2109: The Little Hawk Features Magazine

volume 76 | september 28, 2018 | city high school

an in-depth look at eating disorders & generation z

That’s so gay - page 18 The urge to steal - page 4 the thin red line - page 10

Letter from the

Editors

Dear Readers, Welcome to your 2018-19 school year! For some of you, that means leaping into a whole new environment; for others, you’re wrapping up the end of an era. We decided to change things up for the Features Magazine this year, with a new look, a new name, and lots of new fonts. We bring you 2109, named after the room that has shaped this publication, built relationships, and made us here at “The Little Hawk” grow a whole lot over the past few years. In this issue, we have stories about shoplifting and the stories behind why people do it; eating disorders and how they directly affect City High students; and a look into where language crosses the line between jokes and homophobia. We’re so happy to have all of you along for the ride. This year, we hope to continue to highlight the issues and stories that are closest to our readers—so, if you have any experiences you want to share, we’d love to hear your story. Don’t hesitate to reach out.

We hope we can help you learn something new about the City High community.

As a little wrap up, we’d like to thank you for picking up the magazine, we want to wish you a wonderful start to your year, and we can’t wait to show you what we have in store.

Nina Lavezzo-Stecopoulos Maya Durham

Zoe ¨ Miller

Nina Lavezzo-Stecopoulos and Zoë Miller

Features Editors Maya Durham

Editor in Chief

table of contents

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4-7

9

fall

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s 8r o v

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red n i th the

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21 18y a og s s ’ t tha

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 | 3

THE URGE TO

STEAL

By Zoe Miller

T

he first time was when she was eight. She browsed through the store all alone, [and] they know they’re different from others,” Dr. Black said. alongside her family, looking over all of the items for purchase, when “However, even famous people have been caught shoplifting. It can happen one bracelet caught her eye. Knowing her mother would not buy it to anyone and of course they are always terribly embarrassed.” for her, she slipped it into her pocket. That was only the beginning.

Embarrassment is a thread throughout the problem. Just like Dr. Black’s “I sometimes see something and I can’t help myself from taking it,” Teresa* patients who struggle with the shame of stealing, Teresa feels the same. said. “I don’t know why. When it happens it’s like a reflex. Afterwards I feel “When it happens it’s like it’s a reflex. Afterwards I feel very guilty very guilty about it.” about it.,” Teresa said. “If I see a small sticker or earrings I could easily Shoplifting. Kleptomania. Two words that are associated with stealing. take, I do. It’s stupid because I don’t even need to do it and I feel really bad While these two overlap, they are separate. Donabout it after.” ald W. Black, MD, a professor of psychiatry at the Throughout her life, Teresa’s shoplifting habits “I SOMETIMES SEE SOMETHING have changed.

University of Iowa, has been studying compulsive behaviors for over 30 years and breaks down the “[I shoplift] a lot less often than when I was AND I CAN’T HELP MYSELF difference. younger,” Teresa said. “I feel like when I was 12FROM TAKING IT. I DON’T WHY. “Shoplifting is kind of a different concept than 13 was the peak. [I shoplifted] kind of every time WHEN IT HAPPENS IT’S LIKE A I went shopping. Maybe around once a month or kleptomania, although it overlaps with compulsive REFLEX. AFTERWARDS I FEEL something.” shopping and kleptomania. With kleptomania the person has an urge to steal and does so,” Black said.

For each person, the start to the problem is difVERY GUILTY ABOUT IT.“ “The shoplifter may have an urge to steal and may ferent. not. They may just want the object for whatever “The process [of shoplifting] is similar no matTERESA reason. With kleptomania there is an urge. Patients ter your age. This can be true for a high school will describe how this urge builds up until they take student, a middle aged individual, or for an older an object. They will tell me that they can’t stop themselves, they have the person,” Black said. “It usually starts pretty early in life–probably the teens money for it, they don’t need it, but they see the object and there is this or 20s, it becomes established. It becomes a chronic pattern people have urge that overtakes them.” trouble interrupting.”

Through working with his patients, Black has found that shoplifting, In a definitional distinction, kleptomaniacs can’t control themselves, kleptomania, and the blurred area in between can affect anyone. whereas shoplifters are more in tune with what they are doing. Black men“[Shoplifters and kleptomaniacs] tend to be very humiliated and embar- tioned that the rush kleptomaniacs get can be compared to that of drug rassed. They’ll say things like they don’t know anyone with this, they feel addicts on heroin. For kleptomaniacs, simply entering a store can trigger

4 | THE LITTLE HAWK

these habits.

“I steal if there’s a store with little things. Like [downtown]: if I’m in a specific store, it’s bad, like I really want to take something and I do most of the time,” Teresa said. “[In this store] I try to keep my hands in my pockets. They have the stickers in the front and the earrings are just in a bowl. It’s like all this stuff is everywhere and it’s so easy. I’m not stealing out of necessity; it’s definitely more of a reflex.”

While Teresa tries to keep her hands in her pockets while she shops, there are other ways to help people stop shoplifting. One of the ways to treat kleptomania is by bringing someone else along shopping, whether they are clued in to the problem or not. However, when it comes to shoplifting in general, this is not always the case. In fact, with shoplifting there is the chance that it comes from being around others.

Rachel,* another City High student, also shoplifts; however, her patterns differ from Teresa’s. Both young women are good students who participate in City High activities as well as the community.

“Well, I’ve been with friends before and they’ve [shoplifted] and at first I was like, ‘What are you doing? We’re going to get in trouble,’ but then one time I was out with my friends shopping–this was like the past year or so–and I stole some sunglasses,” Rachel said. “I’ve [shoplifted] just a couple of times…

Definitely with other people, [they’re] not always [shoplifting] but they’re al-

ways OK with it or encouraging it.”

The stark contrast between kleptomania and shoplifting shows t hat one is uncontrollable, while the other is more of a choice. According to the National Association of Shoplifting Prevention (NASP), there are approximately 27 million shoplifters in the United States.

As of right now, there are no concrete treatments, but there are different ways psychologists try to remedy the problem. It can be through therapy, where people learn different methods of distraction if they are feeling the urge to steal.This can be playing with a pet, reading a book, or taking a walk. When it comes to medications, people are usually treated with antidepressants.

Kleptomania is something that isn't well known or understood in society. It has a stigma which makes it hard for people to come forward if they are struggling with it. Dr. Black has found his patients have come to him over the years seeking help for other problems first.

“It’s not something that people actively seek out help for. It's very rare

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 | 5

89%

OF YOUNG ADULTS say they know others who steal

SHOPLIFTERS SAY THEY ARE CAUGHT

1/48 times they steal

$13

BILLION DOLLARS are stolen from retailers every year

that someone comes to our clinic and says, ‘I have a problem with compulsive shopping or stealing,’” Black said. “They’re more likely to [come in] for treatment of depression or anxiety and then while you’re listening to them and taking their history this may come up. They will acknowledge that this is one of their problems.

They tend to be very humiliated and embarrassed.”

In the event a shoplifter or kleptomaniac is caught, “[SHOPLIFTING] IS they can both experience COMMON, BUT PEOPLE similar results. According to HG.com, an online leDON’T TALK ABOUT IT. gal resource, there are five IT’S REALLY HARD TO different degrees of theft in KNOW HOW FREQUENT Iowa law. The NASP defines IT IS...PEOPLE DENY IT. theft as “when a person takes possession or control THEY DON’T WANT TO of the property of another TALK ABOUT IT.” or property in the possession of another, with the DONALD W. BLACK, M.D. intent to deprive the other thereof.” In some cases, shoplifters are required to take a theft class by a judge or court. Theft classes are made up of 13 different sections, including impact of theft on society, unhealthy thinking, and managing stress and anxiety, as shown by Course for Theft, a theft awareness website. When people complete this course, they are given a certificate that signifies their progress.

Shoplifting also affects society through the economy. The NASP found that it raises prices for consumers, takes tax revenue from communities, and can lead stores to go out of business. On average, $13 billion is stolen from retailers each year. Some shoplifters use types of stores to justify their stealing.

Rachel does not shoplift as much as Teresa, and her take on shoplifting is different.

“I usually shoplift from stores [where] I know their products are from cheap manual labor or it’s something that's not valuable or not handcrafted,” Rachel said. “I would never steal something that somebody made, like a piece of art or something.

I stole sunglasses that were super cheap–definitely made in China–so I didn't have any guilt with stealing them.”

The effects of shoplifting create a widespread problem that not many people are aware of. Most people don’t understand that there are ways to receive help. “[Shoplifting] is common, but people don’t talk about it. It’s really hard to know how frequent it is, so we don't even have good estimates on how common it is because it’s embarrassing,” Black said. “People deny it. They don’t want to talk about it.” *Names have been changed to protect anonymity of sources.

Information and statistics provided by the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP), a nonprofit organization that shapes,

promotes and supports comprehensive community action in shoplifting prevention efforts…because shoplifting steals from all of us. Contact NASP at 800-848-9595 or visit www.shopliftingprevention.org.

ART BY HALEIGH STEFFENS INFOGRAPHIC BY ZOE MILLER

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 | 7

S

FALL FL

AV OR

:

RNOVERS U T LE P AP

PHOTOS BY ZOE MILLER

By Zoe Miller Makes 4 servings Prep: 50 minutes Chill: 1 hour Bake 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup cold butter, divided 1/4 cup ice water

FILLING:

1/3 cup sugar 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 medium tart apples, peeled and thinly sliced 1 reaspoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons beaten egg 1-1/2 teaspoons water

GLAZE:

1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar 1 teaspoon water

DIRECTIONS:

In a small bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in 1/4 cup butter until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until a ball forms.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough.

Cut remaining butter into thin slices. Lay it across the rolled-out dough. Knead the butter into the dough.

Once all butter has been mixed into the dough, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Add apples and lemon juice; toss to coat. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes or until apples are tender, stirring often. Remove from the heat.

In a small bowl, combine egg and water. Roll dough into a 12-inch square; cut into four squares. Brush with half of the egg mizture.

Spoon about 1/4 cup filling on half of each square; fold dough over filling. Press edges with a fork to seal. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with remaining egg mixture. With a sharp knife, cut three small slits in the top of each turnover.

Bake at 450 degrees or 17-22 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzing over turnovers.

Serve warm.

Adapted from Taste of Home

FALL FLAVORS: APPLE CIDER

By Zoe Miller

As fall brings cooler weather, this hot drink will warm you and your loved ones

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

1/2 gallon apple cider 1 lemon sliced 2 cinnamon sticks A few whole cloves A few whole allspice

Heat apple cider over stove. Add lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and whole allspice. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe from the Harvey family

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 | 9

THE THIN RED LINE a look at how anorexia affects generation z

by Estella Brady

horrible head rush, hitting her head on the dresser on the way down, and blacking out for two minutes.

“I woke up shaking. It was probably my lowest moment. I went to the ER and I lied to them about not eating. I had been lying to everyone. The worst part was that I didn’t care about it, because I was that desperate to remain a certain weight,” Abigail* said.

The desperation to remain a certain weight, lying about food intake, and dizziness or fainting are all familiar to many of those with anorexia nervosa. Although anorexia nervosa can be different for each individual with it, and there is not a strictly set definition, it is mainly characterized by a misconception of how one’s body looks and going to extremes to restrict how much one eats.

Anorexia nervosa is a psychological condition and is different from anorexia, which means a loss of appetite or inability to eat. However, “nervosa” is often dropped in conversation about the disorder, so the difference is only distinguished through the context in which it is being used. Throughout

A

10 | The Little Hawk

this article, anorexia nervosa will be referred to as “anorexia” because that is the way it is most commonly referred to in present-day American society.

“It’s really frustrating to me. I think people think of it as a weight disorder, like of you’re this BMI you are anorexic, but weight is only a small component of it,” Irene Samuelson ‘19 said. “Every person’s body is so different; every person’s body belongs in a different place. You can deal with an eating disorder at any weight.”

Although there is a common misconception that one must be severely underweight to have anorexia, medical professionals and those affected know that that is not the case, due to the psychological nature of the illness.

“The biggest thing people don’t understand about eating disorders is the fact that if the person isn’t visibly anorexic or bulimic, then they aren’t suffering. They are. You can weigh 200 pounds and starve yourself in ways that cannot be seen,” Abigail said.

Many people with the disorder may go a long period of time without it being detected, even

when in frequent contact with medical professionals, because of this view that one with anorexia must be thin.

“I wasn’t a ‘red flag’ to people because I was never really the image people have in their heads of someone dealing with an eating disorder until I had been dealing with it for a really long time,” Samuelson said. “So even my normal doctors missed it in me and it took until I went to my orthopedic doctor for anyone to catch it.”

Losing a significant amount of weight is a part of anorexia, and it often comes before the changes in the thoughts one has about themselves takes place. The weight loss that may come first can be from a variety of different causes. Sports, and more specifically cross-country or running, can be part of the initial weight loss for many.

“During the summer before eighth grade, I started to think more about what I ate and how much I ate because I knew that it played a big role in how fast you were for cross-country,” Monica* said. “At the beginning of the summer, it started out as a healthy meal plan. I was trying to fit in

all the food groups. But then as the summer progressed, I started counting calories for every meal and at times I wouldn’t even allow myself an extra apple or more grapes because I knew that it could be 80 extra calories. With running more and starting to eat less, I started to lose more and more weight and I didn’t notice. At the time, it was so gradual that I didn’t think I looked unhealthy.”

Cross-country was a contributing factor for Sandra* as well.

“I think it started with cross-country. cross-country in general is a sport where some people lose weight--I lost like 10 pounds. I don’t remember why, but I remember the feeling of feeling chubby, how ugly I was, and how nobody would ever care for me. So I started looking up things like ‘how to lose stomach fat’ or ‘tips and tricks to lose weight,’” Sandra said.

Medication that suppresses appetite can also contribute to weight loss, which in turn can lead to the repetitive thoughts about food and body image that those with anorexia experience.

“It started when I started taking medication for my ADHD in about third grade. I began poor eating habits and would go all day, many days of the week, without eating because the medication gave me a significantly decreased appetite. I just wasn’t hungry. The thing is, I didn’t start having body image issues until I started growing older and more mature,” Abigail said. “I didn’t realize that girls’ hips and thighs are supposed to get wider during puberty, so it was shocking to me how much weight I gained when I stopped taking the medication after sixth grade. So about halfway through seventh grade, my grades were dropping and I was getting bigger--in my mind of course--so I asked to start taking medication again. They switched me to adderall and that worked like a dream. I wouldn’t eat for days.”

But beyond the scope of sports or medications, there are an infinite number of factors as to why someone may become anorexic. These can include, but are not limited to, compulsions from OCD that include food, decreased appetite due to depression or other mental illnesses, genetics, bullying, large disruptions in the family or social

life that leaves those affected feeling like they need to regain control over their life, or pressure from family members, peers, or society as a whole.

“As a kid, my brother and I were pretty chubby, and I think my mom blamed herself for it.

She didn’t mean to, but she kinda fat-shamed us.

Like when we were eating, she would tell us to eat less,” Charlotte* said.

“I eventually grew out of it, but I was still really uncomfortable with the way my body looked. So I think I started at the end of sophomore year and just finally loved how thin I was getting.”

Factors are not always independent as well. A combination of many that are related is how many eating disorders, not just anorexia, begin.

“I had this really strong feeling in me that my worth was based on how I looked. And when I felt insecure, or I didn’t feel okay with things, I was like, ‘Well if I can work on how I look, then I can improve this,’” Samuelson said.

“During my parents’ divorce, I really wanted to be in control, and I could do that by taking control of my body and my food. I just became obsessed with everything I was eating and getting it down to the the littlest amount and was weighing myself constantly.”

The possible contributing factors that can lead to an eating disorder can be experienced by anyone, as can the disorder itself. But the demographic with the highest rates of developing one are females ages 12-20, according to the CDC. “It’s crazy how common it is and people don’t seem to notice it. I have not met a girl yet who I’ve talked to who has not dealt with this. I mean choosing to not eat to be skinnier.

Some only do it for a short period of time, but so many do it for prolonged periods of time.

Especially the girls that we just see as ‘normal-sized,’” Charlotte said.

The rate of females ages 1220 with eating disorders is 25 percent, according to a 2008 study done by the CDC. According to the same study, 11 percent of males of the same age group were found to have an eating disorder. Many researchers think that this dis-

Anorexia nervosa is psychological condition and is different from anorexia “I had this really strong feeling in me that my worth was based on how I looked.”

- Irene Samuelson ‘19

September 28, 2018 | 11

crepancy leads to the tendency of society to overlook males with eating disorders: between females and males with comparable symptoms, females were 3.5 times more likely to have received treatment.

There are many signs and symptoms of anorexia, and although they differ case-to-case, there is usually a degree of similarities between all those affected.

“It was hard for me to believe that I was thin.

I would step on the scale about five or more times daily and I even joined track in the spring to burn off what I binge ate,” Abigail said. “I used laxatives and other ways to get myself to flush my system. I became vegetarian. And eventually I started blacking out and it’s led me to the hospital a couple of times.”

“I remember I would tell myself, ‘If I go three days without eating, I’ll feel better,’” Charlotte said.

The mental side of anorexia often includes a preoccupation with food and calories, strict dietary rules, skipping meals, denial of hunger, a distorted view of one’s body, and an intense fear of gaining weight and desire to lose more. Many also suffer from depression due to a lack of nutrition necessary for brain function. Physically, the symptoms are those of weight loss or malnutrition generally.

This can mean fatigue, irregular heart rhythms, intolerance of cold, dry or yellowish skin, dehydration, abnormal blood counts, loss of menstruation in females, hair that is thinning or falling out, and low blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The physical and mental aspects of anorexia do not always follow the same timeline. During recovery, one typically gains back weight and restores physical health long before they mentally view food and their body in healthy ways again. The time between the two both normalizing can be anywhere between a few weeks to multiple years.

“The winter of eighth-grade year is when I start-

12 | The Little Hawk

ed to gain some weight back. I wasn’t running as much during the winter, so naturally I started to gain more weight, but I was remember I was really frustrated and I always felt really gross because I thought I looked fat and so many of my clothes weren’t fitting anymore,” Monica said. “There was never a true turning point for me where I realized what I was doing wasn’t healthy, it just happened naturally over the second half of eighth grade when I started to gain back weight. I wasn’t happy about it, but through running in the summer before my freshman year, I just realized that the way that I was

“It was hard for me to believe that I was thin. I would step on the scale about five or more times daily and I even joined track in the spring to burn off what I binge ate,” Abigail said.

“The most helpful things for me were having a therapist and a dietitian,” said Samuelson.

and how I looked was fine.

I could run well while not being skinny and needing to record everything that I was eating.”

Even though Sandra’s illness mostly took place one to two years ago, she said it sometimes feels like it never quite goes away. “I still revert to that thinking. Less, of course, now, but everyone with it has those times.”

Recovering from anorexia is a difficult but necessary process. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that at 10-20 percent, anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. There are many reasons for this, including its “chronic nature” that can lead to heart failure, but also because of high rates of suicide.

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders observed that one in every five deaths of people with anorexia is due to suicide.

“The most helpful things for me were having a therapist and a dietitian,” Samuelson said.

Mirasol Recovery Centers states that “without treatment, up to 20% of people with serious eating disorders die. With treatment, the mortality rate falls to 2-3%.” However, the vast majority of those with eating disorders do not get professional treatment. Although the 2008 CDC study found that females were 3.5 times more likely than males to receive professional help, the highest rates of females getting professional care did not exceed 17 percent.

The recovery process for most people with anorexia is through friends, family, and themselves.

“Sometimes what you really need from people when you’re going through something like this is just to have people be there and not for them to be critical or judgemental,” Samuelson said.

“My friends have unknowingly been the biggest step in my recovery,” Abigail said. “I’d say that finding the people that allows you to be in your own skin and knowing that you’re loved is hard to come by, but it’s the only way I’m able to accept any and every version of myself.”

Despite the fact that friends can be of great use during recovery not only for anorexia, but for all

eating disorders, many do not tell their friends or are hesitant to.

“At the time, my friends did confront me and they said that I looked skinnier than usual and that I had lost some weight. They asked if I was doing okay,” Monica said. “I just kind of avoided the subject and said that I was fine, that nothing was wrong, because I didn’t want to accept that I had an eating disorder because there’s such a stigma around it. People start to pity you and act like you’re a sick person.”

“No one helped me through it. I thought people might not believe me, I would be embarrassed, and people might think I’m attention-seeking,” Sandra said.

The internal battle about whether or not to be open about anorexia is sometimes a one-time event, and after deciding not to tell anyone, some stick to it. Others contemplate for a while and may change their minds at some point.

“At first I was kind of ashamed of it and just wanted to keep it a secret. But then I realized that the more I talked to people about it, and externalizing it, I just felt the support that there was and myself growing a little bit,” Samuelson said. “I was able to process it in a new way when I talked to people about it.”

Regardless of how many people someone with anorexia might tell, there are things that many wish the world of people who have never experienced an eating disorder knew. “[People with anorexia] aren’t doing it because they want to do it. It’s not a choice that you make at every meal, it’s something that you feel like you have to do,” Charlotte said.

Not only is it not a choice, but according to

Samuelson, it’s a lot more complicated than many might think it is.

“I think a lot of people don’t understand that it’s not as easy as ‘just eat it,’” Samuelson said.

“Sometimes thinking about eating sugar would be like eating tacks. Like, why would I do that to myself? I think that’s hard for people to understand.”

But Monica feels that it’s important for people to realize that eating disorders can be fairly simple

September 28, 2018 | 13

14 | The Little Hawk

it's not as easy as "just eat it"

Not only is it not a choice, but according to Samuelson, it’s a lot more complicated than many might think it is.

“I think a lot of people don’t understand that it’s not as easy as ‘just eat it,’” Samuelson said. “Sometimes thinking about eating sugar would be like eating tacks. Like, why would I do that to myself? I think that’s hard for people to understand.”

But Monica feels that it’s important for people to realize that eating disorders can be fairly simple when it comes to at least one thing: the view those affected have of their bodies is not how they truly are.

“You know in school when you learn about eating disorders and they have a skinny person

in front of a mirror but in their eyes they look bigger than they actually are? That’s actually a thing,” Monica said. “Looking back at pictures, I can’t imagine how I didn’t think that I was too skinny.”

Anorexia and all eating disorders can be different for everyone who experiences them, but they should all be dealt with carefully by those around them.

“To the people still struggling, you are beautiful,” Sandra said. “Be your own person and love yourself. I understand it’s hard. I still struggle with it myself. But if you think someone else is struggling with one, don’t just go up to them and ask; that can be really uncomfortable.”

If someone you know is struggling with an

eating disorder, or you think that they might be, do not keep it to yourself. Recovery is more likely the earlier the disorder is acknowledged and recovery methods are begun. If you can, talk to them or their loved ones about what you have noticed. Although recovery is possible to do alone, support systems made up of friends, families, and medical professionals can greatly increase the likelihood of regaining full physical and mental health by those affected, as well as allowing those who are trying to recover to know that they are cared for and loved, and that they do not need to fight it alone. *Names have been changed to protect anonymity of sources.

September 28, 2018 | 15

an eid lookbook

Eid al-Fitr is a celebration in Islam which marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.

16 | The Little Hawk

PHOTOS BY MARIAM KEITA AND CECILE BENDERA

that’s

so

GAY.

adjective /ga/ of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex : homosexual gay men

18 | THE LITTLE HAWK

By Nina Lavezzo-Stecopoulos

L

ess than 10 years ago, Iowa became the third state to legalize samesex marriage. In 2015, gay marriage was legalized throughout the U.S. Students at City High grew up in a radically different world than their parents, knowing what the letters LGBTQIA stood for far more often than the generations preceding them.

Every teen has their own unique attitude toward societal change, but when it comes to sexuality in high school, is there a group mentality?

Sally shows her friends the buttons she made over the weekend. They celebrate gay icons, with plastic crinkles toward the edges. Most are pinned on the front of er backpack, with one on the inside: a half-inch button that reads BI, with a pride flag in the background. The button stays tucked inside the bag’s front pocket. What about City High makes Sally uncomfort-

able putting her sexuality out there?

“A lot of times when I hear people say things are ‘gay’ and they’re insulting it. [They say it] because they’ve grown up saying it,” said Owen Jones ‘19. “I don’t know if it would be homophobic...I think it is but most people don’t mean it. [Calling things ‘gay’] is still wrong but I think that they say it because they hear their friends saying it. They would [call things ‘gay’] growing up because it’s considered cool to say that.”

Jones said he himself has called things “gay” previously, due to the reasons he stated. He added that as he grew up he started to realize how his habit might affect others.

Jones thinks that labeling things as “gay” insults the LGBT population and could possibly make students uncomfortable with coming out

PHOTO BY NINA LAVEZZO-STECOPOULOS

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 | 19

Yasmine Martin ‘19, a member of the LGBT community, agrees.

“I’ve heard somebody call someone ‘gay’ and stuff like that,” Martin said. “It makes me feel angry because I am bisexual, so when people make fun of gays, bisexuals, or anything like that it makes me upset.”

In June of 2012, nohomophobes.com began to track the number of tweets containing the words “faggot,” “no homo,” “dyke,” or “so gay” per day. The use of “faggot” rose in the summer of 2013, with 50,000 tweets containing the word. On September 4, 2018, there were 8,000 tweets using “faggot.”

Heba Abdalla ‘19 has heard students call things “gay” very often.

“I’ve heard it a lot, and it’s 2018, bro. Calling an action or something somebody does ‘gay,’ even if you don’t mean it to be negative, is basically saying, ‘Oh, that’s bad,’ or, ‘That’s disgusting,’ something like that. Which it shouldn’t be; two people loving each other is nobody else’s business besides them if everything is consensual and good,” said Abdalla. “Just mind your business and leave people alone, it’s that simple.”

Not all students have the same take on how students use this saying, though. Olivier Shabani ‘19 would be happy if someone called something of his “gay.” Shabani also thinks that students don’t intend to insult things when they call them “gay.”

“Most mean it jokingly, just saying it to have fun.

No one has ever used it in a serious way. [Students call things ‘gay; because] people here are really judgmental,” Shabani said. “[Those who label things as ‘gay’ or say ‘no homo’] try to watch what they say because every other thing you say might come back to you in the future. You try to make sure it doesn’t come back to you.”

Tony Balcaen, the French teacher at City High, has seen the number of students calling things “gay” go down over the years.

“I don’t hear it too much—in my classes, anyway. I don’t know if it’s because they know I’m gay as a teacher or something else,” said Balcaen. “I was surprised by [The Little Hawk’s] email because thought that was a seven-years-ago kind of issue. When I started, it was very popular at the time, but now I don’t hear it very often.”

Balcaen started teaching at City in 2012, three years before same-sex marriage was legalized across the U.S. In the past, he has seen a larger presence of homophobia at City, but now he rarely hears anything.

“I feel like maybe, again, that’s because they wouldn’t say it in front of me, or maybe because French students might have a different mentality,” said Balcaen. “When I think of that phrase, in the context that you’re talking about, I think of jocks, frat boys...something like that.

So would that surprise me? No. There’s probably some students here that think like that.”

Abdalla also mentioned male students using this phrase more often, and that she has seen the City High community be more welcoming to women in the LGBT community.

“It’s not as bad as other places, especially for women.

It’s easier in a way because if you held hands with another girl no one would think twice,” said Abdalla. “If I’m walking down this hallway with one of my [female] friends and we’re holding hands or we hug no one’s going to care. When it comes to men, if they’re holding their guy friend’s hand someone is going to point them out or look at them weird.”

Phong Nguyen ‘20 poses with a bold red lip

Marshall “Chip” Hardesty models a glowing look highlighted by Glossier Cloud Paint in Haze

Abdalla thinks that the attitude she noted toward male students showing affection and emotion, in platonic or romantic ways, might be due to the fear of being “un-masculine.”

“We need to change that stigma,” Abdalla said. “That double standard is not OK because some men like to show emotion and that’s completely fine; they should not be shamed for that. And that really needs to change.”

A study related to the stigma Abdalla noticed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine states that “heterosexuals, especially men, are more supportive of affording lesbians civil and adoption rights relative to extending them to gay men (Herek, 2002).”

The research went on to create a connection between legislature and the differing attitudes toward the LGBT community between heterosexual men and women.

“Research indicates that heterosexual men are, on average, more homophobic than heterosexual women.

Furthermore, homophobia and other attitudes towards homosexual individuals (such as opinions about their legal rights) are highly related (Bolte, 1998).”

Martin doesn’t think that students calling something “gay” or ending a phrase with “no homo” is homophobic behavior. She thinks it’s something different.

“I wouldn’t classify them as homophobic, but I would say that they weren’t being nice towards gay people,” Martin said.

Martin, along with Anshul Gowda ‘20, believe that most students don’t intend to hurt others’ feelings when using this saying.

“Yes, [I have heard it] and I think they were messing around as teenagers usually do,” said Gowda. “I guess they don’t really think in the moment, but it could offend people. I think you just gotta have people tell them how it affects them, like have people who are hurt by it tell [you] how you affect them.”

Abdalla doesn’t think it would happen at City, but she thinks hearing this phrase could possibly make students hesitant coming out in other communities.

“In other places if they hear a bunch of people going, ‘Oh, that’s gay,’ or, ‘Don’t be so gay, bro,’ something like that, people wouldn’t have the confidence to come out and say it,” said Abdalla. “If we made it so people didn’t have to hear that all the time, people would come out more and accept themselves. Because it’s hard knowing who you are inside but not being able to tell anybody because you’re scared of the repercussions.”

Balcaen thinks that the issues Abdalla highlighted are improving, but students need to become informed about the appropriate language to use.

“There’s a lot of things that have been moving in our direction these past few years and I feel like a lot of students need to be more educated on it. Probably some staff, too,” said Balcaen. “Just know your terminology, what’s OK to say, what’s not OK to say. I feel like overall it’s [a] pretty open-minded school district and school. There’s always work to be done. There’s always more educating to do.”

PHOTOS BY NINA LAVEZZO-STECOPOULOS

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 | 21

our

words of wisdom

Surprise, folks: high school is hard!

The challenges high schoolers face range from time manegment to where to sit at lunch. Here are some of your very own feature editor’s favorite quotes to get you through the year!

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Zoë Miller “They had an ordinary life, full of ordinary things–if love can ever be called that.” –Leigh Bardugo, “Ruin and Rising” I love that this quote shows that life is (for the most part) what you make of it. It suggests that ordinary things are made beautiful by the way they are done and the people they are shared with. Keep an eye out for the small joys that come into your life. If you can appreciate the small things, like the flash of a smile, the sun streaming into your room, and a good laugh, then who is to say that anything you are experiencing is ordinary? Last year I discovered a huge stained glass piece at the Iowa City Public Library that hangs above the corner of the upstairs that is surrounded by windows. That spot around the hours of five to six pm is golden. It’s the perfect place to read, to write. That’s one of the places I’ve deemed to be anything but ordinary. Create those spaces.

Share them with with the people closest to you.

Maya Durham “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”

Something that I think people forget a lot is that everybody you interact with is going through something and you’re never going to know what it is or how it’s affected them. Be sure that, in everything you do, kindness is at the front of your mind–you don’t know how what you’re doing or saying will affect someone, but it’s never going to be bad if it makes them feel a little better.

Nina Lavezzo-Stecopoulos “Another woman’s beauty is not the absence of your own.”

This quote has stuck with me. I’ve adapted it to extend beyond beauty to intelligence and talent for anyone. For me, this quote is about the importance of celebrating others and their gifts. It is so easy in this world to second-guess yourself and your worth, but this quote is a reminder that when you acknowledge others, you are not diminishing your talent.

I didn’t think a lot about how it would affect me when I first heard about what had happened. When I read what Thos had said in his article, it definitely made me think about how we need to watch out. But also, no matter what we do, we’re always possibly going to be in danger. It makes me happy that Thos is aware and that he cares about it in the way that he does.

-Grace Parrott ‘20

When I first heard about it, it was kind of surreal, because it could have happened to literally anyone.

She’s from the University of Iowa so it could’ve happened to anyone in Iowa City. It’s kind of surreal, but I’m glad that Thos is aware of the situation and that more people are aware of how to stay safe on runs and avoid being followed.

-Mary Bounds ‘20

Mollie

Tibbetts

Since we’re on the cross-country team we always run together; I’m never afraid of anything happening. If I wasn’t on the team, and I was running alone, it makes me scared of what could happen. I think cross-country promotes safety, and safely running.

It’s scary if you’re running alone. If you pass somebody, you always have that thought: “Are they going to jump me?” But if you’re running with a bunch of your friends, then I don’t think about it as much.

-Alex Marsh ‘20

I guess it reinforced what I already knew about the world, girls, and how we have to be safe doing pretty much everything, even if it’s in our own town, a place that we think is safe.

And we really just have to be careful all the time. It made me sad that it’s still very common.

-Azzurra Sartini-Rideout ‘20