Impact Magazine #255

255

Impacts’ Grand Tour of Religion and Culture

How accessible is sport at the University of Nottingham for disabled students?

Female Drag: Cheating or Empowering?

02

IMPACT

A letter from the...

EDITOR - IN -

CHIEF

“

INTRO

Being students at an international university means diversity plays a defining role in our daily lives. Over 30,000 students chose to attend The University of Nottingham this year.

This single choice of deciding where to study has linked together individuals with different nationalities, abilities, sexualities, religions, and outlooks on life. If variety truly is the spice of life, we’re very fortunate indeed to revel in it in the daily. As a university magazine, I’ve always felt it is our responsibility to represent the student body, and so for this issue we’ve taken a look at what I really believe is what makes our university a unique and exciting place: Diversity.

Our first exploration of diversity is through nationality and religion. Impact Features’ ‘Grand Tour of Religion’ sees our students learning about different religions in an attempt to find a new found appreciation and education. Whereas our Lifestyle team tackle the great debate of cultural appropriation and the controversy surrounding the topic.

Then we have our international shoot, a photography project close to my heart, aimed at celebrating our cultural differences and of course, our similarities. With help from multiple societies, we have showcased the beauty of our students through their national dress.

Disability is another area which Impact were keen on investigating, with our Sport and News Teams considering the idea of disability and the accessibility for disabled students on campus from attending classes both in the lecture halls and the sports centres. Impact Entertainment have also considered the debate on music and disability and whether we can work together to make it more inclusive.

Our last major area of diversity is sexuality. Whilst Features aim to debunk the stigma of asexuality, Impact Entertainment focus on drag and whether everyone has the right to participate.

This has truly been a project I have always longed to produce, and long overdue in our publication’s history. At times where diversity is used to divide and undermine groups of people, I think it’s important that we students recognise how in reality our differences are worth celebrating and are something that should unite us. Because for as different as we may get, we share a common humanity and, more specifically, a university experience.

I hope readers can see this passion throughout this magazine. No matter how you relate to this issue I hope we can all come together to celebrate the most beautiful part of our university, ourselves.

Emma

03

04

IMPACT

CONTENTS

News

06

Accessibility on Campus Future of the Attainment Gap: Double Pay Penalty Anti-Semitism and the Jewish Experience: Past and Present

12 14 15 16 18 20

Features

12

Faith at University: Its Implications and Struggles Should Everybody be Talking about Everybody’s Talking about Jamie?

Asexual in a Sexualised Society A Day in the Life of an International Student Impact’s Grand Tour of Religion and Culture White and Beautiful: Why Colourism is Still a Persistent Problem

Lifestyle

22

Impact’s Travel Guide: How to Stay Safe Whilst Travelling World Cuisine: Home Recipes from Students How Immigration has Diversified British Food Habits Impact’s Big Diversity Shoot Cultural Appropriation: The Debate How Where You Are From Affects How You Dress Diversity in STEM

40 42 44 46 48 50 51

Sport

06 08 10

22 25 26 28 34 36 38

Entertainment

40

Female Drag: Cheating or Empowering?

Is Music Ableist?

Non-Heteronormative Relationships in TV and Film Laughing for the Many, Not the Few “Only Guys Like Video Games”: Why This is Complete Nonsense LGBT+ Voices: Words in Motion Still I Rise: Feminism and the Gender Politics of Contemporary Media

52

From Ningbo to Nottingham: How International Students Help to Improve the Green and Golds How Being Vegan Affects Your Athletic Career How Accessible is Sport at the University of Nottingham for Disabled Students?

52 54 56

1%

Source: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/spp/documents/pdf/2017-18/osugdomiciles.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1FT1v1gMbQoaM6pHUTd_hbfP8Q5VRqtr1ESk6t_o168gB1jvGs-H1EdYg

2%

6%

23%

6%

54%

Where do our EU and Overseas UG Students come from?

1%

The University of Nottingham across the World

06

IMPACT

Accessibility on Campus

Katie Moncur Impact News investigates whether it is difficult for students with disabilities to navigate around campus and, if not, has accessibility gone far enough?

Since 2010, there are 56% more university students with a known disability in the UK. According to the University of Nottingham’s Disability Statistics 2017/18, out of their 23,147 enrolled undergraduates, 13% declared a disability last year. Although it is difficult to say whether the increase in the number of students with a disability entering higher education is directly correlated with increased rates of disclosure, it clearly shows the need for greater levels of student support at universities.

The University of Nottingham’s mission statement highlights the aims of their disability services, wanting to create ‘an inclusive and equitable teaching and learning environment to the benefit of all students’. According to their website, disability support

They can also apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances- a form of funding to meet their extra needs that doesn’t have to be repaid. The Higher Education Funding Council for England states that ‘the outcomes for students in receipt of DSA are broadly in line with those of students with no known disability’, yet only 42% of students with declared disabilities are in receipt of funding.

This shows a nationwide issue concerning eligibility for financial aid or lack of awareness of available support, all of which the University of Nottingham aims to address.

The University is split across multiple campuses with University Park campus being particularly difficult to access for those

Photography by Molly Evans

starts before students accept their place at University with students potentially being invited to a meeting with a Disability Support Adviser or Mental Health Advisor who starts the process of making a Support Plan for the duration of their degree.

Students with a disability are guaranteed a suitable room in University-arranged accommodation for the duration of the three years by going through an annual application process.

with mobility issues due to the hilly nature of the site. The University runs free hopper buses with low floors and space for a wheelchair which run regularly from University Park to Jubilee, Sutton Bonington and King's Meadow campuses, and the Royal Derby Hospital Centre, even running to Nottingham City Hospital during term time. To aid with further travel and getting around the individual campuses themselves, the University also runs

NEWS

a minibus service to help students attend academic activities. Every minibus is fully accessible with a wheelchair lift and trained staff. Although it is not a taxi service, the minibus service offers flexibility to students especially during exam season, but must be booked in advance.

The University have divided their services into two categories; those with physical disabilities/impairments/medical conditions, Asperger syndrome or mental health conditions are referred to the Disability Support Team and those with Specific Learning Differences such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD are referred to the Academic Support Team. The University states that their ‘specialist service provides student-led support to enable disabled students to flourish as independent learners’.

In addition to the more practical services they offer for those with physical disabilities and the one-to-one sessions available, they run group workshops on a range of topics.

Of the 198 students with a disability studying English at the University of Nottingham, 55% have declared a mental health condition – the highest percentage of all schools. A secondyear English student attended one of the workshops led by the disability services aimed at improving mental health through managing stress and stated that “The workshop was both informative and engaging, and the skills taught were easily transferable to be used as part of our daily lives in combating stress.” These workshops run by the University show their awareness of the mental health conditions prevalent in university communities and the common causes behind increased numbers of those affected, helping to equip students with the skills and mindsets needed to improve their mental health.

Between 2010 and 2016, the number of UK university students with a known mental health illness increased by 220% and, at the University of Nottingham in 2017/18, 32% of the declared disabilities are for mental health conditions - this being the second highest percentage, with the number of those with learning difficulties at 34%. This highlights where the University should be focusing their attention when it comes to disability support.

Issy, a second-year medical student at the University of Nottingham, suffers from anxiety disorder. More than 80% of medical students worldwide who have declared that they suffer from mental health conditions feel under-supported, with 1 in 3 suffering from depression and 1 in 10 experiencing suicidal thoughts. At the University of Nottingham in 2017/18, 16% of the 200 students studying Medicine declared a disability with 28% of these disabilities being a mental health condition.

In order to practice medicine as a career, students must have a diagnosis to ensure it is a safe role for them to pursue so it is vital for the University to have the support structure in place to aid those studying Medicine. Issy has experienced the University’s disability services herself and believes that ‘Once you find the right support for you then uni support is excellent, but it takes a bit of trial and error.’

She went through the regular procedure of having an initial oneto-one session with a member of staff from the Disability Advice Service and gaining support through them but found the Mental Health Advisory service to be the most helpful during her time at university. She called it an “Absolute god-send”, as “a stepping stone between you and uni; they aren’t psychologists but they are a signposting service so they can take that extra burden off which is really handy.”

07

For further information on the University of Nottingham’s support services, contact: Disability Support via phone: +44(0) 115 95 15992 or email: disability-support@ nottingham.ac.uk Academic Support via phone: +44 (0)115 8466115 or email: dyslexiasupport@nottingham.ac.uk

Issy highlighted the significance of their role in her Support Plan, particularly when it came to examination arrangements: “I don’t do my exams in the same room as everyone else, for instance, and my advisor was the one that referred me to them”. Her Mental Health Advisor emailed disability support for her to arrange an appointment to discuss alterations for her examination conditions, helping to take care of the more administerial jobs that many students may find overwhelming and stressful, including impacting their mental health further.

Although Issy emphasised her positive experience with the Mental Health Advisory Service, it is a limited system with two or three staff, each working two days a week, with the ability to see around 6 people a day. As Issy states, it is fairly difficult to get support from the service as only “those with the most profound issues get referred to MHAS, so you sometimes have to be quite unwell to be referred” but there are alternative people in place for those in need.

Every school has a Disability Liaison Officer but Issy emphasised the significance of her senior tutor in the medical school: “They have drop-in sessions, which aren’t just for academic progress checks – they can be for welfare as well, and anyone can go and see them in the school. They have better contacts within the school to get help.” There is a wealth of options in terms of support from personal tutors to the GPs at Cripps Health Centre and a counselling service in addition to the assigned disability and academic support officers. The University of Nottingham is also one of a small number of universities to employ a Disability Sports Officer, enabling those with disabilities to be supported in all aspects of their university life.

In December 2018, the University of Nottingham hosted Disability Awareness December focusing on the importance of declaring a disability and celebrating the diversity of the University’s staff and students through a host of workshops, panel discussions and music performances.

The University appears to be reaching out to students to both raise awareness and continually improve the disability support systems within the institution.

Future of the Attainment gap: 08

IMPACT

Marvel Kalu Marvel considers the issue of the attainment gap at university and its links to the pay gap in future employment, exploring what the University of Nottingham are doing to support BAME students both on and off campus.

The attainment gap is an issue that the University of Nottingham has been tackling actively, with the help of the BME Network, since February 2018. The issues associated with the attainment gap encourage a discussion not only regarding what life is like for BAME students on campus, but also extending beyond the lecture theatre and campus grounds into the working world.

“Attainment”,according to the Oxford Dictionary, is the action of achieving a goal towards which one has worked e.g.an educational achievement such as a degree. After studying for three or four years at your chosen university and becoming an expert in your field of study, you will receive a degree. This is supposed to provide a sense of security that you have graduated with your degree certificate and can now enter the world of work and achieve success. However, not every graduate is able to experience a successful entry into the working world following graduation because of the degree attainment gap.

The degree attainment gap is the difference in ‘top degrees’ – a First or 2.1 classification – awarded to different groups of students. The biggest differences are found by ethnic background. For example, a 2017 report from the Equality Challenge Unit indicated that 77.1% of white students received a first or 2:1 compared with 61.7% of BME students in England This brings into question the battles that BME students face during their academic years.

The fight to raise awareness surrounding the effects of the attainment gap has been ongoing since 2016, constituting an important part of the BME Network’s manifesto since then. In 2017, the National Union for Students (NUS) highlighted the significance of the ‘Black Attainment Gap’ amongst students of Afro-Caribbean heritage.

Recently, the charity One Heritage was launched as part of the SU, focusing on educating students about both the history and current realities of being of African heritage. Their event ‘The Space’ which takes place on campus, provides a safe space for BAME students to discuss issues that affect them during their academic career, such as the attainment gap.

In addition to the degree attainment gap, Black, Asian and minority ethnic people in the UK face a significant jobs gap and pay “penalty” despite an increase in the number obtaining degrees. Pakistani and Bangladeshi graduates are about 12% less likely to be in work than white British graduates, and Indian and Black Caribbean graduates have a jobs gap of about 5%. Black African and Bangladeshi graduates are twice as likely to work in low-paying occupations than Indian, white and Chinese graduates.

Double Pay Penalty NEWS

09

This systematic prejudice against BME students post- academia places an immense amount of pressure on these students not only to work harder than their white counterparts for recognition, but also on higher education facilities to find new ways to close the attainment gap.

A final year biochem student at UoN expressed her concerns: ‘My efforts are going to waste, I have to work twice as hard even then a secure future is not guaranteed’.

At the University of Nottingham, the intake of Black students is growing and is the fifth highest among the 24 Russell Group universities. UoN want to move focus away from the traditional language of the attainment gap which has focused on students' underachievement or lack of attainment. The University indicate that it should focus on the institutional culture, curriculum and pedagogy. Crucially, students must be at the centre of any actions that are taken, operating as partners in addressing the gap.

A third year Philosophy student stated: ‘As a uni student the aim is to work hard and graduate with a good grade. Whilst these statistics are disappointing, I am not surprised, but I won’t let it discourage me’.

As the race pay gap began to increase, pressure has been increasingly applied on the government to introduce mandatory reporting of race pay gaps. A leading body of experts called The think tank called on the government to replicate the legislation requiring companies to publish gender pay gaps – but this time in relation to ethnic minorities. Gender pay gap legislation, which came into force in April 2018, exposed the differential treatment of male and female employees, finding that 8 in 10 firms paid men more than women. Recent statistics show that among female graduates, black women faced the largest pay penalty, of £1.62 an hour (9%). Accordingly, female black students face a double pay penalty based both on their ethnicity and gender.

One student, who prefers to remain anonymous, expressed her outrage at this statistic ‘we graduate with our degrees unknowing that ignorance is what will employ us in the future.’

Meanwhile, a final year Maths student who was not aware of the double pay penalty stated that ‘being a woman in this society is already hard enough, then being black as well puts us at the bottom of the pecking order. However, this shouldn’t stop us from striving to reach the top of anything we’re trying to pursue’.

In 2017, the BME Network put forward an initiative to tackle the attainment gap at UoN by diversifying the staff body at all grades. In 2018, the University took further strides in its ambition to secure Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) for everyone in the staff and student community by appointing a new Pro Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

In 2018-19 UoN want to focus on and include the consideration of assessment practices and examining mentoring possibilities in order to bring together BME staff and students. There will also be an attempt to identify and establish a physical space for activities involving BME students. In addition to this, the role to be played by Senior Tutors in tackling the attainment gap will be considered.

For further information, support and to take part in the initiative please contact: University’s Academic Secretary Robert Dowling by emailing mail to: robert.dowling@nottingham.ac.uk

10

IMPACT

Antisemitism and the Jewish Experience: Past and Present Faye Price An insight into what life is like for the University of Nottingham’s Jewish students.

One of the greatest things about being Jewish at University is, arguably, the sense of community. As one of the country’s largest ‘Jewnis’ the University of Nottingham, together with Nottingham Trent, is home to around 1500 Jewish students. This equates to approximately 15% of Jewish young people who go on to further education. Other prominent ‘Jewnis’ include Cambridge, Oxford, Leeds and Newcastle.

The rise in prominence of the ‘Jewni’, however, is partially due to the recent rise in anti-Semitism both nationwide and across UK campuses. The charity Community Security Trust (CST) recorded 727 anti-Semitic incidents across the UK in the first six months of 2018. This is the second highest figure recorded in more than two decades, the highest being in the first six months of 2017. On University campuses in the UK, there have been 112 incidents of an Anti-Semitic nature, with 20 occurring in 2018. Although Nottingham remains one of the most popular choices for Jewish students, maintaining this in the current political climate is no easy feat.

In light of this, our Students’ Union have been working closely with the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) and the Union of Jewish Students (UJS). Just over a month ago, Community Officer Jacob Collier and Activities Officer Katie Clubb travelled to Auschwitz –Birkeneau with HET and UJS. The visit involved tours of both Auschwitz and the main death camp of Birkeneau. Students and staff then reconvened a week later for a follow-up seminar, to discuss what had been learned and the personal impact of the visit.

Of the experience, Jacob Collier stated, ‘My perceptions of Auschwitz before visiting was that the camps would be hidden in secluded areas, far out into the woodland. To my surprise, the opposite was the case. The Auschwitz camps are located close to the Polish town of Osweicim, and it was strange to see housing so close to an historical site where

NEWS

11

millions of people had perished; especially new housing sites going up directly opposite the Auschwitz-Birkeneau camp.

From the perspective of the local people, it was not an abnormal thing. They viewed it as reclaiming their town, which their ancestors had been forcibly removed from by the Nazis.’

He summarised that, ‘The visit gave us the opportunity to understand the events of the Holocaust and how when unchallenged, hate can have perilous consequences.’

Like many of the Students and staff who attended the trip, our SU intends to ensure that what has been learned from the past will be utilised and applied in the present. When questioned as to how this would be put into place to ensure the safety of Jewish students on campus, Jacob Collier responded, ‘The truth is we don’t know the true extent of antiSemitism on campus because not all victims feel comfortable to come forward and report. The same is true for all minority groups who face discrimination, which is why we have to create an environment that enables students to report.’

‘SU Advice is now a hate crime reporting centre, where victims of hate crime can report and get welfare support. We will be working on bystander intervention training to empower others to report incidents and give support to victims.’ He added that, ‘The University of Nottingham Students’ Union has a policy condemning anti-Semitism on campus and which mandates us to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day in January. I am working with J-Soc and our partners at the University to ensure we mark this day.’

Holocaust Memorial Day falls on 29th January 2019. The theme for this year is ‘Torn From Home,’ its aim to encourage audiences to reflect on how the loss of one’s safe place to call home is a large part of the trauma faced by anyone experiencing persecution and genocide.

Despite nationwide issues surrounding anti-Semitism that have been particularly prevalent since 2016, the student experience for Jewish students at UoN remains a fruitful one. Thanks to societies like J-Soc, and the SU, ‘the University of Nottingham is one of the best universities to go to if you’re Jewish,’ according to one student. They added, ‘there’s a great Jewish community here,’ with, ‘three rabbis in close proximity to campus who hold events throughout the year, support for exams, and counselling.‘ Nottingham’s Jewish Society is one of the largest in the UK, and hosts weekly Friday Night dinners, the iconic Booze for Jews and a Kosher Cafe.

Today, events like the Holocaust are often viewed as fragments of the past. Yet it is important to remember that more than half a century ago, these events were a traumatic, horror-ridden reality. It reminds us of the damage hatred and violence can do across the world. However, it is clear in today’s society that, despite nationwide religious unrest, the University of Nottingham remains a place that anyone, regardless of religious, cultural and sexual differences, can call home.

Image courtesy of Libreshot via google images

12

IMPACT

Faith at University: Its Implications and Struggles Lee Marsh UoN’s Catholic Lay Chaplain and alumni student Lee Marsh, discusses some of the trials he faced practicing Catholicism at university Photography by Molly Evans

FEATURES

Coming to university is an intense experience. Excitement and anxieties are fused together under the intense pressure of starting life away from home. During my first few weeks at ‘uni’, I would find myself desperately striving for many goals: to succeed in my course, to find my way around University Park, to master the art of cooking pasta. But at the top of that list was to be accepted. Whether it was by my flatmates or course-mates, my strongest desire was to fit in with my peers, and more importantly find somewhere I could belong.

“My strongest desire was to fit in with my peers, and more importantly find somewhere I could belong” In my own experience, having a faith is something that, most of the time, can be a very personal thing. Coupling that with this urge to be ‘normal’, I believe creates the first struggle of having faith at University- expression. I had been a happily practising Catholic most of my life, but during my first few months of university, I wouldn’t have dared mention my faith to anyone. I was afraid of making my flatmates feel uneasy or of a lack of understanding on their behalf.

In those early days of university, my faith became something so isolated from the rest of my life. It was almost as if there were two distinct persons I was masquerading as: ‘University Me’ and ‘Religious Me’. I would still go to church, but always alone, and hardly noticed by my friends busy nursing hangovers from their weekend antics. This is the reality for many of the students I met during my time at University.

One day, I remember trudging my way back from 10.30am Mass, unlocking the front door of my flat to come face-toface with my flatmate, who promptly asked where I had been.

Sheepishly, I replied with the fact I had been to church. To my surprise, my flatmate revealed she was Catholic too, and had simply been going to a different church to myself. The extent to which religion was a taboo subject had left me not knowing that my friend, living less than ten metres away, shared something intrinsically in common with me; something I had so far concealed.

“There were two distinct persons I was masquerading as: ‘University Me’ and ‘Religious Me’” For those more confident, the second struggle of managing your faith at university is more common: breaking down preconceptions. University is, for all its stresses and struggles, a place to find yourself and to be the person that you wish to be. Yet, in my own experience, there are times when people would make assumptions about your lifestyle due to your faith. I have been asked questions such as “Do you go clubbing if you’re Catholic?” and “Do Catholics drink?”. I feel like the crux of this all-too-prominent issue, regardless of your faith, is a lack of understanding of the faith of others.

These preconceptions are rarely built with malicious intent, but more on the kindness of people being over-cautious or being inclusive.

A friend of mine, Daniel Long, who was the president of the Methodist Society at his university, told me about how this over-sensitivity would also go on to affect his own student experience: ‘One of the things I loved doing as a student was

13

going to the pub. I don’t drink though [as part of his faith], so people don’t tend to think of me as someone who would particularly enjoy that sort of environment. I actually find it very enjoyable. There are some conversations that are much easier to have over a drink, even if it’s not alcoholic!’. As a Methodist, Dan doesn’t drink on church grounds (and many such as Dan don’t drink at all), yet that caution expressed from his peers would lead to him being distanced from social occasions or, as my parents would put it, ‘the full student experience’. You may be wondering at this point, if faith is something so important to so many of its members, how does the University of Nottingham cater to and support this everpresent need? The way I, along with so many students across the University, found support in my faith was through one of the many SU Faith Societies. I found the Catholic Society at the end of my first year of University, and my whole University experience changed. Here were students who also understood my struggles, and who would meet and celebrate them. These Faith Societies can often, in my experience, break through that simple SU Society structure and become something more: family.

“If something is that important to you, it should be important enough to have a place within your University life” It was through the Catholic Society that I first encountered “the Chaplaincy”. The University has its own department, dedicated to helping students “of any faith or none”. The Chaplaincy team are made up of various Chaplains, workers sent by various faiths to support the students of the University. A variety of faiths are represented; in addition to various Christian denominations there are Jewish and Muslim Chaplains, as well as contact links with places of worship in the local area. These Chaplains are there to act as someone to talk to, whether you are just finding university difficult, or are trying to navigate the troubled waters of having faith at University.

The jewel in the crown is, of course, the hospitality space, hidden away in the A Floor of Portland Building. This space is there for you to chat informally to a Chaplain (should you wish) or simply to find a quiet zone away from the madness of University Campus life. Eleanor Wells, a theology student at the University, described to me her own experience of the University Chaplaincy: “I really enjoy the quiet of the Chaplaincy, it is a little place of calm among the hubbub of uni life. It’s a great place to do work or just pop in for a cup of tea and chat.”

It is a sad fact that there are some students who, upon their graduation, come across a University Chaplain and note that they simply didn’t know the Chaplaincy existed. As for me, the Chaplaincy played such a role in my time as a UoN student that I decided to stay and work as Catholic Lay Chaplain. It is a great feeling to pay something back and be there for any student who wants to reach out.

Therefore, my message to students of faith at University would be this: be courageous, and use that courage to be yourself, and never be afraid that your faith is part of that.

If something is that important to you, it should be important enough to have a place within your University life. To students with friends who have a faith, my challenge is this: are you doing your best to support your friend? Try your best to understand their faith, and you may just understand each other that little deeper too.

IMPACT

14

?

Should Everybody ?

Be EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT Talking About

?

JAMIE

Olivia Cunningham Olivia Cunningham explores why Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is the best LGBTQ + on the West End stage Impact may be talking about Global Diversity, but Everybody (else) is Talking About Jamie!

Although one of the newest musicals to grace London’s West End, it is undeniably one of the most successful, and has just recently celebrated its first birthday. So, what does this have to do with Global diversity you may be asking… well ask no more, the answer is EVERYTHING! The whole cast, from principle characters to ensemble members, is made up of a massively culturally diverse group of people, and the story line is all about the importance of human diversity and individuality and being true to yourself.

Based on a true story, “Jamie” tells the tale of 16-year-old Jamie New, who is openly out as gay to all his family and friends, but his dream of becoming a drag queen is something he can’t quite come to terms with himself. With help from those closest to him, including best friend Pritti (a hard-working Muslim girl), his mum Margaret, and greatly experienced drag queen Loco Chanelle, Jamie goes on a journey of self-discovery. He faces and overcomes many obstacles along the way. The show is a huge cheerleader for diversity and emphasises the importance of being true to yourself no matter how different to everyone else you may feel; that is the beauty!

“When speaking to Michelle about the show, she described her character as a ‘total bitch’” Towards the end of the show, those in Jamie’s life who were judgemental and nasty start to accept him for the star that he is, including teacher Miss Hedge, who is currently being played by the incredible Michelle Visage. When speaking to Michelle about the show, she described her character as a “total bitch”; Hedge discourages Jamie from his dreams, emphasising the need for her students to “keep it real”. Visage is a true asset to the cast and contributes hugely to spreading the message of global diversity, particularly when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community.

This is the perfect role for her, and one she is clearly thriving in, as she added “I play a bitch very well, as you know!”. Another

fabulous addition to the cast is Shobna Gulati, most known for her role as Sunita Alahan in Coronation Street. Gulati plays Ray, Jamie’s mum’s best friend and the most prominent father figure in his life who encourages him to follow his dreams despite all the drawbacks and gives him tough love when he needs it. As a person of colour, the character of Ray is again emphasising the shows stress on global diversity.

“Undoubtedly the most fitting with the global diversity theme of all the shows in the West End currently” From the beautifully diverse cast, to the storyline, to the incredible soundtrack, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is perfect for everyone! It is undoubtedly the most fitting with the global diversity theme of all the shows in the West End currently.

Even the audience was a diverse gang; all ages, ethnicities, gender identities and sexual orientations enjoyed the show and it brought everybody together. To summarise, “Jamie” presents many current issues in a fresh new way, appealing to a wide range of people, which is hugely important in the fight to tackle ignorance, and brings people from all walks of life together with a shared love of music, laughter and all things camp!

Michelle Visage (left), Olivia Cunningham (right) Photography by Helena Papamichael

Asexual in a Sexualised Society FEATURES

15

Hay Sleigh An exploration into asexuality and whether asexual students feel discriminated against Leaving home and going to university is a life-changing experience; an opportunity to discover yourself and live as you truly are. For third-year undergraduate student JR, the University of Nottingham has offered an environment where he has been able to explore his identity as an asexual. He has been fortunate to meet many accepting and open-minded people here. However, sadly, not everyone has been so supportive.

“They just believe I’m being difficult or weird” Asexuality.org defines an asexual person as ‘someone who does not experience sexual attraction or an intrinsic desire to have sexual relationships’. A 2015 study conducted by Glasgow University found that 1% of British people have ‘almost no interest in sexual activity’. JR identifies as being a ‘homoromantic asexual’. He indicates that ‘generally I’m attracted to self-defining males, however it’s more about how I feel about the person. I enjoy tactile physical contact but beyond that I feel uncomfortable and disinterested.’

‘I’ve known something was there when I first started having romantic encounters, but I just pushed it to one side. It was only in the first year of university that I finally found a name for what I felt. I met someone who I fell in love with but didn’t want to have sex with, and they didn’t understand.’ After that, JR started to acknowledge his feelings and ‘do lots of googling’.

JR only tells people about his sexuality if it comes up in conversation or he needs to disclose it to someone he’s attracted to. He feels part of a community of asexual people but it’s mostly online. However, he has also met people in person who he’s able to talk to. He is on the committee for the LGBT+ network, where he has met other students who openly identify as asexual, ‘or have feelings that are asexual-like’.

Most people are tolerant and respectful. ‘I find those who aren’t so accepting fall into one of a few different categories: either “oh shame, what happened to make you this way?” or “what’s wrong with you?” or worse, “I can’t believe you don’t like sex!”’ In terms of potential romantic partners, ‘people have not even wanted to try and understand. They just believe I’m being difficult or weird.’

The most ridiculous thing JR has been told was that he was ‘asexual for the attention, which I don’t even understand’.

“People assume that being asexual means he doesn’t want any kind of romantic relationship at all” There are a couple of common misconceptions that JR hears. Firstly, if someone doesn’t know him well, they might assume he is ‘super religious’. Secondly, some people assume that being asexual means he doesn’t want any kind of romantic relationship at all. Some asexuals – known as aromantic – are not interested in having romantic partnerships.

Does JR think the Students’ Union should do more to support asexual students? ‘That’s difficult because I personally feel that the idea of supporting asexual students implies that there’s a deficiency in my sexuality. I would like the SU to have more events where identifiers can be used so it’d be clearer on nights out that I wasn’t interested in sex. I feel the SU needs a greater focus on letting students know the range of LGBT+ identities.’

For students who are questioning their sexuality, JR has some advice to share. ‘Be honest about how you’re feeling and don’t let what society and others think influence that.’

A Day in the Life of an International Student 16

IMPACT

Dexter Tam

Dexter Tam explores his national identity and discusses his everyday experiences as an international student from Hong Kong “Ey up me duck! Are you getting me up for a walk today? I feel very determined today!” a patient called out, sitting on an armchair next to her bed.

culture. I did not intentionally avoid getting to know other international students, but I tried my best not to be selective when making friends.

It was 1 p.m. I was in the local town of Derbyshire doing my physiotherapy placement. I had just eaten my lunch in a hospital. I was going back to the ward to start the second half of my day.

During the first meeting with my professor, she was surprised by my idea of blending in with the local students and told me it would not be as easy as it sounds. She was right. It is actually quite difficult to become familiar with someone who grew up with a completely different culture. Even today, I sometimes struggle to hold a decent conversation, which sometimes frustrates me. The question ‘do I actually belong here?’ always pops up in my head.

“She was surprised by the idea of blending in with the local students and told me it would not be as easy as it sounds” “Aw bless ya. I was just about to. Did you have a nice lunc…

I mean dinner?” I replied in my best attempt to sound like a local. Meanwhile I was thinking why lunch is called dinner when dinner can also refer to the meal you eat at night, but dinner can also be called tea, yet tea sounds more like a hot drink. These were never the questions I expected to address before I came to the UK to study, not to mention how confused I was when I was after the first time I was called a duck.

This is just one of countless interesting yet confusing incidents that has happened throughout the two and a half years since I have come to the UK from Hong Kong. I was a lucky one. I grew up studying most subjects in English, which acted as basic preparation in case I ever intended to study in the UK. However, the school I attended was a local one and so communicating in English was not something familiar to me. There are some things you cannot learn at schoolaccents, culture, topics and most importantly confidence.

“I am homesick at home, which is a terrible feeling” Interestingly, when I first arrived, I was determined to get along with local British people, simply because I wanted to make the most out of the three years and learn about British

Talking about sense of belonging, from day to day, I receive comments from local students such as “I’m actually surprised that you’re erm… talking to me. I don’t mean to be offensive but rarely international students would like to talk to us.” I usually take this as a compliment for being confident and friendly. But I am always curious about the reason behind the hidden agenda of international students who will mostly stick to themselves. This happens to be a norm and an expected behavior. Most of the time, I am the one who starts a conversation. I sometimes do feel like I do not belong to the UK at all, not even as a student, and that is when homesickness hits. Most people will say going back home for Christmas or summer is a good cure for it. However, that is not always the case, well at least not for me.

“In the UK, I have a lot more ‘me time’, sometimes it can be a time to reflect on my own if I feel very down” I remember last year when I went back to Hong Kong for Christmas, which I was looking forward to. I have never felt more isolated from my hometown. I felt like things were not the same. Even when I met up with my home friends, I would feel left out. I am homesick at home, which is a terrible feeling. The question ‘do I still belong here?’ appeared in my head every now and then. How can one not feel like they belong to their home? Hong Kong just feels stranger and stranger to me every time I go back.

FEATURES

Don’t get me wrong. I might sound a bit negative towards the UK. But, I actually quite like it in a way. I may not be as close with the locals as they are with each other. However, most of them are quite friendly towards me. I am often tired of fitting in and feeling like an outsider, but I know it is mostly just my self-consciousness. Ever since I arrived in the UK, I have learned so much more about myself. I never have a chance to reflect on myself when I am back in Hong Kong, possibly because the city is too busy and vibrant. It is a city where you are expected to be busy all the time, where shopping malls and restaurants are open until 10 or even 11 at night everyday even on Christmas, where tranquility is rare. In the UK, I have a lot more ‘me time’. Sometimes it can be a time to reflect alone if I feel very down, or simply just time to watch some videos while eating a bag of crisps. That is why I like the UK. Although it is a place where I hit my lowest point, I certainly grew up a lot as a person.

17

Where do I belong? I am not quite sure. I have lost a bit of a connection with Hong Kong already, but I still feel too foreign to say I belong to the UK. But, I am sure that my life does not belong to anyone but myself, which means rather than focusing too much on blending in and satisfying others, I live for my own happiness.

This may not be what you expected to read just by the title.

To be honest, a day of an international student is possibly the same as everyone else’s: lectures, studying, going to the gym, procrastinating, hanging out with friends and maybe partying. But on top of this, complicated and contradictory thoughts are persistent like mine. Try your best to show you care if an international student ever approaches. Being accepted actually means a lot when you are in a completely new place on your own.

18

IMPACT

IMPACT’S Grand Tour

of Religion and Culture Religion and culture is fascinating to learn about, whether it is a part of your degree course or you’re just curious. Below, some of our writers reflect on their experiences visiting various religious institutions across Nottingham, and engaging with their services and rituals.

JUDAISM “Learning about the congregation’s close ties to the Jewish communities lost to the Holocaust touched me deeply”

Being invited to a bar mitzvah was certainly not what I expected when I went to visit the Nottingham Liberal Synagogue. As an atheist I was diving into the unknown, but I arrived bright and early and was warmly welcomed by the chairman whose grandson was having his bar mitzvah that day. I was handed a Torah and sat with a cheerful member of the congregation who explained that although a lot of the service would be in Hebrew, I would easily be able to follow along with the English translations. I was honoured to be invited to such an important event in a young Jewish person’s life, and enjoyed the prayers and songs involved in the ceremony. I even got to see the synagogue’s amazing 200 year old scrolls, which originally belonged to Jews in the Czech Republic.

It was an unexpectedly emotional yet entirely fulfilling experience, and learning about the congregation’s close ties to the Jewish communities lost to the Holocaust touched me deeply. I am glad to have attended such a traditional yet liberal service.

Esme Johnson

“Buddhism isn’t strictly a religion; it is a philosophy and way of life”

BUDDHISM Buddhism isn’t strictly a religion; it is a philosophy and way of life. I got an insight into this way of living by visiting the Buddhist Centre in Nottingham.

Two minutes’ walk from the Lace Market tram stop, I was surprised when I stumbled across the centresurprise would be a continuing theme throughout my visit.

The meditation session itself was certainly eye-opening. The person taking the session ensured we were all comfortable on our chairs (not cross-legged on the floor as I expected) and explained the exercises we were about to do. This week was focused on breathing, and we went through various exercises trying to isolate and focus on our breathing and how this interacted with the rest of our bodies. The half an hour absolutely flew by, and I came out feeling refreshed and ready to face the day.

In the age of ‘generation information’, I believe that Buddhism could help a lot of us build a stronger connection to ourselves and give us a break from the speed and intensity of modern society.

Emily Casey

FEATURES

19

SIKHISM “Women and children arrived gradually and every person who entered the mosque was greeted with smiles, hugs and ‘salaam alaikum’”

My friend and I visited our local Gurdwara, the Sikh place of worship. I hadn’t visited a Gurdwara since studying in Nottingham, so this visit provided an overdue sense of calmness and unity that is embedded within the religion.

We left our shoes and bags in the designated area, done to take the weight off your shoulders to help focus on taking the weight off your mind. We covered our heads, a traditional symbol of respect, and took a few coins with us to the shrine area. You leave these here to be donated to different charities, a key practice of Sikhism.

We were given ‘prasad’ (holy dish) to eat whilst listening to the Granthi (priest-like figure) speak and sing from the holy book. The Granthi is unlike other religions since he or she has the same status as any other visitors, a lesson of equality integral to Sikhism. This parity is seen in the Langar, the main meal served (free) to all visitors regardless of faith, which everyone sits on the floor to eat as a statement against social standing.

We enjoyed a wholesome meal, all cooked by volunteers who helped make it a brilliantly unifying visit.

Shanai Momi

ISLAM My first impression of the Masjid Umar in Hyson Green was how unassuming the mosque was. I had been told that there are separate entrances for men and women and that it was therefore important for me to enter using the ‘sister’ entrance.

Shaikha Sawson, Head of the Sisters Department at the mosque, greeted me and we both removed our shoes before heading upstairs to the prayer room. Sawson explained her background and details around certain Muslim practices specifically relevant to women, such as wearing the headscarf and make-up. Women and children arrived gradually and every person who entered the mosque was greeted with smiles, hugs and ‘salaam alaikum’.

Once most people had arrived we sat around in a circle and the chapter reading and discussion began. The day I visited it was Chapter 30, which is the final chapter in the Qur’an, and focuses on the prophet Muhammad. There was then a call to prayer, which came through a speaker system, the men having also gathered in a separate room within the mosque, ready to pray.

“Although the story of Jesus might not necessarily be something that I believe in, there is something to be gained from the almost meditative state that can be found during the service”

Most women assembled in a line at one end of the room, however, one of the women who held back from joining the others informed me that during menstruation, women are not allowed to pray. After around five to ten minutes of praying, the Sisters began saying their goodbyes. I thanked them for letting me be a part of their worship; something I found both humbling and eye-opening.

Hannah Crolla-Parkhouse

CHRISTIANITY Recently I accidentally attended a church. Rain led me in, and social awkwardness stopped me from leaving. Even so, there’s something to be said for attending a service.

There was a strong feeling of community as people found their seats and settled in. At the front of the room the advent candle was lit and the priest waited to begin.

As the service started and passages from the Bible were read, the mod in the Church shifted to contemplation. It was at this point that I realised that although the story of Jesus might not necessarily be something that I believe in, there is something to be gained from the almost meditative state that can be found during the service. The ability to simply think and reflect is something that is often lost in the modern world, but for an hour and a half in this room full of people, it was possible.

Erin Orme

20

White and Beautiful: IMPACT

Saumya Surendran Saumya discusses the prevalence of colourism in Asian communities.

With various media outlets and countless advertisements constantly endorsing the belief that ‘fair skin’ is superior to ‘dark skin’, colourism clearly plays a huge role in defining global beauty standards. Discriminating against people based on the tone of their skin stems from a long history of racial oppression, which still exists today.

With Blac Chyna’s recent endorsement of ‘Whitenacious’, a skin lightening cream, it is clear that many communities have a long way to go before they are able to dispel this belief of light skin as superior. Issues of identity and race are not new to the black and brown community.

Especially in the South Asian community, with the rise of Bollywood, an influx of beauty standards has been introduced. The reason why there is such a demand for skin lightening creams is because of the constant chant of “fair is beautiful”.

“In Asia, the preference towards fairer people came about due to the caste system being set in place, in which being fair-skinned was often associated with power.”

One student at the University of Nottingham comments how she’d ‘notice how people may treat [her] dad in comparison to a white man all based on skin colour…having our own community be biased to people within our community is quite strange and toxic.’

In Western communities, colourism is a result of the lasting impact of slavery where light-skin slaves were often the product of white masters raping their dark-skin slaves. These light-skin slaves were often given preferential treatment thus they were viewed as an asset within the slave community. In Asia, the preference towards fairer people came about due to existence of the caste system, in which being fair-skinned was often associated with power. Though Asia had colourism implanted within its society, the influence of colonisation reinforced the idea that ‘fair is beautiful.’

Shanai, a student at the University of Nottingham, reveals that having ‘grandparents who were born in India, a country with a huge colourism problem, meant I have seen how people (mostly women) are reduced to their physical beauty with fatal consequences.’ This false perception of beauty standards based on white supremacy still carries on to this day. Perhaps colourism has taken its shape as a silent form of slavery in today’s culture. The sad part is that our constant desire to become much fairer in complexion has made us ‘enslaved’ to global beauty standards.

Why Colourism is Still a Persistent Problem FEATURES

21

The problem with colourism starts within our own homes before being projected onto a public platform: men often desire a fairer skinned woman to marry; family members tell us which colour clothing is best for us; our parents offer skin lightening remedies and tell us to avoid the sun in order to reach our desired shade. The fact that we are exposed to internalised racism at such a young age, has the ability to create doubts about our identity. It ensures that lighter skinned children often grow up with a sense of superiority and privilege, whilst their darker skinned counterparts often devalue themselves and question their self-worth.

“Even at times I have compared myself to fellow students absent-mindedly and questioned my skin tone.”

Coming from a Sri Lankan background, colourism has definitely integrated itself into my own life. During family visits it is not unusual to have family members comment on my complexion. I am often praised for my unusually fair (for a Sri Lankan) complexion as if I have achieved something. The privilege I had within my own world did not last once I attended University; there is always going to be someone that’s much fairer in complexion.

Unfortunately, even at times I have compared myself to fellow students absent-mindedly and questioned my skin tone. However, it is important to address the women of colour who do face colourism on a daily basis.

“As well as industrial change we need our children to grow up in homes where they are appreciated for who they are.”

Jenani Jeyarasalingam a University of Nottingham student, reveals that ‘an issue I can think of is the negative self-talk my mother sometimes has with herself. This self-degradation has allowed me to be more aware of the topic which can only be resolved by speaking about the matter at hand and spreading awareness.’

UoN student Rithiga describes how she thought she was ‘ugly and needed to do everything I could to change my skin colour from fair and lovely to weird masks. It really prevented me from living a full life as a kid.’ This pattern of skin lightening is synonymous in many families as Natasha suggests how ‘relatives would tell me that wearing white powder would make me fairer…with models like Lupita Nyongo and Mindy Kaling, I instantly feel empowered as I am able to relate to them.’

22

IMPACT

Impact’s Travel Guide How to Stay Safe WhileTravelling Amy Wilcockson Amy Wilcockson complies an article of adventuring anecdotes and travelling tips to help you stay safe next time you travel.

LIFESTYLE

For many of us, travel is a way to escape the pressures of everyday life and have a well-deserved break. While we’re at university it is a chance to explore new cultures, to get to know new people and even to do a bit of studying at the same time. But to many, due to recent high-profile news stories and terrorism fears, travel has become potentially dangerous, and at the very least a cause for concern. A survey of 1200 people by Global Rescue in January 2018 indicated that 82% of their respondents were concerned for their safety whilst considering potential travel during 2018, 30% of these people indicated that they were ‘Concerned’ or ‘Very Concerned’.

Of course, it is common to worry about travel in general, as exploring new places always comes with a slight element of risk (mainly that you will get horribly lost). However, we cannot halt our travel plans because of perceived threats. The best way to stay safe whilst travelling is to be aware of your surroundings and any potential hazards.

For this article, Impact contacted students and travel bloggers, many of whom travel solo, and asked for their advice, as their hazardous holiday tales serve as reminders to stay safe. Millie Buttery, a third-year History student, told us “My group of friends were on a girls’ holiday in Cyprus and were dancing in the middle of a club and enjoying ourselves. A group of local men circled around my friends and I, and began groping at us. There were five of us, but we felt outnumbered and extremely unsafe. We immediately ran out of the club and returned to the hotel. My advice would be to always be aware of who is behind you in a club and always stick together in a group. Moreover, avoid the centre of the dancefloor as it is easier for people to get away with this sort of behaviour in crowded areas”.

Similarly, Anna Tyler, a first-year Politics and American Studies student, reminds us to be careful of who to trust. “I was in a popular tourist attraction in Rome on my own when a couple of guys came up to me and asked me if I would like to walk around with them. Naively, I said yes - I’d met a good friend who I still talk to frequently on Facebook in a different city, and thought this might become a similar situation. However, on walking into an enclosed space, one of the guys tried to put his arm around me and kiss me, before refusing to let me leave until I promised to meet him later that night. Of course I didn’t, but it really reminded me that I should be wary of who I interact with on holiday - especially when I’m alone”.

Third-year English student Aprilyn Umel also warned to always carry a charged phone (and a snack). She told us, “I often travel alone with only curiosity as my guide, but the road less travelled by doesn’t always lead to epic adventures. Once, I was lost for hours in the jungle of Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. Thinking it’ll be a quick hike, I had no food or water and my phone was dying.

The trail marks were unclear, fallen branches blocked footpaths and I struggled to get stable footing

23

as if the forest was physically detaining me. Under the jungle canopy with no signs of other hikers or civilisation, everything seemed darker and more foreboding. Eventually, I found my way back to town, safe, with a tale to tell”.

After considering students’ stories and hearing their advice, I also decided to hear what bloggers and professional travellers have to say about how to stay safe whilst adventuring around the globe. Unsurprisingly, both were incredibly positive about travel, and urged that “Whatever your reason is to travel and whatever you may be searching for, just be prepared for literal life-changing moments”.

I contacted Ellie Bobbie, a photographer and Instagram blogger based in Bali, who gave me her travel advice: “Travelling can be so scary for some. A lot of people feel like they cannot picture themselves leaving home and get anxious. My advice would be feel the fear and go with it! Fear is a good sign. It means that you really want something and are trying to break obstacles. Adventure starts at the end of your comfort zone as cliche as it sounds”. Despite the horror stories you sometimes hear about travelling solo, Ellie urges to “always go with what your gut tells you. Yes, travelling solo can feel daunting and scary at times but this shouldn’t stop you from doing it. You will always find nice people that are willing to help if you find yourself in a bad situation”.

Evelin Babos, blogger and Instagrammer told Impact that for solo female travellers, a great resource is the “‘The Solo Female Traveler Network’ group on Facebook. It is a community of women all over the world who have travelled everywhere or nowhere at all but have the desire to. It is a great platform to share experiences, provide answers, ask for tips and recommendations and perhaps even meet a fellow traveller”.

She went on to give her general advice, mainly to “pack light and ditch the suitcase for a pack”, and to “accommodate yourself in a safe central area with nearby public transport”.

Whilst it has been reiterated

throughout this article, Evelin also states that “I cannot stress enough; be aware of your surroundings. Yes, it’s important to have fun but be cautious; safety first”.

Photography by Katie Moncur and Ella Taylor

24

IMPACT

Despite all the negative stories we hear about journeys around the globe, it is important to remember that these are isolated incidents, and if we are aware of ourselves and our surroundings, then we should emerge from our globetrotting relatively unscathed. Travelling is a wonderful experience and everyone should be able to enjoy visiting new places without excess worry or fear.

With this in mind, Impact’s Miriam Thompson has compiled her essential advice on how to stay safe whilst travelling:

1

Get a cash card. A ca sh card is a currency which acts like a debit card card but works all aro und the world for a small fee. What this means is that you can top it up with a finite amount of mo ney so if you lose it or have your things stolen they can only ste al up to how much mo ney is on the card and they don’t ge t your bank details sav ing you the fuss of cancelling your ba nk card. My top tip is to have it signed under your parent’s ac count, this means if yo u think you’re going to run out of mo ney, a quick tex t and they can safely top up from home, sav ing you using your ba nk card abroad which can be risky.

top, but, over the ay be in m e e s m It may rm. You This rape ala really need it. carry a d tions n a a u it y s a one d r rape fo e b fe t bother ou el jus have to s or any time y n how doesn’t g h, lear muggin p thoug ti but for p o get it T . d help easy to e ’s e it n t, u s r o y h it off fi blaring sound. to switc n a loud stuck o

3

2

ate Backpack slashing is an unfortun ions to get sess pos r you for way ular and pop mum, if you are my from stolen abroad. A tip I learned g – safety pin or ketin poc pick for visiting a spot known of the bag so if your bag tie important items to the inside fall out. Its handy and is slashed with a knife they won’t of bother. Also take lot a you easy to do and could save worth it if anything out holiday insurance, it’s always to read the excess for the peace of mind. Make sure much you are how you tell charges carefully, this will allowed to claim.

If you want to travel somewhere but have no one to travel with, don’t think ly going alone is your only option. Although slight tours group offer anies comp many , nsive expe more traveller and which takes the stress away of being a solo way. It may the along s friend ing amaz you can make some l. I can trave solo safe to way great a it’s but ting seem daun the and eck Topd iki, recommend PlanMyGapYear, Cont they’re sure make Just trips. nt stude STA for good group approved companies.

I can’t stress enou gh how importa nt research is! Before going away anywhere you should always make su re to look online and find out if where you’re sta ying is dodgy or look at what other people have said. The best to ol for this is TripAdvisor, hear other people’s ex periences and learn from their mistakes.

4

5

To hear more from Evelin Babos and Ellie Bobbie, check out our interviews with them on our website (impactnottingham.com).

Evelin’s Insta account can be found at evelinbabe, and her blog at medium.com/@evebabos Ellie’s website is www.elliebobbie.com.au/, whilst she posts her pics on Instagram at elliebobbie

World Cuisine LIFESTYLE

Home Recipes from Students

Inga and Honor look at some tasty international recipes that are very simple to make.

Kedgeree Kedgeree is a delicious mixture of spicy rice, smoked fish and soft-boiled eggs. Its roots go back to 14th century India where it began as a spiced rice and lentil dish called khichiri. Then came the time of the British Raj and the British, as we so often do, appropriated it to our own more delicate taste buds. That meant adding fish and eggs and getting rid of lentils and any hint of a kick. There was not a spice in sight. This Anglo-Indian culinary mash-up was commonly eaten in the morning and was apparently a favourite of both Florence Nightingale and Queen Victoria. Quite literally a breakfast fit for queens.

“Anglo-indian culinary mash-up”

“Its roots go back to 14th century India”

For me, kedgeree is a fond memory of my childhood. A relatively quick dish my Dad used to whip up when he did not fancy any fuss. My friends thought it was bizarre but I absolutely loved it, and still do. As with many family staples, my Dad does not use a recipe but a quick google will give you more varieties than you could cook in a lifetime. Personally, I like it with a good handful of fresh coriander and a dollop of mango chutney.

It is a very simple meal to make, but does require a few things going on at once. Whilst cooking the rice, you boil the eggs and simmer the fish. In a fourth pan soften some onions in butter and garlic and then add a generous spoonful of curry powder. After chopping your eggs and flaking the fish you bung everything in with the onions and give it a stir.

That’s basically it. Easy, healthy, and perfect for any time of day.

Honor Sangster Danish Pastries Redone Denmark is known worldwide for their wonderful Danish pastries. The birth of Danish pastries as they are known and loved today actually arose from a bakery worker strike in Denmark, resulting in the employment of bakers from abroad, some of whom were Austrian. They brought their trade and expertise in new recipes. After the labour disputes ended, the Danish bakers themselves began to adopt the Austrian recipes and adapted them to their own taste and liking.

“My inspiration to cook the pastries came from my own family.”

“Here is my answer to cooking Danish pastries; Apple and Blueberry Danishes!”

My inspiration to cook the pastries came from my own family. My dad is Danish, and he and I utterly adore the wellknown pastries of Denmark. Despite my love of cooking I have never had a chance or have been too scared to try and attempt cooking them. However, I saw this as an opportunity to see if I could make some, even if they are relatively simple! So low and behold, here is my answer to cooking Danish pastries; Apple and Blueberry Danishes! Simply melt sugar and apple and blueberries in a pan and place into the centre of pre-cut puff pastry. The four corners of each pastry square are brought into the middle. The pastry parcels are chilled for half an hour and then baked in a preheated oven for 30 minutes, and voila, Danish pastries which even my Dad approves of!

Inga Becker Hansen

Image courtesy of Marco Verch via Flickr

25

26

IMPACT

How immigration has diversified British food habits Rosa Morgan Impact’s Food Editor looks at the influence immigration has had on British food habits and trends.

British food tastes and habits are more diverse than ever.

From Polish delis, to Chinese takeaways, to authentic Italian cafĂŠs- there has never been so much choice in regards to places to eat out, and products available to buy in the supermarket, which have consequently changed British food habits. The change in British food habits can be put down to three major factors: advancement in the travel industry, permitting Brits to travel around the world more easily; an increase in disposable income, which meant that Brits were able to eat for pleasure rather than for subsistence; and levels of migration into Great Britain increasing in the last hundred years. By carefully studying historical migration levels into Great Britain, one can arguably track the changes in British food habits, and highlight how waves of migration have diversified British food habits.

The expansion and dominance of the British Empire in the Victorian period resulted in new flavours being made readily available to British people. A lot of people would assume that tea is one of the most traditional British drinks that you can

get. However, tea must be grown in a warm climate, such as the climate of India, therefore cannot be grown in Britain.

Tea from India was first sold in Britain in 1839 and, since then, British people have embraced this taste and embedded it into their food culture. In an age of globalisation, and with the Industrial Revolution improving conditions for food storage, trade of food on an international scale increased. It still increases today with international food readily available to purchase in many of the established British supermarkets.

In 1948, after the Second World War, there was a massive shortage of labour which prompted the British government to advertise this labour to many Caribbean countries that were not yet independent. People from these Caribbean countries travelled to Britain on the Empire Windrush ship, generating the moniker- the Windrush generation. Many members of the Windrush generation found themselves ostracised from society, which prompted them to recreate the traditional dishes that they had enjoyed in their home countries, as food can allow one to define their own

Indian

Indi n Ope

LIFESTYLE

identity. Members of the Windrush generation used their traditional dishes to make money and as a result of this lots of Caribbean eateries opened, serving dishes such as rice, peas, curried meats, and jerk chicken. From this, Caribbean street food carnival culture became a major part of British culture, with carnivals such as the Notting Hill Carnival taking place annually in London and attracting thousands of visitors. The flavours from the Windrush generation have become extremely common in British food culture.

In 1973, Britain joined the European Economic Community, which would later form the European Union in 1993. The purpose of the European Economic Community was to promote economic integration, which includes encouraging trade among its members. Members included countries such as France, Italy, Greece, and Spain. The Immigration Act of 1988 stated that workers with freedom of movement within the European Economic Community didn’t need permission to enter or remain in the UK. This stance of immigration made it far easier for members of the European Economic Community to reside in the UK, and consequently these members brought along their traditional dishes, and added these dishes to the British food scene. When walking down a British high street today, it would not be uncommon to see a Spanish Tapas restaurant, an Italian café, or a French bakery. It is important to note that Britain’s stance on immigration in 1988 permitted people from the member countries to present their traditional dishes to British culture, which has consequently diversified British food culture.

27

At the beginning of the twenty first century, the number of applications for asylum in the UK increased due to the enforcement of the Human Rights Act in 1998. This act ensured that the European Convention on Human Rights was enforced in the UK, which ensured that asylum seekers couldn’t be returned to a country where they were facing persecution. People were fleeing persecution in countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, as well as Somalia.

Along with a diversification in culture in Britain, came a diversification in food, with more food options being on offer than ever before.

“Along with a diversification in culture in Britain, came a diversification in food, with more food options being on offer than ever before.”

The diversity of food available on the British high street would lead one to assume that Britain has embraced and accepted the cultures of many different countries.

However, its extremely difficult to evaluate whether the diversification of British food habits represents an embrace and acceptance of different cultures. Some Brits simply enjoy the flavours that people from other countries have to offer, without accepting the people themselves. However, perhaps beginning with the embrace of diverse foods and flavours, people can learn to accept diverse cultures as well.

In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty formed the European Union, which involved guaranteeing EU citizenship for all nationals of the member countries, which meant that EU nationals were free to reside in whatever EU country they wished. Just like the rise in migration to the UK that came with the 1988 Immigration Act, migration levels also increased after the establishment of the EU, with citizens from Poland, Lithuania, Malta, and other countries using their traditional cuisines for economic purposes. It is not uncommon to visit a local Polish supermarket to stock up on traditional Polish produce such as Sauerkraut and Pickled Gherkins. It is truly wonderful that so many traditional dishes of so many countries have been embraced by Brits, with many Brits using the traditional produce of others countries in their home cooking.

A rise in migration from Hong Kong came about after the UK handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997. Many Hong Kong families emigrated to the UK under the 1990 British Nationality Act due to anxiety surrounding the ruling of Hong Kong under the Chinese government. Many of these families recognised a demand for their traditional dishes, and therefore began opening restaurants and takeaways to meet the demand of Brits.

ian

Indian n Ope

28

Impact’s Big Diversity Shoot

IMPACT

Directors:

Emma Heasman Charlotte Hegley

Photographers:

Sophie Hunt Naomi James

With University being an overwhelming experience for all of us, it's easy to forget just how many students we have in Nottingham, and more importantly, how different they are. So, for Impact’s 255th diversity issue, we bring you a photoshoot which aims to celebrate the diversity of our students through their dress!

A big thank you to the societies who helped us with this shoot, including Mexican Society, Arab Society and Indian Society.

Emma Heasman

LIFESTYLE

29

Mohammed Nameer (left) Iraq 2nd Year Pharmacy Zeina Gammouh Jordan 4th Year Architecture and Environmental Design

30

IMPACT

Shilpa Sajan (left) India 3rd Year Biochemistry Armaan Ghei (middle) India 3rd Year Management Veera Khanolkar (right) India 3rd Year Medicine

LIFESTYLE

31

Armando Uriel García (left) Mexico Masters, Engineering Zaira Andrade González (right) Mexico Masters, Physiotherapy

32

IMPACT

Tolu Lala Nigeria 3rd Year Philosophy

LIFESTYLE

33

34

IMPACT

‘Cultural Appropriation’ is an issue that is becoming more prominent and controversial. Many culture, whilst some claim they are

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION Cultural appropriation is the adoption of elements of a minority culture by members of a dominant culture. Particularly in the 21st century, cultural appropriation is often considered harmful and to be a violation of rights of the originating minority cultures.

Often unavoidable when multiple cultures come together, cultural appropriation can include using other group’s cultural and religious traditions, fashion, symbols, language, and songs. However, some argue that the term ‘cultural appropriation’ sets limits on freedom and self-expression and could reinforce group divisions.

An example of this is the controversy over cornrows. Megan Barton, a Love Island contestant, recently joined Kim Kardashian and the growing list of celebrities accused of cultural appropriation after posting a photo on Instagram sporting cornrows. An ancient African style of hair grooming, cornrows are a traditional hairstyle favoured for their easy maintenance, helping to tame thick and curly hair. Depictions of women wearing cornrows have been found in stone age paintings. They made a comeback in the 90’s when NBA basketball player Allen Iverson re-popularised this hairstyle.

Cultural elements, such as these, which have deep meaning for the original culture, may be reduced to "exotic" fashion by those from a dominant culture. It is argued that the imitator, who does not experience oppression, is able to wear the look without experiencing any of the daily discriminations faced by other cultures. For example, discrimination in the workplace is a serious problem when it comes to traditional black hairstyles, with many companies deeming afros and cornrows unacceptable and unprofessional. Even powerful black women, such as Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, have experienced these issues, feeling pressured to straighten and gel down their hair.

“We are trying, as a society, to be more inclusive”

For more insight into this issue specifically, I spoke to Ashling Monica, a third-year student who braids hair alongside her studies.

Having given me some amazing cornrows a week previously, I asked her what she thought about braiding my hair, and if she had any reservations about me being white and having cornrows. In her opinion, where certain styles originated from should be acknowledged and appreciated. But, in the multicultural society we live in today, people should be free to do and wear what they wish and different cultures should be embraced. In the past, she has had negative comments on an Instagram post featuring a white male with cornrows (which she deleted), but this did not deter her from posting similar pictures again.

The

You can check out Ashling’s work on her Instagram - ‘BraidsbyAshling’.

Abby Allwood

LIFESTYLE

35

claim these acts that are defined as ‘cultural appropriation’ are simply an appreciation of a simply offensive towards another culture.

CULTURAL APPRECIATION On the other side of the argument, these fashion choices, clothing items and certain hairstyles, that have come under scrutiny for being forms of ‘cultural appropriation’, can (and should) sometimes be considered ‘cultural appreciation’.

Celebrities including Kylie Jenner, Zendaya Coleman and the fashion house Marc Jacobs, have all been criticised of culturally appropriating the dreadlock hairstyle. However, which culture is this trend ‘appropriating’? Dreadlocks have been used by a multitude of different groups, from Christianity to Rastafari. How, then, can we decide who owns a particular look or hairstyle, and who decides whether someone is appropriating it? This paradoxical issue can be answered by referring to the fashion industry’s tendency to follow trends. The need to be more inclusive has become ever more important, leading the fashion industry to embrace this trend, with more black and ethnic minority models being cast than ever before. Therefore, we need to understand that often the way dreadlocks are used in contemporary Western culture by celebs and catwalk models, reflects the way we are trying, as a society, to be more inclusive and more appreciative of other cultures. This is achieved through paying homage to them, avoiding rather than reiterating ‘white supremacy’.

“Perhaps we do live in a society that has become both too politically-correct and hypersensitive” Sportswear label Osklen, in their 2016 Spring collection, took inspiration from Asháninka, an indigenous group based in areas of South America. The brand paid the tribe to use a number of their traditional fabrics and tattoos, money which was enabled the tribe to build a school and open a store in which they could sell their products.

Hence, key to cultural appreciation, avoiding ‘appropriation’ of any cultural traditions, is its basis on a form of exchange based on mutual respect and consent. This can be seen in Osklen asking the tribe to use their fabrics and tattoos, which the tribe gained from financially. Further, it is always fundamental for people to understand both the history and the meaning behind certain symbols and clothing items attached to a culture, ensuring that they are being correctly ‘appreciated’ rather than ‘appropriated’.

If the meaning behind a tradition is fully understood and the action is somewhat based on a form of mutual exchange, we must stop labelling things as ‘cultural appropriation. If appropriation is consistently proclaimed when people are simply approaching or trying to appreciate another culture’s habits or looks, the gap between cultures will widen whilst cultural understanding will decline. If we tried to interpret these choices as a form of engagement with other cultures, rather than an attempt to undermine or manipulate them, there would be less of a divide. We can appreciate how these actions can bring cultures closer together, rather than dragging them apart.

Charlotte Hegley

36

IMPACT

How where you are from We gathered up a few students from around the country, and the globe, and asked them how where they are from affects their dress habits, and whether this changes when they are at university in Nottingham.

Ukraine vs Notts Since I have moved to the UK, comfort has become a lot more central to my wardrobe.

It is a regrettable issue that, for women in Ukraine (where I lived until I was 15), there is a social expectation of sorts to sacrifice comfort for style. I have been a lot less concerned with wearing heels in this country than ever before, since in Ukraine it would be considered a norm for me to wear them every day to university.

I have felt a lot more freedom as to what I can wear since I have moved. There would be a lot of passing judgement in Ukraine if someone who does not have the figure of a Victoria’s Secret model wore a bodycon dress, while here in the UK I am a lot less concerned with what people will think of me, since social expectations are not as set in stone.

Overall, my move to the UK has changed my style for the better by adding more

confidence into my demeanor and blurring the lines of what is “allowed” and what is not.

Kateryna Vine

Isle of Wight vs Notts Overall, I have not had to change the way I dress a huge amount when coming from the Isle of Wight to Nottingham. While the Island does enjoy warmer weather than the rest of the country, and for a longer amount of time, it still has its fair share of rain, wind, and snow; it is, after all, still part of sunny England! The biggest thing I have had to change would be getting rid of swimwear—there are no beaches in Nottingham, and no ocean to swim in either, at least not the kind that accepts bikinis in its dress code.

Esme Johnson

Paris vs Notts During my time in Nottingham, I found myself stooping to lower standards when it came to what I deemed suitable to wear. Although I never went as far as some by wearing pyjamas to lectures, I undoubtedly prioritized comfort over style. Like many others, I opted for cosy jumpers, leggings and trainers almost every day.

Images courtesy of Juan Antonio Segal ‘Pyrohiv, Ukraine’ and Lake Lou ‘Eiffel Tower’ via Flickr

As you can imagine, arriving in Paris, one of the world’s most fashion-conscious capitals, it was a shock to my casualwearloving system. On my first week at University, I was baffled to discover that the men in suits and girls in Louboutin heels were in fact students, not staff. Even staff at British universities do not stretch that far! I soon found myself dressing a bit like a teacher, think cigarette trousers, thin jumpers and heeled boots.

In Paris, I have learnt to prioritise my dignity over comfort, the looks you receive in sportswear are not worth it…

In Nottingham, it is commonplace to see girls in mini-skirts, hoops and bralets on a night out. The dress code in Paris is more demure, with people wearing jumpers and jeans for nights out. My first Friday night in Paris consisted of being tutted at because of my mini-skirt and lack of tights (it was 30 degrees!) One thing is for certain, I will be dressing down at University and dressing up in the evenings as soon as I set foot in Nottingham!

Anya Mcloughlin

LIFESTYLE

Cambs VS Notts

Hull vs Notts

The difference between Cambridge and Notts style is the difference between smart-casual clothing and loungewear. In Notts, I could walk into town in leggings and a fluffy pyjama jumper and no-one would bat an eyelid. In Cambridge, if you are not looking fully presentable, you will run into someone you know, who definitely won’t be wearing a pair of leggings or a fluffy pyjama jumper.

Ultimately, Cambs and Notts are chalk and cheese in the fashion world, but it is nice dressing up for one and not caring as much for the other.

Having grown up near Hull my whole life I was not prepared to come to Nottingham and have to… dress up?

In Hull, most of the clubs let you in wearing scraggy jeans with a t-shirt and a pair of Doc Martens, you can imagine my culture shock. Further, I discovered at Uni everyone was more covered up. All the crop tops I wore on a day to day basis suddenly felt a little uncovered. Maybe it is the age difference between sixth form and University or maybe in Hull we just like to show our tummies.

Charlotte Hegley

Manchester vs Notts My style between Manchester and Notts does not change in the slightest.

Like, not even a little bit. Manc is a city of non-existent dress codes and wavy garms. Expect flared trousers, mixed prints and huge hoops. Less basic than Notts, more casual than London, the key to Manchester’s style is never looking too polished. Find yourself an oversized, ‘vintage’ fleece on Depop and you will be welcomed with open arms. Didn’t wash your hair today?

Perfect, a little grime helps those French plaits stay in place and has the added bonus of exuding that laidback, I don’t care attitude. Basically, in Manchester, anything goes.

Miriam Thompson

Birmingham vs Notts My style at university, whether I am on campus or in a club, can become quite prescribed – either gym leggings and a vintage sports jumper or all out Cirque-style sequins and flares. There are certain Uni staples that it becomes almost religious to abide by (ahem, the puffa). However, at home in Birmingham, my style

37

National changes significantly. I would not go into town in such chilled attire, nor would I wear trainers to a club. More importantly, out of my Uni bubble I do not revert to the standard go-to outfits I wear when I am running late to a lecture. Rather, I give more thought to my style and explore what is hidden at the back of my wardrobe.

Millie Buttery

Sunderland vs Notts A night out in the North East could also be described as survival of the fittest, especially in the winter months as there is one rule in Sunderland, Durham etc: NO COATS. Cities with massive rivalries group together when it comes to a night out that you must show off your Missguided mini dress and freeze for fashion. Cloak rooms are mystical places that most clubs just do not have. After coming to Notts, I finally gave up my northern tradition and wore a coat and it changed my nights out forever. I hope this does not get seen by any of my friends from home, I will be disowned.

Megan Bowie

Honor Sangster

affects how you dress

Images courtesy of Roman Boed via Flickr

38

IMPACT

DIVERSITY IN 32

S

28

Science

T

Technology

14

E M 8

Engineering

Honor Sangster

Honor investigates diversity, or the lack thereof, within STEM, both internationally and within the University of Nottingham

Mathematics

LIFESTYLE

39

Diversity expresses itself in many ways, whether it is ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities, religious beliefs or any number of other differences that constitute a society.

Most commonly, diversity is associated with anyone who does not fit into the category of white, middle class male which has been dominant for so long. When it comes to diversity within non-medical science, technology, engineering and maths, commonly known as STEM, data is hard to come by. But what we do know does not look promising.

In 2014, the Campaign for Science and Engineering released a report which showed that women make up just 9% of UK workers in STEM careers; non-white men are 28% less likely to work in STEM jobs than white men; and undergraduate students with disabilities are 57% less likely to study STEM at the postgraduate level than students without disabilities.

Today, more women than men earn degrees. The University of Nottingham follows this trend with student statistics from last year showing that 51% of undergraduate students were female. Unsurprisingly, when you break this down by degree group there were clear disparities between the different fields. In some schools, women were the prevailing gender- both biosciences and life sciences were over 60% female. Mathematical Sciences and Engineering had the ratio of around one girl for every two boys. However, other STEM degrees were predominantly male by a long way.

Computer Science, Physics and Astronomy were maledominated, with girls making up just 12% and 20% of their numbers respectively. The topic of underrepresentation of women within STEM is not a new one and yet the imbalance continues. So why do women avoid certain STEM subjects?

As a girl who steered clear of Physics and Engineering and chose to study Biology at university instead, I find this difficult to answer.

Perhaps the decision is made for us at birth. Studies show that a lack of early exposure, role models and experience of STEM can affect women’s choice of area of study. Indeed, the UK’s advertising watchdog has proposed a new set of rules that will change how our children see themselves and their place in society. Coming into force in June 2019, the rules will ban “gender stereotypes that are likely to cause harm or serious widespread offence”; this includes men struggling with household chores and girls being less academic than boys.

Visibility matters and this should help to break the stereotypes that are imposed onto us from early on.

It is not just the fact that I’m a female biology student that makes me a walking statistic, but also the fact that I’m a white, female biology student. In the last academic year, 77% of home students studying a life science were white. This was consistent with the ratio of ethnicities of all home students within the University, which stood at 76% white, 12% Asian, 5% black, 5% mixed, with the remaining 2% made up of Arab or unknown. Within STEM, the school of Physics and Astronomy had the highest percentage of white home students and the lowest percentage of black home students at 85% and 1% respectively.

When I looked at where our international STEM students originated, I found, as you would expect for a university with international links such as ours, that the most common home nations were Asia and Europe. The next most frequent countries of origin were Africa and the Middle East. The school of Engineering had the most international students at 1,110, whilst Physics and Astronomy had the least at 33.

I spoke to a fellow Biology student Alannah, one of the 5% of Life Science students who are mixed race. She feels diversity at UoN could be better but says she is not aware of her race holding her back at University. Unfortunately, this was not the case at her high school where she felt she was not encouraged to go into STEM, with one teacher stating Alannah would not receive a place at UoN to study Maths despite her high GCSE grades. In contrast, when I spoke to Liz, an Environmental Engineering student whose mother is Singaporean, she described how she often felt it was expected of her to be good at science due to her Asian background.

She had many Asian role models who worked within the science field and felt pressured to achieve the same high levels of academia as her sisters – a feeling that made the thought of entering science more daunting.

All of us, including you, have an image of a scientist in our head. That image is probably a senior white male in a white lab coat with a scraggly grey beard. This Albert Einstein look-alike is an example of the unconscious bias in us all.

Our brains are constantly making snap judgements about people and situations without us consciously thinking about it. Influenced by our culture and upbringing, these biases may not be views we even knew we had.

Further, individuals with disabilities are another minority group overlooked within STEM. Statistics show that 13% of undergraduate students declared a disability last year. The most common disabilities were learning difficulties and mental health conditions, each contributing to over 30% of the total number. Physical impairments were far less frequent, reinforcing the often-forgotten fact that disabilities are not always physically apparent. Within STEM, the number of students declaring a disability ranged from 10 to 18% depending on the school they were in. At 39%, the percentage of Life Science students with a mental health condition was at least 3% higher than any other STEM subject.

Science is as strong as the people within it. Our life experiences, in all their diverse glory, impact the science we perform. They influence what we choose to study, how we approach a scientific question and even the methods we use.

All these different perspectives are vital for making science an innovative and creative practice that thrives. Personally, I enjoy the visual of a science as a tossed salad, as opposed to a melting pot, where individual ideas are recognised and valued whilst contributing to the whole. Statistics may be a useful tool for visualising imbalances, but true diversity is not a number, but an ideology that embraces the inclusion of differences in whatever form they take.

40

IMPACT

e l a Fe m D ra g g n i t a e Ch o r p m E

? g n i r e w o Emma Nannery

In a period of increasing popularity for the artform of drag, Emma discusses the controversy surrounding its participants and ownership of the medium.

ENTERTAINMENT

We see drag amongst the media in daily life; whether it be in films, music (yes, even stars like Dolly Parton and Lady Gaga are drag queens to some extent) and most frequently, on the show RuPaul’s Drag Race. I owe my love and passion for watching drag to this show, similarly to a lot of drag fans in this day and age. Drag could be considered a freeing entity with a purpose to mock gender hegemony and operate as a general selfexpressive artform. With this in mind, it introduces the argument of ‘when should drag dictate rules’, despite its ‘screw you’ attitude?

A controversy surfaced in the drag scene earlier last year when the topic of female drag queens arose. One criticism of drag is the misogyny it could quite easily portray, considering its purpose to mock women and femininity through exaggeration. Accordingly, it is often viewed as inappropriate for those of female gender to perform this exaggeration of what it means to be feminine. Femmebodied drag queen Miss Malice argues against this however, explaining that it allows her to “confront a world telling me that femme was weak, that femininity was frivolous, silly, not to be taken seriously”, and try to prove otherwise.

“Whilst Drag Race portrays drag culture, it is only a small part of the meaning of drag.”

The person behind Drag Race, RuPaul Charles, publicly spoke out on the topic when posting the following on Twitter on 5th March 2018: “You can take performance enhancing drugs and still be an athlete, just not in the Olympics”.

The drag queen’s view here shows no opposition to female drag queens within drag culture as a whole but does however reflect Ru’s disapproval of female queens appearing on his show. The queen explains his viewpoint further in one particular interview, claiming that female drag artists “lack danger and irony”, and that men dressing in women’s clothes presents an overt rejection of their masculinity; a concept presented differently from women. The interview as a whole summarised RuPaul’s disapproval of drag that wasn’t performed by males and, when questioned if he’d allow females on the show, the drag queen indicated “That show already exists. It’s called #MissUniverse.” This consequently provoked a lot of backlash.

The first openly-transgender queen from RuPaul’s Drag Race, Peppermint, responded to Ru’s original tweet saying the following: “My hope is that together, we can uplift all forms of drag, both on TV, and in the real world. Gay men do not own the idea of gender performance.”

This response notes the separation between Drag Race and drag culture as a whole. It should be understood that whilst Drag Race portrays drag culture, it is only a small part of the meaning of drag. Whilst it could be argued that the popularisation of the show and drag in general has been a positive transition into the mainstream, it’s rarely viewed as part of its much bigger culture, leading to misconceptions of drag.

41

In reality, throughout the history of drag, all members of the LGBTQ umbrella have been welcomed into drag as an artform, including all genders and body types with no bounds on its inclusiveness. So, are females representing exaggerated versions of themselves a problem in the drag scene? Or could it actually be a celebration of femininity and a creative tool through which to mock gender hegemony?

As briefly described on the show, there are several different categories that drag queens can fall into, inclusive of anyone falling under the LGBTQ umbrella.

Femme-bodied drag queens fall under many terms; bio queen, faux queen, female drag queen etc., but these terms could perhaps come across quite demeaning and suggest inequality to other drag queens. It could be argued that this restriction could propose a lot of other questions: Is it strictly gay men that can perform in drag (In retrospect, there is a long history of straight men also doing drag)? is it only cis and trans men that are able to be drag queens? Are trans women allowed to perform on Drag Race (as a number of contestants have transitioned since appearing on the show)? At which point do these arguments deteriorate?

Minka argues “we’re sharing the same stage, doing the same shows, all doing drag”. Ironically, despite one of the purposes of drag being to break down gender boundaries, female drag queens are still shown disapproval due to their femininity. Minka indicates that she thinks of drag as a “hyper-performance of gender” and an exploration into the notions of what has become the ‘norm’ of masculinity and femininity, and anything in between or outside of this. The queen summarises her views on the matter, explaining that drag is supposed to be radical and provocative, attempting to disrupt the binary structure ingrained in society.

“Drag is supposed to be radical and provocative, attempting to disrupt the binary structure ingrained in society.”

“When men do drag they are playing with and sending up femininity. We have just as much a right to do this as they do. We live it.” This view from San Francisco-based female drag queen Fauxnique, depicts the freedom and lack of restriction originally intended in the drag artform. I personally think the problem lies in the lack of distinction between females and femininity, as they are of course interchangeable. Therefore, a female drag artist performing and mocking femininity isn’t ‘cheating’ in any way, as the entities are separate.

Female drag queen, Holestar, summarises her view on the matter: “Look at my nose, look at my jawline, look at my hands, looks at my tits. You can work it out. I want people to question the middle ground. I want them to let go of the binaries of race, of gender, of class, of everything, and just say: “It doesn’t matter”, “That’s why I still do it.” I believe that this captures the meaning of drag in a nutshell. It was created as a form of self-expression, and a way of setting aside gender boundaries, or even putting these in the spotlight in order to mock societal conventions. If this is the case, then anyone’s capable of doing drag.

42

IMPACT

Is Music Ableist?

Hannah takes a look at the arguably ableist nature of music, and explores what can be done to help make it more inclusive

Hannah Pickard

ENTERTAINMENT 43 Although some physical disabilities are invisible, it still seems that were projected onto a screen. Athena played an arpeggiated individuals with disabilities are underrepresented in the musical string part using a toggle controller that was created by the arena. I believe it all stems from the ‘ableist’ nature of musical Able Orchestra team. traditions. How does an individual play a string or woodwind instrument if they can only use one arm? How are blind people The music that the orchestra produces is perhaps reflective of supposed to read and play music if they can’t see the notes the technology that is used in the ensemble, with an emphasis written? How do conductors perform if they are paralysed from on techno and electronic sounds and prominent drum patterns. the neck down?

I was astounded to find out that not only are the young members of the Able Orchestra great performers; they decide Thankfully, in the past decade there has been a growing focus what their music sounds like too. Members choose how they on making music performance more accessible, with the want the music and instruments to sound (the iPads can be emergence of professional inclusive ensembles and innovative adjusted to sound like various different instruments), whilst also instruments that the majority of people can play if they choose deciding how they want certain pieces to be structured. to.

Aside from the technology that the Able Orchestra use to create The British Paraorchestra, an inclusive orchestra that is made music, there has also been recent productions of accessible up of numerous musicians with disabilities, was created in 2011 acoustic instruments. OHMI (One-Handed Musical Instrument by musician Charles Hazelwood upon his realisation that there Trust) create various different orchestral instruments, such as were “virtually no disabled musicians in any of the orchestras one-handed clarinets and flutes, and make specialised stands or groups” that he played with. The group made their debut in for brass instruments so one-handed performers can play their 2012 during the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games, instruments at ease. broadcasting to millions of people how music-making, like sport, can be accessible to anyone with a disability.

String instruments, however, are more difficult to adapt for accessibility, due to the differing roles that each hand plays. For example, with a violin, the left hand controls the fretting whilst “They made their debut the right-hand bows. There has been some recent research on in 2012 in the closing how to adapt string instruments despite this problem. One team ceremony of the Paralympic have adapted the bass guitar for one-handed playing, where a Games, broadcasting to form of robotics is connected to the fretboard of a two-string bass. The frets are controlled by a foot pedal, whilst the player’s millions of people how able hand strums the guitar. music-making, like sports,

can be accessible to disabled individuals.”

Additionally, Resound ensemble, a group affiliated with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, is made up of six professional musicians with disabilities, led by conductor James Rose. Rose has cerebral palsy and is paralysed in his arms, so he conducts the ensemble by attaching a baton to his glasses and by moving his head. Flautist Kate Risdon is blind and so has the music transcribed into braille, which she then learns from memory.

Roger Preston, the cellist of the ensemble, states that the ensemble’s aim is “simply to be treated as a professional ensemble who happen to be disabled”. Indeed, Resound create beautiful music to a professional standard and also play in the traditional Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble additionally performed at the 2018 Proms, demonstrating to a wide audience that classical music can be open to all.

I was fortunate enough to watch an inclusive ensemble concert, put on by Lakeside Arts in December, and it was aweinspiring to see young musicians, ordinarily cut off from music performance, play music with such joy. The ensemble, named the Able Orchestra, was founded in 2013 when Portland College (whose students are mainly young people with disabilities) in Mansfield approached Inspire Youth Arts (a charity that delivers cultural services in Nottinghamshire), with the desire to create an artistic initiative in which pupils could get involved.

Today, Able Orchestra is formed of fourteen young musicians with physical disabilities, where there is a strong emphasis on playing music through iPads and other technologies. In the December 2018 performance at the University of Nottingham, four members of the orchestra (Leanne, Athena, Katie, and Ellie-Mae) played one of Able Orchestra’s original pieces.

Using their iPads, Leanne played a sustained string part, Katie played some intense sound effects, and Ellie-Mae controlled the pictorial side of the concert by coordinating artistic visuals that

To create accessible string instruments is it perhaps easier to create iPad or similar technological alternatives, like what the Able Orchestra are already utilising? There becomes a problem with authenticity – some music critics believe that only the intended instrument of a piece should be played (e.g. only a violin should play a violin part), whilst others think that as long as the instrument sounds like the instrument that the piece is written for, it doesn’t matter what the performer is playing (e.g. a violin part played by an iPad).

“My final goal? That one day there will be disabled musicians in orchestras and bands everywhere, and no one will turn a hair.”

I believe that accessible instruments need to be created, either acoustic or electronic, to widen participation in all music ensembles. Currently, iPads can’t emulate the true intricacies of string instruments. However, in the future, perhaps the software will be so far advanced that tablets will be able to recreate string instruments’ intricacies.

There’s a separate issue surrounding attendance of concerts and performance in non-classical genres as a person with disabilities. However, I hope that the focus on accessible classical music has illuminated readers to how the musical world is changing and, slowly but surely, becoming more inclusive.

In the next few decades I hope to see far more accessible ensembles, more musicians with disabilities in traditional orchestras, accessible instruments available in retail, and more funding for accessible music initiatives. Charles Hazelwood articulates the future of accessible music: “My final goal? That one day there will be disabled musicians in orchestras and bands everywhere, and no one will turn a hair.”

44

IMPACT

on-Heteronormative Relationships in TV & Film Lauren Winson

With the increasing representation of non-heteronormative relationships in modern Film and TV, is the failure of these depictions to normalise queer relationships doing more harm than good?

Film and TV may be a form of escapism, yet living in a heteronormative society means it has another role in providing representation which normalises and validates non-heterosexual relationships.

Over the last two decades, LGBT+ characters and non-heteronormative relationships have become prominent within popular media. However, cultural stereotypes associated with sexual and gender identities continue to create problematic portrayals.

In rare cases where non-heteronormative relationships have been portrayed in a realistic and sensitive manner, it is often due to writers and actors being part of the LGBT+ community.

Non-heteronormative relationships are also frequently hyper-sexualised. Blue is the Warmest Colour is infamous for its sexualisation, appealing more to the male gaze of the director than representing the experiences of queer women.

Some shows appear promising, such as Channel 4’s recent series The Bisexual, but they fall into stereotypes. The show follows Leila, who ends a long-term relationship with another woman and explores relationships with men. I had high hopes for the show, but only watched the first three episodes due to the stereotyping of bisexuality as promiscuous, highly-sexualised, and indecisive.

One issue is that non-heteronormative relationships are often rushed, rather than developed into the arc of character development. J.K. Rowling’s claim that Dumbledore was gay is highly contested due to lack of textual evidence, and Harry Potter is controversial for its general lack of representation. The Fantastic Beasts film franchise has an opportunity to develop this backstory between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, though details as to when this will occur remain unclear.

As important as it is to have non-heterosexual and heterosexual sex scenes on-screen, nonheteronormative relationships typically become overly-sexualised. Searching the keywords ‘LGBT+ films’ on Netflix brings up mature rated films with synopses emphasising illicit sexual affairs. This demonises non-heteronormative relationships as not suitable for children, hindering the normalisation of same-sex love and perpetuating stereotypes.

Again, this comes back to cultural expectations, regarding all romantic relationships to be sexual.

Whilst seeking out queer media, I have been struck by the lack of canonical asexual characters in mainstream media.

“This demonises nonheteronormative relationships as not suitable for children, hindering the normalisation of same-sex love and perpetuating stereotypes”

Often, when shows ignore non-heteronormative relationships, fanfiction offers an alternative. Though ridiculed as solely erotica, fanfiction is far more diverse than this. By allowing writers to reinvent characters and plots, canonical heteronormative narratives can be rejected. Readers and writers can learn more about same-sex relationships and gender identities through the queering within fanfiction than canonical heteronormativity onscreen.

ENTERTAINMENT

Controversy occurred amongst fans of the show Once Upon A Time over the canon heterosexual relationship for protagonist Emma Swann and the fan favourite SwanQueen, in which Emma is paired with another woman. From the beginning of the show, fans recognised a chemistry between protagonist Emma and her female antagonist.

The pairing remained popular, despite never becoming canonical. After several seasons without any mention of LGBT+ relationships, producers introduced a female/female relationship, responding to the fandom’s call for representation of nonheteronormativity.

Queerbaiting, a common trope in TV and film, is dangerous by invalidating non-heterosexual relationships and only portraying heteronormative relationships on-screen. This occurred in the recent BBC adaptation of Sherlock featuring jokes within the dialogue dismissing a relationship between Sherlock and Watson. I am not suggesting that the original Sherlock books ought to be disregarded in favour of a gay relationship. But the frequent creation of non-heteronormative relationships indicates the continuing lack of authentic representation on-screen, compelling fans to ship same-sex characters. As cultural stereotypes often invalidate or misrepresent bisexuality, fan theories regarding John Watson as bisexual raise the issue of a lack of male bisexual characters.

Similarly, Orphan Black erased the bisexuality of a main character, reflecting attitudes that bisexuality is not valid, but a stepping stone to becoming gay.

However, the show featured prominent LGBT+ main characters, and a female/female relationship was developed across all five series. This was the first same-sex couple I saw on a TV show. To watch their relationship be told as authentically as a heterosexual narrative was incredibly validating.

“The frequent creation of nonheteronormative relationships indicates the continuing lack of authentic representation onscreen” Several Netflix-produced shows offer positive portrayals of non-heteronormative relationships.

Their reboot of One Day At A Time features a subplot of fifteen-year-old Elena coming out as a lesbian to her Latino family. The second series introduced a genderqueer love interest, with this non-heteronormative relationship blended into the sitcom. In another Netflix Original, Master of None, Lena Wraithe plays the lesbian Denise. Lena wrote the Thanksgiving episode partially based on her own experiences in which we see Denise growing up as black lesbian coming out to her family and introducing them to girlfriends. Nominated for an Emmy, the episode was powerful by going beyond

45

the coming out narrative, representing queer female relationships in their entirety.

Such representation suggests that nonheteronormative representations, as with all instances of portraying marginalised groups, work best when the writing and production is informed by the experiences of that community.

“It’s clear that nonheteronormative relationships work best when LGBT+ writers and actors can inform characterisation through their own experience” For instance, YouTube channels provide a space for greater representation, with web series often featuring LGBT+ narratives which portray a wider spectrum of gender identities than on mainstream TV. For instance, The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, features a genderfluid character, whilst an adaptation of the vampire novella Carmilla has several female/female relationships and a nonbinary character. In mainstream TV is BBC sitcom Boy Meets Girl, featuring a transgender protagonist, played by transgender actress Rebecca Root.

Whether LGBT+ characters ought to be played by LGBT+ actors has caused great controversy over the last few years: from Eddie Redmayne as the protagonist of The Danish Girl, to criticism of Jack Whitehall being cast to play Disney’s first openly gay character, and Scarlett Johansson dropping out from playing a transgender character due to the online backlash. Considering the limited amounts of transgender and non-binary roles in mainstream TV, their frequency in independent web series suggests that the media still has a way to go in fully representing the LGBT+ community.

It’s clear that non-heteronormative relationships work best when LGBT+ writers and actors can inform characterisation through their own experience, as seen in Rosa Diaz’s bisexuality in Brooklyn Nine Nine.

Such issues of stereotypes and cultural assumptions within non-heteronormative relationships is symptomatic of issues regarding diversity in the media overall. Media has the power to challenge social norms, requiring narratives which authentically represent marginalised groups.

46

IMPACT

Laughing for the Many, not the Few Ben Standring In a culturally expanding climate, will the BBC’s new commitment to diversifying comedy do more harm than good for the industry?

Comedy in Britain is a stalwart of public entertainment on television, especially from the BBC. For decades, the likes of Blackadder, Only Fools and Horses and Fawlty Towers have dominated British comedy. The ascendency of BBC comedy continued into the twenty-first century with relative ease but slowly one constant feature omnipresent in BBC panel shows and sitcoms became noticeable.

In 2008, BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) and female representation on the successful stand-up show Live At The Apollo was a mere 13% each. Coincidently, female representation on satirical BBC panel show Mock The Week was just under 8%, whilst BAME representation was a dismal 2.6%. Fast-forward a decade and the diversity debate couldn’t be more prominent a topic.

“In June 2018, BBC comedy chief Shane Allen declared the end of “white, Oxbridge men” dominating comedy on television” Following heavy criticism surrounding representation, BBC chiefs from 2016 crafted a lengthy plan to increase diversity in the corporation. In June 2018, BBC comedy chief Shane Allen declared the end of “white, Oxbridge men” dominating comedy on television, stating that increased diversity is supposed to better represent the general public.

The 2018 BBC Commission on diversity, portrayal and representation stated: “to reflect our audience in its entirety, diversity has to be at the heart of everything we do”. The diversity and inclusion strategy sets targets to ensure diversity is hardwired into the heart of the BBC whilst the commissioning code of practice sets out the steps the BBC will take when commissioning content to ensure that it accurately represents and authentically portrays the diverse communities of the UK. An editorial specification further states that for all new commissions, content suppliers need to provide details within the editorial specification of planned measures to increase diversity, both on and off-screen.

“Entertainment needs to represent as many groups as possible, not just the “old, white establishment”” Whilst these commitments look good on paper, many issues have subsequently been raised . Will a “diversity quota” mark the death of sitcoms as we know and love them? Does the diversity commitment secure content quality or is it just a box-ticking method to swipe away criticism in a political-correctness dominated era?

ENTERTAINMENT

47

In an increasingly multicultural climate, entertainment needs to represent as many groups as possible, not just the “old, white establishment”. The BBC’s endorsement of multiculturalism has enabled huge growth for sitcoms set around minority groups.

The recent successes of People Just Do Nothing and Famalam are testament to BAME comedy. The gender divide is being successfully addressed, with the audacious Fleabag winning awards for writer and lead actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge, as well as Olivia Coleman. Waller-Bridge has further gone on to write the internationally successful drama Killing Eve. A strength of the pledge is clearly the change in personnel on panel shows like Mock The Week. Once a staple for white, middleaged, male comedians, the satirical stand-up show has diversified beyond belief. Female participation has increased from 8% to 23% in ten years, whilst BAME representation has gone from 2.6% to 9%. Also noticeable is the participation of LGBT+ comedians, who represented 10% of comedians on the latest series.

“The diversity declaration seems almost an official symbol of PC panic” Quotas have allowed minority comedians to rapidly grow in recent years. Romesh Ranganathan’s appearances on panel shows gave him huge exposure. Now one of the UK’s best comedians, Ranganathan has expanded to presenting a variety of BBC shows. Nish Kumar’s stints on Mock the Week were good enough to prove to BBC bosses that he was capable of pulling off the risky, yet brilliant satire-dominated The Mash Report, which has given increased exposure to female talent including Rachel Parris and Ellie Taylor.

A wave of criticism has entered the diversity debate. The diversity declaration seems almost an official symbol of PC panic; a statement to cover the corporation from future scrutiny. Comedy needs to be risky, and at times provocative as well as funny.

Creating lengthy, bureaucratic declarations to diversity feels as if minority comedians are being forced onto television not for the quality of their material, but purely from the group they identify with.

BBC comedy chief Shane Allen’s statement that Monty Python wouldn’t be commissioned in this day-and-age due to it consisting of “six Oxbridge white blokes” sparked widespread debate from many, even the Python’s themselves. Terry Gilliam stated that “comedy is not assembled, it’s not like putting together a boy band where everyone is represented,” whilst Michael Palin commented that jokes should be judged on quality, rather than by the background of their writer. His belief that making programmes for the BBC has become a tedious process, mired in ethnic box-ticking is understandable. The structured nature of the pledge completely rejects groups like Cambridge Footlights, a group who have managed to develop (predominantly white) stars including Hugh Laurie, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Stephen Fry, Bill Oddie and Olivia Coleman.

“Shows should never be subjected to specific diversity quotas just for the sake of it”

Diversity in comedy is vital in today’s world. Sexuality, race, gender and class are all issues which still need to be addressed.

Cameron Esposito’s Rape Jokes, hailed as the first great stand-up set of the #MeToo movement, epitomises the change in today’s comedy climate. However, there is no reason as to why these movements and minority groups can’t be represented without a stonewall commitment to diversity.

The reason Blackadder and I’m Alan Partridge were successful was because the creators and cast were the best for the job.

Shows should never be subjected to specific diversity quotas just for the sake of it. Classifying Monty Python as “too white” is the same as classifying a show like Mrs. Brown’s Boys as “too Irish.” For many shows, it’s precisely the class, race or gender of the cast that allows them to fulfil their comedic potential. Peep Show will remain a hit precisely because of the posh, middle-class awkwardness of David Mitchell and Robert Webb. We need a fair and mixed comedy industry which unites and inspires younger generations, but we mustn’t sacrifice the commitment of finding new talent for a commitment to diversity for diversity’s sake.

48

IMPACT

“ONLY GUYS LIKE VIDEO GAMES”: WHY THIS IS COMPLETE NONSENSE Georgia Butcher

Are video games made by males for males? Georgia, a keen gamer herself, indicates why video games are for everyone and how misogyny still exists in the gaming world.

I’ve been a gamer for as long as I can remember – it’s a crucial part of my identity. It’s in my blood; when I get papercuts, I’m surprised I don’t bleed pixels. Luckily for me, I grew up in a household which celebrated gaming. My sister and I spent many an evening on either our PlayStation, or DS’s and when friends came round we immediately challenged them to a game of Crash Team Racing. Heck, I even met my fiancé on RuneScape of all places. But despite how important gaming has been in my life, I’ve still been subject to the typical stigma of “girls don’t play video games” and, to be frank, this is complete nonsense.

“I even met my fiancé on RuneScape of all places” Women are a crucial part of the gaming world. The fact that people don’t realise this astonishes me. If we don’t even consider female gamers for a minute, think of the women behind your video games. The developers, the artists, the voice actors. I can’t even begin to imagine The Last of Us without Ashley Johnson (Ellie), or a playthrough of Skyrim without Laura Bailey (Serana from the fabulous Dawnguard DLC) complaining yet again about the weather- “I’m no fan of the sun, but it would be better than this.” Yes we know Serana, you’re a vampire, we get it.

Serana rage aside, my point is that without the women behind your games they would pale in comparison to their current versions. Dialogue, graphics, story, soundtrack, mechanics – there is so much that goes into a game, and the mere idea that women aren’t involved in that or, worse, shouldn’t be involved in that is ridiculous. And it seems that the women behind your games think so too as just last December a book came out

titled Women in Gaming: 100 Professionals of Play wherein women from the industry from programmers to cosplayers shared their stories.

Gaming is not a hobby designed just for boys, nor should it be treated as such – gaming is for everyone. Whether that’s young or old, female or male, that doesn’t matter – if you enjoy gaming, (whether that’s Candy Crush, Call of Duty, or The Witcher 3) congratulations, you’re a gamer.

Yet despite this, and despite the importance of the women involved in the creation of these beloved games, in a survey from 2016 it was reported that women make up just 23% of the video game industry. Though the same report also discusses a goal to “double the number of women working in the industry by 2025” in an increasingly progressive society, this simply isn’t enough.

“Without the women behind your games, they would pale in comparison to their current versions” Especially if one compares this to the number of female gamers.

In 2014, women made up 48% of the gaming population with more female gamers aged over 18 than teenage boy gamersthe believed “main demographic” for video games. And sure, the Washington Post lists mobile games as the reason for this, but so what? Whether my friends play Words with Friends or Dishonored they’re no less a gamer. As previously stated, gaming is for everyone – but if so many women are playing

games, why are so few making them?

ENTERTAINMENT

It still comes down to the stigma. Despite being fully engrossed in a loving gaming world from a young age, I was still frequently met with the horrible stigma of “girls don’t game”. No matter how successful I was at whatever game I happened to be playing, there’d always be someone who’d tell me to “get back to the kitchen”, ask me if I “had a boyfriend”, or complain that we lost whatever match we were playing because “the girl is on our team!”

And this isn’t even taking into account the infamous GamerGate of 2014. This referred to a controversy which began as a harassment campaign against game developer Zoe Quinn. It soon grew into a hateful movement determined to “protect” the traditional sense of “gaming”, primarily through misogynistic comments. Ultimately, it was yet another attempt to prevent the further diversification of gamers.

“Gaming is not a hobby designed just for boys, nor should it be treated as such” With hateful comments and movements such as these, is it even surprising that women have felt shut out of the gaming world?

Even I’ve reconsidered talking about video games with those who don’t know me, worried that I’ll be judged somehow for a hobby I’m deeply passionate about. And in truth, I’m ashamed at myself for this. I love gaming, and I shouldn’t be afraid to say so – nor should anyone else for that matter.

49

I am frequently surprised by how many of my female friends feel similarly – I know so many women who love gaming but they’re afraid to tell anyone about it, and they shouldn’t be! As I’ve said before, and will keep saying until the day I die, video games are for everyone, and can be made by anyone. No one has an overarching “claim” to the hobby or the industry, and it’s time that the stats start to reflect that.

“I know so many women who love gaming, but they’re afraid to tell anyone about it” So next time you see someone considering a career in gaming or debating whether or not to pick up a controller or buy that new shiny game, encourage them. Invite your friends, regardless of their age or gender, to a gaming night – set them up on your PlayStation, or help them choose their first Pokémon. And if it’s not their cup of tea then no problem. But if it is, then celebrate, for the world of gamers just got a little bit larger.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a Spyro trilogy to complete.

LGBT+ Voices 50

IMPACT

Words in Motion “Are You Sure?”

“Are you sure?” they say, “But you’re so quiet and shy, you can’t possibly be gay, you seem like a nice heterosexual girl to me.

Go on gorgeous, give us a twirl” in that dress you must be wearing to impress the straight male determining your sexuality.

“Are you sure?” and with those three words you take away the validity of my body and sexuality.

How I feel must just be a phase(Yet kissing her felt right and I wondered what was wrong with me, to feel that way about another girl.)

“Are you sure?” as if three years of tormenting myself with your disgust wasn’t long enoughyour doubt designed to keep me in the closet with everything else that you’d rather not face up to: because if I’m out then I’m up in your face So I kept quiet.

Hid her inside my heart.

Too many years of shame keep the word lesbian lodged in my throat like the dirtiest word I could utter Yet it is beautiful to let go of fear and talk of love to the girl I love.

Lauren Winson Lauren Winson reflects on her own experiences in light of her spoken word poetry performances for the LGBT+ Voices event ‘The Queer Mind: an exploration of queer mental health’ in November 2018 “It is not enough to merely affirm that we are gay, but we must also create a gay life.” – Michel Foucault.

LGBT+ Voices, part of the University’s LBGT+ society, runs events each semester creating a space for students and staff to come together and ‘create gay life’, as Foucault calls it.

Since 2017, LGBT+ Voices has collated work by students and staff, whether creative pieces or current research, hosting a range of events around LGBT+ experiences. By creating a space that involves both the arts and academic research, LGBT+ Voices provides an enriching and interdisciplinary series of meetings. Each is based around a theme prevalent to the LGBT+ community.

In November 2018, LGBT+ Voices held the event ‘The Queer Mind: an exploration of queer mental health’. Research into the mental health of trans and non-binary youths, conducted

by PhD student Nat Thorne, comprised the academic contribution. I also performed “Are You Sure?” a poem written in response to the invalidation of LGBT+ identities and samesex attraction.

As someone who came from a heteronormative background prior to starting university, I have found that LGBT+ Voices offers a welcoming and supportive space. Being able to speak about the internalised heteronormativity that I grew up with and hearing about others’ experiences feels incredibly validating.

Furthermore, finding out more about the research conducted by other students and staff is fascinating, and reminds me of the benefits that academic research is bringing to the LGBT+ community and across society.

During the spring semester, LGBT Voices will be hosting an arts show. All types of art are welcome. Any students or staff wishing to showcase work, whether visual art, music or poetry performances relating to LGBT+ experiences/studies is greatly welcomed.

For infor further subm mation ,o it you your ar r to can t ema work, orga i l n uonl isation the gbtv at: gma oices@ il.com .

STILL I RISE ENTERTAINMENT

51

Feminism and the Gender Politics of Contemporary Media Esther Kearney

Esther discusses her experience after attending the December 2018 ‘Still I rise’ event.

I had the joy of attending one of Nottingham Contemporary’s many Study Sessions as part of their latest exhibit: Still I Rise.

The discussion was led by Jilly Boyce Kay, a lecturer from the University of Leicester in Media and Communication who specialises in feminist media studies, cultural studies, and feminist theory.

I’ll admit that as a first timer, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but, manned with a notebook and pen, I found a place and entered the discussion. I quickly discovered that the group was quite a mixed bag featuring researchers, artists, curators, and people beginning their feminist journey.

The first half of the session saw Jilly take us on a journey through the history of feminism. She went on to tell us how the role of media in the sixties and seventies switched up the game, an innovation that the feminists of the previous centuries didn’t have to consider in the same way. The fact that the media could depict representations of women, as well as the feminist movement led to the bigger questions that still plague us in the 21st century: 1) How is feminism made visible to people through the media?

2) How does feminism circulate?

Jilly led us back to the words of Rosalind Gill stating, “Representations matter” and how media depictions of women were and still are connected to broader oppressions. Sitting in the Gallery, examples were displayed all around us. For instance, our attentions were drawn to the piece, ‘In Mourning and in Rage’ which explores women who were killed in the 1970s and subsequently, the media’s representations of those crimes. The nude bodies were

used to sensationalise and sell papers by media industries at the time, dehumanising and objectifying the dead women.

Jilly went onto discuss the ‘post-feminist’ age which refers to the idea that now the basic tenets of feminism have been achieved, the movement is no longer necessary. There is then a shift from the collective activism associated with second-wave feminism to a focus on the individual and selfsurveillance. In the readings advised for the sessions, ideas of attaining the ‘perfect’ were discussed meaning that the modern woman can only attain autonomy through success and monitoring.

We discussed the notion of “The Culture of Confidence” in which the media calls upon girls and women to work on their self-confidence and locates mental health issues at rooted in the individual and not social oppression. It diverts our attention away from the real issues of patriarchy, neocapitalism and misogyny.

Ultimately, the main issue is that the media has become the most dominant form by which feminism is understood.

We looked at how some advertisements that present this somewhat superficial feminism such as the ‘Like a Girl’ adverts could be used to give woman the incentive and tools to then go away and make social progress.

But ultimately, that media power has led to the relationship between feminism and socialism breaking down, losing this idea of the ‘collective’.

However, in the words of Jilly herself we must focus on the “gains as well as losses”. So, although feminists were previously demonised and labelled as ‘angry’ by the media, that, equally social media has utilised that ‘anger’ culminating in the effects of the #metoo movement which saw some justice as the outcome of media campaigns and the female collective.

IMPACT

How International to improve and

From Ningbo

52

Tristan Simpson

Tristan takes a look at how students from overseas have had an impact on the success of UoN sport After a fantastic year in sport, the University of Nottingham has picked up a number of accolades in the BUCS leagues and won both The Times Good University Guide Sports University of the Year and International University of the year. These two phenomenal achievements are not easy to win, representing the hard work that the University is putting into their sporting programmes and their effort to incorporate international students into all aspects of university life. In sport, the existence of both the China and Malaysia campuses and presence of a wide range of other international students in the University community, has significantly helped the Green and Gold’s with their success.

As the President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shearer West, indicated,“Our approach to sport ensures that everyone can realise their competitive potential whether that is through our specialist sports courses, success in worldwide competition, leading edge facilities or our civic contribution in helping Nottingham’s communities stay active.”

The tailoring of sport programmes at the University to attract students from abroad has been key to establishing a reputation worldwide. Offering scholarships to outstanding performers and a tight link with the China and Malaysia campuses has helped “everyone realise their competitive potential”.

Director of Sport, Dan Tilley, further spoke about the inclusivity at the University and how this earned them the prestigious awards.“Our facilities have underpinned a dramatic rise in scholarship applications and have also enabled us to appeal to a wider range of students. The links between sport and wellbeing are well documented and we work hard to ensure our programme is inclusive.”

International students are not just coming to the University for their education anymore, but are being enticed by the fantastic sport programmes, facilities and scholarships offered to them at Nottingham.

Speaking with Martyn Lewis, head of performance badminton, he believes the flow of international students into the University is helping significantly with the magnificent success of the badminton squads.“In recent years the club has got stronger and stronger with the influx of international students which in turn attracts more UK based players to look at Nottingham to study. We have players such as the likes of Li Lian Yang and Phone Pyae Naing from Malaysia and Myanmar, respectively winning

SPORT

To Nottingham

XII I XI

VI VII

BUCs individuals creating great profiles not only for themselves but for the University too.”

“For our programme here at the University of Nottingham international students have a massive impact as a lot of the students in our Badminton teams come from nations in South East Asia. I hope we provide a great environment for these players to go back home and shout about their experience here at the University, especially on the badminton side to encourage more in the future to come on over to train and study.”

V

X VII I X

I III IIII

Students help the Green Golds

53

Badminton is a sport that the University has achieved highly in over the last few years. Both the women’s first and second team made it to BUCS Big Wednesday in the Championship and Trophy finals, unfortunately just missing out on winning the silverware. The men’s teams also reached the latter stages of the competition. The impressive reputation that the University has internationally has helped attract top players from regions of the world where the sports are notoriously competitive, such as Badminton in South East Asia.

Martyn Lewis sees himself as “very lucky” to have such a wide range of cultures to coach.

“The international students bring a culture that is very different to our own. It is very much based on hierarchy and respect for the coaches/players above them. This then has an impact on the UK based players as it challenges their decisions and methods. The mix of players provides an environment to improve in all aspects of their sport and personal development, especially learning about new cultures that hopefully give them a more rounded look on life when leaving university.”

The University also has 2 and 1 scheme, or 2 and 2 scheme, which helps connect Nottingham to its international campuses. This scheme, which switches players across the three campuses, allows the University’s sporting stars to travel and play their sports overseas.

Paul Sibert, the performance coach for fencing, also spoke of the importance of international students in maintaining a high quality in the sport. “Fencing is not a big sport in the U.K. and so competing for a limited number of talented fencers within Britain is hard. Having a big intake of international students widens that pool dramatically. That applies from within Europe, in the traditional fencing countries, but also the USA and Hong Kong. My current men’s first team who are top of the Northern Premiership has fencers from Germany, Hungary, Estonia and China (via Australia).”

“The multinational nature of the club is one of the great bonuses for me as a coach. Fencing is an individual sport and coaching is very much 1:1. So coaching is always adapted to the individual. Nationality is just one other factor to consider, but styles vary as much between individuals as between nationalities.”

“The fact that Nottingham as a city and as a university is well known internationally cannot help but attract students.”

The University’s appeal overseas has helped significantly with their reputation as a top sporting university.

International players from across the globe are spread through our sports teams, helping each week to edge closer to more silverware. Building such a reputable foundation for sport and international inclusivity is precisely why the University clinched The Times Good University Guide awards, and hopefully we can continue to fill the University trophy cabinet in 2019.

54

How Being Vegan Affects Your Athletic Career IMPACT

Zoe Burgess

Impact sat down with Shaun Brisley, a Notts County player who has been vegan for two years, to discuss his reasons for making the lifestyle change and any challenges he faced IM: What made you decide to go vegan in the first place?

SB: It was coming to the end of the season a couple of years ago and my girlfriend, who had been vegetarian for years, had recently turned vegan. I started eating some of the meals she was preparing and I thought, you know what, I’ve got a couple of months off from football so I’ll give it a go and see how I get on. I did some research and everything made sense to me, what I had to do and what I had to eat and I didn’t think it was a hard choice to make at all. I had those two months in the offseason where I cut out meat, I did eat fish every now and then but I was already feeling better from it in my off-season work

Images courtesy of Notts County Football Club

and I was sleeping better. So then I went back to pre-season, at the time I was with Carlisle, and that was one of the fittest I’ve felt going back into pre-season. So I thought from then ... I may as well stick at it.

“I made a pact to become vegan and I’ve stuck to it ever since” IM: Were there any ethical reasons at the start?

SB: I started out eating a plant based diet just for the health reasons but I’m becoming more ethically aware of other reasons and that interests me as well. The more I look into it, read about it and research it, I watch a lot of videos about it and it’s made me more ethically aware, so I’m cutting things down more and more. I do still own some leather products that were bought for me before I turned vegan, but bit by bit I’m trying to avoid all animal products, such as leather. It is difficult though as most football boots are made from leather, so especially for me it can be hard to cut everything out, but I’ve become more aware of that as time’s gone on. It can be easy for people to distance themselves from what they’re eating, but the more you look behind closed doors and find out how it’s prepared, I just don’t like it at all and it’s not easy to watch.

“Last season I managed to play almost 50 games, I’ve felt miles better” IM: How was the transition for you?

SB: I cut meat out all together and for a few months I ate a bit of fish but then I thought I may as well go the full way. I’d changed my milk, I wasn’t eating eggs or cheese and I felt great from that so why not just cut out the rest of it? I made a pact to do that and I’ve stuck to that ever since. I do use plant based protein as it’s important to my career, and I think if you’re jumping straight in, protein supplements can be useful. There’s a company founded by an ex-footballer and I find his products really beneficial as they’re designed for sports people and athletes.

SPORT

55

IM: You’ve said you felt better in yourself after the change, do you think it’s improved your athletic career?

SB: I’d say so, yes. Last season was really the first season I was fully vegan and the whole season I was available for 99% of all games. I think for the whole 10 months of the season I only missed one training session and that was just a little niggle, not a serious injury. I managed to play almost 50 games which is something I’ve not done since I was about 18.

I’ve felt miles better in that way.

“Watch a few documentaries and if they don’t make you turn vegan then I don’t know what will” IM: What advice would you want to give anyone who wants to try and make the change?

SB: Do the research. A lot of it is research and people think you must just eat vegetables, but if you do your research there’s loads of different things you can eat. I’m not a massive fan of the fake meats. When I eat at home I eat real plant based foods: lentils, chickpeas, mixed beans, tofu. I’ll have dishes along those lines. A massive part of it is knowing what you’re doing. It’s not an easy transition to jump straight in to.

You’ve got to do research because of some things you are just unable to get from a vegan diet, such as vitamins B12 and D3, which is especially important in winter. But if you’ve done your research you’ll know what supplements you need. If you eat more plant based meals rather than vegan junk food you will get most of the nutrients and vitamins that you need from the food itself. It’s a lot easier with time once you know what you can eat. The main thing is research. Watch a few documentaries and if they don’t make you turn vegan then I don’t know what will.

IM: Do you ever miss anything?

SB: A lot of people ask me this question. I actually don’t. There are a lot of substitutes now and it’s gone quite mainstream.

I’m based in Sheffield and the vegan community in Sheffield is fantastic. There are loads of options when you’re wanting to eat out and I’m sure that’s the same here in Nottingham. So, no, I don’t miss anything, and the further I’ve got along and the more effort I’ve put in, and the more I’ve learned about animal cruelty, if someone says do you miss anything I’ll just say no.

56

IMPACT

How accessible is sport at the University of Nottingham for disabled students?

Zoe Burgess In light of being voted Times Sports University of the Year, Impact has investigated how much our university is doing to include students with disabilities in its sporting programme

SPORT

“Most clubs at the University run beginner and social sessions throughout the year”

“There is a great inclusive atmosphere and the coach is always happy to tailor sessions to suit my needs”

57

“You can book sessions with trained instructors who will accommodate all needs”

Sport is a big part of University life, with BUCS competitions running throughout the academic year and Varsity rounding off the season, showcasing the best we have to offer. But it can be easy to take for granted how effortless it is to take part in sport when you’re able bodied. So what is our university doing to make everyone feel included? And is it enough?

The University’s sports department works alongside the Students’ Union and Disability Support team to provide accessible sporting and fitness opportunities for all students at the University. The University of Nottingham is one of a handful of universities which has a Disability Sports Officer, Hannah Webber, who is in regular contact with the disabled students network to find out what they would like to see provided by the University to help them access sports and fitness, and is on hand to support students with specific needs.

There are sports facilities on all three of our campuses, and all are accessible to students with disabilities, with features including accessible parking bays, automatic doors, lifts, accessible toilets, changing facilities and lockers. There is also an accessible entrance to the swimming pool in David Ross, with hoists to help those into the pool who need it.

Over the last five years the University has been developing an inclusive sporting programme and has created some great opportunities for students with disabilities to get involved and access sport and physical activity.

Inclusive Club Sessions: The sports department have been working with a number of sports and clubs to develop more offers for students with disabilities or mental health conditions. Most clubs at the University run beginner and social sessions through the Engage programme, which is designed to widen the sporting opportunities available to students. This means sports are open to all abilities, and you can try sports out even if you aren’t a member. There are weekly sessions in more than 25 sports, which are free if you’re a member or £3 if you are not.

impaired student, uses these supported sessions to work out in numerous ways.

Her instructor helps her by guiding her through the gym and making sure she always knows where her equipment is. There are also cardio machines

Goalball Club: The Nottinghamshire Sheriffs Goalball Club was set up by the University in partnership with My Sight Nottinghamshire in 2010. Goalball is a Paralympic sport which was designed for people with visual impairments.

As everyone wears blacked out eyeshades during the games, it is open to sighted players too. The game is played on a court the size of a volleyball court and is marked out with string which is taped down. Two teams of three people try to score in the opposition’s nine-metre-wide goal, using a ball with a bell in it. It is good for your all-round fitness, coordination, spatial awareness, flexibility and strength. The Nottinghamshire Sheriffs is one of Goalball UK’s legacy clubs and is focussed on growing the sport within the University and out into the wider community.

Supported Fitness Sessions: This is a great way to get into the fitness suite. You can book sessions with trained instructors who will accommodate all needs, helping you reach your fitness goals. This can be an option for people who may find busy and loud areas daunting, such as Clare, a third year student, who enjoys the opportunity for a one to one session with an instructor at times when the gym isn’t too crowded. It’s also a great way to access sport if you have specific needs. Agata, a visually

with tactile buttons and signage, and these machines are prioritised for students with disabilities. Also, sporting facilities are decorated to help people with visual impairments, with white markings on every step and in the gym itself, the exercise areas are darker whereas the walkways are lighter, allowing Agata to differentiate between the two.

Original image courtesy of Wikipedia

58

IMPACT

Performance Sport: The University has a Disability Sport Scholarship scheme for elite sports men and women. Sean O’Sullivan, a maths undergraduate who is a para-badminton scholar, has spoken of the facilities the University has to aid him in his training. ‘Everyone is really friendly and there is a great inclusive atmosphere. The coach is always happy to tailor sessions to suit my individual needs. The staff in the High Performance Zone have created a tailored strength and conditioning session for me to support my development as a para-badminton player’.

Welfare in Sport

project aims to raise awareness of mental health issues within members of sports clubs, helping to remove barriers for students participating in sport and provide a platform for sports clubs at the University to improve welfare support for all their members.

The support networks and friendship groups that are present within sports teams can be invaluable during difficult periods and can help you to not feel so alone. The connection between physical and mental health is well documented, however, mental distress can produce a large barrier to participation in activity for those who would benefit from it most. The Welfare in Sport team hope that by encouraging an inclusive atmosphere in sports clubs, and by educating those in leadership roles, more people will feel able to join in.

Welfare in Sport is a campaign group run by students for students. The

“The University’s approach to sport ensures that everyone can realise their competitive potential”

Sports Buddy Scheme: The Sports Buddy Scheme pairs a disabled student with a non-disabled student to allow students to make friends whilst they get fit. It’s a great way to work out without feeling the pressure of meeting an instructor and having a more formal gym session.

Disability Sports Events: The University holds many disability sports events throughout the year.

In December 2018, there was the University wheelchair basketball championship qualifiers and a paraswimming open day. On February 3rd there is a para-sports day being held at David Ross, with access to sports such as handball, fencing and sitting volleyball for all students to try out for free.

“The support networks and friendship groups that are present in sports teams can be invaluable”

If students have specific needs that aren’t covered by these schemes or programmes, they can meet one to one with Hannah or a trained instructor to discuss how they can be supported in the best way possible.

Coaches, leaders and volunteers are also offered training to provide the knowledge and confidence to adapt their sessions to meet the needs of people with different abilities. At the start of each year, the University runs an ‘Inclusive Activity Programme’ development session in partnership with Activity Alliance. Clubs and their coaches can also apply to do disability specific coaching qualifications and get them funded through the Leadership Academy Qualification Fund.

Hannah Webber, the University’s Disability Sports Officer, told us that she is encouraging sports clubs to develop what they offer to become more inclusive for disabled students and, although it’s not possible with every sport, she is striving for most clubs to welcome disabled students to their sessions. She also said that what we offer as a university is continually evolving and improving to meet the needs of our students. She believes in ability, not disability, and vows that if you want to try a sport or activity, the University will try it’s very best to help you achieve that.

The University of Nottingham was voted Sports University of the Year for 2019 and strives to include everyone in their sporting programme. President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West claims ‘our approach to sport ensures that everyone can realise their competitive potential, whether that is through our specialist sports courses, success in worldwide competition, or leading edge facilities’. Director of Sport Dan Tilley has said ‘we work hard to ensure our programme is inclusive. We are really proud of the role sport can play in breaking down barriers, developing life skills and helping students transition both into and beyond university life’.

The amount of opportunities our university offers to disabled students is impressive and it is promising to see that we are always striving to improve the quality of events for students with disabilities and the levels of inclusivity. Let’s hope the spotlight of being voted Sports University of the Year will allow the Department of Sport to improve our disabled sports programme even further.

CREDITS CREDITS

THE TEAM

Editorial

Sophie Hunt Ben Henaghan Editor-in-Chief Connor Higgs Jennifer Peck Print EditorFrancesca Hadland Ben Baruch

Editor NicolasOnline Caballero

Design

Online Editor Web Developer Deputy Online Editors

design + images design + images Artistic Director Poppy Anne Malby Assistant Rhys ThomasDesigner Head of Images Denise Odong Illustrator Poppy Anne Malby

Head of Images Illustrator

online

online

Marvel Kalu

Web Developer Lawrie Cate Natasha Fernandes Shanai Momi Deputy Online Editors Amy Wilcockson Faye Price Emily Harbottle Charlotte Hegley

sections

Head of Entertainment Entertainment Editor Head of Reviews Head of Sport Sports Editor

Management External Manager Internal Manager Social Media Assistant Publicity Assistant

Denise O Poppy Anne M

Sections

Head of News Head of Features Features Editor Head of Comment Head of Lifestyle Food Editor Science Editor Style Editor Travel Editor Head of Entertainment Editor Sarah Lind Sarah News Lindgarde Arts Editor Head of Features Jennifer Peck Film and TV EditorJennifer Music Editor Jack T Features Editor Jack Taylor Head of Reviews Head of Lifestyle Elle Elle Magill Reviews Editor Lifestyle Editor Rhys Th Rhys Thomas Head of Sport Science Correspondent Ben Ben Edge Sport Editor

sections

Head of Entertainment Isobel Sheene Entertainment Editor Matthew Johnson of Reviews EmmaHead Heasman Head of Sport Tom Monks Sports Editor Jimmy Moorhouse

management

External Manager Ruby Tyler Managing Assistant Mollie External Lewington Internal Manager Shannon Macleod

Ella Taylor Philippa Stazicker Poppy Anne M Molly Evans Sophie GordonRhys Th

Lawrie Cate Amy Wilcockson Emily Harbottle

Rosa Morgan Inga Becker Hansen Esme Johnson Amy Wilcockson Georgia Butcher News Editor Esther Kearney HeadCaballero of Features Nicolas Hannah Pickard Features Editor Katie Moncur Head of Lifestyle James Hurman Lifestyle Zoe Burgess Editor Science Correspondent Tristan Simpson

oppy Anne Malby

Emma Heasman Eleanor Gray

Online

Connor Higgs Ben Baruch Nicolas Caballero

Artistic Director Assitant Designer Artistic Director Head of Images Assistant Designer Head of Illustration

ger ging Assistant ger

THE TEA

editorial

editorial

management

59

THE TEAM

Editor-in-Chief Print Editor

r Editors

59

CREDITS

Just

doin

g ou

r bit

!

Isobel Sh Matthew Joh Emma Hea Tom M Jimmy Moorh

Sian Baldwin Alana McKenna Ruby Tyler Megan Gallagher

Ruby Tyler Mollie Lewington Shannon Macleod

Cover Image by Poppy Anne Malby

Disclaimer:are The views opinions expressed throughout are those of the writers ews and opinions expressed throughout those ofand the writers or interviewees, not Impact as a whole. ot Impact as a whole.

Cover Design by Ella Taylor Image of Earth courtesy of Google Images. Brushes courtesy of Brusheezy.com Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed throughout are those of the writers and interviewees, not Impact as a whole.

WHOLE 248.indd 59

12/09/2017 12:38

Just

doin

g

IMPACTNOTTINGHAM.COM

#255

JANUARY 2019

Want to get

INVOLVED? Head to our website for more information

www.impactnottingham.com