Vol. 19, Issue 1

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THE MESSENGER VO L 1 9/ I S S 1

THE TAMPON TAX How the tampon tax affects families and furthers the unspoken truth of perio d poverty

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GAMESTOP STOCKS Northview students join the sto ck market

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CRACKING UNDER Cultural EXPECTATIONS pg. 15

THE MESSENGER | 1

staff CONTACT US

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

(770) 497-3828 nhsmessenger@gmail.com 10625 Parsons Rd Johns Creek, GA 30097 nhsmessenger.org

Meghana Ramineni Jennifer Xia

PUBLICATION The Messenger is a student publication published for and distributed to the Northview High School community. The Messenger’s intent is to inform, entertain, and educate its readers; to provide a forum for the Northview community; to express attitudes and opinions; to provide an educational opportunity for both the students who produce The Messenger and those who read it, and to provide a medium for commercial messages.

ADVERTISING The Messenger publishes advertisements with signed contracts provided that they are deemed appropriate by the staff for the intended audience.

Businesses and organizations may advertise with The Messenger by filling out an advertisement order form. More information can be found on The Messenger Online.

THE MESSENGER ONLINE Find us on The Messenger Online (nhsmessenger.org) for our policies and more coverage.

SCAN ME IN THIS ISSUE

Cover Design: Melissa Liu Cover Photos: Cady Studios

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MANAGING PRINT AND DESIGN EDITOR Melissa Liu

MANAGING ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Grace Peng

COPY EDITOR Megan Serfontein

NEWS EDITOR Bedansh Pandey

SPORTS EDITOR Nikki Skyer

FEATURES EDITOR Manasa Premanand

OPINIONS EDITOR Anshi Vajpayee

ADVISER

Meredith Evans

STAFF

Sameeksha Agarwal Abhay Bethur Cameron Chappell Ria Dubey Rachel Everett Sanjana Gopu Reagan Horne Disha Kumar Suhani Mahajan Sofia Mang Noelle Reid Juliette Salah Madisyn Signal Caleb Smith Brandon Tung Krystal Wu

contents 04

EDITOR’S LETTER

JENNIFER XIA MEGHANA RAMINENI

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TAMPON TAX MEGAN SERFONTEIN RACHEL EVERETT

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH GRACE PENG

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PROFILE: KAYLYN ZHONG

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GAMESTOP STOCKS ANSHI VAJPAYEE BEDANSH PANDEY

15

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CRACKING UNDER CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS

DISHA KUMAR SUHANI MAHAJAN

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INDUSTRY STANDARDS

SANJANA GOPU SOFIA MANG

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FACE OFF

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ENTERTAINMENT REVIEW: BRIDGERTON REAGAN HORNE

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FOOD REVIEW: DESSERTS KRYSTAL WU

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R/ANSHI ANSHI VAJPAYEE

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FASHION

CAMERON CHAPPELL

MADISYN SIGNAL

JULIETTE SALAH NOELLE REID

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24

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RIA DUBEY

STAFF

MENTAL HEALTH IN SPORTS

OP ED

STAFF ED

CALEB SMITH NIKKI SKYER

THE MESSENGER | 3

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Looking in the mirror O ne of our biggest pet peeves in the past three and a half years creating for The Messenger is the all too well-known introduction: Northview is an incredibly diverse school.

The notion is brought up countless times in Socratic seminars and random conversations. In fact, our Humans of Northview series was produced with the sole intent of highlighting the diversity of this school. For all of Northview’s triumphs and records made, the immense struggle beyond the faces that make up this school is something worth looking at. The reflection in the mirror doesn’t always match.

Growing up, looking in the mirror always brought along sharp eyes watching the acne on our faces or the passive aggressive comments our relatives made on the slight weight gain after visiting the motherland. Although we understand it comes from a place of either good intention or traditional values, in such instances, we also feel the pressure when relatives begin to push for certain homemade remedies or common practices that further highlight to us the disparities we face in beauty within our respective cultures. As seniors, we have had much time to consider what

Meghana Ramineni, Editor-in-Chief

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it means to be beautiful; as Asians and Americans, the mirror becomes double sided, and the reflection on either side does not match our face.

The differences we spot in our reflections begin to accumulate: clear skin, good face shape, no dark circles, feminine features, height, weight. Occasionally, we think about truly looking like the reflection we wish to see or are pushed to look like. As part of a generation of social media users, our faces become blurred with beauty standards within the filters and editing tools available to alter many of the issues that are able to arch over us so easily.

Yes, Northview is an incredibly diverse school. Within the diversity of the community we live in, whether it is ethnicity, gender, or age, the meaning of beauty varies greatly. The multiple faces of Northview represent the multiple faces of cultures across the world, and with it, a multifaceted set of perspectives of beauty within such cultures.

We invite you to read the testimonies of these students with eager eyes, hopefully widening our readers’ views on their perceptions of beauty. Whatever beauty is to you, we remind you that it is not all the same.

Jennifer Xia, Editor-in-Chief

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hainsaws, cowboy boots, and newspaper ink. All of these items have the same thing in common: they are not taxed in one or more states. But menstrual products such as pads, tampons, and menstrual cups? These items are taxed in 33 states.

Menstrual products are taxed as “non-necessary luxury items” in a tax frequently referred to as the tampon tax (despite covering more than just tampons). Generic federal assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—which provides food stamps— as well as Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) do not allow usage of those funds for menstrual products since they fall under the label of “non-essential products”, unlike food and medicine, despite being classified as medical devices. However, there are numerous nonprescriptive medical devices and over-the-counter medicines that are allowed under SNAP and WIC and thus are not taxed.

Georgia is one of the 33 states that tax tampons. The current sales tax on menstrual products is 4%, but since 2018, Georgia House of Representatives Democrat Debbie Buckner of the 137th district has led several other representatives to get rid of the tax. One of the biggest critics of this repeal, however, is the highest-ranking woman in the state House, Republican Jan Jones of the 47th district. Jones’ reasoning is that the ban is an unnecessary effort that solves a nonexistent problem. In other words, getting rid of the tax would not suddenly make these products affordable to low-income women. Buckner, however, emphasizes that the effort is not only about supporting those who are financially in need but also to support basic human dignity. Buckner’s supporters explain that while the

tax and cost of tampons might not seem like much, it certainly is when a constituent is trying to choose between, for example, giving a child lunch money or buying a box of pads.

The tampon tax affects people of all ages, including high school students. According to the National Hospital System of the United Kingdom, most females get their periods between the ages of eight and 15, and according to the National Center for Children in Poverty, 45% of teens worldwide live in low-income families. Many students are passionate about eliminating this disparity, including two members of the Feminism Empowers Me (FEM) club at Northview—junior Inaara Jadavji, sophomore Casey Wong, and sophomore

“ They

are very obviously not essential,” Wong said.

“And then, by having this opportunity gap in having to pay this extra tax for essential items just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Jadavji views the tampon tax as additionally encompassing the pink tax, an upcharge on products that differ only in size or in scent in hopes of targetting female consumers. While the pink tax does not necessarily equal the tampon tax, the two are commonly paired together, as consumers who buy pink or scented products often deal with both taxes. This makes buying basic necessities, such as menstrual products, difficult.

“They are charging women more for no reason other than they want us to follow certain gender normative and societal standards that we shouldn’t have to follow,” Jadavji said.

“We shouldn’t have to follow certain colors on packaging or scents or tastes or whatever they think a woman would desire or make a woman smell desirable. Stuff like that doesn’t matter.”

For Cato, these are not just societal concerns, but personal ones too. Cato has been a Girl Scout since elementary school, and now as a Senior Girl Scout, she and her troop are working on more service projects to give back to their communities. Recently, they completed a badge in Women’s Health after creating care packages of menstrual products that included pads, tampons, and panty liners for a local homeless shelter that serves the majority, women. Cato believes that if she is able to alleviate even a little bit of the stigma associated with periods, then her projects have been a success.

“I was inspired to host this drive because I know how hard it is to have my period and I

are c h a r g i n g w om e n m or e fo r no re a son ot h e r t h a n t h e y w ant us to f ol l ow c e r t a i n ge n d e r n o rmati ve a n d soc i e t a l st a n d a r d s th at w e shoul d n ’ t h a v e t o f ol l ow. ”

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Inaara Jadavji Sarah Cato, a Girl Scout whose troop recently hosted a drive for menstrual products for homeless women.

Wong categorizes the tampon tax as an opportunity gap, in that having to buy these products monthly lessens what the families may spend on food or put in a retirement fund. Wong also notes that the difference in menstruation between people whose periods are light and last a few days as compared to people with chronic illnesses who may experience periods that last weeks or even months may also have a bearing on the opportunity gap.

“There are things that are tax-exempt yet

NEWS can access everything I need so I can’t imagine how hard it is for homeless women who have nothing,” Cato said.

Cato, Jadaviji, and Wong recognize that school systems and individual schools could do so much more to help all of their students that experience periods including those from low-income families that may not be able to get period supplies anywhere else. All three feel that solutions could be as easy as putting pads and tampons in the bathroom.

“Just like of course there is toilet paper or paper towels or soap in the bathroom there should be tampons and pads,” Wong said.

It is common for women to forget a pad or a tampon or have an unregular period.

For students, they may head to the nurse’s office where there are a variety of menstrual products, including panty liners, pads, and tampons. Jean Apps, who leads the clinic at Northview, helps girls with whatever they may need. Throughout her years as a nurse in the clinic, she has seen the effects of the pink tax firsthand, including a few students who have not been able to afford menstrual products.

Luckily, through donations to the clinic and other help, they are able to get such supplies.

Along with helping students who are not able to afford products, they also help the average student who may have been surprised or forgotten. There is a basket in the clinic restroom dedicated to housing these supplies.

Students are allowed to take what they may need, without any questions being asked.

Despite its seeming accessibility, the clinic is also another place where the tampon tax poisons menstrual health. The higher the prices of tampons or pads, the less they are able to provide for students, and a chain reaction ensues. Despite dealing with the tax, Apps and the other nursing staff are helping to create a space in the clinic where students can get what they need without monetary concern.

“We just try to be very sensitive and very private if that’s what they want, whatever makes them the most comfortable because we certainly don’t want anyone to be embarrassed or ashamed. We want this to be a really safe

place for everyone,” Apps said.

The clinic at school is not the only place that receives donations. Many women’s shelters and domestic abuse shelters need them as well. On Feb. 12, FEM, along with Beta Club, hosted a donation drive for Partnership Against Domestic Violence. Menstrual products were not the only thing accepted–– shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, and toothpaste were also included in the drive. Jadavji believes that one way to greatly help those in need and those affected by the tampon tax is through such donations.

“FEM is trying to work with woman’s shelters and domestic abuse shelters, and just women’s rights organizations as a whole to work on menstrual products drives,” Jadavji said.

Though the tampon tax is still the law of the land in Georgia, this does not mean there is no hope for anti-tampon tax advocates.

Buckner is still championing for the abolishment of the tax. Even at a local level, there may

be a change coming. It was brought to principal Brian Downey’s attention that low-income families may be struggling to purchase these products and he was eager to help. Fulton County and the schools distribute food to low-income families and it was suggested about handing out period supplies in a similar fashion.

“That is a decision made above my head and I am not going to have control over that type of budgetary item, but that should not stop us from doing it at the local level,” Downey said.

The tampon tax has a long way to go to be completely removed in every state; however, many are working to create such change.

Several organizations, companies, representatives, and even citizens are challenging the tax in an effort to break the cycle of period poverty. One day, the choice between feeding your family and affording these essential items may become a thing of the past.

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NEWS

B lack

History Month Black History Club spotlights cultural excellence

Senior Ethan Charles and junior Aaliyah Guthrie discuss their plans for Black History Month.

GRACE PENG, MANAGING ONLINE EDITOR

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GRACE PENG, MANAGING ONLINE EDITOR

n pre-pandemic Northview, perhaps one of the biggest events of the year is the Black History’s Club annual performance for Black History Month. Spanning an entire lunch period, the performance exhibits a stirring lineup of Black culture, involving dance, music, and speech.

However, this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Club came to acknowledge that a virtual performance would never have the energy of a live audience. So instead, they opted for an alternative, partnering with other high school chapters to create interactive activities that continue inspiration of Black culture.

One of those activities is hosting Trivia Nights. The Black History Clubs of Johns Creek High School and Chattahoochee High School reached out to Northview’s chapter to begin friendly inter-school rivalry. Sessions will be hosted on the platform Quizzizz, where a code will be posted on social media (including Northview Student Council and Black History Club pages), inviting other people to join.

“What you would do is that you would go through your series of questions, asking about Black history and Black trivia,” Ethan Charles, a senior and member of the Black History Club, said. “The more you get correct, the more you’ll be propelled through the ranks, because it’s like a student competition.”

Charles is very excited for the contest, but he is also looking forward to another of the planned activities, a series of movie nights.

“We’re just planning stories that aren’t necessarily revolved around Black history or Black experiences, but more just have Black main characters,” Charles said.

There are several movies that the club is considering, and possibilities include “Get Out,” starring Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams, as well as “Ma” starring Octavia Spencer.

“The movie ‘Soul’ that just came out on Disney Plus—a lot of people raved about it,” Aaliyah Guthrie, a junior and vice president of the Black History Club, said. “We thought that’d be a cute movie to watch because not ev-

“JUST seeing how we’ve progressed to society now, it’s amazing how far we’ve come and how much further we need to go.” aaliyah guthrie

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erything [about this month] has to be somber, but it can be fun.”

Another new tenet of this year’s Black History Month has been to destigmatize Black culture through a series of weekly messages sent through language arts classes.

“We’ve submitted, via [Microsoft] Teams, just a statement that, you know, just to think about each week. Like this week, you know, we opened it up and sort of thought about praise and struggles,” Tania Pope, language arts teacher and sponsor of the Black History Club, said. “Next week, we’re going to look at the past, including members of the Black

community who are often not recognized.

And then the following week, we need to look at [present] Then from there, we’ll probably look towards the future.”

Although the activities during Black History Month focus on the acknowledgement of Black excellence, they allow people of all backgrounds to participate.

“Our initiative is to be more inclusive, not even with just like the Black community, but other minority communities at our school,” Charles said. “The messages talk about, this is what we go through.

This is how we feel. Please listen, be our allies, if you’re part of our community.”

A particular goal of the club is to address the disparities at Northview and promote a more racially-conscious environment.

“As students who are not Black, when you do hear some sort of slander or negative way the Black community is being treated, then stand up and sort of recognize, “Hey, that’s wrong,’” Pope said. “I think being willing to listen and be open is most important, especially in students who come from diverse backgrounds and are empathetic and understanding.”

While the Black History Club’s meetings have always revolved around having difficult conversations about systemic injustices, this month is especially important due to its current events.

“Black History Month means, to me, to mainly acknowledge and recognize the trials and tribulations that got us here today,” Guthrie said. “Just seeing how we’ve progressed to the society now, it’s amazing how far we’ve come and how much further we need to go.”

SPORTS

profile

highlights

Kaylyn Zhong, 10 MADISYN SIGNAL, STAFF WRITER

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ophomore Kaylyn Zhong was only 3 years old when she started dancing. At age 12, she began dancing competitively, receiving several first-place medals for her outstanding work. Zhong, who dances at MorningStar Dance Academy, mainly takes ballet classes but dabbles in contemporary dance and Chinese folk dance as well.

Through careful observation of her inspiration, critically-acclaimed Russian ballerina Natalia Osipova’s passionate performances, as well as her own experimentation, Zhong has learned that dancers can use their movements as a form of self-expression, allowing them to communicate their feelings and experiences nonverbally. “[Dance is] like an expressive form of art for me,” she said. “It really challenges me to be more creative.”

While Zhong has encountered toxic behavior in the competition world, she believes dance is more about personal growth and self-expression. She recognizes her insecurities surrounding her artistic abilities as a path towards improvement.

“Sometimes I get really subconscious about what people think of my choreography or the way I dance in the way or move, so it’s just all a competition with yourself to grow and become more confident in yourself,” Zhong said.

Her friend, junior Diane Zhao, who is also a dancer at MorningStar Dance Academy, notices how Zhong is more outgoing on the stage. She notes how dance has changed Zhong for the better as she commends her craft and dedication to dance.

“If you see her face to face in real life, she’s more on the shyer side but, on stage, she does have a strong presence and persona, and I

really do admire all the work that she puts in,” Zhao said.

However, COVID-19 has put a strain on Zhong and her aspirations for dance. She has had some of her hardest moments during the pandemic, citing that it has not only affected her mentally but also physically.

“Because of [COVID-19], it’s been hard to get on stage again. My first time back [in class], I fell pretty bad, and I think the hardest part is just getting back up,” she said.

Although Zhong’s dance lessons have transitioned to zoom calls, she is thankful to have a Marley dance floor at home where she is able to practice since students cannot visit the dance studio.

Other than COVID-19, Zhong has had many ups and downs during her extensive dance career. For her, one of the

Youth America Grand Prix '21 Top 12 ATL Semifinals Universal Ballet Competition '20 1st place American Ballet Competition '19 1st place most challenging aspects of dance is obeying the strict rules on body weight, dieting, and frequent practice sessions that her ballet teachers set because she struggles with self-discipline when it comes to eating healthy and staying on track.

“If you skip a week you can lose half your muscles that have taken a year to gain,” Zhong said. “If you let yourself go one day and eat like a whole buffet, you’re going to regret it, and I think that’s the hardest part.”

Zhong plans to continue dancing for as long as she can, although she acknowledges that dance is hard on her body and requires discipline. She enjoys putting effort into something she is passionate about and seeing her progress over time. “[Dance] requires a lot of hard work, and it takes more than two days to see progress.

It’s like years and years of practice, so when you look back on a video a year later, your like ‘Wow I did improve. My hard work did pay off,’” Zhong said. “I think that’s the thing that keeps me going.”

STAR ACTION SHOTS, SPECIAL

Zhong performs a sissonne attitude for her Kitri Variation.

THE MESSENGER | 9

headstrong The unspoken struggles of student atheletes and the fight for more mental health awareness in high school athletics NIKKI SKYER, SPORTS EDITOR CALEB SMITH, STAFF WRITER GABE RODRIGUEZ, SPECIAL

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thletics are often credited with providing structure, work ethic, and discipline for teens and young adults.

Mental health plays a critical role in decision making, reaction time, and several other important factors regarding performance. It is no secret that America is extremely competitive when it comes to sports, however, athletes often do not prioritize their emotional well-being in order to win at all costs. For young adults, high school sports such as football, soccer, and baseball are great outlets for exercise and team building, but more importantly confidence and self-esteem. At Northview, these values can be found on and off the field by the vast majority of student-athletes.

“For me, playing football is not only a physical but also a very mental sport. It takes a great deal of concentration and fearlessness to be on the field,” senior Nick Oliver said.

Oliver plays on Northview’s football team and endures the hardships of conditioning and actual gameplay every fall season. He notes that the sport takes a huge mental toll when in action and perceives the game as more than just throwing a ball.

Northview parent John Trautwein sees this dedication students have towards their respective sports as all of his children have participated in athletics. He touches on the seriousness of student-athletes staying mentally fit as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on.

“Because it has been such a crazy time with this pandemic, I think maybe with athletes it becomes very evident that it is important to

keep up with your mental health,” Trautwein said. “The expectations are still very very high, and the situation is just so different. Being of sound mind [and] being comfortable with

gather and have fun, but to also give students, athletes, and members of the community a space to spread Will Trautwein’s light and the foundation’s message on mental health awareness to everyone they can.

“Whether you are an athlete or not, it is always important to focus on your mental health,” John Trautwein said.

Coaches also play a big role in instilling these values within the team. Many kids develop connections to sports that will last throughout their lifetimes and provide a healthy way to escape many of the outside stresses of work or school. Athletes are usually taught how to be strong physically, but not always how mentally.

“The best thing a coach can do for their player is to show understanding and that’ll win them over,” John Trautwein said.

Student-athletes often use sports as a way to relieve outside stress from school, work, or home life. Football player and sophomore Jelani Miller is passionate about his sport and the well-being of his teammates. Miller sees first-hand how sports can positively and negatively affect a player’s mental health, and how important adult leadership is to them.

“Football relieves stress for me personally, and we need adults who care about sports as much as we do,” Miller said.

Trautwein addresses the difference in experience from when now high school coaches played to what today’s students go through.

While he reminisces on his more joyous base-

“Whether you are an athlete or not, it is always important to focus on your mental health.”

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John Trautwein

yourself enables you to express that it’s okay to not be okay.”

Trautwein leads the Will to Live Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing education on mental health in students by showing them that there is love and hope in each other. The idea came from the Trautwein family tragically losing their son, Will Trautwein, to suicide in 2010. Will Trautwein was an athlete at Northview and continues to be remembered by his classmates as a light towards everyone. Today, Will to Live hosts several events such as an annual 5k and Willstock, a teen music festival. These events are not only meant to allow friends and family to

SPORTS

ball seasons as a high school student, he emphasizes that coaches should strive to be there for their athletes amidst new standards and help them with any personal issues, sports-related or not.

“What happens is sometimes coaches and adults, in general, forget that despite the fact that there may be more opportunities today, despite the fact that there may be better facilities, despite the fact there may be more impressive stadiums and uniforms, we have to remember that it is very, very difficult today because of the 24/7 pressures that the players face whether it be social pressures, whether it be academic pressures or even athletic pressures,” Trautwein said.

Lessons on the importance of mental health usually appear in classes spanning from literature to psychology, however, it is rarely seen on the fields. Concussion education, however, is something that has been newly emphasized in sports, leading to increased awareness from coaches and other adults.

The lasting effects of concussions can harm athletes mentally, and coaches are trained to pay attention when there is a possible concussion on their team. Principal Brian Downey praises this added training, however, he mentions the lack of other instruction.

“We have a lot of training that leads our coaches to pay attention to the kids. A secondary benefit of concussion training may allow us to catch something else, but there is no formal training on the mental health aspect of sports,” Downey said.

With minimal mental health education available at the moment, Trautwein stressed the importance of resources like counseling for athletes who may find themselves struggling.

His foundation proudly supports resources like these in order to encourage, especially in light of the pandemic, students who may need help to go get it.

“They have counselors on-site which the Will to Live Foundation helps fund, so the kids do have a place to go when [they] need someone to talk [to],” Traut-

wein said. “I want to make sure that everyone realizes that COVID-19 is making life even harder, so we have to recognize this. We have to make sure the students understand that we know that what they are dealing with is very, very difficult.”

While Trautwein works hard to help provide professional assistance, he offers some advice for athletes

who may be struggling at the moment.

“You are not alone. It is truly okay to not be okay. There are other kids sitting next to you or in the video chat room with you that are also struggling. Talk about it; find someone you can talk to whether it’s a friend, a teammate, a coach, a mentor, a teacher, a minister, a neighbor, an uncle, a grandparent, or a family member,” Trautwein said. “Find someone you can just express and talk to. Talking about it is so important for your mental health. Do not hold it in. Do not try to hide it. Do not try to disguise it. It only gets worse.”

JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

THE MESSENGER | 11

INVESTING TO THE FUTURE Northview students join the sto ck market ANSHI VAJPAYEE, OPINIONS EDITOR BEDANSH PANDEY, NEWS EDITOR

o d a y , turning 18 is considered a rite of passage, marking an important transition from youth to legal adulthood. Compared to its younger counterpart, being an adult has its perks and great privileges, which also come with a plethora of legal responsibilities. This includes the right to vote and own property, but many, however, seem to forget a more obscure right: bypassing the legal requirement specific to the investment industry.

18-year-olds today can buy, sell and invest in an array of stock exchanges, and many Northview students have taken this to their advan-

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tage and immersed themselves in the stock market and its many quirks Upon turning 18, senior Arnest Uddin, like many across America, quickly sought to catch up and join the ever-growing race. What started as curiosity and inspiration by his older friends spurred genuine interest in the art of trading, reselling, and eyeing the market.

He began casually trading on Robinhood and Fidelity, apps designed for beginners in a field that only grows in complexity. Now, he has amassed an impressive amount of knowledge with the help of his friends, family, and various internet sources.

“I can have this power to screw Wall Street over and also make some money while doing that,” Uddin said.

With the recent events regarding GameStop, where a group of Reddit users on r/WallStreetBets caused GME (GameStop) stocks to experience a shorting, or where a share is borrowed and later bought at a lower price to keep the difference. Gamestop stocks later experienced a short squeeze, which occurs when a stock or other asset jumps sharply higher, forcing traders who had bet that its price would fall to buy it in order to forestall even greater losses, costing Wall Street an estimated 5 billion dollars. Retail traders across the

board, including Uddin, took this as a win and feverishly reacted to keep the stocks as high as possible.

“To the moon,” Uddin said.

Uddin’s quote is a saying coined by anti-Wall Street traders, referring to raising the price of a stock rapidly and exponentially to literally reach the height of the moon (on a stock growth graph).

It implies that the price is on a rocket only moving upwards.

Young traders surged in popularity when apps like Robinhood emerged, who marketed themselves as anti-Wall Street, commission free-trading platforms. Previously, trading relied on a complex medium—brokers—who sell individual tradings through various stock exchanges and charge a substantial fee for every sale made on their behalf. It was difficult to navigate the market for everyday traders— those who simply wish to amass more money on the side—without the help of brokers.

Now, investing has become accessible for all with the help of a zero-fee brokerage system.

“It’s a really cool way to get invested in stocks because it makes it a lot simpler,” Uddin said. “The UI [User Interface] is very simple to understand.”

In addition to his initial interest in the stock market, Uddin expanded his horizons and specifically focuses on the technology and medical field, namely companies like Intel, NVidia, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). As of now, Uddin also diverts his attention to big tech corporations specifically booming due to COVID-19, like Netflix.

“It’s impossible to study every single aspect of the stock market, so that’s why I specialize in technology companies,” Uddin said. “I use websites such as Seeking Alpha and Google News to constantly inform myself in hardware and software developments, so I can properly gauge how certain companies will do in the foreseeable future.”

Although investing in the actual stock market is only available to those who are 18 or older, other students at Northview are find-

FEATURES ing ways to get the full investing experience without actually spending a dime. Junior Nikita Jha is president of the Stock Market Club, where members gain real-life experience by offering an opportunity to see how trading works.

To participate, the club uses a simulation created by Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) called the Stock Market Game. Once registered as a chapter, the club gives members codes to join the simulation, which changes real-time. Jha believes that though the simulation may not be as precise as the real market, it still models some of the big upticks and downturns that investors encounter when trading in real life. She notes that the drastic events in recent months have left the market in a state of volatility, which her investments are reflective of.

“In my trading portfolio, we’ve been diversifying heavily. We have to understand that there has been a very big change in presidency. With Biden coming in office, there are so many new stocks with so much more potential, especially marijuana businesses, and pharmaceutical ones such as Moderna and Pfizer,” Jha said. “Diversifying is definitely the best thing to do right now, and it would not be a good idea to pour all of your money into one individual sector.”

Aside from the transition in the presidency, Jha also notes that the ban of ex-President Trump from numerous social media platforms also had a ripple on the market––immediately upon the ban, there was a sharp downturn in their stocks, but, in recent day, have been going up a lot.

But when the r/WallStreetBets Reddit channel managed to prevent hedge funds from shorting the GameStop stock, Jha saw a historical day for the stock market that was truly reflective of the collective “we” of American society. Shorting stocks, she points out, has gone up significantly in the onset of the pandemic, and it was only a matter of time before something similar to this happened.

“I’m a little bit concerned as to how the big platforms like Ameritrade and Robinhood reacted to this situation. I feel like it was not something that America would normally do considering how we’re mostly handsoff the economy,” Jha said.

“But it’s good that there are at least some class-action

lawsuits that are happening and more power by the people for correcting what happened.”

Similar to Jha, Mark Anderson, an economics teacher at Northview, takes note of the historical nature of the incident and the opportunity it provided to gain more insight into American financial institutions.

“When this event broke, it was just another opportunity to understand the stock market better and understand shorting and understand hedge funds, as well as get a little bit more well-versed in some of these things that make the world go around,” Anderson said.

However, Anderson posits that this was not merely a zero-sum game. He explains that there were some people who may have bought the GME stocks when they were at $200 or $300, meaning that when the stock devalues, they will end up losing their money. As is the case with such economic bubbles, he believes, there will inevitably be people who are financially scarred by buying at the wrong time and selling at the wrong time.

Interestingly, Anderson draws a connection between the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th and WallStreetBets bankrupting hedge funds through the GME stock. Though the two events were fundamentally different, Anderson says they did have one thing in common: social media.

“This is such a new phenomena in our society, where a bunch of people can get together on a social media outlet, and believe something at the same time, which leads to a real-world event,” Anderson said. “I instantly made the connection between what people were doing in this case to what people did at the Capitol on January 6th–– where a whole bunch of people got together online, and they fueled each other’s beliefs, and then

they decided to translate those beliefs into actions.”

Beyond the implicationsof social media, both Jha and Anderson believe that it has also demonstrated the nature of contemporary capitalism. In particular, Jha believes that though capitalism has many benefits, it is rife with corruption and only permits for a select few to manipulate the market to their advantage.

“When you have these hedge funds that are pouring millions and millions of dollars into certain companies, as part of a shorting process, they basically want those companies to go bankrupt and fall as much as possible. GameStop, [for example], was shorted at 115% of its original price meaning that it was shorted to even more than its value is,” Jha said. “When you have investors who have such mal intentions for companies and they have so much influence and say in the game, it’s hard not to root for the underdog.”

THE MESSENGER | 13

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POINT OF VIEW

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The Northview Messenger’s exclusive podcast. We cover the students, staff, and community in Johns Creek as well as trending topics. Join us to hear what the students of Northview are doing.

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HUMANS OF NORTHVIEW

In this online exclusive series, we feature the extraordinary as we explore the stories and experiences of several members of the Northview community.

Read this month’s feature on senior Kamal Korrapati: “The human condition will improve on my doing whether I get the credit or not,” Korrapati said. “Making a mark is hard enough so I say do as much as you can to scratch the surface.”

Scan the QR code to the right to read the full story.

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features features

DISHA KUMAR, STAFF WRITER SUHANI MAHAJAN, STAFF WRITER PHOTO: JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Northview students share their experiences regarding beauty and body standards from their differing backgrounds THE MESSENGER | 15

N

orthview students, hailing from a wide array of cultures, bring richness and diversity to the student body. However, people often view these students at their face value without acknowledging the stories and personal struggles behind them. The cultural standards for beauty and body image ingrained within communities across the world remain just as impactful within the Northview community; several students acknowledge such standards within their own cultures yet stray from stereotypes to lead unique lifestyles.

In various cultures, society perpetuates fair skin as a more favorable complexion for one to have. This standard has sown doubt and insecuri“ ty amongst multiple ethnic and racial communities, leading many students to question their self-identity and appearance. Junior Aaliyah Guthrie is aware of this harmful sentiment towards darker skin, which is prevalent in the Black community, and thinks it is rarely constructive. She believes that features unique to her culture should be embraced.

“Colorism is a big issue that needs to be resolved,” Guthrie said. “The beauty standards in Black culture are being devalued.”

She notes that although many main-stream media outlets favor Eurocentric standards—straight hair and lighter skin—there is an

increasing shift towards a more progressive mindset which is equally accepting of all hair textures and skin tones, including those commonly associated with Black culture.

“Those standards are being brought down because they need to be,” Guthrie said. “A lot more women are much more confident the darker their skin is and the curlier their hair is.”

The implications of darker skin tones extend beyond the Black community, as harmful beauty standards are echoed across the globe.

Senior Sneha Sharma,

to India because all the actresses were saying that they also used it,” Sharma said. “So that made me think, ‘Oh, well, they’re beautiful, so if I use this, I will become beautiful too.’”

Eventually, Sharma learned to practice self love and renounced Fair and Lovely—and the pressure that came with it—as something she did not need to appreciate her beauty.

“I realized that I am so beautiful without Fair and Lovely,” she said. “It took me a while to realize I was depending on this little cream to make me feel beautiful. ” This dependency was not unwarranted, however. Sharma heard, firsthand, Indian relatives and friends make comments pertaining to skin tone and physical appearance all too often as a young girl. “ “[They make] comments about a woman being too Sneha Sharma dark and that she’s not going to get a husband,” Sharma said. “It is who comes from Punjab, a state really common, and it’s kind of in northern India, has personally overcome the a sad part of the culture that people actually challenges associated with her culture’s norms. believe these things.”

“Colorism is a big deal in India, and dark- Despite the negative mentality towards ness of skin is considered less beautiful while darker skin in the Indian and overarching whiteness of skin is considered the beautiful Asian communities, Sharma believes that it is standard,” Sharma said. important to accept the fact that everyone is Sharma grew up watching many Indi- different. Like Guthrie, she maintains a posan television and movie figures who would itive outlook toward body image and does use Fair and Lovely, a skin-lightening agent. not let her skin tone dictate her perception of Misguided and swayed by cultural standards, beauty.

Sharma, too, found herself using the product “My culture is very beautiful,” Sharma from fourth to ninth grade. said. “It’s very diverse, and I love being Indi “All my cousins were using it when I went an.”

T h e onl y way to a ctu a l l y fe e l b e a u tiful is to deve l o p yo u r se lf c o nf i d ence an d to a cc e p t th a t yo u ’ re no t going to l o o k li ke eve ry o th e r gi rl.

Fair & Lovely Ingredients include mercury, which damages the immune and nervous systems. It also contains the skin lightener hydroquinone, which irritates skin.

Sources: Forbes, Global Cosmetics News 16

The cream is Banned in the UK, Norway, and the European Union due to its toxic ingredients.

300 million users per year

Senior Kristin Hsu puts on a facial mask.

SARA HSU, SPECIAL

Just as the debate over the color of skin is very much present today, so is discussion over skin texture. Senior Kristin Hsu recalls from her trip to Korea that there were certain physical characteristics that Korean culture tended to favor more.

“Koreans definitely like pale skin, and K-beauty is a big thing. It emphasizes having glass skin and being really pale and thin and petite,” Hsu said.

Immersed in a culture that places such importance on the possession of glass-like, luminescent, skin, Hsu bore witness to the health benefits that came with “ following Korean skin standards.

“Korea’s beauty standard has made normal, everyday Korean people take care of themselves more,” Hsu said. “I do not necessarily think I need to have perfect skin, but I do want to have a good skincare routine and eat well and make sure I am taking care of myself.”

Hsu acknowledges that an obsession with clear skin has the potential to be toxic to a person’s mental health, especially if one compares themself too harshly to K-pop idols and other celebrity figures. She attempts to distance herself from this extremity by reminding herself to keep a healthy balance between self-image and simple self-care.

“I have never felt like I have to look like the perfect Korean model and be super thin and have perfect skin. I have definitely felt

the impact of Korean beauty standards, but it has never negatively impacted me to the point where I try to do something unhealthy to fix my physical appearance,” Hsu said. “I am more accepting of who I am, and I know that I cannot necessarily compare myself to the ideal standard.”

Of course, facial beauty standards are not limited to just skin. Large eyes, big lips, long lashes, defined eyebrows—the list goes on.

These are some of the preferred characteristics

“In some regions—they are all a little different—but I feel like in Mexico it is more authentic,” Martinez said. “And since we’re very religious, in Mexico, [we want] no tattoos, no body piercings. If it’s not natural, it is not pretty.”

Though she is not personally impacted by these more conservative cultural expectations, Martinez acknowledges that she would harbor a different mindset if she grew up in Mexico.

“Some days I feel like ‘I’m so ugly,’ but then some days I’m like ‘Maybe I’m not ugly today,’” Martinez said. “I feel like if I was in Mexico, it would be way worse because all the other kids are so pretty, and everyone fits the standards. I feel like I would need to catch up with them, so I would probably feel more insecure.”

Even in the U.S., Martinez has encountered oth“ ers’ expectations of what she should look like due to her ethnicity. She recognizes that these Kristin Hsu influenced her perception of herself and her body image. in Mexico that sophomore Miranda Martinez “To be honest, I do not look as Mexican can identify off the top of her head. because I have pale skin — I am not as tanned Martinez, who moved to the U.S. at an as the other girls, and I don’t really have big early age, was born in Mexico. Although she eyes either, so some people have mistaken me grew up watching American models and ce- for not being Mexican,” Martinez said. “I do lebrities dictate the ideal appearance, she is wish I looked more Mexican because I feel like still aware of the impact that Mexican beauty I am not as Mexican, even though I was born standards have on women like her. there and both my parents are Mexican.”

C onf i de nc e i s th e m o s t imp orta nt th i ng . If yo u are ju s t pro u d of yo u r se lf and th e pe rs o n th a t you a re , th e n I th i nk that's b e a u tif u l.

THE MESSENGER | 17

Beauty standards extend beyond one’s face, however, and high school students tend to share insecurities regarding their weight and body types. As someone who wears a women’s size 12, junior Sakhi Shah is what progressive media would call ‘an average-sized woman.’

But since the early 2000s, Shah notes that there have been very few popular heroines in Indian Bollywood who are her size. In fact, today, nearly all major actresses in Bollywood are smaller than a size six.

“I would tell my mom, ‘Oh my God, I want to be an actress,’ but then, every day after fifth grade, I would look in the mirror, and I would be like, ‘Oh my god, I’m not good enough,’” Shah said. “I struggled a lot with body image because of this.”

In favor of more representative pop culture, Shah is excited about new shows on Amazon Prime that feature more ‘normal’ people or address topics that are considered to be unsaid taboos. Even so, she thinks this more inclusive type of media is long overdue.

“Finally, I started seeing stand-up comedians who talk about their weight or stand-up comedians who self-produced their shows because no one is willing to sign someone who is over a size six,” Shah said. “As somebody who is definitely way over a size six, I take some offense to that.”

Shah is not the only one who feels that her body type is underrepresented. Junior Ethan Cole has also noticed a lack of properly comprehensive representation of Jewish bodies in mainstream media.

“I would like to see a lot more inclusion in the Ashkenazi Jewish community. It is a pretty welcoming community, but we have not real-

18

ly addressed body image stuff—especially for men,” Cole said. “And except for a select few examples, typically in media when there is a Jewish character, they are always scrawny and kind of nerdy. ” There is more than just mainstream media conveying the wrong conceptions about the ‘typical’ Jewish person. Inside the Jewish community itself, there is a similar—but separate—set of body-size and beauty standards.

“Generally, smaller, skinnier people are favored,” Cole said. “I’m a bigger guy. I’m pretty tall and I have a wider frame, and it has definitely been hard because a lot of other Jews are much smaller than me. And when I hang out with a lot of Jews, like youth group events, it can sometimes be very alienating.”

However, Cole recognizes that these are merely his own experiences. Although he does not fit into the standard of his culture, he also sees the benefits of having a more typical look that is expected of people in the Jewish community.

“I don’t really fit the stereotype, but I am sure that for people who even somewhat do, it is reassuring,” Cole said.

Despite the fact that some benefit from these cultural standards, Cole and Shah note that they create impractical expectations when viewed holistically. They observe that the impact of these standards begins when people are exposed to them at a young age, and it persists well into adulthood.

“People have unrealistic standards of underage girls,” Shah said. “Girls whose bodies have not even fully developed are expected to be perfectly dressed and have shaped figures. I think that we as a society do not do enough to

acknowledge these things.”

For students who struggle with body image, there are measures in place that Northview has implemented as a support system.

These include crisis protocols, counseling, and community resources. Teachers are also trained to look for body insecurity symptoms their students may be exhibiting in a traditional face-to-face setting. Local J Lewis Therapy eating disorder specialist and therapist Taylor Padawer sees patients daily on an array of issues.

“There are insecurities that I see across all genders, races, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds because there is that set ideal,” Padawer said.

Padawer notes that the internet and social media play a large role in furthering these body insecurities. The superficialities of photo enhancing can give false impressions of actual appearances and give the detrimental notion that editing is needed in order to be accepted by society.

“There is retouching on almost every photo, and I think that is the most harmful thing because it’s really hard to achieve a filter in real life,” Padawer said. “Beauty is way deeper than the skin.”

Although filters and cultural diversity are inextricably linked to harmful beauty standards, diversity is especially eye-opening for many. Principal Brian Downey reflects on the diverse composition of the student body.

“I benefit from the Northview diversity, professionally and personally,” Downey said.

“Over the last 10 years, it has opened my eyes, educated me, and made me a better person.”

Downey notes that it is important to celebrate the cultural differences among the student body, but only in a positive manner.

While he encourages the different perceptions people have towards beauty, he believes that students should avoid negative body image ideas stemming from cultural standards.

“I would encourage students to embrace those cultural identity pieces so long as they’re healthy,” Downey said. “Embracing that diversity is the fact that we are all unique and beautiful in our own way.”

So while the cliché goes, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder,’ the Northview community embraces the notion that it is important to note that beauty is not something entirely visible at first glance.

“When someone is considered beautiful, it’s not because their hair is straight or curly, it’s not because their body is curvy or skinny, it’s not because they have darker or lighter skin,” Guthrie said. “It’s because of their intellect and how they carry themselves; it’s their confidence.”

What does does Beauty Beauty Mean Mean What to Northview Northview S Studen tudent ts? s? to

artinez

aM Mirand

hah

Sakhi S

Ethan Cole

Scan the QR code on the right to view an interactive timeline about how the ideal woman’s body has evolved over time.

THE MESSENGER | 19

A look at appearance and gender norms across industries SOFIA MANG, STAFF WRITER SANJANA GOPU, STAFF WRITER

A

s trends come and go and times change, the standards within industries do the same. The typical worker in any role changes repeatedly, whether in appearance or skills, leaving some students unsure of what expectations they will face in their future careers.

Modeling

visit our website at nhsMessenger.org or scan this QR code to read the full article

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An industry that has perpetuated high, selective standards is the modeling industry, known for its preference for tall, slim figures with Eurocentric features. This partiality towards such features leads many prospective models to rethink their career plans or lose their passion for modeling entirely. However, efforts to become more inclusive have been somewhat effective, giving hope to those who may not fit the “model body” stereotype.

Senior Jamie Chong, who started modeling two years ago, recalls her struggle to find an agency that would sign her because of her petite build. At the time, agencies still followed many strict height and size requirements, but they were taking gradual steps to be more inclusive. Working as a model, though, Chong witnessed much performative activism in the name of this so-called inclusivity.

“I’ve seen many agencies and fashion brands pride themselves in being diverse solely because they check off the box of having one curvy model or one Asian model, while the rest of their rosters or campaigns remain homogenous with tall, skinny, Eurocentric-looking models,” Chong said.

However, she notes that some industry leaders are starting to dismantle this standard, and inclusivity has increased significantly in the last couple of years. For instance, Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show in 2019 featured numerous models representing various demographics.

“I think the defining moment that gave me hope for diversity in the industry was witnessing how Rihanna’s show completely swept away the infamous Victo-

ria’s Secret Fashion Show by casting models of all races, sizes, heights, and gender identities,” Chong said.

She acknowledges that while brands have not always been mindful of the body dysmorphia, low self-esteem, and eating disorders that their practices promote, they are taking steps towards diversity and body positivity to mitigate the damage they caused in the past.

“It’s heartening to see more and more industry professionals now stepping up to prioritize diversity and come to realize that people want to see other people that look like them, rather than people they want to look like,” Chong said.

This awakening to inclusivity is completely different from what former model and Salt Agency CEO and Director Madeleine Almering encountered in the ‘90s. Now that the industry has become so much more inclusive, she finds it satisfying to see how the industry’s improvement, now prioritizing a model’s personality and brand being over looks.

“Now, I find that personality plays 50% in the role of whether or not somebody gets signed to an agency,” Almering said. “It’s not just, ‘Are they a pretty person?’ but, “Are they a nice person too?’ [and] ‘Do they have a good personality?’ Back in the ‘90s, that didn’t matter. It was just, ‘Are they tall, or if they’re 5’9” for a female [and] 6 feet tall for a male.’”

While modeling remains a beauty-based career field, many people have been excited to see these changes enacted over time. Almering notices that now, the line between influencers and models has been blurred, as influencers can now use their platforms to inspire other people, even though most of them aren’t picture-perfect supermodels.

“In New York, you couldn’t walk in the door, if you were under 5’9” before,” she said.

“Now in New York, they have petite divisions at certain agencies, and they’ll take a model that’s 5’5” [if ] she’s an influencer as well.”

Almering’s agency contributed to the move towards inclusivity as well, and part of it is designated for influencers that do not fit the traditional standards. She hopes to provide more room for freedom—with the models and with the public.

“Half of my agency is the lifestyle [and] commercial board. Lifestyle and commercial print has become huge since the ‘90s, and that means you don’t have to be a certain

FEATURES height, you don’t have to be a certain age, and you don’t have to be a certain weight,” Almering said.

Modeling standards are moving in a positive direction in a victory for those who have wanted to see themselves represented by models of their race or body type on the screen for so long. While eliminating physical requirements in modeling entirely may be impossible, agencies are making a visible effort to make these standards more flexible.

STEM Women have always been underrepresented in the STEM field, but despite this, many of them, including Neelima Budim, the director of software engineering at Cox Automotive, have gone on to prove their worth through hard work. Since becoming a successful engineer, Budim has watched as other young women felt held back by the lack of gender equality in the industry. Because of the backlash that girls in STEM face, she believes encouraging them to further their careers is extremely important, and her position at Cox Automotive allows her to do just that. Budim and her colleagues provide resources and opportunities for high school girls who want to pursue STEM careers and prepare them for the stigma they may have to face in the field.

“Especially [in] our department, there are quite a few folks who dedicate their time to volunteer for coding for girls, feminine technology with girls, [and] job shadowing,” she said.

Compared to other more physically demanding jobs, she sees her specialty, computer science, as a field where women can really demonstrate their capabilities because the only thing that matters is how many errors a programmer’s code contains and whether they can fix said errors, regardless of whether they are male or female.

“In computer science, you’re just using your intellectual skills, and you’re learning the ability to write code, so there isn’t any field out there that speaks better to equality,” Budim said.

While she has witnessed no intentional discouragement towards girls in STEM, she believes there are people in the U.S. who harbor an implicit bias against women.

“I don’t think it is intentional.

I feel like everybody has good intentions,” Budim

said. “It’s just that unconscious bias that you have, not even thinking about certain things that may make other people feel like they’re less qualified or that they don’t know what they may be talking about.”

As an immigrant, Budim immediately noticed the lack of interest in STEM among women in the US, recalling how few females there were when she was working towards her master’s degree in software engineering. Even out of these women, she found the majority were foreigners, not those born in the US. “It didn’t pose a barrier [for me], but for maybe girls that grew up here, they may be noticing those subtle, subtle messages, and maybe that’s probably why they are taken aback and not showing that interest in this field,” Budim says.

Michelle Heo, vice president and engineering head of Northview’s Robotics team, the TechnoTitans, has experienced first-hand this implicit bias against girls in STEM. Over the past two years, she has worked to reduce gender disparities within the TechnoTitans.

During Heo’s first year on the team, she noticed gender stereotypes played a part in determining students’ roles. While boys were allowed to work hands-on with the robots, girls were often assigned clerical tasks, like paperwork to their dismay, even as the year progressed.

“I initially signed up to help build the robot, and for the majority of my freshman season, I spent minimal time helping build mechanisms and instead organized the tools and wrote documents for our safety program,” Heo said. “I was assigned these tasks while my male counterparts were allowed to work under the upperclassmen, helping them build robots while I strayed further and further from what I wanted to do.”

After being subject to this discrimination, Heo advocated for gender equality among the team towards the end of her freshman year, initiating training and pushing for better treatment of girls. While STEM workers of both genders are expected to be responsible and motivated, she sees a clear difference between how women and men are perceived.

“In regard to STEM fields, women, for a long time and even today, aren’t seen as the driving forces or leaders in these fields,” Heo said. “The typical “female” standard, a woman who is motherly, organized, a good listener over a good leader, dominates the minds of many people, and though this seems like some ancient standard, it is still prevalent today.”

THE MESSENGER | 21

FACEOFF Should models be classified as regular and plus sized?

REGULAR

22

REGULAR

E

PLUS SIZ

PLUS SIZ

E

OPINIONS

YES JULIETTE SALAH, STAFF WRITER

O

ver the years, the fashion industry has dealt with numerous criticisms, including the ever-popular debate over the distinction between “regular” and plus-sized models. For context, it is important to know the history of the fashion industry. Towards the end of the Industrial Revolution, many businesses shifted from small sole proprietorships to the growing factory system, and the new need to categorize clothing sizes was one of the significant changes that followed this shift; businesses could no longer make clothes specific to a person’s size. Instead, the industry created groups of sizes and a person had to choose whichever was closest to their own.

At the time, the range of sizes was not as inclusive as it is today. However, efforts to make the fashion industry more inclusive first appeared around the early 1900s when the term plus-sized was first coined. At the time, many tailors only designed clothing for people who fit the “regular” size category (justified with the reasoning that “regular” meant average and most common). Multiple cloth-

ing brands then adopted this term to make their clothes more accessible to a wider range of people. From then on, the fashion industry was much like how we know it today with sizes ranging from petite to S, M, L, and plus-sized.

Of course, this would not be the fashion industry unless people added some drama and criticism to the mix. Over the years, and especially in the recent decades, people have begun criticizing the fashion industry for being too exclusive by putting forth this “ideal” body image that excludes certain body types. Many claim that distinguishing between “regular” models and “plus-sized” models is unnecessary and harmed the body positivity that movements were emerging.

While it is true that the fashion industry as a whole has not always been the most inclusive when it comes to accepting all body types, it is important to note that the terms “regular” and “plus-sized” were only set in place to simplify mass production of clothing, not to discriminate against certain body types.

Truth be told, the fashion industry does

not use such terminology to exclude people; it’s just a business driven by profit. It is not so much the fashion industry that has discriminated against body types, but more so the people themselves who have made comments aimed negatively towards certain body types.

Regardless, we must remember there are two sides to every story. Take the ever-famous example of a glass that is either half-full or half-empty. The same logic can be applied here; yes, the fashion industry has not always been the most inclusive, but the categorization of sizes that led to the introduction of plussized was meant to be more inclusive. It is easy to be a pessimist and say that the distinction is made to counter the body positivity movement. Yet, one can view the use of “plus-sized” as a victory in making the fashion industry more inclusive. And if all else fails, at the very least, such terms are simply used to distinguish between size categories during production; just like people distinguish between a small and a medium, they distinguish between “regular” (i.e. average) and “plus-sized.”

subpar in many ways. These clothes are often poor in quality, dated in style, and ill-fitting, as Annika Chaloff, the founder of plus-size clothing brand Hey Mavens, observes.

“Oftentimes, the integrity of the design of a piece will get distorted as it gets graded to a larger size, either because proportions aren’t carefully considered or because extra seams or panels are added to accommodate a larger body,” Chaloff said.

Additionally, plus-sized clothes are rarely on the same racks as straight-sized clothes in some stores, forcing those who are looking to buy plus-sized clothing to shop in a different part of the store than everyone else, if the store carries those sizes at all.

Plus-sized models are also incredibly underrepresented on runways. In this past spring fashion season, only 68 models were plussized, making up 2.9% of the models that walked the runway. Oftentimes, these models fit a specific standard: tall, hourglass or pear figure, and slim face. Other times these plus-

sized models will be just slightly larger than straight-sized ones. This does not go to discredit their work and achievements, but they do not truly represent all people. It is also important to note that out of this minority of plus-sized models, even fewer are men. In the fall and winter fashion seasons, only one of the male models was considered plus-size.

Clothing is something that everybody needs to wear. Although this seems like an obvious fact, many fashion brands have continued to exclude a large group of consumers from their companies. Even with the seemingly more inclusive “plus-size” labels for their models and their clothing, they have routinely failed to do the bare minimum in their inclusivity. The popularization of the term “plussize” to describe both people and clothing has only given more power to the word “fat,” and getting rid of this term in the fashion industry is necessary to make “fat” a neutral descriptor rather than something that needs to be euphemized.

NO NOELLE REID, STAFF WRITER

I

n the United States, women’s clothing and fashion models are considered “plus-size” at a size eight or larger. However, the average American woman is a size 16, making most women plus-size. What exactly is being added to, if “plus-size” is the average?

Currently, the word “fat” is tied up in negative connotations. In the West, this three-letter word is given such power to become one of the worst things someone can be described as, especially as a woman. It is no secret that the term “plus-size” works as a euphemism for the word “fat,” and many still hold that negative connotation of “fat” in their subconscious minds when they use the term “plus-size”; this is only made apparent in the fashion industry.

Although many clothing companies have attempted to be more inclusive in their sizing these past few years, there are often times where this effort feels disingenuous. In fact, labeling clothes as plus-size further isolates those in bigger bodies, as many of those who purchase plus-sized clothing believe the pieces are

THE MESSENGER | 23

Pockets: stylish or sexist?

A tale on the injustices and inconsistencies of women’s comfort RIA DUBEY, STAFF WRITER

I

f you’re a woman, you have most probably felt the true struggle of trying to carry what seems like a million things at the same time. Now, if you’ve experienced this, you’ve likely also felt the true joy of finding a pair of pants (or skirts or dresses or anything really) with pockets, and if you have felt this, you have also almost certainly felt the utter disappointment when those pockets end up ultimately being—that’s right—fake.

There are several possibilities for why pockets in women’s clothing are so small (or just non-existent)—style, manufacturing, storage, sexism, possible witchcraft—who knows! Believe it or not, women did in fact have pockets even back in the 1700s (actual useful ones too), but it went out of style as women began to wear more open and Grecian inspired clothes. This led to the rise of what continues to motivate brands to never install pockets again: purses. Purses are both a gift and a curse because, on one hand, they mean

24

no more having to balance a hundred things a once (and they look nice), however, on the other, you now have to pay more for what should be included anyway—you guessed it, pockets.

Pockets were once again brought in style in the early 20th century with the rise of the women’s suffrage movement and the demand for equality in all aspects. Unfortunately, this era of true prosperity (at least in regard to pockets) was short-lived as they once again went out of style in the late 1900s with the growing demand for women to lose weight.

As women got thinner, clothes became more form-fitting and pockets went to the back seat.

Purses may have been around for a long time, but they only gained popularity as an accessory around the 1900s. Whether or not this is due to the decline in pockets is up for debate, but it is undeniable that over time, the clothing industry has been attempting to make purses a necessity rather than the acces-

sory that they should be. Are purses an attempt to (once again) exploit women on their need to simply carry things? Maybe, but regardless of this, it is clear to anyone that women have grown tired of carrying their belongings by hand and have time and time again tried to get their pockets back, only to be strung along and ultimately denied.

Today, the demand for pockets has grown to be higher than ever before, as women ask for the easily accessible convenience that they have for so long been denied (we need a place to hold our phones). Women fight the injustices we face in all walks of life. Be it small or big—pockets or education—all are battles that we must fight (and win) in order to ever be able to claim we live in an equal world.

Hopefully, the world will give women the equality along with the comedically-difficult-to-achieve comfort we deserve, and no girl will ever again have to face the crushing disappointment that is fake pockets.

OPIN IONS

Burning for Bridgerton B ridgerton, a viral quarantine sensation and heartfelt story about the lives of the B ridgerton family during the Renaissance Era in England REAGAN HORNE, STAFF WRITER

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sensual combination of Pride & Prejudice and Gossip Girl, the American drama series “Bridgerton” has destroyed Netflix’s viewings. With over 82 million views, “Bridgerton” has become the most watch Netflix original series. Shonda Rhimes has produced yet another tearjerker for the quarantine couch potatoes, me included.

“Bridgerton” latched onto my attention in the first episode, leading me to spend a succeeding eight hours straight, from midnight to sunrise, binge-watching.

Creator and writer Chris Van Dusen managed to give me no other choice but to bingewatch the entire season: eight episodes, for eight hours straight. Some people may call it an obsession, or an addiction, and I wouldn’t correct them. I gave the show’s performance, delivery of feeling, and plot a nine-pointfive out of ten. “Bridgerton” kept a descriptive flow and balance between the Regency Era and the modern century. The soundtrack of the series premiere features classical sounds select-performed by a live orchestra. However, the instrumental music that plays turns out to be the melodies from modern-day songs, including but not limited to “Thank U Next” by Ariana Grande, “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift, and “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish.

The exotic and heartfelt series allows the audience to adapt to the setting of the Renaissance Era in England. Once I watched the second episode, I started to speak as if I was in the show and explored shopping online for corsets. The show provided a safe environment for viewers and created a family.

The sensational series was based on a book series by Julia Quinn which consists of eight books dedicated to the Bridgerton children.

For each book, the writer focuses on one character and how they find their true love. I would only assume that is the same for the television series. The first season that I ‘burned for’ was about Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) experiencing what love truly meant.

Although we are sub-

merged into the affairs of Lady Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), I was determined to find out the identity of Lady Whistledown, a more British and elegant version of “Gossip Girl”. The clues were vague in the first half of the series. However, once Lady Whistledown began to leak information that only one specific character knew of, I immediately put two and two together. Needless to say, “Bridgerton” allowed me to interact with the storyline.

It allowed me to have the purest reactions to the love confessions and I cannot wait to relive those moments in the upcoming seasons.

THE MESSENGER | 25

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recipe testing student bakes

Northview seniors Janice Nam and Kristin Hsu share their favorite, beginner-friendly bakes Krystal Wu, Staff Writer

For all four recipes, visit nhsmessenger.org/studentbakes or use the QR code to the right.

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OVID-19 has kept us all confined at home at one time or another, leaving us to pick up new hobbies and fun activities to keep us occupied. For many students, baking is the perfect hobby. Northview seniors Janice Nam and Kristin Hsu have been spending this past year in quarantine baking; they have shared their favorite simple bakes with me so that I can recreate them and share my thoughts.

“My favorite baked item has to be the carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting that I made for my sister,” Hsu said. “I never really enjoyed carrot cake, but I guess my taste buds have matured a lot because I literally loved how it tasted, and I didn’t feel as guilty eating it.”

Hsu shared her carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting recipe, and it was simple to follow through. The light spongy texture created with the use of baking soda created a wonderfully moist cake. The cake also has an underlying cinnamon taste, and the cream cheese icing pairs well with the carrot cake without making it overpowering. I recommend this recipe to those of you who like quick and delicious bakes. Icing the cupcakes was a relaxing addition to the bake. If you use an icing bag to pipe a design, chilling your icing prior to icing the cupcakes will allow the cupcake to retain finer details. During quarantine, Hsu shared that she has been experimenting with different baking techniques and styles, but she loves baking for her family.

“Probably around twice a month, my dad

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asks me to bake him oatmeal raisin cookies because they’re his favorite,” Hsu said. “I love baking for my family because they hype me up even when things burn and seeing my dad eat seven cookies in one sitting always makes me laugh.”

As I tried Hsu’s oatmeal raisin cookies, I understood why her dad loves them. Beautifully chewy with little pockets of raisins, this cookie has risen to be my favorite as well. The day I made them, I delivered them to family and friends and received immediate compliments on the recipe! This recipe was easy to follow; I recommend chilling the dough for easier scooping and thicker cookies. I managed to eat five cookies the day I made them.

Nam has also been baking up a storm during COVID-19, experimenting with new techniques and sharing with her family. She shared her go-to baked good, biscuits, as she loves how easy they are to make and how delicious they are when eaten hot out of the oven.

When I tried her recipe, I made the mistake of keeping my butter at room temperature.

While I was reading the recipe notes, I realized the butter should be cold, so I recommend beginner bakers to be careful when trying this recipe. With the use of cold butter, my biscuits came out pillowy, soft, and buttery, very delicious paired with your favorite fillings, or along with any dinner as a roll. This recipe is quite quick and simple once you try it once.

Nam loves making biscuits for her family, as well as a wide array of desserts, like creampuffs.

“The cream puff recipe, it seems intimi-

dating, but it is a really fun simple recipe to make,” Nam said.

Going into this bake, I had never made anything like creampuffs. Nam’s creampuff recipe was a classic choux pastry with cream chantilly piped into the shells. For this bake, you first cook the dough on the stove, allowing the water content to evaporate, and this allows for the dough to puff up within the temperature of the oven. When I baked the pastry following the recipe temperatures, my choux turned out more than golden brown, so I recommend adjusting your temperatures based on how the first batch bakes. A common problem in baking is the difference in oven temperatures, which may cause the creampuff shells to brown more quickly in certain ovens.

After filling the creampuffs, I left a couple of them in the freezer, and it was refreshing and sweet. If you are not planning on eating the creampuffs soon after making them, I recommend holding off on filling them because, over time, the cream will soften the shell and ruin the texture. As Nam said, this recipe seemed very complicated, but as I baked it, I realized it simply has many unconventional steps, like making the dough on the stove.

As COVID-19 reaches its one-year anniversary, baking thrives as an activity held dear to many Northview students. Seniors Nam and Hsu share the bakes that have been getting them through their senior years. With savory and sweet, these recipes provide everything necessary for a delicious treat.

Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting - Kristin Hsu

KRYSTAL WU, STAFF WRITER

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 20 Minutes Total Time: 30 Minutes Yield: 12 Muffins Icing: • 8 oz full-fat cream cheese (softened to room temperature) • 1 tsp vanilla extract • Pinch of salt • 1.5-2 cups powdered sugar

INGREDIENTS Cupcake: • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/4 tsp salt • 3/4 tsp cinnamon • 1/2 cup vegetable oil • 1/2 cup granulated sugar • 1/2 cup light brown sugar • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 2 eggs • 1 1/2 cup grated and peeled carrots (around 2-3 medium carrots)

INSTRUCTIONS • Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line muffin tins with cupcake liners.

• In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.

• In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk together oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until well combined. Add one egg at a time until combined.

• Switch to large rubber spatula. Slowly mix in flour mixture in 3 parts and continue mixing. Fold in grated carrots.

• Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 way to the top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the tops are springy when touched and toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to finished cooling. Wait until completely cool before frosting.

• Frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream together cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and salt on medium speed for 2 minutes util creamy. Beat in powdered sugar (1/4 cup at a time) until fluffy.

Biscuits - Janice Nam INGREDIENTS • 2 cups plain flour - sifted • 3½ tsp baking powder • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon cream of Recipe via Orgasmic Chef tartar • 1 tablespoon honey • 113 grams butter (1/2 cup) cold butter cut into ½ inch cubes • ⅔ cup milk Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes Total Time: 20 Minutes Yield: About 12 Biscuits

KRYSTAL WU, STAFF WRITER

INSTRUCTIONS • Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit • Place dry ingredients in a food processor and whisk to combine. Add butter and pulse until the butter looks like peas.

• Dump into a mixing bowl and add the milk and honey and stir until it comes together.

• Place on a lightly floured surface and knead several times to work the gluten. Then pat the dough with your fingers to about ¾ inch high. You can go lower and get more biscuits, but they won’t be as high.

• You can cut them with a biscuit cutter, a tin can or a glass but don’t use a seesaw approach as that will reduce the rise.

• If you want soft edges as I do, place them about an inch apart on a baking sheet covered with baking paper.

• I used a knife and cut them square and had no leftovers.

• You may brush the tops with melted butter or milk before baking but I always brush with butter right after they come out of the oven. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

THE MESSENGER | 27

COLUMNS

Eating disorder acceptance The serious issue with ED accep tance

ANSHI VAJPAYEE, OPINIONS EDITOR

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pproximately 30 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder sometime in their life. It shouldn’t be surprising to find out some of them are overweight. Yet, fat people struggle to gain acceptance in a world molded by a stigmatized and overly simplified view of what an eating disorder should look like.

In the minds of many, the traditional sense of an eating disorder is usually associated with Anorexia Nervosa, a condition caused by a fear of gaining weight. As a result, those with Anorexia Nervosa often end up with an abnormally low weight achieved through starvation, obsessive exercise, binge eating, and a distorted body image. American media has made it easy for us to develop a distinct image of those suffering from this disorder: super skinny women with their ribs peering through their skin.

Most of these assumptions contain some truth and still shed light on sufferers, but this stereotypical version continues to perpetuate the notion that those who are overweight are incapable of suffering from an eating disorder.

In fact, it is often difficult for overweight peo-

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ple to be properly diagnosed simply because of their lack of a low body weight. No one bats an eye when a fat person loses rapid weight and concerns only arise when symptoms are visible. A term coined as “atypical anorexia nervosa” refers to those who suffer from anorexia with a considerably high body weight.

There is nothing atypical about this, and many fail to recognize they even have an eating disorder in the first place. Sufferers tend to think their body weight isn’t “low enough” to have an eating disorder thus marking their symptoms as invalid. The narrative to lose weight and our unhealthy obsession with unrealistic body figures has paved the way for more unnoticed eating disorders to surge in cases. It is incredibly difficult to lose weight in this climate in a healthy and efficient manner without partaking in some questionable practices like skipping meals and restricting certain food groups entirely.

Ultimately, this stems from preconceived notions about what is considered healthy. Impossible to escape and based on little facts, skinny people are healthy and fat people are

unhealthy. Obviously, this is untrue. You might appear healthy on the outside, but you may have similar health concerns on the inside as those who are overweight or obese. Weight is a determining factor in health, but it is one of many, and it’s important to consider other factors before deciding if someone is conventionally healthy or not. Regardless, this mentality heavily contributes to fat erasure and pushes forth harmful ideas about one's weight.

Regardless of the reasons, it is no surprise to find out eating disorders among overweight people are normalized. In fact, those who aren’t hating every aspect of their body and starving themselves for days are “simply not doing enough” to lose weight. When confronted, many will mask behind the “I’m just looking out for them” trope.

Thin eating disorder sufferers are not pawns to tokenize and bring up when an overweight person mentions their struggles.

They are not mutually exclusive issues and can co-exist; bringing attention to one and not the other is harmful.

2021 fashion trends CAMERON CHAPPELL, STAFF WRITER

@idealisteworld/ Tumblr, Special

This patterned 2 piece set and matching bucket hat have bold the 70s flair. @parlay./Twitter, Special

Telfar bags are one of the hottest bags to get your hands on this season.

handbags

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he shape and size of handbags over the years changes every so often but a mini purse is always staple in a wardrobe.

Bags should add to an outfit and never take away, but they can also make a statement. Pops of color will be key to help accessorize a purse.

Different patterns and graphics can be found to catch eyes and woah an audience. It is always great to have a go-to bag that expresses your character and feels stylish to you. Fleece tote bags are what is comfortable and fashionable for an on-the-go person. Zebra and cheetah print are some of the more popular designs to see on someone’s shoulder but getting creative with funky prints makes for more fun.

clothing

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lothes and trends from different decades always recycle back in society for the future, and over the past year, the 2000s fashion aesthetic had taken over.

As the 2000s trend is slowly trickling out, more ‘60s and ‘70s inspired pieces are what’s in. Vintage clothing pieces make for unique garments in your wardrobe that may have a story to share as an outfit. With the recent influx in thrifting, it is becoming more accessible for anyone to find clothes from an older time period. Color is the key to an outfit and can explain one’s emotions in a chic way, and brighter colors like yellows, greens, and reds are sure to be seen more. In addition, wacky and boldly designed pieces like bucket hats, pants, and coats will make an outfit pop when paired with solid colors. Clothes are a creative way to express identity and find freedom. And while we are all still in a pandemic, it lets us escape reality.

@_blobb/Instagram, Special

The colorful jewerly pieces make for fun accessories.

jewelry

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he new trend of chunky and bright colorful rings has become popular and is a fun way to step up your jewelry game. Gold jewelry has always been around and investing in nice pieces that are real will be sure to last for years to come. Pearl bracelets with different shades of colors, charms, and beads adorned with names have made a comeback. Many of the bracelets are easy and cheap to DIY. Stackable jewelry is a great way to have the look of a fully accessorized hand.

Gloves are always around in the winter, but a nice pair of thin long gloves are wearable all year round. Pairing a matching glove print with a corresponding mask may make wearing one a little easier.

THE MESSENGER | 29

STAFF EDITORIAL

It’s okay to like girly things too F

rom a young age, teenage girls are often under constant scrutiny from society to look and act a certain way. They are often mocked for what they are interested in and policed for what they wear or how they appear.

The media has always pushed what is considered to be right for each gender: boys like blue, cars, and sports, while girls like pink, dolls, and dresses. Even then, the things associated with girls— pink, dolls, and dresses—are seen as meaningless and inferior.

Some popular tropes in the media are the “girly girl” and the “mean girl” characters that tend to go hand in hand together. This trope feeds into the narrative that girls that are more feminine are mean and nasty because of the way they may look physically, or that they are dumb and fit a “bimbo” stereotype.

They may also be a cheerleader, decked out in pink outfits, a money-obsessed shopper, and typically white. Another trope found is the “I’m not like other girls,” character that is usually in high school, perceived as a tomboy and outsider to other female peers. Such a trope was made almost entirely to be compared against the “girly girl” to make one seem more acceptable than the other when in reality, they are both great to be and shouldn’t be held against one another.

Chick-flicks are movies that are catered specifically to women and

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their interests and are mostly based on romance and love. They are often reviewed as movies that have no plots and serve no purpose other than to portray the women as ditzy and cute. However, these films tend to be some of the only ones that show girls and women in a strong light and prioritize them as the main characters.

One of the best examples of showing a piece of femininity is the character Elle Woods in the movie “Legally Blonde”. Elle is a fashion merchandising major who loves pink, shopping, and is the stereotypical “girly girl” who ends up going to law school. Throughout the movie, she receives a lot of hate from the people surrounding her for being herself and liking what she likes.

Although she grows to become a stronger and more confident person by the end of the movie, she never changes her physical appearance to please others and ends up winning her first case in a bright pink dress.

Feminism is about women having the choice to be whomever they choose to be and do whatever they choose to do without having to be judged or shamed by society in the process. It’s okay to like pink, watch chick-flicks, do makeup, and partake in other things that are often looked down upon. It’s okay to not be fully girly or to be a tomboy because, in the end, we’re all just human.

gallery

Junior Grace Kim fights for the ball at the start of a play.

JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Coach Steven Bombard directs his last home game as Northview’s varsity basketball coach.

Find more Messenger Media on social media: @nhsmessenger

COLUMNS

Northview alum Ritika Kumar joins students and alumni in being politically active GRACE PENG, MANAGING ONLINE & SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Freshman David Suh plays in the State Finals with Northview’s varsity League of Legends Esports team.

THE MESSENGER | 31

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