Understanding the Pro-Ana Movement- Part 2


Following on from the previous post on this topic, this post aims to deliver a better understanding on what’s behind “pro Ana”. Once again, this may be triggering for those who have recently been affected by an ED.

“It is because of the media”

We know that it is easy to come across some really toxic diet culture, which can obviously lead to people developing unnecessary unhealthy perceptions about food and their bodies. But it’s unlikely the media alone would be the primary cause toward someone developing an ED. Yet it could possibly provoke the development of an ED to someone who is already at risk. Yet the general causes of EDs can include genetic factors, other mental health problems or difficult experiences. Meanwhile an ED certainly isn’t something that someone can just “snap out of” therefore the media cannot be entirely to blame…

The media can however look like a strong cause of EDs on the surface, due to how the blogs are often made up. Though in reality people who post “pro ana” content aren’t doing so due to what they see on the media, but instead it is as a representation of their internal thoughts. This is due to the space those sites provided for people to express their ED related thoughts, where others are actually going to understand. And the extent to which the content is explicitly associated with EDs would simply be forbidden on the mainstream media for obvious reasons.

“But they are Just Triggering Others”

Ok, so pro ana content is definitely somewhat triggering. But people on there don’t actually want to encourage the development of EDs. Rather most content creators actively tried to discourage those in recovery, or those unfamiliar with “pro ana” from visiting, while they were very supportive of anyone choosing to begin recovery. So if the users didn’t intend to encourage EDs, how come they released content explicitly promoting unhealthy bodies, and behaviors? Well the websites were more as a platform where people could be brutally honest, without the fear of judgement. Where they were connected to many going through similar struggles, feeling like a support system where other issues as well as food were also discussed.

Another issue was that EDs weren’t expressed as illnesses, not even diets but “lifestyles”… We know that an ED cannot be a lifestyle, but there’s a sad reason as to why they were expressed in this way…

So Why?

As an illness it can be extremely consuming, preventing people from partaking in activities most would take for granted. Therefore it can be referred to as a “lifestyle” to cover up the true pain which they cause. This is exasperated when recovering is either impossible or seems insufficient for the person. This way people find they have no choice but to stick to an ED, and seeing it as a lifestyle may seem like the only way they can cope…

But why is it Glamourised so much?

We have seen “Pro Ana” take place in many forms, from the almost “philosophical” writings, to the jokey videos produced on TikTok… This is all part of the glamorization of mental illness (I have made a post on this before!) which arises from how they are stigmatized and due to how rubbish living with it is.

This can of course be seen with probably all mental illnesses, although I feel with EDs it can be rather more triggering, which is why it can be seen as so much of a problem.

So What is the Real Problem

So after my rant, lets see what the root of the problem may be… Often I think it boils down to insufficient access to services, making the choice of recovering far more difficult for many. On top of a general lack of understanding.

Finally I am aware that all experiences with EDs are unique, but I hope I have covered the general issues with this.

I Still Don’t Know What to Make of the Pandemic:


Most of us have an opinion one way or another. Some still believing that a lockdown is the only viable option, while others now strongly opposing it. Some have thought that strong lessons are to be learned from the pandemic, which could spark significant and hopefully positive change in the future. At this point, to admit you are not sure what to think is going to be slightly embarrassing, but surely I am not the only person who still doesn’t really know…

The Dreaded Lockdown

Knowing that a vaccine is on its way, it would be nice to think that the second lockdown we have experienced will be the last one as they will no longer be necessary. But come on! Realistically, come January there won’t have been many people at all who have have actually been vaccinated. Whilst Christmas will have passed, and we know that many are going to want to make the most of it, therefore we will be in the same position as to whether to have another lockdown or not…

Of course this lockdown would be different yet again, but the strong moral reasoning behind them is what all 3 lockdowns will have in common. Yet there will be others who feel that the consequences of lockdown are being sidelined, due to the fact that they cause things like the economy, people’s jobs and most importantly people’s mental health to suffer. This way where am I supposed to stand on it, when I don’t even know the long term affects would be either way?

So What Will This all Mean?

It would be nice to think that the pandemic will finally enable some people to realise that anything can happen to anyone at any time; whether it is relating to health or a job loss! Because everyone has been affected in such a short period, so you would think this could spark change… However judging from the way people bulk brought loo roll, twice, could suggest otherwise. Yet it would be nice to think that the result of the pandemic will teach the importance of being kinder to others…

Back to Normal?

Who remembers people saying they couldn’t wait to return to normal, back at the start of lockdown? Funny we were proven wrong, with statistically a significantly larger number of people saying they didn’t want that. This could be reasons such as personal comfort or deeper reasons such as not liking the current system we are in. Yet equally change could cause considerable fear to many…

So it is certainly true that covid has and will continue to change things, and I am pretty sure things will never return to quite like before. Yet who knows exactly how things will change…

If you have any views then please let me know in the comments 🙂

Are Influencers Really That Bad??


“Once upon a time the beauty world was filled with professionals. Hard working makeup artists, well qualified photographers and of course only the very best models; pristine in style, refined in nature. With few in number, most knew who they all were. Instead now we have had an influx of these so called “influencers.” The fact that they lack taste isn’t even the problem, but it is that they exacerbate the issues which were already too apparent…”

Oh and before you ask, there is a distinct difference between what a celebrity is and what an influencer is! A celebrity becomes famous through the traditional means including television, radio and magazines, while an influencer becomes famous through the internet. And we probably already know how things can become out of control on there. Yet fundamentally we determine how famous they become…

But Online it is all the same but Worse!

True. The number of items including detox drinks, skin care products and different makeup produce that we are bombarded with by rich and famous influences seems to be endless. And although very similar adverts have existed long before the internet, the very fact that these are on screen, available at the palm of our hand worringly proves the extent to which we are exposed to this. This not only means that we are being further stretched into buying whatever it is that they are advertising, but we will become more influenced by the unhealthy standards they are also promoting. Because thinking of it, most of us have far more in common with the average influencer compared to the average celebrity even though we know their lives are being carefully staged online. This way we are more inclined to feel like we need to live up to these lives, feeling they are expectations for normal people, rather than someone with multiple people to spend hours on themselves. While in reality we know the extent to which some of the lives of influencers are filtered…

Does anything positive come out of this, or does it foster more hate?

So whilst the internet has seemed to expose us to even more toxic standards, it has actually enabled us to be exposed to a few “real” people as well. Of course this is brilliant as it means that more people can look up to someone who empowers them rather than making them feel worse about themselves, but sadly this also brings about consequences. As an example Jalicia Nightingale has an extremely rare condition that causes loss of pigmentation in the skin, hair or eyes. Of course she had a really positive affect on huge numbers of people, but this is the internet, meaning that she was going to get a high amount of hate as well… Although it is not important that a higher number of people are able to discover their worth online through finding people who they can resonate with? As we need strong people like her to show people who may have previously felt sidelined, that actually looking different can be, and is beautiful! And whilst not everyone may be ready to have a rounded view of beauty, and for a good while hate is going to be an inevitable consequence of the online world, we need to remain optimistic. As in the long run, we will hopefully see a wider range of people as role models representing style, therefore it will enable more to feel happy about themselves.

Can the Hate Ever be Stopped?

This is a very difficult question, as hate in this respect has always been apparent, and it is very visible now. So how is this going to disappear? Well it is important to recognise that there have always been beauty standards, but as society has evolved, so have they! As once upon a time it was desirable to have a more curvy body, then all of a sudden we were bombarded with media telling us to be thin. Now the reasons to this may seem unresolved however it is thought that it is due to the role women played in WW2 to act in jobs which used to be occupied by men. Now this may seem abstract, but the reason for this was that it became more desirable for women to have a body closer to that of a man… But how are we going to change once again? Well it could be said that as many people actually see different types of look of being equal of worth, and as the internet enables people to express it a little more, it means that there is room for a wider range of standards. Obviously the more rigid standards are going to stick for a while yet, and off course the internet is going to play a major role in radiating some of this as well; but it is important to realise it also provides hope…

Conclusion

It is fair to say that the internet and influencers have a lot in common because thinking of it, if there wasn’t for the internet, there wouldn’t be any influencers! Like how the internet enables us to make our lives appear perfectly ideal, it also does it for influencers. This can obviously lead to negative side affects as it can lead people to feeling bad about the life they lead, or about themselves. But perhaps in the long run, our ability to choose what influencers become well known by engaging, may have a very extremely positive impact. We are already becoming more educated on the affects of “beauty standards” and we all know deep down that they do not reflect the wide range of what people really see as attractive. and naturally and quite rightly, many of us are becoming a little fed up. Therefore people shouldn’t be as fast to judge in relation to the impacts of the internet, as we all know that original beauty standards did not originate there and if anything it enables us to be more open to what they should now mean.

Understanding “Pro Ana”- Part 1


This post is going to discuss sensitive matters relating to eating disorders therefore I strongly suggest against anyone who is either suffering from, recovering from or who has recently been affected by an eating disorder reading this. I am most certainly NOT promoting anything in relation to what I am posting about and I have never been a part of it. But the first post (what you are reading now) will give an insight into the history of it, while the second aims to provide a greater understanding.

What is “Pro Ana?”

“Pro Ana” refers to “a movement that promotes anorexia nervosa as an acceptable lifestyle choice”. This may seem rather vague and funny until you read on and understand more about this. But to make things clearer for now, “pro ana” usually refers to the glamorisation, and even teachings of the behaviors associated with anorexia and other eating disorders.

How it Orginitated?

Centuries ago, long before the term came about, it is speculated that “pro Ana” behaviors were promoted. Such as under the rule of the Catholic Church in Europe, women who performed extreme fasting were phrased as holy. Jumping to the 1990s as the internet rose, people suffering from EDs and not necessarily in recovery began to congregate on chat rooms such as yahoo…

However as you know, most things deemed inappropriate on the internet will eventually get found out, leading to the removal of the content. This is exactly what happened around 2000. Chatroom users therefore had to find a new “space” to congregate, ideally somewhere a little more quiet where there was less chance of them being discovered. An individual website/blog was perfectly ideal. But from going from a small chat room to a full on website, created a whole new scope for content to be published. Leading to the potential for words and graphics having a far longer lasting impact.

The content which would get put onto the few websites at the time, was agreed upon by a few people who had initially met over the chat rooms. The illness was depicted as a “philosophy”, “art” or even “science”. Although from a grammatical point of view, the content was very well written (far better than how I write😜) which included phases like “mysticism”, “saviour that enlightens” and “esoteric, spiritual, or philosophical paths of self-transformation”. To sum this up, the content appeared to be embracing anorexia as literally a “lifestyle”, for the “elites”, as if it was literally being promoted. However reading between the lines this is more of a silent cry, as if the creators felt like there was no alternative for them. Therefore the only way to cope was by pretending it wasn’t an illness, and in essence strongly glamourising it.

How this took off?

Come the mid 2000s, these websites began to spring about all over the place. Which was probably where the movement became known and gained its identity. Yet the content significantly differed from the original websites that had been set up, as much of it was taken out of context. Instead of the text resembling a sad “reality” that the creators and readers probably shared to an extent, these websites were far more explicit, far further reaching and I would argue more dangerous. Images of skeletal frames (mainly of young white women) were shared around as “inspiration” whilst diet and exercise “tips” may as well have been named as “ED tendencies”. Young girls without EDs (labelled as wanna-rexics) were attracted to the websites, although it is hard to know the extent of how much they would have been affected. More chat rooms and “buddies” emerged, and even so called coaches who would claim that they would “teach”usually young teenagers how to develop an EDs by giving them advice and asking for body checks emerged; who in reality were pedophiles!

Tumblr and TikTok…

Not before long, much of the content seen on “pro Ana” sites moved onto tumblr. Here the content was potentially more damaging as it was easier for it to reach people. This was as many of the “pro Ana” blogs shut down. I think here the competitive nature really was augmented as young people could look up to the bloggers endorsing it, and it made body and diet comparisons easier still. This of course spilled onto other forms of social media including Instagram, twitter and even Facebook, however as you can probably guess, these pages got wise to it over time and took down the content which was harmful. Then for a couple of years, it seemed as if this movement had quietened down, due to the improvement of regulations, although of course it still occurred. But now we have TikTok…

Arguably what we see on TikTok now is the equivalent to what was seen on tumblr, although the majority of videos on TikTok certainly aren’t explicitly providing tips and images of small bodies which people should aspire to. At the surface we have people literally documenting their personal struggles; often their very small bodies and their unhealthy tendencies are also shown. Now there may no longer be a “community” where people can express their deepest thoughts concerning the illness, leading to the acceptance of very unhealthy tips and bodies, however these videos can give off a very similar message to someone who is trying to recover from an ED, which can be extremely triggering. However the nature of these videos could still be just as harmful if they reach the wrong people and what’s really worrying is that they may well be more likely to do so. Thanks to how videos on TikTok are presented to viewers through an algorithm. Which cannot always distinguish between seemingly between content with parallels, meaning that often someone who searches for pro recovery content will end up having far more triggering content in their feed. There may no longer be a “community” where people can express their deepest thoughts concerning the illness, leading to the acceptance of very unhealthy tips and bodies, however these videos can give off a very similar message to someone who is trying to recover from an ED, which can be extremely triggering.

As you have gathered, “Pro Ana” has basically been around for as long as the internet; and from this chances are is that it is not going to disappear anytime soon. However much effort goes in to regulating content of the like. Therefore my next post on this will aim to discern the causes of this movement, will argue how harmful this is, and will suggest what really should be done to rid of it.

Is it ok if the music we Listen to is Shit?


Think about who you were at school back when you were 14. Were you one of the many jamming along to all of the mainstream music and booming out the lyrics at the top of your voice? Or were you someone who would gravitate toward the corner of the room, clutching your own MP3 player, earplugs in, despising the noise in the background? Maybe you liked those emo bands! 21 Pilots, MCR or Panic! Or maybe classic rock, indie, or grunge! In that case it is rather likely that at the time you would have detested the mainstream stuff, believing it is very overrated and that it simply was not worth listening to. And so you don’t have to say it yourself, chances are you still do…

It is far more authentic, and far more skill, work and creativity which goes into it, compared to the usual 4 chord EDM stuff which we hear on the radio. However if you enjoy what’s on the radio, should you really feel guilty?

By Force or by Choice?

It could be contested that the poor range of music is forced upon us because it is simply what the radio feeds us. This is kind of true. The radio basically plays music which is catchy and recognisable, enabling the average listener to get know and hopefully like the song fast. Subsequently they will continue to listen to the radio station, while they are more likely to purchase from the artist (really the record company). So it all boils down to money…

A little more complex

But we cannot come to the conclusion that most listeners only listen to mainstream music. The average person spends about 18 hours a week listening to music, and some people of course will spend much longer. It is almost certain that anyone spending this much time or longer is not going to be constantly listening to the radio. Which suggests that most people have a much greater diversity in music taste than it may seem.

A Change in Trend

From this hopefully you will have established that we all have different tastes, yet why has the mainstream obsession changed from RocknRoll in the 60s, rock in the 70s and 80s, grunge in the 90s to whatever it is now. Well things change all the time, styles, ways of life, food, you name it! New ideas which have emerged have explained the evolution of music. Combining this with new technology and you really get a new domain to explore. Which explains why things have changed so drastically!

Is it even that bad?

Now I am no expert on music, but it is quite clear that the general dynamic of music is changing, at least to a certain degree. As rather than the sound being produced by organic instruments, it is done by a rather clever computer (and many smart producers). Admittedly I enjoy listening to this kind of music, and this type of music most certainly is being utilized outside of the mainstream. Therefore it may be time to admit that the change in music is exciting, and not all of these songs are produced lazily. Onto the lyrics, yes a lot of modern popular songs seem to be about “sex, sex, sex”. But come on! It is not like this became a new phenomenon in 2000. Therefore not all of the music we are fed may be brilliant, yet not all modern can be labelled as rubbish. Meanwhile surely there is no harm in unwinding by listening to something less deep but more fun.

To sum up, there is maybe less reason to be ashamed of our new established favorite kind of music than what we may think. More skill may go into computer music than we may think, and I would argue that judging from our nostalgic love for old music; guitars, pianos and violins aren’t going to go anywhere too soon. Meanwhile surely allowing ourselves unwind by listening to a fun, and not too emotionally intensifying song should be allowed. Although saying this, it is equally important to bear in mind that the main objective of the mainstream music industry, is unfortunately, to make money. Therefore it is important to ensure that continue to enable ourselves to enjoy a wide range of less well known music, whatever type of music that may be.

Christmas Catastrophe


From the moment of writing this entry, it is about seven weeks until Christmas. Four of these will be during our second lockdown, our second time of being made to stay away from coronavirus. There is speculation that this “wave” may be worse than the first, potentially meaning there will be a need for a lockdown extension. Or yet another lockdown. Meaning Christmas may not be Christmas at all, as will either be unable to see family and friends, or we will be worried…

Yet this may well not be the case, because it is quite possible that the purpose of this lockdown is to enable Christmas to go ahead… So great- we might be OK! But even so we all know that Christmas is going to be very different, and far more stressful than it has been in the past; as if the usual hustle and bustle isn’t enough! And this time round everyone is going to be desperate to meet with people they may have not been able to see in months. It is likely to be more emotional as people will finally be able to see those who they have missed for so long, while let’s face it, there will still be restrictions in place. Of course there will be people who are going to take the restrictions more liberally whatever happens, while we will all try our best to have a good Christmas, without it being too lonely or illegal.

Rule of 6

One of the biggest dilemmas I reckon will be relating to how many people individuals and families choose to see at a time. Because legally we know that something similar to the rule of 6 will be in place, even if it is loosened for a few days. Therefore everyone is going to be concerned to the extent to which they follow these rules in place. Because although what we hear on TV about the fear of leaving out family members we don’t like too much at Christmas sounds rather dramatic, it is a genuine problem that so many families face- and could genuinely generate significant conflict.

A Sudden Change

Furthermore as I am writing this I am sat on a seemingly isolated bus, apparently situated in the middle of our town center. It has barely gone half past four, yet the night is already drawing in. There’s a few people there and about’s, but really it is pretty lifeless. Compare this to an average day in December. Usually the towns are packed out full of Students, Grandparents and excited children alongside slightly less excited parents. Elaborate decorations lie in every corner; from bold Christmas trees to slightly shitty Santa’s (sorry kids!). And while not everyone is going to be happy, at least everyone is embracing the Christmas Spirit to some degree. Which is something we could all do with a little extra of this year. Therefore judging from the way the streets look at the moment, if Christmas is going to go ahead, then there will be a drastic change in a short period of time. What’s worrying about this, is that considering the strong reason for why things are so strict at the moment; should things really be relaxed to almost the opposite so that people can enjoy Christmas? Even if you agree on this, there are going to be many people who may not. While some may even question whether Christmas is really worth all of this trouble, and may just prefer it if potential relaxations over the Christmas period could just be swapped with a slightly less strict lock down year round.

No Money?

Yawn, this does sound like a really petty reason, but we all know it is sort of true. That this year more so than ever, we are anxious about the economic situation awaiting us, once the festive season is over. Although from a personal point of view, as I am young people aren’t going to expect me to have money anyway, so if I accidentally “forget”, then all is understood😵

Although I don’t think anyone will envy families with multiple kids at the moment to buy presents for, because most will fear that kids will be deeply disappointed if they don’t receive many presents. While we know this is going to take a toll on those who do end up purchasing presents, meaning there will be further stresses, so either way you cannot really win…

But why is this all so strongly based on materialism? Should Christmas not be about sharing time and enjoying money with loved ones, rather than an opportunity to receive material produce, and give material produce that you aren’t even sure people are going to like? Therefore consumerism and materialism shouldn’t come into it! I know that sidelined from Christmas, economic hardship is still going to be a massive issue. Which may prevent people from enjoying Christmas, due to extra worries. Nonetheless this shouldn’t be something that removes all of the enjoyment out of Christmas, and thinking of it this way it certainly shouldn’t be something that we should be stressed about in relation to Christmas…

So Should we Celebrate

During “normal” years Christmas is used as a time to reflect upon the previous year that has passed, however I would imagine this year has been a year that most people want to forget. While what is there to celebrate? This can make Christmas seem rather naff. But seriously I am sure everyone reading this has experienced difficult years before any bloody pandemic came along. This way, although this is the first time when things have been visually disparate, we have all experienced a mentally challenging Christmas. And while this further differs in that this is something the whole Nation is going through, there is no moral reason as to why people shouldn’t be allowed to celebrate.

Again not everyone’s Christmas stays the same throughout their lives either, while this year many people are going to have to adapt in how many people they see at a time etc. Finally I know not everyone celebrates Christmas massively, or at all; but it is still important to find a moment to reflect and get some enjoyment out of- whatever the situation. Therefore Christmas time doesn’t have to be catastrophic.: and it can still be enjoyed without being glossy or big.

Personal Update- 22/11/20


Hii, well it looks like I haven’t done one of these personal update posts in ages, so here we go I guess. Sorry I haven’t done one of these posts in a while, but I have been busy with sixth form, work (although I am currently furloughed) and well procrastinating I guess. While to be honest I have been debating whether I ought to carry making these more personal posts, or whether I should stick more firmly to a political kind of niche. And if I do carry on making these updates, then I would produce other more personal posts, so please let me know what you would like in the comments 🙂

Well nothing too significant has happened between now and last time I posted an update, however I did manage to get a new job, a couple of months ago now? Time goes so fast haha. But the pay is decent, and I actually enjoy it.

I am aware that I have been spending less time on this blog in the last couple of months, basically because I have been busy, already said that but never mind. I am wanting to try to experiment more with using different social media platforms to promote my content, and to get back in to using Instagram. So incase anyone is interested, here is the link to my home page. Just scroll down to the bottom, then you should find my links.

Concerning sixth form, I am slightly less stressed about A-Levels than I was back in September, as I have basically accepted my predicted grades (they’re not even that bad tbf, and if you disagree with the view that grades don’t define you then you are welcome to fight me haha ) and I can still apply to uni. So it’s all fine. But next week I am hoping to send of my personal statement so hopefully then I can start to get offers, fingers crossed….

Whilst exams are still up in the air, as they say that exams will go ahead, but will they? It is a pain because it means that 100% effort basically needs to be put into ever “assessment” done. For now I would rather forget about “school” anyhow as I know I have so much work to do next week…

Please don’t even ask me about driving lessons, because once again they have been stopped for the time being due to covid. While I feel I am not making that much progress, but I now hoping to get (the cheapest and shittiest) second hand car, so I can actually get it insured and prractice on it whenever the fuck I want. Well not literally, but ya know.

Ok so enough about myself for now, but lets talk about what is going on in the real world. So Trump is still proving to us that he is a massive loser, there is speculation that there is going to be an extension to this lockdown, while the UK and Canada have agreed a post Brexit Trade deal. Ok, so it is not that exciting, but at least it is something. Oh and the vaccine, so there is hope.

So if I do carry on doing personal updates, I may well do one sometime in December, just as I will be turning 18 (yikes) and things may well have changed a little by then.

So bye for now, and hope you all have a good week 🙂

“Positivity on the Internet”- Does Anyone Actually Need it?


Guess what people, I have some really super positive news for you. YOU YES YOU!! “Everything you need will Come to you at the perfect time”, “Every day is a chance to change your life“, “Happy Monday, it is going to be an awesome week”.

Enough? Alright it is actually ok to feel that these didn’t really motivate you much, and I know that you are not the only one. As these quotes can certainly be misinterpreted in various ways, while when being bombarded by them on the internet, it can be rather annoying…

Saying this, it can seem rather silly to question something which has been scientifically proven to motivate us. Yes, really. This is due to the nature of how these quotes are presented, including the “coaching factor” where the quote leads some people to feel they are being somewhat “coached” along the way to achieve something. Whilst the “power of language“, and “the primal aspect” (explaining how humans are naturally inspired) further lead to the success of these. However the clique that some of these quotes hold are not always going to be helpful, and sometimes I feel they can stimulate us in wanting to do things which aren’t necessarily healthy or desirable.

Too Motivating??

So reading up about posts telling us that we should work harder, work longer hours and perform more vigorous exercise is all good, until there comes a point where they make us feel guilty as we feel like we are not sticking strongly to these principles. Meanwhile if we are more directly influenced by sayings like these, we may think that we are doing ourselves a favor, but there may come a point where we end up preventing ourselves from doing the things which we love in life whilst being in a state of constant exhaustion.

Therefore it seems as if too much motivation in life isn’t always going to be good for us, or good in general. But what are some of the deeper implications of this?

The Wrong Life

Alright, so as already touched upon, these quotes may be well meaning, but following these religiously isn’t always going to guarantee a fulfilling life. “Some people dream of success, others stay awake to achieve it”. Fair so it is well meaning, however the broader meaning of this could that it is more than alright to stop caring for yourself in order to become more “successful”. Meanwhile the amount of work someone chooses to or not to put in, doesn’t determine their value and worth as a person.

What’s more is that quotes telling us that we need to be constantly focusing on work could suggest too that it is alright to miss out on other aspects of life. Which can subsequently lead to anyone ending up devoting insufficient time to the things in life which matter such as time with family and friends, time snug up with a book or even time spent walking the dog. Now amongst all of of what we see telling us how work orientated our lives should be, it is important to ask ourselves whether we really want this kind of life.

Unhealthy

So from what I have already said, you can probably gather that buying too much into quotes like these isn’t going to be too healthy, because we either end up not allowing sufficient self care, or we merely end up feeling bad about ourselves. Subsequently this can lead to a decline in mental health, simply because we are not giving ourselves adequate rest, while we are putting ourselves under too harsh expectations. This can lead to a viscous cycle where we are always expecting more from ourselves, rather than being satisfied by any improvement or change, causing unnecessary stress.

Now this may seem like a not too relevant example, but just take exercise and diet culture. In spite of what’s true, we are told everyone’s body has the capacity to become “leaner”, “stronger” or “thinner” as it can apparently be molded into any shape of our choice. This can lead to feelings of unworthiness concerning body image, and while eating healthy and working out is of course good for us; when people take this to another level or when people feel less worthy due to their lifestyle or even body image, this becomes a problem. This is also obviously relevant to work.

Um so you are being a little fake now

So these quotes can be looked at into depth, however being realistic not everyone is necessarily going to read that deeply, or be affected that heavily by them. However just by glancing over some of these quotes, they do seem rather intimidating.

“Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere”. Helpful? Um, I am not too sure. While it is telling people that there is no point in worrying about something, people regardless of whether they struggle with anxiety or not, are probably going to know this. This way, the quote is likely to have nothing to it, apart from being patronising. And while it can potentially lead to further adverse affects, thinking about it from a simple perspective, it and so many others are just rather irrelevant.

Am I Taking this a bit too far?

Yes is probably the short answer. Because generally speaking few people are going to heavily overlook something which they come across on the internet. However they do seem rather unnecessary, and it is important to keep in mind that they could potentially have a less positive impact.

It is therefore important to either carry on ignoring quotes like these if they don’t interest you, or take them with a nice pinch of salt. Remember you are validated! Meanwhile no one let anything patronise you about how you should be feeling, when you know that you know better!

Why we Should try and Remain Optimistic about the Outcome of the Presidential Election:


Have these last few days been historic? Trump v Biden eh? Some may really hope so, but if you have clicked on this post then I am sure you have some idea of how politics works, not only in the USA but really in the world. One party (or leader) gets elected, then they have a certain number of years to make an impression. And depending on the quality of their performance, the more or less likely it is that they will be re-elected again. Eventually of course the steering wheel will need turning, or even the whole car if the leader has been particularly bad. As however good an effort one party or leader is putting in, eventually citizens will become fed up. The public’s discontent will also be reflected in the media, as it reflects and enhances what everyone is feeling telling them to vote for something new. Essentially though it does seem that there are always going to be some people who are going to support a particular party or ideology, however irrational this may seem. But overall it seems as if change and history are just repeating themselves; over, and over, and over again…

This way it can seem as if we have no reason to feel optimistic about the election of Biden, due to the fact that many of Trump’s beliefs still persist among many Americans, as well as further afield. Therefore, with only 4 years for Biden and his team to prove himself, the result off the election could easily differ again as candidate with similar views to Trump is elected once again. However it is possible that the election of Biden could represent maybe just a little change in tune of attitudes within the USA.

So Why Did People Vote for Trump?

So even to me it doesn’t seem like too long ago since Trump won the 2016 election. I will be honest and say I wasn’t too politically literate at the time, however I remember hearing that he was “sexist”, “homophobic” and “right wing”. I would have preferred Clinton, but the reasons as to why people actually chose to vote for Trump at the time didn’t really occur to me. But there were a wide range of reasons why people did vote for Trump at the time, ranging from the anxious desire for economic and social security, the desire to revert America to how it used to be, and being in the state of malevolence toward the establishment. There was also the perception that those who vote democrat are of some “elite” middle class, unlike Trump who was perceived to be more honest with and relatable to blue collar workers. Furthermore, as Kamala Harris puts it, people chose to vote for Trump because people know that Trump is “no better” to themselves, concerning views of prejudices. Yet because of reasons including the poor handling of the pandemic, and the extent of changes made by the Trump administration which many anxious voters would have hoped would have been protected by the amount of “checks and balances” there are meant many voters came to the polls reluctant to re-elect Trump…

But already we can see how this is becoming a bit of a cycle, and is likely to make anyone slightly skeptical of politics question whether in four years time, a candidate with similar values to Trump will once again get elected… Plus it is important to bear in mind that 61 million Americans chose to vote for Trump this time round, while of course many voters for Biden would have obviously not have agreed on his political standpoint or even known what it was, but would have instead voted for him because they do not like Trump. Of course it is politics… But saying this, we simply cannot allow the follies of elections (and arguably Biden) to bring us down…

Biden Certainly isn’t for everyone

Now I am not hitting out at Biden by suggesting that he doesn’t really intend to unite America, but rather in reality no politician, or political party is going to be able to impress everyone. As I am sure you are aware, many voted for Biden not because they are convinced by his policies, but rather their political views are more aligned to his, rather than Trumps. Or as I already said, they simply don’t like Donald Trump! Yet this line of reasoning can be contestable, as some may feel they cannot vote for something which may be “less bad” due to them endorsing policies which the voter still strongly opposes. For instance those with beliefs much farther left to those of Biden or the Democrats, may oppose voting for him as he is going to continue supporting capitalist systems. Also who remembers the austerity period by the Obama and Biden presidency? But even if they vote for him, they are unlikely to totally agree with his principles, nevertheless even as the system is skewered meaning the outcome isn’t going to be completely fair or honest, it may just be a stepping stone toward the right direction.

It is about Leadership

The arguably sad truth about politics (at least from what I have seen, I don’t really know!) is that no leader is going to run a premiership where every single policy they set out, is something which they personally strongly agree with. This is just not how politics usually works. Instead they have a wider electorate to appeal to, a party which keeps them in check and certain members who they don’t want to pi$$ off! Therefore the job of a leader is to lead the thoughts from a much broader party, rather than implement their own political agenda (ok so Trump did, but maybe that’s why he has ended up as a loser!) Which is obviously good in the sense that it makes it much harder for a severely corrupt leader to enact severely corrupt measures, although it is not so good when it comes to delivering a positive radical change, or even when trying to stop or start something…

For instance Obama had promised to close the detention facility at guantanamo, a detention center based in Cuba opened by George W Bush to hold terrorism suspects captured overseas after the 11 September 2001 attacks. And while the USA may deny any claims that torture is taking place there, reports say an inmate has been subject to treatment banned under international law. However he did face obstruction under congress at the time, especially when it was (and still is) under republican control. But what’s more is that Obama deported 2.5 million immigrants between 2009 and 2015, not only meaning he has deported more immigrants than any other president, but making this greater than the sum of deports occurring throughout the 20th century. Now it is hard to find a logical way to justify this, however it could be argued that this was the only pragmatic solution to the current situation. And you may quite rightly contest that it was far from the moral thing to do, however the decision probably wasn’t fueled by rampant hate and hostility.

Plus to get a more rounded picture, we need to bear in mind that the Obama administration has began a faulty, but potentially a much fairer system of healthcare in the USA. Moreover in response to the shooting of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, both in 2014, the Obama administration initiated a task force urging that police killings to be investigated by independent prosecutors, while called for ending all racial profiling by law enforcement agencies. Furthermore it is important to acknowledge the efforts made toward tackling climate change from the securing the Paris Agreement as well as investing billions in renewable energy, while creating jobs. A stark contrast to some of the rulings of Trump, it is important to bear in mind that no one leader can paint a “perfect America” while in power, however to varying degrees they are a guide. Therefore voting for the “lesser off the two evils” isn’t a complete waste of vote!

Now to some this may still sound like a very petty/non reason as to why to vote for the democratic party, however surely when we are talking the livelihoods of people, then it is important to exercise a vote to protect and help as many as possible! Therefore with Biden’s varying commitments to support minority groups for instance, should mean that his premiership should at least steer toward a more inclusive society, whether he delivers all of his promises or not…

So there is an Ok leader, but how the heck can things improve from here?

Good question, as looking at the “bigger picture” can seem like clambering out one tunnel just to find yourself in another. Nevertheless the situation in America 100 years ago was incredibly different to the situation it is in today. And this is heavily down to not just the way the public have voted, but due to the known demands of them. Otherwise how can one be expected to win an election? And with the greater transparency of the political world with increased media coverage, more of us are enabled to be more aware of issues on a local and global scale. Therefore as especially the younger generations become more politically aware than ever before, hopefully there will be more concern for human rights, domestic issues and of course issues of race and gender (ties into human rights). This way parties will basically find themselves having to change faster than ever before, in order to appeal to an increasingly informed electorate. While the Democratic party has certainly evolved over the years becoming increasingly pro choice, while until a few decades ago the issue of gay rights weren’t even mentioned; there is even the potential for this process to accelerate as people are more informed and are more equip than ever before to speak up for what they believe in.

A wider Reflection

Just because Trump, the product of millions of who had been galvanized into voting for him due to the providence of a safety blanket for fragile, anxious and angry voters to vent their previously internalized views, has gone; it doesn’t mean that the deeper feeling of anger at the world is going to go anywhere soon, or the unnecessary injustices which go alongside it. Yet Biden has received a higher number of votes than any other president ever has. And apart from a rise in population, this can be put down to two things. One being the sheer incomitance and the unbroken promises from the Trump administration; as blue collar worker’s jobs weren’t fixed, global coordination wasn’t fixed and nearly 250,000 people have died of Coronavirus. This suggests that perhaps Blue collar workers have began to lost their faith in Trump and far right principles, realising that they are less committed to helping them than what they may make out. However another reason could be due to the more liberal leaning of younger voters who may not all have been able to vote in the previous election, as well as further challenges and misjustices presented. From the obvious Coronavirus catrastrophe, to the focus on the brutal racial injustices existing in America as well as all over the world. This could have taught many, maybe those who may not have chosen to vote beforehand, the importance of voting for something which will steer a country in a more progressive direction. With issues like coronavirus highlight the importance of politics in very difficult times, which may just change lives. While the increase in young voters suggest to us all that there is hope for the future that more progressive changes can and will be made.

Therefore although things are very unlikely to change overnight, because of the crazy time we are going through and due to a strong awareness of injustices within the system, it is important to remain optimistic about the election of Biden. With commitments toward leading a movement focused on progressive change, and more people than ever with a strong desire for things to get better, it proves that America could just bee heading in the right direction.

Internalized Sexism/Misogyny


We all know that Sexism refers to prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination on the basis of sexes traditionally against women. While Misogyny refers to the hatred of women, stereo-typically exhibited by men in cases of unequal power balances in relationships, simply dissing women and in extreme cases sexual assault. But what on earth can “internalized misogyny” mean then, because surely women are not going to exhibit sexism against their own kind. Well think again. From the simple act of women accusing women of being “sluts” due to who they have sex with, petty gossips by women about women relating to appearance to the “I am not like the other girls” statement. Yes, we may not realise it because of it’s discreet nature, but it can be so easy to slip into the habit of taking out our unpleasant experiences and exhibit our cultural learning against other women, and ourselves. However it is important to become aware of how we may be enacting sexist attitudes and thoughts towards our own kind, in order to be able to know how to go about tackling this…

At the Workplace:

So let’s face it, despite of what people say, we are still living in a predominately male world of work. Yes of course times have strongly changed since it was expected to stay at home performing all domestic tasks before the husband returns from work, with his dinner at the ready. One could even argue that instead the system prefers women, with girls generally achieving higher educational attainment while women are actually far more likely to attend university compared to their male counterparts. Nevertheless those forking in the juice from their successes tend to actually be men, with all of the top 10 richest people being men. Suggesting that it is either harder for women to get into a top position where they are able to earn a great deal of dosh, or that men have the natural tendency to be more forceful when it comes to business, explaining why they make more “successful” entrepreneurs (at least materialistically). But what does this say about internalized misogyny then?

But still there are going to be times when a woman occasionally happens to be at a high place in a work place. However without necessarily realising, if she uses the same tactics as men in order to accustom further success, such as showing a rather “strong personality”, a lot of women as well as men can dislike this. Both seeing her as a bit of a threat. However women are much less likely to see a man in the same position as a threat, therefore are showing a kind of prejudice and hostility toward themselves due to the confined and competitive nature of the male based work force.

“Bitching“

The sense of competitiveness definitely doesn’t end at work, with many women competing against themselves in day to day life resulting in jealousy. Which can of course manifest in what is known as “bitching”. Furthermore the way the patriarchy teaches that it is acceptable for men to act and speak in a dominant way, without interrupting, while a women being shamed for acting in this way, can naturally lead to women disliking this behavior among themselves. But this doesn’t stop there, as women are taught that a wide range of behaviors and looks aren’t appropriate, which will lead to women disliking things about themselves and others when displaying these “undesirable” values.

Complaining about Bitching

But still there is irony, as quite rightly not highly regarded. In-fact it is hated, and women are accused of “bitching”. As we all know, a “bitch” is also the term for a female dog, funnily showing how closely oriented with women. And there is no equivalent word for men…

The classic term “bitch” doesn’t exactly give us a good name then does it? Therefore there’s no real surprise that a lot of us (myself included) pride ourselves in engaging in bitching less frequently. But without considering the root cause of bitching, it can be very easy to become led astray and claim “I am not like the other girls!” Sadly this desire to want to be “better than other girls” and probably more “masculine”, roots from shame about being female as well as misconceptions. Because what is wrong with being “like the other girls?” Therefore it is important to recognise the causes of internalized misogyny in order to remember to carry on supporting one another.

Sex and Slut Shaming:

Right, so sadly the patriarchy also teaches that if a man chooses to sleep around a lot, he is “bold” or “strong” or a “player”- all described in a positive manner. Nevertheless is a women chooses to sleep around, for some bizzare reason we are just “sluts”, “slags”, “impure”, “unworthy”. Sadly even today, if you listen to a woman speaking about this they are likely to be ashamed, nonetheless generally males are going to have a sense of pride. Proving this way of thinking is very much alive today. But ladies, it doesn’t end there. Whatever women choose to do it is not correct! Because the only alternative is being “prude”. From this it should be quite clear that women are also basically being taught these misogynistic ideas, due to the shame that burdens us for however sexual our lives are. But this behavior can lead to women also choosing to shame each other for the way other women behave- calling them a “slut” or “prude”, while they probably know men who are instead “bold” or “loyal”. Life sucks…

And if this is not bad enough, we can’t even really choose what we want to wear! Wearing revealing clothes is sadly perceived as being “slutty” once again, while wearing less reveling clothes is considered “prude”. And once again, unfortunately this can lead to other women judging each other for what they wear- just naturally I think. Which I feel is also linked to the intense competition which many feel they are in with one another.

So it can be gathered that internalized misogyny is definitely something which is taught to us, as well as something which manifests through our environment because at such a young age we are taught, maybe discreetly, about what women are “meant” to do. Meanwhile as we grow older because there is so much inequality existing for us in differing ways such as regarding partaking in various activities, correlating to how we are expected to behave, it can mean it is ever so easy for us to become more negative toward ourselves as well as toward other people. This way it is important to recognize the signs of internalized misogyny rooted in us, when it acts out against ourselves or against other women. Therefore women really can and should work together in order for things to move forward.