UnCensored by Parklands Secondary College

UnCensored ISSUE: 7 SEPT 2017

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ARE WE LIVING IN AN ERA OF HYPOCRITICAL

MOTHER OR

BOSS LADIES?

FULL-TIME WORKER?

“YOU ARE YOU,

ARE MEN AND WOMEN EMOTIONALLY EQUAL?

and being under the TRANSGENDER SPECTRUM is not something that DEFINES or CHANGES YOU.” - JACE BAINES

Let’s talk about

GENDER

MEET OUR TEAM! EDITOR IN CHIEF Phoebe Bogner

COPY EDITOR Nicayla De Villiers

ART DIRECTOR

DESIGNER

Leila Bogner

Megan Conradie

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST Connor Jamieson

By creating this magazine, we hope to evoke honesty around tough discussions in society and hopefully inï¬&#x201A;uence a future where people are able to speak their minds freely!

CONTENTS Are Women the Only Ones Affected by Eating Disorders? Nicayla De Villiers

✦

Feeling Free with Jace Baines, Nicayla De Villiers

✦

Purple Hibiscus Review, Nicayla De Villiers

✦

The Era of Hypocritical Boss Ladies, Phoebe Bogner

✦

Obituary of Pudence Nobantu Mabele, Phoebe Bogner

✦

Purple Hibiscus Review, Phoebe Bogner

✦

Mother or Full-time Worker? Leila Bogner

✦

Advice Column, Leila Bogner

✦

Purple Hibiscus Review, Leila Bogner

✦

Same-sex Schools or Co-Ed? Connor Jamieson

✦

How are gender Identities constructed, maintained and challenged in the media? Maru-a-Pula High school student

✦

Game Time!

✦

Know Your Terms!

✦

Purple Hibiscus Review, Connor Jamieson

✦

Lord of the Rings, Connor Jamieson

✦

Emotional Differences in the Sexes, Megan Conradie

✦

Purple Hibiscus Review, Megan Conradie

✦

The Disturbing Reality, Megan Conradie

✦

An Interview with Sweden

31 3

Are women the only ones affected by

EATING DISORDERS? AUTHOR: NICAYLA DE VILLIERS

Eating disorders are not a lifestyle choice. They are in fact

can fall prey to these conditions. I urge men to stand up and

critical illnesses that cause a person to become obsessed

shatter the stigmas!

with the food that they consume and the weight that they are. But are young females really the most vulnerable to these conditions?

REFERENCES:

Eating disorders are most certainly not a “women’s problem”, but rather a problem with society. There is the widely

National Centre for Eating Disorders. (2017). National Centre

held idea of females being more susceptible to eating disor-

for Eating Disorders - The Media & Eating Disorders. [online]

ders than men are. Women are seen to hold more insecuri-

Available at:

ties about their bodies and are generally thought to be more

http://eating-disorders.org.uk/information/the-media-eating-

health conscious, however men also fall victim to unrealistic

disorders/ [Accessed 28 Aug. 2017].

body images. There are common risks that cause body dissatisfaction which include perfectionism, bullying, dieting,

National Eating Disorders Association. (2017). Research on

trauma, childhood obesity and so on… Do these only seem

Males and Eating Disorders. [online] Available at:

to be female issues?

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/research-males-and -eating-disorders [Accessed 28

Aug. 2017].

According to Michelle Zaydlin, an MD candidate at San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, about 25% of individuals diagnosed with Anorexia and Bulimia are in fact males ( National Eating Disorder Association 2017). Just as the ideal female body type has been described as slim with prominent sexual features, the male body type has been glamorized as being tall, muscular and equally sexualized. In the media, there is a large amount of emphasis placed on the perfect body type and lifestyle for both women and men to adhere to. With these expectations comes the pressures of matching up to them and many people turn to unhealthy eating behaviours in order to do so. The media seeks to inform, persuade, entertain and to change us ( National Eating Disorder Association 2017) and there is no doubt that the media provide crucial content on body issues and is a platform of social comparison. These disorders have the power to create stigmas which are unfortunately worse for men. It is seen to be unmasculine for males to adapt these unhealthy eating patterns and even more so to seek psychological help. It is not that men are not suﬀerers of these disorders, they just often tend to hide the fact that they are ill and will not reach out for help as they are afraid of the judgement that they would receive. So to answer the question… Eating disorders are in truth gender neutral. Any person, regardless of the demographics,

FEELING FREE WITH

JACE BAINES

We sat down with Jace Baines, a student at Parklands College undergoing a transition into a male. He gives us insight into his life as a transgender teen. AUTHOR: NICAYLA DE VILLIERS

What made you decide on this transition? And at

“I REALISED THAT BEING IN THE INCORRECT BODY IS QUITE MENTALLY INHIBITING”

what point did you realize that this was a good decision for you?  I realised that being in the incorrect body is quite mentally inhibiting, and makes you feel like quite the prisoner. I knew that the only way to feel free and comfortable in my body would be to transition into a more fitting one.

Who did you speak to about your decision?  This is sort of embarrassing, but I always used to speak to either the horses I rode, or my dogs. They would listen without really understanding what I was saying, nor being able to judge. They were sort of like a breathing diary. Afterwards it was my friends because they were all accepting and I was scared of whether my parents would accept it, due to it being so unknown. I now talk to medical professionals, people going through the same transition and of course family and friends.

Has it been an easy or a difficult transition for you?  It’s been a very difficult time, mainly because transitioning is a very lengthy process. Most people take 4 years to even

start transitioning, which is near to my case. I have had the

Are people supportive or do you feel that there is

feelings of needed to transition since I was around 13 years

some discrimination? If so, how do you deal with

old, I’m near 16 and besides social transition, nothing has changed yet.

that?  Most people are now supportive of my decision even

What made you decide on the name Jace?

if they don’t completely understand or agree with it. Those

My grandma and I are very close, and she was very sick

who discriminate or make sly comments most often just don’t

when my mom fell pregnant. She suffered from multiple can-

understand. If they are willing, I tell them more about the sub-

cers and was told she had a few weeks to live. However she

ject and they are less discriminatory, but if they are not willing

was determined to see me born and she pulled through.

to learn I just pity them, for their minds will remain closed,

When I was born she lay all day with me on her chest. She

and I leave them be.

lived all the way to early 2017. From then my family considered me to be the reason she was alive, and Jace means ‘a healing’. I also want to be a doctor, which makes it even more fitting. Another aspect is that it had to start with a J, since nearly all my family members names start with J. It took forever but when I first spoke it, it just felt right.

At what age did you start experiencing the feelings that you were in the wrong body?  When I was quite young (about 8 or 9) I had feeling of ‘not fitting’ but as I was extremely girly, it was brushed off as selfconsciousness. They came back heavy at about age 12, when body changes became obvious and a big part of life. I began to feel that everything about my body wasn’t right. I still wear makeup and enjoy styling and doing hair, but the connotation it had to girls made it feel like a very toxic and unfitting thing. I tried to conform to male gender stereotypes and soon started feeling more like I’m what I’m supposed to be. I cut my hair very short, refused to wear any stereotypically girl clothing, etc...This was the first time I felt like I was in the right body.

Do you feel that you relate entirely to males or still to females as well?

“YOU ARE YOU, AND BEING UNDER THE TRANSGENDER SPECTRUM IS NOT SOMETHING THAT DEFINES OR CHANGES YOU.” Do you have a message for anyone who is in the same position as you are?  Talk through it, and don’t shut your mind off to possibilities.

I know I am 100% a boy, no doubts in my mind. However I

Learn everything there is to learn through medical profession-

am still a very feminine person and I hang out with mainly

als, not the internet. Lastly, don’t let it define you. You are

girls. The other boys do not like the same things I do, such as

you, and being under the transgender spectrum is not some-

doing hair and makeup, but I know that this is not gender

thing that defines or changes you. You need to keep in mind

identity related, but rather femininity. This in between phase

that you are the same person you have always been, and be-

makes me relate to males in the aspect of gender and mind,

ing transgender changes nothing about that.

but girls in the aspects of the physical body.

Purple Hibiscus BOOK REVIEW ON

AUTHOR: NICAYLA DE VILLIERS

the book are exceptionally powerful and are conveyed in a truly captivating way. I adore the style in which Chimamanda

Purple Hibiscus, the debut novel written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is narrated by fourteen-year-old Kambili

writes her books and will definitely be giving her other works

Achike. Kambili, the youngest daughter in the Achike house-

a read. I feel that the stories are incredibly insightful as they

hold, tells the heart wrenching tale of her deteriorating family

are based around sensitive topics that are addressed tremen-

living in the oppressed post-colonial Nigeria.

dously well. The novel was very hard to put down and I urge others to read it.

This intense novel is set in Igboland, Eastern Nigeria. Enugu, the hometown of the Achike family, is seen to be more of a prison than a home; while Nsukka, home to Aunty Ifeoma, is far more lively and free but a lot less elite. The story follows

REFERENCES:

the life of a Christian family and the way in which it all falls

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. (2017). Chimamanda Ngozi Adi-

apart. The father, Papa Eugene, is a strict and aggressive

chie. [online] Available at: http://chimamanda.com/ [Accessed

man. Papa Eugene has a greatly structured life where he

25 Aug. 2017].

sets immense amounts of rules for his children to adhere to. Papa Eugene abuses his passive and caring wife, Beatrice,

Schulz-Elsing, S. (2017). Purple Hibiscus -- book review. [on-

and this leads her to experiencing multiple miscarriages for

line] Curledup.com. Available at

which angers Papa Eugene.

http://www.curledup.com/hibiscus.htm [Accessed 25 Aug. 2017].

The major theme in Purple Hibiscus comes from the title itself, where the flowers symbolize the freedom and the growth that the Achike family experience. The roots of the flower represent the original traditions and teachings in which Papa Eugene has implemented in his family’s lives. These roots have made Kambili who she is today and the flowers represent the development in the family as a whole. The author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is immensely talented at portraying issues in society in an engaging manner. She writes beautiful poetry, plays and profound novels. A few examples of her incredible works include “Half of a yellow sun”, “Americanah”, “The thing around your neck” and “We should all be feminists.” Many of her works address the real problems that society faces that in fact allow the readers to gain vast knowledge on the topics. Adichie has been extremely successful in her career, earning herself many well-deserved awards. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this flavorful novel and I highly recommend it to others. The messages throughout

The Era of

HYPOCRITICALladies BOSS

AUTHOR: PHOEBE BOGNER

The gradual increase of female bosses has improved repre-

Many reports from former and present employees explained

sentation of females in the workplace, as well as, created a

to Racked - a credible news site - how their vacation periods

platform for women empowerment. However, many female

were abruptly cut and that their healthcare was overly expen-

CEOs have branded themselves as leaders in the thought

sive. Later claims of sexual harassment arose in a New York

processes around Feminist ideals, but their actions and be-

magazine article against Miki Agrawal. The article described

haviours have contradicted their vocalisations. The big ques-

how she had touched an employee's breasts and commented

tion here is: are these feminist role models really who they

on numerous occasions openly on employees' weights, either

say they are?

to their face or behind their backs. Lastly, she is also accused of calling an employee a bitch in a meeting. It is really difficult

Sophia Amoruso is an American businesswoman - self pro-

to consider a woman of these actions as a “feminist”. In fact,

claimed as a quirky, entrepreneurial woman succeeding, de-

this would be the classic example of an anti-feminist.

spite all odds. She started an online Ebay store called "Nasty Gal Vintage" - a little ironic if you ask me. Her business in-

Lastly, Ivanka Trump - the infamous daughter of now-

stantly took off and in 2016, Sophia was named one of the

president Donald Trump - has been considered an influential

richest women in the world by Forbes. At first she seemed to

icon for women empowerment. She wrote a book called

be the picture perfect image of a modern day female CEO,

“Women Who Work: Rewriting the Rules for Success” (3),

but later revealed her true identity by firing 4 pregnant employ-

which claims to help in empowering women who are con-

ees as well as a man who took paternity leave (1). Also, in

flicted on whether to work (or not) after giving birth (5). How-

various anonymous interviews of employees, it was exposed

ever, the public finds it difficult to relate to a woman of her cir-

that there was a constant atmosphere of fear where being

cumstances, as her upbringing and wealthy lifestyle deems it

fired was common and many described her as “vengeful”.

impossible to understand the average woman’s struggle.

Now are these the actions of someone you would look up to Ivanka involving herself and her business with women em-

as a female role model? I think not.

powerment contradicts her affiliation with her sexist father, Secondly, we have Miki Agrawal, the owner of “Thinx” which is a period underwear company focused on branding themselves as hip, progressive and out-

Donald Trump. Donald Trump has been accused of objectifying women, making sexist remarks, and calling women derogatory names such as, “dog”, “fat” and “disgusting animal”.

spokenly feminist. Miki prides herself on being

Ivanka has never openly stood up against her father’s re-

an alternate feminist icon for all women and

marks or shown any support for women in this matter (3).

is known for being able to “break sexist taboos” (1). Unfortunately, much like "Nasty Gal Vintage", Thinx was

Standing by and supporting her father in his election also creates mixed messages for many women around the world. Yes, you should support your family but not if that means con-

known for discriminatory pay pack-

tradicting your own values and self-made brand.

ages which did not reflect qualifications, benefits which were ‘unbeneficial’ and unfair maternity leave

Feminism isn’t something people should use for a good public image, it should be a value in your life that you stand by and incorporate into your daily actions. As you can see, many

policies. She also

self-described feminists can also be quite contradictory, thus

created a toxic,

leading to the new era of hypocritical boss ladies. As a femi-

fearful work environment

nist myself, I encourage you to critically evaluate whether your role model is really who they say they are, before praising and supporting them in the future.

(2).

REFERENCES:

3. Mahdawi, A. (2017). Our self-styled feminist CEOs aren't as empowering as we thought | Arwa Mahdawi. [online] the

1. Broadly. (2017). We're Living in the Era of the Hypo critical

Guardian. Available at:

'Feminist' Boss. [online] Available at:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/29/sel

https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/qvdbyb/were-living-in-th

f-styled-feminist-ceos-arent-empowering-thinx [Accessed 3

e-era-of-the-hypocritical-feminist-boss [Accessed 3 Sep.

Sep. 2017].

2017].â&#x20AC;¨ 4. Google.co.za. (2017). Hypocritical feminist boss ladies Google Search. [online] Available at: 2. BuzzFeed. (2017). Feminist Hypocrisy Is The New Trend

https://www.google.co.za/search?safe=strict&biw=1433&bih=

In Startup Narratives. [online] Available at:

692&q=Hypocritical+feminist+boss+ladies+&oq=Hypocritical

https://www.buzzfeed.com/doree/feminist-hypocrisy-is-the-ne

+feminist+boss+ladies+&gs_l=psy-ab.3...28391.42863.0.432

w-trend-in-startup-narratives?utm_term=.ih7ejX1KMQ#.gh97

28.26.21.2.0.0.0.610.3772.2-6j2j2j1.11.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..

KJaD8O [Accessed 3 Sep. 2017].

17.0.0.kCb7OP3Rm_s [Accessed 3 Sep. 2017]. 5. Fortune.com. (2017). An Exclusive Excerpt from Ivanka Trump's New Book, Women Who Work. [online] Available at: http://fortune.com/2017/05/01/ivanka-trump-book-women-wh o-work/ [Accessed 3 Sep. 2017].â&#x20AC;¨

In Loving Memory Obituary of Prudence Nobantu Mabele AUTHOR: PHOEBE BOGNER

Prudence Nobantu Mabele, resident of Wattville Township

Prudence enjoyed socializing with her friends and reading

near Benoni in the East of Johannesburg (1), died at age 45

books. She had an infectious laugh that you could hear from

on July 10, 2017 at Rosebank Hospital (4).

a mile away and a radiant smile that lit up the room.

Born in 1971 in Johannesburg (1), she attended the Witwa-

She is survived by her mother, Fikile Judith Motaung, and two

tersrand Technikon and Cape Town Technikon in 1990 and

sisters. (5)

went on to successfully obtain a Diploma in Light Current Electrical Engineering in 1994, despite her diagnosis of HIV.

Donations can be made to the Positive Women's Network (3),

In 1996, she achieved a Diploma in Psychology at Intec Col-

an organisation co-founded by Prudence. Details as followed:

lege, a Diploma in Management from the Wits Business School, as well as certificates on “HIV and AIDS Leadership”,

Name: PW Network

“Women in Management” and lastly, “Monitoring and Evaluation for Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs”. She also

Bank: Nedbank

completed her training as a sangoma in 2004. (2) Account Number: 1078 785 570 Prudence later became one of South Africa’s leading advocates and spokesperson for people living with HIV/AIDS. She

Branch Code: Rosebank 177705

was the first ever black woman to reveal her HIV-positive status and also became an activist for ending violence

The Rhema Bible Church (4) Funeral Service, Randburg, has

against women. She committed herself to a life of activism,

been entrusted with arrangements.

involving herself in many leadership roles such as, President for the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (2001), Executive Director of Positive Women's Network (1996), Founder Member of Treatment Action Campaign (1998) and many more.

REFERENCES: 1. African Feminist Forum. (2017). Prudence Nobantu Mabele - African Feminist Forum. [online] Available at:

Mabele was also the recipient to various awards - recognising her dedicated pursuit to improve health and human rights of all South Africans.

http://www.africanfeministforum.com/prudence-nobantu-mabele/ [Accessed 3 Sep. 2017]. 2. En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Prudence Nobantu Mabele. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prudence_Nobantu_Mabele [Accessed 3 Sep. 2017]. 3. Pbs.twimg.com. (2017). Cite a Website - Cite This For Me. [online] Available at: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DErlLMMXUAAjPO5.jpg [Accessed 3 Sep. 2017]. 4. News24. (2017). Prudence Mabele laid to rest. [online] Available at: http://www.news24.com/Drum/Archive/prudence-mabele-laid-to-rest-2 0170728 [Accessed 3 Sep. 2017]. 5. 5. EATG. 2017. Obituary: Prudence Mabele | EATG. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.eatg.org/news/obituary-prudence-mabele/. [Accessed 06 September 2017].

Purple Hibiscus BOOK REVIEW

AUTHOR: PHOEBE BOGNER

Purple hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Published

These 3 settings created a clear flow between each stage of

October 2003, 307 pages, R185, ISBN: 978-1-61620-242-2.

her development and prompted for a well-organized storyline.

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is a thought-

The themes of gender roles, colonisation and religion and cul-

provoking bildungsroman set in the post-colonial era of Nige-

ture in the story were intricately explored.

ria. It explores topics of feminism, colonisation and religion through the eyes of Kambili Achike - the youngest member of

A clear demonstration of how we live in a patriarchal society

the dysfunctional Achike family.

was shown by having the male in a typical role of control, whilst having the female take on a much more submissive

Kambili Achike is a soft-spoken, obedient teenager who lives

role. However, this was once again contrasted by Aunty

under the strict schedule of her God-like father, Eugene

Ifeoma. In the Achike family, Eugene is the breadwinner,

Achike, who idealises European culture. His oppressively-

while Beatrice stays at home, cooks, cleans and caters for

controlling behaviour leads Kambili, her older brother, Jaja,

Eugene - with not much in return. On the other side of the

and mother, Beatrice, into a life of dependence and subservi-

spectrum, Aunty Ifeoma takes on an independent role, raising

ence. His strong Christian views and appraised charity work

her kids all on her own, while simultaneously working to earn

are often contradicted by his inhumane abuse towards his

a living.

family - mostly resulting in the death of an unborn baby and numerous trips to the hospital.

Secondly, the submission of a woman is clearly emphasized here when Beatrice allows abuse to take place on numerous

The children’s visit to Nsukka - their Aunt Ifeoma’s hometown

occasions. By taking matters into her own hands near the

- results in a change for the better. Here, Kambili and Jaja are

end of the novel, she shows how women can overcome the

introduced to a life consisting of spiritual freedom and inde-

dominance of a male figure. She also ultimately contradicts

pendence, where they finally experience a taste of true Afri-

the idea that only men can be violent and destructive.

can culture. Kambili and Jaja gain confidence from their Aunty Ifeoma and cousin Amaka. Aunty Ifeoma is a clear con-

Lastly, colonisation is shown through the depiction of Eugene

trast to their passive and submissive mother, and later be-

being almost obsessed with the European culture. He resists

comes a strong female role model in Kambili’s life. This trip

his own African culture by refusing to adopt any african tradi-

later inspires Jaja to finally disobey his rigid father, turning the

tions and by shunning his traditional father. In addition to this,

whole Achike family upside-down.

he embraces a church which refuses to sing in Igbo. These acts symbolise the effects of how colonisation has led to Afri-

The 3 main settings in Purple Hibiscus: Enugu, Abba, and

cans forgetting their roots and supporting, as well as uplifting

Nsukka, symbolised different stages in Kambili’s develop-

the Westernised culture further.

ment process. Enugu was a place of dependence where Kambili had no independence or established voice. Abba was the

The overall message of this novel, in my opinion, is that your

first place she experienced freedom and a life with no sched-

upbringing can shape the basis of all your thoughts, but your

ule. And lastly, Nsukka was the place where she really discov-

decisions throughout life ultimately shape who you become in

ered her voice and learnt to embrace her new found identity.

the future. I say this as during Kambili’s journey of selfdiscovery, she starts off as an ignorant sponge, soaking up

her father’s views on life, instead of using his views to form her own opinions. Later on this changes and Kambili decides to freely go back to Nsukka and pursue a life there, as well as surround herself with better people. This ended up moulding her into the independent young women she is today. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as it was an insightful read into someone else’s life that consisted of a beautiful journey of someone developing their own voice. I felt this book was very relatable in the sense that everyone goes through life trying to find their independence and be their own person. I’ve also always loved books that explore universal issues of gender and colonisation. Lastly, I feel like many books are afraid to touch on the topic of abuse due to sensitivity of society and so this book felt like a breath of fresh air to me. I feel like this novel was something that needed to be created in order for discussions amongst communities to be brought up. I strongly believe that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is an inspiring author, who creates well-thought-out storylines and I would be very interested in reading another one of her books. This is a novel that I would greatly recommend to anyone else interested in reading about people discovering their own voice, once going through many trials and tribulations to get there.

REFERENCES: Purple Hibiscus (novel) - Wikipedia. 2017. Purple Hibiscus (novel) - Wikipedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Hibiscus_(novel). [Accessed 04 September 2017].

MOTHER OR

full-time worker AUTHOR: LEILA BOGNER

At the end of the day, parenthood is a partnership. Women should be able to enjoy the working sector as well as their

Mother or full-time worker? This is the question every mother-

new motherhood. Throughout history, women have been

to-be has to answer.There is a dominant culture portrayed of

seen as the caretaker of the family, and so society has forced

work and family for women where they are either classified

women to sacrifice their passions in their workforce to fulfill

as a worker or a mother, but why never both simultaneously?

this role society has constructed for them. Experts constantly

(1) There is now a social construct made by society of

portray women as either a worker or mother. Why not both?

women in the media that we, as the generation of tomorrow, should aim to overcome. A new mother can be a very nervous and vulnerable individ-

REFERENCE:

ual, with fear of the unknown that comes with the role. Books and websites are a main resource used by these new moth-

1. "Staying at Home" versus "Working": A Call for Broader

ers to find comfort in their abilities, but it has become appar-

Conceptualizations of Parenthood and Paid Work. 2017.

ent that these resources are causing a lot of doubt and put-

"Staying at Home" versus "Working": A Call for Broader Con-

ting across a construct of how mother’s should live their lives

ceptualizations of Parenthood and Paid Work. [ONLINE] Avail-

after their delivery.

able at: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/mfr/4919087.0010.105/--staying

An old, iconic book, Vicki Iovine's (1997) “The Girlfriend's

-at-home-versus-working-a-call-for-broader?rgn=main;view=f

Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood”, (1) dis-

ulltext. [Accessed 05 September 2017].

cusses the "extreme difficulty" new mothers face trying to make both work in their new life as a mother. This is showing women that it is not possible to keep a job while being a mother. There are many benefits that come with being a mother and working in a field. Traits that come with motherhood, such as good time management, confidence and problem solving are excellent skills that are admired in the work force. Women should not look past these qualities they can bring to the work environment. Another book, Arlene Eisenberg et al.'s (2002) “What to Expect When You Are Expecting”, (1) shows work and family as an either-or question and not a combination of the roles. This persuades women to think this choice must be made to choose one and not even think about continuing life as before their pregnancy.

“IS IT WEIRD THAT MY BOYFRIEND AND I

SPLIT THE CHECK?” Advice Column

AUTHOR: LEILA BOGNER One night while feeling peckish, my boyfriend of 1 year and I

What is good to understand in this situation is that peo-

decided it would be a good idea to visit our trusted McDon-

ple speak different “love languages” (1) and your way of

ald's down the road from where we lived. For convenience

love is not physical things and materiality. Your boy-

sake, we went to the drive through and ordered our usual to

friend not buying you that “Quarter-Pounder with

satisfy our cravings, but did not get the expected reaction

cheese” doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you, it just means

when we paid separately for our meals. We were confronted

he shows you love in many other ways.

with confusion and uncertainty. In my eyes, what we did was normal. Every once in a while, we would pay for dinner for each other but normally we would split everything we paid for as I don’t feel the need to conform to relationship stereo-

Idea from:

types and feel we have a fair relationship. Seeing the cashier’s reaction made me question the fact that he didn’t offer

1. Bitch Media. 2017. Ms. Opinionated: Is It Weird that My

to pay for me though. Am I being ridiculous to feel uneasy

Boyfriend and I Split the Check? | Bitch Media. [ONLINE]

about our fair relationship now? (1)

Available at: https://www.bitchmedia.org/post/ms-opinionated-is-it-weird-th

-Confused Feminist

at-my-boyfriend-and-i-split-the-check. [Accessed 05 September 2017].

Hi there! Firstly, don’t let one look from a fast-food worker cloud your judgement of how your relationship should be. You two sound happy from the outset, and if things have been fair and working for a while now, why change anything? What they think of you is not important. Besides, no matter what they say, you are strong and independent and have chosen to do this act of nonconformity by choice. With all this in mind though, you should ask yourself how you perceive romance. Romance isn’t one fixed idea, it comes in many abstract forms. People can express their love through words, quality time, gifts, acts of service and physical touch (1). What you prefer in your relationship comes down to what you communicate with your partner.

Purple Hibiscus BOOK REVIEW

AUTHOR: LEILA BOGNER The novel, Purple Hibiscus, written by the well-known South

Beatrice and Aunt Ifeoma. Beatrice displays the African con-

African author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is a gripping read

cept of an ideal woman; one who is passive and quiet in re-

centered around the time of post colonial Nigeria. (1) The po-

gards to humiliation, victimization, and brutality, perceived by

litical and economic difficulties enhance the raw emotions

society as a good woman. This is contrasted with another

and actions of the characters in their search for identity and

character, Aunt Ifeoma, who is outspoken and free, with no

belonging.

man to take orders from. Feminism is really brought to life through the series of events and how characters deal with

The heart-wrenching story is narrated by Kambili, a 15-year-

them.

old female who is struggling to find her true identity in a world where she has no say and freedom. She struggles connect-

This novel is a must-read for every South African as it is en-

ing with a religion forced on her with it’s strict constraints. Un-

joyable, but at the same time very insightful. I would encour-

der the strong command of her father, her world is filled with

age many to read this book as it gives a view into our history

silence and passivity that she breaks away from by the end of

and the lives of people living in our country. It also opens our

the novel.

eyes to feminism issues in our communities and the cracks we have in our society today. Purple Hibiscus is so wonderful

The themes of Postcolonial Africa and religion play a huge

that it is difficult to believe Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was

role in the storyline of the wonderful novel. Kambili's father

only 25 when she wrote it (1). Her powerful voice brings light

rejects her Grandfather because of his traditional beliefs. Re-

to what we as South African’s experience.

ligion also plays a huge role in Kambili's thoughts and actions as she is always worried about committing a sin and scared to do anything that would fuel her father’s anger (1). The novel also brings us closer to the topic of feminism in our society today. It challenges the inclination of men to dehumanise women in our society (2). Adichie does this so intelligently through the behaviour of characters in the novel, namely Mama

REFERENCES: 1. Sharon E. Schulz-Elsing. 2017. Purple Hibiscus -- book review. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.curledup.com/hibiscus.htm. [Accessed 05 September 2017]. 2. Adichie's Purple Hibiscus and the issue of feminism in African novel | Eldis. 2017. Adichie's Purple Hibiscus and the issue of feminism in African novel | Eldis. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.eldis.org/document/A74696. [Accessed 05 September 2017].

ATTENTION ALL LADIES! THE

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SAME SEX SCHOOLS or CO-ED?

AUTHOR: CONNOR JAMIESON

Are single sex schools a good idea? This has been debated to certain extent among parents and families deciding where they should send their children so that they can have the the best experience possible in their school career. One can argue that being separated from the opposite sex in school is beneficial as they can focus more and remove the girlfriend-boyfriend complex at such a young age. This reduces the possibility of under age sex and possible marriage in their youth. There has also been large success in terms of both academic and sport achievements at same-sex schools due to the lack of pressure exerted with having both genders at a single school. Same-sex schools also encourage healthy and fair competition due to the students being of the same gender(1). On the other hand, being separated from another sex at a young age decreases the ability to interact with them correctly in a manner that would be deemed acceptable. This is due to not knowing how they should interact as they base to lead to domestic violence through the use of vulgar media

REFERENCES:

such as pornography. This has been proven according to a

1. Debate.org. (2017). Are single sex schools a good idea?.

study done by the Michigan State Police ( Lt. Darrell H.

[online] Available at:

Pope). They identified that 42% of the 48,000 sexual crimes

http://www.debate.org/opinions/are-single-sex-schools-a-goo

(2) investigated had pornography playing a major role in their

d-idea [Accessed 23 Aug. 2017].

their personality on a social construct, which can be argued

youth which is thought to be a contributing factor for their actions.

2. Jas, V. (2016). How porn and violence against women are linked: Easy Facts. [online] Thoughts From Jas. Available at:

In conclusion it comes down to how an individual copes, how

https://thoughtsfromjas.com/2016/02/08/how-porn-and-violen

they are introduced to the school, their background and per-

ce-against-women-are-linked-easy-facts/ [Accessed 24 Aug.

sonality, as well as at what age they are introduced to the en-

2017]

vironment. The reason why these are factors are because people differ. There may be common ties between people, but they are never the same due to their experiences and backgrounds. it is beneficial for the individual to be introduced at a younger age as it reduces the need for adjustment. This means they could fit in disregarding other factors. What do you think?

BOTSWANA’S

PERSPECTIVE

How are gender Identities constructed, maintained and challenged in the media? THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY A STUDENT FROM MARU-A-PULA HIGH SCHOOL IN GABORONE, BOTSWANA. IT WAS SENT TO OUR SCHOOL, PARKLANDS COLLEGE, FOR A COLLABORATIVE ADDITION TO OUR MAGAZINE! Much of who we are and how we go about our daily lives, re-

most forces that colour on girls and has universally become

lies on what the media deems acceptable. Advertising is a

‘the colour for girls.’

very powerful tool that can shape our minds and ultimately influence our characters or how we expect others to behave.

The other day I was in Spar and I witnessed a little girl begging her mother for a toy truck that she had picked up in one

Through various advertisements, our perceptions of society

of the aisles, what followed saddened me. Her mother turned

are shaped. A prime example of this would be any one of the

to her and simply said, “uh uh, that’s for boys. Go and pick

hundreds of washing powder commercials we see on televi-

something else.” Whether this girl’s mother realised it or not,

sion. In these ads that demonstrate how well a monstrous

she indirectly connected the synapses in that girl’s brain and

muddy stain can be removed from a white shirt, a woman is

she will now forever associate trucks with boys. This will si-

almost always depicted as the person facilitating the washing

multaneously limit her from doing things and exploring the

in her home. This then fuels the age-old vehicle that has

greater world because of the many boundaries placed on her.

driven the idea that a woman is the ‘homemaker’ and ‘childminder.’

We have the power to remove the boundaries that may limit us from attaining our full potential and we do not have to suc-

Think back to when you were younger – what kind of toys did

cumb to the restrictions insidiously placed on us by the me-

you have?

dia. Your family also plays a part in who you become by helping to deconstruct the obscene boundaries that create absurd

If you are female, the chances that you played with dolls or

expectations or just set higher limitations.

had some kind of toy-kitchen appliance oven are high. This stems from all those pretty in pink BABYborn ® adverts that

Boikaego was essentially raised by his mother and grand-

we would see on television, characterised by a young girl

mother. This modern family situation meant that some of the

who took care a baby doll. This, however imperceptible,

expectations placed on other boys, did not exist for him.

made girls believe that they had to grow up and bear children. Similarly, young boys were led to believe that only girls

When asked what it means to be a man, his response was

play with dolls and secondly, that a female’s purpose in life is

simple:

solely to look after children. “I’ve never really felt the pressure to be ‘a man.’ In fact, I If you are male, it is likely that you had a ball of some sort, as

don’t really know what that phrase means – I never had a

well as a fleet of toy cars. As with the previous case, this

male figure who I looked up to or aspired to be like, so I’ve

comes from the advertisements seen on television. Usually,

been doing my own thing since forever. That’s why I’m big on

the colour of these toys would be blue, green or red – colours

this whole ‘independent thinking’ thing… As for someone who

that are stereotypically ‘for boys.’

hasn’t had it as good as me, you’ll find that they’re trying to live up to certain expectation - playing a lot of really physical

Even something as simple as choosing a colour you like can

sports to live up to the ‘strong man’ they’re expected to be.”

be influenced by the media. As mentioned before, the BABYborn ® commercials were filled with shades of pink. This al-

We can learn a lot from his response: because he did not grow up with a “male figure” he never felt pressured to take on ‘male’ sports or an excessive amount of physical activities to please any other male. This is brilliant because in life, you should never do anything to simply please another person. This may have you thinking, the answer is simple, remove all fathers from the equation? Wrong. The answer is to create a space free from gender expectations that may impede free growth and development. You may do an excellent job at raising your child in a relaxed atmosphere and ensuring that they are not limited by gender identities that already exist but ultimately, they will come in contact with them in some way or the other just as Boikaego did. He recalls a story of when he got to highschool and his voice had not broken yet. “I didn’t sound like a boy and I felt some type of way. I don’t know how I felt – It was messed up ‘cause I didn’t sound like a guy. For the first time I felt like I had to sound some sort of way to be a guy.” This highlights the fact that no matter how hard you try, gender identities still exist and will continue to exist and that they become even more prevalent as time passes. However, knowing that the media, family and school plays such a big role in this development, maybe this topic should be stressed in these environments to encourage a generation with higher Intelligence and emotional quotients.

GAME TIME! KNOW YOUR STEREOTYPES? NOW CHANGE YOUR MINDSET FOR THIS!

Solutions to be published on our Social media

KNOW YOUR TERMS! TERM OF THE WEEK:

INTERSECTIONALITY

Intersectionality is a term coined

4ment

up by Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, an

in it.

American civil rights advocate.

For example, an African female

This is the idea that

feminism can’t be

seen through a single, narrow lens. We as individuals need to acknowledge all aspects of oppression, as it is vital to take inclusion into account. It’s never just been about sexism:

that represents every voice

could not only be struggling with sexism, but racism too. Whenever considering oppressive behaviour, it’s always important to see what other aspects of oppression can be applied here. After all, we aim to eliminate all oppressions, not just one.

it is about the intersections of racism, class op-

Adapted by Phoebe Bogner from

pression, homophobia and much more. This is

clothing store that supports the

all about committing to a move-

www.girlgang.co.za, an online movement of intersectionality. 22

PURPLE HIBISCUS

REVIEW

AUTHOR: CONNOR JAMIESON

The story is from the perspective of Kambili Achike, the daughter of well-renowned community member, Eugene Achike. Starting in the town of Enugu in Nigeria, Kambili and

REFERENCES:

her brother, Chukwuka (also known as Jaja), are very intro-

GradeSaver. 2017. Purple Hibiscus Study Guide | Grade-

verted and only have each other to talk to. The family follows

Saver. [ONLINE] Available

a strict set of rules and Papa Eugene has set timetables for

at: http://www.gradesaver.com/purple-hibiscus. [Accessed 06

both the children. The family is quite religious but does not

September 2017].

acknowledge their traditional roots, which leads to conflict within their wider family. Upon arriving in Abba, people flood

GradeSaver. 2017. Purple Hibiscus Essay | The Power of Set-

to Papa Eugene as he is a large provider for the community

ting in “Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Adichie | Grade-

there. They eventually experience their Igbo traditions with

Saver. [ONLINE] Available

the help from their strong-willed Aunt, Ifeoma. The story pro-

at: http://www.gradesaver.com/purple-hibiscus/essays/the-po

gresses further and leads to the climax where Papa Eugene

wer-of-setting-in-purple-hibiscus-by-chimamanda-adichie. [Ac-

losing more and more control of the family due to the poison-

cessed 06 September 2017].

ing done by Kambili’s mother. LitCharts. 2017. Purple Hibiscus Summary from LitCharts | Throughout the story we see both Kambili and Jaja change:

The creators of SparkNotes. [ONLINE] Available

Kambili gaining individuality and a sense of freedom and Jaja

at: http://www.litcharts.com/lit/purple-hibiscus/summary. [Ac-

eventually rebelling against his father and his beliefs. The

cessed 06 September 2017].

story shows the effects of “captivity” on the youth, illustrating this through the inability of Kambili to connect and convey her

The Guardian. 2017. Men, Women & Children review | Film |

emotions. She eventually gains a sense of who she wants to

The Guardian. [ONLINE] Available at:

be and who she is - as all she has known is what her father

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/04/men-women-a

wanted her to be.

nd-children-review-jason-reitman. [Accessed 05 September 2017].

Overall the story is a great read. It makes you think how blessed one can be to live a free life, be able to make decisions and connect with others. I recommend the bookq to all those who would like to understand growing up in a life without knowing what true freedom feels like.

MOVIE REVIEW ON

LORD OF THE RINGS AUTHOR: CONNOR JAMIESON

as a whole. The minor female characters, such as the hobbits, are portrayed as submissive and are made to be a nui-

The Lord of the Rings take place in Middle Earth, a mystical

sance. This portrays a stereotype which is shown on a large

world where Humans, elves and dwarves are united against

scale, although most are unaware of the fact until it has been

the darkness and creatures such as orcs and goblins. In this

pointed out.

world there rings of power, created in order to keep the world at peace, but there one who created a ring to rule them all,

In conclusion, the story and its underlying theme is well

Sauron, he would bring about a war between the light and

thought out and great to experience in such a trilogy but lacks

dark that would echo throughout history. During the war, he

a true representation of who woman are, showing them in the

was defeated by the humans and elves under the rule of their

light they deserve and not portrayed as a fragile nuisance.

kings Gilgalad and Elendil. The humans had a chance to destroy the ring, asserting peace for a long time, but the King of the Humans was greedy, driven by power he kept the ring but was killed before his trip back to his homeland by the deceit of the ring. All was forgotten, until the ring was found. The story follows Frodo and his friend Samwise as they quest in order to destroy the ring of power given to Frodo by Bilbo. The ring drives the bearer mad, showing them false visions of betrayal and leads to the user being attached to the ring - this often to leads to conflict between Frodo and Samwise. They eventually make it to Mount Doom, the place the ring was forged as well as the only place to destroy it. Whilst there their “trustworthy” companion Gollum, who was previously corrupted by the ring, attacks Frodo obtaining the ring but gets destroyed along with it in the raging lava of Mount Doom. The story is about overcoming your inner darkness and although you lose you eventually lose your path corrupted by the temptation of what the darkness overs you always find your way back. This story can be taken as a life lesson to strive forward through the darkness to reach the light at the end. Although a story with a great moral, there are some negatives. Throughout the story the is only one main female character the co-ruler of the Elves, Lady of Lothlórien. She gets almost no screen time, as has a minimal impact on the story

Emotional differences

in the sexes

AUTHOR: MEGAN CONRADIE

sive. It is also important to note that majority of children movies shows the female character as the “damsel in distress”,

We are all the same, yet we are all different. We are all hu-

who cannot help herself and the male character as the power-

man yet we are all separate beings. Emotions are something

ful hero.

that everyone feels and how you respond to them is based on the person that you are and the experiences you have

It is accepted by many and even encouraged by the media

been through.

that women are more emotional and weaker. Men, on the other hand, are supposed to be strong and logical and gener-

There are differences in the makeup of people and many of

ally do not express their emotions. This has led to many men

these differences are apparently linked to whether you are

believing that they cannot show their emotions as they will be

male or female. There are observable physical differences

seen as weak and less manly if they do. Men are also ex-

between the sexes, as well as deeper differences that are

pected to be more aggressive and masculine, and to have

linked to the way that we function.

more power than women.

According to scientists there are small differences in the male

Although there are evident differences between males and

and female brain and these differences can lead to the differ-

females that cannot be denied, everybody is entitled to feel-

ent sexes responding to emotions in different ways. (1) Neuro-

ing all emotions and responding or dealing with them in which-

science of sex difference is the study of the difference be-

ever way works for them. We need to accept the fact that

tween male and female brains. It is believed that men use the

men can be more emotional and women can be more logical

left hemisphere of their brain more, whereas women use

- this does not make them any more or any less of a man or

both. The amygdala, hippocampus and other regions of the

woman. Gender stereotypes and expectations should not de-

brain are believed to be different in size in males and fe-

termine your behaviour, you should have the freedom to be

males. (2) However it has also been stated that there are

you, and to feel and express any emotion in the way that you

overlappings in this data and that not all people lie completely

are comfortable with.

in one or the other category, but rather somewhere in between. It is important to acknowledge and identify the differences be-

REFERENCES:

tween the two sexes to understand the opposite gender bet-

1."13 Real Differences Between Male And Female Brains."

ter. This allows us to deal with people better, especially on a

Thought Catalog. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 Sept. 2017.

personal level and is vital in relationships. 2. Neuroscience Of Sex Differences." En.wikipedia.org. N.p., However, it is just as important, if not more, to realise that

2017. Web. 5 Sept. 2017.

many emotional and behavioural differences in males and females are due to social constructs. (3) Every day we are

3."Emotions � Differences Between Men And Women."

exposed to images being portrayed of how men and women

Healthguidance.org. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 Sept. 2017.

should act. There are certain things required, and certain things not accepted in the way that we express ourselves. A

4. "How Men And Women Process Emotions Differently." Huff-

norm has been set for how men and women should be.

ington Post South Africa. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 Sept. 2017.

The biggest examples of these are how men and women are

5. "6 Ways Men Deal With Emotions Way, Way, WAY Differ-

depicted in advertisements and movies. Men are often seen

ently Than Women." YourTango. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 Sept.

as self-composed, confident and almost always masculine

2017.

and tough. Women on the other hand, often shown alongside children, often in the kitchen are shown as the gentle, emo-

6. "Why Do Men And Women Handle Emotions Differently?."

tional figures. When women are not portrayed in this role,

TheHopeLine. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 Sept. 2017.

they most probably are being sexualized and seen as submis-

PURPLE HIBISCUS REVIEW

AUTHOR: MEGAN CONRADIE Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Purple Hibiscus”, an outstanding novel set in post-colonial Nigeria, was published in 2004.

males.

This book largely explores religion, gender roles and includes

This exposes

some Nigerian politics and culture. (1)

us to gender expectations, and shows us that

The book is narrated by Kambili Achike, a quiet and inhibited

you do not have to live out

15-year-old girl. She, along with her 17-year-old brother, Jaja,

those expectations.

grow up in a household dictated by their wealthy and controlling father. (2) Their passive mother, Beatrice, not being al-

The topic of religion, namely Catholicism, is also explored.

lowed to have her own voice, also falls victim to their father’s

We see the more fanatical way of acting on one’s religion,

beliefs and strict ways of living.

and then we see a way that is less subtle, but filled with much more love and peace

Although Eugene is seen as a heroic businessman and Catholic leader, the ways in which he rules his household are

The complexity of relationships and love is emphasised

almost completely opposite. He controls every aspect of his

throughout the book, including different forms of love and dif-

family's lives, determines how they should act and what they

ferent forms of showing love. We experience love that is so

should say, and enforces harsh punishments if they do not do

complicated that builds up but breaks down at the same time,

as he desires.

love that is cruel yet passionate.

This, the effect of their upbringing, leaves both Kambili and

I think this book is worth every second spent reading it. It in-

Jaja voiceless, opinionless and almost personalityless.

troduces you to different ideas and struggles and challenges you to think about important topics in different ways. You are

Kambili and Jaja are then taken on a journey of self-

so drawn into Kambili’s life that you come to share the pain

discovery, where they are exposed to new ways of living and

and frustration that she has to endure, with her.

loving. While staying at their aunt, Ifeoma, they are thrown out of their comfort zones and forced to think and speak for themselves. They experience things like laughter, song and

REFERENCES:

freedom of speech for the first time. 1. "Purple Hibiscus (Novel)." En.wikipedia.org. N.p., 2017. The topics explored in this book is done in an in-depth and

Web. 5 Sept. 2017.

intriguing way. A big emphasis is put on gender roles, using an African exam-

2. "Purple Hibiscus Summary From Litcharts | The Creators

ple. We can clearly see the power that the father of their

Of Sparknotes." LitCharts. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 Sept. 2017.

household carries and the control that he has. The mother on the other hand is seen as a warm maternal figure, however she is portrayed as weak and is expected to be submissive.

3. "Purple Hibiscus | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie." Chima-

This is different at their aunt’s house, where Ifeoma and their

manda Ngozi Adichie. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 Sept. 2017.

cousin Amaka are both described as strong and assertive fe27

THE DISTURBING REALITY

AUTHOR: MEGAN CONRADIE

This movie is definitely not light-hearted or for sensitive viewers. At times it shows somewhat graphical content. However,

“Men, women and children” directed by Jason Reitman (1) is

it effectively displays harmful behaviour that has unfortu-

a drama that shows the shocking truth about how the use of

nately become a reality in our world. It is important for every-

the internet has changed the world. This movie, starring

body to be informed and know what is going on and what dan-

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3179568/, aired in 2014, and re-

gers are out there.

ceived mixed responses. At first, the movie comes across as extreme and can be quite upsetting. However, it very effectively shows the incorrect use of the internet and the different struggles that many fall victim to.

REFERENCES: 1. "Men, Women & Children (2014)." IMDb. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 Sept. 2017.

The plot follows a number of high school students, as well as their parents. It tells the story of multiple characters, all connected in one way or another, focusing on each individual’s own struggle and the effects of their choices. It is not a typical

2. "Men, Women \U0026 Children (Film)." En.wikipedia.org. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 Sept. 2017.

movie with one storyline and a happy ending, rather a more “real” portrayal of issues, insecurities and choices. Many serious topics are discussed within this movie, includ-

3. Bradshaw, Peter. "Men, Women & Children Review." the Guardian. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 Sept. 2017.

ing anorexia, pornography, cheating, divorce and sexual relationships in teens - all topics being linked up to internet usage. We are shown how social media can affect one’s selfimage and decisions. Different examples are given showing the abuse of the internet and also how these effects can cause ripple effects. We are also given the contrast of parents who are unhealthily involved in their children's lives in completely opposite ways, as well as parents who are almost not involved at all. Different behaviours that are seen as “typical” or the norm for the different genders are also seen in this movie. A number of gender stereotypes can be drawn from activities and attitudes dealt with. The filming and camera work were done in a way to make it seem more realistic and like everyday life. Different light was used to create different atmospheres, such as emotional unrest, danger and sadness.

An Interview with...

SWEDEN

The following is an interview with a learner from Rudbeck High School in Sweden, which allowed us to gain insight on the perspective of gender in another country!

1. Are same sex schools common in Sweden? No. In Sweden the school boards don’t want to make differences between female and male education. They’re equals and should have the right to experience the same teaching and thereafter, have similar opportunities later in life.

2. Are females in sport celebrated or looked down on? They’re definitely not looked down upon. We have plenty female sport celebrities that we praise. For example, Sara Sjöström, who is one of the best swimmers - not only in Sweden but in the whole world!

3. Is it abnormal to see a woman doing Engineering in university? No, not at all. In Sweden there aren’t that many “gender roles”. People never think “this isn’t for girls” or “that isn’t for boys”. We all have have the same education, so it’s normal for girls to have the same interests as boys, and the same (ultimately) interests in further education.

4. Are there a lot of gender stereotyping advertisements in Sweden? In my opinion there is a lot. I can’t ignore the fact that Sweden, like many other places around the world, choose to follow the typical male and female “standards”. Women or men should be a certain way just because that’s how the advert portrayed them, right? For example, men must have muscular bodies and a masculine look, while women should look more soft and vulnerable. This really is unfortunate, as people get surrounded by this kind influence on a daily basis and it ends up becoming a habit of 31 thought.

Do you think that male and female sport stars are equally recognized for their accomplishments?

It’s hard to say that for sure, but I do think male sport stars are more recognized for their efforts. It’s such a shame because both sexes really put in their all to achieve and be successful, yet we still talk more about the male stars in the media. The problem is because media (like tv-programs) thinks that sport involving males is more

6.What comes to mind when you think of Feminism? What does it mean to you? Feminism, for me, means that people regardless of which gender, have the same rights and are equal. Today isn’t like a 100 years ago, when men were stronger - today knowledge plays a bigger role, and in that way we are all equals to each other and should also have the same opportunities in life.

7. Is it expected for a male or the female to pay for the bill on a date? Some people expect the male to pay, and some don’t. I think many expect this because of its long history. It’s kind of a “tradition” for the man to pay, so it’s normal that people are still used to the way things have always been and that has to change. Time is changing, people are changing and so should these traditions.

8. Are transgender, gays or lesbians looked down upon in the Swedish community? No definitely not, although some people have negative thoughts about them. These are mostly older generations that still aren’t used to how our society is changing. In Sweden we celebrate pride and praise the LGBT community.

AFTER READING THIS MAGAZINE, HAS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON GENDER CHANGED NOW?

YES

Check Answer

Credit for photos used, not taken by us: A big thank you to Gary Bogner for his own photos of flowers and birds. His photos can be found on his Facebook page, Gary Bogner, or you can contact him at 082 881 8703. Other photos are from google for non-commercial use. Fonts from www.dearcrissy.com