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The Internalized Misogyny of Women: Sisterhood or Sabotage?

  “A woman’s true enemy is always a woman” , I said to my friend just as they looked at me confuzzled.  It’s not a really common saying , to be fair, however this topic easily runs deep within every female. When you think of internalized misogyny, it’s easy to picture men upholding outdated stereotypes and maintaining systemic biases. But did you know that women can be their own worst critics? That’s right—sometimes, the biggest critics of women’s rights and roles are women themselves. The very root of this problem can be detected from the earliest days: High school Where do I even begin?  If you are currently in high school, or just graduated (like us), I'm sure you will remember that charmingly chaotic period of life where everything was a social experiment? From the very beginning, girls are taught to measure themselves against impossible standards. Popularity contests, beauty standards, and social hierarchies became the norm. We all had that one friend who, despite be...

Virgins with Attitude: Reclaiming Virginity as a Symbol of Strength and Autonomy

In Part One, we delved into the intriguing idea that virginity is more of a societal construct than an actual, tangible entity. Now, let’s flip the script and explore how, within various myths and cultures, the concept of virginity can be seen as a symbol of power, independence, and divine influence.  Spoiler alert: this isn’t about policing anyone’s bedroom; it’s about celebrating the broader cultural narratives that have elevated the status of virginity. Let’s begin with the Greeks, who had quite the theatrical flair for everything, including their gods and goddesses. One of the most iconic figures is Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and chastity. Artemis wasn’t just a huntress; she was a fierce protector of her own autonomy. In a society where women were often seen as property, Artemis redefined what it meant to be a woman on her own terms. Her virginity was less about abstinence and more about her choice to remain unchained by marital obligations. In essence,...

Virginity: The One-Size-Fits-All Label That Never Quite Fits

Virginity—it's a term that hovers between the sacred and the absurd, often stirring up a cocktail of sanctity, mystery, and, let’s be honest, a fair dose of confusion. While 3 out of 10 people might argue that virginity is as significant as yesterday's news, it's clear that a hefty 7 out of 10 still view it as a cornerstone of a woman's identity. It’s almost as if virginity has been promoted to VIP status in the realm of social constructs—complete with its own red carpet and paparazzi. But, let’s face it: in an age where we can order a pizza with more options than we have meaningful conversations about this topic, is virginity really the defining feature of a woman’s character? This two-part piece explores why the notion of virginity is not only outdated but fundamentally misguided in shaping a woman’s identity. So, grab a seat and prepare to question some well-worn societal norms—because it’s time to give virginity the retirement party it deserves. Let’s start off with...

Shaping Identities: How Do Standards Define Men And Women (Part Three)

  Women must ensure the survival of their offspring, so they must pick a mate who will invest time and resources into the infant.  Unlike male organisms that can theoretically pass their genes down in minutes, women have to wait nine months and ensure the infant survives. Bigger males may signal health and strength, but they also signal elevated levels of testosterone. Past research suggests that elevated testosterone levels aids men in efforts to attract mates by increasing their confidence and aggressiveness towards competing men. One study found that men perceived other men as more threatening when they ranked higher in status and resources, while women found other women more threatening when they ranked higher in attractiveness. Even looking at infidelity, we see behavior that supports the evolutionary perspective. In a study that looked at over 60,000 people, participants were asked to imagine different scenarios and classify which one would be most upsetting and distress...

Shaping Identities: How Standards Define Men And Women (Part Two)

  At a biological level, the reproductive systems for males and females differ, contributing to what arguably is the possible cause of promiscuity level between the sexes. All right, let’s get down to the basics.  To make a baby, you need male and female gametes, also known as the sperm and egg. Females have the egg and males have the sperm. Now, the average male will produce 525 billion (with a B) sperm in his lifetime, while the female is born with about 1 to 2 million eggs. By the time she hits puberty, that number will go down to around 300,000. Many speculate this biological difference to be the motivation behind the differences in promiscuity between the sexes. Because males typically produce so much more of their gametes, biologically, promiscuity levels could be attributed to the amount of gametes. Males must adopt a different mating strategy if they want to ensure the survival of their genes.  The way in which males increase their chances of survival is by increa...

Shaping Identities: How Standards Define Men And Women (Part One)

Ah, the age-old debate of love versus lust. It's like the ultimate game of "He said, she said," only with higher stakes. While social constructs may play a role in how they’re viewed, evolutionary psychologists have a theory that says otherwise. There seems to be more history behind our mating strategies. Darwin’s finch theory seems to sum it all up. As they explored the Galapagos islands, Darwin noticed that the finches had different beaks depending on which island they were on. Finches on islands that were populated with seeds and nuts had massive, strong beaks, while finches on islands that were populated by insects had skinny, sharp beaks. This observation by Darwin helped solidify the idea that each species acquired traits optimum for their survival. Now, evolutionary psychologists have a theory that’s just as intriguing: our behaviors might be programmed by the ancient need to propagate our species. Think of it as nature’s ultimate matchmaking service. For women, th...

The alpha male justification for capitalism meets its match.

  “Capitalism is the way we succeed in life.” Words to behold. The pure ego and ignorance emanating from these words alone are a staggering shockwave to this author. The individual who declared this sentence seemed to insinuate that income inequality did not exist, and that even if it did, that fact alone should not allow the government to pour the large amounts of money it is pouring into the welfare of the people. I’m sorry but isn't that the point of a government? While yes I will concede that the high percentage of taxpayers in India are the middle and higher class, I will also point out that that is the basis on which the policy of progressive tax works.  The alpha male excuse for treating lower members of society like a garbage dump that gets ignored is a signature trait of the species. If a system set up by the ‘alpha males’ for the ‘alpha males’ is one that lacks empathy, then it is no surprise that selfishness and greed are the driving forces of our cutthroat world....