Siobhan Brooks, ”Black Feminism in Everyday Life”
Repeat after me, folks: INTERSECTIONALITY!!!
But wow, crying and running out of a room because your prof reminded you black women exist? Come on now…
(via fuckyeahfeminists)
These fantastic posters by graphic designer Alison Rowan have been popping up on my Facebook and I’m pretty much in love with them.
Roominate – a new line of dollhouses for girls aims to spark interest in science, technology, and STEM rather than reinforcing the gender stereotypes of traditional toys. The startup comes from three female engineers.
(↬ Springwise)
so so so so so cool.
can i have one?
Legos are still the best. But these would have also been awesome toys to have. I hope they or something like them is still around if and when I decide to have children.
Otherwise known as Banned Books Week!
Banned Books Week is an awareness campaign launched 30 years ago due to a surge in challenges to books. It’s astonishing how frequently books we consider classics are banned or challenged. The themes within the works eliciting challenges—confronting societal issues regarding racism, sexism, religion, sexuality, politics—are often the very reasons we consider them to be classics. Many of these works have shaped the way generations think about the world. Challenging literature infringes on our freedom to read, freedom of expression as guaranteed by the First Amendment, and encourages censorship.
I implore you to explore the links in this post and educate yourself about Banned Books Week! Better yet, read a banned or challenged book! If nothing else, check out the list and see how many you’ve already read.
This is a must-read mental health resource for anyone attending school, regardless of your age or study. It’s focused on those attending college but I feel anyone can benefit from reading it. I always feel as though I’ve taken an enormous breath of fresh air after I finish reading the entire article. Ahhhh. Treat yourselves to this amazing article.
NY1 has learned exclusively that almost 70% of public school students are living in poverty. It’s a percentage that’s increased at more than half of the schools in the five boroughs during the past three years. At 48 schools, the poverty rate is 97% or higher.
Many of the schools with the highest poverty rates are among those with the lowest student test scores. Educators worry about a lack of resources to support the children and their families. About 40,000 more students are eligible for free school lunches since 2009.
I actually got into an argument with someone about the lack of resources not being the cause of the achievement gap. “there are schools with brand new computers but the test scores are still low.” ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE? Yes, lets ignore the school where they can’t even afford a textbook for each student because MONEY ISN’T THE ISSUE. Lets continue to let schools cut after school and enrichment programs that they can’t afford because OTHER schools don’t have financial issues.
People who take ONE education class and think they figured out the system that I grew up in make my head hurt.
It should be common sense that Asian American and Pacific Islander students are not universally high achieving and on the college track. But, thanks to the “model minority” stereotype—the myth that all Asians are highly educated and financially successful—the academic challenges that AAPI students face are frequently ignored. AAPI students encounter teachers who believe they’re intrinsically smart, and any extra help they need will come from their parents—who are, of course, penning the sequel to Amy Chua’s controversial Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother book. Well, according to several AAPI higher education organizations, the latest report from the Pew Research Center, The Rise of the Asian Americans, only serves to reinforce those damaging stereotypes.
The report combined census data and telephone interviews with 3,511 adults over the age of 18 who represent the six largest Asian-American ethnicities: Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese—groups that comprise 85 percent of the nation’s 17 million Asian Americans. Pew’s number crunching reveals “Asian Americans are the highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the United States.”
They found that 61 percent of recent Asian immigrants have a college degree and 49 percent of Asian Americans over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree or higher. In comparison, just 28 percent of the general population has a degree. And, when it comes to the whole Tiger Mom stereotype, 39 percent of respondents say that Asian American parents put too much pressure of their children to succeed academically, but only 9 percent believe American parents go overboard.
The report goes on to detail how Asian Americans don’t feel they’re affected by racism and are “more satisfied than the general public with their lives, finances and the direction of the country, and they place more value than other Americans do on marriage, parenthood, hard work, and career success.”
But a joint statement from the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund and the National Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Research in Education says painting such a rosy picture ignores the challenges around poverty and educational access that recent AAPI immigrants face. They also warn that promoting such an image of AAPI students contributes “to their exclusion from federally-supported policies, programs, and initiatives.”
The groups note the Pew report excludes data on the Cambodian, Hmong, and Laotian communities, which have poverty rates similar to the black and Latino communities. Far from being model minorities heading to college en masse, the AAPI education groups cite data that shows that 50.2 percent of Pacific Islanders and 40.3 percent of South East Asians haven’t gone to college. For those who do manage to get there, a significant percentage—over 56 percent for Pacific Islander students and 45 percent of South East Asians—don’t complete their degrees.
Indeed, while the Pew report touts the fact that 70 percent of Indian and 53 percent of Korean immigrants have college degrees, what’s buried in its pages is the nugget that in 2011 half of those immigrants received green cards because of employer sponsorship—meaning American companies are recruiting highly educated workers from Asia and enabling them to come here.
In comparison, just 1 percent of Vietnamese immigrants—”the only major subgroup to have come to the U.S. in large numbers as political refugees” can say the same. The AAPI education groups also note that although the Tiger Mom stereotype is admired in some circles, that kind of pressure means “AAPI students have some of highest rates of stress, anxiety, and depression.”
The groups caution that reports like this one from Pew “tell only part of the AAPI student story” and are sure to be used as an excuse to ignore the needs of AAPI students. Instead, what’s really needed is “purposeful research and action that aligns with the reality of AAPI students’ lives” and helps them overcome the “barriers that hinder their ability to earn a degree.”
This is a brilliant approach to love. Although written by a religious man, the approach is about relationships between people, not about faith. I highly recommend everyone to take the quiz at least once. Understanding more about yourself, your needs and your partners’ needs can only serve to improve communication and an equivalent exchange of those needs.
- Words of Affirmation
This is when you say how nice your spouse looks, or how great the dinner tasted. These words will also build your mate’s self image and confidence. Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.- Quality Time
Some spouses believe that being together, doing things together and focusing in on one another is the best way to show love. If this is your partner’s love language, turn off the TV now and then and give one another some undivided attention. In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.- Receiving Gifts
It is universal in human cultures to give gifts. They don’t have to be expensive to send a powerful message of love. Spouses who forget a birthday or anniversary or who never give gifts to someone who truly enjoys gift giving will find themselves with a spouse who feels neglected and unloved. Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.- Acts of Service
Discovering how you can best do something for your spouse will require time and creativity. These acts of service like need to be done with joy in order to be perceived as a gift of love. Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.- Physical Touch
Sometimes just stroking your spouse’s back, holding hands, or a peck on the cheek will fulfill this need. This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.Determining Your Own Love Language
Since you may be speaking what you need, you can discover your own love language by asking yourself these questions:
- How do I express love to others?
- What do I complain about the most?
- What do I request most often?
Speaking in your spouse’s love language probably won’t be natural for you. Dr. Chapman says, “We’re not talking comfort. We’re talking love. Love is something we do for someone else. So often couples love one another but they aren’t connecting. They are sincere, but sincerity isn’t enough.”
9 Words of Affirmation
9 Quality Time
0 Receiving Gifts
4 Acts of Service
8 Physical Touch
Cool
Richard Arum & Josipa Roksa, Academically Adrift (via wretchedoftheearth)
I can’t even count how many people I know that will refuse to learn anything that isn’t going to be on their test. A large portion of these people are studying to be doctors, engineers, politicians, and lawyers, and they do this is classes within their major as well as GE requirements. They are deliberately not learning something they need to know because all they care about is achieving a higher grade and thus going to a better grad school and having better credentials.
Agree with President Obama that Congress should prevent federal student loan interest rates from doubling for more than 7 million people on July 1? Awesome, here’s where to say so.
6 things you should know about student loan debt
Masturbation is the self-stimulation of the genitals to achieve sexual arousal and pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm (sexual climax). It is commonly done by touching, stroking, or massaging the penis or clitoris until an orgasm is achieved. Some women also use stimulation of the vagina to masturbate or use “sex toys,” such as a vibrator.
Who Masturbates?
Just about everybody. Masturbation is a very common behavior, even among people who have sexual relations with a partner. In one national study, 95% of males and 89% of females reported that they have masturbated. Masturbation is the first sexual act experienced by most males and females. In young children, masturbation is a normal part of the growing child’s exploration of his or her body. Most people continue to masturbate in adulthood, and many do so throughout their lives.
Why Do People Masturbate?
In addition to feeling good, masturbation is a good way of relieving the sexual tension that can build up over time, especially for people without partners or whose partners are not willing or available for sex. Masturbation also is a safe sexual alternative for people who wish to avoid pregnancy and the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. It also is necessary when a man must give a semen sample for infertility testing or for sperm donation. When sexual dysfunction is present in an adult, masturbation may be prescribed by a sex therapist to allow a person to experience an orgasm (often in women) or to delay its arrival (often in men).
Is Masturbation Normal?
While it once was regarded as a perversion and a sign of a mental problem, masturbation now is regarded as a normal, healthy sexual activity that is pleasant, fulfilling, acceptable, and safe. It is a good way to experience sexual pleasure and can be done throughout life.
Masturbation is only considered a problem when it inhibits sexual activity with a partner, is done in public, or causes significant distress to the person. It may cause distress if it is done compulsively and/or interferes with daily life and activities.
Is Masturbation Harmful?
In general, the medical community considers masturbation to be a natural and harmless expression of sexuality for both men and women. It does not cause any physical injury or harm to the body, and can be performed in moderation throughout a person’s lifetime as a part of normal sexual behavior. Some cultures and religions oppose the use of masturbation or even label it as sinful. This can lead to guilt or shame about the behavior.
Some experts suggest that masturbation can actually improve sexual health and relationships. By exploring your own body through masturbation, you can determine what is erotically pleasing to you and can share this with your partner. Some partners use mutual masturbation to discover techniques for a more satisfying sexual relationship and to add to their mutual intimacy.
Masturbation 101
