What comes to mind when we hear the word prom? For many, the word conjures thoughts of dressing in fancy suits and ties, or elegant dresses that dazzle the gorgeous hotel ballroom. Others think of the delicacies served at tables where friends can converse and indulge in the merry ambience that looms in the air.
-we realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced~Malala
To one, it can mean freedom; freedom of speech, freedom of making decisions, freedom to be happy. To another, it may mean a man and a woman sharing their responsibilities as a family. To some, it might be a woman who is strong and is willing to fight back. There is no literal definition for women empowerment. But, if we were to sum these all up, it would mean respecting women for who they are, promoting women’s sense of self-worth and giving them equal opportunities that men have.
Imagine this – a camera shot panning up a woman’s slender legs, lingering on her pert buttocks before following the curve of her body up to her bountiful bosom, lingering there some more before finally reaching the seductive fullness of her lips and her well-framed face. Well, you don’t need to imagine this. After all, there are plentiful examples in movies and TV shows. Laura Mulvey, a feminist film theorist, coined the phrase the “male gaze”, which seeks to explain why women are depicted as passive sex objects in mainstream film narratives.
It was practically impossible not to get sucked into the rabbit hole of what seemed to be the greatest show of all time. It had everything a viewer could ever want-unique characters, dramatic dialogue, and shocking plot twists. With its sombre courthouse setting and flurry of suits, it might have seemed like just another addition to the saturated genre viewers know as legal dramas. So, how could this show possibly compete with greats like ‘Law and Order’, ‘The Good Wife’, and ‘Suits’? The answer lies in the fact that this show wasn’t a fictional tale concocted by a team of screenwriters. There was no director behind the scenes yelling ‘action’ and ‘cut’. There were no producers pulling the strings. And, the two Hollywood stars in the vanguard of the show weren’t playing a part. Nevertheless, it did incorporate all the allure of a traditional legal drama with real-world and real-time stakes. How could anyone possibly have taken their eyes off the screen?
First, is the eye-catching display of mannequins draped in exquisite fabrics and trendy accessories at the facade of the boutique. Then, it’s rack upon rack of T-shirts, blouses, pants, skirts, dresses, shoes, and bags in every imaginable style and color. Next, are the bold red signs all over the store declaring , ‘Sale’, ‘Buy 2 Free 1’ and ‘50% off’.
It takes an enormous amount of willpower not to grab as many items as possible and head straight to the cashier. Unfortunately, most people give in anyway, and buy without giving much thought to whether the items they have selected are sustainable. Many do not stop to ask themselves if keeping up with the latest fashion trends is worth jeopardizing the environment.
But, how does fashion contribute to climate change? Here, it is important to distinguish between sustainable fashion and fast fashion. According to Vogue, sustainable fashion is an umbrella term for clothes that are created and consumed in a way that can be, quite literally sustained, while protecting both the environment and those producing garments. In other words, sustainable fashion addresses environmental issues such as the emission of greenhouse gasses and water pollution as well as social issues, namely the exploitation of labor.
Because sometimes you just need to feel sexy and beautiful.
Welcome to another edition of Echo-pella, readers! It’s now the middle of the year, July 1st. As you reflect on what you’ve done for the past 6 months, how do you feel? Do you feel accomplished? Happy? Or maybe it’s disappointment that you haven’t been yourself as of late? Maybe tough exams or social life has made you feel a bit down. In any case, what you need is a confidence boost. Something that recharges your brain and makes it say “I’m going to succeed”. In other words, you need something that’ll make you feel confident and even sexy.
Describing something as “sexy” doesn’t always refer to sexual appeal, by the way. It can also refer to something very exciting or appealing. And if that’s something that you feel the need to embody at the moment, we’ve got a playlist of songs for you to feel yourself to, whether you need a boost to your self-confidence, and yes, a boost in sexual confidence as well. It’s time to love yourself, people!
This question is far from being unknown to many; an echo that has undulated across one’s recollection of memories and will most likely follow them into their next steps of life. It may seem like an odd query to direct toward another person, but in truth, it is hardly unfamiliar to multiracial or “mixed” people. In itself, the query is dehumanising but puts forth a paradox that may dominate the mixed person’s thoughts and settle down amongst various other doubts as they hesitantly tread the lines between their different cultural identities. Although frequently perceived in a positive light, the multiracial identity comes with its own unique psychological stressors, many of which lead to existential isolation—the feeling that your perspective or experiences are not comprehensible to others.
