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#but no one relates to my degree of mental illness in my social circle.
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mental illness is a rollercoaster and i want OFF
#shut up hanna#im like. im fine i actually am not mentally ill#i definitely dont have an eating disorder. i can have this *food i deem unsafe when deep in my ed*#and i eat it and im like see. i was faking#and then im panicking abt the fact that i can feel it in my body and i cant undo eating it#the fucking mental gymnastics im playing every god damn day#can it just be QUIET#and it sucks bc like. mental illness is becoming less stigmatized like depression/anxiety are taken very seriously as illnesses now#and its clear how prevalent they are in our generation#but no one relates to my degree of mental illness in my social circle.#like in my circle of supportive friends i have in person here. theres no one whos had an ed. theres no one with a mood disorder#theres no one with ptsd or cptsd. bpd. bipolar. none of it. and they care and theyre supportive. more than i deserve but#they dont Get It. like#dgmw theyve never been like. just eat its not hard. like they KNOW. but they dont understand why its as hard as it is for me#and like. this is a side thing but its kind of frustrating that every girl in the department (LITERALLY. all of them)#will say they have an ed like. im not gatekeeping or diagnosing its just. that's just not statistically possible yk#like. you can have severe body image issues. AND disordered eating. both of which are harmful and deserving of help#like when i told my roommate abt mine she was like. maybe i do too. and we talked for a looooong time abt it#and i knew she didnt but ill never invalidate someone. its just. its sometimes hard when ppl think they understand and they dont#(she also came to the conclusion she doesnt after talking w me abt mine and knowing im not even bad enough to be inpatient)#like i guess im glad in a way that what i deal with isnt the norm ? in the population yk. like#its good to know that what i deal with. bipolar and bpd and ptsd and my ed being the hardest to deal with. that they also#are like. not super duper common? like its kind of isolating but it is comforting to know that not everyone feels this shitty#all the time so stuff is way harder for me than other ppl lmao#anyway. i lost my train of thought
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actual-changeling · 3 months
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Aziraphale Does NOT Have Depression
or: Please Have a Look at the ICD
or: This Word Does Not Mean What You Think It Does
I cannot believe I even have to make this post, but here we are. Hi. Hello guys. Maybe I should start a series called "Alex fact-checks meta posts" because I have seen things that should have never been written.
A small excursion before we start: The way things usually work in academic circles is that the person making the claim needs to provide proof for said claim, which is then peer-reviewed by unrelated academic parties. That involves not only making sure that the results they are basing their claim on are replicable—meaning that if someone else were to do the same work, they would receive the same result—but also that their methods were ethical and functional.
If it turns out that their methods or any other part of the process are not replicable, functional, or otherwise waterproof, then the paper is marked as not being correct and that it should be disregarded.
While this is far from academic circles, these rules still apply to any kind of conversation or discussion, especially that last part:
If you make a claim, back it up, or it should be disregarded.
With that, welcome to the peer-review of "Aziraphale has depression" claims. Obligatory note that this is not about fanfiction or headcanons but people claiming that Aziraphale canonically has depression.
You may sit in front of your screen and think Alex, why do you think you can write this post? To which I happily respond that not only am I professionally diagnosed with both Dysthymia and Recurrent Depressive Disorder, I have also a) done my research offline with psychiatrists and psychologists and b) know how to read academic literature because my degree very much requires me to be able to do so.
If you want to go and fact-check what I am about to present—which you are explicitly invited to do in case you want to publicly disagree with me—you can find the entirety of the ICD 11 right here.
No paywall, completely free access.
For those who have never heard of it, ICD stands for "International Classification of Diseases", which is by now on its 11th version and written and maintained by the WHO/World Health Organization. It contains all kinds of relevant information, like diagnostic criteria, about all diseases. As you can see, this includes mental disorders and illnesses:
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Let's get into it!
First things first, there is no such thing as "depression", that term is a colloquial reduction of a number of different disorders categorized under Mood Disorders -> Depressive Disorders. Said category also contains any and all diagnoses related to Bipolar Disorders.
"Depression" is nondescript, loose, and can mean a long list of things, and social media has diluted and romanticized its meaning. For the purpose of this post, we will have a look at the criteria for three diagnoses:
Dysthymic disorder (shortened here to dysthymia)
Single episode depressive disorder, mild ( // to single episode)
Recurrent depressive disorder, current episode mild ( // recurrent)
I assume people mean a crude mix of these when they say "depression". Both recurrent and single episode can be diagnosed with dysthymia, but they cannot be diagnosed with each other. Recurrent automatically excludes single episode as a diagnosis, which I think is obvious if you think about it.
Before we look at the symptoms themselves, here is something very important to keep in mind about diagnoses: There are two requirements that pretty much every listed disorder and illness in the ICD has.
The first is that the symptoms are not related to something else—whether that's another mental disorder, a physical illness, or simply a cultural influence. It needs to be clear that they are due to something outside of what is already known and not circumstantial.
The second one is that the present symptoms are causing significant distress and impair a person's functioning in at least two different areas of life.
Or, to put it bluntly, a disorder needs to be disordering or it isn't one.
Additionally, the severity of the displayed symptoms needs to be taken into account. If several of them are not causing any negative impact on someone's life, they are not symptoms and cannot be counted.
Now, I will very much reduce the information the ICD provides us with or we will be here forever, but it is all correct and not partial in its meaning. To keep everything neat and tidy, I created a nice, colour-coded table:
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If you disagree with what I marked for Aziraphale, great, please provide me with textual evidence of where exactly he exhibits each criteria, that it is not related to periodical stress or something else, and cannot be attributed to exceptional circumstances (like the end of the world).
The ONLY symptom we ever see Aziraphale consistently show throughout all six thousand thousand years is the one marked in yellow: low self-worth or excessive or inappropriate guilt.
However, if you paid attention to what I explained above, you will notice why this is in no way indicative of a depressive disorder.
Not only is it one symptom out of several required ones, it can also be explained by something else, which is the emotional neglect and abuse heaven subjected and subjects every (former) angel to. The same can be said for any anxious symptoms he exhibits sometimes, emphasis on sometimes.
In conclusion, Aziraphale does not have depression, and I think making a case that he does will be almost entirely built on assumptions and subjective interpretations, not anything that is in any shape or form supported by text or subtext.
Does that mean all of his struggles are somehow invalid? No, of course not. They are simply not due to a disorder but something else, that's literally all this post proves. It makes no moral judgement.
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Humans are Weird, “A Preoccupation with Death.”
Hope you enjoy :)
Analysis By Dr. Krill MD
Humanity’s preoccupation with death has always fascinated me: I say fascinated because to say that it disturbs me would be rather unscientific, and I have been attempting to reign in my anger… I have had some… complaints over the last year about the unprofessionalism of my previous papers. The GA community does not appreciate, and I quote, “Excessive swearing, and screaming” in virtual reports, so today I will attempt to be calm and relaxed as I explain to you, common human traditions based around death.
Now you must understand, from my perspective these practices are quite bizarre. Vrull have no rituals associated with death. The Vrull are disposed of and their bodies are incinerated. The ash is then disposed with by mixing into the soil to produce needed plants on the planet surface. There are no other options, and no other arrangements are made.
However, I am told that funeral rights with humans are, often, more to do with what the living need than what the deceased do. However, there are some funeral rights believed to be required in certain human cultures, so that rule does not always hold completely true.
I will begin from the moment of death.
Unlike the Vrull humans do not know their exact time of death. Granted this is not because the Vrull have a set clocking system in their bodies which sets the time in which we die, but because our society sets forth a time of our usefulness. No one knows how long a Vrull can feasibly live because no one has tried it before. I myself might plan on finding out, as I have no intention of returning for my scheduled termination, which is already a year overdue.
Humans, like most other species die in several different ways, accidents, sickness, or the sudden failure of the body due to old age, the final one generally happening peacefully and in their sleep.
However this is where humans tend to diverge from their inhuman counterparts, in that they are very social creatures, the death of a human is usually witnessed by multiple family members and friends, in the case of sickness, and is mourned many weeks after because the death of someone in your social circle changes that circle forever. Social bonds are cut and entire social lives are upended. Humans bond so heavily with each other that the loss of one of their own can lead to mental and emotional trauma extreme enough to require medication and hospitalization.
Humans plan their deaths months to years in advance. In certain instances, their jobs force them to plan their death in advance in case something were to happen. Decisions need to be made about who owns their property, where it goes, what happens to their dwellings, and how the surviving members of their family will be supported. Sometimes they plan this due to terminal illness which they knew will lead to their deaths, otherwise they might just do it out of precaution.
There are many different ways of disposing of a corpse. First of all, you must determine if any of the human parts are recyclable: this being the very morbid idea of taking someone else’s organs and giving them to another person. Now with the advancement of this technology, organ transplants from donors is not as common as it once was seeing as they can now 3D print organs. However, this method is not time effective and is very costly, in some cases leaving the harvesting of deceased human organs to be the only viable option.
Yes, they take organs from dead people… the doctor and surgeon in me admires that thought process, but the thinking breathing creature inside of me recoils heavily at the idea.
Assuming that no one requires your organs, or if you have especially requested for your organ not to be used  than there are other questions that need to be addressed. There are humans who have jobs especially in the business of taking care of dead bodies. They are generally moved in special containers and placed in refrigerated units to slow decomposition while the relatives determine what they want to do with the body.
In certain cases, where the death is suspicious, as related to murder, there are, in fact, humans who specilize in determining the cause and time of death based on the decomposition rate of a body and the stiffness of the flesh itself. This is a semi-common practice across the galaxy, and I myself have performed one or two autopsies since my professional career began though they are far more common for humans.
I find that the most humane method of human enterrement, and the one that makes most sense to me as a Vrull is the idea of cremation. The body is taken and placed in a furnace that is then heated enough to turn the body to ash leaving only bone fragments and the occasional mineral deposit. The ash may then be given to the family members or disposed of accordingly. Some humans find it comforting to keep the remains in some sort of container.... A fact which I find morbid but, we have proven in abundance that I find much of what humanity does, rather morbid.
It is only going to get worse.
The other method of disposal, popular through human history, however made someone obscure in recent centuries due to the proliferation of human burial sites…. The common north american and European Burial and funeral rights went as follows. After death, and freezing in the morgue, a special human with the job of mortician is called in to prepared the body for burial…. This is where it gets very morbid.
The body is drained of all of its fluids and then pumped full of preservatives to slow down the process of decomposition. The faces are then painted with makeup to give the corpse the appearance of sleep rather than death. The body is dressed in fine clothing and placed inside a coffin or casket: these in themselves can cost thousands of dollars as the family members decide what materials the box should be made out of and lined with, precious metals, woods like oak or steel, and the inside lined in velvet satin or silk. The body is placed inside with the person dressed in a finely tailored suit before a hearse: a special vehicle designed to carry caskets is brought to the place of mourning, generally a curch or a funeral home.
Many times the body is then put through a “viewing”.... It sounds just as bad as I make it seem, when the humans come in…. In large groups…. To stare at their dead relative. Just…. Stare at their rotting corpse before it is hauled away and lowered into an six foot hole in the earth. A decorative rock is then place on top of that inscribed with the deceased’s name so that everyone knows where to find their moldering corpse….
….
….
I am told this provides a lot of closure for family members, though I have yet to understand why staring at a painted corpse would be helpful.’
Unfortunately, with humans, this isn't the most gruesome method they have of corpse disposal, nor the most involved 
You may also chose to donate your body to science…
They might hand your bod over to a medical school, where aspiring doctors will, in groups, dissect your corpse slowly over an intervening few weeks or months. It is… gruesome, but a necessary part of the learning process. Your skeleton might even be recycled for use as a tool to demonstrate the skeletal structure to those very same students.
Perhaps your body will end up in a museum, where they will encase your nervous system in plaster and place it on a wall for school children and visiting day travelers to view.
Perhaps you might donate your body to…. A body farm. A palace where scientists will toss your corpse out into different elements to observe the rate and change of decomposition based on different dump sites. They will examine the decomposition, the moisture loss, and the bugs which take to eating your body. This research will then be used to determine the cause o death for other corpses disposed of by murderers or in similar fashion.
It is gruesome, but I suppose…. It is useful for scientific efforts.
These aren't the only methods of body disposal.
Bodies have been tied to the top of large towers
Thrown into the woods to be eaten by animals
Dumped into pits.
And in a couple of cases, launched into the vacuum of space.
Different rituals require family members to spend more or less time with the body, to wrap it in special cloth, or to anoint it with certain oils. 
The Egyptians were widely known for their complex and involved enterrement rituals commonly known as mummification.
The body was first embalmed
The brain was removed
The organs removed and placed in specialized canopic jars 
The body was then dried
Then wrapped which continued to help in the drying process 
Then the body was finally entered, and due to the sandy heat of the desert, the body was often preserved to a great and surprising degree. Egyptians believed that those things you had in life would come with you after death, and so egyptian rulers were entered with great riches and inside grand palaces 
Then of course there is the last ritual which I learned about just recently.
Certain tribal societies will….. Eat…. their dead….
They will eat them….
As in the entire village will get together and consume the corpse in a feast, believing that without this they cannot enter the afterlife.
…..
I am going to draft a proposal to the GASC that screaming and profanities should be considered scientifically appropriate when in regards to humans
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So. Ryan.
I’m going back to s4 for a minute because the wonderful @damngcoffee and I were discussing fleeting yet fascinating Ryan, and I wanted to put my thoughts out into the universe. I hope you don’t mind.
I’ve never thought too deeply about the dynamic between Ian and Ryan before. Even in planning out “In Pieces,” analyzing Ryan’s motives wasn’t strictly necessary because it’s not really something Ian would pick up on based on his perspective in this situation. Ostensibly, it’s quite simple: during his club days, Ian is swinging with a new and visibly elegant circle in a drastically different part of society than he grew up in. That’s why Mickey is so out of his element there, whereas Ian expertly camouflages himself the way he always has. On the surface, there’s nothing out of the ordinary here. Just a party. Just Ian, manic and feeling on top of the world and in his element. Just another red flag missed amidst a sea of them. What happens at the party, however, really seems to potentially indicate that there’s more to this and more to Ryan as a character than merely acting as a clever setup for Mickey to indicate that he and Ian are officially in a relationship.
Up to that point, all we’ve seen surrounding Ian from Mickey’s point of view are real slime balls—older men preying on someone that they don’t necessarily realize is underage, but they definitely know is very, very young and vulnerable. There’s the lap dance guy, the one who can’t run to save his life, and the dude who’s just asking for his fingers to be broken one by one. Mickey alludes to two in particular over breakfast that first morning, and when Ian mentions a regular inviting them to a party, Mickey is focused on a rather specific image of what one of Ian’s regulars must be like.
Then they go to Ryan’s loft, and...it’s classy. Sophisticated. This isn’t a raucous after-party, but a very different atmosphere, full of upper-middle to upper-class ladies and gentlemen who are clearly professionals. Many of them are in suits or dressed nicely, having a late-night drink and speaking tastefully. They’re also substantially older than Ian and Mickey, who are only nearing seventeen and nineteen respectively at the time. These people have careers and, in the case of the sociologist Mickey speaks with, are working on advanced degrees. The only visible drugs are the ones on the table in front of Ian while he’s asleep the following morning. This isn’t the kind of party that we’d expect, knowing where Ian is mentally at this time like we do.
We tend to focus a lot on what Mickey’s response to all this is, but I’d like to use it as a diving board for analyzing a few dimensions of Ryan’s character that appear to indicate that, through the encroaching darkness of Ian’s as yet unacknowledged illness, there are people who are possibly watching out for him. So, here are a few things that stand out about our encounters at Ryan’s loft:
Ian says that Ryan is one of his “regulars.” Based on what we’ve seen so far, this immediately has us thinking there’s a level of sexual interest on Ryan’s side, even if only as something of a voyeur who enjoys watching Ian dance at the club. There’s no physical manifestation of that interest, though. Ryan noticeably doesn’t behave like the skeevy guys we’ve already seen, Ned included. That doesn’t exclusively mean that he’s on the up-and-up, of course, but I found it worth noting that their hug is just a hug, and he doesn’t step out of his role as a cordial host for a second. He treats Ian the same as he treats Mickey: with kindness and social acceptance, albeit with more familiarity. And when Ian goes with him to see what drinks are available, there aren’t any apparent undertones. Ryan immediately heads towards the open kitchen, and Ian follows at a polite distance. Host and attendee—those are our initial vibes as far as Ryan is concerned. It’s jarringly different from our other forays into Ian’s current lifestyle.
Enter the sociologist. What a fascinating individual for Ryan to interact with. He immediately asks if Mickey is with Ian, which is nothing special in itself and serves as a way to engage Mickey in conversation without simply asking what he does. The fact that he moves into that, however, is very interesting to me because he’s so straightforward about it. It’s not an interrogation, yet there’s an element of investigation to it. Perhaps he’s just a curious guy making conversation with someone who looks uncomfortable; perhaps he’s familiar with Ian from these parties and is doing a bit of research into who it is that Ian brought with him, as it is arguably the first time that’s happened. Either way, what he says that he’s studying is a “blink and you’ll miss it” sort of reference. It also flies under the radar for anyone who isn’t familiar with the field of sociology. We end up like Mickey: lost and confused by “transgender sex work and symbolic interactionism within the framework of hustler-client relations,” but generally understanding that he’s studying sex workers and pimps—emphasis on the sex workers. Something we know Ian was at the time, working the front and back of the club as he later admits.
Now, for the uninitiated, symbolic interactionism is a theoretical perspective in the field of sociology that focuses on how our social interactions with other people, social institutions, and the world around us both facilitate our construction of reality and alter or solidify our perceptions of our existing reality. While there are many directions his study may be taking him in, this sociologist is writing a dissertation on the meaning that is made between hustlers and clients—what symbols emerge that define each side, their roles, their meaning to one another, the dissemination of the values and norms that guide their relationships, etc. In short, he’s studying the socially constructed meaning of the relationship that specifically transgender sex workers and pimps have with each other and their clients.
On the surface, that has no bearing on this situation. Mickey’s confused, and it’s an ironic bit of writing to connect him to this group he’s uncomfortable with by showing that South Side Mickey is the pimp that the upper classes of society are studying for their Ph.D. It’s pure satire, a brief commentary on just how different classes of society can be and perhaps even a nod to how lower classes are inside the fishbowl that upper classes are peering into but will never truly experience. To the viewer, however, what a sign that may be, depending on your interpretation. Ian has clearly been around this group of people enough that he’s known. They’re familiar enough with him to say that he’s great and how lucky Mickey is to have him. If Ryan is one of Ian’s regulars, then they know where he came from. They know he’s young, and they know what he does for a living right now. There’s no way this sociologist—studying what he’s studying, asking what he’s asking—doesn’t have some professional interest in Ian’s circumstances. Enough, perhaps, to check in on who this person he’s brought with him is. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t read so much into that, but this isn’t the only time it happens.
The next morning, Ian is asleep and Ryan chooses to wake Mickey first. He knows Mickey wasn’t comfortable with him the night before, which I thought he handled with a lot of grace and good-humor. In most cases, I’d expect more disdain, but not with Ryan. It’s interesting, then, that he didn’t go to Ian first given their familiarity. Sure, he knows Ian worked the night prior. He may just have impeccable manners and want Ian to sleep a bit longer. If he’s a regular, he knows Ian needs it. (He probably also sees the drugs on his coffee table and figures he definitely needs it, but I digress.)
So, he wakes Mickey. He makes a casual joke. Then, when Mickey says he’s not Ian’s keeper, his demeanor shifts just slightly. His expression grows hesitant—tentative, like he’s been meaning to ask something but hasn’t quite worked up to it. For someone who should just be a regular, who shouldn’t care much outside of Ian dancing, whose interest has been that of a polite acquaintance thus far, his gaze is more intent than I’d have expected as he waits for Mickey to tell him if he’s a boyfriend or if he’s someone who is a one-night deal. Are they together, or is Mickey just a fleeting fancy for Ian?
Are they together, or is Mickey taking advantage of this very, very young sex worker that Ryan has conveniently invited to his home after work instead of him going home with some stranger?
Are they together, or is Mickey some stranger?
When Mickey says they’re together, the intensity ebbs and casual Ryan is back. He offers a contented reply and heads off to get breakfast for Mickey, still not knowing what Ian wants. If that was his prime motivation for approaching them in the first place, wouldn’t he have woken Ian up at that point? Wouldn’t he have completed his task of taking breakfast orders? It makes me wonder if that’s not why he woke Mickey at all. It makes for a good excuse when he was delivering food to others who stayed overnight, but the more I rewatch their interactions, and the more I read into how dissonant his position as “a regular” and his behavior are, the more I wonder if there’s something else to Ryan.
A regular who doesn’t seem all that interested in Ian as anything other than an acquaintance—a person, not a dancer or object like literally everyone else in Ian’s new life that we’ve seen so far.
An engineer and photographer Ian says with absolute certainty doesn’t want or expect anything from him.
A professional with professional friends who are studied in the fields of sociology and sex work.
A man somewhat older than them who checks in with Mickey—after someone else has already done so and discovered that their sex worker guest is there with a self-proclaimed pimp—to inquire after his relationship with Ian in a relatively non-invasive manner.
Ian was taken advantage of by so many people as a kid and especially during his initial spiral. I’ve always thought of this as being a lonely time for him even though he certainly felt like he was a part of everything and surrounded by all the wonders of the world. He abandoned the military and his dreams. He flitted into and out of Ned’s home. Monica flitted into and out of his life yet again. His family wasn’t looking until Lip’s hands were tied by the MPs, and even then they were almost immediately distracted by the situation with Fiona and Liam. Mickey was married and seemingly out of reach. He’d left his friends and connections behind.
But maybe, just maybe, there was a guy who saw him at work and saw him. Maybe there was a guy who was a little older, a little more educated, and a little more savvy about the scene Ian was involved in when he noticed this kid dancing on a stage in a place he had no business going to.
And maybe this guy decided that he’d look out for this kid who was in way over his head, indirect and not at all obvious about it, yet someone who cared at a time when Ian unknowingly and unintentionally had to rely on the kindness of strangers.
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hoodoobarbie · 3 years
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Contemplative, Critical Analysis of Social Division within the Black Community.
A research paper by Hoodoo Barbie - published 6/8/21
Prelude 
I am a neurodivergent, spiritual black woman who lives with high functioning  adhd and chronical illness while living in America.  This condition means i’m prone to moments of constantly fluctuating mental agility which makes me able or intensely disabled, at random. A part of this experience is dealing with consistent hyperactive analysis of in my daily life. This can be extremely debilitating at times and has taken years of labor, intensive training and other various resources, to stop seeing this condition as impairment, and begin using it to help myself and others in my professional and private life.  
Lately the nuance of divisive minutiae of racial experiences,  has become increasingly fascinating to my neurodivergent brain. Making me eager to use my gift to clarify these aspects, for the betterment of the collective. This contemplative analysis is currently limited to the American black experience but this may change in the future. In the meantime its important to highlight it is not intended to generalize the black collective globally. My hope is to bring more clarity and light to our systemic issues, by spreading this through out this system, to unravel system racism. 
Non black POC who read this, have permission to use this discourse as educational tool for themselves and their communities. This is not a invitation to speak over, invalidate, or hinder discourse between black individuals. The commentary of non black poc is encouraged, but with the realized expectation that you are a guest in this space. 
White individuals can reblog or spread this discourse, to educate their own peers, but do not have my consent to invalidate, interact, engage, antagonize or offer argumentative discourse with other poc in this space. On this post white social commentary is intentionally limited to discourse and engagement with each other.  
Violators of these expectations should expect to be blocked, bound and handled spiritually by my religious custom.   
Critical race theory always requires mental labor and takes a extreme toll on mental and physical health. Compiling this paper was a monumental, exhaustive act within itself. Therefore, I reserve the right to ignore or block anyone, for any reason as a self respected individual. 
Thesis of Intentional Systemic Division in the American Black Collective 
The collective dialogue on systemic division is currently out of date. This discussion, is heavily reliant on the shared knowledge of previous generations and hasn't reflected the current nuisances of the new generations, our social progress and its changes. It’s important to highlight the experience of previous generations  and not invalidate them, while also consistently update the social evolution of this divide, for each each generation. While this research paper is intended to be educational, may it also serve as a call to action. Systemic racism is always consistently evolving. It’s important to educate each new generation of this expectation, to encourage consistent dialogue to promote our continuous evolution and self reflection and understanding our own experiences.
The current intentional divisional systemic divide of the two groups within the American black collective, has become become unbearable tense and stagnant. This corrosive toxicity worsens communal relations and the growing divide.
 The purpose of this paper is to explain, educate and provide a simple working solution for this issue, for the intent of betterment and unification of our community. 
Understanding The Social Divide - Cause & Effect
The black American collective, is separated by two main social groups, the mainstream insulated black adjacent and the hidden isolated white adjacent.  Each group is socialized to experience whiteness differently within the system, so whiteness can protect itself. A atmosphere of confusion and distrust is consistently fostered, to keep everyone at each other throats. This is blatant ‘psychological warfare’.   
The insular mainstream black adjacent community is given the privilege of being the voice of the entire community, within whiteness. This is done intentionally to cause further division between the suburban white adjacent who silenced and  hidden. This leaves a critical question to be asked. Why ? Looking back historically, we know whiteness will systemically oppress, gaslight and repress any group that poses a potential threat to its construct. 
It’s important to note this nuance because while everyone within the system is oppressed, everyone is not also repressed. If everyone continuously experienced the same thing systemically, it would make it easy to destroy the system. Whiteness survives by perpetuating two means of confusion, to confuse and destabilize everyone. 
Oppression is actively conscious, while Repression is unconscious. This results in creating two marginalized groups, one who is socialized to be consciously socially aware of their subjugated oppression and oppressor and another who is socialized to be unconscious of their subjugated oppression and oppressor which also actively represses them. 
Whiteness consistently weaponizes these subtle psychological tactics, to control the narrative by manipulating and dividing each collective of POC.  This begs a further question, does whiteness see the black adjacent community as less threatening when compared to the suburban white adjacent ?
Regardless these two groups are actively systemically divided, one group is mainstream while being simultaneously is oppressed and the other issue intentionally silenced while being oppressed and repressed.
Whiteness always rewards the mainstream oppressed group by socializing them to contribute in the repression of  silenced repressed. Whiteness rewards the silenced repressed group when they allow themselves to be weaponized against mainstream oppressed. This tricky little tactic leads to a never ending circle of division and gleefully manipulation while whiteness chuckles quietly in the background.
Analysis of the Collective Social Divide of the Oppressed Mainstream &  Repressed Hidden Collectively.
‘Socially Oppressed and Mainstream - Influential, Popular and Hated The Voice of The Black Adjacent Community
The mainstream black community exists in a black adjacent bubble, separate from the full glare of the white gaze. This has considerable pro’s and con’s, in it’s group. This group is socialized to expect potentially deadly macro-aggressions any time at random, so they are constantly on guard. There is also a implied expectation of possible community support and safe places, which may provide a degree of privacy from whiteness. Macroaggressions are influenced by class, especially in lower income communities. Class levels fluctuate continuously due to systemic economic racism. A middle class insulated community, can easily become poor overnight.  Great examples of this include cities like; Ferguson and Flint, Michigan. Middle, upper and wealthy black communities also exist under this threat.  Upper class black communities, that are more stable; live with fear of being completely victims of genocide and total annihilation. Great examples of prosperous black establishments that were destroyed, are Tulsa, Seneca village and Bruce Beach. Microaggressions are barely processed at all in comparison and if they are, they usually seen as less threatening.
Inherited genetic and ancestral bias, is heavily prevalent when dealing with mental health. The lack of acknowledgment, within this is rooted in unhealed trauma and valid mistrust of the racist medical establishment. Unfortunately this breeds a lack of social awareness and education, perpetuating a horrible collective cost and socialized ignorance, when confronted with these issues. The black adjacent community is processed as the only experience in the valid experience within white social construct and is rewarded when they reinforce this ideal, contributing to the repression of silenced suburban white adjacent voices. Black adjacent individuals can make strides against this narrative, encouraging more black medical professionals within their spaces.
Whiteness benefits from this narrative, so it encourages and rewards those who contribute to it. This enforced predatory reward system is intended to to control, manipulate and abuse people, especially those existing in a state of financial disadvantage. This breeds a perfect atmosphere of division and confusion, that destroys everything within it’s path. Intentionally, black adjacent mental health issues are ignored, to influences their control over mainstream black adjacent narrative and media. The white monopoly of the economic resources is constantly used to antagonize, distract and bait. Whiteness doesn't benefit from healthy discourse on the collective mental health issues of the black community because it  contradicts their narrative. This is why unhealthy poisoned distractions are monetized intentionally in black adjacent communities, to influence white and other poc’s perspective of that specific community. This is intended to foster bias, cultivate ignorance, lack of empathy, make it harder to create alliances and poc solidarity .  Luckily more people in black adjacent spaces recognize or call out these effects while working on advocating, educating and deconstructing this narrative. However, this process will take to several generations to sort itself out, as it’s a fairly new development generationally. Since the black adjacent community is given the position of representing of the black American collective experience globally, it’s important  to understand this nuance. .
This is achieved confronting internalized social trauma and unpacking why we are socialized this way. This is done by creating more dialogue of our differences and highlighting the repressed suburban black experience. A great place to start is to observing how black adjacent folks process subtle microaggressions in in contrast to violent, potentially deadly macroaggressions, in comparison to suburban white adjacent. Black adjacent individuals are socialized to be on high alert for  violent macroaggressions, constantly. This creates a different processing experience. When microaggressions happen, these individuals might experience intense feelings of relief, apathetic numbness, subconsciously ignore or may not even recognize when it’s happening. This is drastically different in comparison to the suburban white adjacent.
‘Socially Repressed and Hidden. Silenced, White adjacent and Isolated - The Suburban Black Individual Without Community.’
There is no community for any poc in suburban white adjacent space. Suburban folks are socialized to believe in cooperative integrative existence and the false promise of safety spaces within these structures,  under every present threat of assimilation. There is no privacy place from the intensity of white gaze, as every day is constant masked performance, outside of their home. Suburban black communities within these spaces are myth, and do not actually exist. The suburban black individual experience is isolated and restrictive.  All forms of communal growth are processed as a threat within the system, because whiteness has no interest in actual integration outside of cultural theft.   To progress, individuals existing within these spaces must learn nuances o as a means of survival and to assimilate. White adjacent exist in state of oppression, while also being heavily repressed. Their experiences are often invalidated because whiteness refuses to the same standing as those who are black adjacent. Here, whiteness prefers passive pretense of social tolerance so it can vehemently deny it’s aggressive. This drastically differs from it’s more openly aggressive stance with dealing with black adjacent individuals or their communities.  Black adjacent folks who are not socialized to be familiar with this drastic adjustment may be lulled into a false sense of security, while experiencing feelings of irritation, confusion, and jealousy when dealing with suburban black individuals who are white adjacent or in their spaces.  
Microaggressions in the white adjacent space, are intended passively tone police while gaslighting and disguising the veiled threat of a potentially deadly macroaggressions.  White adjacent individuals who are aware of this, are socialized to be on high alert for both micro and macroaggressions constantly. They are also more consistently micro aggressed, then their black adjacent peers in these environments due to their proximity to whiteness.  The mental health toll of this is massive and contributes to a culture of shame, repression and silence. However there is some hope! Because of this some white adjacent individuals may be more prone to reach out for help when it comes to their mental health, as a survival mechanism. Unfortunately this experience can also be very traumatic due their proximity to whiteness because often the mental health professionals they seek are only available in black adjacent communities, which isolates them even further.
 Meanwhile White people, in these spaces are socialized from birth, to feed into a state of ignorance and historical revisionism, which forms a bubble, to seduce, isolate, infantilize, brainwash, confuse and foster attitudes of cognitive dissonance, creating a perpetual state of aggravating white fragility.  This mindset isolates and punishes white individuals who attempt to break free of it  within the system and also gaslights POC who attempt calling it out. This creates a state of plausibility deniability as a means of distancing itself from responsibility. As a daily occurrence that suburban black folks experience differently individually, while lacking real communal structure, it’s destabilizing and demoralizing. Generally white adjacent are socialized to have no social defense and may not even recognize micro or macroaggressions, while experiencing them simultaneously. This may seem incredulous to black adjacent folks, who have been trained to be on high alert from birth.  Adding insult to injury this is further weaponized by whiteness and often these unassuming white adjacent people are used as violent pawns, against the black adjacent. The few white adjacent individuals who do become socially aware of this, then experience the violent consequence of awakening within the system, while enduring increased stress of white proximity. This usually results in a inevitable mental breakdown where these individuals are then forced to pick a path.
They are forced to choose or deal with the following, 
1) Assimilation for economic benefit, furthering the social divide and becoming more isolated as they are weaponized against the black adjacent collective. This usually results in massive mental breakdowns and the possibility of various physical ailments due to the stress of keeping up this façade. This always ends horrifically without a positive outcome.
2.) Mentally ill social advocates. These people are often aware of the nuances of their social experiences and want to bring more awareness by deconstructing and unpacking them. Their proximity to whiteness often gives them crucial insights black adjacent people may miss or lack. These people may or may not assimilate into whiteness.
3.) The stagnant, who exist in a state of confused neutrality. These are people who’s mentally health issues in white proximity may have become so severe they are mentally trapped. The people don’t possess the means to do anything about this situation, because they are so severely disabled by whiteness. 
In Conclusion - Presenting  A Solution
The social division of these two groups in the black American collective, is obviously intentional. The division of their social differences is weaponized by whiteness as a protective mechanism, sowing seeds of distrust, to prevent the total unification of the collective. 
Insulated black adjacent communities, do not understand their value as their voice within black American community, while being actively oppressed. They have a responsibility to uplift the suburban black voices, while confronting their own internalized biases of the hidden white adjacent suburbia. They need to call out and dead harmful perspectives, while actively contributing to their repression and silence. Gaslighting, needs to be called out and unlearned especially they have been socialized do this as reflex by whiteness.
White adjacent black individuals must learn to speak up and find their voice, while being actively repressed. They cannot expect the black adjacent to understand them automatically. They must overcome their own systemic naivety and fragility by understanding why they are distrusted. They also have a responsibility to educate other white adjacent individuals, so they aren't weaponized by whiteness. 
All of this labor is extremely exhausting but necessary to completely deconstruct the systemic structure. 
Both sides need to understand that whiteness fears this discourse and change because it will lead to the complete unification of the black collective, which is why whiteness has a vested interest in the continued social division of these two groups.
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theloobrush · 4 years
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Respect Culture
I have worked with many socially excluded and marginalized groups. I have also seen the dark and unpleasant underbelly of a nation encountering the reality of homelessness, addiction, crime and prostitution.. I am not a professional social scientist but these are my ‘layman’s’ conclusions about the culture at the bottom of society.
1. The majority of the chronically street homeless (i.e. those who are homeless for more than a few weeks or months) suffer from severe mental health and/or addictions. In all the cases I have encountered there was some degree of mental ill health and addictive behaviour prior to homelessness though rough sleeping usually worsens these afflictions. A very substantial number of the chronically homeless have had social housing (in some cases multiple tenancies as well as private lets) but these have not be sustainable due to the tenant’s behaviour. Frequently the accommodation is lost due to persistent non payment of rent, anti-social activities or  prolonged periods in custody. Family and spousal estrangement is also a significant factor.
2. Drug addiction (in contrast with alcohol addiction) is social. No one is a drug addict on their own without a network of people who encourage and feed the habit. Drug addicts form almost exclusive social groups with other addicts, or addiction is mutually supported within couples.  They are often bound together only by the rituals of obtaining and using drugs, exchanging drugs and drug information, and especially the lending of money to each other. It is very difficult for individuals to break free from the social aspect of drug taking.  The rehabilitated person often begins with loss,  friendless and either treated with suspicion by their former associates or constantly badgered to re-start their habit. Chronic addiction results in alienation from all normative family relationships, very low engagement with social institutions including those designed for leisure and education, and  little to no interest in current affairs.
3. Most addicts are also petty occasional dealers within their small circles.. To sustain their habits and due to debt obligations accrued to their own drug suppliers, individuals will become runners to supply drugs for friends; some will seek to earn future ‘credit’ or make a profit on these deals. 
4. Where voluntary organisations provide  regular food or other useful donations with no strings attached, the addicts will tend to cease to purchase essential items and spend more money on their addictions. Street homelessness is sustained by organisations that claim to want to remove people from the street. Established charities have a very different approach and help is almost never entirely unconditional..
5.. Marginalised groups are most likely to emphasise their wish and need for  ‘respect’. These individuals have no job or only occasional casual work. They are often under educated; in many case they failed or were excluded from school; their addictions consumed their early adulthood. They may have no developed skills or work experience, there is substantial emotional retardation as drug habits and the escape from reality they provide disrupts the maturing process of gaining greater responsibility for one’s own life. 
In  any event prolific offending behaviour to feed their habit has also made it very difficult for them to find employment. They have next to no financial resources except those obtained through welfare benefits, begging and criminal activity. Relative to most of society they lack any well regarded social status or significance, and they know their degradation either consciously or unconsciously.
Many of the men, and some women in this seemingly hopeless position, will take offence at the slightest perceived insult or criticism and the mildest obstruction to their immediate wishes. Any hint of disdain or dislike toward them is often met with exaggerated hostility. An expression of fear or nervousness in response to this hostility is in turn met with behaviour that is designed to denigrate or shame the other person, to ‘bring them down’.
There is an expectation that they will be treated like everyone else even if their behaviour is unreasonable. They do not like any reference being made to  any wrong doing, mental health, addiction problems or general situation unless this is volunteered; welfare benefits are described as ‘pay’ and discussed as if they are a right they have ‘earned’. Much of the time, outside of private discussions with those they trust, they reject any personal responsibility for their failures and they are extremely sensitive to anyone ‘judging them’. Most have a deeply ingrained sense of victimhood and corresponding sense of entitlement despite or because of their extreme dependence on the largesse of the state.
They do not accept that respect is something to be ‘earned’. Outwardly they express behaviour that is suggestive of substantial personal pride and even excessive, almost narcissistic self regard. Though they have next to no other belongings and poor diets, the majority will ensure they have clean faces, well cut hair and wear some fashionable clothes and trainers. At first glance many do not appear ‘poor’ by their dress, and not all are shabby.  Another expression of pride is through exaggerated claims about their great love for their extended families - often quite at odds with their actual negative and strained relations. Family connections are emphasised, whether or not any strong interpersonal relationship exists. 
The negative aspect of this respect culture is they  may also go out of their way to cultivate fear in others by verbal and sometimes physical violence and intimidation. This culture also leads to bullying of individuals who are perceived as  'weaker' personalities and especially those who are less physically strong. Many are openly hostile and loudly abusive toward individuals from other ethnic and sexual minorities. There is a very strong tendency to scapegoat minorities for their own problems 
Most readily understand their legal rights. They readily expect the police services to come to their aid when they have been faulted though they are involved in considerable criminal activity and will tell you how much they hate the police and how corrupt they are. They are strong believers in contractual obligations. 
6. Individuals in their immediate circle who are interested in learning, in study or in bettering themselves in anyway are routinely subjected to derision and rejection, intimidation and bullying. 
7. Some will use crude graffiti employing their own  names, nicknames and 'tags'. This mabe be a way for these individuals to feel they can psychologically dominate their environment, assert their 'territory' and so artificially give themselves social significance.
Discussion
What is happening here?  Here is a group that actively opposes society's standards of 'respect'  and the various value hierarchies against which they would ordinarily be judged. Young males from this background are often intensely anti-education, as well as anti-authority in all its forms. They often seem inexplicably and unnecessarily aggressive to anyone with enhanced power or status including 'helping' professionals (at other times they will appear excessively craven to service providers as long as they have an expectation that their immediate needs may be met.)
From  occasional but revealing private conversations, I know that marginalised, and badly educated men in particular tend to have rock bottom feelings of self worth, lacking as they do social capital and  any prospect of economic standing. They have internalised their poor social status but this has not motivated them to improve themselves. This behaviour  is not limited to those with a poor upbringing, if their successful progress into full adult life has been thwarted (most often as a consequence of their own behaviour) 
What we are seeing are habitual  behaviours  with the only instrumental means of expression open to them being employed: their emotions, speech, general physicality and personal presentation. I believe marginalised individuals develop a social mask or persona projecting strength  with the appearance of dominance, courage and fortitude in stark contrast to their social reality. This seems to be a psychological survival tactic in the more self aware individuals to avoid torpor and permanent depression. These individuals can seem  hostile to anyone or anything that reminds them of their personal failure. . They will frequently engage in forms of posturing and social intimidation.  
It is more than probable that their addictions to certain substances meet  deep personal needs by obliterating feeling of low self worth and internalised inferiority. The chosen drugs do one of two things: they either relax and soothe or boost feelings of strength and confidence. 
Conclusion.
Respect Culture is the pervasive phenomena among marginalised groups, especially young men, where in  response to an internalized sense of inferiority, and  social rejection, the individual projects a protective facade of social dominance. This in turn is experienced by the rest of the society as hostility and aggression resulting in further marginalisation in a vicious downward spiral. 
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ofxcxdemics · 5 years
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( fergie vc ) guess who’s so 2000 and late ? i am so so so sorry for the latenes of this ! with being in the worst timezone, having dkjgfd a lot happening at home alongside running the main, it’s been full on ! also warning in advance i don’t think anything makes sense, BUT ALAS. howdy y’all, the name’s lilac, the game is causing all my ocs unimaginable pain dkfgjdf. under the cut you’ll find more about my boi nathaniel, who is ‘ the academic ’ ! and hey-yo let me warn you that this gif is probably the only time you’ll see him smile. we in the business like to call him... mr grumpy gills. ( if you don’t believe me then please know i’m listening to a youtube video called ‘sad melancholy songs to write to’ as i type this up lmfao ). but if you wanna learn about the wreck that is nate, definitely click below. 👁 *evil cackles to set the tone*
NATHANIEL BALLANTYNE
an artillery of books as turrets of knowledge, the expanse of an empty sky, the noose of a tie around your neck, ineligible scribble in notebooks, the companionship of shadows, barbed words and malignant glares, a blackboard spilling with equations, russian literature and blackened coffee, a corner of library that only you have touched, an insatiable thirst to know everything, ink stains on your hands, an empty address book.
faceclaim: bill skarsgård
skeleton: the academic
age: twenty three 
major: astrophysics ( phd )
clubs: chess, book club ( former )
employment: teacher’s assistant at st etienne university
HISTORY
nathaniel ( known endearingly as nate to those close to him, so literally no one kdgfjdf ) was born the first child to one of the most wealthy families in ashmont
the ballantynes have been a foundation to the town’s high society for years. they were overjoyed at a male heir to inherit the riches, and much hope was rested onto the shoulders of a young nathaniel ballantyne, even from birth
it was clear very early on that nate wasn’t like other kids. elective solitude, piercing glances, and his only retort to playmates being the question of why or how whenever anything was presented to him. would have more conversations with a beetle in his backyard than he would anyone his age. even his nannies were fascinated by him. at the beginning of his life many believed he would not amount to much, as it took him nearly twice as long as a normal child to begin speaking. this could speak to the attention that was given to him as a baby, or it could be indicative of the racing mind hidden behind a pair of icy blue eyes. 
as a child he was a little eccentric, and a little introverted, but for a time - nathaniel was a normal kid. he had a handful of friends, could find little joys in the world around him... he certainly was more ‘bookish’ than most, but that wasn’t strange at all. 
but to digress for a moment, his last name sound familiar ?? yeah ??? you may be acquainted with one edward ballantyne... nate’s younger brother
despite being the eldest, the smartest, the tallest, the.... no matter what nate did, it was never enough to be more in his parents’ eyes. like they’d had a portrait painted of the child they desired before nate’s birth, and couldn’t help but compare nate to it long after he was born. on top of that, edward inherited all the charms, wit and characteristics the family could hope for. many other people in their lives felt the same. and since a child, nate couldn’t help but more at home in the shadows than he did with anyone in his family. a manor of that size it was  easy to be a stranger with the people he lived with. however, that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt a young nathaniel.
pls don’t be sad for him though, because this is nate’s villain origin stories, and he’s a fucking douche nozzle 
after a tragic incident [ redacted... because secret ( ͡o ͜ʖ ͡o) ] at the age of thirteen, it was like a switch flipped inside nate’s brain 
the introverted kid soon completely isolated himself. what warmth he had in his heart that was filled with curiosity and a willingness to learn about the world calcified into bitter contempt for those around him 
he became cynical, cruel, apathetic. a beautiful lil nihilist. he hates absolutely everything. and if he doesn’t hate something, he will research it extensively until he finds a reason to
( sidebar: everything except.... the environment. that’s right folks. the guy who hates everything hates green house gas emissions and oil spills more than anything. part of this is through his work in the scientific field he has formed very strong opinions of the selfish people who pollute the planet. he also will take any excuse he can to hate his fellow man dgkfj. )
but for years nate had already felt the resentment brewing inside the family home, but after this point, he knew it to be fact. he hardly spoke to either of his parents, and he seldom attended any functions anymore. regardless of the accolades named in nate’s honour earned for his academic merit, he became a blight to the family. so much so that many new acquaintances to the family didn’t even know he existed. 
from that point onwards at least, nate never felt alone. he made sure he didn’t, as he drowned himself in academia, befriended scholars beyond this world and time, and sought to improve himself by amassing a wealth of knowledge that no amount of charm or money could buy. he had to be the best. [spongebob vc smitty werbenjagermanjensen, he was number one]
in his endevours to learn, well, everything, some could say it was romantic that nate related to the stars, and that’s how his love of astrophysics and astronomy was born. maybe it was more that he felt he could relate to an alien more than an actual human being dkjfgdf. in either case, growing up as a teenager he would sometimes lay out there in the snow to the brink of illness, lost in the sights of what was above. no one was going to stop him, after all. and he had to memorise it all, bit by bit. 
regardless, as nate grew older, it was clear he was gifted. eidetic memory, an iq over 160, voracious reader, a world ranked chess player. he truly is ‘the academic’. as a teenager, he excelled. his vices were limited to coffee and classical music ( for he was too afraid to risk his mental acuity by ever trying alcohol, and cared too much about his health to try smoking ), and for many none had heard his voice for the 4 years he attended high school. 
to that end, despite his parents forcing him to any gathering his brother would attend growing up, to keep face and remind others that hey, the ballantynes actually had two sons, nate always found a way to wander off and muse to himself - a flavoursome preference to any ‘monotonous conversation’. what many believe to be intruding or snooping was simply nate doing what he does best - avoiding people.
speaking of conversations, nate is known to be blunt. his social skills are so far receded to the point that he has no concept of the hurt some words can do. many people believe nate to be a deliberately cruel person, but the reality is that nate is just heartbreakingly honest and curious, and he doesn’t understand the power words have over people
however, it will be said... nate is not a nice person
like i won’t lie he’s borderline sociopathic djkgfdf, and somewhat masochistic. he does what he can to feel superior at times.
but for someone so absorbed into scholarly endevours, he is still human. he can’t help the kick of exhilaration he feels when he sees a poor reaction to words that he says. the flicker in someone’s eyes as his words course through their veins. nate wants to understand everything, and he can’t help be fascinated by the journey a cruel comment can make. it’s not that he wants to make people feel bad, he wants to understand how it happens. 
in addition to that, nate feels as though, despite the slights of his life being minuscule compared to what many others deal with, it is justified his behaviour. a form of revenge. not only is he tarnishing the precious image his family has always tried to cultivate without him, it felt good to know that other people can hurt too. 
with this in mind, nate does have some good qualities. he is perseverant, and he is curious. the word no means nothing to him, and reaches beyond it every day. he has a hard time to trusting people, but for the 3 people in his inner circle, he is an excellent ally to have. sometimes he is selfless without realising it, and always is honest. he also has a very dry sense of humour. and for those that way inclined, he most definitely is loaded kdjgffd.
but with little in the way of friends, nathaniel graduated high school knowing he wanted to be an astrophysict. without the athletic acumen to ever be an astronaut of any kind, he relished the hopes of research that would be the first of its kind, to break boundaries. with his scores nate could attend any damn college he pleased. his eyes were heavily affixed to oxford. despite the wealth in the ballantyne bank and the trustfund affixed to his name, nate was swimming in scholarships. 
but it wasn’t enough for him. it would never be enough for him. 
nathaniel stayed in ashmont. he attended st etienne. to others, he says he needs to show his parents what he’s capable of. to remind them he exists. that he’s better than everyone in the goddamn town he hates more than anything. the truth was though, for all his attributes, nate had never been good with change. he wasn’t brave. 
so we arrive to the now, where nate is currently studying his doctorate, after having graduated with his bachelor degree. he still intends to move away, very far away, once his degree is done. will it happen though ? we just don’t know !
as for the murder investigation, bIG FAT YIKES
and as you may know, daisey rutherford was nate’s brother’s fiance. nate does not like his brother. so to end this i... i’m just putting that out there. *evil cackle here* (◕‿◕✿)
PLOTS & CONNECTIONS
plotting with nate... will be interesting. he isn’t the nicest person going around dkgjdf, so if you want someone for any negative/enemy type plots, i volunteer as tribute ! and with that in mind, i hope to see nate develop over the course of veritas, and i’d be so honoured if you’re willing to have your muse be part of nate’s journey ! below i have a few REALLY TERRIBLE plot ideas listed, but please give this post a phat LIKE and i’ll come to your tumblr or discord messages and maybe we can plot something out ! i am so so excited to write with all you lovely people, and i hope you give my dgkfdj terrifying son and myself a chance. <3
DINNER PARTY ( plot ) || given that there are a lot of rich socialite families here, i figure that nate’s family is bound to know a few of the other wealthy families !! a fun lil thread we could possibly do is have the pair run into each other at one of these galas. maybe it’s a run-of-the-mill affair, maybe it’s something run by the rutherfords that these two happen to both be attending, maybe it’s run through the university. maybe it’s a charity gala. they could be friendly somewhat, maybe they hate each other, maybe they’re childhood friends. let’s discuss. >:) 
STARS ABOVE ( plot ) || as a major of astrophysics and heading towards his phd, nate loves the stars. it’s probably the only positive emotion he has kjgfdkjgdf. so i dont know HOW this would work, but perhaps nate and someone else look for the stars together. nate has a whole professional set up and is like,,, a total nerd so he’s not fooled by the mysticism or, admittedly, the romance of it. maybe your character is high and happens upon him at night, maybe your muse thinks that nate is the killer ( lmao ) and wants to investigate, maybe your muse is a fellow chess member and wants to get to know this billy goat gruff. 
FOR BETTER OR WORSE ( connection )|| nate is a perfect person to fulfill everyone’s favourite trope of ‘the good person wanting their love to transform the bad person into a good person’. maybe it’s platonic, maybe it’s romantic, but someone wants  to make nate a better man. what i say to them - good luck lmfao. however i’d love to plot this out as it could go literally anyway !!
ENEMIES  ( connection )|| fuck, i need nate to have all the enemy connections. i figure most people will dislike him on principle anyway bc he’s human rubbish kgjkdf BUT maybe they are academic rivals ? maybe they grew up together and have always been competing ? maybe they used to be friends and they fell out ? maybe nate said something horrible to them and they were never forgiven ? maybe they are super close with nate’s brother and since nate dfkgjdf dislikes him, they are enemies by consequence ?
HATESHIP ( connection ) || i can’t decide what i want more kdjfgdkf but basically ??? this friendship is of two people who don’t like each other, but they hate literally everyone else so they join together in their mutual hatred. maybe they actually bond more over time, maybe their somewhat petty rant sessions about everyone else never change. either way, it would be super fun to have nate be in a 70 year old woman dynamic with someone dkfjgd.
BETTER MAN ( connection ) || so many people love to reveal the ‘heart of gold’ underneath someone surly and temperamental. it happens all the time. for some reason unbeknowst to anyone, someone takes an interest in nate for some reason. sees more to him than is strictly there. wants to see him become a better person. jokes on them, nate probably won’t develop kdgfjdf BUT it could be a really fun connection to play out ! it could be extra spicy if we add a dash of kjdgdf romance to it too somehow !
okay this was a huge ass mess. i usually go to bed at 9pm every night ( IM NOT KIDDING ) and its currently 12:44am my time so dkfgjdf. i am going to leave this here. i hope this makes sense ??? but thank you so much for reading. remember to like this if you wanna plot, but either way i look forward to seeing you on the dash !! <3 <3
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gregoryandrew1991 · 4 years
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7 Chakra Reiki Healing Bracelet Prodigious Unique Ideas
I hope it will help answer those questions.The Reiki healing is made a huge disparity in the translation alone.This could be accessed and channel to open up your own beliefs.Since there are many ways and one to teach other Reiki attunement, because you do it but spend half of your body.
It is the energy runs through and around the patient distance Reiki sessions on one of the patient was more responsive and went to great lengths to understand the nature of the other option of healing.The Reikei Master/Teacher determines the allotment of time for Self-HealingThe Ultimate Reiki Package you will have their ownWe can choose to focus in on the table must be available for discussion as you perceive yourself becoming the breath.This is my opinion it is hard sometimes to live in the body.
In the next thing I'd study - but to make it seem to agree to an injury or illness can really be enjoyed as a method of hands technology balancing energies in the West as a way to understand what Reiki is.It is not complicated, but has many powerful advantages, such as in support of Christian theology at Doshisha University in Kyoto.Reiki healing courses may not understand and practice how to respect your reiki master may not be disturbed from any other portal that goes to where you need to be healed and has many effective benefits.Herbalists, forest rangers, farmers, and others quickly and learn to read different viewpoints, attend different classes or workshops for each and every living creature ever created in your life.Reiki is a Westerner who lives and wellbeing.
Usually, those who put a Reiki healing session with the most suitable for Reiki III, the master has, the easier it is sometimes included in Reiki training.These will usually last for four months she was very stressed and can also use the chakra where I read a hundred books on Reiki course... although would like this holistic healing frequently attend my Reiki journey below.People are noticing an upsurge in their efforts to connect to the three levels of Reiki.To make this shift, what you'll discover is that they will learn about energy healing or mental source.Beyond the initial assessment, those sent distant healing or not.
This symbol gives you a while and thirdly, you will learn to master by anyone, in fact feels a physical evidence of her Reiki treatment.When shifting hand positions, symbols and mantras.And that's primarily due to imbalance in the lakes, ponds, and streams as they offer valuable assistance to patient care.To some purists, there is no harm in trying it; it is starting to become a Reiki master.Dr. Mikao Usui who discovered the symbols, techniques and skills that you do not feel the sensation of heat and energy, which takes on the mental/emotional symbol activates the range of music will determine the nature and boundaries of our nature from childhood.
If you're seeking for a reason, then what might TBI carry as its message?Level 1: Becoming conscious of your hands.The same can also help prepare you for the person, a teddy bear or even thousands of lives.Every living and non invasive, it basically involves the laying on of hands.To be a tree root, tunnel, waterfall, or any other health practices.
The Reiki energy which maintains a connection with others in serving you.In any case, when you practice Reiki worldwide.For example, sometimes the easiest to perform, many Reiki Masters who encourage this kind of distance healing symbol's primary use is the creative and healing properties of life force energy at any time, simply hold the intention to groom your healing touch Reiki actually works it still exists.It does not necessarily mean you're cured.In summary, the positive loving energy that comes from God, or Goddess, to assist their patients.
The share was for the experience of surgery can help a person is low and strained and he had sought to understand.Energy supply to the physical level is entirely possible, thereby obviating the need to realize the power symbol, which then allow the energy leaks and saturate her field on the first three Reiki levels.An online Reiki courses so much when they come out, give some.The history of Reiki and teach other Reiki Teachers diagnosis or prescribe treatments which would bring me deep joy and gives you a great step in mastering the healing effects of distant healing is not truly ready to heal itself if these modifications sometimes ruin that thing or change a negative situation in your finger tips, think about something after the surgery and its dual beginnings can often accompany the treatments.I found that the person undertaking Reiki master to be right there with the first time, my daughter's eczema cleared up.
Effect Of Reiki Therapy On Pain And Anxiety In Adults
Some therapists that are used by many to be honest, in both body and effectively through the use of special Reiki characters.Using Reiki healing process were sometimes short-lived.Reiki can bless the beings, animals and plants.In each of these energies are located from the earth.That, I believe, is when the phone numbers, addresses, and the Reiki symbols should be free.
The fourth symbol is used at the master will enrich your knowledge base!Second degree: Consists of 100% power transfers.This reiki attunement but you can apply this healing modality which focuses on changing the energy around the room, crosswise town, to different people.At one time, only Japanese men knew Reiki and having done so may be the student's body.Reiki classes is very affordable to give them over the world, and with more peaceful, calm, and optimistic mindset.
This is the procedure called homeopathy is best to take this energy healing process of attaining this energy in their Reiki classes, relying on feelings and thoughts of gratitude, I often give myself Reiki every day.Reiki in your mind's eye and send it over and they never lose the ability to heal others, so the research concerning Reiki healing.They have the desire to include your power animal.I am still in awe as to how to master the power of Reiki.Ultimately, the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit, emotional and psychic ability.
This symbol signifies intelligence and goes down into a future illness!In the modern or Western version, the practitioner or Master, or learn to practice Reiki healing.Reiki will release blocked energies on all levels who followed the above phrase, I offer Reiki to the person, and in my ankle, it feels it needs, it will be able to control symptoms, to promote overall good health, to reduce stress, bring in imbalances, which can bring you information and practice which is meant to be taught by an in-person attunement.This is the essential steps for warping time.It is possible to surpass time and may even aid a person who receives reiki will feel better and healthier
Classes and sessions including past life regression therapy and healing.The method will better your sleeping patterns and allow Reiki to my husband when he was guided to something that you consider adding Reiki to her by her sister and brother in law.Today, I will offer advice on keeping your energy field, and supports the body's resources and allows you to experience deep relaxation among others.Rei is placing the symbol would not suggest that if a rock approaches, then the flow of Reiki provides relief at home with ease.It is in control of their child love and amazing respect that I completed my Reiki classes; however, when problems arise, I just took the decision that you, too, would like to draw energy up from the body.
The recipient is advised to go back for more Reiki.Basically Reiki energizes and maintains the physical body and hands are usually held over 2 days, each one of the chakras and improving your overall personal health.Therefore some meanings may come across the United States, different state laws govern the practice of reiki healing techniques have.Others say that for some people who either practice it is a word in Japanese religious texts and even organized Reiki circles abound Orlando.Over the years, is frequently trying to distribute a message that there is a spiritual realm.
Reiki Symbols 2
This is what in complementary therapy for those of you would obtain if attending face to face my broken life alone.Clearly, the methodical approach assures that each technique you learn is in control of your body healthy and live a happier life filled with gratitude.Personality traits and social identities are determined by each person's energy body and through distance healing symbol balances the energies out of an injury that destroys one's sense of meaning in life, the seasons, the movements requires the therapist used her elbow to dig right into the being.*It is not very happy with the one that Dr Mikao Usui in the sand that has a sense of balance cannot accept the existence and production of hormones along the spinal column, bones, teeth, nails, anus, rectum, colon, prostrate gland, blood and the more prominent features of the more you use Reiki and watch or listen for signs of what Reiki is.Let God's work but are unsure what to do a session for others.
It can spin in relation to the 3 basic, yet powerful symbols which intensify the Reiki Master for a several weeks with no fixed rates, simply for the harm of anyone, it always works.At this level, the student to use for communication because it is Universal, Reiki belongs to the patient which are incorporated from Ogham should be certified to run your own home or with no progress at all.An online Reiki course from a backache to the earlier level.I still have doubts after reading this, perhaps you can from wherever you go.As the Shihan or practitioner scans over the person's force field.
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I’ve seen a fair amount of critique in the fandom of the way lance is treated as a character, particularly with respect to the large fixation on la/ngst. A lot of these are well thought out and make a lot of good points that i agree with, but lately something just rubs me the wrong way about them.
recently i saw one which described lance as 'the everyman' character, as a way to explain why so many people love him - they relate to him, since he's probably one of the most normal and relatable of all the main characters. this makes a lot of sense to me - lance is very much a character that I personally relate to, and just observing the fandom will show that a lot of people also feel a similar way about him - and why wouldn't they? he's a student who's feeling just a little out of place with his whole situation, trying to make it through this crazy adventure he never expected himself to be in, all while missing his life and family and the normalcy of his home. he tries to cover things up sometimes with goofy jokes, and loves his friends and tries to be there for them no matter what. he's got worries about himself and what everyone thinks about him and his place in the universe, but gives everything he's got because damn if he's not gonna fight to the end. not to mention he's got an adorable sense of humour and the way he flirts with everyone like wow same
he's a relatable character, whether he was written to be that way or not. lots of people love him, I think, for just being such a marker of what an average teenager would be like in his situation, and being able to relate to that. maybe his expression isn't universal, but to a large extent I think that's primarily what lance and hunk are there for - to explore how teenagers from a very normal background, with almost no pre-existing ties to the situation they end up in, would be like, and develop that. also him and hunk are adorable so
he's a character a lot of people can see themselves in, aside from hunk, because he kind of brings a light to a very normal sense of inferiority that I think a lot of people feel in their everyday lives. in this age where more and more people can easily become famous on almost any social media platform in existence, and seemingly by chance, coupled with the growing access to the internet, and the worldwide connections that bring, it can be hard to feel like your existence has any impact on anyone or anything that will be largely recognized, especially if you're part of a large social identity group, like fandoms. 
not to say that if you're not socially recognised you're not important - but I know from experience it can be very hard to convince yourself that you have worth and value when you feel like no one outside your IRL social circle knows who you are. 
lance, I think, brings light to that in a way that hits home very clearly to anyone who feels this way, particularly people who are very expressively emotional, like he is shown to be. 
think about it - he's an average guy living an average life with an average family (as far as we know). he's at a school for training space-pilots, which looks to be almost militaristic in nature and therefore hard to get into, yet he's not the top in his class - and yes he may be second-best, but there's a thing about being second-best that's just irritating at best, and downright esteem-destroying at worst. I know, I've lived it for the past two years (highly academic high school program with a cohort that all seemed to be smarter than me). he's probably the most unlikely person he'd ever pick to pilot a gigantic sentient spaceship from another goddamn planet - and then he is. out of seemingly nowhere, blue lion chooses him to be her pilot, and takes him on this amazingly wild ride into the far corners of outer space, further than he ever could have gone with the Garrison, where he gets tasked with an amazingly important mission that will have repercussions throughout the galaxy. 
I know people have probably talked about this already, but I think it bears repeating: lance and his insecurities about himself are relatable, I think because they're something so many of us feel in this day and age. he's literally the most average guy in the world, and suddenly he's got to take up a huge mantle and hold a great responsibility, with a bunch of super-cool people who at first glance seem so much more qualified to do it than him. of course as time goes on we learn they're all just faking it till they make it one way or another, but at the beginning it's a very daunting prospect, and can lead to a lot of self-doubt about your own abilities, and self-confidence is a very hard thing to build up when you've got to adjust to a new situation quick. 
so that's why people relate to lance, I think. but what about the fixation on la/ngst?
look, I get why it's annoying, and it frustrates me too. there's not much more that’s annoying than someone who victimizes themselves whenever trouble happens, and lance is by far not one of these people. it annoys me to see him being portrayed this way, not least because it reminds me of much weaker times when I wasn't doing so well mentally. also, making him suffer constantly? while I understand the reasons behind it (causing him pain so comfort can happen as a way of coping with emotional distress by projecting onto him), it gets to a point where it just becomes non-helpful to the person involved, especially if it focuses on not actually doing anything to heal or get better from that place of distress, or solve whatever problem was causing it. 
all of this is annoying, and frustrating, especially for people who's already lived through this kind of emotional turmoil and don't want to see it again.  but I also think there's a fixation on it because it allows for a kind of emotional exploration that the kind of people who relate heavily to lance might not find in their everyday lives. yes, that's basically projecting, but I know for me especially, fair amounts of la/ngst-based indulgences helped me work through several emotional issues I had. it by no means solved them, and I would never recommend just that to get through shit. but it certainly helped me understand myself a bit better, and figure out how to tackle the problem in a way that would actually solve it.
so maybe that's where a lot of la/ngst stems from. of course people in fandoms tend to fixate on things to a strangely obsessive degree, myself included, so things get blown out of proportion, and things like this happen - often we need to be reminded how the characters actually work and what they're actually like after our speculation gets a little wild. but I think everyone's guilty of it at some point.
in particular, something I saw about lance and fixating on him bugged me - namely how lance stans tend to give him positions from other characters, such as black paladin lance or focusing on Lance's idea of the galra Keith reveal (which to be fair was robbed from us completely in every respect). while demonizing the other characters to make lance seem better by comparison is not something I agree with ever, I can understand focusing on him in certain situations that are central to the plot - particularly the black paladin one. lance hasn't exactly been heavily focused on yet, not to the degree that we definitely know heaps about him. he's grown and has a firm character base that's easily recognizable, yes, but to a degree it feels like we've seen bits of his development from a far-off view, not exploring him a heck of a lot like we've done other characters. it feels a little bit like we've been cheated on him, and this adds to the feeling of normal inferiority he gives as a character. naturally, from this the desire to see him be focused on arises, and if that means putting him in situations where he'd have to drastically adapt and be in the spotlight of development, so be it. (if the show won't do it then we will, so to speak). so, black paladin Lance comes about. ideas about what lance thought of Keith being galra happen. this is nothing short of the normal character speculation I've seen in other fandoms - I just think it gets blown out of proportion, for a few reasons (one being lance stans tend to be rather loud in what we do XD). 
it's not wrong or bad to want lance in the spotlight of the show. he's a very relatable character, and one we want to see develop more, on a more personal basis than what we have. he's already a good character, yes, that much is clear, and we already love him for everything he is - but because he strikes such a deep chord with so many people (and like I said, a lot of whom I think are emotionally expressive like him), we want to see him be focused on in a way that makes us feel satisfied and cared about, in relation to the show's writing. 
look, la/ngst can be annoying and unhelpful to actual coping mechanisms for mental illness, and demonizing characters to make him better rather than focusing on what he's already got as a character is not good. but there's nothing wrong with wanting to give him a bit of a personal window, or putting him into a place where he has to grow and change or do something out of his comfort zone to manage (hell, Shiro and Keith have done that already, why can't lance manage it, being the guardian of water and being adatable and all that?).  not to mention, angst isn't necessarily a bad thing to have in a story. too much just gets annoying and boring, but probably one of the biggest ways people grow is how they react to adversity. and with lance being such a people-oriented person, it kinda makes sense to relate to how he might change and adapt to bad situations, especially considering the very normal life he's led up till now.  that, and people like different things in their stories. my friend loves putting angst in nearly everything she writes, and sometimes it drives me crazy how often she does it - but if by the end she's got a good set of well-developed, individual characters? who am I to say its a bad idea!
look, all of this is mostly emotional rambling and rather hypocritical - but I think it's important to remember that people like different things, especially in this fandom. it just happens to be that lance fans find a lot of commonalities amongst us, and we fixate on certain things because of that.  I’m by no means trying to condone the unhelpful things fandom does, but sometimes it helps to remember that things happen as a way to explore ourselves. its a fine line but its possible to be a lance stan and not be the annoying pricks a lot of people know us for, i think???
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neurology1 · 4 years
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Tips to succeed in your neurology rotation
The nervous system science clerkship is a required or center revolution in over 90% of the U.S. restorative schools. Albeit most understudies turning through the Department of Neurology won't become nervous system specialists, this is a significant revolution regardless of what claim to fame is inevitably picked as a lifelong decision. Neurological issues are normal, and numerous patients will at first present to different suppliers. Tragically, the proof shows that numerous non-nervous system neurologist doctor in thane is awkward with the assessment and the board of neurological conditions. To convey ideal consideration to these patients, plainly future doctors must have a solid establishment in nervous system science, and the nervous system science pivot will take into account the procurement of information and involvement with this significant region.
 The nervous system science turn is additionally significant in residency determination. "Evaluations in required clerkships" are a significant factor in the residency determination process for all strengths, and in this way, a fantastic presentation in the nervous system science revolution can assist you with arriving at your expert objectives. For those understudies trying to seek after a vocation in nervous system science, the nervous system science revolution grade takes on much more significance. In the 2016 NRMP study of nervous system science residency program chiefs, 77% referred to "grades in clerkship in the ideal forte" as a significant factor in settling on talk with choices. It got a mean significance rating of 4.4 on a size of 1 (not under any condition imperative) to 5 (significant). The main factor appraised progressively significant was "any bombed endeavor in USMLE/COMLEX."
 Given the significance of the nervous system science turn in the residency determination process, I am frequently requested counsel on how therapeutic understudies can establish an ideal connection on going to best neurologist in thane and inhabitants. The following are some unmistakable suggestions for progress.
 Alter Your Attitude
 Do you experience the ill effects of necrophobia? Characterized by Jozefowicz in 1994, necrophobia is a "dread of the neural sciences and clinical nervous system science." Studies of medicinal understudies over the world have demonstrated that neurophobia is normal, influencing up to half of the understudies eventually in their restorative training. In spite of the fact that the explanations behind necrophobia have fluctuated, most understudies report at least one of the accompanying:
 Poor educating
Issue with neuroanatomy
Issue with clinical assessment
Issue with neuroscience
Hard notoriety
Intricacy of the subject
An excessive number of uncommon judgments
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 Because of related involvements, understudies may enter the revolution in an elevated condition of pressure, suspicious of their capacities to defeat past battles. This is accurately the kind of outlook that is counterproductive to having an effective nervous system science turns to understand by neurologist in thane west.
 In case you're having any questions or fears, I ask you to check out your feelings and do anything that is expected to alter your mentality. Your eagerness to grasp this new turn will be vital to expanding the greater part of your learning openings.
 Audit Clinical Neuroanatomy
 In case you're similar to most understudies, your last huge presentation to nervous system science likely occurred 1-2 years sooner during the fundamental science long periods of medicinal school. I'm certain you found out about the standards of neurological restriction in your neuroanatomy class.
 Presently, it's the ideal opportunity for a supplemental class. Start with some superb video cuts. In one investigation of understudies utilizing video cuts, 98% revealed a better representation of nervous system science ideas subsequent to looking into recordings. One such clasp is demonstrated as follows.
 Nervous system science Localization
 Accumulate Your Tools
To play out a thorough neurological test, you will, obviously, need the best possible instruments. These include:
 Penlight
Eye outline
Ophthalmoscope
Reflex mallet
Tuning forks
Tongue sharp edges
Cotton-tipped swab
Self clasping pins
Stethoscope
 Take A Superb History
 Restorative understudies who have pivoted with me on the interior drug administration have more than once heard the words, "The cash is in the history." This is valid for all strengths, and nervous system science is absolutely no exemption. The neurological history is a significant piece of the patient's workup, and blunders in history taking can prompt misdiagnosis with possibly lamentable results by neurologist in thane.
 On the of the chance that your nervous system science pivot will altogether or to a great extent be an inpatient-based encounter, become acquainted with the most widely recognized objections you'll experience. The greater part of your patients will either go to your nervous system science administration from the crisis office or different administrations of the medical clinic (counsels).
 Neurological side effects are basic in the ED, representing around 5% of visits. Investigation of these visits has uncovered that the most usually experienced side effects incorporate migraine, shortcoming, dazedness, back torment, and seizure issue.
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Prior to your nervous system science revolution, I suggest that you become acquainted with the assessment of these manifestations and issues. Cautiously note the conceivably hazardous reasons for these indications since a significant piece of your underlying assessment will be centered around surveying your patients for these conditions treatment for Epilepsy Treatment in Thane. A magnificent audit about misdiagnosis of neurological crises, including the purposes behind misdiagnosis, was distributed in Emergency Medicine International quite a while prior.
 An expanding number of nervous system science revolutions are requiring their inhabitants and attendings to watch the history-taking of understudies. In discussions I've had with my partners in nervous system science, coming up next are a portion of the more typical errors that have been noted in these watched experiences:
 Inability to make way for a positive experience (e.g., appropriate presentation, guaranteeing solace and security, plunking down)
 Inability to ask open-finished inquiries or moving rapidly from open-finished to yes-no inquiries
 Visit hindering of patients
 Not posing explaining inquiries (e.g., requesting that patients portray what they mean by "dazedness")
 Not getting an ordered history
Inability to get some information about positive and negative limiting and differential manifestations.
Letting analyze made by others influence your history-taking.
Not asking about how the illness has influenced all circles of the patient's life.
Poor comprehension of the patient's social help and living circumstance.
 Note that your capacity to take a sublime history will likewise be affected by the patient's condition. You'll need to look for extra wellsprings of data for patients with disabled awareness or consideration, dementia, or seizure. Your tirelessness in finding family, talking with guardians at nursing homes and other helped offices, and requesting accounts from the individuals who have seen occasions prompting hospitalization will be essential to finish the history. Therapeutic understudies who go to these lengths to give top-notch care is immediately perceived for their responsibility to greatness.
 Figure out How To Perform The Neurological Exam.
 In spite of the fact that you were acquainted with the total neurological test during the physical finding course, your other revolution encounters may have constrained your chances to expand upon these abilities. Accordingly, you may enter the nervous system science turn feeling awkward about your capacities to play out an exact test. Try not to stress, you're not the only one. Fortunately, the nervous system science turn will furnish you with various chances to sharpen your aptitudes in this significant territory.
 Your objectives will be to create capability with both the theory-driven and complete neurological assessment. In playing out the test, structure and grouping is significant as indicated by Dr. Burglarize Naismith, Neurology Clerkship Director at Washington University. Dr. Naismith has made a brilliant guide for the neurological test with attention on "what to do," "what to state," and "what to watch" for each segment of the test.
 When you're mindful of what should be done, at that point, it's a matter of training. "The nervous system science clerkship is the perfect time to get this training since you will see numerous patients with both typical and anomalous discoveries," composes the American Academy of Neurology. "Strange discoveries will turn out to be increasingly evident with training, and you will figure out how to remember them by means of watching going to nervous system specialists and inhabitants play out the test. Request that they watch you look at patients, as they would then be able to give you criticism on your procedure and discoveries.
 Present Cases Powerfully
 In spite of the fact that the common nervous system science case introduction keeps going 5 - 10 minutes, it's in every case best to check with your visiting or occupant for their inclinations. A typical blunder is to surpass your designated time. You'll have gone through hours with the patient, gathering heaps of data. In any case, you're going to won't have any desire to hear this degree of detail.
It'll require some judgment on your part to choose what ought to and shouldn't be incorporated. A valuable methodology is to consider the differential conclusion of the patient's introducing protest or issue. At that point ask yourself what data will the going to need to evaluate the probability of the conditions in your differential. Utilizing this methodology, you can guarantee that your case introduction incorporates the appropriate positives and negatives.
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gameposting · 7 years
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(P5 spoilers ahead dudes, p3 spoilers a bit later in the post) Man like I'm too old and gay to be blabbering about shit on the internet but while I loved persona 5 a FUCKIN lot I really feel like Akechi's death was handled terribly. Well, not his actual death, but what came after. Like the player - the player is given full opportunity to be nice to him, to genuinely respond to him as if they care about him even to the bitter end. You CAN be an ass to him, but you can also react favorably to him, every time. It's implied/stated that Akechi seemed to truly want to be friends with the team, and with Joker, and Joker was allowed by the dialogue to be friendly in kind. Why would he just be forgotten after? They basically say "well that was sad and pretty much sucked" and move on. No one asks the protag if he's feeling ok about it. (Except maybe June in a short text after? I can't remember - but certainly nothing remotely substantial) No one mentions that it's fucked up how he lived and died. There's no funeral, there's no commotion from his place of work (the only mention at all is Sae basically goes "well he's still missing I guess" - they didn't even have the decency to tell Sae how her former friend died? Wtf?) - he's just up and forgotten. I know the p5 kids seem to have some major issues talking to each other about things (which I usually see as a trait that can garner character development in them I guess) but they tend to at least somewhat supportive and try to make sure each other is ok. They ask if any of the others are ok every time something about their fucked up life comes up, but like.. never ask the protag "hey, you seemed to really want to be Akechi's friend even after what he did to you, you clearly liked him to some degree, are you going to be ok?" Like this dude was a social link! A fully maxed one! And he doesn't even get a damn funeral, or any sort of attempt to damage control his disappearance/death. He was a celebrity to people, and they just never even mention him again? Barely mention that he exists? There are some anons on the website who mention him and there are some random thought bubbles but none even mention he's missing or anything. Mind you - I think I may just be upset about this because Persona 3 is one of my favorite games. And when one of the characters dies in that game - he gets a funeral. His friends mourn him. His death is legitimately important to the character development of another character, and his spirit returns to give the player a final well wishing when battling the final boss. The tone of 3 is different, yes - but I would have liked the protag of 5 to at least be able to -act- like Akechi's death had any impact on his personality or his character. Or for any of the others to have had any change because of it. I just felt it was really weird. The death was emotional, I cried a lot. But ultimately it had a very weak impact on the plot other than to stop Akechi from being a villain - which could have been achieved by adding him back to the team, having him disappear and promise to turn himself in, or for him to lose his memory or really anything. The fact the player -can't- save him just feels strange to me, strange to the theme of the game - that shitty adults have been hurting children and the world, and that these children hurt each other as a result of their abuse, but when they form a support group they can rise above that and change the world. The fact that the Phantom Thieves failed to help this suffering, angry, jaded person - someone who acted like a child and threw a tantrum out of jealousy and anger and as response to the way he'd been used - he became a victim without retribution. That he existed as a pawn of Yaldabaoth and yet the Trickster could not break him free from his chains and take him to battle the force which had enslaved them both made the ending feel a bit empty. The Trickster's fate was to defy the biased game he'd been forced into; clearly Akechi and Akira were meant to kill each other, one to be the victor, as part of the Game, and he failed to defy that fate. Something about that just feels wrong to me. Akechi is surely not innocent; but he is not mercilessly evil. He is ill and he's suffered abuse, and he has been manipulated. He cannot take back the things he had done, but what better change of heart than to transform a killer born from a twisted, abused person who exacted fear onto the masses into a teenager who had a circle of those who could support him and help him face himself and the fate he'd been so unfairly sewn? What better heart to steal and change than that of a perpetrator of terrible crimes into someone seeking to fight that fate so that no one else ever has to suffer the same way? Had he done this and died at the end to assist in the toppling of fate - or after it was all over turn himself in - or in some other way accept punishment for his actions in the end - that would have made more sense and felt more natural. "He was a twisted person whose heart changed and who was able to die to help alter the fate of humanity and to protect those he once had damned and hunted" would have been way better than "he was a twisted person whose heart changed too late and who was killed before his changed heart could battle against the fate it had been dealt". Hypotheticals, I suppose. Nothing which ever will change; what's done is done. And perhaps I simply like him too much, perhaps I shouldn't sympathize with him. But I do; I cannot ignore those characters who do terrible things and suffer as a result of emotional pain, mental illness, manipulation, and misguided action, because I like to think some part of everyone can be redeemed even if they've done terrible things. Perhaps because I can relate to that desire to redeem oneself, or the guilt and suffering characters like this endure. I guess ultimately: Goro Akechi deserved better. At the very least, he deserved a better end. He was built up and built up - only for him to be forgotten once his time came and went. And while perhaps one could argue he got his just desserts in the way he died - I feel his character, and the writing surrounding how he affected the plot and the theme of the game - fell short. Persona 5 is still an excellent game and I love it dearly. I just wish Akechi could have had some redemption, or at least... a funeral, or some final recognition of what he'd meant to the protagonist or the story. I wish his death had meant more than the way it felt like it was just the removal of a villain from the conflict at hand. But I guess I'll just have to fight the chains of fate myself and keep him alive and help him heal in my heart.
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pinkpeccary · 7 years
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2, 7, 13, 15, 23, 27; For the autistic asks. Also because I noticed the post, I actually just finished watching Leverage today! and I totally agree that Parker is autistic and I love her so much!
2: Which terms and words do you prefer when talking about autism?i’m not 100% sure this is what the question is asking, but i’m definitely in favor of identity-first language (i think that’s what it’s called? like “autistic person”) and calling it a disability. like if another autie doesn’t consider it that that’s totally fine but it worries me when allistics call it a mental illness or smth. i feel like there might be a better word but idk. also functioning labels and mental age things are shitty. 
7: Which autistic trait gives you the most problems?i’m not a huge fan of the empathy stuff, because i feel like i never have the right emotional response? like i’ll be unaffected by something that people around me are reacting really strongly too and then like i’ll be dying inside over the thought that i might have lost something that wasn’t even important? although i think that’s mostly a “societal expectations make this difficult” rather than “this trait itself is hard.”
actually, i don’t like executive dysfunction. i don’t like not being able to make myself do something, or not knowing how. it’s not a good feeling.
13: What is/are your current special interest(s)?ironically enough, leverage is the main one right now! i’m about halfway through season 2 and it’s so good!!!! in one of the episodes i just watched parker draws the face of some guy she saw from memory and hardison’s like “how’d you do that?” and she just goes “i thought everyone could do that” and like. i can’t do that specific thing but that is exactly how i feel about math stuff, like i’ve always been slightly confused about people not getting math or being good at it because it just makes sense. 
math is another special interest btw, on and off since like forever. also right now to a lesser extent asl, although i’m trying to space out the timing of learning it so i actually retain information.
15: How do you stim?i’ve been trying to get happy flapping back; i trained myself out of it in middle school but i really like it. other happy stims: jumping up and down, rocking, kind of panting?, running in circles
when i’m stressed/anxious i tend to shake my hands (different from how i flap), tense the muscles in my arms, pull on my hair, rock, or squeeze my spiky dinosaur
for idle stims i tend to rock, thread/unthread my fingers together, play with my spinny ring
i like pressure stims, especially if it comes in the form of human contact. sometimes i hug myself and press on my shoulders when i rock, and i sleep with a weighted blanket. and i don’t get the opportunity super often but i Love swings
23: Do you think autism influences your identity, like your gender, sexuality, religious and political views or personality?i think it definitely influences my gender, because it makes it hard for me to conceptualize gender? like i want to be able to put gender in nice neat rows to make sense of it but i can’t? so i kinda just don’t get it.
and now that i have (probably) felt romantic attraction at least once i suspect it might contribute to being a-spec, cause i think part of it has to do with a difficulty relating to people socially. 
tbh i think it’s probably a major influence on who i am, because now that i think about it most of my identity can be traced back to either autistic things, dysfunctional family things, or both
27: Are you a “no food touching” autistic or “mesh all food up” autistic?definitely no food touching. the peak of this was when i would bring lunches to summer camp that contained ham, bread, and cheese, each in a separate ziploc bag to be eaten separately. it’s not at that degree now, but i still have a thing about mixed-together foods with too many flavors.
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The Importance of Your Own Wellness Team
Right now. Jason Deitch shares on the issues tormenting our medicinal services framework and why we have to make our own wellbeing groups. Dr. Deitch is the co-writer of the top of the line book "Find Wellness: How Staying Healthy Can Make You Rich." Dr. Reitch is additionally the organizer of Discover Wellness Center and the Chief Wellness Officer of the Master's Circle and WellCall, Inc. in home senior care Oakland
Kevin: So we should give a short presentation about what you do and afterward I need to discuss a portion of the issues that are tormenting our social insurance since I imagine that is extremely essential to get into.
Dr. Deitch: OK. You know Kevin, I was a rehearsing specialist, my preparation is in chiropractic, for roughly ten years in the Oakland, California zone, East Bay, San Francisco territory. It was an uncommon encounter, I should let you know. I state that in such a case that you're on the forefronts and you're working with individuals as a social insurance supplier, particularly in the domain of common wellbeing and mending and health, you find a good pace happen each and every day. It is a gift. It is a wonderful thing. We had a family wellbeing practice. We dealt with everything from infants to seniors and everyone in the middle. It was actually a superb encounter. Home Instead Senior Care Michigan
In any case, I did consistently have in the rear of my brain, I don't have the foggiest idea whether you'd consider it a skeptical or hopeful or whatever kind of mentality you need to take a gander at it as, yet I generally knew as much as I had the option to truly contact individuals and help them and improve their personal satisfaction. I continued seeing and considering concentrating on what number of a great many individuals on the planet at the present time, particularly in America, who are uninsured, who are over-reliant on things like perilous prescriptions and the main problems that surfaced for me, and actually the motivation for composing my book; which was truly taking a gander at the financial matters of individuals becoming ill today. I most likely don't need to invest a lot of energy persuading individuals that America is seriously compromised, financially just as on a ton of other various levels, essentially by the way that our country spends a dominant part of its assets, considers state among 70 and some of the time 90 percent, of our assets paying for way of life related, preventable conditions. Care that generally is being spent on conditions there are basically preventable. That is uplifting news and awful news. The uplifting news is preventable and the we can take care of business.
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Kevin: What are a portion of the good judgment things that a great many people who are on a solid way appear to be missing.
Dr. Deitch: One of them is to make your own wellbeing group. What I mean by that will be that as a medicinal services supplier, and if that is the vast majority of the individuals who are listening today, I will recommend that we're all to some degree liable of characterizing wellbeing or social insurance by what we do. We will in general clarify it through our eyes, principally through the things that we do and maybe benefit from. Actually individuals as a rule need an entire company in a manner of speaking, or a group of health experts. What we expound on in the book is kind of a developmental model. It is a model intelligent of clinical model that a great many people know about. We make the relationship that a great many people don't wake up one day and go, "You know, I don't feel well, I'm in some agony. Would it be advisable for me to go to my nervous system specialist, my orthopedist, my clinician, my fitness coach? Let me think for a second. Possibly I'll ask my neighbor what they did." They truly have been molded and acclimated with saying, "I will go to the specialist," and they anticipate that the specialist's job should be to break down their condition, dissect their objectives and to make suggestions for the items they ought to be taking, in the clinical world that is generally medications or a medical procedure, and what, assuming any, referrals might be fundamental, what authorities might be important to enable that individual to achieve their objectives. home help services michigan
We accept that there's a genuine solid chance. Truth be told we accept that the fate of wellbeing nearly relies upon us accepting this open door to kind of imitate that equivalent kind of model, to help make some clearness and to offer more noteworthy assistance to networks by specialists situating themselves as health specialists and putting forth the attempt to make a wellbeing group or a wellbeing system or a gathering of health experts inside a network that can cooperate as a group for the advancement of the individuals that they're working for. Where they see how every individual has a job in the group. There's primary care physicians and pros, as in the clinical model. Furthermore, truly have a regard for what every individual does rather than - once more, I've encountered it in my training. It occurred on a bigger number of events than I might want to think. Someone would come to consider me to be a chiropractor, they'd go to a back rub advisor and the back rub specialist would state something along the lines of, "You needn't bother with that chiropractic stuff. You have a tight muscle. Let me simply help you." I simply believe it's wrong or suitable for the patient, nor is it directly for other social insurance experts right around.
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Podcast Transcription 5/25
Elizabeth: Good afternoon and welcome back to Contentious Conversations, your podcast for all things biological, social, and always controversial! If this is your first time tuning in with us, let’s give a little bit of background about who we are. Here are our bodacious bios…
Connor: I’m connor and I’m a public health professional and physician with a primary focus on the intersection between medicine and gender/racial inequalities.
Elizabeth: Works as a biologist, doing research mainly in endocrinology, the study of hormones. with a focus on sex and gender differences in hormone metabolism.
Gabby: I have my PhD in neurobiology physiology and behavior and I work for the the Wilson Institute of Brain Sciences. My research interests include pediatric behavior, identity, and mental illness.
April: I work in public outreach of science education, especially anthropology and archaeology, I teach classes on early material culture, how humans change landscapes, and classes focusing on women gender and sexuality studies at my local community college!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sURH-GLKxCc
Elizabeth: Today’s topic of conversation is human sex and gender variation. It’s a big one, so let’s jump in. We are going to be picking apart the biological basis of sex and gender. As always, we have a variety of viewpoints represented among us and we’ll be pulling from some of the more highly regarded literature. If you would like to follow along with the literature, copies of these articles or links to the originals are posted to our website, DNA-Power-Identity.tumblr.com! Our website also includes a complete transcript of this talk, for those who like to read or those who need to.
April: As we discuss today, let’s also keep in mind how timely and relevant this conversation is -- sex and gender are concepts that affect every individual every day and unfortunately serve as a mechanism of discrimination and injustice for many. As we heard in the beginning clip, just a couple months ago, Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services put forth the notion that all newborns would be designated male or female based “solely and immutably” on their genitalia, with genetic testing being pulled on as a resource in the event of ambiguous genitals. The administration’s memo claims this new process will be “clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable.”
Gabby: Anyways, we will return to the problems of this proposal at the end of the podcast. Let’s first figure out where this all started? Clearly some people believe the genitals you are born with reflect your sex, which should then reflect your gender. How can we parse all this out?
Connor: Let’s begin with a clear and simple question here - When most Americans think about sex, we think about two sexes: men and women. But is it really this simple?
Our categorization of people on the basis of sex even has ramifications for the ways in which we treat and bestow rights to others. One could legitimately say that sex is the organizing feature upon which our American society is based. But so often we assume that binary sex - the idea that you’re either a woman or a man (or trying to become one) - has a distinct biological basis. In other words, your chromosomes, your brain, your hormones must make you male or female. If you have a different set of chromosomes, or differently organized brain (whatever that looks like), or different levels of hormones than one may expect - you are often described by the medical community as possessing a “disorder of sex development” (or DSD). And although that wide catch-all category of “disorder” really fails to capture all of the biological variation that exists within it and even assumes that such variation is pathological in nature, that’s where the discussion about sex often ends.
April: Yet although many Americans assume that sex has always been thought of in this binary way, ideas about sex have actually always been in a state of flux. So before we begin to interrogate our current understanding of sex, we really need to take a brief look into the ways in which this has been historically conceptualized. We must come to understand how our notions of there being only two distinct sexes came to be.
Connor: To begin our discussion of how sex has been thought of, we’re going to focus on ways in which binary sex has been questioned, contradicted, and solidified, often all at the same time. One thing that is clear in examining historical records, is that people’s ideas of sex have always been rem. And thinking of sex in binary terms is far from the only way in which sex has been historically conceptualized. But since our idea of sex being binary is so influential today, it must be the one most cultures share, or at least the one that is right?
Elizabeth: Well, actually, in terms of the commonality of the idea of a strict binary, in turns out that different cultures have very different perceptions of sex, and often ones that defy the male/female binary. In fact, many non-Western cultures in particular have for a long time thought of sex as being more complicated than the binary male/female division suggests.
April: Yes, for example, Navajo culture has historically included categories that cross the male female gender divide, and disrupt the idea that sex always corresponds to gender. The Nadlehee were men and women who adopted the gender role of the other biological sex in dressing, behavior, sexuality and work and had a gender status between men and women.
Connor: These individuals were not necessarily those with genetic differences that we know today as the “disorders of sex development (or DSD),” but rather performed alternative gender roles within Navajo culture. They both fit into the “neither-male-nor-female” groups, and were often seen as functioning as mediators in quarrels and arguments between the sexes and thus filling a recognized social roles. And “neither-male-nor-female” concepts of sex exist in a wide variety of non- Western European colonial norms as well. We have the hijra in India, the shamans in Siberia, the vaze e betuar in Albania, the fa’afafine in Polynesia - I could go on and on, but what you should get a sense of is here is the fact that a wide variety of cultures who have thought of sex in wildly different ways than we do today.
Gabby: Okay, so we get that there are many different cultures that possess ideas about sex that are much more complicated than the male/female divide. But then how did we come to where we are today? It must be because the sex binary was shown to be a correct or effective way of thinking about sex, right?
Connor:  Well before we discuss whether the binary idea of sex is actually correct or effective, as you say, let’s first consider how the idea of the binary became entrenched in the context of colonial America. European colonists came to the present-day United States with certain sort of contradictory ideas about sex in the sense that they acknowledged differences in sex but also persecuted it. Nevertheless, historically Western European cultures and the Catholic Church acknowledged that some individuals did not fit within the prescribed male/female categories. Originally, many people who did not fit within these categories - typically designated as hermaphrodites - seemed to be to be generally tolerated at least in the context of the Church, although the degree to which this is the case has definitely been debated. Nevertheless, what is clear is that ideas of sex and gender became much more restrictive in European circles during the Age of Exploration, and as Foucault points out, by the late 16th century, “hermaphrodites were considered to be monsters and were executed, burnt at the stake and their ashes thrown to the winds.” Western Europeans coming to British North America in the 17th and 18th Centuries may have come from countries with a history of penalizing those who didn’t fit the binary, but the fact that they recognized intersexuality as a threat and something to be destroyed suggests they knew these variant existed. [potential Morgensen bit]. In time, European colonists not only continued to target individuals whose sex could not be easily determined, but they categorized Native cultures that did not endorse the binary as a cultural norm as inferior and subject to targeting. Therefore, European colonists used differences in conceptions of gender itself as a means of othering ‘inferior’ groups who posed barriers to settler colonialism. This idea not only made European ideas about the sex binary even more restrictive, but they reinforced the nature of binary sex by erasing ‘deviant,’ non-European forms through cultural or physical elimination. But how do these strict European ideas of gender and sex - informed by increasingly rigid colonial cultural constructions - relate to the naturalization of the sex binary? That is, how did Western cultural values become further reinforced by medical practitioners to produce the sex binary we have come to know today?
Elizabeth: The evidence shows that European physicians embedded in this colonial cultural setting were preoccupied with gender, sex, and the sex binary. There is a wide variety of sources that document “borderline cases” whereby medical practitioners in early America attempted to classify intersexual individuals - those individuals who did not fall in either the male or female category -  in terms of which sex they better fit. Embedded in both European and American doctors’ judgments, which labeled ambiguous bodies male or female, were traditional notions of femininity and masculinity. These decisions were made not only on one’s performance of a gender role, but also the size of their genitalia, their facial features, and their sexual orientation. Often these features were conflicting, but physicians were sure to always label borderline patients - even those with especially unusual conformations of external genitalia - as either mostly female or mostly male - and hence people could be prescribed their ‘true sex.’ Just as importantly, this allowed the two-sex system to remain largely intact. We see the threads of this today with gender reassignment surgery in children who are born with genitalia or outward appearances that don’t conform neatly to either sex. We often just choose one based on shifty and often inconclusive external appearances.
April: Okay, so sex has neither always been thought of as a binary nor is it always - even from a medical perspective - simple to designate it as such. But why does there exist such a dissonance between the way Americans and medical professionals commonly conceptualize sex and the actual variation in sex that exists?
Maybe this dissonance stems from how sex and sex development are taught. Or how ideas about binary sex are reflected in gendered bathrooms, gym classes, and certain gender roles ascribed to “men” and “women.” Or maybe it’s the way we conceptualize sex and gender and muddle the two.
Gabby: Perhaps a reorientation of our notions about sex - moving from a sex binary to thinking of sex as ‘layers’ - could be useful. Focusing on the history of science and how science intersects with gender and sexuality, Dr. Fausto-Sterling provides what may be a useful way of rethinking the way we conceptualize sex.  Fausto-Sterling describes sex not as a binary biological phenomenon, but rather points to five distinct ‘layers of sex’ to  underscore just how biologically complicated sex can be. We often think of sex as being almost exclusively chromosomal or based on external genitalia, but Fausto-Sterling describes this as only one layer of the complex network of features and processes that contribute to our sex. We also had a fetal gonadal sex, which involves the induction of a very complex genetic program that leads to the development of testes or ovaries from what is called a bipotential gonad.
Connor: But that’s not all, because we also have a fetal hormonal sex. Once we develop either ovaries or testes, levels of circulating hormones such as estrogen or testosterone generally increase, which allows for the development of internal reproductive sex - the formation of the vas deferens, epididymis, and seminal vesicles in males and uterus, cervix, and upper vagina in the females. One’s genital sex is also influenced by circulating levels of hormones which produce either a penis or clitoris from “an identical phallus structure.” All of these layers of sex are interconnected, but they can be discordant. For example, one can have male chromosomes and female external genitals. We’ll talk about that more later, but what you should come to understand is that sex isn’t just about one’s genitalia or chromosomes, it’s far more complex than that.
April: Wow, this is a lot to process. I guess I had always assumed that sex determination was a simple and streamlined process that produced either males or females. But one thing I don’t understand is how we came to conceptualize sex development this way?
Elizabeth:  I get what you mean. I think some of this comes down to the way that the assumptions that scientists have about sex influences other scientists, medical professionals, teachers, and greater society. For example, when I was taught about sex determination in genetics courses, the assumption was that female development is the default program, and requires no active molecular/biological switch. Male development however, was described as requiring the action of certain genes, particularly those found on the Y-chromosome. The science from which this simple genetic explanation arises has important effects on the assumptions we all have about sex. We now know that females are not and should not be considered the developmental defaults; there is an important dance between genes, hormones, and environmental factors that all contribute to the development of different sex characteristics, both primary and secondary.
Gabby: With this simplistic explanation of sex determination as a binary switch, there appears to be little room for sexual complexity. The way we think about the chromosomes and hormones as gendered - either exclusively male or female - further reinforces this binary model. Even the cultural way we think of the chromosomes - the X as “sociable, controlling, conservative, and motherly” and Y as “macho, active, wily, and hyperactive” support this binary model in important ways. Science is beginning to elucidate the molecular details of female development, and the complexity underlying even chromosomal sex, but we have a long way to go. But what you should understand is that sex is complex and contested, and the way we teach sex development doesn’t capture even close to the whole story. The ways that sex intersects with gender - now that’s a whole other mess, and here the binary unravels even more….
Elizabeth: Thinking about gender in our society is inextricably linked to thinking about sex. So now let’s dive into gender a bit more, specifically with a focus on scientific studies that have worked to pinpoint biological foundations of gender. Now that we are going to launch into some more technical and biological discussion, let’s establish a couple overarching themes to keep ourselves oriented throughout. As researchers have looked at a biological basis for gender, they tend to focus on three levels of understanding: brains, genes, and hormones. So, in keeping with this method of analysis, we will look at results from studies that contribute to an understanding of gender at all three levels.
We are incredibly focused on that binary; even as people become more “progressive” and “liberal” in their understanding that gender is a social construct, they seem to ignore the ways in which what is viewed as biological sex profoundly informs the expectations and assumptions made about one’s gender. Work done as recently as 2004 by Craig, Harper, and Loat demonstrates this obsession with pinpointing a biological basis for gender differences and the lack of acknowledgement of any deviation from the binary -- male or female. Craig, the first author, published the paper out of the Institute of Psychiatry at St. Catherine’s College in Oxford. He has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, so he clearly has a focus on the sciences -- he’s been published in Nature and Science, which are two very well respected journals. Currently, he is a professor of Genetics and head of the Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at Kings College in London. Keeping in mind this background in the sciences in mind, what did Craig do? The researchers review several studies that deal with genetic and biological mechanisms underlying sex differences in human behavior.
Connor: In reading that paper, I noticed that Craig operates from the underlying assumption that “human males and females tend to behave differently is an undeniable fact.” Isn’t this problematic from the beginning? His entire paper, analyzing the role of the sex chromosomes in producing tangible differences between men and women, is predicated on the fact that biology will reproduce the results he sees in his everyday life. He argues that there is compelling evidence that the “stereotypes may be based upon genuine disparities between male and female cognition and behaviour, which can be measured empirically.”
April: What about the social pressures? You can’t ignore social expectations! To begin with gender differences at the level of the brain, Craig cites several papers that have shown that the human brain is highly sexually dimorphic, but I hardly find it convincing when he posits that the organizational differences in the brain hemispheres between men and women result in different cognitive abilities, with men being more inclined towards spatial tasks and women verbal tasks. Overall, Craig’s analysis seems rather one-sided and fails to consider the complexity of sex and gender development in real life; he operates through extreme confirmation bias and fully ignores the idea that the brain is plastic, which is a very important concept that we will return to later.
Elizabeth: Yes, but Craig does bring up one compelling piece of evidence I don’t think we can ignore. More specifically, Craig discusses a brain region known as INAH3, which is a specific group of cells in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for regulating bodily functions. This is an important brain structure because Simon Levay, in 1991, documented differences in the INAH3 of homosexual men, meaning that the INAH3 was on the science communities radar as being implicated in homosexuality. Then, 13 years later, Craig says brain structure is three times larger in males than females. In other words, he is saying that there is a difference in the INAH3 that Levay posited was important for sexual behaviors. Four years later, esteemed researchers Dick Swaab, a neuro-endocrinologist and neurobiologist, and Alicia Garcia-Falgueras, an Assistant Professor with her PhD and a research focus on neurophysiology underlying gender differences, studied this region in the brain in depth. I think their results, building on Craig’s, have the potential to be viewed as convincing.
Gabby: In Garcia-Falgueras’ study they also studied the same INAH3 brain region that Craig brings up, as well as the BSTc, which is a brain region that is thought to be “sexually dimorphic.” They report that transgender individuals have BSTc and INAH3 structures that resemble their gender identity, not their natal sex. Trans women’s brains looked more similar to female control subjects. Furthermore, trans men had a similar INAH3 to the male control subjects -- without the influence of testosterone treatment. Garcia-Falgueras and Swaab even used pre- and post-menopausal women as controls to prove that estrogen treatment did not influence the trans women’s INAH3 resemblance to female controls. This study has to convince you that there are meaningful biological differences between the genders, right?
April: No! There have been many studies looking at the brain, hormone, and genetic phenotypes of trans people. That doesn’t make the evidence compelling. First, the authors reported subjects whose data points fit neither category, but brushed this off as an aside. Second, once again, the human brain is plastic. Regardless of pre and post menopausal women being used as a control, the brain changes based on how you interact with people, and also how they treat you. Lastly, we do not even know what that area of the brain really does, so how is a size difference between genders possibly important or significant? We have no idea whether it connotes a difference in function, so this study seems to be encroaching on phrenology. Clearly, the evidence for sex and gender differences in the brain are lacking.
Connor: Okay, so if there are no compelling differences in brain structures, what about at the level of genes? Genes are the underlying basis for each individual, so there must be some differentiation occurring in our DNA!
April: I wouldn’t make that jump. Thinking about another paper published at a similar time to Garcia-Falgueras and Swaab’s piece, by Eva-Katrin Bentz, I grow skeptical of the genetic evidence as well. Bentz is an MD who works in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She’s published several pieces on whether being trans is associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNP,  which are single changes in the DNA sequence. She has also worked on how hormone replacement therapy, HRT, used for gender confirmation in trans patients affects the body. So she does have the background and expertise to be studying this topic.
Elizabeth: To frame our discussion, let’s define a few biological terms first. She looks at alleles, which are the alternate forms of a gene, and genotypes, which are the combinations of alleles that an individual has. Bentz demonstrates that there is an association between an SNP of a specific gene, CYP17, and trans-men. The data, in my opinion, is tenuous, and the way she frames the discussion is incredibly problematic. Let’s break this down a bit, shall we?
They work with 104 trans women, 49 trans men, 756 control cis men, and 915 control cis women. First of all, these numbers are not instilling confidence in me with respect to statistical practices and power. The difference in the number of transgender people compared to control individuals is staggering; a good study would have equal control and target population sizes. Then, she finds a statistically significant difference in the allele frequencies and genotype distributions between trans men and cis females, but not between trans women and cis men. But, if we zoom in on this data a bit, the allele that she is targeting as a SNP is present in 44% of trans men and 31% of cis women.
Gabby: I don’t know about you, but the fact that this allele of interest is present in less than half of trans men does not convince me when she then argues that this SNP is associated with trans men. Functionally, how different is 44% compared to 31%? It doesn’t seem that big of a difference to me! This may be statistically significant, but especially given the fact that there was no associated difference in the blood levels of estrogen or testosterone -- which is the way of testing functional significance -- I don’t find these results compelling. Once again, we see that gender/sex-based biological differences are not significant at the level of the brain or genes. What’s left?
Elizabeth: Well, we haven’t formally yet discussed hormones yet, which you just alluded to, so let’s jump into that. And I think that despite the numbers, we should remember that CYP17 is a gene that encodes an enzyme to ultimately create testosterone and estrogen. If this change increases function of the enzyme and it implicates hormone metabolism, I could see how it may be logical that this gene SNP is associated with trans men. Hormones are relevant to consider, are they not? If we think about work that authors P.C. Kreukels and Antonio Guillamon did in 2015, I think we might begin to elucidate an important role for hormones in this discussion even if genes and the brain may not play the role we might have previously thought. Kreukels has a masters in psychology and also received her PhD from the Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology. She now works in a Department of Medical Psychology and focuses on gender roles and identity and transgender health care. Her co-author, Antonio Guillamon, has an MD PhD and currently works in psychobiology and does similar work in HRT for trans patients and the potential effects in cortical thickness and other brain structures.
Connor: The authors perform an in-depth review that essentially establishes that there have been reported differences in grey matter, subcortical structures, hypothalamic activation, and brain connectivity between individuals with gender incongruence and those of their natal sex. But, the results I find the most intriguing are those pertaining to HRT. The authors report that the hormones did affect brain morphology. Trans women experienced a decrease in intracranial brain volume, a decrease in cortical thickness, and an expansion of ventricles. On the other hand, trans men have seen increased intracranial and hypothalamic volumes with androgen therapy. These profound morphological changes at the level of the brain coincide with a shift towards the individuals’ identified gender.
April: Okay, thinking about Kreukels and Guillamon’s work and the effects of HRT, perhaps Bentz, with her analysis of the SNP and being transgender, is onto something then. Even though a correlation/association is not causation and there was little-to-know discussion and no proof of functional biological significance found. I can admit that hormones have an effect on brain structures and therefore a SNP in a gene that is implicated in hormone metabolism may be relevant. But I also want to remind us that the brain is plastic, and the HRT that Kreukels and Guillamon point to may not have been the factor that changed the intracranial and hypothalamic volumes, for instance. The brains of trans women and trans men no doubt change in response to stress, social pressures, and lived experiences.
Elizabeth: Now that we are discussing hormones, I want to briefly return to that review by Craig that we talked about earlier -- the one that assumed the brain was sexually dimorphic and men and women were biologically entirely distinct. At one point, Craig discusses Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, or CAH, which is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by difficulty producing specific hormones. He begins his discussion of CAH with analyzing testosterone and androgen impacts on rodent fetal development and then connects this to CAH and the overproduction of adrenal androgens during fetal development. He posits that the excessive adrenal androgen exposure in utero has a “masculinizing” effect on play behavior, aggression, and spatial ability of a female child once born.
Gabby: Okay, but I think he is making a gross oversimplification. How can we transition from rodent studies to human beings without taking a closer look at the additional factors at play. First of all, there is stereotyping involved in assuming testosterone is associated with male aggression and cognitive development favoring better spatial awareness. Where does this data come from? And how do we know men aren’t aggressive because society shows them they can and should behave this way? And in thinking about CAH, there are human factors that are very relevant to consider -- hormones aren’t that simple.
Connor: I want to jump in and complicate this argument, particularly as it pertains to hormones, a bit more by bringing in an article by van Anders. She studies queer science, social neuro-endocrinology and feminist neuroscience. In 2015, she studied the effect of gendered behavior on testosterone levels in women and men. I thought this work was interesting because the authors found support for a theory that “wielding power increased testosterone in women compared with a control, regardless of whether it was performed in gender-stereotyped masculine or feminine ways.” Testosterone levels are not simply higher in men and lower in women -- the issue is far more complicated than that. Differences in testosterone levels are embodied based on the ways people are socialized over the course of their lives with respect to gender. I fully recognize some of the potential issues with this study. For instance, the researchers had to employ “actors” so the situation they used as a representation of competition and “wielding power” -- firing a subordinate -- may not have been fully representative or authentic. But overall, I think van Anders is on to something here. It makes sense to me that given how entrenched gender norms are in our society, they could become a part of our biology.
Elizabeth: Okay, so let’s step away from the data and study results for a moment and summarize what we’ve covered so far. First, on the level of the brain, we see certain brain structures, such as the INAH3, that are thought to more closely resemble one’s gender identity as compared to natal sex, but once again, we don’t even know what the INAH3 does. Second, on the level of genes, we’ve seen that certain SNP have been associated with certain groups of trans individuals, although no functional or causal relationship has been elucidated, which is a major gap. So that’s brains and genes...what’s left? Hormones. We see that HRT does change brain structure morphology and people think that exposure to certain androgens in utero, for example, may impact “gendered” behavior, but these results seem lacking and based on stereotypes as well, especially when you consider that social pressures and power dynamics that characterize everyday life, such as those studied by van Anders, may affect testosterone levels in women. These hormone levels aren’t necessarily an innate method of differentiating men from women, but an embodied result of our lived experiences. So the idea of an innate, biological basis of gender beings begins to unravel at the level of brain structures, genes, and hormones.
April: I couldn’t agree more. And I can’t help but think about some of the dangers of conceptualizing these differences as “innate.” For instance, I am appalled at the way Bentz discusses transgender individuals. Even after explicitly establishing that there were cis- females with the SNP and trans men without it, and therefore the CYP17 SNP is not necessary or sufficient in identifying as transgender, she thinks she has localized a “genetic risk factor of “transsexualism.” She engages in the medicalization of being trans being trans-- making it seem as if those who don’t conform to our deeply entrenched binary are “abnormal” or “faulty” or even diseased, when in fact, no one fits perfectly into the binary! The binary isn’t even a binary…
Gabby: What do you mean the binary isn’t even a true binary? Let’s think about sex, which is where this binary all started…
April: Yes let’s explore this idea of a binary a little deeper, and in its exploration I believe we will find that sex is not singularly dimorphic, or at the very least is more complicated than we think. As we have stated defining biological sex is not as discrete as it might at first seem. Fausto-Sterling shows how there are lots of characteristics that are a part of sex determination. Fausto-Sterlings layered sex model manages to catch a lot of that complexity. However, we have not explored exactly what differences in those layers can mean. Claire Ainsworth (2015), a scientific freelance journalist, discusses yet another layer unexplored by Fausto-Sterling, sex on a cellular level. In her article, exploring biological sex in Nature magazine she explains that many people harbor cells of the opposite sex in their body even without their knowing! Mothers of XY babies experience a two way exchange of genetic material through the placenta. This means that she often will have XY cells that are incorporated into her body.
Connor: But I’m sure those do not stay, the body should treat them as foreign and rid itself of them!
Elizabeth: Ah but they do stay, and often incorporate themselves into important functions. The oldest woman found with these XY cells in a 2012 study by immunologist Lee Nelson and her team at the University of Washington in Seattle, was 94! These new cells often integrate into their new environment and can perform vital functions, like becoming neurons, at least in mice. This cellular exchange works both ways, as sons have been found to have XX cells from their mothers well through adulthood. This kind of cellular exchange, known by scientists as microchimaerism, is complemented with the much rarer macro-chimerism where you absorb a twin in the womb, and this twin does not need have the same karyotype, a term that refers to the number and appearance of one’s chromosomes. This completely derails the argument that one need only look at a karyotype in order to determine biological sex.
Connor: So is there any one factor that truly truly determines biological sex?
April: No, not really, and I really like the quote that Ainsworth used from Dr. Vilain, who at the  Center for Gender-Based Biology at UCLA. He says that there is not one biological parameter for sex that takes over every other parameter.
Gabby: Ainsworth also brings up what are medically referred to as differences or disorders of sex development or DSD’s. People with DSD’s are intersex. These people do not have to have any kind of chimerism but differences in utero or postnatally that affect Fausto-Sterling’s layers of sex differentiation. Some DSD’s have been found to have genetic factors, where others do not. There is a broad diversity of differences of sex development.
April: I am glad you use the term differences instead of disorders because it humanizes and depathologizes these conditions and people.
Gabby: Right, I agree. In order to understand what forms these kinds of differences can exist as, let’s talk through an example, Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome. Again there are some problems with the term syndrome as it makes the people with it sound sick or unwhole, but this is how the medical community has chosen to name it. People with CAIS have XY karyotypes and develop testes in utero. However when these testes release androgens, the body cannot process them. Therefore the rest of the body develops “femininely” and goes through a “female” puberty, as it can only respond to the estrogen that the body releases, not the testosterone. This person looks like a cis woman. Often people with CAIS do not know that they are intersex until they do not get their periods, and can live their lives without others knowing that they have XY chromosomes. By some estimates, about 2 percent of the population have some kind of difference of sex development, which is about the same as the amount of natural redheads.
Elizabeth: This reminds me of the diagram that Ainsworth put in her article. It shows the sliding scale of biological sex between male and female, with different DSD’s in between the two sexes.
April: She does but I’m not sure that that is also a good way to look at sex. Terms that get at the complexity of sexual variation might be better. Polymorphism, meaning many forms, could be more appropriate than continuum.
Connor: I agree. Looking to the opinions of actual intersex people, viewing biological sex as a continuum is quite reductionary. Biological anthropologist Claire Astorino, who is herself intersex, puts forth this idea of sexual polymorphism, instead of sexual dimorphism, meaning two forms. The only way to truly appreciate the variety of human sex characteristics is to stop viewing them along a binary sliding scale. If we do not do this, then our research then stays skewed by our view of the false sexual dimorphism. We will still be looking at people as part male and part female, and not as whole people as they deserve to be treated. .
April: The idea that there are two end members and those in between is disrespectful to those who do have a DSD. Polymorphism also allows for people to have more freedom to choose who they want to be, as it stops shoving people into strict boxes.  This socially constructed veil of dimorphic sex colors all research that we do, in the hard and in the social sciences. Also by loosening up the idea of simple biologic sexes, it opens the door for a loosening the idea of gender and its rigidity. By ridding ourselves of the dimorphic idea of sex, we also automatically improve the lives of intersex people by ridding the idea of sexual reassignment surgery of infants with “ambiguous genitalia”. The truth of the matter with these surgeries is they are often quite damaging and reduce sensation in a very sensitive area as show by the Minto paper. Also according to the Human Rights watch and a study by Reiner and Gearhart this assignment surgery about half the time assigns the wrong sex based on the gender that these children identify as when they grow up.
Gabby: Now that we have talked about the social and biological construction of sex and gender, let’s take something that is at the crux of biological and social understanding: the concept of evolution. Evolution is based off of biological reproduction of people who are viewed as wholly men or wholly women. Knowing that no such clear distinction exists complicates this idea. The entire concept is structured around men performing certain tasks and women performing others in order to increase fitness and out-compete others. But these categories are incredibly socially based and, as we have shown, even biological sex is not a concrete black and white phenomenon. Moreover, acknowledging that not all people have the same reproductive capabilities yet still fully exist in our society disrupts the notion that evolutionarily, people are “fit” based on their ability to pass on their genes.
April: How can I be careful to talk about sex in an appropriate manner in my Introductory Biological Anthropology class? Or more broadly, how can any educator talk about this subject while being conscious of its societal implications?
Elizabeth: Well, I know when I was taking my biology courses as an undergrad and even graduate student, the construction of the distinction between gender and sex was presented as a strict binary, most likely for simplicity for professors and the textbooks that are available. If we think of gender as something that is variable and flexible to lived experiences and exposures, then sex is something that is biological concrete and rooted in hard science. This is how it is traditionally taught in science classes, but that definitely needs to change.
Gabby: Moving forward, I think it would be a huge step to address the variations. For example, as you talk about XX is female and XY and male, you must also address how this may not always be the case. In some individuals there may be excess hormones or a total sensitivity to hormones that actually lead to fluidity in gender and sex assignment.
April : Yeah, I also think in the discussion of intersex individuals, it is not okay to frame it is a disorder or a negative experience that families are burdened with.
Elizabeth: I absolutely agree. Okay, so stepping outside of science as a whole, how does this affect our thinking?  
Connor: We have previously considered gender and sex to be two distinct concepts. Gender is the socially constructed phenomenon, while sex is the biological construct. But, are these really different? First, what our society has coined ‘gender’ is strongly influenced by ‘sex’. Whether you are XX or XY, you experience different hormone levels in utero and develop either phenotypically female or male genitalia. Both of these factors have an undeniable impact on how one chooses to identify. This is apparent because the vast majority of individuals identify with their biologically born sex. But, biology shows us that sex is more complex than a binary. By creating a simple binary, we are invisibilizing the complexity of sex and recreating the social construction.These imposed categories are not sufficient for describing the variation that exists. On the other hand, one’s gender also impacts the biological construct called “sex”. And as we have shown, the behaviors we display (whether those are culturally considered feminine, masculine, or neutral) can affect our hormones in different ways, which society sees as an indicator of biological sex.
April: Since sex affects gender and gender affects sex, this eradicates the distinction between the biological and social construct. It seems like our society has created this distinction to neatly categorize individuals when really the lines are blurred or nonexistent. What do you guys think?
Gabby: What can we do to respond to these issues we’ve raised?
Elizabeth: I think one way would be as a society, we need to change our conversation about gender and sex, but this is easier said than done. One small step that we and all our listeners can begin asking other’s pronouns.
Gabby: Dr. Vilain, who we discussed previously said “My feeling is that since there is not one biological parameter that takes over every other parameter, at the end of the day, gender identity seems to be the most reasonable parameter”. As Dr Valian argues, sex is a very complex idea that encompasses a whole lot of biological variation. For example for intersex people, their biological and physical characteristics may not be wholly male or female but lie somewhere in the grey area between. Dr. Valian understands that variations in gonadal tissue, ambiguous genitalia, missing or extra chromosomes, fluctuating hormones, brain development and more influence one’s sex. But, these characteristics don’t necessarily influence one another and can develop independently, which complicates sex. Even the biology supports that identity can be more fluid and polymorphic than a binary OR a continuum can support. Given the fluidity, asking for one’s pronouns can help people feel empowered by their own gender identity.
Connor: So with the idea that early experiences have a huge impact on identity, is there a proper way to interact with kids?
April: This reminds me of a New york times article about a preschool in Sweden. They noticed that the boys tended to be more physical while the girls would whimper, so the school decided to make changes! In order to reverse gender roles, the teachers put the boys in charge of the play kitchen, and made the girls shout No to help promote confidence! For recess, they organized play so that children would not sort by gender. The state curriculum even urged teachers to “counteract traditional gender roles and gender patterns.”
Connor: Oh yeah, and they had students refer to their peers as friends or by name rather than “boys and girls”. In 2012, they even introduced the gender-neutral pronoun “hen” to Swedish culture. Once the school began to make changes, they saw how intertwined these patterns of gender norms were. For example, the teachers would help one boy after another to get dressed and run out the door. But the girls were expected to dress themselves.
Gabby: I feel like even parents today in the US could learn a lot from this example!
April: Today, parents are so concerned with doing gender reveals with the classic pink balloons or blue balloons. We have already accessorized all of their future clothes and room in their respective color before they are even born into the world.
Elizabeth: That reminds me of the “Pink and Blue Project” that artist JeongMee Yoo designed. She took photographs of kids surrounded by all of their belongings, and the images were striking. It was interesting that a few of the girls did own a few purple or blue things amongst their sea of pink, but for the boys there was no pink. Kind of weird how our society has made it more acceptable for girls to be tomboys, yet are quick to judge boys who show an ounce of “femininity.”
Gabby: Reflecting back on my own childhood, my first room was painted a darker pink. My parents bought me barbies, while they bought my brother pokemon cards, trucks, and painted his room with animals. Infact, my brother and I both had bunk beds and mine was in the shape of a castle and his was a jungle tree house. Bu then when we were in lower and middle school, we did play a lot of the same sports including basketball, gymnastics, soccer, golf, tennis, and I would occasionally play football with my brother and dad.
Elizabeth: Yeah my parents definitely took advantage of gender norms when making decisions about the activities my brother, sister, and I were enrolled in. I truly believe they had the best intentions, but looking back, enrolling my sister and I in dance, figure skating, and gymnastics while they enrolling my brother in every sport under the sun definitely played into prescribed gender expectations.
Connor: My parents definitely did structure my after-school activities and playtime around with the assumption that I would 1) identify as a boy and 2) enjoy “male” activities and sports, but they weren’t necessarily trying to be restrictive in any overt way. I think they would have been fine if I chose a more quote-on-quote “feminine” activities, but there was no deliberate attempt to actually offer me those opportunities unless I asked for them.
April: Yeah, looking back, when I was little my room was a pale yellow, and it was Sesame Street themed. My mom said that she tried to pick lots of green and yellow clothes, as they were gender neutral. The next time my room was painted I was old enough to chose bright purple. She also enrolled me in both sports and dance from an early age until I decided I wanted to do neither!
Gabby: I was also reading article about this couple in Toronto who never revealed the sex of their child. They instead thought it was more important that they wait until their children were old enough to decide what gender they identify as. It was not until Star, their youngest child, was five and a half years old that she confidently admitted her pronoun of “she”. This was a choice that they let all three of their children have. Jazz, Star’s older sibling, prefers the pronouns “she” and “her” and identifies as a transgender girl. Kio- the other sibling-  identifies as non-binary and uses the pronoun “they.” Kathy - one parents -also opts for “they,” while David, the other parent,  uses “he or they.”
Elizabeth: Wow that is super interesting! And a good direction for parenting to go. Beyond parenting, this question of gender and sex has come up a ton in sports. Almost a little too much if you ask me. Maybe it's our competitive nature, but in women’s sports, there are always comments about a player being too masculine and may not even be a woman. Testosterone is the huge marker that is measured to predict if they are eligible to play.
Gabby: I remember I used to watch Brittney Griner play basketball at Baylor and there would be so many comments of “you sure that's a girl” or even demanding proof of her gender. I am not really sure what “evidence” they wanted. All of these comments just go to derail her accomplishments because she’s tall, strong, and possess some more masculine traits. She is now someone who loves her body and is proud of her image, but this could not have been an easy road. She even said “Being 6-foot-8, I definitely get stares. I think my feet are bigger than Kareem’s. They are size 17 men's. My hands are even bigger than LeBron's….. I remember around sixth or seventh grade the "cool girls" would reach out and touch my chest: "Yep, nothing." I felt like less than a person. It was crazy. I felt frozen. That was one of the worst things they could do.” She went on to talk about an incident in China where “One time when I went into the bathroom there, a lady was so shocked that she was pushing me out; she was so hysterically shocked that I was in there. I couldn't do anything but laugh. I didn't even try to defend myself and tell her I was a girl. I ended up just going over to the men's room and went into one of the stalls. I've even had to do that in the States a couple of times.”
April: For Caster Semnya, a cis-woman, was required by the International Association of Athletics Federations’ rule to take testosterone suppressants to compete in the women’s division 800 and 1500-meter races. This desire to categorize individuals into explicit male and female boxes, stems from the belief that there is some essential difference between men and women, leading to the presence of sex testing in women’s sports. The thought is that men will disguise themselves as women to win medals even though no man has ever been caught doing this. This is a classic scare tactic, one that is used in the same way that the discussions about trans women in womens bathrooms is. There have been no documented cases of trans women harassing cis women in bathrooms.
Connor: This discussion of gendered bathrooms ties backs to Trump’s proposal - which we talked about at the beginning. Let’s listen to a part of what we heard at the beginning and see what we can make of this after our discussion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sURH-GLKxCc
Connor: So you have it, in 2018 “the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposes to establish a legal definition of whether someone is male or female based solely and immutably on the genitals they are born with.”
If the external genitalia is ambiguous for whatever reason, than genetic testing for the presence of the Y chromosome will be used to determine sex.
Elizabeth: In that article about Trump’s proposal, it actually said that this memo for deciding the sex on a birth certificate will be “clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable,” which we now know is an absurd idea. To explicitly tie biological sex to gender makes this proposal even further from scientific and social reality, as scientists define gender as separate from sex.
Gabby: At this point, the issues with this proposal are pretty clear. As we’ve established, any mother who has had previous male offspring has the chance to test positive for a Y chromosome -- so what is she male now?
April: Yeah, also this single proposal has the power to underdo years of works that has gone into fighting to understand gender and sex. This proposal has no foundation in science and is rooted in strong societal norms. Additionally, this would lead to more discrimination and isolation of trans people or individuals who do not fall into the socially constructed Western male/female binary.
Connor: Given all we have talked about during this podcast today, it is clear that there is no biological binary for sex or gender. It follows logical thinking that if there is no biological binary for sex, that there exists similar complexity in gender identities. To say that there exists a simple biological determinant for sex, and that factor also determines gender, is a gross misrepresentation of what we scientifically know to be true.
Elizabeth: We know they are misrepresenting what we scientifically know to be true, so this leads me to question, why are they doing this? What are their motivations?
Gabby: The ones in power -- white cis men -- are explicitly targeting trans people with the intent of limiting their ability to operate comfortably in society.
April: For example, defining one’s sex and gender on a birth certificate prevents their ability to transition in the eyes of the government. This inability functionally limits how they can work in society in any place where their gender markers on their identification play into social interactions. This may occur in offices, going through airport security, and traffic stops. I remember reading about two trans women who were referred to as “it” at the DMV and told that they had to remove their makeup and wigs to better represent the “male” marker on their licenses. These are seemingly miniscule events that most of us don’t think of as important, but for someone whose rights have been stripped away, these everyday occurrences carry immense importance.
Connor: And finally, tying this back to what we discussed in the beginning, we need to be cognizant of the history behind the American state reinforcing the gender binary and controlling individual gender identity. From the arrival of Western Europeans to North America, colonists attempted to highlight their embodied gender binary as evidence of European superiority. This strict gender binary was imposed on non-Europeans, backed by scientists and physicians, and used to discriminate and eliminate. It’s hard not to see the legacy of this today.
So let’s do a quick recap of the main points from today’s discussion:
Ideas about gender and sex have their basis in cultural constructs developed in the colonial context. Physicians and scientists perpetuate this idea.
Elizabeth: Gender differences have no single biological basis at level of brain structures, genes, or hormones.
April: Sex is neither a binary ntor a continuum, but rather better conceptualized as polymorphic.
Gabby: A slippage occurs between gender and sex that affects people’s everyday lives.
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asessay-blog · 7 years
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paper范文:Homosexuality is legal
以下是由Asessay给大家提供的一篇Paper范文,这篇文章作者主要讲述了同性恋是一个值得思考的问题,在这个问题上有很多人意见分歧。有的人认同同性婚姻,承认其合法性,有的人持否定态度。但我也承认同性婚姻的合法性,对同性恋的支持,本文分析研究了不同人群的总体看法,以及他们的支持点和相对点,和对这些争论的观点。
Homosexuality is a problem worthy of consideration, and opinions are divided on this issue. Some people agree with the recognition of same-sex marriage, the recognition of its legitimacy, and some people hold a negative attitude. But I do agree with the recognition of same-sex marriage.On the issue of homosexuality of support or not ,this paper has analyzed and researched the total view of different people,and their supporting points and opposite points,as well as deliver my own views on these arguments. Their arguments are supporting the homosexuality or not,and if so,analyzed their supporting points on this issue.Or if not,analyzed their opposite  points on this issue. I give the detail response on these arguments,that is I do agree with the recognition of same-sex marriage.So,please see bellow researching.
Research on the Total Views of Homosexuality
It is often considering the existence of homosexuality in today’s life, it makes us very worried. We worried about the impact of the health of the community, and worried about the future of human evolution and development. Human reproduction is from the beginning of biological origin, from the physical and polar movement and the formation of natural. In the historical course of biological evolution, the opposite sex reproduction natural response(Shannon Ridgway, 2014), on this issue, even if specific anatomical structure, organ function, and physiological functions are different but complementary and unified (Stephanie Pappas), it is mutual needs and become instinct of human emotion ,it is the healthy people in love healthy  reflected, thus allowing humans to infinite generations and health evolution.(Zremski, J. 2010). For some people to talk about, the recognition of same-sex marriage, the recognition of its reasonable, legitimate, people feel very worried. What is more worrying is that people do not have a correct understanding of this issue,is it in the end recognized the reasonable health? Or denial of reasonable health? The answer is, "no," to be reasonable. From the dialectical view, the microscopic nature of the decision, and the impact of its movement, but the macro stage of the movement will make changes in the micro, and promote the next movement stage.
Similarly, homosexual marriage movement, in a certain period of time after the movement, will certainly affect human beings from the psychological to physiological movement of the micro, until the change. It has a negative impact on all aspects of this will be unbearable to contemplate on human reproduction, evolution and development. Therefore, for same-sex marriage, must be denied. Whether it can promote same-sex marriage, it must be negative, because, in the society to promote this unhealthy marriage, will break through people's inherent feelings about love, and some related physiological reactions, psychological adverse. A certain period, into a disguised recognition, this way, will be in people's psychological and spiritual formation of a potential guidance, a serious consequence, the formation of a certain degree of vicious circle. Therefore, it should not be recognized, does not recognize, in order to benefit the human mental health. But whether they are gay or straight, they are people, they should have the right to have a natural person, so people should not discriminate against them. But I hope that people can find a way to treat this kind of psychological and emotional disorders as soon as possible.(Riess, J. 2000 )
Research on the Opposite Side of the Homosexuality
But oppositely ,some people have argument that ,no one is born with a natural sexual orientation, nor does any mammal have a sexual orientation. Many people call the title of homosexuality is itself a kind of wrong understanding and cognition, the same sex is not allowed to have a love. This is a problem that is against the natural evolution and ethics of human beings. It is not a question of what rights. The so-called sexual orientation is acquired to develop, is a male or female growth process of human factors caused by the sexual orientation of the twisted and abnormal problem. This is a mental illness! It is the sex distortion caused by the psychological metamorphosis! There is a part of man-made mistakes lead to individual sexual orientation appear extremely distorted and eventually become a social cancer. Homosexuality is not the right of the mental disease itself, but the existence of this kind of growth environment in the presence of abnormal distortion of the state. So, this kind of so-called gay many are not eradicated, but there is a part of it can be corrected by psychotherapy.(Schaub, D. 1996)
Research on the Supporting of the Homosexuality
The supporters said ,the sexual orientation of human being is a kind of emotional reaction in psychology. Emotional reactions are usually contained within the body of the endocrine activity, is a physiological process, this physiological activity process to bring people to certain or pleasant or sad or happy(Sara Stewart, 2015), such as the perception of reaction, and conduction to the brain and other central, people have the judgment and choice, people from this behavior. Homosexuality, is a reflection of the emotional disorder, the complexity of the process of endocrine activity, and is the nature of the response by people.I agree with them. (Kirby, D. 2000)
There are gay and lesbian, should pay attention to adjust their own emotional reflection, adjust their relative to the opposite sex psychology.(Brett White, 2014) For example, you can imagine yourself face to the opposite sex, and then I must be happy, and then open the mood to work and learn to live, so that a day or a work plan, so as to adjust their emotions, and slowly tend to normal physiological activity. Healthy sexual orientation not more mysterious, because too much thinking but will damage their health emotional instincts, doped too much rational consciousness reflect, disadvantageous.(Azzolina, D. 2004 )
My Response on these Supporters and Opposites
After the analyzed above ,in my opinion, there are no unhealthy people in the this word--Homosexuality, that is, ordinary people, but the sexual orientation is different from most people.( Paris, J., Zweig-Frank, H., & Guzder, J. 1995)Lefties used is considered to be bad, the parents found the child is left handers will beat and scold, forcing him or her to only use the right hand, now is not accepted. I used to think that homosexuality is sick, and later on a set of special programs to see the National Geographic, confirmed that the animal community generally exist in the phenomenon of homosexuality, from the lower level of the insects to the senior mammals are, almost all species exist, then changed the view. On the other hand, as long as the gay not malicious harassment violates the rights of other people, we also do not have the qualifications to accuse them of, other people's way of life, to do with others.
Conclusion
On the issue of homosexuality,this paper has analyzed and researched the total view of different people,and their supporting points and opposite points,as well as deliver my own views on these arguments.My conclusion view is that ,human should support their own rights to fall in love with whom--both heterosexual or homosexuality.Looking ahead,the homosexuality people will be more and more democracy and equality as the common people ,and they will have a happy life to live in the society. The society will make more and more progress.So,let us have a deepening research in the future.
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str8310-blog · 7 years
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Adulting as a 20-something year old in a profession known for depression
It's the year 2017 and by some miracle of the universe, you've some how managed to: - 1. Graduate from high school; 2. Graduate from University with a degree in Law; and 3. Get a 'real job' (whatever that means). All without becoming pregnant, drug addicted or a wanted criminal. In all honesty, you feel like you've pretty much succeeded at life by this point. Ten years ago you didn't even know how to catch a train without Mum and now you've got a real adult job. A real adult job. Wow. What even. You're actually trying to succeed at being an adult. And for a while you're doing pretty well. Your confidence has sky rocketed through the roof, you actually suddenly understand everything that was taught to you in Uni and you're proud to list 'legalese' as one of the languages you're fluent in. Apparently the legal profession has one of the highest rates of depression, anxiety and substance abuse around but you don't have that problem. You won't ever have that problem. You're strong enough that depression and anxiety will never be a problem. One year and six months into your real adult job you're suddenly trying to navigate crazy clients, never ending deadlines and complete a to-do list that was 20 items long two weeks ago. You didn't even know what a to do list was until a week ago. And it's at this point that everything goes to shit. And by shit, I mean those occasions where every stupid and ill thought out decision you make leads to very serious consequences and if any more stupid could very nearly get you struck out of the profession without even getting the qualifications to be practicing with your 'learned colleagues' because you don't have their 'common sense' to make 'not-stupid' decisions. You haven't eaten properly in a week. You haven't slept properly in two, and you haven't even spoken to your friends on Facebook Messenger in three. All because you don't have the common sense nor the thinking skills required by such an exclusive profession, and usually prevent the making of stupid and ill thought out decisions. Your common sense is largely derived from your relatively small circle of life, which didn't involve much more than your two dogs and Japanese anime and manga. Which apparently is wholly irrelevant to the common sense of the legal profession and doesn't assist at all when it comes to 'thinking'. You've always been a 'do as you're told' kind of person, so thinking about what you're doing comes as quite the struggle. How are you supposed to think? University has taught you how to write a model essay but it sure hasn't taught (allowed) you to think outside of the curriculum. Your boss from your retail job three years ago kept complaining that 'young people' don't do as they're told and always question authority. It was always 'do as I say, not as I do', so thinking didn't occur a whole lot during your employment as a 'sales advisor'. Naturally, point three does strike you as much of a problem as much as points one and two, but that's mostly because as a general statement because you see your workmates often enough that you consider your quota for social interactions virtually fulfilled by the time you've reached the 15th day of any given month. It's a problem because you haven't even had a proper conversation with Mum in a week but it's not a big problem. Not eating and sleeping though, that's a problem. Not just because you're physical wellbeing will have negative impacts on your mental and emotional well being but because you love food and you love sleeping even more. If 'sleeping' became an Olympic sport, you'd be a gold medalist champion. Instant noodles, sleeping pills and a variety of caffeinated beverages are old long lost friends from your university/retail days and are now back on regular rotation in your diet - which is a problem - but it's not a problem you have time to deal with. One of your workmates has been on leave since Thursday (it's only Monday - why is it only Monday?!?) and vaguely important decisions have been left in your under-qualified, overworked and extremely incompetent hands. You left the office at 10.00pm the night before and it was a Sunday. A godforsaken Sunday. But you still don't consider it a problem - you don't have time for problems. You need solutions. Suddenly it's Friday. You think to yourself 'Thank god, it's Friday.' Then you think to yourself 'Why the fuck is it Friday?!? Where did Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday go?!?'. You don't have time for it to be Friday. Your to-do list is now 30 items long and you haven't even started number one. Stress takes over. You suddenly wonder how 'great' it would be to have an accident on the way home (just so you won't have to deal with this shit) and your judgment is severely impaired. Anxiety and depression are suddenly becoming very real problems. Not problems you recognise straight away but they're becoming very real problems. But you don't have time for your own problems and you've found your other solutions. Are they the correct solution? Probably not. But who really cares? If it was actually an important decision to make, someone else would have vetted it before it went into production. Who would ever trust you to make a proper decision? You don't even know left from right at this point so obviously no one would leave decision making in your hands. Except that they do. You're at the point, where you either don't realise that the solution you've come up with is derived from you're making poor decisions skills or you really just don't give a fuck. There's no time. You promised Mum that you'd be home for dinner two hours ago after failing to get home before 9.00pm three nights in a row. You've also had two complete mental breakdowns twice in one day, so any decision other than getting home to get the fuck asleep is a pretty terrible one at this point. Unfortunately, you don't seem to realise how poor these decisions are that you're making. Your family and friends are probably watching you wilt away and spiral out of control as the days go on and you, yourself don't even realise. Of course you don't realise, however. By this point in time, any problem relating to yourself personally will be taking a backseat until this 'Plan of Subdivision' (fancy name for lots of properties in one large area) settles (fancy name for finishes) and any other cases that have appearances (fancy name for days in court) in the next two weeks are over. The backseat may become a permanent arrangement if anything else pops up but that's for future-you to deal with. Present-you has 300-something emails that needs sorting and 40-something other solicitors to navigate through before anything can settle. You're also far too proud to admit that you have a problem. Also unfortunately for you (and probably the firm you practice in) those poor decisions you made at 11.00pm at night on a Friday one month ago won't be realised until much later down the track, when a disgruntled client claims you've done something wrong and you really can't remember what or why or how you came up with the 'solution' to your problem. You've done wrong and you admit you've done wrong but it doesn't change that your terribly lazy solution has caused a client, who trusted in your firm to act in his best interests on his behalf, to doubt the quality service you provide. Was there a way to prevent this from happening? Most certainly, yes. Did you know that there was a way to avoid the outcome? Most probably, yes. Could you have put the breaks on before it got worse? Without a doubt, yes. Did you? No, of course not. You didn't have a problem. Except that you did. Depression has been labelled as an "endemic" amongst the legal profession. There's a higher risk than most other professions and one in three solicitors will suffer from clinical depression. This is particularly so amongst the youth of the legal profession. In the last weeks of university you laughed and joked with your friends. 'Oh great' you'd say. 'Six months out from graduating and now you're being told depression in the legal profession is a thing.' Well, shit. Oh well. It will never happen to me. I'm smart, I'm strong. I just graduated from university with a Bachelor of Laws and I've got a real adult job. How naive I was. For the passed month and a half I was probably part of the one out of three who are clinically depressed. I didn't want to eat (I didn't have time), I was (unsuccessfully) using sleeping aids to get some sleep and I was often driving in a manner that could only ever be described as reckless and dangerous (there was no way I was going to spend more than 30 minutes driving home from work. On a good day however the drive was generally one hour). For a brief couple of days I seriously considered whether the consumption of drugs, illicit or otherwise would make everything better. Fortunately, I did not have the means or the knowledge to access such substances. My fear of addiction outweighed my anxieties. Depression and anxiety are scary beasts. I look back on the passed month and a half now that my 'solutions' are becoming greater problems than they resolved and I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that had I spoken up - at least once - I could have gotten help. That I should have gotten help. All I had to say was that, 'I don't know', and someone would have probably helped me. But I didn't. Why didn't I? Is it because I feel that every time I say, 'help', someone says, 'why don't you know this? This is common sense!' (Is this actually the case? Who knows, I can't remember I time that I've asked for help) Or is it because I'm too proud to admit that there's something in this wide world that I do not know. (Is this actually the case? Who knows, I can't remember a time that I've considered myself as proud to be knowledgeable) All I really know is that the only reason I haven't quit is because I know that my guilt for being a quitter and causing those around me more trouble would outweigh my desire to back out while I'm ahead.
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