Generation Me Media

GENERATION ME is a digital force where millennials have a voice in media on everything from the educational system and pop culture. Its for of and by us!

[genmemedia-blog]

Why Are We in a Race War Right Now?

It is undeniable that the issue of race-relations is one of the most prominent in today’s society and we are immersed in what many intellectuals are calling another Civil War. This issue has ignited national debates over police violence and systemic racism in the wake of the shootings of…

Trayvon Martin         February 26, 2012

Eric Garner               July 17, 2014

Michael Brown         August 9, 2014

Tamir Rice                November 22, 2014

Walter Scott             April 4, 2015 Alton Sterling           July 5, 2016

Philando Castile       July 6, 2016

Terence Crutcher     September 16, 2016

Keith Lamont Scott  September 20, 2016

Alfred Olango           September 30, 2016

 Do Black Lives Matter?

Protesters have grown weary of the seemingly countless black lives that have been added and added to the list, as the initially peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in response to the most recent killings of Terence Crutcher, Keith Lamont Scott and Alfred Olango have ended in a states of chaos, violence, and confusion. Each of these killings sparked protests in their respective states, where peaceful protests grew violent. In Oklahoma, dozens of protestors and officers were injured as police dressed in riot gear and used tear gas to disperse the violent crowd, causing Oklahoma to declare a state of emergency, while in Los Angeles, protesters demanded the police to release video evidence hurled rocks and bricks at police over the issue of “transparency.”

Demands for reform have been made by Black Lives matter and the simpler ones have easily been met, such as use of body cameras by officers or recording all stops made by the police for data on the race and ethnicity of those stopped. But these killings are occurring again and again and the violence is only escalating, as each new news report adds fuel to the already-burning fire.

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement has emerged out of the outrage over the implicit bias in policing with these racial shootings and bringing awareness to the lack of consequences when black lives are taken at the hands of police.

The BLM movement seeks to combat the long-standing issues of: 1. Lack of racial information on police-initiate traffic stops the disproportionally high percentage of police killings of black civilians (about 40 percent of all incidents in 2013)

2. A near-zero conviction rate of police officers accused of illegally shooting civilians

3. Racial bias in selection of grand juries, among others.

“Because of the brutalizing and killing of black people at the hands of police and the indifference of society in general and the criminal justice system in particular. It is important that we say: Black Lives Matter” – Patricia Leary. According to Darnell Moore, Senior Editor and Correspondent of MicNews - this movement is not intended to say black lives matter more than anyone else’s, but rather, that black lives SHOULD matter. Because of the history of institutional racism, the black community is much more likely to be targeted by the police. The phrase “Black Lives Matter” is representative of the systematic marginalization of the black community. It is the job of police to protect and serve ALL communities, however, the way that our justice system, media, and police have been operating, suggests that they do not.

Conflicting Narrative of the Race War

Police violence has become a national issue and with each new name being used as a trending #BlackLivesMatter hashtag on twitter, this only fuels the ever-changing and conflicting narratives across the country and further deepening the already-prevalent divide.

#AllLivesMatter and #BlueLivesMatter are the hashtags that have emerged in response to the Black Lives Matter protests. According to John Halstead of The Huffington Post, - this hashtag is most commonly used by white individuals saying that singling out Black people’s lives as mattering somehow means that white lives don’t matter. However, these hashtags are a problem because they refocus the issue away from systemic racism and marginalized communities. “All Lives Matter” and “Blue Lives Matter” distracts and diminishes the message that black lives should matter more than they do.

The Danger of the Single Narrative as it relates to the race war

The way we consume news and social media often provides a one-sided perspective that makes it difficult to gain the true reality of a story because it is being seen through a specific lens that only portrays the definitive black and white areas, and not so much the gray. And because we are not engaging and accessing one another to understand these different narratives and stories about how we are experiencing these things, we are only acting upon the dangers of the single narrative.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie delves in to the danger best.  “There is danger that comes with accepting single narratives and only seeing one part of this very large issue. When individuals only see a small part of the whole, we become immersed and ignorant with what we perceive because a majority of the story is not being represented and it is therefore, incomplete. And then we must deal with its unintended consequence: it becomes impossible to see things as anything else. To have the ability to tell the story of another person, is to make it the definitive story of that person. This single narrative flattens experiences and creates stereotypes. It makes the recognition of our equal humanity different and emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar. So we must reject the single narrative and embrace all accounts in order empower and humanize. We must gain a full understanding and complete the story.”

https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?utm_source=tedcomshare&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tedspread

Is there a solution?

[genmemedia-blog]

Breaking the Silence

September is the month that students return to school and enjoy campus life and all the activities that coming back to school has to offer. With all the fun that is to be had, it is important to be aware that September is also National Campus Safety Awareness Month.

The History of Campus Sexual Assault is extensive. Statistically, 1 in 5 female college students will be assaulted. The ongoing epidemic and cultural debate of campus sexual assault and college rape has given rise to many forms of expression. The heightened focus of this issue has led to the creation of this 2015 documentary, The Hunting Ground, which is a film about the incidence of sexual assault on college campuses in the United States and what its creators say is a failure of college administrations to deal with it adequately. 

The documentary received both praise and criticism over its statistics-heavy content. However, the film shined a light on an issue reaching the peak of national awareness and provoked action from the Obama Administration.

Columbia University student Emma Sulkowicz carried a mattress around campus to protest the administration’s refusal to expel her alleged rapist. She has become one of the most prominent faces of campus sexual assault because of her senior thesis project, entitled Mattress Performance (Carry that Weight), about what she considers to be the very poor handling of her rape allegations by university authorities. Sulkowicz said the piece would end when the student was expelled from or otherwise left the university. She carried the mattress until the end of the her senior spring semester and graduating ceremony in May of 2015.

Artist Violet Overn’s photo series, Fraternity House, documents Overn’s party-dressed body sprawled out on the lawns of Solo-Cup riddled houses on USC’s fraternity row.

The photographs depict an implied unconscious Overn after a night of heavy drinking and partying. In a statement she explains, “Tradition has become an excuse for misconduct. Fraternities and men associated with fraternities have been able to sidestep repercussion because of wealth, whiteness, and privilege. My series of photographs [...] is supposed to evoke unpleasant feelings and make viewers question their own choices.” With her series, the artist makes a strong visual gesture towards the sexism so prevalent and rampant on college campuses, but wants to make it clear that she does not want to take sides on the issue, saying, “My goal isn’t to target individuals but to challenge the systemic issues within the institution of fraternities and sororities.”

"When I release a photograph from this series, I keep the caption vague," Overn says. "I want to see the projections the viewers place on the photo themselves, so I can learn from them, see how they see, make them take a second look later on, and hopefully change their view. Victims have been silenced and my artwork is to help start a dialogue and voice for those who were censored."

“While releasing these photographs, I have received responses by men telling me that they are ‘polarizing’ and ‘unnecessary.’ This is what charges me to keep doing them.”

This is an ongoing project and Overn plans to continue traveling to college campuses and frat houses around the country. 

[genmemedia-blog]

G20 hiccups or cover-ups?

What the world lacks in gumption, it makes up for in politicians, and this week the 20 biggest names in global politics — making up 85% of the world’s economy — all met to discuss, well, economics and such.

Only, I can’t decide whether these economics are something the general public are meant to  understand, or is this lingo simply for the upper echelons of financiers and political heavyweights?

In the past 8 or so years, the general public have been subjected to repeated explanations for the global market crash of 2008 - the loans, out-of-hand spending, avaricious bank managers that all lead to the downfall of the markets for roughly four years. A depression followed that some say, was worse than that caused by the Wall Street Crash in ’29.

And having grasped the result of this crash - the unemployment, the emigration and general desolation, I now feel equipped to tackle the perhaps forthcoming crisis, post-Brexit and mid-Chinese economic meltdown.

For those of you who managed to miss the media-hype over the phenomenon known as Brexit - it was a referendum cast on June 23rd of this year, for Britain to decide whether they wished to remain in the European Union or not - in which they voted to leave. Now enter a European market in chaos over the inevitability of one of its members leaving - and a global market horrified at the prospect of the domino affect which might cause a crash in Europe.

Only - I don’t know whether I’m getting all of the information.

Don’t get me wrong - I’m not a conspiracy theorist; I don’t believe there’s some cover-up in the works that harks back to the Lehmann secrets of 2008. But I do believe there could be more  transparency when it comes to what’s going on in the global financial markets right now - and not what the NASDAQ or FTSE is doing - but what our leaders are doing to combat the wobble that was caused by Brexit, and what they will do to aid China if their economy does eventually roll to a complete stop?

Theresa May  (newly elected British Prime Minister and woman at the helm of possible European crash) caused ructions over the few days by indicting her stance on Europe - which was really no stance at all. 

The insolence with which Brexit is being dealt with by the British government is amazing really, when Japanese and American leaders are pushing them to be clearer about their intentions. The G20 leaders have said they’re ‘prepared’ for what comes next in the Brexit debacle - prepared for the fallout from the markets - but what does that even mean? How — forgive my ignorance — can you be prepared for something that has never happened before, that is an unknown entity, and being handled by a band of nitwits who have as much experience at what they’re doing as Spongebob Squarepants?

With growth in decline, and uncertainty rampant between Japan, America, Britain and China - are we about to see another downturn? And if so - will we be getting a warning this time?

[genmemedia-blog]

Where are the VMA’s for Humanitarians?

In 2012, a young girl was shot on her way to school in Pakistan by the Taliban. We know her today as Humanitarian, and education advocate Malala Yousafzai. Malala rose to fame after her  brush with Taliban, but her struggle with the group and their treatment of women had been ongoing for years, and it was only until her life was in jeopardy was action taken domestically and internationally, and her name earned women the right to education in Pakistan.

On August 28th 2016, the yearly spectacle of the VMA’s at which the population of celebdom gathered in all of their sparkled finery to celebrate a year of hits, records and platinum albums. In the aftermath of the event, reports flooded out about Kim Kardashian fabulous ‘post-baby body,’ and Rihanna’s lopsided kiss with Drake, and the world ogled at the outfits and the performances. In an interesting turn of events however, and contrary to the light-hearted nature of the ceremony; the mothers of four victims involved in #Blacklivesmatter were introduced to MTV and its global audience by Beyoncé who called attention to the plight of the #Blacklivesmatter campaign. Using such a platform to highlight social injustice and rampant racism was bold, insightful and intelligent, and an act that is simply not done enough.

Thus, the question arises, what kind of impact would an event such as this have, if it was devoted solely to those people who fight injustices on a day-to-day basis? Where are the VMAs for Humanitarians?

I’ve discovered that people who are boxed in the unknowable category of Humanitarians is because they are the polar opposite of the majority of today’s celebrities; in that their work is steeped in serving others not themselves.

Instead of being caught up in getting the most likes or followers, Humanitarians are heavily focused on the work they do, without the need to be recognized. In fact, workers for the Red Cross in Syria or Italy, are anonymous in their efforts to save villages or nations from destruction. The nature and sensitivity of their job demonstrates a dedication to the needs of others rather than selfish or egotistical agendas.

The very absence of an awards ceremony or gala for efforts such as the ongoing, and 5-year long Syrian aid work, brings to light a lack of awareness about the very selfless work these people are doing. While I would like to make a case for how they deserve such glamour and sparkle, I fear it wouldn’t really matter amongst people who are so humble and devoted to helping the cause of humanity.

It’s not only the saddening number of 7 million people that have been displaced within Syria, or the ongoing degradation that groups like ISIS and affiliates have put women and children through who are under their rule throughout different regions. It’s the fact that people like Malala go unnoticed for years in their struggles to correct injustice, before receiving any due diligence for their work.

Is there anything so sobering as the thought that Kardashian’s 81 million Instagram followers are probably aware of the reality star’s daily activities more than the activities of the Red  Cross’s work in Syria or Italy right now? The emphasis put on celebrity culture and lifestyle in the modern era is not only a symptom of social media and media itself, but also indicative of our generation’s way of not understanding reality. The reality and seemingly horror of post-earthquake Italy, or torn Syria — and the people in them — is difficult to comprehend for many - where Kardashian’s diet and bum-building prowess are very easily gaining attention.

While there are awards — such as the Nobel Peace Prize — that call attention to an individual’s outstanding work as a Humanitarian, where is the celebration for those groups - those hundreds, thousands of people who help serve those  in the wake of disaster or in the midst of a crisis?

I would like to know - is it not time to shift the focus on Bieber’s biceps and Taylor’s kittens, and redirect it toward people placing their lives in danger everyday just to help those, who are holding on to their lives by the skin of their teeth?  

[genmemedia-blog]

Hande Kader and a Nation in Chaos

It is 158 years since homosexual activity was legalized under Ottoman rule in Turkey. This date precedes similar rulings in almost every European Union member state; the U.S; and Australia, and begs the question - why, having had such a liberal outlook even then, is homophobia still rampant, and tearing asunder the lives of the LGBTQIA  community in Turkey to this day?

23 year-old Hande Kader’s story has shocked the world in the past week, as accounts have emerged of how her body was mutilated and raped, before being burned and found in an up-market part of Istanbul. Kader’s name has permeated international news amidst political tension, earthquakes and elections because of the horrifying nature of her death, but also because of its symbolism. Hande represents a gender crisis raging within Turkey, overlooked because of the more heavily publicized terrorist attacks, military coups, and neighboring Syrian refugee debacle.

These articles published of late however, have only served to cement Kader’s peripheral status in Turkey. She was, according to these pieces, first and foremost - transgender; a sex worker; an LGBTQIA activist; and a victim of hate crimes against the LGBTQIA community. It is perhaps easy then to forget, that was she first and foremost a person? That someone could maim and destroy someone’s body in such a way is terrifying, regardless of their background gender or sexual proclivities.

It is these labels ascribed to Hande however, that are the very reason she has broken the mold, and finally attracted the attention of the international community to a tumultuous Turkey in the gripe of a very serious and deepening gender issue. In times of political upheaval marginalized groups often are punished and caught in between pointless political frustrations; seen as easy targets with no regard for their lives. Was this insane act of inhumane terror the result of hostile climates or are there deeper issues? Some believe the roots of anti-LGBTQIA laws are inherently based on radical Islamic rule. The precarious nature of the LGBTQIA  — and indeed, female — status in Turkey is now at the forefront of public  consciousness, and there is no denying the depth of the problem. Their very position in society is an untenable one - as powerful men continue to dominate the political, cultural and religious stage. With femicide on the rise turkey’s women are in crisis; and Hande’s murder is the latest in a string of attacks directed at the marginalized LGBTQIA community, while the international community - the U.N and other such authorities, are their only hope for change or protection. Hande herself had first-hand experience of Turkish police brutality against the LGBTQIA community at protests last year; so protection or help from Turkish judicial institutions cannot be expected.

In the weeks to follow, the Turkish LGBTQIA community will be the focus of critical attention from all over the world, and people will look to find the root cause for the hatred directed toward them. There is strong evidence of a correlation between Radical Islam and homophobia, and nearly every country where Radical Islam is the dominant religion in the neighboring Middle East regions; there are laws against LGBTQIA activity, for which the penalties range from antiquated lashes and beatings - to death. Radical Islam has been blamed for the rise of ISIS in the Middle East, and for countless terrorist attacks in recent years on the west, but it is also, and will always be, one of the LGBTQIA ’s — and, dare I say it, women’s — worst enemies.  

Seventy-three countries, or 37 percent of the United Nations, declare same-sex physical relations illegal, according to a comprehensive survey of sexual orientation laws from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA).

I wonder if until the Turkish political crisis is stifled, and Radical Islamic rule is driven from the country, that there is a dangerous possibility that LGBTQIA and women’s issues will take a back seat to the threat of terror or war. Hande’s murder may have devastated the international LGBTQIA community and shocked the media, but until an independent body intervenes, the gender crisis will continue to exacerbate and people like Hande, who dare to be different, will live in constant threat of subjugation or worse.

[genmemedia-blog]

Is It All Peachy?

“Atlanta” is an upcoming hip-hop television series created by Donald Glover.

New York and LA have always been the places to be for a career to take off.  The Big Apple and L.A. have been meccas for music and musicians. These cities have been America’s musical epicenters. The scenes that have emerged from these cities have changed the music industry. Aspiring musicians everywhere flock to New York City and Los Angeles to make their dreams come true, achieve their fame, and achieve their legacy. They are places where creative individuals can come together, swap ideas, and cultivate their art.  

Will the city of Atlanta rival this notion of artistry? 

What to expect...

The innovative comedy explores the dilemmas common to people with big dreams and the difficulties to make them come true. How do you cope with failure when that failure is accentuated by someone else’s success?

The show centers on Earnest “Earn” Marls, played by Donald Glover. Earn is a loner who returns to Atlanta after a failed attempt to realize his artistic aspirations. Upon his arrival, he discovers his cousin has become the city’s hottest new rap act.  This is his second shot at a music career after his cousin’s music video goes viral. The two work through the Atlanta Music scene in order to better the lives of their families. On talk shows, Donald Glover has talked about his show saying, “It’s about truth. It’s about life. Even though it is a show for rappers, there’s a lot of truth, a lot of life to it.”

AND “I just want to make Twin Peaks but for rappers.”

Donald Glover has dabbled in pretty much everything under the sun, acting in the show “The Community” and movies like “the Martian” in addition to developing and creating music under the name “Childish Gambino.” And now creating his own television series can be added to his resumè. 

When we hear the name “Donald Glover” we associate it with his one-off-a-kind versatility. Like every great artist, he branches out and try their hand at something new, but they are known specifically for their greatness in one category. Whereas Donald Glover sets the bar high in every single project he takes on. Every industry he tries his hand in, he puts his best work forward and works at it until he is confident that it is perfect. 

With all this being said, I am excited to see what is in store and we should all be looking forward to its premiere on September 6th on FX!

[genmemedia-blog]

#NationalWaterQualityMonth

August is #NationalWaterQualityMonth, reminding us to look at what our household and community are doing to protect our sources of fresh water.

Water is not just for washing your hair in the jungle

Or for slipping n’sliding on your new incredible H20 GO!

And it’s not just for sliding down rafts that are fun for the whole family at some of the most fun water parks either!

Water sustains all life and our entire ecosystem depends on it for survival.

The United Nations wants to emphasize the importance of water quality, as it relates to sanitation, human rights, geography, urbanization, and sustainability.

The most widespread water quality problem globally is the high-nutrient concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen. This occurs because of the wastewater from cities, farms, and industrial sites which contributes to water pollution everywhere.

National Water Quality Month reminds us all to look at what our household and community are doing to protect sources of fresh water.

 Here is a list of the easiest things we can to do protect water pollution!

-Do not use antibacterial soaps or cleaning products

-Not flushing unwanted or out-of-date medications down the toilet or drain

-Not putting anything but water down storm drains

-Fixing leaks that drop from cars and putting liners in driveways to collect oil and other materials avoiding using pesticides or chemical fertilizers

-Choosing nontoxic household products when possible

-Picking up after pets

[genmemedia-blog]

#FreeTheNipple

As you are scrolling through social media, you may see the hashag #FreeTheNipple. Many celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and Chelsea Handler have played a role in this movement and received backlash on social media platforms, but a lot of people still don’t know what it is and have them begging the question...

Well, “Free the Nipple” is a movement that aims to advance gender equality and oppose sexual objectification. The campaign argues that women and men should be granted the same freedom and protection under the law.

The campaign came about because women were sunbathing topless in NYC and getting ticketed for public indecent exposure BUT men were shirtless and were not getting ticketed. So the people behind this movement argue that men and women should be granted the same freedoms... either women and men BOTH should be allowed to be topless or NEITHER. This discrimination of women violates the equal protection rights under the constitution in limiting it to only the female body.

Taboo around the female nipple is further enforced by many social media platforms as well. Facebook and Instagram have strict Community Guidelines in an attempt to keep graphic content off of their sites. However, these rules only apply to images than contain women’s nipples. These photos are immediately reported and removed for “graphic content” and “violating Community Guidelines.” But, in photos featuring topless men, they are not subjected to these strict regulations.

Despite many changes in statutes and regulations legalizing toplessness for women in many statesm women are still at risk for being charged with public indecency, disturbing the peace, or lewd behavior. The Free the Nipple Movement is about gender equality by advocating for equal protection rights and bringing awareness to sexual objectification.

[genmemedia-blog]

Behind the Olympics

As we all know, the 2016 Olympics are taking place in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. And as every news outlet is fighting for coverage on the athletes, little is being covered on what is happening in Brazil BEHIND the Olympics. Brazil is facing its greatest recession in 100 years and is embroiled in one of the most formidable political crises since its transition to democracy more than 30 years ago, and is navigating a potential global health crisis.

POLITICALLY, corruption scandals are plunging Brazil into chaos. Dilma Rousseff has been suspended from the presidency and undergoing an impeachment trial, charged with misusing federal funds. BUT, the interim president, Michel Temer,  is not any less corrupt. Most of Brazil’s population are protesting and calling for impeachment proceedings for him as well. These politicians are maintaining this web of corruption, and as one official is dismissed, another representative is appointed who is just as corrupt, creating major political opposition and distrust in the government.

ECONOMICALLY, Brazil faces its worst recession in 100 years. Unemployment has risen to almost 11% and wages have plummeted. The country has undertaken a vast expansion of poverty and health programs and is making strides in its efforts to address persistently high rates of income inequality. The government (aka the corrupt govt under the leadership of Temer) has planned cuts to housing, education, and poverty programs. HOWEVER, this plan is being challenged because this is not the correct means of dealing with the recession.

While the Olympics are expected to bring more than $30 billion into the country, expert economists warn that the games will not provide major economic benefits. The games themselves haven’t been immune to budget cuts, but as Brazil faces further cuts in the immediate future, it’s becoming abundantly clear that the money spent on the games should’ve been better utilized. And as many as 77,000 people (the poor residents of Rio) were forcibly evicted and relocated to make way for the World Cup and the Olympics.

The Health Crisis  The Zika virus epidemic.The mosquito-born disease has burdened the country and hindered preparation for the Olympics. The government sent military and health professionals to cleanse Rio and promised athletes and fans wouldn’t be at much risk. However, other health experts urged Olympic officials to postpone of relocate the games in order to prevent Zika from spreading around the world. BUT, the United Nations said they didn’t expect Zika to have a major impact. Health experts are trying to create a vaccine for the disease, however, Zika will continue to pose a threat to Brazilians, especially those in poor areas of the country. 

ENVIRONMENTALLY, Rio’s polluted Guanabara Bay is a major environmental issue that stands out the most. Brazil insists that they the Olympic athletes will be safe competing in the water, pledging to clean the water of at least 80% of the raw sewage and trash polluting it. Even after testing, the water is still disgustingly polluted and home to disease-causing viruses at levels that are 1.7 million times what would be considering highly alarming in the US.

The organizers’ main concern is casting their cleaning progress in a positive light, but the Bay will affect Rio’s residents and environmental efforts long after the Olympics end.

The Police Crisis

In order to ensure safety for the Olympic visitors, police have resorted to brutal violence. Brazilian police rank among the world’s most deadly, responsible for 1 in 5 homicides in Rio de Janiero in 2015. The UN accused the Brazilian police forces of systematically murdering poor black street children in order to “clean the streets” for the Olympics. And now, it is even harder for citizens to express their dissent because of the passing of an “anti-terrorism” law, criminalizing many activists and human rights organizations from exercising peaceful demonstrations.  

Obviously these are really serious issues… So how come the thousands of news outlets are solely covering the athletes and none of these issues are being highlighted?? This turmoil is getting no news coverage, but the turmoil the country faces will undoubtedly endure long after the Olympics are over.

[genmemedia-blog]

Simone Manuel has won the gold medal in the Women's 100 meter freestyle in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Manuel became the first African-American female swimmer to take gold in an individual event, but she does not want her race to define her athleticism. "The title 'black swimmer' makes it seem like I'm not supposed to be able to win a gold medal or I'm not supposed to break records. And that's not true...This win kind of helps bring hope and change to some of the issues that are going on in the world. I went out there and swam as fast as I could, and my color just comes with the territory." We hope the Olympic Champion continues to encourage the diversification of the sport as well as continue to inspire others! #simonemanuel #olympics2016 #rio2016 #100meterfreestyle #goldmedal

[genmemedia-blog]

Our #wcw today is @milano_alyssa !! The actress often shares photos of herself breastfeeding on social media and has been a vocal advocate for nursing mothers. Milano has been outspoken regarding breastfeeding, particularly the right to do so in public. She argues that breasts are not sexual objects and biologically they’re not made for sexual things, but that’s what society has made them out to be. Read more about celebrities' opinions on breastfeeding at http://genmemedia.tumblr.com/post/148622945050/celebrities-on-breastfeeding

[genmemedia-blog]

The Absence of Minorities in S.T.E.M.

There is an underrepresented minority of students in science, technology, engineering and math, known as the STEM fields. There is a lack of preparation, stereotyping, and unsupportive learning environments. These students face these three major challenges and because of this, these talented and intelligent individuals are going to slip through the cracks.

There is a HUGE disparity in STEM Preparation.

 “A lot of the data says students are coming in unprepared, and I don’t think anyone is going to argue that,” said Charles Lu, director of academic advancement and innovation at the University of Texas at Austin. “Students coming from typically low-income communities and schools that are labeled as failing schools are going to come into college institutions behind the rest of their peers, especially in math and science.”

And the biggest problem starts in primary and secondary education. The leading cause being that Professors unintentionally say things that deter a student from a certain field or path. For example, a professor may encourage a woman or minority student to go into teaching high school rather than pursuing research, he said. Also, interactions with other students can also negatively affect minority students. Attitudes can manifest in subtle ways, like not being picked as a lab partner or not included in group discussion.

BUT THERE IS HOPE. The Catalyst pre-orientation program run by the New Scientist Program is intended to help prepare incoming students to concentrate in science at Brown.

 Students’ experiences are shaped by their learning environments. Several students said hiring more minority professors in STEM departments is vital to improving the experiences of underrepresented minority students.

Classroom experiences pose distinct challenges but the ultimate goal is to enhance the learning experience and represent underrepresented minority students. Diversity drives innovation and it is essential to provide access to higher quality education and provide resources and internship opportunities to all demographics. 

[genmemedia-blog]

Celebrities on Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding has been a controversial topic in the past and many celebrities have made their opinions known, either For or Against breastfeeding in public. Here are some celebrities on both sides of the issue!

Celebs who Support of Public Breastfeeding:  1. Alyssa Milano

The actress often shares photos of herself breastfeeding on social media and has been a vocal advocate for nursing mothers. Milano has been outspoken regarding breastfeeding, particularly the right to do so in public. She argues that breasts are not sexual objects and biologically they’re not made for sexual things, but that’s what society has made them out to be. 

2. Kristen Bell When the actress hosted the CMT awards in 2013, she shared a behind-the-scenes look at her beauty routine. Yep, the mom was pumping. When people criticized her, she had the perfect response. "They’re just boobs!” she says. “Calm down. They’re under our shirt whether you’re looking at them or not."

3. Gisele Bundchen

This photo stirred the debate on breastfeeding, of which she is a very local advocate. “I think breastfeeding really helped. Some people here think they don't have to breastfeed, and I think, "Are you going to give chemical food to your child, when they are so little?"'There should be a worldwide law, in my opinion, that mothers should breastfeed their babies for six months.’”

4. Olivia Wilde

"I was working—I was shooting the cover of Glamour, and I needed to feed my son Otis. So he came to work and I had to feed him. Either I was going to do it off camera or on, and I thought, you know what? Shoot it, because this is part of my real life."

5. P!nk

“I think breast-feeding is healthy and natural and it’s a comfort to my baby.”

Among many other celebrities like Miranda Kerr, Blake Lively, Angelina Jolie, Julie Bowen, and Alanis Morissette. These celebrities all use their voices to try and normalize breastfeeding.

Celebs not so Pro-Breastfeeding in Public:

1. Wendy Williams

“I don’t need to see that,” said Wendy Williams, saying if it were her, she would go breastfeed her baby in the car.

2. Bethenny Frankel

Bethenny Frankel went on record at the Rachelle Ray show claiming, "That unless you are Pamela Anderson, you shouldn't be showing your breasts to anyone except your husband and your baby."

3. Denise Van Outen

She said that she didn't feel comfortable breastfeeding in public places like a park or Starbucks, claiming that this was "too public."

4. Kasey Kahne

Nascar star Kasey Kahne made moms around the world go nuts with his Twitter comment about women breastfeeding in public, stating that it is just "plain nasty." He has since apologized to all moms everywhere. 

5. Lily Allen

While Lily Allen also loves to breastfeed, she doesn't feel the need to do in it public after she had a public mishap in which her breasts leaked thru her t-shirt. Like Kasey Kahne, she also shared these thoughts on Twitter. Since then, she's breastfed her baby in the privacy of her own home.

[genmemedia-blog]

History of Breastfeeding Controversy

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. The breastfeeding campaign is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and hopes to empower women to commit to breastfeeding by highlighting new research showing that babies who are exclusively breastfed for six months are less likely to develop ear infections, diarrhea and respiratory illnesses, and develop childhood obesity.

However, the breastfeeding campaign has received a lot of controversy. Mothers need to breastfeed and their babies may just happen to hungry while they are out in public. How can we expect mothers to breastfeed if they are relegated to their homes, cars, and public restrooms whenever their babies are hungry, just to avoid being shamed and degraded?

Breastfeeding in public is not outlawed in any state; however, 42 states have laws that specifically protect a woman’s right to breastfeed in public. Still, moms across the country are being asked to stop breastfeeding in public places. 

Protests have been demonstrated called “nurse-ins” where mothers openly breastfeed to combat the stigma surrounding nursing in public. 

The sexualization of the breast is the cause of this stigma. Though 70% of women try to breastfeed- and most moms stop before they want to- people feel uncomfortable when a woman exposes herself in public. Many advocates say that women need to breastfeed in public so that people become desensitized to it, just as we are desensitized to the sexualization of the breast and to violence on TV. They also say that breastfeeding needs to be shown on TV shows and in movies, more public service announcements about its health benefits, and their must be easier access to laws protecting breastfeeding mothers and laws against those harassing women for breastfeeding in public.

And there have been several instances that exemplifies how far we have come.  TIME stirred up its own breastfeeding controversy when the magazine featured a photo of 26-year-old Jamie Grumet breastfeeding her 3-year-old son on a May 2012 cover. Critics questioned both the decision to breastfeed a child that old and the choice to put the photo on TIME‘s cover.

The mother restated her support of both her breastfeeding choice and the magazine’s cover photo decision. “The statement that I wanted to make was this is a normal option for your child and it should not be stigmatized,” Grumet said. “I’m never saying this is for everybody, but it should be something that’s accepted.”

 Facebook received a lot of backlash after many photos of mothers breastfeeding had been deleted from their profiles/ Facebook countered by saying that photos with nipples were a violation of their policies (which permit the removal of photos deemed obscene or pornographic). The company added that almost all the images they removed were flagged by other users. The controversy hasn’t seemed to hurt Facebook much. In fact, instead of quitting the social network in protest, some of the mothers started a Facebook page to organize their cause. The “Hey Facebook, Breastfeeding Is Not Obscene”  page now has more than 250,000 members and nearly 7,000 photos of babies nursing. The page has become a place for news about breast-feeding rights and other mothering issues. Facebook has since updated its policy to allow for photos of mothers nursing on the social media site saying “We agree that breastfeeding is natural and beautiful and we’re glad to know that it’s important for mothers to share their experiences with others on Facebook.” And finally, after a woman complained to a young, male barista at Starbucks that another woman was breastfeeding without a cover, the barista said he’d take care of it. However, instead of telling the nursing mom to cover up, he just brought her an extra coffee for having to deal with the unpleasantness.

[genmemedia-blog]

It's #selfiesunday show us your Olympic pride by showing us how you support your favorite teams! The Games are still underway in Rio with all teams looking to add to their medal collection. Stay tuned for all of the teams' triumphs! #rio2016 #olympics #riodejaneiro (at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

[genmemedia-blog]

August is American Artist Appreciation Month. America is has been the birthplace for some of history's most talented and celebrated artists. Today, we honor Georgia O'Keefe! Discover her and many other American Artists at the Park West Gallery Collection showcasing a variety of their work #americanartistappreciationmonth #wcw #georgiaokeefe #contemporaryart #modernart

[genmemedia-blog]

UV Safety and Our Fav Beach Films

The skin is the body’s largest organ and protects against heat, sunlight, injury and infection. Yet, some of us don’t consider the necessity of protecting our skin.  There are simple, everyday steps that can be taken to safeguard the harmful effects of UV radiation from the sun.

Mass media can play a huge role in public opinion and creating this desire to be tan. These images streaming across mass media have people wanting to conform to this idealized body image. Here is a list of the top 5 beach movies that reinforces this beauty ideology and encourages people to achieve this “bronzed beauty” look.

5. Blue Hawaii (1961)

4. The Blue Lagoon (1980)

3. The Shallows (2016)

2. Blue Crush (2002)

1. Into the Blue (2005)

The need to protect your skin from the sun has become very clear over the years, supported by several studies linking overexposure to the sun with skin cancer. Here are some easy steps that can be taken against the harmful effects of UV radiation from the sun:

-Wear proper clothing- that will protect from the ultraviolet rays such as long-sleeved shirts and pants. Also, remember to protect your head and eyes by wearing hats and sunglasses.

-Avoid sunburns- as they significantly increase the lifetime risk of cancer

-Stay in the shade- Stay out of the sun, especially between peak burning hours of 10 am to 4 pm

-Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen- Cover all exposed skin with this sunscreen with a sun protection value (SPF) of 15, which protects against overexposure to ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Reapply throughout the day, especially after sweating or swimming.