Definiton doesn't determine validity

"No one is going to believe it affected you. They’d say you had a say. He is your boyfriend. It isn’t as bad as what other women have gone through,” I said to myself on a day-to-day basis after having endured sexual harassment from a former partner.

I didn’t think it was considered sexual harassment because there was no physical contact. Despite being cornered in his car and told to perform a sexual act, I took it as an uncomfortable situation that wouldn’t happen again.

I didn’t think I was sexually coerced because I had said yes. Despite sitting on his bedside on the verge of tears because I couldn’t muster up the courage to say “no.” More like I couldn’t say no. I wasn’t allowed to since we finally had the privacy of a room that I had required. I couldn’t say no despite expressing my desire to wait until marriage.

Entering the current relationship I’m in made me realize the extent of the damage that the previous relationship had caused. I still remained in denial about what I had gone through. I didn’t think I was sexually harassed and sexually coerced despite getting anxious at the mere mention of anything sexual.

I was afraid of saying no to my current partner because I felt he’d get mad.

In therapy, I had finally realized that I was a victim of sexual harassment and sexual coercion. I didn’t realize it because I had the idea that sexual harassment has to be this horrible, gruesome experience that haunts you until the day you die. I was in the mindset that it could never happen to me until it did. I always said I’d say no and stick by it until I couldn’t.

Issue 2:

Front Page:

In “Class Crisis, Confidence Shaken” the deck should be “Department chair & senate members voice concern…”

In Voting center brief, headline should read “Voting centers at all nine colleges”

In “New Interim Athletic Director” the deck and photo caption is wrong. Kinesiology Chair Susan Armenta is pictured in the photo.

Benjamin Hanson took the photo of Susan Armenta, not Emmanuel Luissi.

In the “Health fee increase” deck, the fee did not “double”, it increased from $11 to $19.

Opinions, Page 2: The street beat was reported by Andrea Pena and photographed by Katya

The bunny illustration was by

“Mymomhasgreatcharacter. Sheʼsalwayspushingherself todomoreforourfamily,so sheʼsinspiring.”

-IsaacSalgado Pyschology

Prepare to pay more - if you're a woman

Female hygiene products are more expensive. Why?

Almost any woman can relate to spending money on beauty and health products, as well as for toys and games.

But those expenses are unfairly marked up for simply being genderspecific. It’s called the “Pink Tax.”

The prices for average products are raised when they are regarded as a female’s product.

“ Eartha Kittʼs confidence and thewayshepresentsherself inspiresme.Sheknowswhat shewantsandshegoesfor it.”

-RacquelYang

The price difference between “normal” and women’s personal care products is 13%.

Girl toys are also being charged more just because they’re feminine. There is a 7% upcharge between toys meant for girls than those meant for boys.

In an article published by Huffpost, a girl’s Paw Patrol helmet was $25 while the exact same boy helmet was at $20.

According to Healthline.com, the origin of the pink tax is assumed to have originated from the capitalist idea of “if you can make from it, you should.” What isn’t considered is the gender discrimination that female-identifying people endure because of it.

Women who care about only having female products may feel weird buying products that are considered “male” or “normal.”

The high cost of female living can also impact women in college.

According to CNBC, the average student spends $1,200 with the average textbook price at $200. The unnecessary high-cost on “female only” products can cause female students to have to choose between feeling comfortable in their own skin and getting school supplies.

While one could argue that objects such as perfume and shaving cream aren’t necessities, the pink tax also plagues feminine hygiene products.

Photographers:

Adam Baron

Ali Sokhansano

Arsalan Rahbari

Ashley Shellmire

Bethany Lopez

Yunes Raha

Jordan Erickson

Jose Samour

Joshua Price

Karla Avalos

Marley Williams

Natalie Sanchez

Nathan George

Yamin Rashid

Race Davis

People with periods require menstrual products that are at a higher cost because of the “tampon tax.”

The tampon tax is the sales tax that is applied to menstrual products despite there being items that are exempt from taxes because they are considered “necessary” products— including the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra.

It wasn’t until recently that California exempted menstrual products and diapers from California’s state tax. The downside is that it will only be available for two years.

Women shouldn’t have to worry about the cost of feeling good in their skin or keeping themselves clean during their menstrual cycle.

Maintaining one of many capitalistic ideas does not justify gender discrimination.

Advisers:

Jill Connelly

Jeff Favre Tracie Savage

Advertising Manager:

Sean Collins-Smith

*For advertising call Sean at (818) 710-2960 to revise unacceptable letters. The Pierce College Roundup will not publish, as letters, literary endeavors, publicity releases, poetry or other such materials as the Editorial Board deems not to be a letter. deadline is p.m. the Sunday prior to the issue date. and photos, unless run under the editorial masthead, and columns are the opinions of the creators and not necessarily that of the Roundup. The college newspaper is published as a learning experience under the college journalism instructional program. The editorial and advertising materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff. Under appropriate state and federal court decisions, these materials are free from prior restraint by the virtue of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the L.A. Community College District, the college or any officer or employee thereof.

I had convinced myself I was the one in the wrong because I was denying my partner at the time something that pertained to him.

The truth was that I was never in the wrong by wanting to stand by my word. I also came to realize that what I had gone through was valid. Just because I didn’t experience what others would constitute as sexual harassment or coercion doesn’t mean it wasn’t real.

The experience doesn’t have to be a huge or extremely traumatizing one for it to be valid. Realizing this I was able to deal with it correctly. While I still struggle to accept that I don’t always have to say yes to my current partner, I’m still able to own my experience.

I don’t rely on what others identify as sexual harassment. If you’re ever in doubt, it is worth looking into. Don’t let anyone tell you that what you experienced isn’t real. You know what you’ve experienced and no one should tell you otherwise.

Policy: The Pierce College Roundup position is presented only in the editorials.

Reported by: Paola Castillo

These incidents were reported between Feb. 23 - Feb. 29

02/24

ILL VISITOR

A visitor was reported ill.

02/25

AN INCIDENT

BETWEEN AN EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT

A student was being hostile toward a staff member.

02/25

STUDENT ROBBED

Marching to the polls

Registered voters cast their ballot for the Democratic primary

BY CECILIA PARADA

With polling centers open at Pierce College, eligible members were able exercise their voting rights from Feb. 29 to March 3.

A booth was set up outside the the Faculty and Staff building to register if they haven't yet.

Once inside, names were taken and people were then assigned to a specific polling station.

Bernie Sanders for California also hosted March to the Polls on March 2, to encourage student voters to cast their ballots for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Organizers set up a tent near the Library / Learning Crossroads building to help students register to vote and to direct them inside.

cparada.roundupnews@gmail.com

Top:

Mechanical engineering student Marvin Ramirez types on the monitor at the Faculty and Staff Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on March 2, 2020. Photo by Kevin Lendio.

Preview:

A student stole another students laptop, but later returned it to the owner .

02/26

Student injury

A student reported she tripped and fell.

02/27

Student injury

A student fell in a classroom.

Pierce College

Sheriff’s Station

General Information:

Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311

Middle:

Students of Pierce College register their name at the entrance of Faculty and Staff Center to vote at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on March 2, 2020. Photo by Kevin Lendio.