Love & Sex

PANTHER

the

V 60 N3

Miami Palmetto Senior High School 7460 SW 118 Street, Miami, FL 33156

Love & Sex

Wednesday February 14, 2017

02 Contents

contents

07

10

DNA Match An innovative way to find love through the internet.

Birth Control A comprehensive guide to contraceptives.

NEWS

15

LIFE

25

27

FEATURE SPORTS OPINION The Big Disconnect The Panther takes a look at love in the digital age.

LETTERS Ed i t o r

Breaking Through Female athletes uniting to fight sexualization.

Tweet Attack An evaluation of homophobia in disguise.

*Letters submitted may be edited for length, grammar and clarity. Letters can be submitted to Room 911B or thepanthermpsh@gmail.com

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

“How to stick to your new year’s resolution.” I think this story was a good topic to write about because many people [have] new year’s resolutions but can’t always stick to them. I think the editor mentioned some key points that could help people to keep their resolution. “

“I really like Morgan Elmslie’s story “The New American Christmas.” Her story was very well rounded and I enjoyed reading it. I really enjoyed it because she makes a great point that Christmas is truly about celebration whether you are religious or not.”

“I really enjoyed the story about Juuls. I feel like it was researched well, and the quotes used really showed how much of a problem Juuls are in school. The editor listed the cons really well, and also I’ve learned new things about Juuls and its effects.”

SINCERELY,

SINCERELY,

SINCERELY,

camilla bondy (9)

jacob montiel (9)

leyla viart (10)

On

Review 03

COVER E

ven the best of us spend our time looking for love. But when cell phones become a third wheel in teenage relationships, where is the line drawn between expectation and reality? Our generation may not know the difference and it could have dangerous implications for teen love.

The phone on our cover is entangled in ribbon to represent how our generation becomes wrapped up in technology amongst waves of social media and social pressures .

The distinct pink accent throughout the contents was achieved with a photograph of decorative pink hearts which also added to the hot pink tones on these pages.

NEWS BRIEFS

mls soccer

FLU FRIGHT

In a city characterized by previous championship success from the Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat and Miami Marlins, the city will finally have another chance to compete in Major League Soccer.

As an idea that once started off as dream for former international soccer sensation David Beckham, he could only imagine the thought of a soccer team reappearing in Miami. After almost four years of patiently waiting with numerous complications, this dream has become a reality. The team, with no official name, logo or colors (yet), is expected to play in a temporary venue in 2020 until the stadium is built in 2021. This will be the first soccer club in Miami following the MLS cutting the Miami Fusion in 2002, after only four short years.

With influenza child death rates three times higher than last year, 53 children lost their lives to the virus as a result, according to the Center for Disease Control. The parents of the deceased children urge that the flu be taken seriously since the virus quickly overtakes the system within a matter of days. Patterns show that the virus may first show itself as a fever and subside within a few days. But the virus then reappears causing seizures and septic shock. Despite reports of the flu vaccine being less effective this year, the CDC still recommends vaccination for circulating strands. If flu-like symptoms do emerge, the CDC highly suggests the patient to take the prescribed antiviral medications and antibiotics promptly.

joint olympics The Olympic Games began in South Korea for the second time on Friday, Feb. 9 and will feature North and South Korea competing in Pyeongchang as one unified team in the women’s ice hockey event. Despite recent tensions stemming from North Korea’s nuclear capabiities, these two foes agreed to join sides for the first time since the Korean War that divided them. They will compete against other countries as Korea. These are the first Olympic Games held in South Korea since the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul, in which North Korea did not participate. During the opening ceremony, the nations entered together.

But besides the joint women’s ice hockey team, each nation will compete in the other events as separate entities.

04 News

BITCOIN BUST In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto, an anonymous programmer or group of programmers, released Bitcoin, a completely decentralized currency, meaning no one had any direct control over it. Bitcoin exists only digitally inside the computers of those who own it. For the past several years, Bitcoins varied in value between $200-$600 per coin, not any small amount of money. It wasn’t until recently that Bitcoin shocked speculators and investors around the world.

In a span of a year, Bitcoin went from being worth $800 in January, to a high of $17,900 in December. Although news of this cryptocurrency’s leap in value got the world excited about the idea of becoming rich with digital dollars, it also left many wondering how it worked and how it got so big.

Firstly, Bitcoin operates under no bank or corporation, so no direct person or group creates the currency and sets the relative value, as it is for other currencies. Similarly to the Internet, Bitcoin only exists in the computers of the users who own them. In the way that the Internet is just a series of websites created by users that can only be accessed by other users, Bitcoin is a series of transactions that exists between the users who trade the cryptocurrency.

These transactions are recorded in a system known as a blockchain, which is quite literally a chain of blocks. Each time a transaction takes place, such as one user sending a Bitcoin directly to another, the details of the deal including its source, the time it was done and the place it was sent are added to a block. The block is then grouped together with other Bitcoin transactions that had occured within a similar timeframe.

These blocks are then checked and verified by a computer owned by a person known as a “miner.” The computer runs the block’s data through an algorithm until a solution is found. Once it is solved, the block is verified as legitimate, and a freshly minted Bitcoin is awarded to the miner and the block is added to a chain with other blocks that is then viewable by all who would like to see it. This process is repeated over and over, creating a public record of all Bitcoin transactions that have ever occurred, ensuring that all circulating currency is legitimate.

Although cryptocurrency has its fair share of critics, some see it as the future of currency.

“I definitely see crypto being an accepted currency in the

future” said long-time investor in Bitcoin Fabio Suarez. “It’s a lot faster and more secure than the American dollar. It’s also a lot more convenient if you just carry your phone with you with your digital wallet than having to carry around a physical wallet.”

If Bitcoin were to ever be used in lieu of cash, it would exist inside of our phones as a value in a digital wallet. It would then be used in stores similarly to how Apple Pay is used. Although the fact that it is a digital currency can provide a sense of safety and anonymity, as you cannot be robbed for a virtual coin, its digital existence can also not be exploited. In December 2017, 4,700 Bitcoins valued at about $75 million were stolen in a hack aimed at a Bitcoin mining marketplace. Hacks like these are not very common but still pose a threat to the cryptocurrency community.

Currently, Bitcoin’s price is very unstable and fluctuates often, causing many potential investors to be skeptic of whether or not they should buy in.

“Its price is very volatile right now, which scares off a lot of people, but cryptocurrency’s biggest problem is awareness,” said Suarez. “A lot of people think that cryptocurrency is just for buying anything illegal. There isn’t a lot of education going on about cryptocurrencies, but I think if more people knew the benefits they would want in,” Suarez said.

“Not to mention, some countries are already using cryptocurrency.”

In January, Canada began using Ethereum, one of the more popular cryptocurrencies, to enhance transparency in government funding. And in the past three years, Japan established a proper legal system to regulate cryptocurrency trading and is now the global leader in the cryptocurrency.

Although cryptocurrency and Bitcoin itself is a relatively new thing, its recognition and acceptance worldwide is growing and shows no signs of slowing down.

“I definitely think everybody should be looking to invest, but I recommend that if you do invest you do your own research, and a lot of it,” said Suarez. “It might be a while before everybody begins to use it, but hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Garrett Livingston Opinion Editor

glvingston.thepanther@gmail.com

L &S

Contaminated colleges

News 05

Breaking the ice between young adults and sex education has yet to be mastered by parents and teachers, alike. At the same time, many recognize college as the time to experiment with one’s sexuality while remaining misinformed about the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among those 15 to 24 years of age - and the disconnect is starting to show.

In 2016, the Center for Disease Control reported the highest STD rates ever recorded within college communities in the United States. Programs such as Health Information Project work to diminish this gap by discouraging unprotected sex and destigmatizing the conversation that surrounds STDs in mainstream culture.

Olympia Rodriguez

top three STDs among young people:

Print Editor-In-Chief

o.rodriguez.thepanther@gmail.com

1 2

1. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

the transmission rate is extremely high because there are no noticeable symptoms.

Of sexually active college students are using condoms

2. CHLAMYDIA

causes permanent damage to reproductive organs if left untreated.

Ten million new STDs diagnosed each year are among young people between the ages of 15 to 24 years

3. HERPES

one in 5 college students are reported to have genital herpes.

Gonorrhea in the U.S. in the college community increased by 13 percent

Florida State University has the 3rd highest STD rate among American colleges

Cases of chlamydia grew to 1.5 million— the highest level the CDC has ever recorded

INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE ODYSSEY, PHYSICIAN ONE, AND STD CHECK INFOGRAPHIC BY JENNA BONDY

1 4

College students are infected with an STD

06 News

GRAPHIC BY JENNA BONDY

Sun

New moon, new year MON

TUE

WED

THUR

FRI

SAT

x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 6x x7 x8 x9 10x 11 x 12x 13x 14x 15x 16

As a new moon approaches, Lunar New Year is set to begin. Although Lunar New Year is mostly celebrated in Asia, Miami takes part in this huge holiday as well.

Miami-Dade hosts its annual festival full of displays of traditional dances, music, food and crafts.

Lunar New Year is a huge celebration worldwide, and represents the biggest holiday of the year in China. This celebration centers on family, since it honors the household and ancestors, allowing family to reconnect on this day.

“Traditionally, it was a celebration to honor gods and past ancestors,” senior and president of the Asian Culture Club Michael Foos said. “People still do this, but it’s also a way of bringing together family.”

Lunar New Year is also known as the spring festival in China, and people are given a week-long vacation to enjoy the new year. Unlike western calendars, whose new year begins January 1, the Lunar New Year begins sometime between January 21 and February 20 on the day of the new moon. This year, the new year begins February 16.

Every year, one of the twelve zodiac animals is celebrated: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. This tradition comes from a tale from the Han Dynasty, saying that the Jade emperor welcomed twelve animals to heaven, and the years they represent are the orders the animals arrived in. 2018 welcomes the year of the dog, which is the eleventh animal, representing the unluckiest year. According to Chinese astrology, the year of the dog represents trouble and danger. The dog is also known for its loyalty and honesty, as well as its

stubbornness.

People who celebrate the Lunar New Year believe the first day represents how the rest of one’s year will be.

“The new year day is a precedent for the rest of the year. The idea is that whatever happens that day is a reflection on the rest of the year,” Chinese-American and sophomore Cindy Dang said. “So, for example, if you get stuck with dish duty that day you’re going to be washing a lot of dishes for the rest of the year.”

While Lunar New Year is celebrated mostly in China, it is a holiday for many Asian cultures. In Korea, the new year is called Sinjeong and is celebrated on February 16, as well.

“My family doesn’t really celebrate Korean holidays often, but my mom will still make Tteokguk on the new year, which is a type of soup made of broth and rice cake,” Foos said. “It’s a pretty traditional Korean dish.”

Even outside of Asia the holiday is widely celebrated. In the United States, San Francisco has the biggest Lunar New Year celebration due to its large Chinese population of 180,372 people that grew from the Gold Rush during the 1860s.

Every year, students at Palmetto take part in the holiday.

“Every year the [Asian Culture Club] will do something to celebrate the Lunar New Year,” Foos said. “This year, we’ve been really focused on the educational aspect of the club, so we’ve been doing trivia at our meetings and teaching phrases in various languages. We’ll probably do something similar at our next meeting, but more centered around the Lunar New Year.”

Apart from the school, Miami-Dade residents also celebrate Lunar New Year.

This year, the Lunar New Year Festival is hosted on the Miami-Dade College campus on February 18. The festival will welcome acrobats, Chinese-style drummers, dancers, and many other performers.

“Our club volunteers at the Chinese New Year Festival, which is hosted annually at Miami-Dade College,” Foos said. “Palmetto has been doing that for over 10 years now, and this will be my fourth year there.”

In New York, Mayor De Blasio has urged New York Public Schools to make the Lunar New Year an official holiday.

While Miami-Dade County Public Schools students and faculty do not get the day off, students welcome and celebrate the new year regardless.

“Since it isn’t a legal holiday in the U.S., celebrating is to a minimum,” Dang said.

“My mom is Buddhist so we go vegetarian for that day. We burn paper money and clothes for our ancestors and pray. We put out offerings and light some incense. We put out a little dish with rice grains, salt, and tea leaves.”

The Lunar Year has a deep meaning as it is a time for families to celebrate and connect; families usually have a large gathering or banquet while they celebrate this holiday.

“We go to our temple, if we have time, to have a nice little festival with other Buddhist families,” Dang said. “We eat special Asian candy and drink tea.”

Gemma Torras Design Editor

g.torras.thepanther@gmail.com

L &S

News 07 22%

4:21PM

BELL

YOUR PERFECT MATCH In the age of online dating services and matchmakers, the classic love story of accidentally meeting someone on the street and falling in love is now not the only source of starting a relationship. According to Forbes, there are over 25,000 online dating services with 1,000 new sites opening each year. A new layer to the classic online dating website has hit the internet with websites such as dnaromance.com and genepartner. com, offering a new chance at love.

These online DNA matchmakers pair singles based on chemistry through genetics, in addition to personality traits. The first step is sending in DNA with sites such as Ancestry.com. Next, the love-seeker completes a DNA Romance Profile, answering basic questions to find compatible personality characteristics.

“It can be chemistry and DNA to some degree. A lot of times people who are attracted to each other not only like their symmetrical features and body types, but also like their natural scent,” psychologist Barbara Goldman said.

Barbara Goldman studied at Brandeis University and earned her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Miami. She specializes in couples counseling and adolescent psychotherapy, among other things.

The DNA sent in is tested for the genes that influence the immune system and serotonin uptake controller, which accounts for how a person deals with their emotions, both positively and negatively.

According to the company Instant Chemistry, research shows that long term relationships include people with different immune systems and serotonin genes.

DNA Romance sites provide a start for people

struggling to meet others. Once websites, such as genepartner.com, analyze the DNA results and personality questions, the site provides multiple matches. The user is provided a picture, name, location and age of their possible matches. In addition, two percentages are provided explaining how compatible they are both in chemical attraction and personality.

The user can choose to send a message, send a like, put this match on their maybe list or delete them if the user’s criteria is not met.

“I guess if people have trouble meeting other people, it is a way to get a start,” Goldman said. “But I think face to face time together is how people really develop a real attraction and like each other and feel compatible.”

The basis of relationships, however, are not solely based on DNA. “For some it’s being similar to one’s family; to others it’s being different than ones family, but the things that predict a relationship are shared values, shared interests and a sense of mutual caring and respect,” Goldman said.

Whether it be on an online dating service like eharmony.com, dnaromance.com or an app such as Tinder, technology has transformed the way relationships begin.

“It still takes work,” Goldman said. “There is no easy way to a relationship.”

Natalie Askowitz Copy Editor

n.aslowitz.thepanther@gmail.com

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L &S

Life 09

laws of attraction CONTROLLING YOUR LIFE THROUGH YOUR MIND

A philosophy explained through the phrase, “all thoughts turn into things eventually,” known as the Law of Attraction, has captivated countless people, altering their perspectives on life. With over 6 million likes on their Facebook page, the Law of Attraction has established a community centered around positivity and creating lives based on the idea that people can use their mind to convert their thoughts into reality.

Many inspirational figures such as Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington and Jim Carrey live by this law.

“I definitely believe in the Law of Attraction because if you’re putting out a positive energy and keeping a positive mindset, those positive things are going to come true,” senior Sabrina Garcia said.

The law is not black and white.

Many criticize the legitimacy of this principle.

Back in 2007, medical researchers like Ji Young Jung further explored this theory through research and found that maintaining a positive outlook in life strongly correlates to one’s personal satisfaction. Neurologists from London also discovered that people who anticipate a brighter future are more likely to translate their vision into reality.

Mirror neurons located in the brain help explain the phenomenon of why positivity attracts positivity or why negativity attracts negativity. Also known as the cubelli neuron, mirror neurons are a type of brain cell that responds the same way when we perform an action and when we see someone else do the same activity. These neurons explain why people may feel the need to do the same as others, in this case, reciprocating the positivity we encounter.

Humans struggle to fathom the truth that every choice made invites some degree of effect on their life, making the law difficult to accept for some people.

“In the college process, I would always say whatever is meant to be is meant to be, and have a positive attitude towards it, instead of thinking about who I am competing against and how hard it is to get in and if I pictured it in my mind I thought it would happen and it

In the college process, I would always say whatever is meant to be is meant to be...

Sabrina Garcia (12)

ended up happening,” Garcia said.

The Law of Attraction applies to every aspect of life, including the romantic element. Utilizing the law can help with finding love and maintaining relationships.

The Law recommends for those searching for love to spread love, and love will come back to them in return. Also, instilling an energy that you are in love welcomes the right attitude to attract love.

When people act as their true selves, the probability of attracting people with their same values increases. This aspect of the law accounts for why people find themselves attracted to people with the same beliefs.

“Although we are opposites in the sense that I am very school-oriented and Jake [Garcia’s boyfriend] is very into baseball, both of us have the same morals because we were raised very similarly, which I am sure is a factor as to why we get along so well,” Garcia said.

It’s all mental. Thoughts and emotions dictate the attitude people put forth.

Inevitably, couples encounter roadblocks throughout time. In the “honeymoon” stages of relationships, showing up late never bothers the other too much due to the excitement that came along with simply seeing their partner. As time goes on, simple actions such as arriving late can become increasingly aggravating with the addition of more problems entering the relationship naturally throughout time.

Once issues prevail, negativity rides alongside, causing these emotions to evolve from the harmonious start of the relationship, disrupting the peace. Preserving a steady relationship derives from expressing consistent mutual feelings and helps keep the “honeymoon stage” last.

“If we ever get into a fight, we always try and resolve this issue as soon as possible and end on a positive note,” Garcia said. “So when little things come up, we try and fix it and move forward, keeping things positive.”

Mia Zaldivar Design Editor

m.zaldivar.thepanther@gmail.com

GUIDE TO: C NTRACEPTIVES

10 Life L&S

BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT:

MALE CONDOM:

The birth control implant makes up a tiny rod about the size of a matchstick, the device is injected through the skin of the upper arm and then releases hormones to stop the user from getting pregnant. It lasts for up to four years and is 99 percent effective, the best odds a person can get. It’s effectiveness stems from the fact that since it’s an implant, you cannot forget to take it or make a mistake, it works all day everyday preventing users from getting pregnant. However, it does not protect from STDs, Planned Parenthood recommends wearing a female or male condom to make sex worry-free.

Condoms protect from STDs and are 85 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.

The male condom stretches over the penis with a thin, latex, plastic or lambskin pouch.

The goal is to collect semen and therefore stop sperm in its tracks and limit skin-toskin contact to prevent STDs. Lambskin condoms do not protect against STDs, only latex and plastic condoms do.

BIRTH CONTROL PATCH:

BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE:

At 91 percent effectiveness, the birth control patch does its job by sticking to the stomach, upper arm, butt or back and releasing the chemicals estrogen and progestin--found in most birth control pills--to prevent pregnancy. Put a new patch on every week for three weeks, then give your body seven days off before repeating the cycle. It does not protect from STDs, so do not forget the condom!

BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE: Before sex, place the sponge is placed inside the vagina to cover the cervix and prevent pregnancy. It contains spermicide, and blocks entry to the uterus. According to Planned Parenthood, the spermicide slows down sperm so that it cannot reach the egg. Each sponge usually has a fabric string to make removal easy.

BIRTH CONTROL SHOT: One small little shot, every three months makes the birth control shot one of the most convenient of contraceptives. With the shot, users only really need to think about birth control about four times a year. Like most forms of birth control, it works by releasing the hormone progestin which stops ovulation and promotes cervical mucus production, preventing pregnancy. According to Planned Parenthood, when used perfectly the shot can be 99 percent effective, however, in reality, with people forgetting to get their shots on time, the shot is 94 percent effective.

BIRTH CONTROL PILL: The pill works at 91 percent effectiveness if taken on time every day.

Forgetting to refill the prescription, skipping a day or losing the pack all together make up most the reasons people get pregnant on the pill, according to Planned Parenthood. The pill works by releasing hormones to stop the user from ovulating, which means if an egg isn’t hanging around the fallopian tubes for a sperm to fertilize, pregnancy cannot happen. It does non’t protect from STDs, however, and it is the most common form of contraception.

The female condom represents a rarely used alternative to the popular male condom. The female condom fits inside the vagina to prevent not only pregnancy, but also STDs. According to Planned Parenthood, if the female condom is used correctly every time before sex, it lowers the chance of getting pregnant by 95 percent. Sadly, humans aren’t perfect-leaving the true average effectiveness at 75 percent. Compared to the male condom, the female condom has a lower effectiveness.

EMERGENCY CONTRECEPTION: Emergency contraception comes in a few forms, such as the copper IUD, the Plan B morning after pill, and the ella morningafter pill. The ella morning after pill requires a prescription and must be taken within five days after unprotected sex, but works best within three days. The Plan B OneStep pill requires no prescription and can be bought over the counter at any drug store.

It usually works best within three days after unprotected sex, according to Planned Parenthood. The copper IUD also prevents pregnancy if inputted within five days after unprotected sex. The copper works to repel sperm, and stop it in its track to an egg.

Allessandra Inzinna Feature Editor

a.inzinna.thepanther@gmail.com

L &S

Life 11

declawing catcallers Often portrayed in movies and television as a men yelling inappropriately at women as they walk down the street, and harassing someone as an attempt to flirt, catcalling can often make its victims feel powerless, offended, uncomfortable and unsafe. The word “catcalling” has now been altered to fit the modern day definition of making a “loud, sexually suggestive call or comment directed at someone publicly,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Both guys and girls alike can be victims of catcalling, but the majority of Palmetto boys have not been catcalled and do not feel it is a problem that needs to be addressed.

“I have been catcalled multiple times and it can range from ‘Hey, I think you cute’ to ‘How much would it cost to have you’ to even stopping me in the hallway to tell me something rather inappropriate to impress a friend group,” senior Isabella Gonzalez said.

“It makes me feel very uncomfortable, and I can’t do or say anything because I feel so powerless. I can’t stop them from speaking their mind.”

Although oftentimes it may be harmless, catcalling does constitute a form of sexual harassment because the comments are often unwanted or uncalled for.

“It makes me feel kinda sad because it’s almost like just walking down the hall is an invitation for catcalling,” junior Julieta Rivero said. “I don’t really see a realistic long-lasting solution other than just raising boys differently and more respectfully.”

Despite those who speak out about this, or even tell a teacher or security guard, efforts against people unexpectedly yelling are futile. Security guards and teachers cannot cover all areas of the hallways at all times simply to assure someone does not make a rude sexual remark.

“I think friends have a lot to do with it going into it with the idea of getting ‘respect from your bros’ or being a savage. It’s really more to impress their friends than anything else,” junior Esther Yoo said. “I’m sure they all think like ‘oh what’re they gonna do about it’ which unfortunately is true in most cases and that’s what they take advantage of.”

As of now, despite the fact that catcalling leaves a majority of its victims feeling disrespected, sexualized and embarrassed, the question remains as to whether anything can be done by the school to take preventative measures to guarantee that this verbal form of harassment will end. According to Business Insider, the best ways to deal with catcalling all deal with personal reactions. The victim may get to safety by avoiding any form of engagement, making eye contact, using a firm voice, faking a phone call and other ways to get out of the situation quickly and safely. Because there is no set way to handle catcalling and it must be taken on a case-bycase basis, as long as this continues, men and women must know the right ways to deal with it.

Camila Myers Life Editor

c.myers.thepanther@gmail.com

Of 190 Palmetto Students Surveyed

45% OF GIRLS AND 16% OF

BOYS FEEL THAT CATCALLING SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

70%

OF FEMALE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN CATCALLED

AT PALMETTO.

49% OF FEMALE

STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN CATCALLED FEEL UNSAFE WHEN IT HAPPENS.

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Feature 15

the big DIsconnect PHOTO BY MIA ZALDIVAR

16 Feature

ROMANCE THROUGH A SCREEN To our generation, picking up a cell phone to send a text to a significant other is harmless. How could a simple “I love you” or “Wanna hang out?” text possibly pose threats to teenage relationships? As we have grown up with technology, it has - in a sense - blinded us to the truth about just how large of a role it plays in modern-day love. A new age of binary romance and false reality just may lie beneath our fingertips.

PHOTO BY VIRGINIA BOONE

I

t’s Tuesday: just another day. A girl sits in her room after school.

She unlocks her phone and scrolls through her Instagram feed, checking her notifications, tallying up her likes, replying to comments and comparing herself to the other girls in her feed.

She opens her texts—sees a message from her crush—and suddenly her heart races just a few milliseconds faster from the anticipation of how to reply. Is it too soon for a heart emoji? Does the crying-laughing emoji convey the wrong meaning? Can she send two texts in a row without seeming overzealous?

A Linguistic Evolution In today’s world of technology, digital communication seems anything but abnormal to our generation. Texting, sending direct messages through social media, commenting and liking posts, even communicating via memes seem commonplace—but what about when it comes to romance?

“I think the social isolation that has become a part of our society as a result of the cell phone is very sad,” long-time Palmetto anatomy teacher Lynn Evans said. “Today’s kids don’t know how to interact with one another the way that we did. We had a lot of practice interacting with others and of course we spent time watching our parents interacting with others so we had good models, and today’s parents are often on the cell phone too.”

Even the most basic phone calls can seem like a mission for today’s generation of adolescents, not to mention the anxiety that comes along with the thought of speaking to someone—especially a stranger—on the phone.

“When you’re interacting with someone from my generation, you were looking at their facial expressions, you were learning to read their body language, you were making eye contact, you were picking up on the visual cues,” she said.

“You don’t see any of that with text messaging.”

Junior couple Koby Rouviere and Wendy Benavides feel the effects of the disconnect between meaning and

Feature 17 interpretation of text messages. They emphasize the importance of face-to-face interaction to avoid conflicts created by confusing messages.

“Through texting, you can’t really get the inflection in your voice like you would [in person], like if you were making a joke through text it may not come out like that and then you’re arguing for a couple of days and that’s not fun,” Rouviere said.

Alex Moreno, who works in the University of Miami’s Division of Adolescent Medicine, observes the same effects in his patients and acknowledges that not just young people use telegraphic language in their texts—people in their 30s and older do, too.

“I guess because I’m older I think it’s dumbified people the way they text.

We see the abbreviation of language, no inflections, it’s kind of like you sound mad at me but then there’s a little smiley face at the end so are they actually joking?”

Moreno said. “That can obviously lead to miscommunication and misinterpretation of something.”

“In certain situations, you can almost see them [thinking] ‘okay she’s almost wrapping up, in three, two, one’ texting. And they’re gone. They’re gone.”

L Y N N E VA N S ( A N AT O M Y )

In a study conducted by Pew Research Center, in which teens aged 13 to 17 were surveyed regarding their social media activity and romantic endeavors, 55 percent have flirted in person and 50 percent expressed romantic interest in somebody by sending them a friend request on social media platforms, such as Facebook or Instagram.

“The not having the face-to-face [and] ability to ask somebody is kind of sad too,” Evans said. “How do you make a

relationship if you don’t have the ability, the knowledge, to just go talk to somebody or get somebody’s number and send them a text?”

With the instantaneous nature of digital communication, however, also comes the abbreviated language so many teenagers and parents alike are prone to using, known collectively as textese. Evans encourages verbal communication in her classroom over this less clear text talk.

“When I finish teaching at the end of the period, I always leave time for kids to talk. I think that’s really important,” Evans said. “I love to walk around, and listen to them chat, and talk with them and just the laughter and sharing stories.”

She has a policy, and one quite unconventional compared to most teachers: rather than berating her students for using their cell phones in class, she requires—yes, requires—them to keep their phones face-down and silenced on their desk during her lectures. She has no problem with her students checking the time or even a text on occasion, but it is the obsession with checking them that worries her.

“In certain situations, you can almost see them [thinking] ‘okay she’s almost wrapping up, in three, two, one—texting.

And they’re gone,” she said. “They’re gone.”

Picture Imperfect Even though the majority of teens do spend hours upon hours on their phones—close to 9 hours a day according to Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization dedicated to technology education for families—some people like junior Sofia Montano recognize the very real disconnect from reality—a gap created by the screens of our phones.

“Something that I noticed with my friends [is that] people don’t appreciate the moment that they’re living in because they’re worried about the picture that they’re gonna post later,” she said.

With each new smart phone boasting an even sharper camera than the previous model, it is no wonder the Instagram photos have grown with it—and subsequently, more competitive. For those

18 Feature affectionate

INFOGRAPHIC BY MARLOWE STARLING

The 8 TYPES OF INTIMACY

This constitutes the holding hands and kissing that would occur in reality when a couple goes out on a date. With the advent of visuals on screens, however, online daters can still express affection virtually by sending loving messages or emojis.

Similarly, social intimacy - hanging out in person - has been replaced by the ways people can be digitally present using programs such as FaceTime on phones and laptops.

Emotional

SOCIAL

Volker expresses the most concern over emotional intimacy since technology prevents people from seeing each other frequently in person. Through a screen, partners can more easily choose which feelings to share and how to share them - even if that means expression-via-emoji.

Intellectual arousal, or intellectual orgasms, also act as intimacy for those who enjoy the intellectual aspects of a relationship without the social component.

Spiritual

Intellectual

Spiritual and values intimacy, on a slightly different note, pertains to people getting people involved in causes they care about - a Save the Whales campaign, for example.

The final three components align the closest with the modern-day perception of love. Physical intimacy does not include sex, but rather activities like hiking or biking, which online daters can easily bypass.

Aesthetic

Physical

In aesthetic intimacy, people enjoy both the visual and metaphorical beauty of things like art or music.

Finally, sex - perhaps the most widely-recognized form of intimacy - can now occur virtually via sexting and new virtual reality body gear that will allow people to have simulated sex with a picture of someone’s face in the visuals.

who take pride in their feeds (the pictures they post under their profile), the number next to the little red heart can mean so much more than a number: it provides fleeting external validation.

“You have to understand that everybody deserves to love themselves, [and] be loved,” Evans said. “I accept everyone for who they are—that’s how I was raised—and we don’t have the right to judge others based on who they should be with and you have to stand proud of your choices because that’s who you are.

And when I talk to the kids in class, I try to champion that all year. If you don’t love yourself, then how can you expect somebody else to?”

She harks back to her own experiences growing up, like the slow and gradual journey toward marriage.

“It’s interesting because they say by age eight, we already have an idea of who we love,” Evans said. “Often it’s based on similar traits to your family members. In my family there’s lots of blond hair and light blue eyes, and my secret boyfriend when I was little kind of looked a lot

like Mr. Migli. I have to tell you that he still—my heart still tingles when I see him across the room. That’s what you want in a relationship.”

Relationship Status: Taken Even in a society inundated with technology—and a culture that glorifies sex more than it warns about its dangers— couples like seniors Kamryn Berman and her boyfriend Brett Chapman defy the normalized and oftentimes impulsive hook-up culture. They started dating in the 7th grade.

“I think we’re just so different that we attract,” Berman said. “He’s my best friend; we were best friends before, and I think that helps before going into a relationship.”

They both look back on their impromptu encounter with humor, laughing about the awkward stages in middle school when they met through class and then at a party, seemingly by pure chance.

“He came up to me after school and

Sexual

was like ‘Kamryn’ and I said ‘what’s up’ and he was like ‘do you want to go out?’ and I was like ‘uuuuhhhh, can I talk to you later?’” she said. “We have teachers from middle school that I saw, and they’re like, ‘you’re still together?’”

As technology and social media play an even larger role in the lives of teenagers and young adults, a shift has occurred in the way students meet and engage in relationships. Rouviere and Benavides, who have been dating for the past 10 months, recall finding out about each other for the first time.

“If you guys can’t stand each other face-to-face, don’t be in a relationship.”

KO B Y R O U V I E R E ( 1 1 )

“The first time I found out about him,

Feature 19

PHOTO BY VIRGINIA BOONE

was through Snapchat,” Wendy said. “I accidentally texted the wrong Koby, that I thought it was my other friend so that’s when I first knew about him.”

The couple reflects on the role of cell phones and social media applications in their day-to-day conversations. With the constant communication made available through apps like Snapchat, a sense of anxiety forms when one person drops off the grid.

“I get worried, if he doesn’t call me, or text or snapchat in like two hours,” Benavides said. “I’ll be like ‘okay what’s going on?’”

One of the main digital controversies is the current ability to track virtually anybody’s location and share it with others.

Through applications like SnapMap and Find My Friends, couples can easily find the whereabouts of their partner at any given moment.

“I’ll say ‘how far are you?’ and he says ‘Oh I’m really close’ and I check and he’s like 20 minutes away,” Berman said.

Sexologist Dr. Marilyn Volker explains that location sharing and incessant texting could potentially lead to emotional control.

“If they don’t hear back from somebody after a certain amount of time, it can get to be very controlling,” she said. “It’s under the guise of ‘I really love you [and] I want to take care of you.’”

Oftentimes younger couples are criticized for their reliance on technology to communicate with their partner, however at times it allows for conversations that would not have been able to occur with the balance of school, sports, traveling, and other obligations.

“There’s certain weeks, for instance I’ve been out of town a lot this weekend and we wouldn’t really had been able to have a conversation for a solid couple days unless we have the technology that we have now,” Rouviere said.

The ability of technology to instantly connect people regardless of their location has allowed for teenage relationships like that of junior Kathleen Fernandez and her long-distance boyfriend to thrive. After seeing each other for months at parties, Fernandez began dating a boy who moved to Texas by the end of the summer.

“I don’t think that everyone is fit for

[long-distance relationships],” she said.

“I feel like you really have to be in love and love each other for you to do it. If not, it won’t work. And in the beginning I honestly didn’t think that I was going to be able to do it, but we’ve been already doing it for 7 months and I never thought that I would come this far.”

Despite the distance, the couple manages to stay connected through apps like Facetime and Snapchat, however the lack of physical intimacy and ability to see each other in person can be extremely difficult at times.

“It’s really hard and I don’t think everyone would be able to go through it,” Fernandez said. “I think Facetime makes it a lot easier because then we would have no communication, we wouldn’t be able to talk. I honestly don’t know if we’d be together or make it this far because it’s just easier to hear his voice through Facetime.”

Kathleen recalls the moments of reuniting with her boyfriend after weeks of separation, an expression of pure joy.

“When I see him and I hug him, I can finally breathe,” Fernandez said. “It’s just so much anxiety and hurt and I get to see him and it makes everything better.

I feel like ever since he left I’ve been really sad and that moment when I see him everything is back to normal and I’m happy again.”

Glitchy Romance Volker, also an educator at University of Miami and Florida International University among others, describes what she calls “techno-relationships” composed of three basic components known as the Triple-A Engine of relationships: accessibility, affordability, and anonymity.

Techno-dating, she says, grants couples increased access to each other by having the ability to communicate at any time and without the hassle of moving anywhere— dating in pajamas, simply put.

On the affordable side, techno-dating (as opposed to going out on a date in person) does not require partners to spend any kind of money. No fancy dinners or bouquet of roses required.

The internet, of course, can also keep

people anonymous in their relationships, which Volker says can not only mask someone’s true identity, but allow someone to lie about their age, gender, professional occupation and even cover up physical disabilities.

“‘Where is your limit?’ is going to be the question – will there be one in technology?”

DR. MARILYN VOLKER

“Take someone wanting to date many people in person,” Volker said. “The advantage of technology is somebody may not know you are dating as many people as you are dating. It’s easier to have nonmonogamous relationships anonymously.”

From text to sext Joyce Brislawn, Health Information Project sponsor and health science teacher, recalls the days when she and her childhood friend threw mangoes at each other at Pinecrest Elementary, and later both attended Palmetto for high school, where they first began to see each other differently. That friend would later become her husband.

“It’s kind of weird because back in my day, you learned to be somebody’s friend here [the head], and then you fell in love here [the heart], before you did anything down there,” Brislawn said. “So it was a complete relationship.”

STDs, according to Brislawn, have become more rampant as a result of the lack of this mentality.

Misunderstood information about what classifies as sex, notably anal and oral, she says, have led to higher rates of chlamydia and other STDs. Moreno, a Masters of Public Health professional, regularly sees teenage patients who have contracted STDs and has worked toward AIDS/HIV research for Miami-Dade County.

In addition to sexting, porn causes an equally magnified problem, especially with kids as young as elementary school able to access the internet—and, therefore, the possibility of encountering porn.

“Guys watching porn is going to give you a false sense of what to expect from your sexual partner – a false sense of expectation,” Moreno said. “Porn is basically staged and plotted out.”

According to Brislawn, the porn culture has dangerously affected what people expect out of a relationship: not friendship or love, but sensual pleasure before anything else.

“That’s the other thing too is boys look at that [porn] and think that’s what a relationship is. They don’t think about falling in love,” Brislawn said. “It’s not the intimate, slow getting to know each other. They’re watching that violent stuff and they think that’s what relationships are supposed to be. And I think that’s damaging relationships more.”

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA BOONE

“They didn’t even feel comfortable doing something but did it anyway and then got an STD – I see that a lot. That’s kind of the extreme side,” Moreno said. “I also find that when people come into the clinic they don’t have much sense of real barriers, maybe someone they met online by swiping left or swiping right or whatever.”

Participating in online dating apps and websites under the age of 18 is illegal, but teens have still found ways to bypass the age requirement, opening the door to potential online predators.

Although high schools across Miami-Dade County have implemented HIP as a way to educate incoming freshmen about healthy habits and the dangers of sexual harassment, the lack of sexual education classes could possibly account for STDs among high school students, especially if those students have closed-off relationships with their parents.

“It’s a new phenomenon and as a society we need to catch up to it, so I definitely hope that teachers would talk more about it and administration would allow guest speakers to talk about it,” Moreno said. “It’s a big problem that nobody is addressing.”

Generation Porno Don’t be fooled: sex can happen through the signals that emanate from cell phones and computers, too. According to Enough Is Enough, a program dedicated to informing parents about internet safety for their children, about 54 percent of 18-22 year olds in a 2014 study admit to sexting as minors.

“I think sexting and texting has desensitized everybody to relationships and love before sex, and people are posting to look for validation and to prove who they are without knowing the person,” Brislawn said. “It’s really sad.”

Contrary to popular belief, sexting is illegal, regardless of age.

“It’s illegal to send a pic of your naked private part with the phone,” Moreno said. “Just because you took a pic of your crotch and you’re 17 and you send it across the waves, it’s not private anymore. I think maybe it’s something that’s got to be taught by adults from educators and family members.”

“[Sexting] is a new phenomenon and as a society we need to catch up to it, so I definitely hope that teachers would talk more about it and administration would allow guest speakers to talk about it.”

A L E X M O R E N O , M P H AT U N I V E R I S T Y O F M I A M I

Porn and sexting are voluntary, but even involuntary means of subjecting oneself to online predators can target teens, particularly young girls.

“It’s so easy for the predator to make up a profile and try to lure people in,” Moreno said. “Predators are very good at manipulating, and it’s a very good platform for them to manipulate people.”

Sofia Montano, a student and HIP Peer Educator herself, recognizes the gap between reality and fantasy that exists among her generation. She recalls the girls in her class as a freshman who said they had already lost their virginity.

“It’s sad with the younger kids because [those who] are older have more experience and are more aware of incidents that can happen, but us as young kids—we don’t realize,” Montano said.

“We say we’re so smart, but we’re so innocent.”

It seems that our generation will have to—or already has— adapt to a new way to date; a different kind of romance.

“There’s no sense of culture anymore, so no sense of building up slowly to asking them out, which is part of growing up and forming a relationship,” Moreno said. “It all goes back to that false sense of expectation.”

Marlowe Starling

Anastaysia Dudaryk

m.starling.thepanther@gmail.com

a.dudaryk.thepanther@gmail.com

Editor-In-Chief

Copy Editor

Feature 21

IN A STUDY OF TEENS AGED 13-17 YEARS OLD

85%EXPECT TO RECIEVE MESSAGES FROM THEIR PARTNER ONCE A DAY

27% HAVE broken up

11% partner at least once an hour expect to hear from their

VIA TEXT MESSAGE

DIGITAL LOVE

BY THE NUMBERS

21% CLAIM THAT A CURRENT/EX-PARTNER

READ THEIR TEXT MESSAGES

WITHOUT PERMISSION

5% CLAIM a

CURRENT/EX-PARTNER FORCED UNWANTED SEXUAL ACTIVITY

VIA TEXT MESSAGE/INTERNET

25%

50%

OF TEENS have let unfriended/blocked SOMEONE KNOW THEY WERE SOMEONE FROM

UNCOMFORTABLE ROMANTICALLY INFO COURTESY OF PEW RESEARCH CENTER

flirting

PHOTO BY ALLESSANDRA INZINNA

interested

VIA social media websites INFOGRAPHIC BY MIA ZALDIVAR

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ACCEPTANCE ON AND OFF THE FIELD For the first time in Olympic history, an openly gay American male athlete will compete in the games. While many LGBTQ athletes have competed in the games, Adam Rippon will be the first to be out of the closet while competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

According to the Huffinton Post, nearly 30 percent of LGBTQ athletes report being harrased or attacked for their gender expression or sexual orientation while playing on a sports team.

For decades, LGBTQ athletes have struggled with coming out to their teammates and the public as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer. This issue does not only pertain to professional athletes, but also to youth and teen athletes.

A major aspect in helping an athlete feel safe and comfortable in the team environment is the coach. While the boys

Palmetto soccer coach Patrick Larco has never coached an athlete that is openly LGBTQ, he does have a plan if he were to in the future.

“It would be a partnership between myself and the individual, and we would kind of come up with a game plan together.

If they wanted to address their teammates ahead of time, I would do that together with the athlete,” Larco said.

Aside from a supportive coach, having accepting teammates is a large aspect in the way LGBTQ athletes are treated in sports.

According to Time magazine, the U.S. was ranked the worst in sports homophobia and discrimination due to name-calling and physical abuse from teammates on and off of the field.

“I’ve never had an openly LGBT teammate but I would imagine it being like a normal team. The dynamics from

our team don’t come from the aspect of how people feel in that sense, but rather the relationships we build as friends,” swimmer and junior Jake Sanchez said.

While acceptance has been a slow and steady process in terms of the LGBTQ community in sports, progress has been made and will continue to be made with tolerance and support. “[The] majority of the teams I’ve coached have a performance philosophy where as long as you’re being a part of the team and you’re a good teammate, what happens on the field is much more important,” Larco said.

Olivia Solomon Staff Writer

o.solomon.thepanther@gmail.com PHOTO BY GEMMA TORRAS

YOU+ME+ Sports

The dynamic of love between couples is altered for high school athletes, pushing them to balance relationships with their significant others - and with the sports they love.

Junior couple Elizabeth Tang and Austin Cerber both play badminton, giving them the opportunity to play on the same team. “[Badminton is] just another thing we can do together, and having [Elizabeth] there at practice makes it just that much more enjoyable. It’s also easier because we can always rely on each other for rides or just to relax afterwards,” Cerber said.

Tang and Cerber have found their personal love for each other to reignite their passions for badminton as well.

“Playing badminton has always been fun but it’s even more fun because

we get to help each other get better and we also get to spend time after school doing something that we both like to do,” Tang said.

Athletes in relationships can even help each other to improve their personal skills and techniques.

“If he’s in a slump with hitting or if he’s not doing well or something, I can give him certain tips, or maybe he’s doing something wrong with his mechanics, or I can just encourage him,” senior and softball player Brittney Barczak, who is dating a baseball player, said. “It’s relatable [for us] because the sports are kind of the same.”

While the dedication of devoted athletes may pose a threat to time spent together outside of school for some couples, Barczak believes otherwise.

“It’s all positive,” Barczak said.

“Maybe in some relationships the person would get mad or something because

they’re not spending enough time with them, but we understand that that’s another one of our priorities that we have, so we make time for each other and for sports.”

Tang and Cerber have learned to overcome the hecticness of juggling school and sports while also keeping their relationship intact.

“There are some times when I have a million things to do but I make time to have fun and spend time with him outside of school,” Tang said. “Plus practices just let us play together and with our other friends and it’s a really good way to destress from school.”

The balance between maintaining a relationship and participating in athletics may be difficult to fathom, but it is by no means unachievable.

Allison Strasius Staff Writer

a.strasius.thepanther@gmail.com

24 Sports L&S

relationship traits obtained from sports Student athletes at Miami Palmetto Senior High School learn more than just how to play their sports successfully. On the field, they also acquire experience and knowledge regarding trust, honesty, communication and positivity- all qualities that enhance the relationships in their life.

Junior and girls soccer defense player Sofia Irigoyen says that she admires the leadership her teammates have shown her and the community she has become a part of. Irigoyen is always improving techniques, saying that soccer is constantly changing, which can be a metaphor for life.

“I think soccer is always evolving and so life is always evolving, and no two interactions with your family are the same like how no two games are,” Irigoyen said. “Soccer has stuck with me since I was five years-old; it’s really been just one big learning process, just like a relationship I would imagine.”

Irigoyen said that she learned an important lesson this year from her coach that taught her how important good communication is within a relationship.

“This year, I was asked to step down from varsity games and play with the [junior varsity] team, and I took that as an ‘Oh my gosh, you’re playing me down. I’m not a good soccer player. You’re telling me one thing and Coach that’s unfair, and I don’t want to play with my JV team.’

And that was so incredibly rude and prideful and disgusting of me to say,” Irigoyen said. “So, once I stepped back from the situation and I evaluated it, [I realized] he was doing that for a reason and it was for a bigger meaning. It was all in my interest to swallow my pride.”

In the future, Irigoyen says that she intends to let people explain themselves before jumping to conclusions. By hearing someone’s entire story and reasoning, Irigoyen says she can better process the information for effective communication.

Senior and football defensive end player Joshua Phillips says that he enjoys the team chemistry and multiple personalities he learns to converse with.

“Once you get a connection with all of the people on the football team, you get to learn different people,” Phillips said. “It makes you learn how to talk to every other person.”

Phillips says being on the team makes him feel like he is at home, allowing him to be up front with his thoughts and opinions.

“I learned how to be straightforward, how to just go out and ask

the person,” Phillips said. “Speak your mind, so if it’s bothering you right there, say it right there.”

Senior and soccer goalie Joseph “JJ” Moder says that the most important trait he learned while being on the team was to never give up, even if the goal seems completely insurmountable. He says that optimism is key not only on the field, but in relationships.

“You might be down 8-0 in a game and you might come back and win,” Moder said. “And there might be a specific person that you might think, ‘Aw, they’ll never talk to me. They don’t even look at me.’ But you never know. That could all just be in your mind, and it could just be you telling yourself that, but if you try and you really go at it, anything can happen.”

Having coached a variety of sports from basketball to softball for nearly 20 years, Michael Klekotka, an English teacher at MPSH and named “Coach of the Year” by the Miami Herald eight times, recognizes the profound values that teammates pick up from one another that better their current and future relationships. He sees his players crafting not only their skills in the sport, but also their skills of simply being a good person when interacting with others.

“I believe coaching allows for monumental teaching moments.

Preparation, discipline, teamwork and striving to succeed in the face of adversity,” Klekotka said. “Sport and competition reveal character and each athlete, at some point, learns who they are and what they can potentially be. I always tried to teach beyond the x’s and o’s.”

Klekotka says that the friendships players experience on the team, from the bus rides to the joy of a victory to the heartache of a loss, truly well up in the memories of his players and his own as their coach. “[Seeing my son socialize with his teammate] taught me that the little things matter most,” he said. “A kind word, encouragement, a smile and a wave can be indelible imprints on our lives and relationships well after the final whistle.”

Sabrina Catalan Copy Editor

s.catalan.thepanther@gmail.com GRAPHIC BY GEMMA TORRAS

Breaking Barriers

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OVERCOMING THE sexualization OF FEMALE ATHLETES in sports Senior Samantha Alicea steps onto the tennis court.

Immediately, relief washes over her and any worry from the day completely dissipates into the humid South Florida air.

Her competitive gaze narrows in on her opponent that remains on the opposite side of the court.

The confidence that radiates from Alicea and her tall stature is enough to intimidate any tennis player ready to accept the challenge of competing against her. This Division One - bound tennis player displays nothing but pure aggression and skill on the tennis court.

Contrary to traditional beliefs of gender roles, Alicea is establishing herself in a once male-dominated realm of athletics by committing to Arizona State University and defeating the stigma that follows in the wake of women’s sports.

“The only thing on my mind when I’m on the court is improving and giving my all,” Alicea said.

Before 1870, athletics

for women existed solely for recreational purposes. Because of women suffrage movements, federal legislation passed Title IX, which states that: “No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance,” according to the U.S Department of Education. It applies to all elementary and secondary schools, as well as college and universities. This ties into athletics because Title IX provides men and women equal opportunities within the athletic field.

As a result, the sports world inevitably began to evolve.

However, when gender norms are challenged, labels begin to emerge.

These labels may prevent women from participating in sports in fear of contributing to the ideology of this previously considered masculine domain.

“I look up to Madison Keys,” Alicea said.

“She’s always been made fun of because of her appearance but that still hasn’t affected her at all.”

Keys — a professional women’s tennis player — is annihilating the over-sexualization of the female body that may prevent women from participating in athletics in fear of appearing masculine. “[Keys] still goes out there and does her thing,” Alicea said. “She takes the comments and uses them for motivation.

She turns the negatives into positives.”

Some women may not contain the same confidence that Alicea and Keys both share.

Instead, they may conform to the certain images that society has in place for them, thus contributing to the notion that women must look a certain way in order to be valued. This image, to put in simple terms, is thin.

It is apparent that these social boundaries appear to deter in sports that have been labeled as masculine such as football, wrestling and weight training.

At Miami Palmetto Senior High School, weight training classes are predominately male with anywhere from one to four females per class, according to coach and weight training teacher Michael Manasco.

“The data shows that there’s way more guys taking weight training than females,” Manasco said. “But as a teacher, I love having people who are goal driven and the majority of the girls that come in here are. They’re some of my best students and hardest workers.”

Individuals like Alicea, Keys and the few that are in Manasco’s classes are redefining what it means to be a woman. As a result, this social boundary that has acted as the foundation of identity is beginning to wane, allowing individuals to freely display what are seen as male and female qualities simultaneously.

“You just have to go out there and be yourself and not care what others think,” Alicea said. “You have to be happy with yourself because in the end your opinion is the only opinion that matters.”

Virginia Boone Multimedia Team

v.boone.hepanther@gmail.com

PHOTO BY VIRGINIA BOONE PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY GEMMA TORRAS

26 Opinion L&S

SHATTERING SHAME spoken out about slut-shaming, writing an open letter which addressed both the backlash she faced for sharing a nude photo on Instagram in 2016 and the persistent hate for her sex tape posted back in 2007. Her letter was firm in its stance, stating, “I am empowered by my body. I am empowered by my sexuality. I am empowered by feeling comfortable in my skin.” Even so, plenty of women actually contribute to the culture of suppressing female sexuality.

After Kardashian posted the infamous nude, female musician P!nk took to Twitter to express her disdain at Kardashian’s use of her body for “attention.”

If women are just as guilty as men are of perpetrating the idea that sexual expression among women is taboo, then where does the stigma really stem from?

There is no one answer, at least not a simple one, but the Christian values central to Western culture play a significant role in perpetuating the widespread condemnation of female sexuality.

For one, the concept of virginity is, historically and quite simply, oppressive to female sexual freedom. The centurylong notion that deflowering a woman is something like a prize to be won by men, something that a woman must save in order to maintain her appeal, restricts a woman’s freedom to act on sexual impulses without fear of being endlessly shamed.

Even the pages of the Bible prove s e x negative; E v e ’s

submission to temptation - often interpreted as sexual impulsion - leads her to bite into the forbidden fruit and lands her the title of the first sinner, while the Virgin Mary bears a holy child - the traditionally sole purpose of a woman - without even engaging in the pleasure of intercourse.

The ideal is so deeply ingrained in the roots of our society that we often forget the simplest of truths: sex is among the most natural, innate forms of pleasure there is, for both men and women. Women should not be limited to sex talk for reproductive purposes only. If men can talk freely and proudly about sex for pleasure’s sake, women reserve the same right to express their sexual desires, and admit that yes, sometimes girls just want to have fun.

Alexis Garcia-Ruiz Copy Editor

a.garciaruiz.thepanther@gmail.com

GRAPHIC BY ALEXANDRA PEDROSO

BREAKING A CULTURE OF SHUNNING FEMALE SEXUALITY

When it comes to sex, women stereotypically exist in one of two boxes: the prude box or the slut box. If women are too bashful about their sexual expression, they are shoved right into the prude box, teased for their lack of sexual confidence.

However, the opposite rings just as true; when women embrace their sexuality, and openly express their sexual desires or carry themselves in a provocative manner, they are often labeled as sluts and shunned for their inappropriate demeanor.

One must wonder, then, why the same simply is not true for men. Men are often praised for being sexual beings, idolized for the amount of people they sleep with or for showing off their toned bodies.

Take, for instance, articles that emerge following steamy pictures posted by A-listers and other celebrities; while Justin Bieber’s shirtless pictures have been received time and time again with glorified comments about his sex appeal, Kim Kardashian continues to be bashed and slut-shamed each time she shares a revealing photo of herself.

Kim Kardashian is among the handful of female celebrities who have actually

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OPENLY GAY CHARACTERS ON KIDS’ TV DO NOT FORCE SEXUALITY ON KIDS

Over the past few years, LGBTQ representation in television and movies has made significant progress, particularly in children’s entertainment.

For example, Disney has begun portraying openly gay characters and queer plotlines in its movies and television shows. LeFou from Beauty and the Beast (2017) is Disney’s first canonically gay character in one of its movies. The Disney Channel show Andi Mack (2016) features a 13 year-old character named Cyrus who has to come to terms with his feelings for one of his male classmates. The directors of Moana (2016) have hinted at making a film about an LGBTQ princess, a first for the company.

It should not surprise anyone that Disney has received significant pushback from the public for these actions. In December 2017, a Twitter user quoted a tweet from Seventeen magazine promoting an article about the Moana directors’ hints at an LGBTQ princess and included the caption “[I am] in no way homophobic, but i really think y’all are trying to shove this LGBT sh*t in everybody lifestyle.”

The since deleted tweet went viral having, as of January 26, 76.7 thousand retweets and 207 thousand likes.

For one, the notion that gay representation in media “forces” the LGBTQ “lifestyle” on straight consumers has no strong connection to any theory of sexual fluidity.

The only theory it may relate to is the

possible connection between sexuality and epigenetics, a field in which scientists study how environmental triggers can cause changes in how genes are expressed.

Some have speculated that these triggers can cause a change in someone’s sexuality.

However, research about what these triggers could actually be is still in its early stages and nobody can definitively say that queer characters in media can make children queer on their own.

What queer characters can do is normalize LGBTQ identities. By portraying the lives of queer individuals, the media affirms their existence in society, allowing children to rationalize and possibly give a name to their own identities. Sexual fluidity largely refers to when an individual realizes their sexual orientation and/or gender identity are not what they first perceived them to be. In reality, queer characters in the media can only help someone realize who they are, not force them to be someone they are not.

But arguably the most peculiar part of

the tweet is the insistence that the author is “in no way homophobic,” a statement which can be quickly unraveled with a simple question: then why do you care? What exactly is it that you are so concerned about?

You cannot force someone to be queer.

The word “force” only makes sense in this context when discussing how queer characters in the media force straight and cisgender consumers to confront the reality of LGBTQ identities in society.

In this case, the only reason to be against this kind of representation is an aversion to recognizing LGBTQ identities, a sentiment which is not only homophobic, but anti-LGBTQ in general.

Straight and cisgender people do not get to pick and choose where queer identities can be visible. Opposition to any expression of queerness, including media representation, is anti-LGBTQ and saying you are not homophobic does not let you off the hook for saying something blatantly homophobic directly after.

We should all support the growing visibility of queer identities in society that paves the way towards full acceptance.

But if someone refuses to do so, they could at least be open about their homophobia.

Jack Cruz-Alvarez

Online Managing Editor

j.cruzalvarez.thepanther@gmail.com

up in flames 28 Opinion L&S

Decades of sexual abuse surface and the responsibility belongs to USAG

In what should have been the most intense fights of their lives, the girls and women training in the Geddert’s club facility for the Olympics faced a scarier and more insurmountable obstacle: Larry Nassar.

In the Ingham county district courtroom, five days of emotional and heart-wrenching testimonies brought 124 girls to the stand to share their impact statements.

Through their stories, it became painfully clear that this was not new information: the allegations had surfaced numerous times throughout the longer part of 20 years. In the decades of cover ups, reported allegations were redirected, mishandled, and neglected, stealing the voices of hundreds of girls who had their innocence stolen, some from the peak of their youth.

Six or seven years old is far too young for girls to come to the painful reality that they are trapped in a facility with a man who abuses them repeatedly, and that this is the sacrifice necessary to continue their gymnastic dreams.

Telling on Nassar meant facing the skepticism of adults who failed to be the outlet they needed. It also meant potentially sacrificing their dreams of Olympic Rings and gold medals; leaving that facility because of the doctor who was enabled by officials meant abandoning their shots at championship.

And for those who dare retort, “I don’t understand why these girls didn’t say anything,” they did. That lends itself to be the bigger and more chilling truth—this was hidden intentionally.

Instead of, gee, perhaps, firing their pedofile doctor, who was “obviously aroused” while penetrating the vagina and anus of a young “patient,” Michigan State University made the bold and inhumane decision to enable his behavior by not firing him, even with knowledge of the allegations.

As the thorough third party investigation unfolds, decorated gold medalist and Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman demands that the investigation uncover the years of secrecy, sinful disgrace, abuse and a systematically engrained sexually haunting facility that hides the horrifying details of this case.

But while the unknowns work their way slowly through the court system, USA Gymnastics has the power to act now.

INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON POST

In her impact statement in court, Raisman fiercely faced the doctor who tortured her for years. Her voice was strong, sliced the air, and clearly pinpointed the problem: years of being silenced.

“Many adults had you convince the survivors that they were being dramatic or had been mistaken. This is like being violated all over again,” Raisman said, referring to Nassar, in her impact statement.

Years of being told she had mistaken her treatment for sexual assault led Raisman to an understandably resentful, bitter, yet powerful position. She noted that the USAG has profited off of her athletic performance, seeing as though her decoration as an Olympian includes many gold medals, and yet when she called out for help with sharing her experience, she received nothing from USAG. She called their statements essentially empty and meaningless, all a public imaging strategy rather than an extension of sympathy and encouragement. She deserved the latter and then some.

Raisman, in addition to many other survivors, continues to train for the Olympics. With this month’s winter games underway, the painful reminder of torturous days training and being “treated” looms.

Although the U.S. Olympic Committee called on the entire USAG board to resign, this is not enough. The facility served as a petri dish for systematic abuse, torture, neglect and deception to flourish. The core problem must be identified and dealt with accordingly; the empty public statements and half-hearted sympathies do not compare to the measures necessary to attempt to begin the survivor’s journey to recovery.

The U.S. Committee ought to own up to their disgusting, decades-long cover up, and provide the means and platform for the survivors to access the therapy needed to begin recovery. This, along with the #MeToo movement, propel these survivors into an arena where they can finally speak up, and finally be heard.

Morgan Elmslie Senior Copy Editor

m.elmslie.thepanther@gmail.com

MORE THAN

290

OLYMPIC coaches & OFFICIALS ACCUSED

INFOGRAPHIC BY ALEXANDRA PEDROSO

BY THE NUMBERS MORE THAN SINCE 1982

EVERY 6 WEEKS ON AVERAGE

1 ADULT ACCUSED

175

OFFICIALS CONVICTED OF SEX CRIMES

TED

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Face Off

Opinion 29

We see it in the movies: a teen fears telling her parents the life-changing news, pushing it and pushing it until finally, she has no other choice but to tell them, “I’m pregnant.”

It is no surprise that many teenagers are sexually active without permission from a parent or guardian and that, evidently, a teen would rather risk the consequences of unprotected sex than ask for parental consent to get prescribed birth control.

Parents can provide a wisdom and perspective on the choice, but asking permission to physically take the pill is something that should not be decided by parents.

Every person reserves the right to make decisions about their own body, even a teenager.

According to the Pew Research Center, teenage pregnancy rates have been dropping and are now at a record low due to contraceptives like birth control. To boot, birth control is not only for practicing safe sex, but also for acne control and to reduce pains and cramps that accompany monthly periods.

At the end of the day, parents need to know what their children are consuming and all the medical aspects of their lives, but taking birth-control should be up to the girl alone.

This does not mean the information should be hidden but rather that she is the only one who knows her body better than anyone.

Adolescents understand that birth-control is there to help, not harm.

Whether her only use is for practicing safe sex or not, she should be the deciding vote.

Adolescence: a time where hormones are out of control and teenage sex drive is high.

To women, birth control seems like the logical solution to the potential consequences of adolescent sex. It prevents unwanted pregnancies, alleviates period symptoms and more. Despite teenage girls wanting to use birth control pills, it is unethical for a medical professional to prescribe any kind of medication to a minor without parental consent.

For many, birth control can be a lifesaver that allows women to have sex without the burden of an unwanted pregnancy that could change the entire course of their life. Parental approval, although potentially touchy, is necessary for any minor who wants a prescription to birth control. However helpful it may be, the pill is a drug that should be carefully regulated to ensure that it does not end up in the hands of someone who could have a negative reaction.

Birth control is a serious medication that contains synthetic estrogen and progestin which can interfere with preexisting hormones that are already unpredictable to begin with.

According to Planned Parenthood, birth control comes with a series of side effects that affect mood, sex drive and, in rare cases, combination pills can lead to a heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, high blood pressure and more.

Every individual should be evaluated by a medical professional and approved by a parent or guardian before being prescribed any medication.

Brianne Guanaga

Annette Gonzalez

b.guanaga.thepanther@gmail.com

a.gonzalez.thepanther@gmail.com

News Editor

Multimedia Team

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA BOONE

PARENTAL CONSENT FOR BIRTH CONTROL YOUR DECISION PARENTS DECISON

A FAREWELL TO

CHIVALRY

The debate over whether chivalry has or will survive the age of digital dating shapes much of our generation’s view of romance, as Netflix-and-Chill dates replace more traditional dinner-and-a-movie dates.

With this shift in dating style, it is only natural that the standards people are held to change as well. But even so, there exists a great divide over whether or not chivalry should persist in our socially evolving society.

In order to come to a conclusion, we must first understand that chivalry is a changing concept, an idea that no longer means what it once did. Chivalry in today’s dating world no longer reflects the knightly, medieval code of conduct that once emphasized courtesy, generosity and valor, but rather focuses on cliched man-always-opens-the-door, alwayspays-for-dinner ideals.

While it can feel nice and romantic

for a man to take care of his significant other in this way, it should be because he wants to do it, not because the laws of outdated morality make him feel like he has to, and the care should be mutual.

Contrary to popular belief, the argument against chivalry is actually a part of the postmodern feminist movement that seeks gender equality by recognizing that this double standard is harmful to men, too.

Yes, chivalry does perpetuate the outdated idea that women need to be taken care of, but when women readily accept it and even demand it, the message sent to men is rather hypocritical. After all, how can women demand pay equality yet also demand to be paid for?

As much as older romance movies and stories might make us swoon over their traditionally gentlemen-like characters, it is important to realize

that times are changing, and it is time to bid farewell to antiquated social codes. In a world that increasingly seeks social and economic equality, chivalry has no place. That is not to say that basic politeness and etiquette in the dating world should be done away with - though a trend toward “sliding-into-DMs” with sexual remarks instead of asking people out in person hints that it very well may be. But in order to close the gender gap, we must let chivalry rest in peace. Dating should be a mutual process, and both partners must contribute equally to the relationship.

Alexis Garcia-Ruiz Copy Editor

a.garciaruiz.thepanther@gmail.com

STAFF EDITORIAL ABANDONING ABSTINENCE, ONLY EDUCATION Sex: arguably the dirtiest word in the human language.

From the early moments of youth, students are taught the value of refraining from sexual intercourse until beyond the ages of high school.

Since 1998, the federal government has allocated more than $50 million annually for in-school programs that teach and promote abstinence from sexual activity in the Title V, Section 510 program. While many might think that this type of education would be beneficial to America’s teenagers and young adults, research shows that there is a positive correlation between abstinence-only education and higher

rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Teaching abstinence, without the addition of proper birth control techniques and protection when engaging in sex, does more harm than good. It creates an environment where teenagers feel oppressed and caged from exploring their sexual desires.

While there is a right time and place for sex, individuals committed in a healthy, stable relationship should feel comfortable practicing safe sex, rather than blindly and recklessly engaging in unsafe sex, which can lead to greater risk of teenage pregnancies and STDs. Additionally, anyone who wants

to have sex, regardless of relationship status, deserves the information to do so safely, and that’s the bottom line.

If abstinence is supposed to teach students the positive effects of refraining from sex, why are so many teenagers burdened by the consequences of intercourse? The goals of sex-ed are to teach America’s youth the biology and consequences of engaging in sex and how to properly protect themselves from STDs and pregnancy.

Abstinence restricts proper sex education to even have a platform.

Teach safe sex, not no sex.

The Panther staff aims to inform fellow students and parents about school-wide, local, national, and international news. The Panther’s content aims to represent the student body. Editorials feature the opinions of staffers. Features of other students, teachers and clubs further promote the spirit, culture and personality of Miami Palmetto Senior High School.

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