The Darkside of the 2014 Tumblr Era

 

    Trigger warning: Mentions of eating disorders and body image

    In 2022, people have been nostalgic wishing for 2014 Tumblr to come back. People want to go back to the good ol’ days where they could post soft-grunge pictures and listen to The 1975 all hours of the day, except there was always something darker underneath the surface. One minute you can be scrolling through pictures of smoke and fire and the next you’re seeing pictures of sickly thin girls in knee-high socks. The hashtag ‘Pro-ana,” starts flooding the screens of thousands of girls.

    Pro-ana is short for pro-anorexia, the content under this hashtag promoted extreme food restrictions and anorexic behavior to impressionable teenage girls. Pictures of collar bones and calorie charts were some of the things you’d see under that hashtag. You’d find blogs teaching young girls how to be stick thin and how to maintain that. Tips and tricks on how to avoid getting caught by your parents, teachers, and doctors flooded the site.

    The community was huge, thousands of people would reblog posts of Barbie dolls posed next to toilets and text posts like, “skip dinner, end up thinner,” and “your stomach isn’t grumbling—it’s applauding.” Years before this, in 2012, Tumblr tried to block all pro-ana content from the site, but bloggers found other clever ways around the new guidelines. They usezeros instead of o’s and use the blue butterfly emoji to let other bloggers know they are pro-ed. Even today, in 2022, there are still very active pro-ana blogs that still post.

    Munmum De Choudhury’s research paper, “Anorexia on Tumblr: A Characterization Study,” showed that social media interventions, like Tumblr attempting to ban pro-ana content, without educating teens left them feeling isolated and alone with their eating disorders because they didn’t know where to go to find accurate information on recovery. Deep in the pro-ana tag, you could find blogs dedicated to helping people find the proper resources for recovery, but after that ban, a lot of teens were left alone. It’s too late to dwell on the past of how Tumblr should have handled it and now it’s time to look at the present.

    Where is pro-ana now? Well, it seems like TikTok filled the void Tumblr left. TikTok is a great platform for creativity but there is still room for improvement. On Occasion, depending on your ‘for you’ page you’ll find ‘What I Eat in a Day’ videos that normalize eating hardly anything as if it’s healthy. There are also times when a girl will just post herself dancing and people will comment, ‘Guess I’m not eating today.’ There are users on TikTok that will call out people for their pro-ana and thinspo behavior. Although more needs to be done than just a call out. Content that talks about eating disorders in an educational way need to be pushed forward more than content that is centering around enabling eating disorders.

References

De Choudhury, M. (2015, May). Anorexia on tumblr: A characterization study. In Proceedings of the 5th international conference on digital health 2015 (pp. 43-50).

OnlyFans: What is the appropriate age to start one?

 

    OnlyFans is a website where content creators can monetize their work directly. In the recent years the majority of content creators on OnlyFans are young women, 18 years old or older, that make explicit NSFW, not safe for work, content. OnlyFans has given creators a platform to do sex work without facing the exploitations found in the porn industry. Creators are given full control over their income and how they distribute their content. Although OnlyFans has sexually empowered women and helped them explore their sexuality, there is something concerning about the rise of young girls creating OnlyFans accounts as soon as they turn 18.

    Last year, Danielle Bregoli, known by her stage name Bhad Bhabie, made an OnlyFans account the day she turned 18. According to Billboard, Danielle broke OnlyFans record earning over $1 million dollars in just six hours. This year Danielle posted on her OnlyFans earnings on Instagram and made over $55 million dollars. OnlyFans as a platform is not the problem, nor is sex work. The issue is that Danielle’s content was consumed by older adults. There is speculation that many older adults were waiting for Danielle to make her OnlyFans since she was a minor. This speculation comes from Reddit where there are many forums dedicated to ‘counting down’ the days till young celebrities and influencers, mainly girls, turn 18. The speculation is, somewhat, confirmed when Danielle made a tweet insinuating that she created her OnlyFans account because she grew tired of her fans asking for it.

    There’s no surprise that people are infatuated with ‘barely legal’ girls. The porn industry, for example, has categories surrounding ‘barely legal’ girls and uses the schoolgirl trope a little too much. Around Halloween time one of the most common costumes is a schoolgirl or a Japanese schoolgirl. This is barely the surface of the iceberg, according to the Girl Scouts of America alone one in ten girls are catcalled before they turn 11. This is a problem, a major one. There are young girls out there that see content creators around their age do these things and think to themselves that they can do it too.

    The Daily Mail released an article saying that police and child protection services have received reports of young girls, youngest being 13, who have used OnlyFans to share explicit content of themselves. The article talks about at 14-year-old girl that used her grandmother’s passport and bank information to set up an account for her. They also found a 17-year-old girl that was selling videos of herself on the platform and received over £5,000 from her subscribers. The article reports similar things happening in the U.S. where school safeguarding officers found children as young as 12 using OnlyFans to reach out other adult creators and wanting to meet up.

    OnlyFans took this seriously. They closed the accounts, refunded people their money and have worked closely with law enforcement to flag optional accounts run by minors. Though these efforts are good, more must be done. When young girls see their favorite content creators joining a platform and making large sums of money, they’re going to want to do the same thing. Too many young girls are waiting to reach 18 so sexualize themselves in this way. They should be able to express themselves sexually without the eyes of strangers. A possible solution for a part of this problem could be OnlyFans raising the age to 21 to make an account. 21-year-olds are more mentally developed then 18-year-olds, so they should be able to make decisions like this.

References

Mailonline, K. F. F. (2021, April 10). Girls as young as thirteen are tricking onlyfans age verification system to share explicit content. Daily Mail Online. Retrieved April 10, 2022, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9624827/Girls-young-thirteen-tricking- OnlyFans-age-verification-share-explicit-content.html

Mamo, H. (2021, April 2). Cash her online: Bhad Bhabie breaks onlyfans record, earning $1M in 6 Hours. Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2022, from https://www.billboard.com/music/rb- hip-hop/bhad-bhabie-earns-1-million-dollars-onlyfans-9550662/

One in ten girls is catcalled before her 11th birthday. here are 6 things parents can do about it. Girl Scouts of the USA. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2022, from https://www.girlscouts.org/en/raising-girls/happy-and-healthy/happy/stop-catcalling-girls- and-sexual-harassment.html

Google Walks for Women

NPR.org/Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images

   Around the globe, Google employees walked out of their offices in protest of the company's mistreatment of women. Reasons for the protest were not solely based on sexual misconduct, but unequal pay and opportunities for their female workers. Richard DeVaul, a director of a parent company associated with Google, resigned in late October after he made advances on a woman he interviewed. 

   The walkouts were based on 5 major points shown above, which employees demanded to be implemented (npr.org). Arguably the most popular search engine and one of the most successful companies on the planet, Google is the standard for Internet users. Women who climb the corporate ladder are not the only ones facing sexism and discrimination. Female office workers are often belittled and "asked to take notes" during meetings about stereotypical male activities, even if they hold a leadership position. The aforementioned article discusses Nicole, who was interrupted by male clients during meetings about college football. The field of sports is typically associated with men, however, when a woman is involved, they may feel challenged by their male coworkers about their knowledge of topics discussed. Older women in the workplace may also contribute to sexism, as they observe their younger counterparts who are assumed to begin their own families. 

   Major companies like Google will hopefully raise more awareness of women in the workplace and how they seek equality, not superiority, with their fellow male employees. 

FeMEME Fatales

    The Internet's definition of a "meme" is relatively simple: it is a humorous image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by Internet users. However, many of these satirical images do not do justice to the subjects they are representing, which in this case, is women. The 6 images above summarize the search results for "women in memes," and unfortunately hearken back to vintage, often sexist advertisements of the 20th century. 

  

   Many memes featuring women are bluntly sexual, refer to relationships, overreacting or domestic life, as shown in the collage above. These themes are stereotypical summaries of the daily life of a woman, as shown when an innocent image is paired with text attempting to portray a humorous message. The bottom right image is one of the few positive search results that I found out of approximately 300. Similarly, when a woman is shown in a professional or heroic position, such as the astronaut below, a critical or jarring comment against her success is made. 

Black Frame Fame

Pinterest

   Furthermore, many memes highlighting feminism are sarcastic and untrue, often portraying the woman as whiny and unattractive. Quotes such as "a man told me to have a good day. #Triggered" and "insulting men is okay. Insulting women is sexist" paint negative pictures on what feminism is based on, as well as how feminists look/act different than the rest of the population deemed more desirable. As a whole, the influx of negative memes about women may not stop due to society's idea of characterizing an innocent image with an apparently humorous message to relate to people's lives or the behaviors they observe around them. 

Living A Double Life: How Social Media Affects Teenage Girls

Huffington Post

   While perusing the Internet and all of its social media platforms, I have come across a barrage of teenage girls' profiles, the majority of them being edited with filters. Apps like Snapchat and Instagram allow users to enhance their photos with contrasting light and various features for their faces. The animal filters on Snapchat add a new dimension of "cuteness" for girls to explore, while the floral, fairylike graphics provide a seemingly flawless appearance. According to Business Insider, teenagers adore social media because they are able to "make [their] friends jealous" and create virtual "stories" of images/videos that amplify their vacation's importance. Girls attempt to emulate celebrities with millions of followers, such as the Kardashians, Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez, by photographing themselves with everyday items that have a cult following, such as Starbucks. 

Twitter

     Singer/songwriter Cailee Rae (pictured above) illustrates that an innocent activity like drinking coffee is worthy of documenting, along with a pair of sunglasses and flirty pose. This inspires girls to seek the same attention from their friends and feel like leaders when they mention the amount of followers they have, creating their own apparent fanbase. 

    

    However, in actuality, many girls who are obsessed with social media live a double life. The countless images and videos that characterize the life they want to market towards others only reflect certain moments of their day. An article on The Age website mentions how Camryn, a teenager famous for her Instagram selfies, "spends ages putting on make-up, doing a look, turning her head, pouting and twisting for the mirror and her phone camera." Another social media-famous teen named Vali appeared in an interview wearing a basic T-shirt, denim shorts and bitten nails, contrary to the flawless appearance she is known for. Therefore, social media may paint an unrealistic picture of its users if they commit to persuading others that their life is seemingly perfect. 

Celebrities engaging in Snapchat's popular filters

 

Girls Just Wanna Have Sun - How Society and the Internet Builds Confidence This Summer

My Style Authority

   Pools, popsicles and sunglasses are keeping us cool this summer, not to mention the different trends in confidence-boosting swimwear for women of all shapes and sizes. Stores such as Forever21 and H&M have added plus-size models of different races and realistic sizes in their online swimwear sections. This encourages young women to feel positive about their bodies during the summer months, where clothes typically show more skin. Today's average American woman stands taller and weighs more than previous decades, typically at around a size 14. Compared to models of a thinner body type who wear sizes 0-2, women with curvier body types such as Ashley Graham, are considered plus-size. In 2016, Graham modeled for Lane Bryant's new line of lingerie for full-figured women, including bras of a larger, more comfortable size than similar brands.

   "People like Kim Kardashian have a shape that we haven't seen represented so much before. The reality is that the average American woman is a size 14, and the fact that we haven't been representing her or talking about her is a huge smack in the face," Graham stated in an interview with The Daily Beast. Advertisements depicting women who are "beach body ready" often show figures so thin that Photoshop is the only possible way to achieve them. This is shown below, in an infamous ad from Protein World, a British weight loss supplement.

NewsTarget

   Similar images have been present for centuries in various forms, beginning in the 16th century. Corsets constructed with curved whale bones achieved a voluptuous, hourglass figure that was popular in France, the fashion capital of the era. In the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie, Elizabeth Swann (played by Keira Knightley) faints from the corset that restricts her breathing, plummeting towards the water below. This silhouette is still desired, as it is thought to be a symbol of strength, confidence and beauty. However, fashion companies are becoming increasingly sensitive to their customers, who reflect healthier body types that are more common in society than the models portrayed.

My Learning

Beauty over body rights?

     What we learn today will prepare us for tomorrow. Yesterday's lessons and plans are part of the future. Everything we do is getting us ready for what we want, need, and will have earned in that time. The future of a woman's body is changing. From the advanced surgeries and preventions techniques/methods to perfecting the body to unrealistic goals is unimaginable. Living in a world that is focused on looks is disappointing. Looks change, emotions change, and ultimately we as humans aren’t perfect human beings. It’s funny how no one says anything about a woman who gets a boob job and flaunts it for the world but when a breastfeeding mother is feeding her baby the world goes crazy. The importance of inner happiness surpasses the ideal images we have collectively as a society pressured on women. No matter the issues women face today it will not be the last struggle to conquer.  

     As an individual I express and share my views through social media platforms. Advocating for women to have rights over their own body no matter the country, race, or religion that is in jeopardy over a basic human right. It’s not just about looking good but the things that happen to women who go through instances in their life that feel the need to use medical or other measures to take control over their life physically in appearances. Looks aren’t the main concern in society as it used to be with the boob jobs being normalized and even lip injections are a thing now. However, a more concerning issue is the right of abortion or women’s birth control access through organizations like Planned Parenthood are an ongoing debate in this political climate. It’s not just here in the US it’s in other countries across the globe fighting for women to have the right to choose what to do with their body. Women are allowed to change/enhance their appearance with few issues in terms of backlash but an abortion is a sensitive topic that boils some people's blood.

     Every situation is different and I believe it should be treated that way. Having a justice law or ruling to follow as a guide but it should be handled with compassion and understanding. It is complex but can be simple with more discussions that plan to take action and use trial-error methods to find the best possible solution to this madness. Share your thoughts on what you think and discuss it more with friends or family members. Opening and engaging the dialogue will only lead to better solutions/ideas.  

Aging as a Woman

        Is age a thing anymore? Does a number matter? We see beautiful talented women who are older like J.LO with younger men talked about in the media. We constantly talk and gossip about women more when they are older and doing things we “expect” from younger women. It’s absurd the whole subject. I don’t think it’s a cultural issue more so than a world wide society problem because it is a constant topic spoken about in mainstream media. Once a woman is considered “old” and does things like wear certain clothing or is dating again it’s like she is not supposed to do those things once she is a certain age. I don’t understand why people care. Why it bothers them? Someone enjoying their life in a healthy, happy, successful way it has nothing to do with you so how come you talk about it like it’s affecting you? Okay enough with the questions, for now but on serious note it’s concerning these mind-sets some people have. Aging as a women is rough already with hormones, menopause, and just everything in between. Adding others unsolicited opinions and suggestions on your life is annoying. Sure as a female I can ignore those comments but it does affect one’s personal thoughts, decisions, and actions.
        As women we are always going through these stages in life where society says we have an “expiration date” or a “deadline”. Oh and my favorite “your time is ticking or almost up”. I understand that no one is the same age forever or we don’t keep the same energy, body, and even same mind-set that we have in our youth. It’s the way of life. What I don’t like is others telling women we need to hurry up on things that don’t need to be rushed. Men do not always get these pressures and a spotlight like women. They don’t feel the pressure. Is it about gender or just age? Do men get pressured eventually on matters similar to women like getting married or settling down having a family etc.? Sometimes I think men do have similar experiences but overall a woman is likely to have her age be the talk of the town compared to a man. I still have “time” but with social media displaying women having their “life together” it puts a indirect pressure towards women. On a physical aspect of the body, face, and features. Looking your best is great but everyone doesn’t have money for lip fillers. Aging causes one to reflect on life. I personally do  not want to reflect on my life remembering all the times other people told me how to live my life. I especially do not want other women to feel that way no matter the age or stage they are in life. Age should not stop or interfere with one's goals or plans in life. Do what makes you feel comfortable, confident, and happy.

A sense of fashion

    Now more than ever have we become more accepting to women in particular with their fashion choices. It still needs more work but it has progressed and that’s worth talking about. Today, one could go out in the world and see two things: 1. A woman wearing barely anything and 2. A woman covered or dressed modestly. Interesting that both will be judged no matter what path they chose. Both are happy with their choices. However, why does both woman be considered oppressed by their societies they are in? Why does their even have to be a standard dress code for women? Oh, because our way of dressing will catch a man's attention and God forbid he can’t control himself seeing some skin or anything attractive? It doesn’t matter what women wear something will always be said. Might as well do what makes you happy.What’s it with a piece of clothing that makes either a fashionable statement or a political/controversial one that gets everyone talking? The way women are dressing today compared to 30 years ago has change tremendously. We don’t even think sometimes we just dress the way everyone else does sometimes just to fit in. Avoid the gossip but people still find a reason to talk. Questions are always being raised on the appearance of how a woman is dressed more than a man's appearance.

    The important message women are sending to the world speaks through their fashion sense or choice of clothing. Currently the fashion industry is leaning toward modest fashion wear due to a high demand from religious groups. From swimwear to even baby wear it’s available. Usually we see less fabric on clothing but now we are working to meet the needs of everyone. Because we all got to wear something. This new turn in the industry is receiving positive feedback and consumers are happier. Having more options of what to wear is always a good thing. It gives self confidence and more importantly choices for women to feel in control of how they want to express themselves. This shows how women are taking control of a male driven industry. Working to design, distribute, and connect with women by women. Girl power is strong and it’s continuing to grow. The important take away is to remind yourself to not worry about what others say or think as long as you feel comfortable, confident, and content with you choice of clothing nothing else matters.

A woman's mind beyond her body

     Living in a generation that is becoming more accepted to the roles women are taking in society is major progress. Seeing women being authentically and unapologetically themselves in everyday life is inspiring. This may be controversial topic but intended to be a focus on something many brushed off their shoulder/thoughts that is important to be addressed. Recently I just watched the Netflix series of the O.J. Simpson trial. The trial of the century as we all know but something interesting about the series is the real raw portrayal of the prosecutor Marcia Clark. In 1995, women were just becoming more recognized through career advancements. A woman prosecutor is not easy as it was a male dominated field. However, Marcia Clark despite losing the case has changed the views of many Americans nationwide on showing a woman's mind can go much further than what her body can take her. It’s a biased mentality our society has instilled within us. A cultural issue that women are only as good as they look. This is a toxic way of thinking. Teaching young girls and women that their mind isn’t enough but it is. Marcia Clark may not have dressed well or have the expectations society placed on her but she was driven, determined, and did a hell of a job at stopping some critics. Her focus was the trial and reaching a wider audience by showing what a woman is capable of accomplishing. Her determination to end domestic violence before it reaches to unimaginable ends such as Nicole Simpson.
     Being a lead prosecutor is an important role and it was admirable to see this on national T.V. during that time and it continuing to be spoken about. Clark was not treated fairly during the trial even by women. It is astonishing to think that just because she is a woman she didn’t deserve the same treatment and respect as the other male lawyers/colleagues in that court room. No matter what was thrown her way she persisted and stayed strong because she knew this wasn’t about her it’s more than that. Marcia Clark is a leading example on how a woman's mind is far better than physical/visual aspects. It’s the inside that always wins. I encourage those who plan on watching the series pay close attention to Marcia Clark and even watch the real court recordings. Both are similar but her portrayal in the series shows a different side of her based on true events. It’s worth the time to watch and think about why she was treated that way and would it have been different if it were a man? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Making Friends with Technology

Preteen girls can now learn programming from plastic bracelets.

These bracelets, adorned with a flower, assist girls in developing technical skills, as well as interacting with each other socially. This type of jewelry is unique as it promotes both programming and physical contact between its users, which goes against the reoccurring theme that technology isolates people. In order for the bracelet to work to its full potential, girls must download the Jewelbot app on their mobile device to customize the colored light notifications. When a friend also wearing a Jewelbot is nearby, both light up in relation to which color each girl assigned that specific person. If all the girls meet wearing their bracelet, each one is illuminated in a rainbow of colors.

However, this trend extends farther than being the source to find friends with similar interests. Girls can program their bracelets to glow when they receive messages from their individual social media accounts (such as blue for Facebook), updates to parents, as well as personalized reminders for day-to-day actions.

Fashion and function are the two key parts of Jewelbots, created by Sara Chipps, Brooke Moreland and Maria Paula Saba. Chipps is a co-founder of Girl Develop it, a nonprofit that teaches coding to women, Moreland is an entrepreneur specializing in technical fashion and Saba currently studies Bluetooth after graduating from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program. Altogether, Jewelbots encourages girls to be involved with technology and be inspired by each other's eye-catching jewelry. It is a great way to integrate fashion without superficiality to girls coming-of-age and learning that technology isn't characterized by "nerdy" stereotypes.

Grace Hopper: The Woman Who Did It All

   Determination, creativity and bravery are three traits that Grace Hopper possessed during her lifetime. Her interest in math and physics, which she later studied at Vassar College, began as a child, when she was curious how alarm clocks worked. Her analytic, exploratory nature led her to earn a Master's degree and Ph.D. in mathematics at Yale. As one of the first women to earn such a degree, she also continued to teach at Vassar College until she decided to join the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1943, participating in WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). 

   During World War II, her skills in mathematics were in high demand as she learned to program a Mark I computer at Harvard. After the war ended, she discovered that a moth had infiltrated the Mark II computer and turned it off, popularizing the term "computer bug." In 1949, she supervised programming for the UNIVAC computer and later on, her team became the first to create the "A compiler" for computer language (code). At age 60, she was called back into Naval service because of her technical acuity in programming language and became a rear admiral before retiring completely in 1986. As a workaholic and success in her field, she continued computer work until her death in 1992, at age 85. 

   Overall, Grace Hopper dedicated her time and intelligence to essentially create a new, universal language used in computers. She was awarded the National Medal of Technology, besides 40 honorary degrees from various universities. Organizations and programs to honor her legacy were created, such as the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference, aside from the Grace Murray Hopper Award. Women such as Grace are defining figures in the world of computer science and how people are able to communicate with each other via technology. 

A Lego created on Etsy to commemorate Dr. Grace
Hopper's outstanding achievements 

One of Glamour's Women of the Year: Bono

During Glamour magazine's awarding of its 2016 Women of the Year, the phrase "one of these is not like the others" seemed to apply. Bono, singer-songwriter and philanthropist (two of the many hats he wears) was included in the lineup besides Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and ISIS survivor Nadia Murad, among others. Bono's charities and passion for gender equality were recognized, as well as his new campaign "Poverty is Sexist," which is "aimed at helping the world's poorest women."

He humbly accepted the award, presented to him by comedienne Amy Poehler, stating that "I know how ridiculous it is for me to be on this stage." However, his speech continued with comments about how equality between men and women starts with both sexes unifying their common beliefs instead of dividing them. "We're largely responsible for the problem, so we have to be involved in the solutions," he declared.

For 26 years, Glamour declined previous male nominations, however, Bono's constant advocating for women's rights and environmental issues made him the exception. According to NPR, the magazine's award going to a man was inspired by other "women-friendly actions" of other men, such as President Obama's statement about being a feminist himself. The Internet was obviously torn between supporting Glamour's decision to award a male because of the traditional nature of the women-only lineup. The positive aspect of this, however, seemed to overshadow the negative sentiments because of Bono's statement about how men are an influential part of establishing equality for women. It challenged the way that people think about gender-inclusive awards and organizations. If society truly wants equality, why have gender-specific groups being strictly enforced?

Bono's speech can be viewed here.

Insider Profiles: Why I Love Tecna, the Fairy of Technology

Tecna, Winx Club Member and Fairy of Technology

As someone who is an avid fan of art and animation, I learned about Winx Club on my travels around the Internet. The Winx fairies, a troupe of teenage girls who strive to save the universe and battle opponents, inspire girls to be headstrong and intelligent. One of the founding members of Winx is Tecna, the Guardian Fairy of Technology from the planet Zenith. Her home is characterized by droids, Techsquirrels and technology-generated weather. Tecna set herself apart from other "magical" cartoon characters for many reasons. Her self-confidence and knowledge she shares with others promotes digital literacy, as well as inspiring young viewers to enjoy science.

The importance of including Tecna in the cartoon realm is a major part of educating girls about technology. On the Winx website, her page illustrates her biography and "netiquette" for fans to adhere to while online. Tecna also shows diversity from other cartoon teenage girls with her love for her boyfriend, Timmy. Timmy behaves shy and clumsy around others, displaying intelligence that is celebrated by his friends rather than thought of as being nerdy and irritating. Tecna's math and science skills come into play when she and her team are battling foes, which lends an intellectual mind to the series. She shows that technology can be portrayed in a feminine way with her clothing style and love for computers. Girls who watch Winx may decide to embrace their love of STEM, as the fairies demonstrate aptitudes for adventure, leadership and scholarship, differing from other cartoon television shows of their kind.

The many faces (and transformations) of Tecna

Beyond the Pink: Plastic Crossbows, Young Inventors and Dolls of Diversity

  

As the holiday season approaches, parents and relatives will experience new added features in the toy aisles. Along with traditional Barbies, board games and stuffed animals, toys that reference science and technology will be present. Outdoor-related toys, such as Nerf, have been coveted by boys for years, however, the brand has expanded its market towards girls. Rebelle, the Nerf line of brightly-colored bows and arrows and foam-shooting guns, appeals to girls who enjoy being adventurous. Roominate, a collection of engineering toys that allow children to construct colorful amusement parks, dollhouses and other cityscapes, has defined a new branch of engineering-inspired entertainment. Girls may build their own houses and dance studios for their dolls, which helped shape their "spatial skills," as a STEM study found. Roominate also encourages education and diversity with their library, laptop station and rocket ship playsets. These gifts inspire girls to not just play with them, but embrace the feeling that they created each part themselves.

Hasbro's "Nerf Rebelle" and Roominate's engineering kits put smiles on creative girls' faces

Besides toys that promote adventurous or scientific attitudes, themes of diversity are becoming present among traditional dolls. Websites, such as ToyLikeMe.org  expand the market to children with disabilities and health complications, "smashing the stereotype" of perfectly-constructed dolls with unrealistic body types. If children with cochlear implants or prosthetic appendages see these toys from a young age, they may feel that their condition is accepted in society instead of being perceived as different from everyone else. Tinker Bell dolls fashioned with hearing aids, Legos walking with seeing-eye dogs and Star Wars Stormtroopers sporting prosthetic legs inspire young people, as well as adults, to recognize that toys sharing their same disabilities remain as heroes.

Likewise, Mattel has recently revised its collection of Barbies with its addition of tall, curvy and petite dolls. The brand will expand to 33 new dolls, with various skin and hair types that reflect realistic body proportions. "We believe we have a responsibility to girls and parents to reflect a broader view of beauty," stated Evelyn Mazzocco, senior vice president of Barbie. Children usually mimic the actions of others and by accepting different cultures and body types expressed in the toys they play with, their own self-esteem may benefit in the long run.

Beauty Standards Are Present In Virtual Reality?!

Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Tall, tan and most likely under 25. This is the description of the ideal woman, who is thought to be sought after by men and held to the highest beauty standard by women.

I personally have seen this concept in action, on the game Covet Fashion, created by Crowdstar, a mobile entertainment developer. I have played the game for a little longer than a year and enjoy customizing virtual models in designer clothing available for purchase outside the app. Users expand their digital closets by voting on other outfits created by fellow "Coveters," which gives them access to new hair and makeup styles. However, during the duration of my gameplay, I noticed that olive-skinned (light tan) models with blonde hair score better in public voting than their darker-skinned counterparts, unless the challenge involves a safari or hip-hop theme. The overall assumption that colored women cannot represent futuristic, fairylike or traditional bridal themes present in the game can be loosely based in prejudice, as well as ignorance. For instance, the images below are advertisements for Covet Fashion. The first graphic consists of 21 virtual models, where only 7 reflect darker skintones. Likewise, the same white model with a platinum blonde bun is repeated 5 times when the opportunity to present new cultural backgrounds could have been utilized.

Crowdstar is not fully responsible for the issue of white models garnering better scores as it is up to the users to vote for the models that are submitted. The integration of new makeup to embody Indian culture, such as a bindi and nose ring, are being implemented, as well as new body shapes arriving in mid-December. Nevertheless, Covet Fashion advertisements almost always depict white models and the new, plus-size or petite bodies will be selected by Crowdstar for a given challenge instead of users choosing which they would like to clothe. Hopefully in the future, similar mobile games will advertise more ethnically-diverse models to inspire their audiences to see beauty in every size, skin tone and culture. 

Unfortunate differences in scores and skin tones are shown below. 

    

         

"Top looks" are the outfits created that have the highest score, as seen below. Often, they are all identical.

Cyber Monday: Gobbling Up Good Deals

From: piZap Blog

 
   Today is the day that Americans give thanks for their friends, family, health and everything that makes the other 364 days worth waking up in the morning for.

   However, the family-friendly dinner that is most recognized with Thanksgiving has a new counterpart besides Black Friday: Cyber Monday. According to the Fortune website, approximately 23% of Americans will participate in Black Friday shopping at the physical store, which is a lower percentage than previous years. In-store holiday shopping seems to be waning because of greater deals lasting an entire month instead of one day like the past. In 2015, online shoppers spent $3 billion during Cyber Monday, visiting more than 4,500 retail websites in their pursuit of gift giving. Cyber Monday, which involves one-of-a-kind deals featured in online stores, generates millions of revenue for companies, as well as happiness for its participants.

   Overall, Cyber Monday has many benefits. Shoppers may browse desired products in the comfort of their own home, lessening the pressure on their families to go out after the big meal. Websites generally cover a larger surface area of consumers than storefronts, as more enticing deals persuade them to add promo codes to their online carts. Walmart claimed that it broadened its product scope from 8 million to 23 million items, making 2016 their largest product assortment of all time. Besides, who would want to battle with other shoppers in the middle of the night, often to the point of physical contact?

From: The Telegraph

   Similarly, as Cyber Monday's popularity rises, the desire for updated technology ensues. An Xfinity television commercial explored the popular belief that the elderly are not as technically-inclined as millennials, which has proven to be untrue. I personally have mixed feelings about this advertisement, as the couple's granddaughter deems their house "the gates of hell" because they simply do not house Xfinity's voice-command products in their living room. As the commercial progresses, both grandparents adopt new technical skills to conform to the digital craze of the current era, instead of teaching their younger family members the value of face-to-face contact. The commercial can be viewed here.

    So, whether you are technology-obsessed or prefer socializing in the "old-fashioned" way of speaking to people without a smartphone present, enjoy everything that comes with the holiday season.

Pin Your Clothes with Solidarity

After the election resulted in Donald Trump becoming the 45th president, safety pins began appearing on the clothes of Americans. Usually associated with punk rock fashion, they have taken on a new meaning in 2016 as a symbol of solidarity for minorities, victims of discrimination and homophobia.

According to PBS.org, this trend originated after the UK decided to leave the European Union. Soon afterwards, people defended their choice to represent their beliefs with a safety pin, claiming that it was "not a political statement," but a "humanitarian" effort to combat bigotry.

Fear arose when elected Vice President Mike Pence supported so-called "conversion therapy" to attempt to revert gays back to being heterosexual. Many same-sex couples and minorities living in towns who support Trump feel targeted and victimized because of the traditional conservative beliefs around them.                                
                               

   As a result, Americans have decided to hold public events where they provide safety pins to participants who agree with the phrase "I am an ally." People wearing these symbolic pins have posted on social media that they are willing to speak with those who feel terrified about the outcome of the election or are fearful about how it will impact their own lives. Teachers and celebrities supporting minorities and victims of homophobia and racism have made their opinions public, to spread friendship instead of fear.