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UK’s Only Gender Identity Clinic “Not Safe” For Children

Ololade Bamigbade
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UK’s Only Gender Identity Clinic “Not Safe” For Children

Puberty blockers have been made available to children as young as ten to hit the ‘pause button’ on puberty. However, evidence for the potential side effects on young children are ‘scarce’ and ‘inconclusive’.

Tavistock and Portman Trust of the NHS, the UK’s only gender identity clinic for children and young people, is to close after an investigation found it “not safe” for children.

Instead, the NHS is set to move patients who believe they are transgender into regional centres that provide a more “holistic” approach to treatments and look after the mental health and medical issues they may need.

Dr Hilary Cass, the consultant paediatrician who is leading the independent review, was commissioned by the NHS to ‘ensure that children and young people are able to access the best possible support from the NHS.’

The Crass Review found that the NHS felt pressured to “adopt an unquestioning affirmative approach” rather than going through “the standard process of clinical assessment and diagnosis that they are trained to undertake in all other clinical encounters.”

Earlier in the year, there was a rising concern that there was ‘scarce’ and ‘inconclusive’ evidence to support clinical decision making, which had children as young as ten years old given puberty blockers.

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Puberty blockers are prescribed to young transgender people who want to stunt the further development of sex hormones and delay the changes of puberty.

Many online articles promote this as a safe and reversible treatment for people struggling with gender dysphoria. Those taking puberty blockers have been told that they can stop whenever they want, and their natural puberty will simply return. However, little is known of the long-term side effects of taking the hormones or puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria. So, this claim doesn’t seem to be based on actual scientific facts.

Ideologies should have no place in medicine but unfortunately they do. Clinicians are bringing their own biases and worldviews to treat children, who maybe having mental health issues or suffering from serious trauma.

Bernadette Wren, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the GIDS until her retirement in 2020, writes in her book: Thinking postmodern and practising in the enlightenment: Managing uncertainty in the treatment of children and adolescents, Feminism & Psychology;

“In particular, how do we justify supporting trans youngsters to move towards treatment involving irreversible physical change, while ascribing to a highly tentative and provisional account of how we come to identify and live as gendered? I conclude that the meaning of trans rests on no demonstrable foundational truths but is constantly being shaped and re-shaped in our social world.“

According to the Guardian: “The NHS’s specialist Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) takes a child’s express gender identity as the starting point of treatment.” Unlike many medical treatments, parental consent is not necessary for this life changing treatment, a child simply has to state that they are the opposite sex and treatment begins – no questions, no nothing.

Research has shown that 90 per cent of children on puberty blockers have gone to have cross sex hormones. These hormones come with high risk of irreversible changes to hair growth, impaired sexual functioning and potential infertility.

It is safe to say that more needs to be done to ensure that children, young adults (and adults) have accurate and exhaustive information available to them before they make life-altering decision such as taking puberty blockers.

Reality TV Has Made Dating Superficial

Ololade Bamigbade
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Reality TV Has Made Dating Superficial

New dating shows are being promoted on TV to help their participants find true love, but with millions of viewers watching each day, how many of us are getting relationship advice from Reality TV?

Every time I turn on the TV, there is a new experimental dating show beginning with the goal of helping its participants to find real love – or something like that. While they claim to show genuine relationships, most reality shows display typical gender stereotypes and hyper-sexualized behaviours.

With Love Island coming to an end and the new experimental show “Are You The One?” starting next Monday, discussing how these dating shows affect our perceptions of relationships is essential.

Every relationship comes to a point when a couple discusses where they are heading: Are we dating exclusively? Do we have the same long-term goals? Are we dating to potentially get married? What’s the plan?

These are hard, uncomfortable questions that could make or break strong connections. Still, they are necessary to ensure that you are in the right, healthy, long-term relationship whilst avoiding potential heartbreak.

Dating shows are exciting, they show us the highs and the lows of people as they struggle to find love. There is someone or a situation we can all relate to that keeps us coming back for more. There is no denying that they are entertaining.

However, looking at the variety of reality dating shows on TV, the goals are anything but long-term healthy relationships. Rather than leaning into these level-headed and serious questions needed for healthy, thriving relationships – shows like “Love Island” promote toxicity, drama and hook-up culture,which could inadvertently affect your thoughts on relationships and dating.

Illustration by Entertainment Weekly

Love is a topic that interests people, it doesn’t matter if a dating show repeats the same storyline or concept – we are fascinated by love.

Psychology Today cited research conducted on 249 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 24; it found that watching reality dating shows relates to ‘adversarial sexual beliefs, the endorsement of a double standard when it comes to sex and the belief that men are sex-driven and that appearance is important in dating.”

The research also found that “men used the shows to learn about dating more than women.”

According to Social Cognitive Theory, people are active agents “who can both influence and are influenced by their environment.” We learn by watching behaviours and repeating those that result in successful outcomes.

Everyone wants to emulate what they see on TV, they want to be able to find love within a week – the perfect man/woman with the perfect body, hair and         (fill in the blank).

It’s no wonder dating has become superficial.

So, should we watch reality TV?

The answer is up to you. However, it is important to be aware of the impact of being overly invested in these shows. Reality TV promotes gender stereotypes and problematic behaviours, and it is not real life. Whilst they are suitable for the entertainment value, they should not be seen or used as dating advice.

Women’s Euros 2022: A Breakthrough Moment For The Game

Hamish Hallett
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Women’s Euros 2022: A Breakthrough Moment For The Game

The final of the Women’s Euros was attended by 87,192 in a packed Wembley stadium, a record for both the women’s and men’s game.  

England won 2-1 over Germany, thanks to an extra-time winner. 

It’s England’s first major trophy in 56 years, with the tournament being a massive success story for the women’s game.  

I explore how this year’s Women’s Euros is a breakthrough moment.

How has the tournament done?

In the build-up to this tournament, there wasn’t much anticipation from the English public. The BBC asked the opinions of football fans about if they would watch the tournament. The responses showed an evident change from a lack of interest at the start of the tournament to  people fully invested in what was going on in the end. Larry Dickens, from Shropshire, said he never bothered to watch women’s football until the Euros. “It has been a breath of fresh air – tough, resilient and honest, superb footballers with excellent skills,” said Dickens. Tim Williamson is another women’s game converter, a 67-year-old Arsenal fan from north London. He said he never took women’s football seriously until the Euros competition. “To my wife’s anger, I found myself screaming and swearing at the set just like I do when Arsenal are playing,” said Williamson.

According to YouGov, 42% of people became interested in women’s sports after watching international events. Photo credit: Forbes.

In total, 574,875 people watched the tournament, more than twice the previous record. The attendance record was also broken at the opening game at Old Trafford, where 68,871 watched England beat Austria 1-0. Alex Scott, a pundit for BBC Sport and former Arsenal player, recalled when people said the women’s game couldn’t fill stadiums due to a lack of interest in the sport. “Back in 2018, we were begging people to host the Euros games in their stadiums. So many people said no. I hope they’re looking at themselves and thinking they weren’t brave enough.” The pundit continued to say that the women’s game is “gathering speed.” she said: “I’m not standing up at corporate events begging for them to get involved in the women’s game. If you’re not involved, you’ve missed the boat. You’ve missed the train, it’s finally left the station, it’s gathering speed.”

Shifting momentum for the women’s game 

This year’s women’s Euros had shifted the momentum for the game, which was gathering pace even before the tournament had begun. Year by year, turnouts to these games increased, television numbers rose, and issues surrounding the sport were broadcasted more and more. Many in the sport, like Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, are labelling the Euros “a tournament for the ages.” The increased professionalism and participation are behind such a shift in attention, which was first sparked by the 2019 Women’s World cup in France. This tournament, in particular, allowed greater sponsorships, like broadcasting deals, which has enabled the sport to be broadcasted to audiences that would probably not encounter the women’s game. 

It is especially the case when you find out that 40% of sports fans report that a lack of media coverage is a crucial driver in not watching the women’s game. The good news is that there is a change in how we view the women’s game. According to YouGov, 42% of people became interested in women’s sports after watching international events. The main thing is to take this interest and generate this into long-term support for the game. It is about increasing investment into the game internationally, nationally, and locally. As Tracey Crouch has said, the game cannot endorse a “culture of dispensability and short-termism” and must look beyond the Euros. What is for sure is that this tournament has brought about a breakthrough moment, and it is time to use this breakthrough to generate long-term interest in the sport.                

Gen Z Leading The Sobriety Revolution

Hamish Hallett
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Gen Z Leading The Sobriety Revolution

Reports suggest that Gen Z are more mindful of their lifestyle, going against the belief that young people like to live wild and free.

This mindfulness includes alcohol consumption, where Gen Z are the generation ditching booze and embracing sobriety.

In this article, I explore why and how this teetotal insurgence has occurred. 

Understanding the rise of sobriety in Gen Z

A report by Berenberg Research discovered that teens and those in their early 20s drank over 20% less per capita than millennials did at the same age. The same report also found that 64% of Gen Z were expected to drink less frequently when they grew older than other generations. Such statistics aren’t to show that Gen Z don’t like a drink or two, but it shows that there is a lot more mindfulness regarding the consumption of alcohol. Finding the core root to what is driving such sobriety is rather difficult. Many factors are involved in such a rise of teetotalism, including mindset changes to political, social and economic disturbances.  

Dr Nahid Dave from Thought Matters, a psychiatrist clinic, found that there has been this “awakening” from this generation to be healthier. She said: “they’re (Gen Z) realising that you don’t have to drink to face life’s ups and downs.” The days when millennials grew up with celebrities showcasing alcohol and going out has now been replaced by people speaking about mindfulness, gratitude journals and quoting “health is wealth.” It is especially the case when exploring the mindsets of Gen Z. A googlethink article discovered that 86% of Gen Z feel mental health is just as important a consideration as their physical health. It also found that 70% of the respondents consider binge drinking as a “very risky” activity, with 41% of them associating alcohol with “vulnerability,’ “anxiety,” and “abuse.”  

Data into the mindset of Gen Z has found that 70% of the respondents consider binge drinking as a “very risky” activity, with 41% of them associating alcohol with “vulnerability,’ “anxiety,” and “abuse.”  Image credit: Independent.  

Economic and political turbulences are worth noting, with rising inflation and living costs correlating with less spending on nights out. Not just that, but the dangers of drinking are more documented. These dangers include spiking and social media clips of drunken behaviour, which has, in turn, put off people from having a drink. Societal changes have occurred where the age of productivity is being prioritised over social outings. Research has found that 82% of young people said they would prioritise achieving higher grades or being successful in a career versus 68% of those who would prioritise being with friends. 

How will increasing sobriety affect the alcohol and hospitality industry?

This trend of abstinence from Gen Z has made the alcohol and hospitality industry rethink how they will promote their products and services. From 2006 to 2016, beer lost 10% of its market share to wine and hard liquor, indicating the need for such a rethink. Such a rethink of strategy by these alcohol companies can be seen by the emphasis on non-alcoholic drinks. Well-known beer companies have now spent 30% of their marketing budget on 0% beer, and this may likely stay the same or even increase in the coming years. It has also been promised that big alcohol brands will fill at least 20% of their global portfolio with non-alcoholic beer by 2025.

There is a rise in morning raves called Daybreakers, a morning dance community of 500,000+ members in 28 global cities that inspires humans to start their day by waking up and dancing in iconic spaces, sober, first thing in the morning. Image credit: The New York Times.

Bars and similar venues have also been impacted and have since tried to adapt. According to Buzztime Business, bars and pubs are offering fewer alcohol-themed activities and more unusual events due to such changes in drinking habits. These events include axe throwing, pub trivia, and DIY activities. A new movement called Daybreakers has also taken off. This recent activity is a morning dance community of 500,000+ members in 28 global cities that inspires humans to start their day by waking up and dancing in iconic spaces, sober, first thing in the morning. Mocktails are also rising in bars and pubs, and juice crawls are replacing pub crawls. 

The data and multiple studies show an evident change in young people’s drinking habits, especially Gen Z. 

This has impacted how society will operate regarding drinking and the respective industries involved in such a commodity. 

Where this sobriety revolution will take us will be fascinating for all observers involved. 

The Death of Instagram: How The App Is No Longer What It Was

Hamish Hallett
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The Death of Instagram: How The App Is No Longer What It Was

Instagram has yet again released a new update, which many users have heavily scrutinised. One of its notable users, Kyle Jenner, has called on the media company to “make Instagram Instagram again.” Adam Mosseri, the head of the app, has defended the changes. Via a video statement, he said: “We’re going to continue to support photos, but I need to be honest: more and more of Instagram will become video over time.” From the constant updates and the app ditching its photo origins, Instagram is no longer what it was and is heading to the grave.

Why is Instagram changing?

There is always a reason behind an app changing, and the main factor is the rise of TikTok. Although Instagram is the third most-visited social network in the UK, TikTok has taken the global number one spot in this category. The Chinese app has risen to fame due to its short-form video content, the virality of funny dances and its duet feature, which enables a video to be side by side with another creator on the app. Tik Tok is the fastest growing app in history and has shifted content from emphasising photos to short-form videos. Such growth from Tik Tok has made Instagram switch from a photo app to a more video-dominated app. Switches include algorithmic recommendations, allowing users to “remix” posts and promoting full-screen vertical video above photos. Instagram’s sister app Facebook has also changed to match Tik Tok by rebirthing the chronological feed and a newly algorithmic “home” tab.

Kylie Jenner, in her Instagram story, said: “Make Instagram Instagram again. (Stop trying to be TikTok I just want to see cute photos of my friends) sincerely, everyone.” Image credit: Influencer Matchmaker.

Such changes from such apps haven’t gone down well with their users. On her Instagram story, Jenner said: “Make Instagram Instagram again. (Stop trying to be TikTok I just want to see cute photos of my friends) sincerely, everyone.” It is not the first time the media personality has commented on a social media app. In 2018, she tweeted about if people use Snapchat anymore, which resulted in $1.3 billion being wiped off this app’s market cap. Could something similar happen with Instagram is still up in the air. Mossier has since defended Instagram’s direction change, including the platform’s “recommendations” feature. He said: “We’re going to need to evolve because the world is changing quickly, and we’re going to need to change with it.”

Competition has ruined social media apps!

Instagram has met its match through the emergence and the establishment of Tik Tok. The Chinese app has done wonders and has gripped many people away from other social media apps that we have used. From such a rise of this app, there was a clear decision to be made by Instagram: stay true to who they are or adapt to the times. Instagram chose the second option, which hasn’t worked well for them. A socioeconomic move called the race to the bottom, where you deregulate something to attract investment, helps create competition. More competition should equal entities trying to improve themselves. Yet, with Instagram, competition hasn’t done that. 

It shows that competition has done the opposite by ruining these social media apps to make them look like Russian dolls. The days when we could see a nice photo of your friend on holiday are no more. Instead, you get videos that lack originality and short dopamine rushes without remembering what you watched. It cheapens videos into something from Aldi rather than having videos that are Waitrose-like quality. This isn’t to bash companies that adapt to the time and want to innovate, as we should strive for that. Yet, it will never go down well when you innovate into something that is no longer what you are, who you are and where you came from. With Jenner making it clear where she stands, we might see Instagram rethinking what they are doing and switch to what it was: a photo app. We grew to love Instagram, but now we are growing to hate it.

Commuters Are The Real Victims Of The Train Strikes: When Will This End?

Hamish Hallett
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Commuters Are The Real Victims Of The Train Strikes: When Will This End?

Over the last few weeks and constant back and forths between the government and members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), another rail strike is upon us. 

More than 40,000 rail workers will go on strike on Wednesday 27th July.

Network Rail says 20% of services will run, with further strikes planned for the 30th of July and the 18th and 20th of August.  

With the constant going back and forth and breaking down of talks between the two parties, commuters are feeling the full brunt of these strikes.

What is the dispute about?

20% of services will run on Wednesday 27th July, according to Network Rail. Image credit: The Mirror.

The disagreements between RMT and the government is along the lines of pay, job security and conditions. Unions want a pay rise in line with the cost of living crisis and inflation, as well as concerns over job losses and working conditions that include unsociable hours and safety on the job. Talks over these issues have been going on for weeks, with no breakthrough. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch labelled the recent pay offer from Network Rail as “paltry” and has been on various media outlets shaming the government and the railway companies over these offers. Such proposals include cutting a third of all frontline maintenance roles and 50% of all scheduled maintenance work, according to RMT. Operators for the railways are sad about these strikes but have felt the need to voice their concerns through strike action. A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents the operators, said: “We want to give our people an increase in pay, but we have a responsibility to do that by making reasonable changes to long outdated working practices – already successfully introduced in some parts of the network – which will improve punctuality, reliability and passenger experience.” 

Network Rail has suggested that a two-year, 8% deal with a no-compulsory-redundancy guarantee and other benefits and extras was on the table. Tim Shoveller, Network Rail’s lead negotiator, has said that RMT had “walked away without giving their members a voice or a choice.” The government has also been critical of the stance of RMT and those striking. In a statement about the strikes, The Department for Transport said it was “now clearer than ever” that the RMT has “no interest in engaging in constructive discussions and is hell-bent on creating further misery for passengers across the UK.”

How do we expect this quarrel to go?

he disagreements between RMT and the government is along the lines of pay, job security and conditions. Image credit: RMT.

This disagreement between the government and unions isn’t likely to end, as there are planned strikes for next month. It seems that it is a summer of chaos for commuters who use the railway for commutes, business and other activities. With 37% of rail journeys in England happening because of commuting in 2020, these strikes will likely be an added pain to inflation, increased living costs and a disruptive economic environment. Who is to blame is difficult to tell, especially where both sides are throwing about so much information like a game of tennis. It is even harder to tell when living in a digital age where echo chambers breed one-sided information and biases. However, the real loser of this affair is the customers. 

All of us use the railway to get to our destinations in a quick, efficient and environmentally productive manner. With the continuous strikes and disruptions, it becomes more and more of a pain for those who regularly use the service. Regarding this specific strike, it will disrupt the Women’s Euros and the Commonwealth Games that are due to start the day after the strike in Birmingham. The hope is these continuous strikes will chip down one or both sides of this dispute to lead to an agreement and end this unpractical affair. How likely will this happen is another article altogether. Yet, it seems we will be in this position of no breakthrough for the long run rather than in the short one. 

Rishi Sunak Vs Liz Truss; Is A Victory For Labour

Hamish Hallett
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Rishi Sunak Vs Liz Truss; Is A Victory For Labour

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss went to blows in the first one-to-one live debate for the next leader of the Conservative Party. 

During the hour, various topics were covered by the two, including economic policy, china, and the environment.

After the hour and reflections on the performances by the two candidates, it was an encounter with a lot of bark but not much bite, which will help the Labour Party.  

What went down?

Answering who won or lost in this television debate is complex. It was constant back and forth and lots of locking heads. Both candidates are divided on the party’s future and, more importantly, the country’s. With Sunak, he is taking the realist approach by backing higher taxes and a more cautious economic strategy. On the other, you have Truss, who believes lower taxes is the way. You could see such opposites throughout the debate. Sunak accused Truss of risking a vast increase in interest rates, while she accused Sunak of “scaremongering” and  “Project Fear.”

image of Rishi Sunak (on the right) and liz Truss (on the left) in action during the first live one-on-one debate. Image credit: BBC.

China’s relationship with the United Kingdom was also spoken about between the two candidates. Both warned of the threat from the Chinese state but were divided on who came to such a view first. Sunak wants a clampdown on Confucious Institutions in the country, while Truss wants a clampdown on Chinese-owned companies like TikTok. Away from the insults that they both threw at each other, this talking point lacked details and measures to combat China. The environment was mentioned briefly, with both candidates taking differing approaches. Sunak supports targets for cutting emissions by 2050, while Truss would suspend the “green levy”, a tax that will be part of people’s energy bills that helps pay for social and green projects. 

There were some pleasant exchanges between the two out of an overall toxic discussion. Both of them commented on each other’s dress senses. They also said they would have each other in their cabinets if they became the next leader. How true this is post-September is up for question. This is especially true when Truss’s team claimed Sunak had been “mansplaining” in the debate. A spokesman for Liz Truss said: “Rishi Sunak has tonight proven he is not fit for office. His aggressive mansplaining and shouty private school behaviour is desperate, unbecoming and is a gift to Labour.”

A hostile stalemate 

Post-reaction of the debate shows a mixed result about how won between the two candidates. Image credit: BBC News.

It was a contentious debate between Sunak and Truss, which was expected. Post-reaction of the discussion shows Sunak slightly ahead of Truss by 39-38, according to a poll of 1000 voters. A survey done by Opinium showed that Tory voters thought Truss did better by 47-38, while Labour voters thought Sunak had the better performance. There is a broader worry that the toxicity and the nastiness that this contest has become is favouring the Labour Party. Sir Keir Starmer will be licking his lips and rubbing his hands in joy over such a hostile stalemate that this debate was. None of the candidates brought anything new and exciting that was unexpected. Sunak showed that he is a very unrelatable private school child constantly needing attention by shouting over the top of someone else just to make a point. Truss is even worse. She portrays herself as this trustworthy, astute figure, but she is anything but that and is more of a car-boot-sell Margaret Thatcher. 

Who will win this contest is still in the balance. Sunak needs to do more to win back conservative voters, especially with how polls look. Winning back voters will be Sunak’s aim for the next debate in August. For Truss, she needs to come out of her shell a bit more. Even though she is right that actions speak louder than words, in debates, words and performance are the things that matter more. This debate was not for the history books as it lacked the cutting edge for viewers. Labour will look at this debate and the leadership contest as a stepping stone into number 10 Downing Street and a way to chuck out the Conservatives, who have outstayed their welcome.  

Are White Women Appropriating Black Women Through Clean Girl Aesthetic?

Ololade Bamigbade
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Are White Women Appropriating Black Women Through Clean Girl Aesthetic?

You may have seen the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic trending all over social media, but you’re probably not sure what it means or where it originated.

The aesthetic draws inspiration from the “no-makeup-makeup” and “model-off-duty looks”, which involved looking polished with minimal to no make-up.

Videos with the #cleangirlaesthetic have garnered millions of views and likes, and it seems like everyone is completely invested in the look and the lifestyle.

A debate about the non-exclusive standard of beauty has been made – many critics of the trend claim that the aesthetic is more toxic than other standards of beauty because of its lack of representation.

According to one tweet: “The issue with the clean girl aesthetic is that it only represents skinny, thin, loose curl textures desirable black women with no blemishes on their face. Implying that anyone outside of that aesthetic is dirty.”

However, the debate on whether the ‘ Clean Girl Aesthetic’ is a form of cultural appropriation is not one I have heard until recently.

For the past few days, Twitter has been buzzing with debates and discussions regarding the trend being a  form of cultural appropriation of Black and Brown women’s culture.

According to Impact, an online resource to learn about and support global issues, the clean girl aesthetic “overlooks the black and brown women who have pioneered and worn this look for years. Not crediting them neglects the barriers they broke in order to maintain this look.”

“The difference between appropriation and appreciation is credit.”

What is Cultural Appropriation and Cultural Appreciation?

VeryWellmind defines cultural appropriation as: the use of objects or elements of a non-dominant culture in a way that reinforces stereotypes or contributes to oppression and doesn’t respect their original meaning or give credit to their source. Whilst according to Healthline, cultural appreciating is “appreciating another culture involves an interest in learning about that culture.”

Why is the Clean girl aesthetic considered Cultural Appropriation?

@iamdodos_

With sound #cleangirlmakeup #cleangirlmakeuplook #cleanmakeupforblackgirls

♬ original sound – xolizahbeauty
@iamdodos_

Reply to @stacie_beki For my black queens #cleangirlaesthetic #cleangirlmakeuplook #fyp

♬ original sound – Dodos Uvieghara

The idea of the clean girl has been around for decades but has usually appeared on Black and Brown skin women – the slick-back hair, hoop earrings and clear lip gloss that has once been so prominent within the black and brown communities is now considered a trend that is pioneered by white women such as Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid and Hailey Bieber.

For Black and Brown women, the slick hair and hooped earrings are part of a rite of passage. In the Latinx community, female girls get their ears pierced as early as six months old and they receive their first pair of small hoop earrings at a young age from their mothers or grandmothers. For the Latinx, this is not just a fashion trend; it is a vital part of their identity and connectedness.

The sentiment toward jewellery is equally felt within the black communities, as they are seen as a part of their cultural identity.

Fashion and beauty journalist Sha Ravine Spencer stated, “this iconic piece of jewelry has morphed and been passed through generations, it has upheld its symbolism of womanhood, empowerment, culture and pride.”

Norhan Zouak, a writer for Her Campus, stated, “Hoops showcased black women’s strength, femininity, and identity. The earrings became a signature of Josephine Baker, Angela Davis, Nina Simone, and plenty of other icons of the [Black Power] movement.”

However, it is something that both the Latinx and Black communities have been shamed. Society began to shame the Black, Latinx community as ‘uncivilised’, ‘barbaric’ and ‘ghetto’.

Yet, white women have never had to experience the shame that came with wearing these cultural pieces and flaunting their hypocrisy for all to see – seemingly without regard for the pain and shame experienced by those who are the originators of this. Instead, once they start to wear them, they are considered fashionable and trending without regard for their historical context.

When Will We Take Eating Disorders Seriously

Hamish Hallett
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When Will We Take Eating Disorders Seriously

Analysis from the Royal College of Psychiatrists showed that hospital admissions for eating disorders had increased by 84% in the past five years. In the same period, the number of young people with such a condition rose by 90%, with boys and men showing a 128% rise in hospital admissions related to the issue. The NHS has announced that more young people than ever before are receiving treatment for such problems. The surges in such conditions require interrogation, in which this article hopes to answer what is behind the rise and what can be done to combat eating disorders. 

Behind the rise of eating disorders

Investigating this issue and you see that it is rather complicated why there is such a rise in this condition. According to Rethink, a mental health charity, they suggested that eating disorders can develop due to a mix of psychological, environmental and genetic factors. Psychological factors can include vulnerability to mental health problems, finding stress hard to manage and various other factors. The environment surrounding us can also significantly impact a person’s eating habits. These environments can include pressure at school, who we follow on social media, workplaces, and even family. Genetics play another crucial part in if someone is likely to develop an unhealthy relationship with eating as people have different hormone levels.    

Speaking to James Roffey, who experienced an eating disorder for ten years and is trying to help others who have suffered from this condition through personal training, he outlined similar causes. He said: “There are a plethora of internal and external factors that can play a part and  from recent personal experience of helping other people suffering, reasons can include social media/filters, perfectionism, relationships with family and the impact of lockdown to why we see such a rise in this condition.” Dr Bijal Chheda-Varma, a practitioner psychologist based in London, suggested that the “breakdown in the system of socialising” impacted people’s eating habits and how they looked at themselves. She said this breakdown affected young people the most, triggering distress, boredom and obsession with body image. She said: “During the pandemic, people have been forced to sit with their vulnerabilities and become more preoccupied with their issues. Food was also the only, or biggest, source of comfort and stability, offering a quick dopamine boost when all else was taken away.”

Image of James Roffey, who had an eating disorder for ten years and is on a mission to help others who have experienced the condition. Image credit: James Roffey.

Tackling the rise 

With any multifaced issue, finding solutions are always tricky. The NHS plans to invest an additional £79 million into mental health services for children. Eating disorder services are backed with an additional £2.3billion every year in additional funding until 2023/24 to address the increased demand. As much as it is good to see that the government is increasing funding to handle such an unprecedented rise in eating disorders, those who work with such problems also need the proper training. Regarding what government could do to address eating disorders, Roffey said: “Investing in social workers specifically trained to deal with eating disorders is key in effectively tackling this issue in the long run. It is vital that people suffering from an eating disorder feel confident enough to be able to seek help.”

In the long term, more must be done than just increasing funding for services that try their best to address such a problem. One solution is education, if that is in schools or the media. We have a problem with eating disorders with many complex factors behind such a topic. Yet, we mustn’t have a single plaster solution to this problem but multiple bandages. Finding such a multifaceted solution while we see living costs increasing, public services cuts, and more of a toxic culture on social media will be difficult. The hope is that the more we bang on the door of those who can help address such a problem, the likelihood this door will open will increase. In doing so, we can see change and implement the solutions that will address eating disorders. 

James Roffey is offering his services to help those struggling with eating disorders. You can reach out to him on his Instagram (@jjroffey88) or here: https://www.liinks.co/jamesroffeyonlinept

‘Quidditch’ Is Changing Name Because Of Rowlings Trans Stance

Hamish Hallett
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‘Quidditch’ Is Changing Name Because Of Rowlings Trans Stance

The game of Quidditch, a wizardly sport made famous by the Harry Potter books, is switching its name and replacing it with Quadball. 

There are various reasons behind such a move, but news outlets are expressing that the sport is changing its name to distance itself from JK Rowling, the author of the books. 

According to the governing body of the sport, they are separating themselves from the author due to her anti-transgender comments.

Major League Quidditch stated: “[The new name] opens unprecedented opportunities for growth, exposure and partnerships. It is a game changer, and we are looking to make the most of it.’ The governing body for US Quidditch, which is separate from Major League Quidditch, will change its name immediately. Meanwhile, Major League Quidditch said the name change would come into effect in August. Quidditch is a fictional sport in the books written by Rowling, which sees two teams fly on broomsticks and score points with four different types of balls. The game is won immediately if the Seeker captures the Golden Snitch. The real-life version has taken leaps and bounds. The sport has evolved from one team in 2005 at Middlebury College to now being played by nearly 600 teams in 40 countries. 

In the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, pupils at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are taught about Quidditch which sees two teams fly on broomsticks and score points with four types of balls. Photo credit: Lousie Smith (Unsplash).

Reasons behind the name change do vary from outlet to outlet. Warner Bros has trademarked the name quidditch because they own the movie rights to the franchise. However, there are inklings that Rowling’s comments on gender issues played a role in the change. The author was in the spotlight over her views on this issue in June 2020, where she opposed the idea that menstruation should be considered gender neutral. Governing body QuidditchUK (QUK) said it was “happy” to change its name and has termed the move as “symbolically and practically significant”.

Exploring the change of name more deeply, one could argue that the sport hasn’t actually distanced itself from the disgraced Rowling. Instead, the change has put the sport and Rowling’s views on gender into the spotlight more in the short term. Of course, this may change. This is especially when the inevitable news cycle chucks this story out of the window as we move on to another cultural phenomenon that may or may not involve the world’s richest living author. Until that moment comes and we move away from the reasons behind the name change, the name switch does more harm than good for the sport. 

Quidditch inspires intrigue for people to join in, but Quadball sounds like a sport that you want to avoid in your secondary school PE days. It lacks the originality, creativity, and bombastic imagery that quidditch has. As Tom Fiske had said in an interview for the BBC, the name change could mean fewer people are interested in playing the sport. There is always a society at university with this sport, and such a name change could mean fewer people are interested in such a fascinating competitive sport. It also may take a long time for people to get used to saying Quadball, and it will be inevitable that people will incorrectly say Qudditich.

The sport can all be about changing its name and wanting to establish its own identity away from a person they disagree with. 

However, there is a concern that such a change could be deadly for the sport and a major cost. 

That cost would be for the sport to turn back into what it originally was: a sport based on fantasy, fiction and make-believe.    

Is Losing Weight ‘Fatphobic’?

Ololade Bamigbade
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Is Losing Weight ‘Fatphobic’?

There is an increasing social media trend to label weight loss as ‘fatphobic’. This has created a conversation around ‘if losing weight be considered ‘fatphobic’?

A brief history

The body positivity movement focuses on challenging societal standards on appearance. It started with accepting bodies regardless of their shape, size, skin tone, gender, and physical abilities.

The body positivity movement began in the 1960s with NAAFA (National Association to Aid Fat Americans – known today as the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance), and it continues to change the way people talk about weight.

On the other side of the U.S, a group of feminists were angry about the treatment of fat people and believed that the NAAFA were not radical enough.

They formed the Fat Underground, where they released a Fat Liberation Manifesto demanding for “equal rights for fat people in all areas of life” and “reducing industries (i.e., the diet culture) and declaring them enemies.”  

In recent times, inclusivity has become a trend. The body positivity movement we know today really took off in the 2012 when the hashtag #bodypositivity started to promote fat acceptance to turn attention towards underprivileged bodies.

However, the body positivity movement has changed drastically.

Katherine McCabe / Gavel Media

TikTok and Toxicity

The promotion of positive body image is a good thing but there are many people who thinks it promotes unhealthy habits and obesity.

For example, in December 2021 – “a popular TikTok content creator Mark Gaetano shared his weight loss journey with his followers and was branded as ‘Fatphobic.’ Many claimed that he was promoting disordered eating and diet culture.”

Collins Dictionary describes Fatphobia as “irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against obesity or people with obesity.”

But does losing weight make you Fatphobic?

The decision to lose weight is very personal; there is some healthy and unhealthy way to go about it. Diet culture has shaped how we view healthy and desirable bodies for decades, so I understand where the backlash regarding body size stems from.

However, I don’t think choosing lose weight for your personal health makes you fatphobic. I understand that the conversation around this topic is quite broad and fatphobia cannot simply be described as the hatred of fat people – it is more nuanced than that.

According to Medical News Today “all over the world, obesity is becoming an increasing concern…with an increase of 27.5% worldwide over the past 33 years.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, states that obesity increases a person’s chance of getting “diabetes, high blood pressure, joint conditions, breathing problems, such as asthma and gallbladder disease”.

It seems like whilst promoting ‘body positivity’ is good, as it teaches many to become accepting of everybody – not just fat bodies. It also seems detrimental to those that want to improve their quality of life.

What do Prime Ministers Do Next After Resigning?

Hamish Hallett
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What do Prime Ministers Do Next After Resigning?
  • Boris Johnson had his final Prime Minister Questions (PMQs) this week, with him signing off with “hasta la vista baby”, meaning see you later, from the Terminator films. 
  • He offered advice to the next Prime Minister, which could be either Rishi Sunak or Lizz Truss in September. 
  • His advice was “to focus on the road ahead, but always remember to check the rear-view mirror and remember, above all, it’s not Twitter that counts, it’s the people who sent us here.”
  • With Johnson’s inevitable departure coming very soon, I explore what past Prime Ministers have done since leaving number 10 Downing Street. 

John Major: PM from 1990-1997

After Tony Blair’s landslide victory over the Conservatives in 1997, Major was replaced as the leader of the Conservative party. The 79-year-old remained part of Parliament by attending and contributing to debates until 2001. Since leaving office, he has been pretty quiet in the media but has published three books, including an autobiography in 1999. He has been involved in a lot of charity work, such as being President of Asthma UK, Patron of Prostate Cancer and many others.

He pursued business interests away from his charity work, such as taking the position of Senior Advisor to Credit Suisse. However, his relatively low profile was disrupted by the eruption of Edwina Currie’s revelation in 2002, where it was revealed that Major had a four-year affair with the woman from 1984 to 1988. 

Image of John Major. Photo credit Flickr.

Tony Blair: PM from 1997-2007

Ten years in the hot seat of number 10, the former Labour Leader became part of the Middle East envoy for the United Nations, European Union, United States, and Russia. Within this role, he announced a new plan for peace and Palestinian rights, based heavily on the ideas of the Peace Valley plan. He also joined JP Morgan as a senior advisor and lectured to various audiences. In 2008, he said he was the highest-paid speaker in the world. Blair was also active within the non-profit world by launching two foundations: the Tony Blair Sports Foundation and Tony Blair Faith Foundation. Yet, his past as prime minister has still haunted him, with him being subjected to war crime accusations due to his actions in the Iraq war.   

Image of Tony Blair. Photo credit Flickr.

Gordon Brown: PM from 2007-2010

After a relatively short stay as prime minister, Brown become a backbencher from 2010 to 2015. The Scottsman played quite a role in the lead-up and aftermath of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, where he wanted Scotland to remain in the Union. After his role as a backbencher, he was appointed as an unpaid advisor for the Economic Forum in 2011 but took a more prominent role as an advisor to PIMCO four years later. In the role as an advisor for PIMCO, the money he earned went to his and his wife’s foundation.   

Image of Gordon Brown. Image credit Flickr.

David Cameron: PM from 2010-2016

Resigning after the catastrophic defeat in the Brexit referendum in 2016, which according to Cameron, made him “hugely depressed”, he became chairman of the National Citizen Service Patrons. He also became the Alzheimer’s Research UK president to help with misconceptions around dementia and published a memoir in 2019. Out of him and Blair, he has had a hard time staying out of the media as he was caught in the Greensill scandal. The misconduct revealed that Cameron had used his former government links to gain access to contracts for Greensill as an advisor. An investigation revealed that Cameron earned around $10 million before tax for 30 months of part-time work as an advisor.  

Image of David Cameron. Image credit: Flickr.

Theresa May: PM 2016-2019

May became a backbencher and has been there until now. She has been very critical of the outgoing Johnson over the publication of the Sue Gray report by suggesting that “either my right honourable friend had not read the rules or didn’t understand what they meant and others around him, or they didn’t think the rules applied to Number 10. Which was it?” May has been mentioned as a potential candidate to replace NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who will retire in 2023. Out of the former prime ministers, she has reminded within the political system and hasn’t looked into the private sector.  

Image of Theresa May. Photo credit Flickr.

What’s next for Boris Johnson?

Johnson has many paths to choose from this list of former prime ministers. Will he stay in politics, or will he come out of politics and into the private sector? Looking at what Johnson represents, it is more likely that he will dive into the private sector. This is especially when you see how he has already published books and was a journalist in the past. His political reputation has arguably been ruined due to the constant lying, breaking of rules and the lack of support from his party. Sunak and Truss have said they wouldn’t have Johnson in their cabinet, which  shows that he is going to the grave of political irrelevancy. From this, his next paycheck may be away from the fiery cauldron of politics and into the private sector. What is next for the blonde bombshell is anyone’s guess.    

  

Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss: Who will UK PM?

Mike Omoniyi
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Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss: Who will UK PM?

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss to face off after Penny Mordaunt is voted out and party members prepare to pick PM

What happened?

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss will go head-to-head to become the next leader of the Conservative Party – and prime minister of the UK – after Penny Mordaunt became the latest candidate to be knocked out of the contest.

In the fifth and final round of voting by Tory MPs, the leadership contenders received the following support:

  • Ms Mordaunt – 105 votes
  • Mr Sunak – 137 votes
  • Ms Truss – 113 votes

There were two spoiled ballots and one person did not vote.

Ms Mordaunt had been second in all previous rounds of voting, but a late surge by Ms Truss – who gained 27 votes in 24 hours – cost her a place on the ballot, with only eight votes separating the pair.

The leader of the race, former Chancellor Mr Sunak, gained 19 supporters, while Ms Mordaunt could only recruit an extra 13.

Now it will be down to the wider Conservative Party membership to decide on its next leader from the final two after a summer of hustings, with a result set to be announced on 5 September.

Who might win

Despite coming second among MPs, Truss is the favourite among Conservative party members, according to polling, with Sunak described as the underdog. About 160,000 fee-paying members – half aged over 60, 97% white and skewing male from southern England – will have the chance to vote next month to decide who will become prime minister in early September.

Pragmatic MPs seem to favour Rishi Sunak pointing to this his experience and polling with the country

MP Theresa Villiers is backing Rishi Sunak in the Tory leadership race. She told Talktv “Members will be looking at the candidate that is most likely to win the general election. They recognise a key principle of Thatcherism is responsible management of public finances.”

The Debate

Tory leadership candidates have agreed to take part in a head-to-head debate on Sky News.

The event – which will be in front of a live audience – will be on Thursday 4 August at 8pm and is to be hosted by Kay Burley.

John Ryley, head of Sky News, said: “There has never been a more important time to reinvigorate the trust of voters in the office of the prime minister.

“This live TV debate on Sky News gives the final two candidates a chance to reconnect with millions by debating the major issues facing Britain.

“It presents a unique opportunity to re-engage a disillusioned electorate.”

It will be broadcast live and for free on Sky News channel 501, across Sky News’ digital channels, streamed on YouTube, and simulcast to our IRN Commercial Radio partners.

Is Hybrid Working Causing More Loneliness?

Ololade Bamigbade
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0
Is Hybrid Working Causing More Loneliness?

Data indicates that millennials and Gen Zs are struggling with loneliness amidst the new hybrid world.

Loneliness is a normal part of life, and we will all have to experience it at some point. The feeling of loneliness cannot be measured by the number of friends you have or your age. Loneliness is most experienced when our desires for fulfilling relationships and social contact are not met.

Since the pandemic, it has become more common for people to experience loneliness. Before the lockdown, we had busy lives with filled schedules – we had the chance to meet up with friends for brunch, and most had a 9-5 job they went to every day. However, the pandemic brought us much closer to feeling lonely as connections with loved ones and friends were disrupted during the lockdowns. Despite being out of the lockdown, we must have a more open dialogue on loneliness.

Loneliness is not experienced the same way by everybody. People with long-term conditions, low income or from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to experience loneliness than most of the UK population. However, recent data suggests that loneliness mainly affects the younger generation.

Photo by Sussanna Marsiglia on Unsplash

Why is loneliness affecting younger people?

The pandemic has changed the way we live and work. Businesses faced a challenge they had never encountered before regarding how and where they can operate. According to the Office for national statistics (ONS) February 2022 data, workers have preferred hybrid working by 84% since the pandemic suggesting that mixed working has increased the productivity of some workers. However, those who are lonely or have been isolated for an extended period are at risk of experiencing loneliness.

“As humans, we’re social animals, we crave interaction. When you’re in the office – which is often referred to as the ‘palace of culture’ – you’re getting that social interaction, that joint sense of purpose.” said Gian Power, founder and CEO of workplace transformation company TLC Lions

Research gathered at the end of 2021 found that ‘two-thirds of workers aged 18-34 (67%) say that since working from home, they have found it hard to make friends and maintain relationships with colleagues. 54% say that prolonged working from home has caused them to drift from their workmates, and 70% of the younger generation fear that increased work from home frequency will cause them to miss out on socializing.’

What can we do?

A Poll conducted by the Nuffield Health of 8,000 adults in the UK, show that 66 per cent of employees are not comfortable sharing their mental health struggles with their employers. The pandemic has changed the way we detect well-being and mental health struggles, so it is important that employers create an environment where employees feel secure and supported. Training should also be provided for employers to be able to spot signs of loneliness such as ‘decrease in social interactions in the office, a decline in appearance and hygiene, or even in an individual’s work performance and output.’

If employers are unwilling to create the right environment for their employees to thrive, we may risk further isolating our youth.

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