Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
vendredi 4 mai 2018
102 Drugstore Beauty Products That Are Absolutely Worth the Hype
Every true beauty junkie knows that there are certain drugstore products that are incredible. There are so many affordable brands out there that deliver high-quality cosmetics. I am always on the hunt for the very best formulas that are easily accessible, so I test items on the regular. If you want to know which products are truly worth the hype, we have rounded up the top-rated options. Prepare to see an array of mascaras, lipsticks, foundations, highlighters, blushes, and much more. As editors, we have tried plenty of these releases ourselves, so you can trust us. Shop through these popular picks and buy yourself a few essentials.
7 Reasons Your Makeup Doesn't Look as Good as You Want It To
If you spend hours scrolling through Instagram and watching YouTube videos wondering why you can never re-create the amazing makeup you see on others, there may be a few simple things you're forgetting. Unless you have the time to research and learn from professionals, learning all the tricks is virtually impossible. But we have identified a few things that'll instantly improve your day-to-day look or allow you to go bold for a big occasion. This one's for makeup newbies or anyone who's struggled to work out what they're doing wrong. It's time to take things up a notch!
Don't Travel Overseas With the Wrong Hair Dryer - Shop These 7 Dual-Voltage Picks
If you're traveling abroad, there are so many important things to think about, from finding the perfect camera to making sure you have the right converter for power outlets. One thing we often overlook is our hair tools. In America, we use about 110 or 120 volts for our electricity, and in Europe, the volts used are twice as high, from 220 to 240. So if you try to use your US-made dryer overseas, it will most likely result in you blowing a fuse and often ruining your dryer.
To prevent this, many brands are now making travel-friendly dryers that come with dual-voltage options. These choices feature a button on them that you can simply switch back and fourth to change the amount of electricity they need. Take a look at our top picks.
35 Honest and Funny Reasons Being Married Is the Freakin' Best
There are plenty of reasons marriage gets a bad rap. It's easy to slip into bad habits and take your partner for granted, especially if you've been together a long time. But for so many people, marriage is actually the freaking best. You married your best friend - how cool is that? Whether it's acknowledging the little things or doing grand gestures, having a partner for life gives you millions of opportunities to laugh and be silly together, even through the hard times. Keep reading for 35 funny reasons being married is the best.
6 Fun Pairs of Water Wings Your Kids Will Love to Wear in the Pool
When your kids are just getting comfortable swimming, water wings can be a useful way to help them along and keep them afloat in the water. We rounded up our six favorite pairs - check them out for your children!
How 1 Couple Built the Dreamiest Tiny Cabin For Just $700 - Yes, You Read That Correctly
Our undying obsession with tiny homes has officially been taken to the next level, thanks to one crafty couple in Montana. Photographer Alla Ponomareva and her husband, Garret, recently constructed their own teeny-tiny cabin in the woods, and it only cost them about $700 and took three weeks, from start to finish. Yes, you read that correctly - we're just as impressed as you are!
Designed by tiny-home expert Derek Diedricksen, the A-frame dwelling only takes up 80 square feet and is packed with gorgeous features. Situated on top of a wooden deck with added room for chairs and plants, the triangular cabin has one wall that's both transparent (for ample natural light) and retractable (so it lifts up to open the indoor space a bit more). Plus, the roof has a solar panel attached, in case cabin visitors need to charge their phone at night.
The interior is decorated with a mint and coral motif and includes two beds that can be either separate or pushed together. By the window, there's shelf space for plenty of belongings like plates, utensils, and a portable burner. As the bite-size abode was only intended to be a guest house for Alla and Garret's actual home nearby, it doesn't have running water or a toilet, though those amenities are available in the woods nearby.
So how on earth did this dreamy masterpiece only cost $700 to put together? Alla explained on her blog that she and her husband had tons of leftover materials from past projects, such as nails, windows, and boards, which they upcycled when constructing the cabin. Sounds like it totally pays off to have a "junk" pile of old materials lying around if you're a DIY addict like this couple!
Ready to be mesmerized by the cutest tiny cabin ever? Read on for more pictures of this mini slice of secluded paradise, and be sure to visit Alla's blog for more details on how they got the impressive job done.
Kristen Bell Shares Powerful Video About Anxiety and Depression: "Everyone's Human"
Kristen Bell opened up about the realities of anxiety and depression in a candid video shared on Tuesday. The mom and actress is working with the Child Mild Institute for a campaign called "my younger self," which asks people what they would tell their younger self about their mental health or learning disorders. Kristen revealed that she's been "struggling with depression and/or anxiety" since she was 18 and wants everyone - including children - to know it's OK to feel that way and that they're never alone.
"Don't be fooled by this game of perfection that humans play," she said in a supportive tone. "Instagram and magazines and TV shows strive for a certain aesthetic, and everything looks so beautiful. People seem like they don't have any problems, but everyone's human. Everyone has problems - everyone feels yucky on the inside sometimes." Truth.
One of the most most powerful parts of her statement was her encouragement for kids to not feel ashamed to ask for help, no matter their age. "Never feel embarrassed or ashamed about who you are," she said. Her sentiment was followed by an adorable little boy who also shared a resource for other struggling kids. Consider this yet another reason we love the relatable Kristen Bell, who always keeps it real. Watch the full video above, and embrace her helpful words.
Getting Kids Ready For School Is a Total Sh*tshow, and I Would Like Your Support
Ah, morning routines. Before kids, they were filled with snooze buttons, long sips of hot coffee, and watching the news while eating a breakfast that you actually wanted to eat. After kids, mornings are filled with crack-of-dawn wake-up calls, short sips of cold coffee, bites of your kids' leftover food, and begging them to get out of bed (and then chasing them around to get ready). Even if your kids love school, making them look like presentable humans for the day is no easy task. You basically feel like you've fought (and usually lost) a major battle . . . and it isn't even 9 a.m. Keep reading for 10 stages moms can relate to while getting little ones ready for school.
How (and When) to Intervene When You See a Mom Struggling in Public
Every mom has been there. You're out in public, maybe getting groceries, mailing a package, or waiting to board your plane at the airport, when your child decides to flip the f*ck out. You start by trying to sweetly soothe the beast, praying that the tantrum will be short-lived. When it keeps going, you do your best quiet-yell voice (also known as the extremely firm whisper) combined with the hard stare, letting your kid know you mean business.
When that still doesn't work, you start to sweat and weigh your options: attempt to physically restrain your flailing child, knowing that will only escalate the situation; abandon your task and tend to your kid in a less public space, even though you really need those groceries; or just sit down and cry. Somehow, you survive, finding the alchemy that defuses the meltdown, deciding you'll return to the post office another day or relying on the kindness of strangers who help get your kid on that plane. But from that day on, you know your child has the potential to torpedo any public outing, and you just pray it never happens again.
Every mom has also been on the other end, watching a mom struggle with a child who's decided to save their worst behavior for a time when they could show it off to an audience. You probably felt that mom's pain and wanted to do something to help. But what? And is getting involved even appropriate? Here are the dos and don'ts for helping a mom who's struggling with her kid in public.
Dos
- Do evaluate the situation to see if your involvement would actually be helpful or just add to their stress. If you're not sure, ask. Extra points if you ask if you can do something specific instead of just asking if you can help in general. Even if she says no, she'll still appreciate the offer.
- Do engage in small kindnesses like opening doors or returning her grocery cart as much as possible.
- Do give her as many sympathetic looks and short words of encouragement and reassurance as you'd like. Compassion is never appreciated more than in moments of struggle.
- Do feel free to buy her coffee when you see how hard it's been for her to get through the line. She really needs that coffee.
- Do identify yourself as a grandma, mom of three, or uncle of 12 if you're trying to help. She wants to know that you're experienced and not just a weirdo who wants to engage with her kid.
- Do intervene if her child is putting themselves in danger (i.e., running into the street).
Don'ts
- Don't attempt to approach or touch a child without the parent's permission. You have little information about what's really going on. Don't assume you know how to handle the meltdown better than the parent does.
- Don't offer advice about how mom could be better dealing with the situation. She's doing her best.
- Don't start unloading grocery bags or approach a car without asking first. Stranger danger is a thing for adults, too.
- Don't offer the child candy or any other kind of treat. Just don't do it. You're only making Mom's life more difficult.
- Don't stand and stare. No one wants spectators for their child's worst moments. Tantrums happen, so if you can't help, offer a sympathetic smile and move on.
Inside Nap York, a 24-Hour Oasis That's Bringing Slumber to the City That Never Sleeps
Tucked inside New York City's Herald Square, just feet from Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building, lies a secret oasis of sorts. It's Sleeping Beauty's best dream and your kindergarten self's worst nightmare: a napping club.
Nap York sits on the corner of West 36th Street and 7th Avenue. The wellness club took the place of an old deli, trading out slabs of honey-glazed ham for personal napping pods and yoga classes. On the first floor, you'll find a cafe and workspace - New Yorkers and their MacBooks sit at wooden tables that resemble picnic benches while utilizing the free Wi-Fi.
The cafe was designed to minimize noise, with customers placing their orders on one of several iPads to avoid disrupting the nappers on the floors above. After an unseen chef in a hidden kitchen prepares each order, the meals are delivered with a name tag via conveyer belt to the patrons patiently waiting for their masterpieces to arrive.
Unsurprisingly, New Yorkers seem to love the contrast that the studio provides to the city's everyday madness.
One napper, Angelica Castillo, says she read about the club in Time Out. She recalls being "so excited" to try the napping pods that she wasn't sure she'd even be able to sleep.
"Nap York is a godsend. Besides getting a break from work, I think it's a great way to recharge if you're touring around in the city or planning to meet friends for a late night of partying," she said.
Tony Yan, a 34-year-old Manhattanite, loves the convenience of a napping club in the city. While he described the alarm that Nap York provides its nappers as an "Applebee's type of buzzer," he thinks the idea behind the club is great. "I live in Manhattan, but if I have an event to attend after work, it just doesn't make sense for me to rush home first."
"It's also great for those hangover days," he added.
The Nap York cafe serves the most millennial-inspired items, like matcha cocoa lattes, clean green smoothies, various salad renditions, and, of course, avocado toast. As recent Nap York visitor Sylvia Chu says, "I feel healthier just hanging out there."
A grab-and-go station in the corner of the cafe features Pellegrino, special Nap York-labeled bottled water, and whole pineapples. The menu is displayed on three flat-screen monitors hanging above a 30-foot live-plant wall.
Nap York is home to 300 plants of over 10 different species; they surround the entranceway, encircle the receptionist, and line the staircase. The entire building seems to be made out of essential oils. It somehow smells calm - like an Upper East Side yoga studio you can't afford.
Upstairs, a 24/7 security guard watches on, hidden in yet another jungle of live plants housed in copper pots. Seven napping pods sit side by side. And for just $10 per 30 minutes, you can enjoy a 28-square-foot room of complete tranquility.
Underneath the bed is storage space for your belongings. To the left, a shelf containing a relatively small plant, noise-canceling headphones, and controls to both the temperature of the pod and the illumination of the star-lit ceiling lying above you.
Perched on top of the seven pods: more plants.
Each napper is given a fresh pillowcase and blanket, a hot towel, and a vibrating alarm (not from Applebee's, thankfully) to gently return him or her to the real world, where the streets smell of urine and the stars are washed out by the Manhattan skyline.
While you rest, your shoes can be shined. Your shirt steamed. Your luggage stored. A Tesla shuttle is available at all times for airport transportation. Every detail of Nap York has been so meticulously thought through - the laborious brainchild of a founder who wishes to remain nameless.
While some potential nappers - like 24-year-old New Jersey resident Nikki Miller, who has only utilized Nap York for its luxurious cafe - may be wary of the cleanliness, the Airweave mattresses and pillows used by Nap York eliminate the possibility of bedbugs or unwanted lingering scents. There are no springs or foam, just plastic, spaghetti-like fibers beckoning you to rest.
The studio took inspiration for its napping pods from companies in Silicon Valley that have utilized similar resting areas for their employees, according to Director of Marketing Stacy Veloric.
"But we did it in a way with New Yorkers in mind," she explained. "So that's why it's 24 hours, seven days a week. Whenever they need it."
While Nap York is the first napping studio in New York City, it follows a few others across the United States - like Recharj, a power-napping and meditation studio in Washington DC, and Peace Power Napping, a Chicago studio dedicated solely to napping.
But back in New York, due to increased demand for its napping pods since opening its doors in February, Nap York has renovated its four-story location to increase the number of pods from seven to 30. The studio also unveiled a new layout at an event in April featuring the 2.0 version of its napping pods, with soundproof material that is 80 percent recycled tire.
Veloric says that Nap York has plans for expansion, bringing its brand to a second location on the east side of Manhattan. For now, we'll settle for whatever it's willing to offer up to us in order to reach more like-minded New Yorkers in desperate need of a little sleep.
Michelle Obama Called Herself Our "Forever First Lady," and We Couldn't Agree More
On May 2, Michelle Obama made an appearance at the 2018 College Signing Day at Temple University in front of 8,000 high school students, wooing the crowd by embracing a very popular nickname that was given to her after she and former President Barack Obama left the White House: the "forever first lady."
"I know you have everything it takes to succeed. I know that you are me. And if I can be standing here as your forever first lady," she said before pausing for the crowd to cheer, "then you can do anything you put your mind to."
The College Signing Day event first started under the Obama administration as part of the former first lady's Reach Higher program, which encourages students to get a college education. Watch the moment for yourselves in the video above, and we promise our forever first lady's rousing speech won't let you down.
Finally, an Answer to This Annoying iPhone Mystery
If, like me, you're someone who gets uncomfortable talking on the phone, you're probably superthankful for the iPhone's accept/decline button when you get an incoming call. But you're probably also confused as to why you only see it sometimes. Most of the time, you may have noticed the slide-to-answer feature.
Much to the relief of introverts everywhere, the reason behind these changes has finally come to light, courtesy of Business Insider. Instead of a complicated cause, such as discrepancies between iPhone and non-iPhone users' calls, the answer is simple. If your iPhone is unlocked while receiving a call, you'll see accept and decline buttons on your screen; if it's locked, you'll get the slider. Aha!
I tested it out by having a co-worker call me twice. Sure enough, it worked the way it's supposed to. Case closed, everybody.
Rudy Giuliani Just Made a Huge Mess of Trump's 2 Biggest Problems
presented without comment pic.twitter.com/ThIpQvGuHd
- chelsea adelaine hassler (@chelseaadelaine) May 3, 2018
At the end of the movie The Wizard of Oz, it's revealed that the Wizard isn't actually some big, giant, omniscient talking head - instead, he's a tiny, red-faced, white-haired madman. "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain," he yells, furiously trying to hide behind a silken emerald screen.
This may seem like a random tangent, but it's quickly becoming the best representation of the dichotomy between what President Donald Trump says to the world versus the stories those around him tell. Fiction versus the actual fact is a recurring theme, too - just ask his doctor or his lawyers, who have been subjected to the recurring pattern of "That's the truth!" before the inevitable "yeah, what had happened was . . . "
The most recent example of this playing out on a grand scale can be found in a May 2 appearance by Trump legal team member (and former New York City mayor) Rudy Giuliani, on presidential chum Sean Hannity's Fox News show, Hannity. The late-evening conversation between the adviser and pro-president voicebox seemed innocuous enough but soon revealed major lies told by Trump.
Giuliani explained that Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey because he refused to publicly state that the president "was not a target of the investigation," a fact that many are pointing out as an example of obstruction of justice. Giuliani then went on to drop a massive second bomb, admitting that Trump actually had a hand in the Stormy Daniels payoff that he has stressed to know nothing about.
"Trump didn't know about specifics," Giuliani said of the Daniels payment. "But he did know about the general arrangement." Giuliani then explained that Trump's handling of the $130,000 payment was entirely legal and didn't violate campaign finance laws because it was "funneled it through a law firm" by way of paying back Michael Cohen, the lawyer's president who orchestrated the payment.
Remarkable: Hannity tries to give Rudy opportunity to clean up comment Trump reimbursed him for Stormy payment. But Rudy insists: "I was talking about the $130K payment . . . That was money paid by his lawyer . . . and the president had reimbursed him over a period of several months"
- Manu Raju (@mkraju) May 3, 2018
Despite Hannity scrambling to cover up the many admissions by the former mayor, the damage was done. Daniels's lawyer, Michael Avenatti, spoke with MSNBC by phone that evening and was "absolutely speechless." "[Americans] deserve to be told the truth by your president," he said. "This is an outrage what has gone on here. The American people have been lied to about this agreement."
The morning after the Hannity appearance, Trump admitted he did indeed know all about the Daniels payment. "This was a private agreement," Trump tweeted. "Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll [sic] in this transaction."
While the cleanup crew has been moving fast - Giuliani appeared on Fox & Friends and Fox Business Network the morning after - this is yet another example of our presidential wizard at work. "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain," we may be told, articulated via Twitter and by various presidential surrogates. Unfortunately for them, we see how far back the orange curtain has been pulled.
Thank you for that, presidential watchdogs.
The Academy Just Expelled Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski
On May 3, the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - the group behind the Academy Awards - expelled actor Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski from the organization in accordance with their Standards of Conduct. In a statement, the group said that they had voted on May 1 at a scheduled board meeting to go ahead with the action and noted, "The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity."
Cosby and Polanski will join Harvey Weinstein, who was expelled from the organization based on those same ethical standards late last year, after allegations of inappropriate behavior and assault were brought against him by dozens of women - an action which effectively started the #MeToo movement.
The news comes a week after Cosby was found guilty of three counts of aggravated sexual assault as a result of charges brought against him by Andrea Constand, one of the more than 60 women who have leveled allegations against the former comedian over the years. Polanski has been estranged from the group for years; after being convicted of statutory rape in 1978, the director fled the country and has been on the run ever since.
7 Healthy Travel Destinations You Should Add to Your Bucket List
Chemicals are out and all-natural everything is in. There's a surging urge to eat, live, and play better these days. However chaotic the world may seem, there's a rising number of us who are yearning for inner peace in favor of healthier physical and spiritual living.
A wellness revolution is in motion, and with that comes the desire to not only eat and live well, but travel well, too. For those healthy globetrotters who have been bit by the travel bug, there is a cure. There is an ever-evolving list of cities to fall in love with, oceans to explore, and mountains to climb. So, what are some wellness destinations that you can add to the list (for now)? All of you yogis, spiritualists, surfers, hikers, and chillers will want to keep reading.
Does Donald Trump Have a Dog? No - and That’s Not Even the Craziest Part
Presidents tend to have a lot in common. They are married to spouses who work to carry on American values, with whom they live in the same house and with whom they assumedly sleep in the same bed. They raise largely successful children who don't work for them and who they've never mentioned wanting to sleep with. They are hardworking and smart, available at all hours to fight for America. They rarely take time off for leisure, save for brief reprieves with literature. And they have a dog - or two.
Much of the same cannot be said of our current president, Donald Trump. In fact, Trump is the first president in more than 100 years to be dogless. This gaping hole in Americanness shouldn't be that shocking given Mr. Trump's contrarian, "Drain the swamp!" style.
Several presidents have gone dogless, but the last president to be without a dog was William McKinley, who was commander in chief from 1897 to 1901. However, according to the Presidential Pet Museum, McKinley did have pets: he had a parrot, two angora kittens, and roosters. Does Trump have any pets? The Presidential Pet Museum believes not.
Also of note before McKinley is Andrew Johnson. He didn't have a dog, was impeached in 1868, and apparently "left flour out at night for a family of white mice playing in his room" amid the political drama. Pet food for thought.
One fluffy, silver lining is that Trump has reportedly attempted to get a dog in recent months, specifically a Goldendoodle named Patton. As the New York Post reported in January, Trump was set to adopt the pup from friend Lois Pope, but Pope kept the dog after forming a connection with it herself. Pope claims Trump listed his constant traveling as a reason he'd be a poor owner. Hmm.
Further proof that Trump seems to be anticanine? He loves insulting people by saying they failed or choked "like a dog" on Twitter.
Mitt Romney had his chance to beat a failed president but he choked like a dog. Now he calls me racist-but I am least racist person there is
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2016
.@EWErickson got fired like a dog from RedState
and now he is the one leading opposition against me.- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2016
Wow was Ted Cruz disloyal to his very capable director of communication. He used him as a scape goat-fired like a dog! Ted panicked.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 23, 2016
Union Leader refuses to comment as to why they were kicked out of the ABC News debate like a dog. For starters, try getting a new publisher!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2016
.@GlennBeck got fired like a dog by #Fox. The Blaze is failing and he wanted to have me on his show. I said no - because he is irrelevant.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 17, 2015
I hear that sleepy eyes @chucktodd will be fired like a dog from ratings starved Meet The Press? I can't imagine what is taking so long!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2015
Obama called Reverend Wright his friend, counselor & great leader--then dumped him like a dog!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 3, 2012
Robert Pattinson should not take back Kristen Stewart. She cheated on him like a dog & will do it again--just watch. He can do much better!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2012
Egypt is a total mess. We should have backed Mubarak instead of dropping him like a dog.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2012
We're anxious to know what will become of Trump's presidential pet ownership, but we do know one thing: getting a dog might help solve his failing disapproval ratings. As the Washington Post observes, a presidential dog offers good publicity and bipartisan relatability. It also provides personal benefits like stress reduction and loyalty.
Might not want to let that sleeping dog lie, President Trump.
As a Biracial Woman and Former Evangelical, Trump's Racism Is All Too Familiar
I used to be an evangelical Christian. I helped lead people in worship, or "ushered them into the presence of God," as we used to say. I traveled the world crooning out the message of the gospel at conferences hosted by my church, a mostly white evangelical megachurch in the suburbs of Chicago. On the weekends I sang for as many as 16,000 people. It was a lofty thing to be part of, a "calling" I believed in wholeheartedly. During the years that I served in this congregation, before I walked away from the religion I'd grown up with and embraced even more intensely in college, racial reconciliation as a ministry focus became more prevalent in my church. This term - "racial reconciliation" - may be most familiar to those in religious communities. Back then, I understood it to be a kind of evangelical model for tackling racism in the church, one that emphasized diversity, relationships, and the need to address systemic causes fueling racism in society. However, these same ideals and goals are also embodied in more widely known terms like racial justice and social justice.
When the leadership team decided to do a series of services focused on this topic, I was drafted to tell a piece of my story. As a biracial woman - and usually the only woman of color singing on stage - it seemed my time had come. I wrote a brief account, summarizing in one minute a personal experience with racism. The memory I chose to relate involved a family in that church, though I didn't reveal that detail. I told the congregation about how a former white boyfriend's parents, particularly his mother, persuaded him to end our relationship because they were uncomfortable with my blackness. I said the fact that they were all Christians undermined my confidence in God's love for me; it made me wonder if He loved white Christians more than black ones. I sang a song about love and unity and building bridges.
People came up to me afterwards, some weeping, apologizing for random things. Looking for absolution that I could not give. Seeing in me - at least for a moment - the entire black community, because for better or worse, we are never singular, always plural. I soaked it up. In that era of my life, I wanted to believe I was like Esther and had been called "'for such a time as this' (NIV, Esther 4:14)." I was inspired and hopeful. Maybe the church could help bridge that space between black and white. Maybe because I'd come from both places, I was uniquely equipped to be part of that healing. I love my family - black and white. But there had been a rift long ago, and I'd grown up occupying the expanse between them. It was lonely and I was sick of it. I wanted healing for myself and, on a larger scale, for all of us.
That was in 2001. By the time Barack Obama was elected to his first term in 2008, I no longer wanted to be part of any church environment. Disillusionment festered over that 7 year period as I witnessed a hyper-image-conscious handling of ministries and the people in them, a theological certainty among fellow congregants I couldn't relate to, and culminated in a manipulative and misleading interview process for a ministry job in the church. Ultimately, the thread of racism running through my time there put me over the edge. Indeed, in the years that followed the experience with my ex's family, I racked up more than a few racially charged confrontations with white Christian friends and acquaintances from the church. There were comments about darker black skin looking like an ape's; there was an email I received warning me that Barack Obama was not a citizen. All these moments left me with a nagging skepticism about the efficacy of racial reconciliation as a ministry in the church. Did the white evangelicals who subscribed to it in theory really want to help? Did they really want justice? Maybe a better question is were they able to see something in themselves that needed to change to bring any of this to fruition? Or were they in denial?
The 2016 election of Donald Trump and its aftermath incited that skepticism about racial justice in me once again. In fact, on a recent Sunday, as the banal melodies of contemporary worship music wafted up through my dining room windows from a nearby nondenominational church, my thoughts began revisiting the past. I recalled that moment on stage at the megachurch, talking about my ex's family. I thought about what it had been like for me as a biracial woman in a mostly white evangelical congregation. Why white evangelicals voted for a man like Mr. Trump and why I'd experienced the racism I did while among them seemed like twin inquiries comingling in my mind as I got my daughter's breakfast ready that morning. Two spoonfuls of cottage cheese and one poached egg later, I puzzled over one simple fact: Trump spoke in the language of racists and xenophobes and it seemed to be of minimal concern at best or resonate with them at worst. It was certainly not enough to dissuade them from casting their votes in his favor.
Even now, it appears they continue to stand by him: even after Charlottesville; even after chastising black athletes for peaceful protests against police brutality, suggesting they are ungrateful, calling them disrespectful "sons of b*tches." Even after Trump's tepid response to Puerto Rico's suffering following Hurricane Maria, his "blame the victim" stance, and his thinly veiled threats to remove aid, he is rewarded with their loyalty. In fact, it seems as if the "conversation" happening now only includes them while the rest of us watch and listen on the sidelines.
It is not my intention to paint all of evangelicalism with a broad brush. I know there is a contingency within this branch of Christianity that is sincere about racial justice. They are inspired by people like Reverend Jim Wallis and Reverend Dr. William Barber. They are comprised of mostly blacks, Hispanics, and Asian and Pacific Islanders, but also a large number of whites. They did not vote for Donald Trump. (I don't personally see how anyone that truly cares about such things could.) But they were not - and seemingly are not - the majority. I can only speak to what I was exposed to while active in a predominantly white evangelical subculture. Perhaps all of these scenarios I've related were unique to the church I once attended. But I suspect it is symptomatic of a bigger problem in the church at large.
For a good portion of my life, I have been timid when faced with racist comments or behaviors demonstrated by white people. I default to the social survival instincts born out of a childhood spent in racial isolation. Giving the "benefit of the doubt" has typically been my modus operandi. It often translates to silence or the most palatable, watered-down version of what I really want to express. On those infrequent occasions when I've called out a white friend or family member's propensity for racial bias and/or racist thinking, they are not able to own it for long, if at all. The deflection and defensiveness that often follows comes in various forms of "you should be grateful," "what aboutisms," and other false equivalences or excuses.
This was the way with my ex-boyfriend's mother. Not long after I spoke during the racial-reconciliation-themed services at my old church, she called to apologize "for the way we treated you," she said. There had been a pang of conscience. Maybe she'd heard me speak or someone close to her had. I could hear anxiety in her voice, a rushing through sentences and marginal regret. She couldn't commit to it, though, and quickly began defending her actions. She objected to us as a couple "out of concern for what her son would face." She had students who were biracial and saw "how hard it was for them, caught in the middle." It's a twisted logic that masquerades as caring but seems to suggest I, and others like me, would be be better off not existing. She lectured me, a biracial woman, as if I had no clue what my hypothetical children would face. I wanted to say, "It's people who think like you that make it difficult." Instead, I listened and thanked her for calling. She was afraid and embraced a response to that fear which she knew was inappropriate. Nevertheless, her discomfort with interracial marriage and biracial children rated above doing the right thing. In the end, she let herself off the hook. And to my regret, so did I.
While I was part of the megachurch, I often observed this same troubling attitude around race, typically in moments when I did not strive to be palatable but was more straightforward, less "sugar coated." It articulates itself with an air of kindly smugness, in which the righteousness of an evangelical Christian is sacrosanct. It can not be challenged with charges of racism. They have, after all, been remade in Christ's image and imbued with the power of the Holy Spirit. How can they be guilty of racism? They don't use the "N" word and they may even have black friends. They don't engage in lynchings or burn crosses or march with neo Nazis and white supremacists. They denounce these things publicly, so isn't that proof they are blameless? They are good, Christian people. And yet, they have empowered and continue to support a man who repeatedly demonstrates that he does not value the lives of black and brown people as much as white ones. He has put me and my family in harm's way with his inability or unwillingness to definitively and authentically disavow white supremacy. Like my ex-boyfriend's mother, white evangelicals are so thoroughly convinced by and invested in a sense of their own righteousness and moral high ground, they have undone the work of reconciliation.
That Sunday morning in church all those years ago, I did not share what were, for me, profoundly more intense details of the relationship with my ex-boyfriend's family. Granted, I was one of many people on the stage that day. I had to be brief. But I often wish I hadn't tried so hard to make what I needed to say easier for the church to hear. I still remember the shame and bewildered frustration in my ex's voice as he repeated his mother's words to me over the phone: "If the two of you date, that's fine . . . but if you got married and had children . . . I'm not sure I could love them as much as I love your sister's kids." Such words took my breath away then and still have the power to suffocate, especially now that I do have a child who is biracial. I wish I'd told the congregation about those remarks and that they'd been made by a woman among their own ranks. As long as white evangelicals believe this mindset is only wreaking havoc in other places, they are absolved from having to address it among themselves.
Even though I no longer see myself as a part of that community, I still carry a certain amount of love for it and residual pain from it. There is some piece of me that still hopes the church has something valuable to contribute to the cause of racial justice. It's probably why I feel the need to, in my own way, hold white evangelicals accountable. I want them to do better.
But when I consider the very real danger of war as Trump threatens North Korea, angers our allies, and alarms even those close to him enough to speak out about it, I can see that opposing ideologies and differences aside, we are all of us bound together in our shared vulnerability against a true existential crisis. This awakens my compassion, my desire to find common ground, and a willingness to have those hard conversations. My past with the evangelical church is akin to being wounded, soul-deep, by a family member or close friend: you may want to make peace with them somehow, but you do so with the knowledge that you might never be as close as you once were. A price has to be paid, and truth is the currency.
I'm Mexican-American, but I Won't Call Myself Chicana
Image Source: Natalie Rivera
My family was nothing out of the ordinary when I was growing up. My parents came to the US in their teens from their respective homes in Mexico, crossing the border illegally, only to become US citizens in the '80s under the Reagan administration. I was born in North Hollywood, CA, and was raised in nearby San Fernando. When I was around 4 years old, my mother worked shifts at the McDonald's drive-through at 5 a.m. when she was pregnant with my younger brother. My father worked landscaping and delivered Domino's pizza over the weekend up until I was about 10 years old. Every month was another baptism, communion, birthday party, quinceañera, or wedding with my very large Mexican family (I have roughly 75 cousins. No, seriously. My dad and I counted.). My aunts and uncles all came into this country under similar circumstances; one of my father's brothers also delivered Domino's pizza to make a living.
I still can't seem to bring myself to identify with one specific label: Chicana
My middle and high schools, like the neighborhood, were predominately Latinx, specifically Mexican-American. Most of my classmates were first-generation, and some of them were Mexican immigrants themselves. Friends, bullies, crushes, and even teachers weren't too different from me. We were almost all, in one way or another, a product of the Mexican-American experience, whether that meant having parents who crossed the border or simply growing up with Univision playing in the background 24/7. It wasn't until after college that I began meeting more people who weren't Angelenos. To this day, people who I meet for the first time in the city (I now live in Koreatown, a mere 30 to 40 minute drive from home) still tell me how rare it is that they meet someone who is actually from LA. Little do they know they're unicorns for me, too.
Because so many of the friends, coworkers, and acquaintances I've met in the last several years do not look like me, I've felt I've had a responsibility to share my upbringing with them. I was in my mid-20s the first time I described myself as first-gen, a term that wasn't a thing where I grew up since everyone just assumed you were one. Because of our political climate, I feel more inclined to self-describe as a Mexican-American, first-gen, or - as one of my protest signs once read - "The proud daughter of Mexican immigrants." But while I'm glad to share my family's story, I still can't seem to bring myself to identify with one specific label: Chicana.
The Meaning of Chicano and Chicana
Merriam-Webster defines the word "Chicana" as an American woman or girl of Mexican descent. By dictionary definition, yes, I am Chicana, but growing up the word seemed, at least to me, to have a different connotation.
While historians can't pinpoint the word's exact origins, Chicano - or the female Chicana - has been widely used to describe Mexican-Americans in the US since the early 20th century. For a while, the word was a pejorative, used to describe Mexican-Americans of low social standing. Chicanos reclaimed the word during the Mexican-American civil rights movement in the '60s, also known as the Chicano Movement, which was led by a new generation of Mexican-Americans, mainly in California and Texas, who demanded better labor conditions for migrant farmers, political empowerment, and school reform. Two of the movement's most prominent leaders were Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, who cofounded the United Farm Workers of America, the country's first farmers union and a major win for the labor movement.
My hometown is widely proud of its Chicano history. We have a mural dedicated to Chavez, and our local cafes will usually have at least one piece of Chicano art hanging on the walls. My teachers taught us about Chavez's legacy in middle school, and the university I went to - also in the valley - has a Chicana/o studies department. Yet, the word to me meant more than its Merriam-Webster definition; it meant you were a woke Mexican-American, one willing to fight for la raza, or the race. Students at my school who identified as Chicano/a seemed well-versed in the injustices faced by our people, both past and current, and dedicated to combating them. Because of this, Chicano/a seemed more than just a label or term. It was a way of living, and so self-identifying as one meant you weren't just Mexican-American, but a proud, activist Mexican-American.
Whether it was immigrant rights, or just a deeply felt appreciation of Chavez's and Huertas' efforts, proud Chicana/os I've come across always seemed to be self-aware. I was not - or at least not to that extent. I was never involved in any student protest or political demonstrations growing up, and any time I learned something else about the Chicana/o Movement, I merely took in the knowledge without applying it into my daily life. I felt some guilt over this, but like many teens my interests didn't include activism or politics, but mostly music, magazines, Harry Potter and, well, boys (16-year-old me would have done poorly on a Bechdel Test.) Also, because the community I grew up in was predominately Mexican-American, I rarely witnessed discrimination towards Latinxs. In fact, white kids were more likely to be the outcasts. While TV and film told a different story, everyone in the community I grew up in pretty much looked the same. Because of this, I was more or less ignorant about the the Latinx struggle. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I didn't care, it's just that it never resonated with me the way it did with some of my classmates.
While I do now, as an adult, participate in protests, and have created content bringing awareness to immigration rights, I do not feel my political activism can compare to that demonstrated during the Chicano Movement. Therefore I do not feel comfortable identifying as Chicana, and gravitate more to the labels Mexican-American and Latina. Even though I am, by definition, Chicana, I do not feel a personal connection to the word, nor do I feel my experience as a Mexican-American reflects that of the Chicano Movement or Chicano culture.
How Do We Shape Our Own Identities as Mexican-Americans?
I spoke to Gabriel Gutiérrez, department chair of Chicana and Chicano studies at California State University Northridge - which happens to be my alma mater - about the history of the word. Like me, Gutierrez also believes the word is more than its dictionary definition. However, he also believes the evolution of the term extends beyond the Chicano Movement. According to Gutierrez, for some people, the term has cultural connotations. Because we are Mexican-American, there is the expectation of being equally as Mexican as we are American, therefore making some of us desperate for a label that embodies our particular experience.
"You're going to have folks who identify with the term as sort of an alternative between Mexican and American identities," Gutiérrez told me. "In part because of the notion or the idea or the experience of not being considered, or not considering yourself, authentically Mexican or authentically American."
While self-identification can play a huge role in the Latinx community, just because a person gravitates to one label more than another doesn't mean the term itself is more or less accurate. In Mexico, some people choose to identify with their home state as opposed to their birth country. For example, someone might be more inclined to call themselves Michoacána than Mexican, identifying more closely with the state of Michoacán as opposed to just Mexico. Not one label is necessarily better than the other; it's just the way am individual feels more comfortable identifying. Because there are so many layers to a person, there are are multitudes of ways someone can identity, especially if you add heritage into the equation. And as Gutiérrez pointed out, our identity is not always fixed, but is often fluid. "In reality, many people experience multiple identities as they go through life," he explained. "So, the first realization might be a response to something they see in the news ,or a response to a particular law. Basically, the deeper of understanding in that regard, then the more types of identities come to form along those lines."
Gutiérrez also said that while some people do use Chicano/a as a literal term to mean born of Mexican parents, some people call themselves "Chicano/a" as a way to show pride. Like the activists of the Chicano Movement, some people might use the term to reclaim their heritage - something Mexican-Americans have historically been made to feel ashamed of, either by cultural prejudices or institutionalized racism.
"You have folks from kindergarten and on who are being taught to be be ashamed of their parents, or be ashamed of who they were," Gutierrez explained. "[They were taught] to not want to speak Spanish, and so that was inverted in a sense where people were looking at a combination of expression . . . of self-affirmation."
The struggle for self-affirmation and belonging is one I've personally dealt with most my life, and something I still have trouble grasping even in my late 20s. I used to envy the American families depicted on TV, wishing I came from a home that was uncomplicated, that allowed me to see my father on the weekends, and didn't come with the pressure of having to know two cultures and languages equally. I am ashamed to admit this now, but there was a lot of embarrassment that came with growing up Mexican-American - at least for me. Whether it was embarrassing myself with my broken Spanish or feeling left out because I didn't grow up watching Seinfeld or Friends, being a young, Mexican-American woman was so conflicting, I'd sometimes resent my own culture.
Looking back now, I've realized that this pressure, though sometimes enforced by family members and classmates, was really my own doing. Though I won't ever get the years I wasted stressing over the ideal Mexican-American woman I felt I had to live up to back, I can instead live my life subscribing myself to labels and identities I feel most comfortable with. As of now, those labels don't include the word "Chicana," and that's just fine. It should not be taken as an insult or a diss to those who do choose to embrace the term, but for what it is: my own personal, genuine self-reflection. On top of the many rights my people fought for, I have a feeling they also fought for the freedom of proudly and freely determining your own identity - and that's good enough for me.
We Found the 1 Gym You'll Actually Want to Attend: FaceGym
I have recently been on a workout research binge, spending hours upon hours looking up routines to get me in the perfect shape - yoga for anxiety, cardio for a healthy heart, training tips for marathon first-timers - and I have read up on them all, excitedly keeping them in mind for future exercise sessions.
But while looking into new ways to get myself up and moving, I came across a very unique workout at a very special space that I had not yet become familiar with - FaceGym, an intense facial sports massage which acts as, you guessed it, a workout for your face.
What It Is
Founded by Inge Theron, FaceGym uses kneading movements and cutting-edge technology to work out 40 "forgotten" muscles in the face. Inge, who spent three years writing for the Financial Times, documented her beauty, fitness, and wellness experiences in a column titled "Chronicles of a Spa Junkie," and it was during this time that she visited 57 spas, took part in 32 types of fitness classes, dabbled with 25 antiaging treatments, and participated in 15 detoxes.
After Inge was left housebound following a face-lifting procedure, she knew that there had to be a better way to go about all of this and used her years of research and study to create an amazing concept of her own: FaceGym, a noninvasive facial workout. From there, Inge took two years studying face massage and muscle stimulation, working with an array of different facialists, experts, and doctors along the way to develop what is now known as FaceGym.
As someone who suffers on and off from frustrating hormonal acne and whose face has more dull days than I can count, FaceGym sounds like a gift from above.
How It Works
"FaceGym is a brand new beauty-meets-fitness concept," Inge told us. "Every FaceGym workout follows the flow of a gym workout, from warmup to cardio, sculpting to cooldown. We combine our signature knuckling to warm up the skin, then go into cardio - a fast-paced face whipping, which gets your face to sweat out and 'detox' from a lifestyle of excess sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and stress. Then we get into sculpting with hand-assisted muscle manipulation, hi-tech tools to lift, sculpt, tone, and tighten the 'Forgotten 40.'"
According to Inge, it's all about flexing your facial muscles. The basic workout focuses on promoting lymphatic drainage, stimulating blood circulation, and producing collagen. Once you graduate to more advanced classes, you'll get access to their specialized tool, the FaceGym Pro, "an electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) device that emits mild electrical waves to really stimulate the muscles and restore your skin's elasticity."
Not All Classes Are the Same
FaceGym's menu currently offers an array of different face workouts, with something for everyone - their "Clean and Lift" uses 4D laser technology to deeply clean congested, dull skin with zero pain and no downtime. "The Hangover" is described as "a Bloody Mary for your face" and uses its signature cardio workout to detox and drain fluid buildup, whereas "The Boss" uses an exfoliator to sculpt, tone, and scrub away stress.
"We believe muscle stimulation is the holy grail," Inge shares, "Hence muscle manipulation, whether that be with unique hand-based protocols or technology, is at the heart of what we do. Day in and day out, we see visible lifts in our customers' complexions from increased facial muscle tone. We all know that to improve muscle tone in our bodies we have to activate them - and the face is no different!"
Where to Go
FaceGym currently has locations in London, but will be coming to the States this Spring. FaceGym will launch with Saks Beauty Bar 2.0 in New York on May 22 and will open its NYC flagship store in Fall 2018. Their NYC flagship will have a unique design from their other spaces and be designed specifically for the New York consumer and their needs.
Want more info? Check out their website!
11 Breakout-Busting Sheet Masks For Acne-Prone Skin
By now we're all well aware that sheet masks are the real deal: they can help fight dark circles, make your complexion brighter, and pack hydration into your skin in what feels like record time. But if you're like me (and many others) who suffer from adult hormonal acne, you want to make sure that along with hydrating and minimizing pores, a mask can also pack a real punch to any pesky pimples on your face. Here are 11 masks that are perfect to use during that week before your period, after a particularly stressful day, or on the heels of an alcohol, dairy, or french fry binge.
CVS Will Launch a Pack of Essie Bridal Nail Polishes - and 1 Could Be Worn at the Royal Wedding!
Brides can spend months searching for their wedding day makeup artist, hairstylist, and overall beauty aesthetic. In the midst of all that planning, you shouldn't forget an integral (and fun) part of your cosmetics ensemble - nail polish, duh!
CVS Pharmacy just made picking out your preferred hue gloriously easy with the release of its Royal Wedding collection. And even though Meghan Markle's big day beauty look is still up in the air, there's a huge possibility that one of the selected hues could be worn at Windsor Castle on May 19.
The shade in question is Essie's Ballet Slippers ($9), a 29-year-old classic that was commissioned for Queen Elizabeth II by her official hairdresser. Brand founder Essie Weingarten created the pale pink to juxtapose Her Majesty's bright ensembles. It's been adorning the Queen's nails since 1989, so we wouldn't be surprised if she showed up to Meghan's and Prince Harry's wedding wearing her go-to.
But back to you, Summer brides looking for nail inspo: along with this 10-piece collection, CVS Pharmacy will be the first store to launch an Essie loyalty program that's a must have for nail junkies. Aptly titled "Obsessie," this bundle allows you to buy four polishes, and then get one for free. Since Essie drops a new line of shades every month, this will let you keep your manis fresh without spending more than you would on your electric bill for your nails.
Read on to see the entire wedding collection - good luck picking just one to wear on your big day!
8 Amazing Plants That Will Help Keep Your Home Cool This Summer
If you're looking for creative ways to beat the heat this Summer, consider this: certain house plants are natural coolants. That's because plants absorb heat and many will also emit oxygen, lowering the ambient air temperature. These greens not only enliven your home decor, but they're also useful! Keep reading to discover the seven house plants that are also stellar natural coolants.
Macarons: Don't Confuse Them With Macaroons
It's high time we set the record straight: the word "macaron" is not an alternate spelling of macaroon. In fact, the two terms refer to distinctly different things. Both macarons and macaroons are confections, and both names are derived from ammaccare, which is Italian for "to crush" - but that's where the similarities end.
A macaron specifically refers to a meringue-based cookie made with almond flour, egg whites, and granulated and powdered sugar, then filled with buttercream, ganache or fruit curd. The delicate treat has a crunchy exterior and a weightless interior with a soft ending that's almost nougatlike in its chewiness. To add to the confusion, it's often called a French macaroon.
In contrast, the word macaroon is a generic phrase that is applied to a number of small, sweet confections. Mostly, the term is equated with the moist and dense coconut macaroon, which is composed of egg whites, sugar, and dried coconut, often piped with a star-shaped tip, and sometimes dipped in chocolate. The coconut macaroon, or congolais, as it's known in France, is frequently served during Passover because it contains no flour.
I'm Mexican-American, but I Won't Call Myself Chicana
Image Source: Natalie Rivera
My family was nothing out of the ordinary when I was growing up. My parents came to the US in their teens from their respective homes in Mexico, crossing the border illegally, only to become US citizens in the '80s under the Reagan administration. I was born in North Hollywood, CA, and was raised in nearby San Fernando. When I was around 4 years old, my mother worked shifts at the McDonald's drive-through at 5 a.m. when she was pregnant with my younger brother. My father worked landscaping and delivered Domino's pizza over the weekend up until I was about 10 years old. Every month was another baptism, communion, birthday party, quinceañera, or wedding with my very large Mexican family (I have roughly 75 cousins. No, seriously. My dad and I counted.). My aunts and uncles all came into this country under similar circumstances; one of my father's brothers also delivered Domino's pizza to make a living.
I still can't seem to bring myself to identify with one specific label: Chicana
My middle and high schools, like the neighborhood, were predominately Latinx, specifically Mexican-American. Most of my classmates were first-generation, and some of them were Mexican immigrants themselves. Friends, bullies, crushes, and even teachers weren't too different from me. We were almost all, in one way or another, a product of the Mexican-American experience, whether that meant having parents who crossed the border or simply growing up with Univision playing in the background 24/7. It wasn't until after college that I began meeting more people who weren't Angelenos. To this day, people who I meet for the first time in the city (I now live in Koreatown, a mere 30 to 40 minute drive from home) still tell me how rare it is that they meet someone who is actually from LA. Little do they know they're unicorns for me, too.
Because so many of the friends, coworkers, and acquaintances I've met in the last several years do not look like me, I've felt I've had a responsibility to share my upbringing with them. I was in my mid-20s the first time I described myself as first-gen, a term that wasn't a thing where I grew up since everyone just assumed you were one. Because of our political climate, I feel more inclined to self-describe as a Mexican-American, first-gen, or - as one of my protest signs once read - "The proud daughter of Mexican immigrants." But while I'm glad to share my family's story, I still can't seem to bring myself to identify with one specific label: Chicana.
The Meaning of Chicano and Chicana
Merriam-Webster defines the word "Chicana" as an American woman or girl of Mexican descent. By dictionary definition, yes, I am Chicana, but growing up the word seemed, at least to me, to have a different connotation.
While historians can't pinpoint the word's exact origins, Chicano - or the female Chicana - has been widely used to describe Mexican-Americans in the US since the early 20th century. For a while, the word was a pejorative, used to describe Mexican-Americans of low social standing. Chicanos reclaimed the word during the Mexican-American civil rights movement in the '60s, also known as the Chicano Movement, which was led by a new generation of Mexican-Americans, mainly in California and Texas, who demanded better labor conditions for migrant farmers, political empowerment, and school reform. Two of the movement's most prominent leaders were Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, who cofounded the United Farm Workers of America, the country's first farmers union and a major win for the labor movement.
My hometown is widely proud of its Chicano history. We have a mural dedicated to Chavez, and our local cafes will usually have at least one piece of Chicano art hanging on the walls. My teachers taught us about Chavez's legacy in middle school, and the university I went to - also in the valley - has a Chicana/o studies department. Yet, the word to me meant more than its Merriam-Webster definition; it meant you were a woke Mexican-American, one willing to fight for la raza, or the race. Students at my school who identified as Chicano/a seemed well-versed in the injustices faced by our people, both past and current, and dedicated to combating them. Because of this, Chicano/a seemed more than just a label or term. It was a way of living, and so self-identifying as one meant you weren't just Mexican-American, but a proud, activist Mexican-American.
Whether it was immigrant rights, or just a deeply felt appreciation of Chavez's and Huertas' efforts, proud Chicana/os I've come across always seemed to be self-aware. I was not - or at least not to that extent. I was never involved in any student protest or political demonstrations growing up, and any time I learned something else about the Chicana/o Movement, I merely took in the knowledge without applying it into my daily life. I felt some guilt over this, but like many teens my interests didn't include activism or politics, but mostly music, magazines, Harry Potter and, well, boys (16-year-old me would have done poorly on a Bechdel Test.) Also, because the community I grew up in was predominately Mexican-American, I rarely witnessed discrimination towards Latinxs. In fact, white kids were more likely to be the outcasts. While TV and film told a different story, everyone in the community I grew up in pretty much looked the same. Because of this, I was more or less ignorant about the the Latinx struggle. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I didn't care, it's just that it never resonated with me the way it did with some of my classmates.
While I do now, as an adult, participate in protests, and have created content bringing awareness to immigration rights, I do not feel my political activism can compare to that demonstrated during the Chicano Movement. Therefore I do not feel comfortable identifying as Chicana, and gravitate more to the labels Mexican-American and Latina. Even though I am, by definition, Chicana, I do not feel a personal connection to the word, nor do I feel my experience as a Mexican-American reflects that of the Chicano Movement or Chicano culture.
How Do We Shape Our Own Identities as Mexican-Americans?
I spoke to Gabriel Gutiérrez, department chair of Chicana and Chicano studies at California State University Northridge - which happens to be my alma mater - about the history of the word. Like me, Gutierrez also believes the word is more than its dictionary definition. However, he also believes the evolution of the term extends beyond the Chicano Movement. According to Gutierrez, for some people, the term has cultural connotations. Because we are Mexican-American, there is the expectation of being equally as Mexican as we are American, therefore making some of us desperate for a label that embodies our particular experience.
"You're going to have folks who identify with the term as sort of an alternative between Mexican and American identities," Gutiérrez told me. "In part because of the notion or the idea or the experience of not being considered, or not considering yourself, authentically Mexican or authentically American."
While self-identification can play a huge role in the Latinx community, just because a person gravitates to one label more than another doesn't mean the term itself is more or less accurate. In Mexico, some people choose to identify with their home state as opposed to their birth country. For example, someone might be more inclined to call themselves Michoacána than Mexican, identifying more closely with the state of Michoacán as opposed to just Mexico. Not one label is necessarily better than the other; it's just the way am individual feels more comfortable identifying. Because there are so many layers to a person, there are are multitudes of ways someone can identity, especially if you add heritage into the equation. And as Gutiérrez pointed out, our identity is not always fixed, but is often fluid. "In reality, many people experience multiple identities as they go through life," he explained. "So, the first realization might be a response to something they see in the news ,or a response to a particular law. Basically, the deeper of understanding in that regard, then the more types of identities come to form along those lines."
Gutiérrez also said that while some people do use Chicano/a as a literal term to mean born of Mexican parents, some people call themselves "Chicano/a" as a way to show pride. Like the activists of the Chicano Movement, some people might use the term to reclaim their heritage - something Mexican-Americans have historically been made to feel ashamed of, either by cultural prejudices or institutionalized racism.
"You have folks from kindergarten and on who are being taught to be be ashamed of their parents, or be ashamed of who they were," Gutierrez explained. "[They were taught] to not want to speak Spanish, and so that was inverted in a sense where people were looking at a combination of expression . . . of self-affirmation."
The struggle for self-affirmation and belonging is one I've personally dealt with most my life, and something I still have trouble grasping even in my late 20s. I used to envy the American families depicted on TV, wishing I came from a home that was uncomplicated, that allowed me to see my father on the weekends, and didn't come with the pressure of having to know two cultures and languages equally. I am ashamed to admit this now, but there was a lot of embarrassment that came with growing up Mexican-American - at least for me. Whether it was embarrassing myself with my broken Spanish or feeling left out because I didn't grow up watching Seinfeld or Friends, being a young, Mexican-American woman was so conflicting, I'd sometimes resent my own culture.
Looking back now, I've realized that this pressure, though sometimes enforced by family members and classmates, was really my own doing. Though I won't ever get the years I wasted stressing over the ideal Mexican-American woman I felt I had to live up to back, I can instead live my life subscribing myself to labels and identities I feel most comfortable with. As of now, those labels don't include the word "Chicana," and that's just fine. It should not be taken as an insult or a diss to those who do choose to embrace the term, but for what it is: my own personal, genuine self-reflection. On top of the many rights my people fought for, I have a feeling they also fought for the freedom of proudly and freely determining your own identity - and that's good enough for me.
jeudi 3 mai 2018
Every Emotional Photo You Need to See From Barack and Michelle Obama's Portrait Unveiling
A little over a year after departing the White House, Barack and Michelle Obama unveiled their official portraits at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery on Feb. 12. Much like the former president's time in office, the portraits are unique and unprecedented in their use of prints, vibrant colors, and personality.
Kehinde Wiley painted Mr. Obama's official portrait, while Amy Sherald painted that of Mrs. Obama. The two have made history as the first black artists to create official presidential portraits for the Smithsonian, with Wiley also being the first openly LGBTQ+ artist to do so.
"To call this experience humbling would be an understatement," the former president wrote on Instagram. "Thanks to Kehinde and Amy, generations of Americans - and young people from all around the world - will visit the National Portrait Gallery and see this country through a new lens. They'll walk out of that museum with a better sense of the America we all love. Clear-eyed. Big-hearted. Inclusive and optimistic."
The unveiling ceremony was filled with many heartwarming moments, like when Mr. Obama stopped to just stare up at the former first lady's portrait. Ahead, enjoy every emotional picture from the historic event.
We Don't Know If We're More Floored by This Hawaiian Wedding Venue or the Bride's Gown
This is what destination wedding dreams are made of. Australian couple Alana and Nick officially became husband and wife at Maui's Haiku Mill, a stunning, lush venue that turned out to be a memorable holiday location for them and their guests. "We figured we met overseas, were engaged overseas, let's get married overseas, too!" Alana told their photographer.
The couple met on a tour while sailing through the Croatian Islands and decided to wed in Maui, where they got engaged. Nick proposed at sunrise and arranged a Champagne breakfast and engagement photo shoot to follow. He really planned a romantic day out with a picnic lunch by the water and an evening spa trip.
On their big day, the bride completely stole the show. Even though the wedding venue itself will floor you, you won't be able to keep your eyes off of Alana's gorgeous gown. See the photos now!
Instagram Gives the Middle Finger to Bullying With New Comment Filters
POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd
It's probably difficult to monitor all the comments on Instagram considering there are 800 million users, but the company is committed to erasing bullying and harassment. So on May 1, Instagram announced its Bullying Comments Filter, which automatically filters out comments that are intended to harass or upset people - in other words, bullies' unwelcome comments. "It hides comments containing attacks on a person's appearance or character, as well as threats to a person's well-being or health," Instagram noted in a statement, explaining it ensures that people never have to see the comments that they would normally find offensive on their posts. Take that, hate-spreading trolls.
Source: Erin Cullum
To commit to the cause even further, Instagram also promises to take additional actions - such as banning certain users - after repeated problems are flagged. This expands on Instagram's antibullying initiative, which began last year with the introduction of an Offensive Comments Filter. If you go to your "comments" settings in your app, you'll see that the "Hide Offensive Comments" feature is already turned on (the default for all users). In this section, you can also choose to block comments from certain people. The comment-hiding feature automatically filters out "toxic and divisive comments," particularly when aimed at at-risk groups. With a clearer definition of bullying, however, the new version of the bullying-targeted filter now detects even more comments that Instagram does not tolerate.
Instagram is all about self-expression and sharing personal moments, and I think we can all agree that it's meant to be a safe, happy place for enjoyable scrolling! People who feel the need to comment on a celebrity's appearance, harass a positive post with nonsensical hatred, or simply bully for the sake of bullying would most likely not say those things to people's faces. If Instagram is making it harder for bullying to spread on one of the world's most popular platforms, we'll give that a big thumbs up.
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