Mason Deaver’s novel “I Wish You All the Best” dives into complex issues within the LGBTQIA+ community. The story begins with Ben coming out to their parents as nonbinary and being kicked out of their house, to then living with their sister and exploring their queer identity in an accepting environment. Analyzing the themes of...
On February 29th, 2024, I received an email with the subject line “Congratulations!” With my curious personality, I decided to immediately open this email to figure out why I would be congratulated. In opening this email, I found out that I was being awarded a Lorch Award (The Dr. I. Joan Lorch Award for Women...
Photo by Ingo Doerrie on Unsplash The concept of ‘realness’ is a term that is for and against gender norms at the same time. According to the film Paris is Burning, ‘realness’ means to be able to blend and “look like your straight counterpart” (18:43). But what is your straight counterpart? How does one fit...
Photo by Olena Bohovyk on Unsplash Social and legal name changes are a popular topic within the queer and trans community. But, while it’s become easier to change your name on your government I.D. in certain states/countries, it is much harder to change your name as an author in a well-established career. This question came...
The feminist philosophical theories of bell hooks on consciousness-raising are significant in analyzing the themes of gender within the 1980 film, The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter. Media such as this film portrays gender and feminism in many different perspectives. While the media in the 1940s depicted women working in the home or...
Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash Abortion is a primary example of how divisions in gender and class create injustice. These divisions are due to the social stratification of power between women and men and between the bourgeois and proletariat classes. With the recent overturning of Roe V. Wade, abortion access in the United States...
Photo by Les Anderson on Unsplash The Christmas season is full of old and new traditions, festive music, movies, and books, plus loads of delicious treats. Traditions surrounding Christmas have evolved greatly throughout the years and are just as diverse depending on the ethnicity/background of the family you spend the holidays with. As my family...
Photo by Karina lago on Unsplash The Moulin Rouge (est. 1889) is a place of magic, where one can be met with various identities and backstories. This significant piece of French history was transformed into an artistic rendition of a musical romantic drama film in 2001, with Australian Director Baz Luhrmann running the show. The...
Whenever I tell someone that I’m a Gilmore Girls fan, I receive the question in response, “Are you team Dean, Jess, or Logan?” Originally, I was a Dean fan, as most people start. But as I re-watched the show and matured, I quickly became a Jess fan. As someone who studies communication and relationships between...