTISTS
HELEN LAZENBY MADDY LEDGER WILL BIERMANN SADIE PACZOSA CLAIRE FISHER SAMI ROSENBLATT
REACH US
WWW.GEN-ZiNE.COM thegenzine@gmail.com @thegenzine © 2018 by GEN-ZiNE, Inc. All Rights Reserved Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. GEN-ZiNE is a registered trademark of Publisher. Printed in the United States of America.
To our fellow GEN-Z'ers, College is supposedly the best years of our lives. Yet, it seems like so many of us are rushing through. We are in the middle of a rat race: we keep going, and going, and going at 100 miles per hour trying to get ahead until we burn out. But, why are we trying to race past the greatest years of our lives? Our generation–or at least our campus– is extremely competitive. We want to push boundaries and push ahead, but at what expense? We've industrialized ourselves, but at the end of the day we are still human. It’s no surprise that mental health is a crisis on college campuses, especially in our community. The pace at which we live, and treat ourselves, is not conducive to a healthy or sustainable lifestyle. We face not only academic pressure, but the pressure to thrive socially, physically, and professionally too. Perhaps it’s not so sunny in California after all. We are at a terrifying intersection in our lives, where we feel the need to do so much to stay afloat and to be prepared for the next chapter of life. It almost seems as if you’re not busy, then you’re doing something wrong. College is about creating practices and habits that you can carry in your toolkit for the rest of your life. It’s about being able to sit and analyze, to ask questions of why things exist the way they do, and to learn about the world in its full. But being a student is not just about learning from books–it’s about so much more. College is about learning how to be a student of not just the world, but of yourself too. I’m constantly reminded that we have the rest of our lives to work and that college is a time to be present and live deeply, and soak up whatever life has to offer. It’s simply a moment in time. Look around, are you in tune with what’s happening around you? I’m riddled by anxiety when I don’t do work. I feel ashamed when I have free time. But recently I’ve been searching for someone to tell me that it’s okay to slow down and enjoy college and life. To take that nap, go to the beach, enjoy your time with your friends without being swallowed by the thoughts that you’re lazy. I struggled with the idea of slowing down. If I did, would I lose sight of those goals and ambitions I had worked so hard for?
We spend so much time and energy figuring out what we want to do with our lives. But do we know how we are going to do it? What I learned is, you have to slow down to speed up sometimes. The health of our body and mind is single-handedly the most important vehicle for happiness, success, and whatever else you wish for. We take it for granted, but it is all we have at the end of the day. This semester we woke up to this realization through the tragedy of losing beloved members in our community. It was a reminder to prioritize our humanity, our sanity, and our health. For a moment we all paused. You think about your plan of how you’re going to get to your dream career, but how are you going to get to your healthiest state? What are you doing for yourself right now to better yourself tomorrow, not get to where you want to be in 10 years. We cannot postpone prioritizing our health and happiness any longer; if you can’t take care of that then nothing else matters. The concept of wellness and well-being has become incredibly commodified. Taking care of yourself has become a blanketed statement. Are you getting enough sleep? Drinking enough water? In reality, to bloom into our fullest potential, to truly unlock what we are capable of, starts with prioritizing yourself: your mind, your body, and your soul. It’s about nurturing yourself in every way, shape, and form. What works for you? What doesn’t? And the answer for you doesn’t have to be the same as what it is for everyone else. Whether it is through nutrition, healthy relationships, and finding balance, our bodies and minds are the vehicles to get us to our biggest dreams. It’s about recycling our ambition and drive for the future to take care of ourselves now. It starts with you.
Love & Care, Anushka Eden • Sam
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YOU GOOD, BRO?
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
“Yeah man, all good.”
This typical response often conceals the truth. It reflects a
greater desire to avoid burdening others with what we honestly feel. But how can we possibly open up about our mental health and well-being in a serious way through such a superficial exchange –
You good, Bro? Broaching the subject of our mental health on other’s well-being is a real challenge when many men view it as
embarrassing, taboo, and a potential threat to defining their
masculinity. Fortunately, the topic of mental health has increasingly
become more socially acceptable and has gained more public attention. However, within the male community at large, it has yet
to make a significant impact. As a man in a fraternity, often surrounded by – what would be referred to as – “toxic masculinity,” I’d like to share the unspoken reality of men’s mental health. Be warned; there’s a lot more going on than you might think in those heads we use for smashing cans of beer.
Many college males experience mental health issues and
deal with their problems in silence. I currently live in what might be considered one of the “worst possible” environments for discussing
the topic of mental health: a fraternity. From a young age, men are
taught to be strong by repressing emotions; it’s the precedent we follow from those older than us. Unfortunately, this only contributes to greater emotional insecurity, and a recurring cycle of perpetuated anxiety experienced further down the road. This
emotional repression operates at a subconscious level, often surfacing in more casual conversations.
A strong example of this is when talking about romantic
interests. Many college men still struggle to address appropriately
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and effectively communicate with those we are romantically interested in. For instance, a conversation about girls
easily becomes an anxiety-inducing AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAA
event, “Well, she said this, how should I respond? Do I invite her out for a drink?
Ahhhhh, I don’t know what to do.” There is an intense element of suppressed
emotion formulated in this type of situation. Especially if past emotional situations that never received proper attention and support arise during these
vulnerable moments. Sadly, interactions
like these often remain at a surface level;
we do not truly reach the deep-rooted issues we are dealing with daily.
From my experience, I have found
that men feel much more comfortable, and feel more comfortable talking about mental health after a few drinks – a
tangible coping mechanism. While this is
obviously not ideal, it helps break down masculine ego defenses and provides a
much-needed opportunity to share what is actually going on in their lives. Anxiety
is incredibly common; it comes in many different forms and finds its way into
situations where it doesn’t always feel welcomed.
Unfortunately,
trying
to
repress anxiety ultimately creates a
vicious cycle: anxiety about having anxiety.
Men
comfortable
Art by Will Biermann
need
talking
to
feel
about
more their
7
experiences with mental health. The perception that mental health issues make a man “weak” or “soft” needs to go. Severe issues, such as
anxiety and depression often develop from suppressing emotions. It’s time to feel comfortable about speaking up, recognizing that it’s okay
not to be 100% okay. We all have hard times in our lives; without an
outlet, it just compounds the situation and forces people to bottle up their emotions, often exploding when something small pushes them over
the edge. Real strength comes from processing emotion, learning from our experiences, and reaching out to others in need. These vulnerable conversations create incredible bonds between people and open up the
door for future support. Repressing emotions is never the way to handle mental health issues.
The healthy mental practices we want to instill in future
generations should be practiced today. It’s important to surround yourself with reliable company that brings you stability, don’t be afraid
to reach out if you are struggling, people will be much more receptive than you might imagine. More importantly, remember that opening up
to someone does not mean that you are burdening them. Reaching out for help is the best thing you can do, even though it is often the hardest
thing to do. Conversations about mental health are extremely important, especially as we face new changes and challenges in our lives each day.
You are not in this alone, I promise.
ADRIANO SAITTA (author) & HARLEY MCKEE (editor) Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE National Mental Health Hotline: 1-800-553-4539 USC Student Health: (213) 740-WELL (9355), studenthealth@usc.edu Campus Support and Intervention: 213-740-0411 Department of Public Safety (DPS): emergency 213-740-4321; nonemergency 213-740-6000
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I'M SHMACKED:
Alcohol Abuse in College It’s a Saturday morning. You’ve woken up with a dizzying headache, an aversion to light and sound, and a crippling desire to remain in bed
and sleep the pain away. “Are you ok” and “What happened last night” are blowing up
your phone, which of course is close to dead.
You haven’t changed your clothes from last night. Your dry mouth is begging for water, your body is begging for Advil, your mind is attempting desperately to remember….
Now change Saturday to Thursday. Or Friday.
Or Sunday. Does the rest still apply? If so, what is your drinking an excuse for, if anything?
Why is alcohol such an essential part of the
college social experience? Did you have fun last night if you can’t even remember it? How
frequently is alcohol abuse masked as “just having good ole college fun”?
Let’s have a conversation about binge drinking.
No, not the conversation between you and your parents, or via the automated lessons from
AlcoholEdu. Let’s talk more about the physical health
effects
of
alcohol
consumption that often go unnoticed until our college experience is over.
The fact that alcohol is a depressant means that it disrupts the balance of the chemical processes in
the brain. The relaxed feeling that comes with having a few drinks is the result of the depressive
nature of the drug, especially in the part of the
brain we associate with inhibition. (Mistakes when
drunk anyone?) However, increased alcohol use Instead of pleasurable effects increasing, it is
possible that negative emotional effects will take
over. If you have ever met someone who gets angry, aggressive, anxious or depressed while drinking, excessive consumption is likely the culprit.
Alcohol increases anxiety and stress.
Before someone encourages you to get “blacked”
mental
leaves a more permanent impact on the brain.
and
Alcohol alters brain chemistry.
tonight, think of how drinking alters your view of
your environment. Heavy drinking interferes with
the way we think. If we are prone to anxiety and
notice something that could be threatening, we’ll hone in on that single thing and ignore the less
threatening or neutral information. For example,
we might notice a crush talking to someone we’re jealous of instead of focusing on everyone else they’ve interacted with throughout the night.
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Alcohol depression is a vicious cycle.
If you drink heavily and regularly you are more likely to develop symptoms of depression. Repeated alcohol abuse can lead to reduced serotonin levels in the brain- the neurotransmitter that controls mood, cognition, reward, learning and memory. In Britain, people who experience anxiety or depression are more than twice as likely to be heavy or problem drinkers. Drinking heavily can also affect relationships with partners, family
members and friends. Ask yourself: do I get poor sleep after I drink? Do I feel tired because of a hangover? Do
I have a persistent bad mood? Am I anxious in situations where I would normally be comfortable? If the answer is yes, this could be a sign that persistent alcohol use is affecting your mood.
Alcohol is linked to suicide and self-harm.
Alcohol can make people lose their inhibitions and behave
impulsively, so it can lead to actions they might not otherwise have taken – including self-harm and suicide. According to a
survey of Scottish hospitals, more than half of people who ended up in a hospital because they’d deliberately injured themselves
said they’ve drunk alcohol immediately before or while doing it.
I know these effects are heavy and at times difficult to read. Yet it is not my goal to be overly didactic in affect. Rather, from a
personal lens, the concern that comes from my school culture’s
reliance on alcohol has opened my eyes. My friend’s accounts of their fears and negative emotions that come from binge
drinking make me aware of the fact that this issue is profoundly widespread. I encourage everyone to ask themselves these
questions: Do you hate yourself when you drink? Do you really have fun when you drink? Who feels more and more irresponsible after every time they drink?
The answers do not have to be black and white, but instead a
point of reference. The tipping point for alcohol and drug abuse is often blurred, and it is incredibly important to remember the warning signs of such a point before it’s too late. In the end, your body (and mind) will thank you.
For more information visit www.samhsa.gov/
JACK BEKOS 10
Art by Maddy Ledger
MIND GAMES
The voice in my head can be invasive and controlling. She's loud, causes me to overthink, and – at times – drags me out of the present moment and spirals me into a disillusioned mindset. I lose my sense of self and become my biggest enemy. In trying not to alienate anyone, I end up alienating myself. July 2019, I was sitting on a massive, grassy hill at Dolores Park in San Francisco, surround by overwhelming amount of unfamiliar, joyous faces basking in the summer sun, co-existing harmoniously. It was a perfect day; the sky was blue; the air was crisp; the few clouds in the sky were plump and bright white. I observed strangers unbothered by one another. I couldn't help but appreciate the pureness of the moment with a silent mind – unusual. Weeks earlier I heard a quote, and it’s stuck with me since:
"LIFE IS A SINGLE-PLAYER GAME" Depressing, bitter, lonely. These were my initial thoughts. Isn’t life a game best played with others? Isn’t that the point? Sitting in Dolores Park, in-tune with my surroundings, helped me find stability and value for these words to live in my identity. All along, I’d forgotten to take time to recognize my presence, hear myself breathe, and feel my physicality because my mind can be so overwhelmingly powerful. Art by Will Biermann
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Life is a single-player game. You only have one life to live, one body to live in, and one mind to live with. Be good to yourself because you don't get a second chance at it. Through finding stability within yourself, share yourself with others, and then bring them into your game. Each of our minds are very mighty. They seek our attention through a variety of distractions, both good and bad, disrupting our initial focus. I find my inability to direct the voice in my mind often hinders my ability to personally grow. But, with a muted mind, I’m able to find more control over myself. It's a difficult, healthy realization to learn to be selfish, to support yourself, and not take things so seriously and personally. Life is so unconventional, constantly leaving us with unanswered questions. And while this game might be “singleplayer,” remember that there are many others playing too. You’re not alone, even if you feel lonely. Try to always be a better version of your current self. Your full presence matters, and don’t let your mind tell you otherwise.
EDEN BURKOW Resources on Campus Counseling and Mental Health Services on Campus: • Let’s Talk is a drop-in opportunity to talk to a counselor to get professional guidance on any number of social and mental health topics. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to talk to a counselor, this is your opportunity to find out. • Well-being Wednesdays offers students the opportunity to wind down with stress-relief activities and chat with a USC Student Health professional. Take a mid-week break to enhance your well-being! • Thriving Thursdays present topic-specific workshops led by professional counselors that rotate on the following themes: making connections; thriving; managing anxiety; and managing moods. Bring your ideas, questions, and quandaries—and leave with skills to improve your ability to thrive. How to Get a Therapist on Campus • Go on the MySHR portal and create a Counseling & Mental Health appointment • The options are: • Solution Session: (50 mins) Meet with a counselor for a one-time session to discuss a current problem or concern. The counselor will help you clarify your problem and work with you to develop skills and strategies to create a personalized action plan. • Initial Phone Consultation: (20 mins) If you are unsure what type of help you may need, this is a brief consultation with a counselor to discuss your initial concerns and review options and recommendations. If you have already had a phone consultation within the past 12 months, please call 213-740-9355 and ask to speak with the therapist you spoke with. • Note: You are only allocated ten (10) sessions with a therapist on campus before they refer you to someone off campus. 12
DEMOCRATIZING WELLNESS Healthy is the new wealthy, but the two are far from mutually exclusive. From clothing to food to hobby trends–
wellness is something to aspire to and is correlated to status. Whether it is sporting the newest athleisure brand,
trying the new diet fad that is organic, vegan, free of toxins, and packed with micro and macro nutrients, or paying upwards of $30 per workout class–being healthy is
elite. According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness expenditures ($4.2 trillion) are now more than half as large
as total global health expenditures ($7.3 trillion), and businesses are catching on. They have capitalized off of
early trends, and the wellness industry has grown about 13% in a short two years from 2015-2017.
If you are familiar with basic economic principles and the rules of supply and demand, the increased popularity surrounding healthy foods sent prices flying high for
everyone involved, thus making them more exclusive. The issue with this is that access to healthy food should be a
basic right. Instead, it is cheaper to get a full meal from a
fast food stop than to have fresh vegetables at dinner. There is no shortage of food in the United States. 50% of produce is thrown away each year–that’s about 60 million tons (or
$160 billion) (The Atlantic). Yet 13% of the country’s
population lives in a food insecure household, meaning that
they do not have full access or ability to purchase healthy
foods. This leads to a large population experiencing malnutrition–whether that means hunger or obesity, it impacts more than just those directly involved.
Art by Sadie Paczosa
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Although the obesity epidemic in the United States falls across all socioeconomic
statuses, there is a concentration of food insecurity in lower socioeconomic status. According to Michelle Obama’s campaign, “More than 23 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, live in low-income urban and rural neighborhoods that are more
than a mile from a supermarket. These communities are known as “food deserts” since
they lack access to affordable, nutritious food. Lack of access is one reason why many
children are not eating recommended levels of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.” Low-income neighborhoods are offered greater access to food sources that promote unhealthy eating. The distribution of fast-food outlets and convenience stores differ by the racial/ethnic characteristics of the neighborhood (NCBI). Rather than presenting these
communities with nutritious and energizing food, they are presented with options that have the adverse effect.
Food can fuel one with energy to perform at full potential, but fast food does the
opposite. It causes health issues–primarily obesity. Obesity is related to some of the
leading causes of death, including heart disease, some cancers, strokes, and Type II diabetes. These health issues naturally lead to higher health care costs, and creates a
trap where people are stuck in a cycle of poor eating because of the food they can access.
Introducing poor eating habits from a young age instills these patterns in children for the rest of their life. The cycle of poor eating habits and bad health is bad for them as well
as communities at large. The lower quality of health is not only an additional expense
(such as health care), but it leads to a lower quality of life. Proper health can lead to the ability to have a focused mind and perform well in school and sports. If there is a struggle to break the cycle it impacts society as a whole: reduced economic productivity.
Obesity is a grave public health threat, more serious even than the opioid epidemic. (Commonwealth). Obesity accounts for 18 percent of deaths among Americans ages
40 to 85, according to a 2013 study. This means obesity is comparable to cigarette smoking as a public health hazard; smoking kills one of five Americans and is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
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Despite the thriving U.S. weight-loss market (worth $66 billion
in 2017) (Commonwealth), we need a long term sustainable option. The diet industry commodifies and glamorizes health and wellness, when in reality it should simply be accessible to all. Health is not something that should be a fleeting trend,
but the exclusivity factor in conjunction with our environmental concerns, our country is headed into a serious health crisis.
In order to have a successful next generation, it is important to invest in the health of all communities for a better future
together. Until we are all healthy, our country is not truly
healthy. The future of a nation largely depends on the health of its people.
ANUSHKA JOSHI
Resources on Campus Trojan Food Pantry • Once a week, students without meal swipes can get a bag of groceries at PKS #135. For questions: uscfoodpantry@usc.edu • Location: Parkside Apartments. (PKS) #135, 3730 S. McClintock Ave. • Hours of Operation: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays: 3:00pm – 6:00 p.m, Fridays: 12:00pm – 3:00pm Calfresh Program • Students who meet eligibility guidelines can receive up to $192 a month to spend at locations such as Trader Joe’s and Ralphs. For questions: calfreshusc@gmail.com • How to apply: • Book an appointment with a USC social worker who will guide you through the application: http://bit.ly/ uscappointment • Apply on your own: https://www.getcalfresh.org/en/apply
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DITCHING DIET CULTURE
Diet culture: the worship of thinness and equating it to health and moral virtue; spending one’s life thinking that you are irreparably broken just because you do not look like an impossibly thin “ideal.”
Have you lost
weight? You look
so good! Ugh, fml, I
One year ago, I spent three hours a day, five days a week in an intensive outpatient treatment center working on recovering from an eating disorder.
just ate a whole bag
But first, rewind to Spring of 2018. My second semester of college. Running across campus to class, to practice, staying up until 2:00 every night doing homework. Yes, it was a lot, but the stress of school did not even compare to the stressful nature of the culture I found myself in – one characterized by diet culture.
see him. It’s not a
of hot Cheetos. I
really need to lose
five pounds before I diet—it’s a lifestyle.
I never really had issues with food insecurity before college; I ate what my mom provided for me, and I danced and danced and danced. And I loved moving my body in that way. Naturally, going to college is a difficult transition. Mom is not there, your extracurricular schedule is non-existent in the beginning, and you have to start your life from scratch again. I wasn’t really sure how to feed myself or how to exercise outside of dance class (I had literally never set foot in a gym), so what did I do? Followed those around me. I observed the girls around me, and self-consciousness started to sink in. 16
Art by Sadie Paczosa
Chasing your shots? Better be zero calories.
Didn’t work out today? Eek, better not get that soft serve from the dining hall. I became really impressed by the girls that seemed to have complete self-control, that had muscular yet feminine bodies, that seemed happy with their bodies. I wanted it. I wanted to be good enough. I wanted to be happy. I continued to participate in this culture, in the idea that thinness and being at a caloric deficit was healthy and normal – because that’s what I thought everyone was doing and that’s what everyone was talking about. But throughout the Spring, I developed an obsession. X calories for breakfast, plus Y calories at lunch means that I can eat Z number of calories for dinner. I set incentives for myself, giving myself extra food or an hour off of homework if I met my “goals.” I compared my body to everyone I saw, thinking about how the size of my thighs, waist, or arms compared to the girl next to me. I tied it to my worth – the more controlled I could be, the smaller I was, the more beautiful I was, the happier I was. But most of all, I talked about it non-stop. Calories. Work outs. Other people. Bodies. The thoughts that I was having and the behaviors that I was engaging in seemed normal in my environment. All I wanted was to be in control, but I wound myself into a position where I was completely out of control of my life, my eating patterns, and my mind. I isolated myself from the people I loved, because I felt as though I didn’t deserve it. I believed that I had no self-control, that I was worthless without a perfect body and a perfect mind. It was hard. I became stuck in a deep, dark hole.
It came to a point where I noticed that something was not right with the thoughts I was having and the behaviors I was engaging in. With much difficulty and shame, I reached out to the right people at the right time and got the help I needed. During my time in treatment, I began to learn that I lived, and still live, in an environment characterized by diet culture. Many people, especially girls, have been told their entire lives to eat, exercise, and even think in a certain manner in order to achieve an ideal body. We see ads for Weight Watchers on TV with Oprah Winfrey, our favorite influencers promoting flat tummy tea on Instagram, and even our own mothers or guardians dieting when we are children. 17
Over and over we hear, “eat this number of calories, exercise this
amount, and have this many meals each day. You’ll be skinny
and happy!” But behind these voices is a $72 billion dollar diet
industry. Companies that make a profit from exploiting people’s insecurities. They use our favorite celebrities and “professionals” to make us trust them. They know that the culture trickles down through families. Fucked up. I learned about the lies that I was being told by society, and I learned about the truth of the matter. We are born intuitive eaters. We cry to our caretakers when we are hungry, and we stop when we are satisfied. We use our intuition, not the suggestions of others, to decide how to feed ourselves. It makes logical sense: our bodies tell us when we are hungry (through a cool hormone called ghrelin) and it tells us when we are full (through another cool hormone called leptin). But when we follow the unofficial food rules established by diet culture, our hunger cues are disrupted, and we rely on the outside voices to guide us. And in this day and age, many people are scared to live without those rules, thinking that they will eat too much, eat out of control, and, God forbid, gain weight from eating intuitively. I struggled with this fear as well, but with time, practice, and help I trusted my body to tell me when to feed it and became free. Step one was ditching the diet culture with food. Step two was forcing it out of my mentality. I started to notice which thoughts of mine were characterized by diet culture. I’d catch myself thinking, “Ugh, I probably shouldn’t have eaten that much food,” and changed it to, “I am following my hunger cues and am fueling my body for a long day of brainwork.” I started to change the narrative around food with others. If I found myself sitting in a conversation with friends talking about diets or bodies, I’d change the subject and talk cool ideas or future plans. I hid the scale that sat on the bathroom floor in my sorority house, hopefully saving many girls from the unnecessary pain of weighing oneself unhealthily.
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Art by Sadie Paczosa
It was liberating. Before, I felt as though I would have to diet for
the remainder of my life to achieve and maintain the body that I believed would give me happiness. But through treatment and recovery, I have never felt happier, and I have never more free.
USC, and Los Angeles in general, I believe, are diet culture hot spots. Why? Each person’s relationship with diet culture varies with type of upbringing, mental health status, personality type, and millions of other factors. But I think what has created such an intense diet culture in certain communities and social circles of USC is the value that we have placed on appearance. Gameday outfits, bikinis, crop tops and shorts – they’re all around us, all the time. On our screens, in front of our eyes. And we’ve tied this value of appearance to happiness, control, and mastery over one’s life. But it’s all a lie. Real happiness and freedom, I’ve found, is loving your body for what it is naturally. It’s shedding the layers of beliefs that society has placed on you since childhood. It’s letting go of that desire for control. Going through treatment for an eating disorder was one of the most difficult journeys that I’ve ever encountered, but it was also one of the most wonderful adventures that I have been presented with. Though I may struggle with these issues for the rest of my life, I feel better than ever. I know how to feed myself once more, how to combat my anxieties surrounding food, and that I never need to diet again. Ever. Though I believe that USC is a diet culture hotspot, I also know that we the people have the power to change the narrative around it. I have shared my story with many friends and fellow students, and I am always delighted to find people that share my sentiments.
So, join us. Be free. Defeat diet culture. For more information visit nationaleatingdisorders.org
JOSIE BULLEN 19
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Art by Sadie Paczosa
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LET'S
ABOUT
TALK
SEX.
Skin on skin, the air pockets between bodies make farting noises. We know this moment, we become extremely self aware. There’s an awkward silence that fills the air
accompanied by heavy breathing. There is nothing on our
minds other than “Should I say something? Do I moan now? I wonder if they’re enjoying this...” This moment is way too
familiar. How do we transition into having sex? Is it implied? Did you or did they ask?
SEX is us at our most vulnerable. In the nude. Maybe in the dark.
With. Someone. Else. What’s so great about sex anyways.... why do we crave it? Does it bring us validation? Why does the attitude shift the
second it becomes an act of penetration ? Why do we become even more silent? Why do we become mute? Why can’t we
think properly? Why don’t we know what to do, and tense up in our state of awkward indecisiveness? What did I just experience. Also, why the fuck do we leave our socks on.
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Sex is an experience. An indulgence in intimacy, a way to foster self-love and confidence, and make meaning of your humanity through the physical experience of each another. Sex can mean a variety of definitions for any and all types of people. It’s important to understand that everyone has their own perspective on sex, how it affects them, and what it means to them. Sex is not solely penetration, it can mean a host of different things, including body parts flowing together in a number of ways, forms and positions. Sex is a controversial subject to a lot of people, and the fact is, is that without sex, you wouldn’t be here today. #fact. However, according to “The share of Americans not having sex has reached a record high,” an article in the Washington Post (published March 2019), the portion of Americans ages 18 to 29 reporting having no sex in the past year more than doubled between 2008 and 2018, to 23%. Specifically, young men are having less sex; since 2008, the share of men younger than age 30 reporting no sex has nearly tripled, to 28%. Being in college, this might seem backwards. It seems like everyone around us is having sex, and having a lot of it. But the numbers don’t lie. People are having less sex. This could be attributed to a number of things; the pervasiveness of sex as a taboo, lack of education, an increase in other activities due to a rise in technology, or an increase in the unhealthy mindset behind hook up culture. It’s interesting that although sex seems to be everywhere we turn in college that, in reality, sex is becoming less common amongst our age group to have. We crafted a series of questions to formulate a general hypothesis on SEX in order to cultivate a deeper understanding on who Generation Z is today, and the role sex has in their lives. Utilizing social media platforms, we conducted polls and questions through the GEN-ZiNE Instagram and our personal Instagram accounts to ask our followers a series of 6 questions. Those who wanted to contribute with the knowledge that we could see their answers voluntarily responded. For those who wanted to answer confidentially, we offered a survey that included 12 questions that kept their answers completely anonymous.
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SIX QUESTIONS ONE: Is talking about sex an uncomfortable topic? TWO: Who are you most comfortable talking about sex with? THREE: If you are uncomfortable talking about sex, why? FOUR: What does hook up culture mean to you? FIVE: Have you ever felt pressured to have sex? SIX: What are your issues with sex? VIA: Instagram
These questions, with overlap on both platforms, garnered a huge array of responses with varying
answers and opinions. It gave us a
TWELVE QUESTIONS ONE: How do you identify- what is your sexual orientation? TWO: Is talking about SEX an
lot of insight into the minds of
Generation Z and their thoughts on Sex.
uncomfortable topic? THREE: Who are you most comfortable talking about SEX with? FOUR: If you are uncomfortable talking about SEX, why? FIVE: On a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being most valued), How do you value sex? *meaning* SIX: Does the meaning of sex change for you depend on who it’s with? Please explain. SEVEN: How do you establish trust and intimacy between a new partner or random hookup? ––– How does that affect you after the hookup?
EIGHT: What does hook up culture mean to you? — Do you participate? Why or why not? Does it validate you? Does it make you feel like shit? NINE: What does it mean to have casual sex? TEN: Have you ever felt like you were abnormal because of a common sex problem that isn’t talked about?
ELEVEN: Have you ever felt pressured to have sex? **If you are comfortable answering this, can you please explain why you felt pressured. TWELVE: What are YOUR issues with SEX?
VIA: Google Form
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Art by Maddy Ledger
GEN-ZiNE’s Q&A with the “Voices of Generation Z”
The following statements are a compilation of responses received from our surveys answering the various questions asked. Each sentence represents an unfiltered voice from a member of Gen Z.
WHAT DOES HOOKUP CULTURE MEAN TO YOU? DO YOU PARTICIPATE? WHY OR WHY NOT? DOES IT VALIDATE YOU? DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE SHIT? Hookup culture is in some cases toxic and some cases helpful. It is toxic in the sense that it can make someone feel lonely, less attractive, and pressured to be like others. But in another case, it could be helpful for some who feels ashamed discussing things to become more comfortable expressing themselves, and can also help them find the courage to talk to the person that they are interested in. Hookups are healthy. They allow you to learn more about yourself, which to me is the sole purpose of meaningless sex. I participate for that reason and would encourage others to. A culture in which fast, quick, and less emotional sexual encounters are favored. I think it means putting less value on sex. I've been on both sides of the spectrum. It is hard to not participate in it because this is what everyone does. It can validate me in the moment but usually I’m left feeling shitty when I think back to it. Hookup culture does not validate anything but someone’s ego. It does not validate you. The insight about yourself that you gain from hookups may validate you. You validate you. If it makes you feel like shit, you are the problem. Learn from it. Grow. That’s the point. I think people are so scared of commitment and are constantly living in a state of fear of getting to comfortable with someone. I get too attached to people and know that if I just hooked up with someone random I would feel like shit.. I want a relationship but I will participate in the culture because I feel like that is the only option. I do participate because I’m in college and I’m exploring my sexuality. The worst part about hookup culture is that more often than not, if the guy wants a relationship the girl does too, but if the guy doesn’t and the girl does she’ll just suppress those feelings and hope it will eventually turn into a relationship. Hookup culture means people don’t have strong boundaries in regards to hooking up with strangers/newer people. I value sex in a committed relationship so I do not participate. I need to know and trust the person. Honestly, not something I want to be a part of. I also don’t want to show a stranger
an intimate side of me. To me it means being able to have power over my body and my actions.
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WHO ARE YOU MOST COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT SEX WITH? (summary recap) An overwhelming amount of responses said that they were most comfortable talking about sex with their friends. Some people specified; gay friends, friends of the same gender, close friends. Some people said they are most comfortable talking about sex with their significant other/sexual partner. And some people said they were most comfortable talking about sex with family, mainly siblings but a few said their mom and/or dad.
IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT SEX, WHY? We all have different experiences so people feel nervous to reveal… it’s like a stigma. It is because society treats it as a ‘behind closed doors’ sort of thing, with no real discussion. Humans are LAYERED. Sex is complex and super fragile. Sometimes I wish I had more to say. Because some things are better left unsaid. Growing up I felt like women weren’t supposed to, I also went to Catholic school. I don’t want to get judged. It’s not uncomfortable, but it’s personal. Because I am a virgin and I feel pressure that I’m still one.
HOW DO YOU ESTABLISH TRUST AND INTIMACY BETWEEN A NEW PARTNER OR A RANDOM HOOKUP? HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOU AFTER THE HOOKUP? I honestly don't know how trust and intimacy is established. I think it just takes time for that to be established, which I guess is not a good thing because how much trust can you establish when you meet a random guy at a party? This can often be difficult and can negatively affect people after the hook up. Trust cannot exist with a random hookup, unless this is an already trusted friend. Trust is granted far too frequently. Trust is earned after a long period of loyalty. You can have loyalty without trust but you can’t have trust without loyalty. Trust also causes intimacy. Intimacy and trust give meaning and value. I think it’s a legitimate algorithm. I only have sex with people I’m in a relationship with BECAUSE trust and intimacy are already there. I think that’s what should be created first. I think one main source of trust is not having a bad track record. If you’ve slept around and are known for that, it’s almost impossible to gain another individuals trust. I think another important aspect is talking beforehand and making sure both parties are on the same page. If it’s a one time thing, both sides should agree on that before somebody is mislead and hurt. Get to know each other in a non-sexual context.
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Art by Maddy Ledger
WHAT ARE YOUR ISSUES WITH SEX? Sex has become something that often times means nothing. It’s a little too casual in our culture, and can define relationships too much. our generation grew up learning sex from porn. Pretty problematic. Only sex with penetration is considered sex a lot of the time. There is so much more to a relationship than sex. We don’t talk about it enough. It should be normalized. Not enough sex education. Not enough communication between genders, like I feel comfortable talking to girls about sex but not necessarily boys. You’ve got to talk about what you want with your partner. They won’t know unless you speak up! I have an issue with how taboo it is. My issue is the double standard as men are praised while women are labeled as sluts. Raise girls and boys the same way. Essentially, sex is expected by many. None. Love it, natural human nature and intimacy in the right place and with consent is amazing. Everything. Feeling dominated without consent.
Too many people assume that everyone is STD free and casually hook up with birth control but not condoms and they don’t realize how many people they are actually sleeping with. Only one guy I have been with offered to use a condom. That’s fucked up. Not enough communication/we need to promote consent and talking about desires as sexy! I usually don’t find it all that fulfilling unless there’s a level of emotional connection. This is a bit annoying since, I find, sex is easier to come by than a relationship. Lack of respect for female orgasm. Men think women don’t orgasm. WRONG. Repression. Faking orgasms, painful sex, hookup pressure. Dirty, awkward, unsanitary, worthless, meaningful, beautiful, contradicting. Vaginas aren’t as straightforward as dicks, so even if a guy is trying to make you cum and doing all of the right things, it still might not work and that can be frustrating and uncomfortable for both parties.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE CASUAL SEX? To hook up, but no risk of emotional attachment. No strings attached. No text afterwards. Just sex. To fuck someone for your own pleasure. It means ya better be using protection ! Like you are interested in each other but not realllly interested. Someone you don’t mind leaving the next day and never seeing again. Casual sex, to me, is a period where the partner you are sleeping with is someone who you'd potentially date. Most of the time, this happens due to hookup culture, and you don't get to know the person too well from the beginning. Freedom of choice. Be comfortable enough with yourself to do what the fuck you want.
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DOES THE MEANING OF SEX CHANGE FOR YOU DEPENDING ON WHO IT'S WITH? No. I think having the meaning of sex change depending on partner can be a dangerous road. I believe not all sex has the same value, but it does have the same meaning. I haven’t had—and don’t plan on having—sex before I’m married... that being said, the meaning of sex will always remain pure and valuable in that relationship. I don’t think that sex before marriage is beneficial or smart, and I do think that it leads to a lot of heartbreak and feelings of inadequacy. When it's with a girl you met on a night out it's different than when you're in a relationship. A 'random' hook-up isn't necessarily intimate even though you're being intimate. But when it's with your partner it's much more intense and there is more feeling and, well, passion. So yeah, there's definitely a different definition. I don’t think it changes from person to person. It has a simple meaning to me (trust & connection) and the people I have sex with need to fit that meaning. Yes, with a partner, much more human connection. With a hook up, simply a mutual transaction. I think if it’s not with someone you love it’s essentially masturbation. I think I want it to mean something different, but I've never been in love and some people I've had sex with were based on my vulnerability. It's harder for one to be more special than another because it's all the same without "real love" or at least the illusion of it.
Top Left: Sami Rosenblatt Bottom Right: Maddy Ledger 28
SEXUAL VIOLENCE It would be irresponsible to discuss hook-up culture
without acknowledging sexual violence and assault. In
college, 1 in 4 female undergraduates report sexual assault on campus. At USC, it’s nearly 1 in 3. Sexual
violence is sexual activity when consent is not obtained or not freely given. It includes harassment,
cat calling, pressure while drunk to hook up with someone, or even simply a lingering hand that creeps a little too close. here is a disproportionate number of
young women experiencing sexual violence on college campuses. There are trained respondents and
reporting parties available to confidentially counsel you at USC and they are not required to share this
information with Title IX, unless there is a serious threat of serious harm to self or others is suspected.
Resources National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 South Los Angeles Rape and Battering Hotline: 1-310-392-8381 USC Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center (LGBTRC): (STU 202B) 213-740-7619 lgbt@usc.edu
HAVE YOU EVER FELT PRESSURED TO HAVE SEX? Yes. Someone abused me because I tried saying no. (Female, 22, Los Angeles) Yes. I think it has a lot to do with drinking and the assumption that if you make out with someone or talk to them, they feel as if you’re going to have sex with them. I also have dealt with assault where I was blacked out and don’t remember doing certain things (so in the moment I guess I wasn’t pressured?) but the next morning I would feel incredibly uncomfortable and not really know how to bring it up to the partner that I wasn't really in control of my body. (Female, 20, Los Angeles). Yes. You want to make your partner feel good and they guilt / coerce you into getting rid of their blue balls and into making them feel good. (Female, 20, Los Angeles)
Art by Sadie Paczosa
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SEX is in the eye of the beholder. It can be a fun, pleasurable experience, while simultaneously being an uncomfortable, scary moment too. The voices of Gen-Z spoke, and they have a lot of thoughts and emotions regarding sex. Sex isn’t perfect for
anyone. You are not alone in your worries, stresses, or embarrassments. You are not alone in your confusion, frustration, or anger. You are not alone in being happy, comfortable, and pleasured.
If you decide to have sex, in any capacity, make sure you’re doing it in a safe and clean way. We’ve concluded that sexual encounters are
most successful when there is clear communication, and a feeling of
safety and security. Please take what you’ve read here, and use it to change your approach, perceptions, and conversations about sex.
If you feel like having sex with a random person, GO FOR IT. If you feel like never having sex again, YOU DON’T HAVE TO! Please, don’t let
other people’s pressures or personal opinions affect your choices, ever. Get out there, and have sex – or don’t!
And, if you ever need someone to talk to – we are here for you.
EDEN BURKOW & SAM GIBBS
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BECOMING ENOUGH
(hint: you already are)
"How are you so confident all the time?"
If three years ago you had told me that I would regularly be asked this
question, I never would have believed you. To be quite honest, this
newfound confidence was built by practicing self-care. To be even more honest, sometimes it is a facade. Although I appear to be confident, sometimes I am not. Sometimes, I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin and feel bad about the way I look or come across to others; sometimes I think I
talk too much and say things without thinking. Building confidence has taken years of practice and personal reflection on who I am as a person and the kind of person I want to be.
High school was not a pleasant experience. I was bullied; I was High school was not a pleasant experience. I was bullied; I was called fat called fat and ugly, called a dictator for making a class Facebook and ugly, called a dictator for making a class Facebook page, called
page, called controlling and bossy for wanting to do well in school– controlling and bossy for wanting to do well in school–the list goes on. I the list goes on. I knew these insults were just used to offset these knew these insults were just used to offset these people’s own insecurities, a people’s own insecurities, a way to take out their own personal way to take out their own personal aggressions on me, but they hurt all the same. I do not like to admit I was bullied, but I know it’s important to aggressions on me, but they hurt all the same. I do not like to admit I acknowledge how that experience shaped me as a person. High school is a was bullied, but I know it’s important to acknowledge how that
scary time for most people. Our bodies are changing, our minds are experience shaped me as a person. High school is a scary time for developing faster than we can keep up. It’s a vulnerable time without a most people. Our bodies are changing, our minds are developing
doubt. These feelings were heightened by the hurtful words I was faced with. faster than we can keep up. It’s a vulnerable time without a doubt. I struggled with my mental health and self-esteem even after the bullying These feelings were heightened by the hurtful words I was faced
stopped. I was trying to figure out my identity, where I saw myself in the with. I struggled with my mental health and self-esteem even after the future and where I was going, all while being picked on constantly. These bullying stopped. I was trying to figure out my identity, where I saw feelings traveled with me, even past high school. myself in the future and where I was going, all while being picked on constantly. These feelings traveled with me, even past high school.
Art by Claire Fisher
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During my freshman year of college, I was
Confidence is about unapologetically living in
friends would not accept me. I feared getting
have to find things that make you feel good
afraid of being my true self and afraid my
shut down for being myself again–like I did in
high school. My first semester of sophomore
year at USC, I was able to silence what
others thought of me and began to focus on
what I thought of myself. I stopped relying on
others to tell me what I should do and how I should be. I found people and clubs that had the same passions as I did, while also
solidifying friendships with people that built
your own skin. In order to be confident, you
while doing them. You control what happens to you in life for the most part. College differs
from high school in that it’s very much choose your own adventure. You are not stuck being friends with the kids you grew up with or
joining the club that all the popular kids are in. You can surround yourself with who you want and do the things that make you happy.
me up and praised me for who I was, rather
Happiness and confidence go hand in hand.
something that motivated me and kept me
confident even when you aren’t feeling your
than tore me down. Finding a “purpose,” going was key in finding my confidence. I discovered I wanted to pursue music as a
career, and this discovery unlocked newfound passions and interests; the things I was
That being said, sometimes you have to be best. Be proud of your decisions and beliefs,
because that pride and strength will take you further than conformity ever will.
pursuing became real. I felt great about being
Although my story began in high school, it
other students in the music industry program.
college experience, we again are faced with
on concerts committee and getting to know The happiness I felt about what I was
learning, the people I was meeting, and the
activities I was doing all allowed me to gain confidence in myself.
And for the record: if your friends do not
accept you for who you are, they were never really friends in the first place.
doesn’t end there. As we travel through our
a tumultuous time of change. Where are we going after this, what do we want our life to
become? I had to grow a strong shell around
myself at a young age, and learn to silence the noise of others and truly take care of
myself. The silver lining in being bullied is that
I learned how to pick myself up and I’ll carry
those lessons and tools with me forever. Who you are is enough.
SAM GIBBS
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAA
PERIOD POVERTY
My father is a strong believer of the holy trinity and says that the combination of the three are crucial to making the world a better place. But the holy trinity in this case is women and children’s health, nutrition, and education. In order for a society to be
successful, you need to invest in women. Without taking care of their health, it makes it difficult for them to even get to school. As put by The Pad Project, a period should end a sentence, not a girl's education.
Period Poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products because of financial
constraint. The taboo surrounding this menstruation and lack of access to sanitary products in developing countries isolates and shames women for their natural
bodies. Because there is limited health education on this topic, women are not provided with the proper tools to handle their period and many girls end up missing
at least 20% of the school year or end up dropping out all together (Femme International). In India, it is common for girls in villages to only study until they are in middle school and get their period. It becomes very challenging after that. Without
sanitary products girls cannot change their clothes in the middle of the day. They use cloth instead of absorbent disposable products. Men taunt girls for having to
change in the middle of the day, and the combination of discomfort and
embarrassment drives women away from school. Without access to education, these women cannot advance into developed careers and as a result they stay in domestic roles. Without financial independence they often turn to marriage, and this cycle of oppression continues.
Many countries discuss the issues of girls dropping out of school due to their
periods. The Oscar-winning documentary, Period. End of Sentence (2018), showcases Indian women fighting the stigma surrounding menstruation and begin manufacturing sanitary pads. A man in India named Arunachalam Muruganatham
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who, dismayed by the lack of access women in his country had to sanitary
pads, invented a low-cost sanitary pad machine–despite his own wife leaving him and being shunned by his community in the process. The film follows the
installation of a machine in a small village called Kathikera, located in the Hapur District in Delhi. Many of the girls there had either dropped out of
school, or had missed so much class time due to their periods that they
probably would never graduate. The young women in Kathikera were eager to receive a machine.
This film captured the subsequent growth in the community of Kathikera. It
featured a group of women coming together to manufacture low cost and environmental friendly menstrual pads for the community, and captured their
first experiences of financial independence. After the machine had been installed and operating for six months, there were not only open conversations about menstruation in classrooms, community demonstrations about how their pads worked, but the women in Kathikera found empowerment.
The documentary properly showcased how to combat the stigma of
menstruation and provide women with liberation. It created a space for women in the village to have their own business of making and selling sanitary pads,
and by raising awareness in the United States through an Oscar win, The Pad
Project will surely be provided the capital to expand its efforts to more
communities. The more people who learn about the issue, the more money can be raised for machines around the world–thus more girls will stay in school, graduate, go to work, and improve their country’s GDP.
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Art by Maddy Ledger
The Pad Project and Murunganatham's machine provides a light at the
end of the tunnel that we call Period Poverty. Economic empowerment for women helps the country too. Something as small as providing women with sanitary pads can change the course of history, and unlock potential within these women and the countries. With a higher count in the workforce, and a more educated one at that, these countries can progress and develop into stronger nations.
Though the stigma of menstruation is prominent in developing countries, menstruation is a taboo topic all around the world–including the United States. We claim to be progressive and inclusive, but may find ourselves
in moments where we feel the opposite. Even though the United States is in a place of privilege compared to developing communities, there exists a stigma within our own progressive society.
Menstrual hygiene is a right––it should not be considered a luxury. The
expensive price of pads and tampons affects women locally and
globally. This hinders their ability to contribute properly when they cannot accommodate their natural bodies. To empower women and
communities at large, the first step is to make sure that they have access to sanitary products.
ANUSHKA JOSHI Resources Period. End of Sentence (2018) is an oscar-winning Netflix short documentary, and highlights the impact of women’s health on women’s education and how focus on the two can lead to a prosperous society. The Pad Project - thepadproject.org Period - period.org 35
AFTERWORD Health is the relationship between you, and your body and mind; it is the longest, most personal relationship you’ll have throughout your life. In this lifetime, we are only given one body and one mind. It is the vehicle that carries us through our successes and our failures and allows us to experience our fleeting moments of love, heartbreak, and happiness. We take it for granted until it’s taken from us. We are not invincible; we are simply human. We require nourishment–our minds, our bodies, and our souls. We must take care of ourselves, and be mindful about our decisions––both physically and mentally. The health of tomorrow–both immediate and long-term–depends on how we treat ourselves today. Our habits set a precedent for the rest of our lives. Our choices today not only impact how we feel tomorrow, but can last for the rest of our lives. We must think about the consequences of our actions before we jeopardize our safety and wellbeing. Take care of yourself, not just for you, but for those around you too. Your world is made up of more beings than just yourself––we share our bodies and our minds with those around us. It’s a cliche as old as time, but if we can’t take care of ourselves, then how can we take care of others? You can’t pour from an empty cup... Are you going to sleep every night happy and healthy? If not, why? And how can you get there? Find ways to fall in love with the life you live, to be grateful for what’s in front of you, and what’s within you. Live for today, it’s all that’s promised. Life is fleeting and uncertain. We can try and plan for the future, but none of that matters if you aren’t feeling your best right now.
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Inside Cover by Claire Fisher
GEN-ZiNE
