Menstruation's Ten Minutes of Fame

Headaches, cramps, and mood swings are all a part of the natural process girls go through once a month, or more commonly known as a period. People of today's society don't like to talk about this topic, which doesn't seem right to me. Back in tribal days, people would praise a girl when she first notices blood. Nowadays when mothers find out, they say "uh oh." What happen to openness of this natural and beautiful process? Society has told us that it's inappropriate to talk about girls having their period, although it's ok to talk about and promote people of all ages having sex. The natural side of sex is being discriminated against while the "fun" side is being glorified. I am not the only person with an opinion on this matter. Rupi Kaur, who is studying poetry at the University of Waterloo in Canada, is speaking out about this heinous norm that society has adopted. 

For a school project, Kaur uploaded a photo series to Instagram, all having to do with women and the natural process of menstruation. Because the photos go against the community guidelines, Instagram took them down from their social media site. Kaur got some media attention because of her response to Instagram removing her photos.  

This girl was born and raised in India, a country known for it's government censoring it's people. She wanted to speak her mind because for so long she was told that she couldn't; not to mention she's a women and women's opinions are not always valued everywhere in this world. She was simply trying to show the world the wonderful process of a girl's period. A natural process that was once worshipped by many tribes way back when. Mothers in the twenty first century think of this as a bad thing because it means their daughter can get pregnant now. They don't care that their baby girl has just become a women.  

I believe we need more people like Kaur to stand up for women and what we have to endure once a month. Instead of society promoting sex as being fun, why not sex being a beautiful and natural process among two individuals. Society has adapted the wrong way of thinking about this topic and we shouldn't have to take down photos that show the real struggle girls go through.  

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World Wide Women's Sufferage

Women's rights isn't just a problem in American society, it's a problem throughout the entire world. Compared to some countries such as Afghanistan, Liberia, and Egypt, American women have it pretty easy. According to our constitution, we are allowed to fight for what we believe in which isn't the case in many places. American women tend to take their freedoms for granted when there are women around the world being killed not just because they want  the same rights as males, but because they are female. I feel as if most women in American society are ignorant of how far they're gender has come and we should be teaching not only girls, but boys as well of the hardships women have to face because of their gender.  

Afghanistan women are forced to hide their faces behind a burqa when in the presence of a non family member, especially in the presence of a male that is not her husband. This is a norm in the Middle East because their religion says that a women's face is only for the eyes of her husband and family. Women in this region are also not allowed to leave the house without a male family member, whether it be a grandfather who is one hundred years of age or a little baby boy. In Afghanistan it's a custom to beat your wife. If she upsets the male of the household, she gets a beating. I know domestic abuse is a problem here in the United States, but our government is trying to prevent abuse from happening. We have clinics and safe places for people in abusive situations to go and find refugee. In countries like Afghanistan, the government turns a blind eye to abuse because it's a social norm. It's a social norm that needs to be broken but can't without the help from people like you.  

In middle schools and elementary schools around the nation, women's suffrage is not a topic they spend a lot of time on when teaching social studies. Because the curriculum doesn't require it, teachers don't feel the need to talk about it. So these kids grow up not knowing much about the hardships women had to face in order to get the freedom and rights they deserve. Because kids are the future of tomorrow, this inevitably leads to more and more adults not knowing nor caring about women's freedom or rights. School districts should make it a requirement to teach young kids about why we have the freedoms that we do; not just why men have those freedoms, but women as well. Knowing the pain and suffering these people went through all those years ago, can really change a persons' opinion and perspective on things and these are the kinds of people that should be running our country. 

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Good and Bad Role Models

There are many different types of role models in today's society. Many young teenagers consider Jay Z, Nicki Minaj, and Kim Kardashian to be great role models. These people are not promoting a healthy life style that the kids of America should be looking up to. They promote drama, sex, drugs, and alcohol. There are so many good people in the limelight of society but citizens of the world chose not to acknowledge these people because they're not "cool" enough or "hipster" enough. Not only that but who decides what cool or hipster really means? Important questions to keep in mind when looking up to someone. 

People that should be idealized in society are people such as Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, and Jennifer Lawrence. Now if you could please take a moment and notice what all three of these people have in common, they're all women. I'm not saying that men can't be idealized too, but there are very few men celebrities who haven't fallen off the wagon. Granted these three women are not saints by any means, but the way they handle themselves after a scandal is what ultimately sets them apart from other celebrities. Not to mention what they promote in their song lyrics and interviews. 

Taylor Swift has been a popular figure in society ever since her first hit single "Our Song" back in 2006. If you compare her style and her motives from when she first entered the business to now, you will see a big change. When Swift was first starting out, she was probably told what to wear, how to look, and how to act by one of her publicists who tried to assimilate her into society. As time went on and she became more popular, she started making decisions for herself. She now promotes being yourself and not caring what others think of you. This message can be found in many of her current songs, such as "Shake It Off." 

Meghan Trainor hasn’t been around as long as Swift, but she is still just as popular. She was first noticed for her song "All About That Bass" which is a very powerful song for many young teenage girls. The lyrics of one of her most famous songs promotes being curvy. Society has told us we have to be a size two, but this celebrity is saying she's nowhere near a size two and she's just fine with that because boys love her just the way she is. 

Jennifer Lawrence is... Jennifer Lawrence. There's not much to say about her than that. When she walks into a room, she owns herself. She is also very honest and open about herself. She makes it very clear that she is who she is and no one can change her. Girls have always been taught to say nice things and to act lady like. Lawrence does the complete opposite because she's showing her true colors. She wants people to know the real her, not the person others want her to be. 

Notice how all three of these people are very strong and independent women. They're teaching young girls it's ok to be yourself and not to let people tell you who to be. Like I said, these women have been portrayed badly in society because of a few little mistakes, but the way they pick themselves up afterwards is what sets them apart from the rest of the world.  

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"Blind Devotion"

Recently I came across this video of a women who finds out she is going blind. She is afraid to tell her husband because her life was perfect and she doesn't want it to change. Once her husband finds out, what he did is incredible. If you haven't had a chance to see this video, take a look. 

Every girl fantasizes about finding the perfect guy. Love is hard for many girls, especially those girls who have been hurt in the past, and they will say yes to every man that comes along that makes them feel special. Those guys are not usually in it for the long run, and end up hurting the girl. This video shows real true love. It shows a guy who is willing to go out of his way in order to ensure not only her safety, but her happiness as well.  

A quote from this short film really caught my attention, and that is "Because that's what true love is, right? There's more than just a feeling, it's an action." Love isn't just something you feel. It's not the butterflies in your stomach or the "on top of the world" feeling you get when you're around them. It's an action. It's physically showing the other person that you love them through your day to day life. 

Men in particular should watch this video for many reasons. One reason being that this video reveals the secrets to being a good boyfriend and husband. It shows how to love your partner unconditionally in hopes that they return the love right back, which they usually do. Something else that boys tend not to understand about women is that we don't need fancy cars, big houses, and lots of money. All we need is for someone to love us and are willing to accept our love in return. This little eight minute video shows all of this, the only problem is most guys won't take the time to watch it. 

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Tips for Surviving Prom Dress Shopping

Alright ladies, it's that time of the year again. The time for cute proposals, saving money for the stretch limo, and most importantly, the dress. Prom is just around the corner and I know some girls like to be over achievers and get their dress early, but for those of you who didn't even know you were going to prom, here are some helpful tips to make the search easier for you. 

Finding the right dress doesn't have to be stressful. Prom is a time to celebrate the end of the school year and more importantly, the end of your high school career. You're already stressing over college stuff, why add to the chaos by stressing over a simple little dress. The first step is to take a deep breath and know that everything is going to be alright. 

Most girls know the type of dress they like, however if you're not most girls, then that's ok too. Start by looking through catalogs or Pinterest, where many different styles of dresses can be found. If you ask a boy for his opinion, they will probably say a dress is a dress. However boys don't understand that a dress is not just a dress. There's corset back or there's a zipper. There's ball gown with lots of tulle or there's a straight down and silky. There's ruffles or there's sequins. So many choices, but in the end it's all about what you want, not what he wants. Get a dress that makes you feel special and not one just because he told you to. 

If you're more of a "try it on" type of person, get some friends together to go prom dress shopping. This way you get your friends' opinions, you get to try on the dress, and you can make a day out of it with your best friends. Shopping online is always an option as well. With online shopping, there are twice as many options. Many department stores don't have every single dress in stock, but their websites sure do. Websites such as Prom Happy and Just Prom Dress are very useful and have tons of dresses for all shapes and sizes. Many stores, especially around this time of the year, also give out promotional deals, such 20% off your online order of $75 or more, for online shoppers. These great deals are definitely worth looking into because it can help you save a ton of money. 

You don't need a $500 dress from Bloomingdales to make you shine like a star. If you're a girl working on a budget, try asking around first. Ask your friends who have gone in the past or someone you know with lots of dresses just sitting at home in their closet. Another good resource to use would be Facebook. There are Facebook groups out there that are specifically for selling old or used dresses; at least I know there's one for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. Consignment stores would be another place to look if you don't want to spend a bundle. Their dresses are cheap and usually not too worn down. Places such as Stuff Etc. are very strict on what they accept to ensure you don't pay for something that's not worth paying for. Prom doesn't have to be expensive, however most girls make it so just because they don't know of these other great options that are offered to them. 

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The Importance of a Part Time Job

Many high school students need money for college so they get a part time job in high school and in college. What they don't know is that they're not only getting a paycheck, but also the well earned skill of hard work. Hard work is not something that people just get. It's something that has to be earned. Students that don't have a part time job don't know what it's like to do legit work and they don't know what it's like to have to sacrifice a weekend of movies and friends for twelve hours of working. Every high school and college student should have the experience of working a part time job on top of their busy schedules. Some great places to look for part time jobs would be places such as the mall, local restaurants, or fast food. These types of places are always hiring high school and college aged kids.  

A part time job doesn't have to run your whole life. It is possible to juggle a job, family, friends, school, etc. When you get hired, just tell them you would like to work x amount of hours. Nine times out of ten, they'll work with you and your schedule. However there is such a thing as sacrifice. No one likes to miss a family or friend event for work, but you have to find that balance between sacrificing work for friends and friends for work. This is called compromise. It's not an easy thing to do but it's something that has to be done. Just remember that you can't please everyone, hence the compromise. However don't let your employer take advantage of you and make you work twenty some hours a week. Studies done by WebMD Children's Health have shown the negative side effects of high school students working too much. 

Hard work isn't the only plus to having a part time job during high school. It looks great on a college application or scholarship application. It shows colleges that you can handle a busy schedule, along with keeping up with good grades, community services, etc. When you hand over your paycheck to the bank teller, you get this sense of pride because that money was earned, not given to you. After awhile, those paychecks will add up as well. Soon you'll find yourself with a big bank account, which would make anyone smile. By having a job, you learn great social skills too. You learn to compromise with your boss and coworkers. You learn how to act around costumers, both the nice and rude kind. You learn how to deal with big decisions when under a lot of pressure. The list goes on and on.  

"It's not about what you know but who you know," author unknown. This well known saying is as true as they come. Employers are a great source for job recommendations or even letters of recommendation for college. As long as you're a hard working employee and you left on good terms, it will prove to help you later on in life knowing these people and making these relationships. 

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Packing 101

Packing for a trip or vacation can be such a hassle. Especially if you're going somewhere more than an hour or so away because you can't run home real quick to get something you forgot. The best thing to do is to be organized. Make a list of all the essentials for the following categories: clothes, underwear, shoes, toiletries, technology, and miscellaneous. As you drive away from the house, the last thing you want is that sickening feeling of you forgetting something. Hopefully this helps you pack everything for an upcoming trip.  

Clothing is probably one of the most important essentials. If you leave home without this you're pretty much screwed for the whole trip. Check the weather ahead of time so you know which type of clothes to bring. If you're going somewhere warm, such as Florida, make sure to pack lots of shorts but a few pairs of long pants wouldn't hurt either because its not always guaranteed to be warm at night. If you're going somewhere cold, such as the mountains in Colorado, layers, layers, and more layers. It's easier to be too hot and shed some layers of clothing rather than not packing enough layers and be cold the whole time. Try to arrange your clothes in your suitcase in the most efficient way. Roll up your T-shirts rather than folding them in a square shape and stacking them. If you don't know what I mean by rolling, here's an easy How To. Also try keeping all your outfits together in your suitcase so that way you're not confused as to which pair of pants goes with which shirt. Make sure to pack enough underwear and socks because you don't want to be THAT person. No matter where you're going, if you know you're going to a hotel always remember to bring flip flops. Even if you don't plan on going swimming, you may never know when you might need them. If you know ahead of time you will be doing a lot of walking, bring comfortable shoes. Your feet will thank you later.  

Packing toiletries is a girls worst nightmare. We have so much of it and most of it is indeed an essential. For girls to look their best they have a lot of products and measures that must be taken. When you're in the comfort of your own bathroom, it doesn't look like much. But packing it all up into bag after bag can get frustrating. Make sure you have everything you need to look your best, especially your toothbrush. For some odd reason that seems to be the most common thing to leave at home. For all the girls reading this, always be prepared for an unwanted visitor. Moth nature seems to make an appearance whenever you're away from home.  

Phone chargers can be a life savor at times, especially if you forgot yours in the outlet next to your bed at home. Make sure to pack any other chargers that are necessary as well. Batteries may seem worthless to bring, but you may never know when you will be in need of a AA Battery. Something else you should definitely consider bringing is something to entertain you, which would go under the miscellaneous category. Long plane or car rides can get pretty boring without something to do. Homework is always nice to do on the way there or back, that way you don't have to spend your vacation time doing it.  

To avoid that feeling of "I'm missing something" make sure you double check your list before leaving the house. If you do happen to forget something, don't worry there are plenty of shopping malls and convenient stores around to pick something up. 

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