She Shines Magazine [Issue 2]: Mental Health & Identity by She Shines Magazine

SHE SHINES MAGAZINE Issue 2: Mental Health & Identity

Contents CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION 02

ABOUT ISSUE 2

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORS

CONTRIBUTERS TO ISSUE 2

APPLY FOR ISSUE 3

SOCIAL MEDIA

END PAGE

FOUNDER'S LETTER

WOMEN IN STEAM

CHAPTER 1: INTERVIEWS 08

ANAGHA RAJESH

THENDRAL KAMAL

CHAPTER 2: MENTAL HEALTH + IDENTITY 13

A HISTORY OF SKIRTS

HALLOWEEN AND QUEER CULTURE

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

HOW IS GEN Z DOING ?

RELIGION AND STEM

IMPORTANCE OF PRONOUNS

GLOSSARY OF LGBTQ+ TERMS

PRIVILEGE IN DIAGNOSIS

3 STEPS TO LOVE YOURSELF

SEXISM IN BOLLYWOOD

About ISSUE 2

Contributors ISSUE 2 DIRECTORS LAYOUT DESIGNERS Mohini Chandra Shatakshi Shahi Saloni Sivakumar

WRITERS Lahen Sheikh Alice Sar Varshini srinivasan

Akshaya Pai Susan Zhang Althea Ocomen Anna Liu Arkaja Shahi Sophie Sun Soumya Rana

ARTISTS Frances Dixon Betsy Lundberg Spurthi Challa Tamanna Iyer

Link

To Socials https://www.sheshinesmag .wixsite.com/official https://www.instagram.com/ sheshinesmag

sheshinesmag@gmail.com

"The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself" -Diane Von Furstenberg Dear readers, It is with great pleasure that we announce the release of our second issue. It has been wonderful to work with such a dedicated team of students to build a platform where we can discuss topics like mental health, self-care, the importance of pronouns, and more without any judgment or insensitivity. And while it has been very interesting to see that mental health is being talked about more, as a serious topic, it is also important for us to prevent it from becoming a trend. We hope you enjoy reading this issue and that you are as fascinated by the topic of Identity as we are. Best wishes,

Akshaya Pai Founder, She Shines Magazine

n I n e m Wo M . A . E . T . S

By Akshaya Pai

Kamala’s father and uncle were distinguished chemists. This inspired her to be a chemist as well. After receiving her BSc degree from Bombay University, she had applied to the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, where she was rejected for the sole reason: she was a woman. Kamala then decided to do Satyagraha (policy of passive resistance) in the office of the director of the institute till she was accepted.

Kamala Sohonie

She was then granted admission for one year where she would work and the quality of her work would be assessed to see if it was up to standard. The director also wanted to ensure that by her presence, no male researcher should be distracted. While Kamala accepted this, she may have been frustrated at the layer of gender bias in the terms. he worked very hard at the institute and the director was impressed enough to allow her to continue her research in biochemistry and he also admitted more female students to the institute which Kamala saw as a bonus. Kamala then graduated and went to Cambridge University where she worked on pulse proteins.

When working on potatoes, she discovered that the cells of plant tissue contained the enzyme cytochrome C and that this enzyme was involved in the oxidation of all plant cells. She submitted a thesis on her finding of this enzyme for her Ph.D. degree, which made her the first Indian woman to earn a Ph.D.

Sutayta AlMahamali

Sutayta was born in Iraq to a family of well-regarded scholars and judges. As she was female, her contributions have been overlooked and mostly forgotten. She studied Arabic literature and mathematics, and she became an expert in the interpretation of sacred texts. However, she specialized in algebra and became famous for her ability to solve mathematical sums related to inheritance and successoral calculations. She was widely consulted on questions like how to distribute

belongings of a deceased person between those related to that person. Many mathematicians later referenced her work.

~ Interviws ~ Anagha Rajesh . Thendral Kamal

Anagha Rajesh Please tell us a bit about yourself. A 19-year-old multipotentialite with a passion for writing, networking and mental health advocacy- that is me Anagha Rajesh in a nutshell. I am the Founder and CEO of MindChamps, a youth led organization on a mission to make mental health more inclusive and accessible to young people across the world. I am an undergraduate student at BITS Pilani Goa and an advocate for the Girls in Science 4 SDG's platform under the aegis of the United Nations. I am also currently pursuing an introductory course in quantum computing. I hope to work at the intersection of STEM and public policy some day!

What made you start MindChamps and what is the platform's main aim? MindChamps started off during a casual conversation I had with my fellow participants of the 1000 Girls 1000 Futures mentorship program back in 2019. We were talking about how mental health is considered such a stigma in all of our communities. And that's when we came up with the idea of creating an e-magazine to spread awareness about mental health. That's how MindChamps started. Our mission is to destigmatize mental health as well as make content about mental health more inclusive and accessible. We also aim to empower young people to use their voice to create a meaningful impact in the mental health space.

Over the last two years MindChamps has initiated several programs to achieve our mission. We have been spearheading social media awareness campaigns (Ataraxia for anxiety awareness and an Autism Acceptance Campaign), conducting webinars, releasing podcasts, writing blog articles and conducting Cup of Wellness interview sessions to make conversations about mental health more inclusive. MindChamps offered a 12 week training program called the Candescent Program to train young people in the art of creating meaningful social media content about mental health. We recently concluded our 'It's All in the Mind' virtual speech contest for young people across the world. Through our initiatives we have been able to impact hundreds of young people across the world. And we hope to keep doing that along the way.

How has MindChamps personally impacted you? MindChamps has helped me become more aware and more accepting of my own mental health challenges as well as of those around me. I have become more empathetic as a person. We are a diverse team comprising of members across the world. In addition, we have collaborated with organizations ranging from Australia to UAE and India. This has helped me gain a global outlook, embrace diversity better and become a more inclusive leader. I have also come to learn a lot about project management, social media marketing as well as the importance of mentorship in the lives of young people.

What is mental health, according to you? And why do you believe it's important? To me, mental health is a spectrum. We cannot classify someone as mentally healthy or mentally unwell. We are all on different parts of that spectrum throughout our lives. With a little introspection and an empathetic approach we can all understand what our mental health looks like and rewire our lives in a way that maximizes mental wellness. I believe that being conscious of our mental health is very important because it is such an important part of one's personality. When your mind feels at peace, you are able to reach your fullest potential, dream big and work towards your dreams. Mental health issues are a major reason for suicide and other violent crimes. So if we want individuals and our society to reach our fullest potential, we should invest in our mental health. I also believe that mental health care should not be limited to privileged sections of society. It is not a luxury but a basic human need. That is why accessibility is a key focus area for me as a mental health activist.

Can you tell us about some mental health stereotypes you've heard? There are countless examples of stereotypes. The most common one that I have come across is that somebody who is facing mental health challenges is seen as weak, and unable to make decisions. This stereotype is very harmful because it prevents individuals from seeking help, leading them to take extreme steps such as self harm.

What are your thoughts on people romanticising mental health illnesses? It is very unfortunate. It takes away the legitimacy of the struggle, the intense pressure that people go through while suffering from mental health challenges.

When seemingly successful individuals romanticize their mental illnesses it gives an illusion to impressionable young people that this is something they need to go through in order to be successful or to look heroic. This is a dangerous understanding. Mental illnesses are not comfortable experiences. People who are suffering need compassion not toxic positivity or false hopes of success in the future simply because you face a mental health challenge. It is important that we a society call out this undue romantizication of mental health challenges and create safe spaces for people to open up without fear.

What are the future initiatives of MindChamps we can look forward to? In May, we are hosting an awareness campaign, highlighting the educational videos made by the contestants of the speech contest we organized last month. This month, we are pitching one of our ideas to Professor Patrick McGory, President of International Youth Mental Health Association. We are looking forward to expand our Candescent Program to offer mental health boot camps to more and more young people. We are also planning to reach out to underprivileged communities and make mental health more accessible to them. We are also looking out to collaborate with like minded organizations and amplify the voices of young people for mental health.

Thendral Kamal Please tell us a bit about yourself. My name is Thendral Kamal, I am eighteen years old, and I am currently studying in Year 13 at Sharjah English School. I will be graduating high school next month. It was a trip to the Sharjah Planetarium with my dad where I saw the beautiful pale grey surface of the Moon for the first time, with my own eyes, that I decided I wanted to spend the rest of my life studying as much as I could about space and the alien worlds that lie beyond the confines of our atmosphere. Coupled with an admiration for the first female Indian astronaut, Kalpana Chawla, I decided upon my goal to become the first Indian woman to set foot on Mars, at the age of sixteen. For the last three years, I have been detailing some of my biggest accomplishments as I take my steps towards the Red Planet in my corner on Instagram: @thendralkamal. Along this journey, I have connected with other science communicators and like-minded space enthusiasts who share my dreams and have helped me grow in many ways. Maintaining this blog has also helped me inspire and remind other young people, just like me, that the sky is not the limit.

What inspired you to choose to study aerospace engineering? At the age of 16, I came the closest to feeling like a real astronaut after my experiment proposal to test the way buoyancy behaved in reduced gravity conditions won the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre’s UAE Zero Gravity competition in 2018.

I won the amazing opportunity to fly onboard a microgravity-simulating parabolic flight in order to test my uniquely engineered apparatus, ‘Upthrust in Microgravity.’ Experiencing Mars-like gravity of 0.38 G onboard the aircraft only further excited me about getting to Mars! Besides the experience itself, working to build my experimental apparatus from scratch was what inspired me to first step on the path of an engineer. Working on my experiment gave me a complete overview of the Engineering Design Process, and I was able to experience truly being an engineer for the first time as I worked together with a team of engineers, helping them chart blueprints, write code, and build the parts for my apparatus. It was a truly invaluable experience that provided me with the solid grounding and inspiration to pursue a career in engineering. I saw the opportunity to marry my passions for space and building things- in the form of aerospace engineering!

What made you aspire to be the first Indian woman on Mars? With a dream as big as wanting to set foot on Mars, one of my biggest driving factors is the knowledge that I will be actively working to advance human science and technology to levels beyond our imagination as a species. Additionally, know-how growing up, there were very few role models that I saw myself in… and I hope that traversing this journey will help young girls of color just like myself see themselves in me, and go on to see that the sky truly isn’t the limit for them.

Can you elaborate on your first published paper about Globular Clusters and what made you write on this particular topic? I applied for UC Santa Cruz’s Science Internship Program in March 2020, after a recommendation by my college counselor. The astronomy projects offered by it greatly interested me and since I was looking to get an immersive research experience during the summer, I applied to it.

I was accepted with a full-ride scholarship to attend the internship virtually (due to the pandemic), and got to work on an ongoing research project at UCSC on globular clusters, with Dr. Eric Peng and Dr. Raja GuhaThakurta. The paper, ‘An Automated Census of Globular Cluster Systems in Virgo Cluster Dwarf Galaxies,’ was a joint effort between myself, Broderick Nies, and Nicole Tian, with mentorship and guidance from Dr. Eric Peng (Peking University), Dr. Raja GuhaThakurta (University of California- Santa Cruz), Dr. Youkyung Ko (Korea Astronomy & Space Science Institute), and Kaixiang Wang (Ph.D. candidate, Peking University). We worked on actively researching and filtering through globular cluster candidates throughout the months of July and August 2020, during the full term of the Science Internship Program, under the guidance of our mentors. The paper was written and submitted in early October, and became one of 18 selected out of 170 worldwide submissions to make it into the Columbia Junior Science Journal’s 2021 edition. In a nutshell, the paper investigates a research method for spotting these globular clusters within the dwarf galaxies of the Virgo Cluster, a massive galaxy cluster that is some 65 million light-years away from Earth.

Can you tell us about your best or most memorable experience with regard to you and your work? Last year, I was overjoyed to learn that my short story, “The Greatest Adventure Ever Witnessed,” was one of the winning entries selected to be flown to the ISS with astronaut Hazzaa Al-Mansoori. When I met the Emirati astronauts at the winners’ ceremony, I was super glad to hear about how they liked my story from them in person. One of the most memorable things about meeting them was when Astronaut Sultan Al-Neyadi took one look at my orange flight suit, and before I could even say anything, told me I would be the first Indian woman on Mars!

I promised I would meet him next on Mars. It’s still pretty unbelievable that my writing has made it off the Earth’s surface. Next, I look forward to making it off the Earth’s surface myself!

How do you feel about the prevailing gender inequality in STEM fields? And what would you encourage readers to do to improve this? While it is disappointing that there are so few women of color in STEM, it is no secret that the trend has only begun rising upwards over the past decade or two. It is important that we keep this rising continuum going by inspiring more women to pursue careers in STEM, and by building equity between all genders, starting from the classroom. I believe that a small word of encouragement goes a long, long way. As a woman in STEM myself, I recognize the importance of uplifting everyone around me and sharing my positive experiences and struggles alike. I also believe that representation and having role models to look up to also play important roles in helping young girls picture themselves working STEM careers. I encourage readers looking to make a difference to constantly inspire others to pursue their passions without any holding back and to call out gender-based bias/ harassment in the classroom or workplace whenever they encounter it. The sooner we recognize our impact as STEM representatives making a difference, the better role models we become to the people around us looking to pursue pathways similar to ours!

TIT

A History Of Skirts: Pre-existing, Contemporary or Evolution

By Varshini Srinivasan Freedom of expression and Freedom of speech, two really important aspects of a person's life. There are several ways of expressing. Art, writing, music, cooking, and even fashion. The clothes you wear are an outward extension of who you are and how you want to make yourself feel. However, a misconception has formed around that very notion, allowing stereotyping to seep in. If the word "nerd" comes up, we often have a picture to go with the word. Slicked back hair, drab clothes, thick-rimmed glasses, and a twodimensional personality portrayed by several characters on-screen. Also, did I mention the "package" comes with being sport-o-phobic? Whereas, an extroverted person is associated with features and personality that's polar opposite to that of a nerd. It becomes hard to believe that a nerd can love sports and an extroverted person loves to read books. And the movies, tv shows, and books don't help promote broader thinking but rather feed the already existing stigma. Another topic that has been spreading like wildfire for the past few weeks is around men wearing skirts and dresses.

"Bring back manly men, " started Candace Owens, conservative author, commentator, and political activist. The IGTV video entailed a list of reasons why men should not wear dresses or skirts, saying how she loves seeing men defending women and the country while women nurture their children and family. A vast number of viewers were enraged by her statements thus coming out with the #manlymen. The trend started with Harry Styles's shoot for Vogue where he was seen sporting a ball gown paired with a blazer. Or, did it really start there? During ancient and medieval times, men would be seen wearing skirts, long to short robes, or tunics concerning the country and era. Togas were a symbol of status for Romans and Greeks. Even the Pharaohs of Egypt wore half-pleated skirts, with the pleats gathered in the front. Aztecs, Incans, and Mayans wore decorative loincloths, robes, and tunics. Farmers or Fighters preferred such clothing as it gave them mobility and freedom to walk. The only noted times when men wore pants was when either it was cold or when they had to do horse riding. Even while taking family portraits, children regardless of their gender would be dressed in elaborate dresses, until they became adults to take their own decisions. It wasn't until the 19th century that pants were stamped as a strictly male garment when families would put them on their boy children between the age of 4 to 7 to signify that they had gone beyond infancy.

It took hundreds of years before skirts had evolved into pants. As that happened we began boxing genders in (socially) separate boxes, restricting their freedom of expression, also forgetting the great warriors and philosophers who wore the same range of clothes that are regarded as feminine today. However, there are a few countries, like India, where tunics and wrap-around "skirts" called Veshti and Lungi are still in place, and Scotland, where Gentlemen were Kilts. Despite the itch to box people and things to better understand them, Art and Expression should be let loose. In this case, letting people wear what they want to regardless of their gender or personality.

Halloween & Drag Culture By Althea Ocomen

Halloween and freedom of gender expression For one night of the year, LGBTQIA+ folks can express themselves entirely, without the fear of being outed or assumed, especially if they are closeted. This night serves as a safe-day of gender-expression for the LGBTQIA+. The holiday provides anyone a place to express who they are, whether they are LGBTQIA+ or not. Non-LGBTQIA+ folks can let their imaginations run free and express themselves as well. Halloween is the best time to try new things out in public for those questioning their identity and have no safe outlet to experiment.

The drag ball scene during Halloween The early drag ball scene of the ‘20s and ‘30s paved the way for LGBT solidarity and celebration. These events became safe spaces and a platform for the LGBTQIA+ to express themselves without worrying about society’s gender roles. In particular, Halloween became the night where drag balls were at their peak because it was the only night, aside from New Year’s, that they could legally pass as standard masquerade balls. An African-American man from Chicago named Alfred Finnie started Finnie’s Balls within a Michigan Avenue Nightclub basement. In 1935, Finnie hosted his first Drag Ball, and towards the end of the decade, it became an iconic Halloween event for queer people.

Halloween & Cross dressing Why is Halloween so important to the community? Halloween became a holiday to let oneself express and go over stereotypical boundaries without defamation, accusation, violation, or fear. LGBTQIA+ activists of the previous decades recalled how Halloween was deliberately the only day to be free. In contrast, they would face public humiliation, arrest, and censorship by the police regularly. Halloween came from a long way, celebrated initially with pagan roots, now a symbol of freedom and play for LGBTQIA+ and the non-LGBTQIA+.

Dressing up on Halloween in the past was monitored, and society back then had to conform to the unspoken-rules of dressing up that time, despite Halloween being deemed as a ‘free’ expressive holiday. In November of 1912, a local newspaper published a story of several men and women, especially tomboys, who donned more than three articles of clothing of the opposite gender, arrested by the police. 2 years later, however, authorities announced that they would no longer charge crossdressers on holiday—seeing that the number of costumes worn by the opposite was already overwhelming and impossible to catch them all. Laws followed soon after and were put in place in towns and communities across the United States, making Halloween a free and safe day for the LGBTQIA+ community.

DOWN THE RABBIT H LE By Akshaya Pai She was told to wear long dresses And find a handsome rich man. “Look like a lady, not a hero” Is what they told her before she ran. Tired of starving herself just to fit, Into a style that she didn’t like. Inside, she knew she was a warrior Who could kill monsters with a strike. She thought that being herself, an independent woman, was a crime. Because that kind of behavior, Was frowned upon in ladies of that time. She left the party to follow a rabbit And fell down a big dark hole. Her head hit the ground hard, And to prevent a firm impact, she rolled. But then as the world stopped spinning, She saw and bit into a cake. Her surroundings grew smaller She grew taller than the room could take.

After drinking from the “drink me” bottle, She shrunk to a height so small. But luckily she saw a tiny door, A passage to a world, beyond that wall. After pushing open the door, She entered a world of green. With a mad hatter, a Cheshire cat And 2 sisters playing opposing queens. And when she went into battle With Jabberwock, the Red Queen’s pet, She realized that she was stuck in a dream, Highlighting a very different threat. She was at the end of her childhood, With no more excuses to give. And this dream had taught her a lesson: That she had to grow up and live. The rabbit had explained to her That she was running out of time. The Mad Hatter would advise her, That she must cage her wandering mind.

The Red Queen was an example, Of the ugliness that came of jealousy. When her sister got everything she wanted, And fulfilled her legacy. “I’m fine” would sound the same when hurt, The grinning cat displayed. And adulthood was more than it seemed, And harder than it had been portrayed. She remembered the smoking caterpillar’s advice, When she woke up in the rabbit hole. It was that she should make the most of her time, Because there would always be things outside her control.

How Is Gen Z Doing? By Sophie Sun

Facebook was created in 2004. Twitter was created in 2006. The first Apple iPhone was first introduced on June 29, 2007. Instagram was created in 2010. Do you see a pattern here? In the span of about 2 decades, technology has drastically changed our lives. Social media has become something that shapes people’s perceptions of society and themselves. Before technology and the creation of programs such as Photoshop, people did hold themselves to standards, albeit as strict as the ones in today’s society.

Now, young women look at celebrities, wishing for the perfect hourglass shape that is a result of photo editing. Young men look at gym models and long for the defined 8-packs that appear on each model. This leads to eating disorders and mental conditions such as depression. We hold ourselves to unrealistic standards because we want to have the so-called ‘perfect’ body. We envy the people who can travel to different places each weekend, posting pictures on Instagram, and only showing the best parts of their lives, giving people incorrect visions of the ideal life. Gen-Z grew up with technology, which is a factor in why we’re so disconnected from our parents and the previous generation. Gen-Z grew up with technology, which is a factor in why we’re so disconnected from our parents and the previous generation. The use of slang words, different views, and the way we grew up have made us grow further and further away from our family. The spread of technology has allowed different ideas to spread even faster, kind of like a digital Silk Road, making movements like BLM possible. Gen-Z mostly shares similar views and we’re more open to different ideas such as pronouns like ‘they/them’. Our parents, however, don’t see these things the same way we do. Most see pronouns as unnecessary and don’t understand how oppressed minorities are. It is through these views that we as Gen-Z have become disconnected from the previous generation. Technology and this new age have changed us as a whole, leaving us on opposite sides of the spectrum from our parents.

Technology and the use of iPhones and laptops have become widespread over the past 2 decades, a vast change from how people were living before. We have grown up in an age of technology and the dangers that come with it. People from previous generations don’t know how to deal with these dangers and educate youth about it because it’s so new. Social media has created new ways for people, especially adolescents, to be targeted. It’s even possible to find where people live through their hashtags on Instagram. Many adults don’t monitor their child’s activities on social media, which leaves them an open target for pedophiles and human trafficking. The new age of technology has moved so quickly that people are unprepared for the consequences that come with it.

Gen-Z’s perceptions of the world are vastly different from those of the previous generations. We aren’t able to communicate as clearly as we would have, had we been born a mere decade earlier. We may see mental health as a serious issue, while our parents might think it something we came up with to get attention. The best we can do is prepare our future children and those around us for the ever-changing times that are now.

R E L I G I O N

A N D

S T E M

By Lahen Sheikh Growing up as a curious person isn’t always easy. I had a lot of questions growing up, such as, ‘Who gave birth to the first human? Will the world ever end? Can I develop technology to live forever?’ Having these strong doubts while living in a religious family is not the best feeling. I have been told by adults a lot of times that my scientific curiosity will lead me far from religion, and that questioning is not something pious and religious people do. This continuous pressure of holding onto both Science and religion without disobeying either, made me believe that Science and religion are not compatible. I was made to feel that I will have to let go of any one.

However, that didn’t upset me; what did upset me was that people repeatedly made remarks that I already refuted. They would say things like, ‘I feel as if you are an atheist. Stop trying to pursue Science or you will wind up as an atheist.’ And the worst of all- ‘Leave your religion if you want to pursue Science.’

To overcome all these plagued misunderstandings, I used Science. I looked at it like a scientist would. I thought, the Universe is an observation and we are the observers. Which means, we observe the Universe and try to comprehend it. The ways and explanations we come up with to understand the Universe, are called theories. And when these theories accurately meet our observations, we make it our model of understanding. For example, I write a theory that says, ‘If I poke a pin at a balloon, it will pop’. And to check if my theory is correct, I will conduct an experiment. I will take a balloon and poke a pin at it. After it pops, I will conclude that my theory is correct, and that it should be a model that is followed and accepted universally-because I have tested it, and it is true. As I see it, the Universe is an intriguing phenomena of Physics. Science and religion are in fact, nothing but two theories we use to understand this model. It’s our choice to pick whichever theory we want, unless it doesn’t disagree with observations. Now, some people who still aren’t convinced will say, “but science is evidence based, and agrees with experiment. Religion does not have enough evidence!” To refute this, I’d like to quote Carl Sagan. “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”

Religion does not have enough evidence!” To refute this, I’d like to quote Carl Sagan. “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” We cannot dictate which theory others use to understand a model. Science and religion don’t conduct the same experiments. Therefore, their observations for the same vary. But differences aren’t separating pointsthey are a test of unity. In the world of Science, the only way to progress is to repeatedly prove our best solutions wrong, and come up with a better and more accurate answer. It is how humanity has evolved over decades- by proving itself wrong, and changing our minds based on the newest evidence.

If two theories for a model both agree with experiment, we are free to choose any of the two, as we cannot say one is more correct than the other. Science and religion are like these two theories. Some of us may feel Science is correct, and some may say religion is correct. But that’s not true. They are just two choices-which we can use to view the Universe in. And we do not have to choose one over the other; we are free to use both these ‘lenses’ to view the Universe. So don’t let anyone tell you that Science and religion aren’t compatible. Living in front of a place of worship, growing up in a religious family, being a worshipper, and having a role model who is an atheist (Stephen Hawking), has never been an easy task for me. But it makes my bond with my religion and Science only ever stronger. One of my goals in life, which is something very important in the world of Theoretical Physics, is to reconcile Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. But an even more significant responsibility I have, is to reconcile religion and Science once and for all.

IMPORTANCE OF GENDER PRONOUNS BY ALTHEA OCOMEN

In English, whether we realize it or not, people frequently refer to us using pronouns when speaking about us. Often, when speaking of a singular human in the third person, these pronouns have a gender implied -- such as “he” to refer to a man/boy or “she” to refer to a woman/girl. These associations are not always accurate or helpful. Often, people make assumptions about the gender of another person based on the person’s appearance or name. These assumptions aren’t always correct, and the act of making an assumption (even if correct) sends a potentially harmful message -- that people have to look a certain way to demonstrate the gender that they are or are not. Using someone’s correct personal pronouns is a way to respect them and create an inclusive environment, just as using a person’s name can be a way to respect them. Just as it can be offensive or even harassing to make up a nickname for someone and call them that nickname against their will, it can be offensive or harassing to guess at someone’s pronouns and refer to them using those pronouns if that is not how that person wants to be known. Or, worse, actively choosing to ignore the pronouns someone has stated that they go by could imply the oppressive notion that intersex, transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people do not or should not exist. When we refer to "personal" pronouns, we don't mean that these pronouns are necessarily private information (generally they are not), we mean that they are pronouns referring to a unique and individual person.

Your Pronouns Are Your Choice

What If I Mess Up Someone's Pronouns?

Using a pronoun is one way to connect with the world, which is why it's so personal. "In my opinion, gender is a universe. It is a broad spectrum of planets, and stars, and sky that truly cannot be contained into a binary [or just male and female]," says activist and performer Leah Juliett. "So when someone identifies with a pronoun, they are taking their little piece of that broad universe and identifying with that. And so in using their correct pronouns, we're validating, 'Yes. You are right in your identity and you're important and we're respecting you.'"

Practice makes perfect, and the more you use a friend's pronouns correctly, the easier it'll be in the future. "If you accidently use the wrong pronoun, apologize quickly and sincerely, then move forward," GLAAD says. If you make a big deal out of it by apologizing again and again or trying to give an explanation for your mess-up, you're just going to make it more uncomfortable for everyone.

What If I Don't Know Which Pronouns To Use? "If you're unsure which pronoun a person uses, listen first to the pronoun other people use when referring to the person, "GLAAD says. "Someone who knows the person well will probably use the correct pronoun."

Pronouns are important. Normalize it !

Bisexual

Ally

A person emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender, or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way, or to the same degree. Sometimes used interchangeably with pansexual.

A term used to describe someone who is actively supportive of LGBTQ people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the LGBTQ community who support each other (e.g., a lesbian who is an ally to the bisexual community).

Gender expression

Gender-expansive

External appearance of one's gender identity is usually expressed through behavior, clothing, body characteristics, or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine.

A person with a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system. Often used as an umbrella term when referring to young people still exploring the possibilities of their gender expression and/or gender identity.

Gender nonconforming A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit

A Glossary of LGBT Terms

Gender identity

One’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.

Gay

Lesbian

A person who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to members of the same gender. Men, women, and non-binary people may use this term to describe themselves.

A woman who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to other women. Women and nonbinary people may use this term to describe themselves.

Asexual The lack of a sexual attraction or desire for other people.

Transgender

Intersex

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.

Intersex people are born with a variety of differences in their sex traits and reproductive anatomy. There is a wide variety of differences among intersex variations, including differences in genitalia, chromosomes, gonads, internal sex organs, hormone production, hormone response, and/or secondary sex traits.

Non-binary An adjective describing a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. Nonbinary people may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between, or as falling completely outside these categories. While many also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people do. Nonbinary can also be used as an umbrella term encompassing identities such as agender, bigender, genderqueer, or gender-fluid.

Queer

A Glossary of LGBT Terms

A term people often use to express a spectrum of identities and orientations that are counter to the mainstream. Queer is often used as a catchall to include many people, including those who do not identify as exclusively straight and/or folks who have nonbinary or gender-expansive identities. This term was previously used as a slur but has been reclaimed by many parts of the LGBTQ movement.

Gender dysphoria

Cisgender

Clinically significant distress is caused when a person's assigned birth gender is not the same as the one with which they identify.

A term used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Pansexual

Describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way, or to the same degree. Sometimes used interchangeably with bisexual.

Privilege In Diagnosis By Alice Sar Getting a diagnosis, whether for your mental or physical health, can be difficult. However, one is arguably easier to get than the other. Physically, people are normally able to see if someone is hurt, and there would be a visible injury. However, the case differs in terms of mental health. Mental disorders can be said of as an “invisible” illness, which causes some to just not believe that mental disorders actually have a large and often overbearing affect on people. Whether it’s from stigma, the expense, or just plain resistance to reaching out, a large majority of people cannot receive treatment, or even diagnosis for their mental health. This is why there is privilege in diagnosis.

Stigma The stigmas surrounding mental health are one major factor into why it’s so strenuous to get an official diagnosis. Some stigmas include:

1. They’re just faking it for attention. You wouldn’t know if someone was truly faking a mental illness unless you were them. Don’t invalidate other people’s emotions. 2. Mental illnesses don’t exist. Mental illnesses most definitely exist. They exist in the way your sibling hasn’t left their room in three days, they exist in the way your friend spaces out for hours, they exist in the way your grandma flinches and cowers away whenever she hears a noise just slightly too loud.

3. People with mental illnesses are just lazy. People with mental illnesses are trying so hard, everyday to get by. It takes an incredible amount of effort to even shower while fighting battles in your own head. These are just a few examples of the stigmas surrounding mental health. This train of thought is especially prevalent in minority communities. It can stop someone from getting a diagnosis and treatment they might need because they are afraid of how others would react or perceive them.

Cost Quality healthcare isn’t easy to come by, especially in developing countries or even first-world countries like the United States. In fact, people struggling with major mental illnesses even make less than people who don’t have mental illnesses. According to the APA, neurotypical respondents made over $16,000 a year more than people struggling with serious mental illnesses. In addition to that, the cost of treatment and even diagnosis is even more harrowing. A simple consultation with a psychiatrist (assuming someone could even reach one) without insurance would cost someone about $300. Follow-up consultations could cost $100 an hour. Most people who struggle with mental health, specifically low-income communities, would not be able to afford that. The treatment thereafter would cost even more, with the increasing prices of medications. Most people wouldn’t even be able to afford an initial consultation. If someone was able to get diagnosed and get treatment without being in debt after, it’s an incredible privilege. That doesn’t mean that their struggles are any less valid, but they were able to receive some form of help, which others do not have the privilege of.

Not Reaching Out Due to stigmas and expenses, many will just continue to suffer on their own even if dealing with a serious mental illness. Combined with resistance to reaching out to family members and friends in part of stigma, this is a dangerous mixture. It can ultimately lead to episodes of mania or even suicide. What Can You Do To Help? First of all, get rid of your own prejudices on mental illnesses and mental health. They do not help anyone, including you. Secondly, reach out to people who may seem to be struggling, or who may not seem to be struggling. People with mental illnesses often appear to seem perfectly fine, but their mind is at war. Check up on your friends and family. Third, don’t be afraid to talk about mental illnesses. It’s important to recognize them in a light that is not negative, shifting stigmas towards acceptance. Mental illnesses are as real as any illness. Lastly, recognize that this is an institutional issue deep-rooted in society. People can’t afford to get mental help because of the grounds that this world was built on. This is why there is privilege in diagnosis.

S P ETS

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So much popular self-help advice suggests that we must "learn to love ourselves." It’s good advice, but how exactly do we do it? It's not so simple: We often believe that we do love ourselves, and yet our actions and reactions suggest otherwise. Loving yourself is essential to your personal growth, to the fulfillment of your dreams, and to develop healthy, happy relationships with others. Instead of trying to just talk yourself into believing you have self-love, foster compassion for yourself with these three practical steps:

Care about yourself as much as you do for others It sounds simple, but many of us simply don’t do this because we think we are being selfish or that our own needs are not as important. They are. It is not selfish to care about yourself. Compassion for yourself means showing concern for your own feelings as well as for others. Treat yourself the way you would treat your children or your best friend—with gentleness, concern, and caring. Gradually learn not to invalidate your emotions, no matter how irrational they seem to be.

Do what you need to do to be you First, figure out what makes you feel good. It doesn’t matter what it is but become aware of how you feel when you do things. Do you feel exhausted at work, but exhilarated when you’re in the garden? Fulfilled when you are writing poetry or volunteering? Find out what makes you feel good and do it, as often as you can. Feeling good is all the permission you need to do what you love to do. Maybe you need to ask your family to look after themselves for a few hours while you take a stress-relieving walk. Perhaps you need to join a club to meet likeminded people who inspire you. Do what you need to do to be you and don’t let anyone blame you, criticize you or talk you out of it because they think you are being selfish, silly, or delusional. Ignore them. You will feel better, you will be better able to really be there for others—and you will like yourself more. Your passion makes you a unique and inspiring person.

Maintain your boundaries Write a list of the things that you need emotionally, things that are important to you and that upset you or hurt your feelings when they are ignored or violated. They could include being listened to; getting sympathy when you’re hurt and knowing you can rely on someone. Whatever is important to you is important. And when someone ignores what’s important to you or crosses your boundary, you’ll know—because it hurts. Don’t ignore that. Your feelings are there to tell you what’s right and what’s wrong. Create boundaries that develop healthy relationships and long friendships. Never let anyone step on your dignity, you deserve love and respect.

Sexism in Bollywood The Role of the Film Industry in Emboldening and Contesting Stereotypes in India after Independence is very significant. The regressive mentality of Bollywood demands a woman to be a homemaker, bear children, and serve her husband. Not only this, if a woman is shown to do the opposite, the other characters will insult her. But why is this normalized? Why is the portrayal of women in Bollywood and film-making industries so problematic? From the black and white era to this day, women on screen are shown to be helpless; and their only source of help being a man. Some films have scenes where women are ‘warned’ about traveling alone or going out without a maleidentifying partner. And when she does that, she is harassed by a man. The audience has not only normalized this ridiculous representation but shown it so much love that the film industry repeatedly showcases such acts. Moreover, even the discography in Bollywood films is troublesome.

The lyrics that make up the songs are not only sexist but also unnecessarily abusive. Following are some lines we’ve all heard in some famous Bollywood movies“Tera peecha karoon toh rokne ka nahin” “Jumma chumma chumma de de!”

Indian films also tell the audiences that it is okay to stalk and abuse a woman as long as you love her. That when a woman says ‘no’, it means ‘yes’. That hitting a woman is a sign of love. Nothing is further from the truth. We demand better and more empowering roles for women in Indian Cinema. Although there have been some movies that were released to show the power women hold in the filmmaking business, the connection between sexism and Bollywood movies is a very real one. Problematic dialogues, stereotypes that have already been proven as myths, and a lot more masculine dominance.

A Message From The Directors

Soumya (Newsletters Director) Mental health is a topic for which change has been advocated for a while now, some of it impactful, some performative. Gender stereotypes that kill our self-confidence, social stigmas that restrict our boundaries, discrimination that challenges our potential--they are common problems that we encounter in our day to day life. Through my work in the magazine, I aim to increase the amount of content that makes a real, tangible change in the area of mental health and women empowerment. The connection between the two lies in our beliefs, thoughts, surroundings, wherein our external environment influences us greatly. As a community, we must focus on closing the unfinished business of stigmas around mental health in the 21st century.

Anna (Artists Director) The stigma around mental health and sexual orientation needs to be stopped. It prevents people from expressing their true feelings and thoughts, trapping them inside a jail cell of their own shame and fear. I strive to change this and help create a more positive and accepting environment!

A Message From The Directors

Sophie (Layout Design Director) Especially in this day and age where people are expected to conform to a certain societal mold, it's important to hold a sense of self-value and uniqueness from everyone else. Being able to distinguish your identity from others is key to being successful and achieving your goals. Especially as women, we face so much oppression and adversity from people in all aspects of our life, which is why I aim to support all the young women of the world and inspire them to reach beyond the confines of their imagination. I hope that through She Shines Magazine, I can touch the lives of others and spread the message of female empowerment.

Althea (Writing Director) Mental health awareness provides a timely reminder that mental health is essential and that those living with mental health issues are deserving of care, understanding, compassion, and pathways to hope, healing, recovery, and fulfillment. Awareness can also lead to overcoming stereotypes and making fewer generalizations about people who are suffering from mental illnesses. As individuals who are given the privilege of education, we must raise our voices to make an impact in our community.

A Message From The Directors

Susan (Co-lead Director) Mental health has long been overlooked and even ridiculed as not a “serious” issue. However, our mind leads all of our actions and decisions and is a crucial aspect of our everyday lives. In an already stressful period of time, every one of us needs to do our part in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. We’re here to bring each other up, not to drag others down. And we can only thrive if each member of our society is strong physically, emotionally, and most importantly, mentally!

Arkaja (Press Director) Mental Health is essential, and it is just as important as physical health. Through She Shines Magazine, I aim to empower women, break the stigma around mental health and illnesses by educating people and spreading awareness. As individuals, we must raise our voices to create a more positive and accepting world.

IN ISSUE 3, WE AIM TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT THE FEMINIST MOVEMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, INDIA, AND MORE COUNTRIES. EVEN IN MYTHS AND LEGENDS, WE SEE MANY POWERFUL WOMEN LIKE THOSE OF THE AMAZON WARRIORS. THROUGHOUT THIS MAGAZINE ISSUE, WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT THE RULES AND ETIQUETTE WOMEN HAD TO FOLLOW, ALONG WITH THEIR LIMITED RIGHTS.

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