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art June 3, 2021
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Pride Month makeup: What is special about the art form

It’s officially Pride Month, and celebrations have begun! Around the world, people will be participating in Pride parades, festivals, and concerts, and any other art form. They’ll be displaying the Pride flag and supporting queer-owned businesses and the LGBTQ+ through media consumption. One of the more artful ways people are celebrating is through Pride Month makeup.

These artists are creating bright, colorful looks inspired by the Pride flag. You can find their work all over social media. The beauty and skill behind these looks are astounding. Make no mistake: makeup is an art form. And the makeup we are seeing and have yet to see during Pride Month will prove this fact.

Pride Month makeup looks created by empowered artists

Makeup can be a conduit for expression, empowerment, and independence across many identities. This must be why makeup has become such a popular way to celebrate Pride. 

@nicollechangc

Inspo: @jamescharles 🌈🌈🌈 #pride #pridemakeup #fyp #parati #makeup

♬ Tokyo (Slowed Version) – Pink Waves 🇵🇭
@kaeskastle

Reply to @klarizsa.perez hope you like it babes 🖤🖤 #SummerOfGaming #KeepingItCute #lgbtq #pride #makeup #pridemakeup #kastle

♬ original sound – angel

Is makeup oppressive or empowering?

Makeup art, particularly Pride Month makeup, seems to be an agentic expression of identity. So why do some argue that makeup is oppressive? 

Sarah Tinsley’s article on HuffPost summarizes why some people think that wearing makeup supports the patriarchy. Tinsley writes:

Make up only enhances one aspect of you. Your physical appearance. Which does nothing more than accentuate the level to which you are judged by it. Contouring does not enhance your intellect, a nice shade of eyeshadow does not highlight your practical or social skills. All it does is enhance the physical you. A tiny element of who you are as a person.

Sarah Tinsley

Tinsley, along with others, believes that wearing makeup emphasizes that one’s appearance is inherent to identity. In other words, people believe makeup only further objectifies those who wear it. I would disagree.

Makeup, Pride Month or otherwise, as an agentic art form

Tinsley was mistaken when she said that makeup cannot “highlight” one’s skills. There are plenty of people who successfully profit from their makeup artistry.

Regardless, these Pride makeup artists clearly have a light hand and creative eye. Learning how to do basic makeup, let alone these intricate Pride looks, is extremely difficult.

It took me years to perfect a simple winged eyeliner and figure out I was over-filling my brows. Makeup is an art that takes skill. Implying that makeup-wearers are falling victim to a patriarchal scheme diminishes the work these artists are doing. 

Tinsley says that makeup does nothing more than “enhance the physical you.” But as we’ve seen from these Pride makeup artists, they’re expressing their identities, supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and exhibiting artistic talent.

Their work transcends their physical appearance. Makeup can be about more than one’s physical appearance and “enhancing it.”

To say makeup is oppressive through objectification is to diminish the accomplishments and talent of makeup artists. It can be an empowering art form. It is insulting to imply that someone is too ignorant to understand that their talent is oppressive or owned by the patriarchy. Even if wearing makeup has historically been a societally imposed standard for women, why can’t makeup be reclaimed? 

Reclaiming makeup

In her article, Tinsley acknowledges that the oppressed can reclaim language or practices. She believes “reclaiming sexist, homophobic and racist language” and repurposing it “to spread a message is very powerful”; “It takes the words and images” that are oppressive “and marks them out as your own.” However, she’s “not sure the same can be said for wearing eyeliner.”

Why not? Clearly, these Pride makeup artists are spreading a powerful message of self-acceptance with their art form. Women and the LGBTQ+ community seem to have reclaimed sexist and homophobic societal expectations regarding makeup. 

@makeuppbyruthie

love is love >3 #fyp #foryou #pride #makeup

♬ original sound – Mason

And, even if someone only wears makeup because they feel it makes them more attractive, why try to make them feel guilty because they are participating in something “oppressive.”

Even if you feel wearing makeup solely for physical appearance supports the patriarchy, it’s counterproductive to attack the oppressed. You are indirectly critiquing them for their autonomous decisions. 

In “Makeup Is a Form of Empowerment,” Keah Brown shares her experience with makeup. Her story is a testament to how creating makeup looks can be an agentic accomplishment. She writes, 

Makeup has become a tool of expression and a piece of independence I always longed for. As a disabled, Black, and queer woman, the freedom that comes with being able to show my family and friends the thing I did on my own is unmatched.

Keah Brown

Makeup eliciting empowerment 

We support these LGBTQ+ creatives and their inspiring work.

Their art is paradigmatic of what Pride month is about—self-acceptance, empowerment, and celebrating LGBTQ+ culture. 

10K80 May 28, 2021
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5 photographers capturing graduations in the pandemic the right way

Who else is happy to see graduation photos surfacing on IG again? This is for the graduation photography brightening up our spring once again, as the pandemic in America gets less severe every day.

Graduation season is here, so it is time to celebrate the people who have worked hard to earn their degrees. We should especially acknowledge those who have had to overcome great obstacles to get to where they are. 

Systemic racism and sexism can act against BIPOC, women, and the LGBTQ community in our education system, often making it harder for individuals within these groups to graduate.

Additionally, this year, all seniors had to experience their graduation at their institutions in a pandemic, and photography captured the struggle and ultimate joy at the semester coming to a close. Graduates underwent zoom fatigue, increased stress levels and isolation, in addition to other obstacles, and thus graduating was no easy feat. 

We appreciate these photographers whose work captures these powerful moments of scholarship and triumph at graduation after a year-long pandemic.

Khalidah Carrington

Carrington is a multidisciplinary artist and photographer. She is the creator of Black Lotus Creative Collective, which acts as a space for Black and Brown creatives to share their work and access any resources they might need to succeed.

You can follow her work at khalidahcarrington.com.

We love these graduation photos that Carrington took at the Central Park Conservatory Garden. Her photography was able to capture a pivotal moment in a young woman’s life, at graduation during a harrowing pandemic.

Latricia Morgan (The Artsy Plug)

Latricia Morgan, aka The Artsy Plug, is a New York City photographer. She focuses on capturing the beauty of diversity in her work. In an interview with KultureHub, Morgan said:

“A big reason I started was like, ‘what about us? What about the regular people? What about the girls with big noses, flat noses, or the girls with big lips and dark skin like myself’?”

Morgan understands the importance of representing real Black women in art and media.

She added, “I thought it definitely was my job to shoot for more girls that look like me and also make space for any girl within the minority role, who don’t look like what the media fetishizes.”

Morgan’s philosophies shine through in her graduation photography, still as we live during the pandemic. She presents the beauty in her subjects without jeopardizing their integrity. In other words, her subjects get to remain themselves.

Aaron Nelson

A digital creator and photographer, Aaron Nelson has been able to capture some inspirational success stories. 

This image shows a woman who recently received her Master’s Degree. The daughter of immigrants, she is standing where her story began—Michael’s Market in East Side Stockton.

Nelson is helping this woman share her success story by emphasizing her background, where obtaining a Master’s is rare. Nelson’s photograph outlines her journey to success. 

Overall, Nelson works to show real people and real stories in his untraditional shoots.

Thomas Campos

Campos is a photographer based in New Jersey and New York City. He focuses on portraits, maternity sessions, food photography, weddings, and other special events. 

His photo shoot with this young woman showcases her inspirational story. Campos wrote in his Instagram caption:

“About 2 weeks ago, I received an inquiry for graduation portraits from @jesstawil. I came to learn about her story and I must say, she is truly inspiring – the perfect example of what it means to push through, despite all odds, all fears & all insecurities.”

Thomas Campos

Not only is Campos’ graduation photography showing stories of people overcoming odds to succeed, but he is also showing how building a relationship between creator and subject can enhance photography. This woman was able to share her story with Nelson, and together they were able to effectively convey that story through a camera lens. 

Campos also took these shots of @yannisalejo. He first met her when photographing her sweet 16 and got to work with her again on her graduation day, better appreciating her accolades. Their relationship in photography helped Campos do her graduation story justice through his work during the pandemic. 

Black Girls Graduate

Black Girls Graduate is highlighting the successes of powerful Black women. This organization also provides financial and career resources for Black women. 

It is especially important to acknowledge the work that these women have done, as systemic racism may have worked against them in the education system. 

The Condition of Education 2020 reports the disparities in education and graduation rates. As written in the report, “the high school graduation rate of Whites is 10% higher than Blacks” in the US, and this is “a systemic societal problem within the education system.” 

Nonetheless, these Black women have earned impressive accolades, and Black Girls Graduate is celebrating them as they deserve. 

Photography tells us stories of the difficulties of graduating in a pandemic

The stresses of the pandemic only exacerbated the stresses of school.

However, this graduation amidst the pandemic and the photography telling different stories shows the resolve on display from successful students across the U.S. and the entire globe.

It is impressive to earn your degree in any year, but in 2021 especially, graduates deserve our respect and admiration.

We appreciate these photographers who are highlighting these successful graduates and granting them a way to share their stories. 

abortion rights May 26, 2021
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What’s going on with abortion in Texas? Everything you need to know

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill on May 19 that would ban most abortions in Texas. This bill would prohibit abortions 6 weeks into pregnancy.

We saw Georgia attempt to pass a similar law in 2020. However, Georgia’s ban on abortions after six weeks was nullified in July of 2020 for violating Roe v. Wade—the 1973 case that established the constitutional right to an abortion.

But will our new conservative court uphold Roe v. Wade this time around? Will they contradict a precedent set nearly 50 years ago?

Our circumstances changed in July of 2020 when Georgia’s abortion ban was struck down. On September 18, 2020, beloved Supreme Court Justice and feminist icon Ruther Bader Ginsburg passed away.

Former President Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to take Ginsburg’s place and has been serving since October 27, 2020. Judge Barrett undoubtedly shifted the court toward the right, as she has a record of conservative voting on most issues—including abortion.

Judge Barrett on ‘Roe v. Wade’

As Margot Sanger-Katz reports in The New York Times, “Analysts at the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks the bills, say legislators have been mobilized by the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.”

This analysis holds credible as we can see states like Texas and also Mississippi attempt to take advantage of Judge Barrett’s position in the court as they work to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

Barrett declined to speak about her views on abortion laws during her confirmation hearings, but she is viewed “as a home run by conservative Christians and anti-abortion activists” according to The New York Times. 

However, Barrett said, “Roe’s core holding that women have a right to an abortion, I don’t think that would change.” She does think, though, that current restrictions could be qualified or intensified. 

For example, signing this bill in Texas means that private citizens could sue providers of the banned abortions. This clause is distinct from most other abortion restrictions, as states enforce most restrictions. Thus, it seems that the Texas government’s goal is to make it more difficult for abortion providers to defend themselves in court. 

What are the consequences of Texas’s six-week ban on abortions?

Lack of abortion access in the South and Midwest

  • Overturning Roe v. Wade would not effectively ban abortion everywhere in the US, but “legal abortion access could effectively end for those living in much of the American South and Midwest, especially those who are poor,” as written in The New York Times. This would mean that “forty-one percent of women of childbearing age would see the nearest abortion clinic close, and the average distance they would have to travel to reach one would be 279 miles, up from 35 miles now.”

Is it a ban on all abortions?

  • Prohibiting abortion after six weeks is extremely restrictive; many pregnant individuals may not even realize they are pregnant by the six-week mark. If these mere six weeks are meant as a window for choice, then this window is not big enough. How can someone exercise their right to choose if they may not realize that they have a choice to make? Prohibiting abortion after six weeks is thus essentially a ban on all abortions in Texas.

Increased risk of death and injury

  • More restrictive abortion laws do not effectively reduce the number of abortions. They do, however, increase the risk of injury and death. When laws limit access to safe abortions, individuals may resort to dangerous methods for ending pregnancy. The World Health Organization reports that “Around 5 million women are admitted to hospital as a result of unsafe abortion every year,” and “almost every abortion death and disability could be prevented through sexuality education, use of effective contraception, provision of safe, legal induced abortion, and timely care for complications.” If we restrict access to legal and safe abortions, we only add to the number of people at risk to injury and death.

Abortion restriction and discrimination

  • Abortion restrictions also exacerbate problems of racism and discrimination in the US. These laws will disproportionately impact people with low incomes, BIPOC communities, and also the LGBTQ community. Individuals within these groups may experience added barriers to accessing reproductive health care. African American women have a higher maternity mortality rate than white women in the US; they are three to four times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth. Additionally, “poverty rates on average are higher among lesbian and bisexual women, young people, and African Americans within our community,” as outlined by the National LGBTQ Task Force. Those experiencing poverty may have a harder time paying for proper health care or taking time off work to get the care they need.

These are few of many inequitable consequences that would result from abortion restrictions. 

The freedom of Americans is being put to the test yet again

Americans have experienced trauma after trauma these past couple of years with the pandemic, the tense election, the storming of the capital, and the unjust deaths of AAPI and Black people in the US that reveal just how ugly and bigoted the U.S. is. And now, women’s bodily autonomy is also up for review. 

Will we continue to defend women’s constitutional right to an abortion and support the communities that take the brunt of abortion restrictions? Or will we regress, upsetting a precedent we have held for half of a century? Now is the time to act.

If you would like to defend a person’s right to an abortion and fight these restrictions, here are a few petitions worth signing: 

Ban death penalty for abortions in Texas

Help Fight Against the 15 Week Abortion Ban in Mississippi

Don’t overturn Roe v. Wade. Protect abortion rights.

Tiktok
Body Positivity May 19, 2021
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Toxic TikTok trends that need to be done away with

It feels impossible at times to avoid any toxic TikTok trends on your FYP (for you page) that concern diet, weight gain, weight loss, body positivity, or straight-up body shaming.

TikTok users need to take the time to understand the implications of the trends they’re posting or commenting on, especially if these trends are toxic and can have a lasting impact on a viewer’s wellbeing.

Trigger Warning: Mention of eating disorders and calorie counting.

“Bodies that look like this” 

A person with any body type can promote body positivity. However, individuals with beauty-standard features tend to drown out the voices of those who don’t meet these arbitrary standards.

One current trend that uses audio with the words, “bodies that look like this, also look like this,” reveals this pattern. 

@marycjskinner

💗 #OurType#normalizenormalbodies#bodypositivity#bodyimage#bodyneutrality#bodyconfident#edrecovery#midsize#size6#size8#confident

♬ bodies that look like this also look like this – skinner 🌙

These TikToks consist of people, usually women, showing themselves in Insta-worthy poses, only to switch into positions that reveal their “imperfections,” like showing their stomach rolls when sitting. Some have found these TikToks encouraging.

However, there is a near-unanimous negative response whenever a thin person attempts this trend. User @queenavaagain participated by creating a TikTok of herself posing in a bikini. People responded with comments such as “I’m confused.

She looks the same before and after,” and, “this trend is not for you.” These comments emphasize how someone in a privileged position trying to act relatable is counterproductive—some might even say validation-seeking.

When using TikTok, it is necessary that we fully consider how a trend originated, who it is for, and how our participation or lack thereof can support a positive environment on social media. 

@queenavaagain

#bodiesthatlooklikethis #bodypositivity #swimseason #summer2021 #swimfit

♬ bodies that look like this also look like this – skinner 🌙

If you are on TikTok, chances are that you have heard of Sienna Mae Gomez. She became popular for her confidence and for aiming to promote body positivity.

But lately, she has gotten a lot of backlash. Some TikTok users claim she started using her platform for body positivity irresponsibly after she supposedly lost weight.

In one of her TikToks with the caption “bloating,” she shows her side profile before and after eating a meal. Many TikTok users were quick to point out that there was no real difference in her stomach size. User0187038840 commented, “U used to be more like relatable and now it just seems like u r trying to be the opposite?”  

@siennamae

bloating😁😁

♬ Exclamation mark – user1471355415026

Anyone can endorse body positivity. But perhaps there is a more sensitive way that people who meet the beauty standard can promote these causes. They should not drown out the voices of those who these trends are intended to support. 

#WhatIEatInADay

#WhatIEatInADay has been a social media trend for a while now: what I eat in a day to lose weight fast, what I eat in a day as a model, what I eat in a day hungover, what I eat in a day during eating disorder recovery.

I’ve seen TikToks like these since quarantine last spring. Not all users list calories along with the foods they eat, but for those who do (usually to promote weight loss), some of these numbers are alarmingly low.

Some users include trigger warnings, but not everyone. Regardless, of this trend, there’s a delicate balance between promoting a healthy relationship with food and endangering this relationship.

For example, some people in eating disorder recovery post TikToks of themselves eating throughout the day. These users generally intend to help others going through similar experiences.

Brittani Lancaster posts #WhatIEatInADay regularly while in recovery from two eating disorders, and her supporters show their appreciation.

One user, @classiccancercrybaby, commented, “your content has genuinely been the most healing thing in terms of my reconnection with my own body and heart. thank you so deeply for all that you do.”

@brittanilancaster

Happy Mother’s Day to all the beautiful mamas in the world!!

♬ love – imo 🙂

On the other hand, other toxic versions of #WhatIEatInADay can be triggering to those struggling with their body image.

We need to be cognizant of how to best support a body-positive environment. We need to think about how we can accommodate for those living with eating disorders or disordered eating—especially now.

As reported by the National Eating Disorders Association, they received “a spike of more than 70% in the number of calls and online chat inquiries” from 2019 to 2020. The pandemic has instigated a rise in the number of those seeking treatment for eating disorders.

Why has there been a hyper-focus on body image in TikTok trends since the pandemic began? 

In “Anorexia in the Time of COVID,” Lalita Abhyankkar illuminates that “eating disorders are only partially about body dysmorphia and body image.

They often stem from an attempt to achieve control while in a state of anxiety and uncertainty.” With Abhyankkar’s explanation in mind, one can recognize how the pandemic—undoubtedly a time of “anxiety and uncertainty”—can act as a risk factor for those struggling with body image or eating disorders.

On top of exposure to toxic social media trends and the anxiety of living through a pandemic, many of us have had to work from home in isolation. We limited our grocery runs and over-stocked our kitchens.

And, some of us may have become concerned about our weight when “underweight” and “obese” were considered risks for COVID. All of these anxiety-inducing conditions have acted as risk factors for those susceptible to eating disorders or disordered eating. 

The overlap between COVID and body image has manifested in TikTok. We have seen weight loss, diet, and body image trends recycle incessantly on our FYPs since March 2020.

It is our responsibility to stop participating in these toxic trends. You never know whose mental health and wellbeing you may be jeopardizing. 

10K80 May 18, 2021
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5 mental health youth advocates reminding us what’s really important

Mental health youth advocates have never been more important.

Trigger Warning: Brief mention of suicide and mental disorders.

Considering that it’s Mental Health Awareness Month, we should all take time to check in on ourselves, our loved ones, our peers—anyone. This May, it’s especially critical that we acknowledge the prevalence of mental health problems and the importance of treating them.

The pandemic has taken a toll on the minds of Americans. We have seen a huge uptick in mental health problems among the U.S. population in correlation with COVID. The CDC reported that a June 2020 survey showed that 40.9 percent of respondents reported an “adverse mental or behavioral health condition.”

10.7 percent reported that they seriously considered suicide in the 30 days prior to taking the survey. These numbers were considerably higher than years prior, and these percentages were even higher among racial and ethnic minorities. 

Despite the difficulties that we’ve all faced in the past year, there are people we can look to for encouragement, advice, or comfort. Here are five inspirational youth advocates for mental health to follow in 2021:  

Gabby Frost

23-year-old Gabby Frost is the founder and Executive Director of Buddy Project. Founded when Frost was only 14, her non-profit works to raise mental health awareness and prevent suicide.

She created a “peer support system” for teens and young adults founded on the idea that a support system can “combat isolation and loneliness,” as stated on their website.

Some of her accolades include being named a Glamour College Woman of the Year, Global Teen Leader, and PB Extraordinary Teen. She also won the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Award. We can all appreciate Frost’s work against isolation, as this past year the pandemic has jeopardized our support systems and disconnected all of us from loved ones. 

Hannah Blum

Blum is known for sharing her personal experience with bipolar disorder on platforms such as Instagram and her blog, Halfway2Hannah. She also wrote “The Truth About Broken: The Unfixed Version of Self-Love”—her first book which focuses on her journey toward self-love in a society that discriminates against those living with mental disorders.

Working to de-villainize those with mental pathologies as Blum is doing is so important. The word “bipolar” is too often used incorrectly in a colloquial context to denote someone as “crazy” or unstable in some way.

This use of the word is extremely reductive to what bipolar disorder is and what a person living with it might be experiencing. Bipolar disorder can include manic episodes with psychosis, yes, but this is not true in each case. For some, it could present through predominantly depressive episodes. It is a case-by-case basis.

Nonetheless, bipolar disorder can be treated and managed. Although a person may be living with bipolar disorder, or any mental disorder, they are a person just the same–they deserve our understanding and empathy. 

Hannah Blum is teaching us not only to allot compassion and understanding to ourselves and our mental health journeys but to have compassion and understanding for others.

Brandon Farbstein

Farbstein is a 21-year-old speaker and activist. He was diagnosed with a rare form of dwarfism and has found empowerment in his experience. Today, he continues to encourage self-acceptance. He motivates others to love themselves through his social media and giving talks around the country. 

Farbstein is reminding us to accept and love our bodies and selves the way they are. His work has been especially prevalent over the past year, as COVID has led to an increase in body image issues across the US.

This is not surprising considering the pandemic has exacerbated anxieties surrounding our weight, ability, body image, and overall health. You can look to Brandon Farbstein if you need inspiration or motivation to help you through a rough time. 

Lauren Ash

Ash, now 29, started her Podcast Black Girl in Om when she was 22 years old. Her podcast focuses on guided meditation for Black women. The goal of Black Girl in Om is to “unapologetically expand the consciousness of Black women to transform. Period.”

According to Mayo Clinic, Meditation can help reduce overall stress, increase patience, and increase creativity. It can also help manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, heart disease, chronic pain, and more.

Ash has successfully created an accessible space for her listeners to practice self-reflection and self-care. Spaces such as Ash’s Black Girl in Om, where Black people and POC can check in on themselves without the presence of the white gaze, are particularly relevant during this time of social unrest.

Ose Arheghan

Arheghan started their activism by focusing on LGBTQ issues in the 8th grade. They became aware of the intersection between mental health and queer identity and started working to educate and combat mental health issues among LGBTQ.

As they told NBC News, “I had to fight for the rights I didn’t have because no one was fighting for them fully for me.” Currently, Arheghan is a youth ambassador for The Trevor Project—a nonprofit that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. 

As quoted on NBC News, Arheghan would encourage that “if you see a problem, you’re never too small of a person to make a change and to speak out about that problem.”

What can we learn from mental health youth advocates?

There’s a lot that we can learn from these mental health youth advocates. At the very least, they encourage us to take the time to check in on ourselves.

And, if you have the mental resources, they tell us to support those around us as best we can. All of us deserve patience and compassion when it comes to our well-being.