Empowerment by Paisano Plus

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CONTENTS 28

While there are a variety of contraceptive methods available to women, ranging from pills to injections, male contraceptives have yet to become commercially available. Learn about what science has in the works to address this opening in the market. You can also learn about “pink Viagra” and why this little pill does not need to be on the market. Professor Montoya, once a UTSA student and now a professor, talks about her ongoing research projects as well as the journey that led her to return to her alma mater. In this spirited profile, Montoya shares her thoughts on identity, culture, self-love and her passion for education.

Former UTSA track star and Ms. Black UTSA Chelsea Taylor is female empowerment personified. This inspiring profile covers the graduate student’s volunteer work in the community, how she has used her platform to spread the message of embracing natural beauty, and her message to others dealing with confidence issues. The rave community celebrates and practices PLUR, an ideology emphasizing peace, love, unity, and respect. This ideology has had a huge impact on the rave community. Its overall message and attached philosophies can definitely be applied to the world at large.

The college life is full of hardship and obligations, but it is always important to listen to your body and keep your mental health in check. This article discusses some of the anxieties that come with being a college student, and provides tips on how to improve your overall well-being.

Would you consider tampons a luxury or necessity? How does this thinking shape society’s view of a taboo subjectv? Read on to find out more about the tampon tax that affects millions of people across the United States in more ways than one.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR â&#x20AC;&#x153;We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.â&#x20AC;? - Malala Yousafzai Ever wonder what the tampon tax is about? We can tell you what it is and how it affects more than just women. Take a look into Rave culture and see their philosophy on PLUR. This may just be the thing society should live by. It sucks being a female. The responsibility of taking birth control may no longer be the responsibility of only women. Check out the newest advancements for male birth control. Domestic violence and sexual assault are never to be taken lightly. With the recent #metoo movement, the silence over domestic violence and sexual assault are being shattered. What happens when you see someone experience violence from a romantic partner? Why is it so important to believe survivors of sexual assault? No one deserves to fear living. This issue is about empowerment, not just of women, but of humans. People should not be silenced for speaking out about oppression. Every gender, every culture, we as people all have battles to fight. We can empower and survive as a collective. We have realized the importance of having a voice, and we will no longer be silenced.

Samantha Ceballos Magazine Editor magazine@paisano-online.com

MEET THE STAFF

{ Paisano Plus } Magazine Editor: Samantha Ceballos Magazine Assistants: Diana Amaya Edward Monsibaiz The Paisano Editor-in-Chief: Isaac Serna Managing Editor: Ethan Pham Photo Editor: Chase Otero

Diana Amaya Magazine Assistant

Edward Monsibaiz Magazine Assistant

Account Executive: Jenelle Duff Business Manager: Will Stransky Marketing Director: Valery Assad {Writers} Ryan Thompson, Heather Montoya, Ricardo Rodriguez, Gaige Davila, Frank Leal, Vivian alvarado Guillen, Natalie Hollenbeck, Gabriella AldereteCruz, Justice Lovin, Sydney Lamoureux, Ethan Pham, Isaac Serna, Diana Amaya, Kimiya Factory, Sabrina Longoria

Gaige Davila Co-News Editor

Vivian Alvarado Guillen Staff Writer

{Cover Photos} Chase Otero {Advisor} Diane Abdo {Advisory Board} Stefanie Arias, Jack Himelblau, Steven Kellman, Red Madden, Sandy Norman

Natalie Hollenbeck Staff Writer

Frank Leal Sports Editor

Paisano Plus is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed by UTSA. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed towards: 14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249 (210) 690-9301 magazine@paisano-online.com ÂŠ 2018, All Rights Reserved, The Paisano

Heather Montoya News Assistant

Chase Otero Photo Editor

“It empowers me because I get to tap into my creative side with it. I get to really express who I am through it.” -Hannah Roberts

“It allows people to do whatever they want! They actually have control over it, but there’s still so much freedom in it as well.” -Megan Tityanaranti

“Fashion empowers me in three ways. First, it gives extra credibility to my academic and professional work. Second, people I meet everyday respect me and what I have to say. Most importantly, fashion shapes how I think and feel therefore motivating me to become a better version of myself.” -Brandon Nam

Campus style This issue we asked...

How does fashion empower you? Interviews and photos by: Ryan Thompson

“It sets you apart from other people. I feel like fashion really defines a person’s character.” -Xavier Fajardo

“It gives you confidence that you otherwise wouldn’t have. You feel like ‘yeah, I’m the flyest person in the room.’” -Antonio Martin

Article and graphics by: Samantha Ceballos

mpowerment is for everyone. No one person or group should be treated as though they do not deserve to succeed or move up in the world. We are all worthy of feeling empowered because we all matter. Empowerment is not meant to isolate certain groups while making others feel more powerful. Our words and actions mean a lot, and it is our responsibility to make everyone feel like they are worth somethingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;because everyone is. We are living in a divided society that is fighting for many rights and securities. We are looking out for ourselves and not for one another. Now more than ever, it is important we come together and empower one another to reach a level of unity we have never had. Our words should not attack others who are not like us. Our thoughts should not be filled with division and hatred. The future is in our hands, and it is time we see a change through an empowered and united people. Movements have evolved throughout decades, but the goal to empower oppressed and marginalized people is still the center of the fight. Each movement has a different goal. #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, #NoBanNoWall, #DACA, #MuslimBan, #TimesUp and others exist because these are issues that need to be addressed; all of these movements have rolled into the new year because the issues are weighing on us to make the change. Everyone is affected by the political climate in one way or another. We, as a group, have the power to empower all our counterparts and show we are a strong generation that will no longer be divided. These issues have been pressing on past generations, and it is time to come together and make changes. Each group is fighting for different outcomes, yet

we all have similar goals: Being respected, gaining equality and being treated like humans. Our differences are what make us great. These differences should not be used to separate us in times when we should be united. Where our ancestors come from is not a deciding factor in how worthy we are of respect, equality and so forth. Now is the time to define where our country will go. Will we continue to be divided, or will we come together? We have the power to claim our rights and have confidence in who we are as people. Every movement in this time has a right to speak out, and we have the responsibility to listen and be receptive. This task of being open and receptive is huge, but if we realize we are all humans who have been through different situations that have shaped who we are, we can come together. We can learn from the past and avoid repeating history. No one should fear leaving home because of the color of their skin. No one should be afraid of being assaulted or harassed. No child should fear being taken away from their family and placed in a country they did not grow up in. No person should be made to feel like a burden in a country that is filled with different kinds of people. No one should have to be told their marriage is not valid. No one deserves to lose their lives because of bad judgement and unfounded fear. No one should live in fear of having their words discredited because of race, gender, sexual orientation. We have the ability to change how this country functions. None of these changes can happen overnight, but if we begin now, future generations will pick up where we left off. They will be empowered because we decided to unify and succeed instead of divide and fail.

Male Birth control By: Justice Lovin

In 1960, the FDA approved the birth control pill for contraceptive use. This, so the story goes, lowered the stakes for casual sex and provided women in the U.S. a degree of sexual freedom that played a major part in the cultural changes of the 1960s. In time, the pill itself changed, eventually reaching a formula that eliminates periods altogether. Unfortunately, the blood clots, heart attacks and mood disorders that took the first version of the pill off the market still affect some users of the improved versions of the pill sold today. Despite nearly 60 years of visions and revisions of possible birth control methods, all of the implants the FDA has approved have been for women. There are, as of yet, no contraceptives for men commercially available (but plenty of virility supplements). There are efforts in the works, though. A research study conducted in 2016 found that the shot being tested was 96 percent effective, though a number of the participants withdrew from the study because the side effects, which included mood swings, muscle pain, and acne. The majority of study participants said they would be willing to continue using the treatment after the study was over, but further research and more clinical trials are required before the product can be approved. Another male contraceptive, called RISUG or Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance, is also being researched. RISUG was developed by Indian scientist Sujoy Guha, who adapted a technology he was developing to affordably purify well water. The technology, an electrically charged polymer that would coat the inside of a water pump or a man’s vas deferens, has been successfully tested on animals and humans, but the FDA requires testing to be redone at their higher standards. In 2010, an American nonprofit organization called the Parsemus Foundation bought the international rights to RISUG and rebranded it Vasagel. Parsemus is currently conducting tests on animals to receive FDA approval for Vasagel. Despite the ongoing research behind Vasagel and hormone based contraceptives, it will likely be years before any male contraceptives are available in the US. In part, this can be attributed to the rigorous standards of the FDA. As the history of contraceptives for women shows, hormonal contraceptives can have major side effects, and the Vasagel polymer could also have unforeseen interactions with the bodies it’s injected into. These problems play into the larger obstacle preventing the

Statistics courtesy of the CDC

development of male contraceptives: market economics. The real reason for male birth control’s nonexistence is economic. Because the existing method of contraception—condoms— are effective and have no medical side effects, save for people with allergies, any new contraceptive would also have to have no side effects. That requires a great deal of research, which requires funding. Funding is limited, though, and so it goes to other more profitable research. Vasagel has the additional “problem” of being a one-time treatment, meaning that for companies to make money selling it, they’d have to charge a great deal for the treatment, unlike pills, which can be sold cheaply and repeatedly over a long period.

Female Viagra On the other side of the gender, sexuality, and prescription pill spectrum is the hunt for a Viagra for women. This hunt is a bit further on than the hunt for male contraceptives; Addyi, a drug intended to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in women, was approved by the FDA in 2015 is already on the market. HSDD is a diagnosis used to describe people whose lack of sexual desire causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulties. Addyi affects brain chemistry in such a way that some who take it experience sexual desire more frequently. This makes it markedly different from Viagra and other erectile dysfunction medicines, which do not affect the brain or create sexual desire but rather redirect blood flow to facilitate the fulfillment of existing desire. Addyi must also be taken daily before bed unlike Viagra. Addyi and other forms of “pink Viagra” have been widely criticized for their lack of effectiveness and negative side effects. One of the strongest criticisms came from Emily Nagoski PhD, a research based sex educator and author of “Come as You Are.” According to Nagoski, the dream of a pink Viagra is rooted in “an outdated, scientifically invalid model of sexual desire.” Specifically, these pills aim to increase the frequency at which women experience spontaneous desire, an anticipatory impulse that Nagoski’s research has found is more common in men than in women and isn’t essential to either. Responsive desire, the other category that Nagoski identifies, is unaccounted for in the theory of a pink Viagra. Both of the types of desire Nagoski describes are dependent on context; things such as stress, hunger, and exhaustion inhibit desire, acting as a brake does. With the brakes on, there’s very little one can do to activate either spontaneous or responsive desire. Rather than a pill, Nagoski prescribes a change in context. The other major objection to both the pink pill and the diagnosis of HSDD is that both pathologize the lack of sexual desire. This is not a medical problem but rather deviance from an inaccurate social norm. Plenty of people who identify as a- or demi- sexual experience little to no sexual desire; there is nothing wrong there that needs to be medicated away. When people experience “marked distress or interpersonal difficulties” as a result of a lack of sexual desire, the problem is largely external and social rather than internal or medical. In that regard, pink Viagra is not the solution; it’s the problem.

Statistics courtesy of the CDC

Graphics by: Diana Amaya Graphs by: Samantha Ceballos

Empowerland

A map of organizations in the San Antonio area Summaries by: Sydney Lamoureux

Girls Inc.

Founded in 1864, this nationwide organization focuses on educating and promoting confidence in girls ages 6-18. The San Antonio branch actively gives support and opportunity to girls of all demographics to help them reach their full and healthy potential. In partnership with project WORTH, their campaign “ME NOW…baby later” in Alamo City encourages girls to focus on their goals and pursue parenthood later.

Esperanza Center

Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc.

In 1987, Chicana activists founded the Esperanza Center, which actively seeks to bring together multicultural audiences to facilitate peace and justice in San Antonio. They are a politically aggressive, unique institution made up of all demographics and are outspoken about all forms of oppression. Through their arts and culture programs, Esperanza speaks to diverse communities, brings political consciousness and builds solidarity.

Responsible for the creation of the Battered Women and Children’s Shelter, this organization seeks to break the cycle of family violence in San Antonio, and to provide the necessary skills for families to become self-sufficient. The organization raises awareness for violence and offers a wide array of housing, counseling and legal services to individuals and families who have suffered domestic violence.

Martinez Street Women’s Center

This organization works to transform communities’ health services, education and advocacy for women and girls. They work towards increasing access to healthcare services, as well as tools to inspire and encourage women and girls to improve their lives. They facilitate workshops and events to promote topics from pregnancy health to body appreciation and confidence. 12

Planned Parenthood

This global organization seeks to spread information, sex education and health care to promote healthy communities. Offering a wide range of services, all locations are dedicated to helping people with reproductive health regardless of social or economic factors through comprehensive education, care and the pursuit of research.

Graphic by: Edward Monsibaiz

Women in Leadership

This UTSA student led organization strives to create a network of people interested in the social, economic and political injustices of women in the San Antonio area. By participating in and orchestrating marches, fundraisers and general awareness events, the organization hopes to shape more self aware and empowered members of society.

Mujeres Marcharan

This organization works to uplift the voices of women and girls through public awareness and advocacy. They orchestrate public events, such as the Annual San Antonio International Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day March & Rally, as well as fundraisers for the continued celebration of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights and the fight for equality. They espouse the values of inclusion and intersectionality where women are always welcome. 13

Brave new world By: Ricardo Rodriguez

“O

ne friend once told me, ‘AJ, you’re really comfortable with fear, and you don’t have to be.’” Analicia Jaramillo, or AJ, is an extraordinarily brave woman who has had extraordinary experiences exploring the world. While AJ has never found travelling convenient, she sees it as a worthwhile pursuit makes life worth remembering. Many people are trapped in their jobs, watching life pass by through their cubicle. America values workers, like numbers on a spreadsheet, slaving away at their jobs, often at the expense of their happiness. AJ still remembers the first time she delivered her letter of resignation a month before her five-week Southeast Asia trip. She had planned for a year, giving her boss advance notice, saving up money and arranging flights. When her boss turned her down, Aj’s mind was already made up. “I went to my boyfriend and I said, ‘I’m not gonna let this job stop me.’ He was supportive and said, ‘Alright, let’s do it,’ and I quit my job. My employer was stunned.” Many people in AJ’s life have tried to keep her from travelling. AJ grew up in a family that didn’t value travelling and saw foreign places as unsafe. When AJ became an adult, travel became a priority for her. “This is a beautiful world to see, and I need to go see it. There’s never going to be a right time, there’s never gonna be enough money to do all of the things I want to do. So, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and go for it.” Her first trip was visiting Greece. With little to no money to fund her trip, AJ was hesitant to travel to Greece knowing it would place her in debt. “Everyone was telling me not to go, ‘don’t go to Greece. It’s unsafe, there’s a lot of turmoil there. But when I went there I had the best time, nothing negative. It was an absolutely beautiful experience with lovely people and amazing food and some of the most gorgeous sites I’ve ever seen in my life.” For her, the beauty of other places and experiencing the strange and unusual gave her a renewed appreciation for life and for people. Something you can’t experience in a cubicle. Travelling offers exposure to different cultures, which often changes our view of these cultures we’ve only read about on our daily news feed. On her recent Southeast Asia trip, AJ visited Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. One of her favorite memories was visiting Koh Yao Yai Village, a unique island in Thailand that is predominantly Muslim. Her experience visiting this beautiful isolated island made her aware of the fear tactics keeping people from travelling. “I was worried I would have to be covered up, my shoulders or whatever would make me stick out as non-Muslims but that never happened. Nobody cared. Everyone coexisted and there was never any danger.” After travelling so much, AJ hasn’t let fear lull her back to monotony and routine. Instead, it has motivated her to seek out exciting and thrilling experiences. AJ plans to visit Italy this year. At the end of her interview, she gave advice for those who want to travel: “Write it down, say it out loud and maybe you’ll hold yourself accountable. For those who are afraid, I was certainly one of those people. I’m a very anxious person and I’m one of those people who thinks the absolute worst.” “Fear can absolutely paralyze you, but nobody is going to do it for you and, as scary as it is, you’ll be happy you did it. You’re not always going to be physically able to, so do it while you can.” “Money can always be made, you can always make ends meet, but you can never make a memory. This is your chance to make memories and I tell this to everyone, you won’t die with your money, but you will die with your memories.” Happy Travels AJ! Photos courtesy of: Analicia Jaramillo

Breaking barriers through musica Latina By: Gabriella Alderete-Cruz

ne of the most profound things about music is its universality− the language of music can easily transport anyone to a time, a place, or a feeling. I first heard of the Mexican singer Natalia Lafourcade six months ago, and she is now one of my favorite artists. Lafourcade’s ability to transcend language and connect with audiences all around the world is something not to be taken lightly. While I highly regard Lafourcade, she is not the only one who transcends language through music. I wasn’t always into Latina/o music. In fact, it wasn’t until recently that I became more active about exploring Latina artists. As a Salvadoran MexicanAmerican, I’ve always felt a disconnect to the Spanish language and Mexican/ Tejano music. Growing up, my parents would play Tejano/ Mexican music, but I didn’t necessarily like it. In retrospect, it was partly because I didn’t allow myself to open up and actually try to understand the music. It all sounded the same. As I continued in higher education, I was able to come into consciousness about an ignorance I had of my culture, including the music. Coming into consciousness for me was an integral step in my growth as a person. I became more aware about my identity and the different intersections I inhabit, including my cultural/ ethnic identity as juxtaposed to a mainstream seeking to homogenize people of color and their experiences. Because of my self-awareness, I became prouder

of my heritage and sought to be more intentional about the music I listened to. When listening to music, understanding the language is not all that matters. Listening to the way the music is composed, the instruments used, and the way the singer inflects her voice are just as important as knowing the words. Some of my other favorite artists are Mexican singer Lila Downs and Costa Rican-Mexican icon Chavela Vargas. Both have such emotionally charged and powerful voices that speak to your soul. While I appreciate their artistry, I also appreciate their ability to be true to themselves. Downs has a dynamic vocal range and unique ability to merge Latino/ Mexican music with world influences. She purposefully emphasizes elements of her Mexican and indigenous cultures while also including messages of social justice. Aside from Vargas’ emotive performances, she was also unyielding in other aspects of her life. In the earlier part of her career, she was unprecedented by dressing how she wanted (i.e. wearing pants in the 50s and not hiding her sexuality. Although these artists differ in various ways, they come together as part of a larger narrative. These women have not only shaped my expanding musical repertoire, but they have helped break down the cultural barriers within myself.

16 Graphic by: Samantha Ceballos

Profile

Meet Sarah Montoya A former UTSA student back as a professor Profile by: Isaac Serna

“Women are often told you put yourself last, and here are all the things that come in front of you. We don’t often spend a lot of time asking, ‘how am I treating my body right now?’” Photo by: Isaac Serna

racticality or design brought Professor Sarah Montoya back to UTSA, with one significant difference—she is behind the lectern. Her research ranges from feminism, cyber studies, and the LGBTQ community to colonialism. Montoya was UTSA’s first student to earn a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies. She now leads courses for the Women’s Studies program to meet her UCLA Ph.D. fellowship requirement. Montoya’s academic journey won’t end with UTSA, but her “one of us” aura may compel students to follow suit. 17

his Spring semester, Montoya leads three classes: Feminist Theory of Literature, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies and Feminist Theories. In Montoya’s courses, discovery doesn’t remain in the neoliberal realm of feminism and LGBTQ studies, it addresses the often marginalized or ignored aspects of feminism. Her research challenges hegemonic structures such as patriarchy, white supremacy and colonialism. She is an ally to those vulnerable to these working systems: women, people of color, indigenous people and more. She stresses to her students to reflect on their identity and to think about how it relates to power in these systems. “My identity influences how I navigate spaces. Sometimes, as a light-skinned Latina woman, I can walk into spaces and people treat me better because I’m lightskinned, and I’m aware of what’s going on,” Montoya said. “Though, once I begin advocating for my politics that privilege can very easily be taken away, or if they find out I’m queer they look to discredit what I’m doing.” Understanding how identity relates to the hegemonic structures is an important step to understanding how the structures operate and what it means to be a feminist in response to these structures. “When I think about how my identity is related to power I think about the positions I’m able to occupy and the histories and stories I’m able to bring into certain spaces to interrupt the patriarchal flow of power or the normative flow of power,” Montoya said. “What a creative power it is to be able to say, ‘what you are doing right now is unacceptable, what you are doing right now is unethical.’ I think that really guides my research, to think about not just how it will benefit me but to say ‘how am I helping the vulnerable?’” Pursuing a Ph.D. is a long, lonely road, but through it Montoya developed her moral compass, which has proved to be a sound guide thus far. Montoya said

during high school she was a feminist and a Marxist, but over time it became more complicated. “I came to UTSA and I took an incredible Mexican Studies class and I thought, ‘Oh, here’s this history I have to grapple with as a person of color in South Texas and during my master’s program I focused on what it meant to be queer and dealt with that,” Montoya said. “I feel like it all came full circle when I went to UCLA and began thinking about how all these relationships are related to colonialism.” Montoya’s compass developed as the scope of her studies developed. At UCLA her studies focused on the colonial state. Dr. Mishuana Goeman, UCLA Associate Director at the American Indian Studies Research Center and author of “Mark My Words,” helped lead Montoya to study colonialism. Prior to UCLA, Montoya’s research included projects such as “Data Mining Early Modern Drama.” “I was interested in computer technology, I was interested in how queer and trans

“My identity influences how I navigate spaces. Sometimes, as a light-skinned Latina woman, I can walk into spaces and people treat me better because I’m light-skinned, and I’m aware of what’s going on.”

people’s identity played out online and what that visibility meant, but I didn’t really think about the infrastructure of the Internet and I didn’t think about it in relationship to colonialism. By taking [Goeman’s] courses, working with more indigenous feminists’ literature and working with native women directly my research was heavily influenced.” Montoya was attached to Goeman’s “Mapping indigenous L.A.” project for a short period of time. The experience shaped Montoya. Without UCLA, the connections Montoya made may have never happened. Montoya chose UCLA from a handful of University of California system schools to which she was accepted to pursue her doctorate at. “I applied to mostly UC schools. I wanted a program with the resources the UC system has, but I also wanted it to be a climate I could live in.” There were other great programs on the East Coast but Montoya didn’t only factor a school’s prestige into her decision. “It was also really important for me to live in a large community of people of color. I didn’t want to feel isolated.” Montoya explained that as a queer woman of color, she appreciated that Los Angeles doesn’t differ much from San Antonio. Montoya’s time in San Antonio played

Photos by: Chase Otero

an integral role in her reaching UCLA. Unlike her hometown, Corpus Christi, San Antonio was larger and had a network of mentors who saw Montoya grow from an undergrad student to a master’s graduate at UTSA. Montoya credits UTSA’s smaller classes for the opportunity to have close interaction with engaged professors. Montoya expressed her intense gratitude to Dr. Sonia Saldivar-Hull, executive director of the Women’s Studies Institute, for her help with preparing application packages to apply to Ph.D. programs. The English department also played a pivotal role for Montoya’s Ph.D. pursuits. Montoya worked for Dr. Mark Bayer during her master’s program and received beautifully written letters of recommendation from faculty, including Dr. Joycelyn Moody. Montoya’s return to UTSA was an ad hoc decision. Before her departure to UCLA, Montoya was assaulted. She openly discusses the matter in her classes and speaks about the experience to raise awareness. After ignoring the residual effects of the trauma, Montoya felt drained by the end of her first year at UCLA. “I have all of this coursework, I just moved into a new place, I just got into a new relationship, and so I sorta plowed through. By the second year, I was really falling apart so I came home to heal.” After returning to UCLA for her third year Montoya’s department suggested

she do her fellowship year, which meant Montoya did not need to stay in Los Angeles. Montoya returned home and reconnected with her mentor, Dr. SaldivarHull, and was offered an opportunity to teach. “Teaching has been the healthiest decision I have ever made. It has been so healing. It’s not just about coming back to my old university and teaching the same classes I used to sit in, but to teach what I learned and to see how I’ve grown has been transformative and healing.” Montoya said self-care is important during one’s academic pursuits. “Self-care is a gendered project,” Montoya said. “Women are often told you put yourself last and here are all the things that come in front of you. We don’t often spend a lot of time asking, ‘how am I treating my body right now?’” Montoya suggests reflecting on matters as simple as how one is eating, exercising and sleeping because they are often passed off. “You certainly have to honor the people who helped you get where you are, but you also have to understand you’re not letting anyone down if you stop to take care of

yourself,” Montoya said. Montoya’s research has developed at a brisk pace. On her website, www. sarahmontoya.com, her research projects are listed, including sections restricted to the public, which include projects such as the Racial Violence HUB with Dr. Sherene Razack, UCLA Penny Kanner endowed chair in women’s studies. “The work that I do is focused on the development of computer technology in relationship to the settler state and the way native people choose or choose not to use digital technology when they’re making land claims or when they’re talking about issues around sovereignty, like data sovereignty,” Montoya said. “It’s a joining of thinking about a settler colonialism a little more robustly and thinking about development of computer technology on an interface level and an infrastructure level.” What’s helped put Montoya’s research in a new perspective is teaching. Montoya expressed a love for the craft and believes it is what she’ll do post-Ph.D. At UTSA, she overcame her first day on the job. “The first day was scary, exciting, nerve racking and beautiful,” Motoya said. “I remember being on the verge of tears the entire time and thinking I used to go here and now I’m teaching in the classes I sat in. “To come from Corpus, and have parents who only finished high school, a brother who didn’t and an illiterate grandmother who signed her name with an ‘x’ and at the same time teach at this university and teach students whose lives are just like mine means so much. I am so grateful to have this opportunity. I’m positive I called my mother and cried because I don’t do anything without her. She’s my rock.” Montoya believes in UTSA based on the growth she’s witnessed. “To come here in ‘05 and return in ‘18 has been incredible. I want my students to know how incredible their work has been. Some students I mentor I just think ‘I can’t wait until you’re my colleague.’ “Teaching has been healing and I don’t think it could have happened anywhere else, and being able to teach students who have the same story as me.”

“Teaching has been

healing and I don’t think it could have happened anywhere else, and being able to teach students who have the same story as me.”

Profile

Chelsea Taylor Using her platform to empower all women By: Frank Leal

remains the same. “My main goal is to live out what I believe God’s purpose for my life is. I believe I was put on this world to build confidence in women and help people live boldly in their truth,” Taylor said. “I want to reach as many people as I can.” Taylor’s passion for her volunteer work stems from her experience in her youth. “Through middle school and high school, I really struggled with body image for myself and trying to fit in,” Taylor said. She states that through self-love and caring mentors, she was able to discover who she was. “Once I figured out who I was, I was able to accomplish so much. I really believe when women gain the confidence they need, they can reach any of their dreams, and I find joy in helping others get to that point.” Taylor hopes to now be a mentor to young girls who are facing the same struggles as she at their age. All too often we see the blonde, size 0 model on posters, magazines, social

Former UTSA track star Chelsea Taylor is constantly serving the female community around her in any way she can. Whether it’s coaching pageants or publicly speaking on the importance of body positivity, Taylor hopes to be a guiding light to young girls who may be living in a world of darkness. Despite working full-time at New York Life and pursuing an MBA in graduate school, Taylor still makes plenty of time to volunteer and speak out on the importance of female empowerment. Her tireless devotion to helping young girls become the best version of themselves is unmatched and is something that means the world to her. During her senior year of college, Taylor earned the title of Ms. Black UTSA after winning the Ms. Black UTSA pageant. Earning that title was instrumental in helping Taylor reach others. “With that platform I was able to promote body image awareness and help build self-confidence in women,” Taylor said. The outreach Taylor was able to get with her platform was just the beginning, as she’s now on an even larger stage. Taylor has been crowned Ms. Black San Antonio for 2018. “Now I’m able to do even more because I have a farther reach in the whole city,” Taylor said. However, she doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon; she plans to try to earn the title of Ms. Black Texas. As Taylor’s platform grows, her mission Photo courtesy of Chelsea Taylor

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Life is too short to not live the life that you love. Women often seek approval from others instead of living their own life.â&#x20AC;?

Photo by: Darnell Porter

media and everything in between with her underwear screaming, “You can’t wear this if you don’t look like this!” The pressure placed on young girls to fit a certain standard of beauty is damaging to any girl’s confidence, and Taylor believes that’s something that needs to change. “I believe there’s beauty in everyone,” she says. “If we adopt the idea of natural beauty still being beautiful, more people would feel beautiful without all the enhancements.” As Ms. Black UTSA, Taylor is also a big believer in the beauty of diversity. “It’s important to celebrate different races and genders. The power of representation allows another little girl to come along and say, ‘she did it and she looks like me…so I could do it,’” Taylor says. With so many young girls struggling to find themselves, Taylor has developed some advice for young girls and women. t I believe that everyone has the opportunity to find their passion and live the life that they want,” Taylor says. Although Taylor already does so much for the young girls around her, she feels as if she’s just getting started. “I’m just scratching the surface right now,” Taylor says. “I’m not doing nearly enough as I

want to.” At only 22 years old, she has so much left she wants to accomplish. Although she primarily works with young girls, helping other women her age is on the agenda for the future. “I’ve noticed that even some of my peers still struggle with the same things, and so I’d love to implement something for that,” she says. There are many possibilities in her future. “I want to do some type of motivational speaking for sure,” Taylor said. “I want to go into that once I’m more prepared.” As a young woman, Taylor truly embodies what it means to be strong and confident in oneself. Although the concept of loving yourself may seem simple, there are many young girls who struggle with

Photo by: James De’Rouen

“I believe a strong woman is someone who realizes her faults but also sees beauty in them.” their self-image. Once a young woman develops strength and confidence in herself, she is unstoppable. But what exactly defines a strong woman? “I believe a strong woman is someone who realizes her faults but also sees beauty in them,” Taylor says. “I believe a strong woman is someone who is not afraid to fall because she sees the beauty in getting back up.”

Photo courtesy of: Chelsea Taylor

Photo by: Darnell Porter

Q&A

By: Vivian Alvarado Guillen

D r. J a c k i e C u e v a s

Photo by: Cindy Elizabeth

UTSA professor Jackie Cuevas, Ph.D, teaches Chicana Feminist Writers, Mexican American Literature, Feminist Theory/Literary Theories, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies and much more, with most of her English courses cross-listed with Mexican American Studies and Women’s Studies. In 2016, Cuevas was nominated for the UTSA President’s Distinguished Award for Teaching Excellence and the UT System Board of Regents Teaching Award. She is a faculty coach for PIVOT first-generation students. Can you describe your journey as an undergrad? “Oh dear, as an undergraduate I had a kind of convoluted but exciting journey; it wasn’t very straightforward. I was a very strong student, was accepted to several schools, got scholarships. I went to Brown University for a year and then wound up taking a break for some very complicated family reasons. I thought I was taking a year-long break, and I wound up taking a very long break, eventually going to A&M Corpus Christi in my hometown and graduating from there. I then immediately got my master’s degree. As an undergraduate, I would say I certainly would have benefited from knowing the things I’m learning about through the First-Gen program, especially being somebody who grew up poor; even though I had scholarships, it’s still very expensive to be a student and very challenging to get through undergraduate work. I had pressures to work and take care of a lot things that took me away from my focus on school… eventually I got back on the right path and went off to UT Austin for my Ph.D. in English. Now I’m doing what I love, which is teaching, researching, writing—and helping students.” Can you describe a regular day growing up in your household? “I was raised by my fabulous mother, who somehow magically kept things running on her own as a single mom. She made sure I learned responsibility with regular chores but also had the freedom to read, study and play baseball as much as I wanted.”

When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less important whether or not I am unafraid —Audre Lorde

Can you describe your journey as a Latina woman in your professional career? “The first thing that comes to mind ...in my educational and career path, many fierce Latinas opened doors for me, mentored me, coached me and showed me how to navigate the very complicated terrain of academia. I definitely think about being Latina as one of my superpowers, one of my strengths that I bring to the table. Also it’s a topic of my research, since I study Latina/Latino literature and Latina/Latino studies, I’m a member of the culture I study, so it’s an endless fascination to understand what it means to be Latina, which is always shifting for me personally and culturally in a broader sense. I would say it’s definitely a difficult but beautiful journey. It’s not lost on me that there are not a lot of Latina faculty. Although UTSA is a Hispanic serving institution and we do have a good number of Latina faculty, across the U.S. academy there are not a lot of Latina faculty, especially tenured faculty, so I am very excited to be a part of a growing body of tenured faculty that we have at UTSA.” What were consistent struggles or trials you went through throughout your professional career? As a woman or as a Latina? I think there are definitely big challenges moving through the academy as a queer person of color, and those complications are many. I definitely cannot separate out the kinds of challenges that I’ve experienced as a Latina, as a woman, as a queer person, as a brown-bodied person, as a tejana, as someone who grew up poor aspiring to be working class who is now a professor. I can’t separate those things; they are all interconnected, and they all feed into the other, so it’s difficult to say that there is a particular thing I’ve faced. I think it’s also complicated that one of the roles I’ve chosen is to try to make inroads in the academy for diverse students, so the fact that I do embody a lot of different marginalized categories can put me at an advantage because I can speak to my experience and advocate 25

for people in ways folks in normative categories may not necessarily see.” When is it that you found your passions and what are they? “It’s a combination of always striving to be a better human and be of service to people, and along with that definitely my passions are reading and writing. As far as teaching, I found that early on when I was a teenager, and I took on a summer job tutoring students from wealthy families who could afford to pay me so that I could have a little cash and help out my family. Then I realized there was something I was good at that I could get paid for and was fascinated by that. Then when I was working on my master’s degree, I had some fabulous professors who hooked me up with an opportunity to teach composition classes, and I absolutely fell in love with teaching. I realized there was place in the world where I could be fully present and have really engaging conversations with people, helping them learn and helping them figure out how to better their lives. As far as writing, I’ve always written. I write creatively, and I write for my research. They are intertwined for me. I derive a lot of pleasure from writing, and I love teaching writing to students and working on my teaching and writing constantly.” Was there a person in your life or an event that helped nurture your passions? “Multiple ones, possibly too many to name. One in particular was meeting the author Sandra Cisneros and becoming a member of the Macondo writers collective, which she founded...that definitely was a big turning point in which I realize one of the things I benefit from is writing in a community and connecting with other writers who are socially engaged. I think in terms of teaching, there’s a long list of fabulous teachers, from my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. White, to my 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Marvin, to great professors, mentors, who have all gone that extra mile to offer guidance. It’s certainly something I try to do for my students.” Can you describe the work you did with Macondo? “I was invited to join Macondo in 2004 and took creative writing workshops with some fabulous folks, such as Dorothy Allison and Luis Rodriguez. After a couple of years in the program, I participated in a workshop facilitated by Sandra Cisneros. A few years later, I co-taught a workshop with Alex Espinoza. Macondo has been a wonderful way to network and build community with other writers.” Can you name other Latina women who helped guide you? “I’ve been inspired by the writing and guidance of Norma Cantú, Ire’ne Lara Silva, and Anel Flores. Their writing moves me, and I admire their commitment to getting their work into the world.” Can you describe the research you have done on gender and sexuality in Latina literature? “I look at questions of gender and gender nonconformity. My most recent research looks at the representation of diverse and emergent identities. So I look back at canonical Latina literature to see questions of gender nonconformity, which has been present more

so than we realize. I mainly look at contemporary literature to see what new authors are doing in today’s climate. My research looks at intersections between what it means to be Latinx and also move through the world in ways that push against the gender binary and harsh realities of gender normativity and the regulation of gender in our lives.” When did you become a part of the feminist community/ movement? “Being raised by a very strong single mother, who didn’t have a lot of financial resources but did an amazing job with the best she could, trained me to be a feminist thinker, somebody who questions authority and somebody who questions injustice. One of my earliest memories of becoming a feminist advocate for myself was insisting on being on a boys-only baseball team. As a teenager and young adult going to college and getting involved with feminist groups, I joined reading groups and activist groups on campus. Taking women studies classes definitely helped me think about my place in multiple feminist movements.” What were your thoughts on the women’s march? “I’m glad people are in the streets, especially people who were previously involved. As long as it’s an intersectional and inclusive feminism, then I’m down.” When did you become involved with LGBTQ+ community? “In my early 20s when I was taking women’s studies classes and thinking about what it means to be a feminist and how my queerness is political.” What are your thoughts on recent queer and transgender social issues? “LGBTQ+ folks and trans people of color in particular are being targeted by very scary and damaging policies. Growing up, when I realized I liked teaching, I wasn’t sure if I could be a teacher. When I realized I was queer, growing up in Corpus, at the time I grew up, I just wasn’t sure if it was going to be possible. Then I decided I was going to live a fabulous queer life anyway and once I met more out queer folks then decided that’s how I move through the world. It’s not necessarily surprising but disheartening that in this day and age people have to think about they could be fired for who they are.” What are your hopes for the Feminist/Latina/LGBTQ movements? “That we continue to demand a place at the table and we demand a bigger table be built.” Is there anything else you’d like to say? “I love my students at UTSA. I’ve enjoyed my time here, and I look forward to the adventures to come.” Dr. Cuevas will be debuting her book “Post-Borderlandia,” which expands on Gloria Anzaldúa’s classic formulation of the Chicana as transformer of the “borderlands.”

By: Kimiya Factory

Who am I? I mean really, who the hell am I? Am I the black woman who lays her edges and finally learns to embrace her blackness, or am I the artsy black girl who guiltily enjoys the aesthetic of gentrification and the white stigma that comes with it? Does this make me bitter? Do I radiate an angry black woman energy because, while I’m for the power of the mother, the nature, I still can’t help but to stop my eyes from rolling when I hear the roar of a privileged white feminist? I went there again. Daring to assert the unpopular opinion of not only a black person, but a woman. I’m not sure when I realized I am doubly oppressed, but it’s an entire truth. Women have all lagged far behind in equal rights, but I haven’t always known that. It wasn’t until I was seventeen, a hostess at Chili’s, having dollar bills tossed at me, dodging awkward winks and tolerating the demands from tipsy middle-aged white men at happy hour to disclose to them my ethnicity, that I began to wonder where that left me. Where do black women fit in the feminist movement? Can we sit with you white feminists? Can we scratch and claw for the rights that have been raped, beaten and denied to us as well? Because while it may be hard for you to get equal pay and compete with men, I walk into an interview and don’t even stand a chance. That professional woman over the phone, the one who knows big words and is eager to accept an amazing job opportunity, has brown skin and curly hair. She might have a bad attitude or is raising two kids on her own; do we really want her for our company? You do. And I will tell you why; contrary to popular opinion, I probably make the best fit for your company. Because being turned away from a job that I know I am fully capable of doing, due to the brown glow of my skin, makes me hungry. Hungry to prove I am just as smart, just as fast as my white male competitor. Hungry to put the chains of double oppression underneath my stiletto, and gracefully crush it and strut off like the woman I know I am. Untangle the strings of a feminist movement that is so interwoven that we don’t even notice who we’re marching alongside. Hold my hand, white feminist, and allow me to feel your pain too. Double oppression is oppression nonetheless; that is why one more time I will ask you: Who am I ?

Graphics by: Edward Monsibaiz and Diana Amaya

PLUR

[Noun]

a set of principles associated with the rave culture that can empower us all Peace. Love. Unity. Respect. PLUR is the four letter acronym that nearly everyone in the rave community knows by heart. PLUR is a term that transcends the dance floors and bass-ridden spaces of the rave community. What once started as a simple set of principles has manifested into an entire ideology and philosophy of its own. It has driven the empowerment and growth of so many people in the rave community and has the potential to do so on a universal scale. PLUR is often credited as beginning its journey in the early ‘90s, but the history of PLUR is oftern complicated and debated. Many acronyms were used and at the time, but none had stuck yet. During the beginnings of modern raving, many thoughts about what the rave community represented were surfacing. Many were using peace, love, unity and respect, but not as the term “PLUR.” As

one of the favored tales goes, during a show, DJ Frankie Bones stopped his mixing to break up a fight during his set; he stopped to say, “if you don’t start showing some peace, love and unity, I’ll break your f***ing faces.” He hadn’t mentioned respect explicitly, but after that moment the phrase began to gain more traction. Many also had opinions on what the rave community stood for, and they defined it in terms of peace, love, unity, respect, understanding and responsibility. After PLUR surfaced on promotional flyers, it became heavily used in the rave community. The termbecame a crucial part of rave culture. While the history of PLUR is hard to narrow down to a single origin timeline, it speaks to the rave community itself. It has grown, not by a single person or entity,but by a collective of

people, which is exactly what PLUR means to do. Raves are ritualistic, tribal and communal activities. Ravers have a strong sense of “we” rather than “I”, and PLUR contributes to much of that. Ravers, like me, come together to embrace ourselves; we come together to dance, we come together to share an experience and we come together as one. PLUR drives how we treat others both on the dance floor and in our everyday lives. Peace. The first pillar; is the avoidance of conflict and negative emotions. It is the calmness that lingers in our hearts and with the hearts of others. It begins the story for the rest of PLUR. Love. The next pillar is the showing and spreading of goodwill, as well as caring about others. It is the unconditional appreciation for everyone. It is loving ourselves and caring for friends and strangers the same way we would care for ourselves. Unity. This pillar promotes coming together as a community regardless of our differences. It is appreciating the bigger picture rather than focusing just on ourselves. It is the coming together to appreciate happiness as one. Respect. This final pillar ties it together. It is accepting each other and withholding judgment. It is respecting ourselves and treating others the way we want to be treated. All of these pillars culminate to deliver a message. PLUR is a lifestyle that drives those who believe in it to be the best they can be for themselves and for others. You do not need to go to a rave or be a part of the rave community to take these principles to heart. PLUR has seen its main audience within the rave community, but it has the potential to surpass that and be a way we can all live our lives. It teaches us to come together, to love one another, care for each other and to make this world a better place. PLUR believers understand that ultimately we are beings who want to feel loved, so we love everyone. We don’t care where you come from or what you look like, we accept everyone. And while this isn’t achieved every day, it is the virtue we strive for. Ravers will say that raves are the happiest place in the universe and it is because PLUR is part of the foundation we have used to build these places of freedom and acceptance. PLUR has driven the rave community to create spectacles where people are free and blissful. We are empowered to shine in our own unique way. PLUR is liberation ways that are positive for all: it is a shared agreement that brings us happiness. PLUR is here to stay.

Article and photos by: Ethan Pham

Rouge Noir When the wolf skulked through the woods, Red betrayed not a single fear, though her curling fingers did tremble, Mother’s warnings grown constant in her ear. Be wary, my sweet, for you are never safe, not leaving our home alone, not smiling at “friendly” strangers, not enjoying the lovely lure of night. But the night was no stranger to Red, for who knew a girl’s heart better than the huntress moon and her shimmering, sacred sisters-in-arms? So when the wolf grinned a greeting, teeth ivory and glistening, the girl stood her ground, pretty head held high. Red was not Red for her crimson hood, but the hood bled red for her, knuckles painted as poppies, raw blooms on a snowy field. What pretty lips you have, the wolf rumbled with a curious glint in his eye, soft and pink as a bow, better still in a smile, oh aye? Yet that toothy leer wavered, unused to the unabashed, not a step taken back, any fear burned in flame. When the wolf skulked through the woods, Red betrayed not a single fear, for she became a force stronger than her Mother’s warnings grown constant in her ear.

Poem by: Sabrina Longoria

Book review Text Me When You Get Home by Kaylee Shaefer Photo courtesy of: Creative Commons n journalist Kayleen Schaefer’s novel Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship, the history and future of female friendships are explored and celebrated through multi-generational pop culture references. Published Feb. 6, 2018, Schaefer’s novel exhibits an intriguing collage of autobiographical recounting and over 100 interviews with women from her life, celebrities and other well- known female figures from history and the present. In this era, when femininity itself is being called into question and the quality of relationships between women is wildly stereotyped, Schaefer challenges popular beliefs about women and emphasizes the importance of solidarity and friendship, even in something as simple as a text. Schaefer expends notable energy on bridging the gap between previous generations and modern audiences to showcase the progression of female friendships over time. Although her insistence on exploring each friendship meticulously can become overwhelming, each aspect of the relationship she examines, whether it be her mother’s friendships or those of notable figures such as Julia Child or Oprah Winfrey, strengthens her claim that friendships between women have not always been priorities, but will become increasingly important. Additionally, Schaefer explores friendships in many different platforms of media, including television shows, magazines, books and letters, all from different eras and often compared to one another. Placing classic shows like The Golden Girls next to Friends and even more modern examples like Parks & Recreation, Schaefer sheds a unique

light on the quality of female friendship and its significant growth over time. Using such a wide variety of examples opens up the book to a conversation between readers of all ages and walks of life, each of whom can find something in the material relatable to their personal lives. Another topic Schaefer centers on is young adult female relationships, which have been increasingly stereotyped in the modern era as “catty.” Dissecting relevant material, such as the movie Mean Girls, and revealing personal struggles with popularity and confidence in her youth, Schaefer reveals that the root of relationship issues between women begins at an early age when young girls are taught they must compete with other girls for everything. No girl is inherently mean, and as Schaefer emphasizes, as long as society keeps enforcing that stereotype, no girl will believe being nice or having respect will get them anywhere in life. Throughout her many themes and examples, Schafer makes one thing clear: in the face of career struggles, relationships with men and life’s challenges, her female friendships have been the most important and stable. She systematically proves how a solid network of female friends can help modern women through any social, economic, political or personal crisis and help them achieve their life goals. This book is first and foremost a champion for women’s confidence and support for one another. Schaefer validates female friendships like never before and encourages women to believe in the power of one another and the influence strong female relationships can have on our society as a whole. I would recommend that all women, even young adults, read this book. Review by: Sydney Lamoureux

By: Natalie Hollenbeck

illennials have become the butt of baby-boomers’ jokes. Millenials have been on the receiving end of intentional attacks over workplace-readiness. Baby-boomers feel that millennials are entitled and unambitious, and this image is portrayed in news broadcasts and articles, advertisements, television shows, movies, books and word of mouth. With such radical views about millennials’ preparedness for the workplace, it’s not surprising that many millennials strive to disprove the stereotype. College students in particular strive the hardest to break this mold. College in the 21st century has become increasingly difficult to complete. Most students are juggling a job, a full set of classes, an internship, and personal or financial responsibilities. With all these responsibilities, each student is at risk of finding a breaking point where the pressure of all these responsibilities takes a toll on their mental state. The National Alliance on Mental Illness states that more than 75 percent of mental health conditions start before the age of 24. Most students I discuss this topic with are immediately interested in discussing their own emotional or mental issues concerning college. They express that the pressures surrounding them and a lack of free time are major contributors to break downs, where their mental state is flooded with anxiety, and it becomes difficult to continue any work. Mental breaks are the body’s way of telling us to slow down and step back from our work for a few minutes. College students are often flooded with classwork, family obligations, extracurricular activities, job duties and post-graduation plans. With all these responsibilities and expectations, one will have to expel one responsibility to avoid a break down, or worse, the development of a mental illness. For college students, self-inflicted abuse often springs from feelings of inadequacy, lack

Graphic by: Diana Amaya

of belonging or loneliness. A few days before Christmas, a former middle school friend of mine took his own life while attending college. I became overwhelmed with emotions and memories of him, and wondered why he took his own life. My first thought was that it made no sense. He had always been one of the smartest guys I knew. He had seemed happy and eager to finish his degree at the large university he attended. However, underneath this image he had been suffering from depression— this is the side that goes unnoticed. We often don’t see the signs of depression, or discount them as a sign that the student is just ordinarily sad or “having an off-day.” If you or someone you know is struggling with adjusting to the heavy load of college responsibilities, ask them to step back and look at the big picture. What responsibilities can you remove from your life? Are you asking for help on lessening your load? Do you find yourself coping or relying on drugs or alcohol? My tips for lessening burdens or responsibilities are to eliminate non-essential obligations, use a firm schedule for certain obligations to prevent them from overtaking your life, lessen impulses towards unhealthy eating or behaviors, and try to allot time towards a physical activity of your choosing. Use physical activity to clear your head, focus on deep breathing and rejuvenate your body. The expectations for millennials are being raised daily; however, we must take care of ourselves and help others who are dealing with depression. I urge you to sincerely ask a peer or friend who might be showing signs of depression if they are truly alright and if they need any help. Many suffering with depression will be reluctant to receive any help, so offer your shoulder to them in their time of need. If you may be experiencing depression, contact UTSA Counseling Services at 210-458-4140, or visit them at the Rec Wellness Center in 1.810 on the Main Campus, or at the Frio Street Building in 4.556.

Graphic by: Samantha Ceballos

Tampon Tax By: Sydney Lamoureux

Feminine hygiene products are included in the sales tax base in most of the United States. Consequently, half the population in the United States is taxed every month when purchasing supplies for menstruation. This burden has been coined the “tampon tax.” Over the past few years, twelve states decided to exempt feminine hygiene products from their sales tax, causing the entire nation to contemplate what effect taxing tampons and other sanitary products has on the entire population. Proponents in favor of eliminating the tax on feminine hygiene products were immediately met with resistance by parties who argue several claims: First, there is not, and has never been, a specific tax on tampons or any other feminine product. The common phrase “tampon tax” may be misleading to audiences who don’t understand the context behind the words, but just because feminine hygiene is not being taxed specifically does not change the fact that it is being taxed in the first place. The argument is not whether a specific vendetta is being fulfilled by targeting a certain type of consumer, but rather that those consumers are being taxed unfairly through a large system that is not considering their needs. Secondly, an ideal sales tax should not make any exemptions at all in an effort to ensure the lowest possible rate on all products. While this is a fine sentiment, states have widely exempted or reduced the tax of items such as groceries (raw materials), prescriptions and agricultural supplies for many years. The ideal sales tax does not exist in the first place, so tampon tax supporters cannot be blamed for disrupting the supposed perfect system. Thirdly, the aforementioned items are exempted on the basis of necessity versus luxury, a model which should not be used. In this case, necessity refers to items that each state feels

every human being has the right to buy, untaxed, for basic survival, such as produce and medication. Some parties argue that neither necessity nor luxury should constitute sales tax exemption; however, that standard is already in practice. Consequently, because feminine hygiene products are not currently considered items of “necessity,” they must be considered a “luxury.” Herein lies the problem. Menstruation, a biological process that women must deal with, is not optional and therefore not a luxury. Women from all demographics spend six to 10 years of their life menstruating and thousands of dollars on hygiene supplies. Added taxation straps women financially. There is no comparable product men must buy, including condoms, which is not optional as well as essential to basic life like hygiene products are for menstruating women. In addition to the financial strain women face, taxing feminine hygiene products influences society’s perceptions of women and menstruation. For many years, menstruation has been a taboo subject, one most people avoid in public spaces. This behavior sends the message that menstruation is dirty and wrong and that it must be hidden. These feelings of shame determine how men see women as well as how women see themselves. The modern arena has taken large strides in changing these perceptions so that women’s natural biology can be treated as such, but what does a continuous tax on menstruation supplies say? It maintains the attitude that women have a choice when it comes to their periods when in fact they don’t. It all comes down to priorities. Should the sales tax maintain a limited exemption policy to discourage other product lobbyists from fighting for their products, or should priority be placed on items proven to be necessary for half the population—including all demographics and differences?

Commentary and graphic by: Diana Amaya

ne of the first questions after someone has accused another person of sexual assault, harassment or misconduct is, “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” With many starting a dialogue about what it means to move past such harmful interactions, we have seen more open discussions about being on the receiving end of unwanted sexual attention. It is generally accepted that rape and sexual abuse are serious crimes, and their effects can be damaging in more ways than one, so why do people still expect a cookie-cutter response to an assault? In 2017, several women came forward to accuse former Republican senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual misconduct. They alleged Moore had made sexual advances towards them when they were teenagers in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Decades later, the Washington Post broke the story when covering his campaign in Alabama. The first four women to come forward in the story were accused of being opportunists seeking attention at the height of Moore’s election when he was poised to win a seat in the majority Republican senate. This criticism comes with every high profile sexual assault and harassment allegation story that breaks. If it is not a “revolutionary” politician who is at risk of losing his seat; it’s usually a “talented” high-powered producer who’s been in the industry for decades or a “promising” young athlete who would have had a long career ahead of him. People are capable of doing horrible things to one another—we see it every day all over the news. One’s profession does not absolve them of this capability. Of course, the biggest proponents of the victim-as-opportunist theory love to argue, “If it really mattered, they would have said something about it sooner.” More often than not, those who argue survivors should have spoken up sooner have never found themselves in a position where they were overpowered by another person and felt deeply uncomfortable or sexually violated. For some victims, it can feel like they let themselves down by not fighting back. For

others, the experience might have made them feel responsible for causing it. There are many reasons survivors might delay disclosing their assault or harassment, and the general collective attitudes survivors face when coming forward don’t invite disclosure but more self-blame and revictimization. I understand the need to avoid a practice of blindly believing every allegation that surfaces—what I am stressing is the importance of listening. Often times, one of the most devastating parts of sexual assault and harassment disclosure is the moment when victims are met not with empathy but with blame, suspicion, disbelief or some combination of all three. We hear these in the opinions of friends, family and the media. When it happens to us, why should we feel comfortable speaking up? It is hard to put oneself in the shoes of someone who has experienced what so many survivors have experienced. Sexual assault and harassment affects everyone differently. It is a special kind of privilege to go through life not having to experience any of these things personally. So many of us know what it’s like to have a superior decide it is okay to place their hands on our bodies or make inappropriate comments at us while we are trying to do our jobs. We know what it’s like to be groped at a public event. We know what it’s like to be attacked walking on our way back home. We know what it’s like to get the courage to speak up and hear our closest loved ones tell us we shouldn’t have been drinking in the first place. For those who are lucky enough to not know how any of these experiences feel and still feel the need to ask why some victims of sexual assault and harassment don’t speak up sooner, I have one answer: it’s because while you were busy setting the parameters for how they should respond to being personally and physically violated, you never made them feel safe enough to speak up in the first place. Don’t create a hostile environment that discourages disclosure and then become angry when survivors don’t speak up soon enough for your comfort.

By: Gaige Davila

One hundred forty-six women in Texas were killed by a former or current partner in 2016. One in three Texans will face domestic abuse in their lifetimes. Bexar County is the fourth deadliest county for domestic violence, according to the Texas Council on Family Violence. With those statistics in mind, I see no coincidence that the first time I met and befriended a victim of domestic violence was just after I moved to San Antonio. That list of friends has grown by three, and I expect to befriend more people who have experienced domestic abuse in my lifetime. This pattern of violence will not stop anytime soon. Pessimistic, yes, but I’ve yet to meet an abuser who’s seen anything wrong with how they treat their partners. I believe these people haven’t changed because we are just starting to address the culture of entitled, insecure males and male-identifying people. Yes, there are abusive women and women-identifying people, but it is predominantly the opposite sex, and they’re whom I’m referring to from here on out. These friends of mine have all been physically abused by their partners, but the abuse didn’t start that way. They were restricted first, whether from speaking to certain people or from wearing anything less than a t-shirt and jeans. Then they were immobilized: not allowed to drive to and from school or work and not to run errands without their partner by their side. Their digital footprints were followed, with their partners regularly checking their social media profiles, even so far as tracking their location through iMessage. Though always suffering from neurosis, the abuser’s mind is calculating, subtly making a relationship toxic. This habitual abuse is becoming more known and less tolerated by millenial women. However, many are still stuck in the cyclical nightmare that is an insecure partner, and there are legitimate reasons someone is unable to leave the relationship (see statistic above). It’s despicable, and I have no sympathy for the abuser, no matter what made them the way they are, so I’ll address readers who may be in the scenarios I mentioned earlier. As trapped as you may feel or be, know that there are avenues for help. To start, several hotlines are available to advise you on how to remove yourself from an abusive partner. According to one friend who called a hotline, this was easier than telling her friends she was in an abusive relationship. Of course, reaching out to close friends or family members is another option, so long as you think they are willing to help. That same friend later revealed that her own family did not take her seriously after revealing she had been abused most of her relationship. Do not rationalize an abuser’s actions or believe them when they say they’ll change. They will send paragraphs of texts detailing how sorry they are and saying that they’re working on their issues. They’ll try to pin everything back on some indiscriminate thing you do, and tell you they can’t control their response to it, all leading up to “I do this because I love you.” It’s all a pretext. Block them. Most importantly, do not let an abuser destroy any future relationships you have. It is perfectly acceptable to be wary of a new relationship after experiencing abuse; you will likely take precautions concerning everyone you meet thereafter. These people are not the norm nor are they normal. Our generation, with many men finally supporting, is standing against a facet of toxic masculine culture that has never been appropriately challenged, and these people are quickly becoming the majority. These are the people you should gravitate towards. Even if you’re not looking for a relationship, they will help you regain your trust in people.

These legs were made for marching By: Heather Montoya

arching. Where would women be without it? American women have historically held marches to call for justice when justice was denied. Women marched for the right to vote, equal rights, gun control, the right to make choices for themselves and other social injustices. Without marching, would women have the same rights we have today? Marching has not solved all social injustices towards women, but it has demanded change. Our country still needs to improve, and marching allows women to have a voice. A voice with the power to call for change and justice. People who oppose marches argue that American women have it better than women in other countries and therefore women should not complain. Maybe American women do have it better than women in other countries, but that does not take away from the fact that a large portion of our society thinks men are superior to, rather than equal to, women. There are people we walk past, or even interact with, daily who believe there is a hierarchy between the sexes. During the 2016 presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, #Repealthe19th was used widely by both men and women. The 19th amendment literally gave women the right to vote. I never realized some Americans, including people of my own generation, have the mindset that women are incapable of contributing to a decision that impacts the entire country until I saw the hashtag. I don’t know if I could ever wrap my mind around women advocating for something that would take their rights away. American women having it better than women in other countries does not take away from the fact that women all across the country are being sexually assaulted and objectified

everyday. The recent #MeToo movement brought this problem into the light. American society has allowed men to believe they have the right to a woman’s body, that women owe them something. Women should not have to fear sexual assault from their coworkers, bosses or trainers, yet we do. Women have been hindered by the fear of sexual assault for far too long. And there’s the wage gap. Men are being paid more than women for doing the same job. How can anyone say men and women are treated equally when our time and effort is clearly seen as having less value than that of a man? Yes, women have the right to vote. Yes, society’s perception of women has evolved. Yes, the treatment of women has improved. However, women in our nation are still suffering, which is why women should continue marching. Continue marching for those who marched before them, for those who currently suffer from injustices and for the women of the future, so they can live in a world that values them as much as it values men. There are people who think that marching is losing its power, that we are marching too often for things that are insignificant and that marching is becoming desensitizing. Those who think this way are clearly not in touch with the world around them. By witnessing a march, you can sense the passion in the hearts of those who participate. They pour their soul into making a difference. Courage flows through their veins and enables them to stand up for what is right. Everyone is given one life; women should have the opportunity to live their lives to the fullest without societal constraints. Women, continue marching until the injustices dissolve and then continue to march in remembrance of the injustices that the empowering women before us overcame.

Graphic by: Diana Amaya 38