Uncommon Fears, Zev 10/11sThere are many uncommon phobias that people, including you, might have! From fear of spiders to fear of long words, here are 5 of the most interesting phobias. Some are exactly what you expect, some have ironic twists, and some are just unbelievable.
Let's start with a very uncommon one: Arachibutyrophobia. This may be one of the hardest phobias to pronounce and is the fear of peanut butter. I have no idea why people fear peanut butter nor have I met anyone with the fear of peanut butter but some people don’t like it because they fear they might choke on it. But peanuts are a common allergy and fear that they’re allergic to it. Next, we have another fear. Chromophobia. Chromophobia is apparently the fear of colors. It is actually a mix of phobias such as: Prasinophobia the fear of green. Erythrophobia, the fear of red and blue, etc. And the phobias is only about intense colors that really stand out. Now we have hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, which is one of the longest words in the Greek dictionary, and with an ironic twist, is the fear of long words. I have no idea what was going on in the person's head that made this word. I'm not sure why they named it this because in order to say that you have this fear, you have to be ready to actually face your fear. Next, we have anatidaephobia, which is the fear that one is being watched by a duck. This is a fear not about your safety but about others. I’m guessing that if you have this fear you might as well have the fear of ducks, since ducks are animals The last phobia on this list is something that might make you worry about someone's safety if they have it. is the fear of water. The thing about this is that people with hydrophobia fear drinking water, which is not great since water is the most important resource in life besides oxygen. Now with all the phobias explained, we have an end to this article. These are the five most uncommon, unbelievable, or unusual phobias that you might have too. Kleptomania Explained, Eva 13/14sA few days ago, I watched a YouTube video where a person reacted to a video about a person with kleptomania. After the video was done, the person watching it incorrectly asserted that kleptomania isn’t a disorder, and kleptomaniacs are just bad people trying to justify stealing. It was annoying to hear this attitude, mainly because I know that what he said came from a place of misinformation and stigma; it wasn't that he was trying to be mean or invalidating. I decided to check the comment section to see what other people thought, and I found that a few people agreed with me. I replied to the comment, and a few days later it became the top comment. The YouTuber never responded, but many said they learned more about the subject, so I decided to write this article about the stigma and misconceptions around kleptomania so that other people could be more informed about the subject.
What is kleptomania? Everyone can agree that stealing is wrong, but it can become an irresistible urge. Kleptomania is a mental disorder that causes people to steal things impulsively, usually things that they don’t need and could easily afford. Doctors don’t know what the root cause of kleptomania is. Still, people think it could be connected to trauma or other existing disorders, such as anxiety disorders and personality disorders. Some psychologists also believe the behavior is linked to feelings of paranoia and compensating in advance due to fear of losing things. Another theory is that it comes from people wanting to prove their independence. What consequences do kleptomaniacs face for having their disorder? Kleptomaniacs know that stealing is wrong, and feel extremely guilty about the things they steal, but a lot of the time don’t own up to it because they feel ashamed. This shame can lead to other issues for the kleptomaniac, such as substance disorders and social segregation. People who are kleptomaniacs also often get into legal trouble for compulsive stealing, with around 70% of kleptomaniacs getting arrested at some point and about 15% being incarcerated. In court, having kleptomania is not seen as a valid defense, and they give kleptomaniacs punishment instead of help. How do people get help for kleptomania? There isn’t necessarily a ‘cure’ for kleptomania, but people can do things that might help to improve it. People can use medications, mostly opioid antagonists, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs or lithium. The other main option is psychology or self-help groups, or some combination. Generally, the therapy people get is behavioral therapy, or CBT where people are taught skills to apply to help lower stealing urges. In some cases, people even use hypnosis. Solutions for kleptomania still are not very researched, and all of these options will only work for some people, and not everyone will be able to be helped. Different people respond to the treatment differently, so it works more for some people than others. Do people use the word too loosely? People commonly use the word kleptomania to describe anyone who likes to steal, and a lot of the time people say it as a joke. It seems like harmless humor, but how does that affect how people perceive the word? If people casually throw it around, then it won’t be recognized as the mental disorder that it is. It’s not just liking stealing or wanting to steal, it is a real disorder that not too many people have. Should people use the word kleptomania casually, or should the word be reserved for people who actually have kleptomania? What is the stigma around kleptomania? A lot of people think that kleptomania is just stealing, and think of kleptomaniacs as thieves instead of people with a mental illness. A lot of people have the idea that kleptomaniacs should just stop stealing, and don’t understand how difficult that is. People don’t realize that kleptomaniacs don’t want to steal, understand that it’s wrong and feel guilty about it. People equate stealing due to kleptomania with people who break into houses to take tv’s or something like that, despite them being completely different situations. Kleptomaniacs receive little sympathy and a lot of criticism for something that they can’t control, which typically makes the problem worse or leads to different issues. Most of this comes from a place of not being educated, because most people don’t even know that it is a real disorder that people get diagnosed with, not a label that people choose to give to excuse their actions. Headline: A Guide to the LGBTQIAP+ Acronym
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Over the years, Barbie has been controversial in almost every category: racism, sexism, ableism, and body shaming, and now the Mattel company is “trying” to do better. They’re putting out an all-new line for young children. This updated line of Barbie has some variety of skin colors, body types, and disabilities.
The description from Mattel of Barbie, reads, “Find gifts for little girls and other Barbie fans!” They couldn’t say children, could they? This description creates more gendered roles for children today. The majority of Mattel's Barbie line has a more “traditional” unrealistic body type. Very Skinny with some curves, a figure that many people cannot get. Lately, Mattel has had some more controversy, like when they released a book named; I can be a game designer! It is about a computer programming Barbie that was all about her accidentally putting viruses on computers and needing help from her male colleagues. This further proves my point on how sexist the barbie industry is by showing how women need help from men in their lives, that they cannot be independent. The change of the doll industry is extremely crucial. Kids’ subconscious perception of the world depends on what they see around them, which is why representation is essential. This isn’t just a doll. It’s an influence on future generations. We should focus on these problems in our movements to include everyone instead of letting Mattel create non-inclusive dolls that will affect young children today.. When advertising these new dolls, Mattel should have a more inclusive approach where they treat body types, skin color, and disabilities that are softer. Way that they can start this change is by changing the Barbie description from little girls to all children. Between her graceful return from almost-cancellation, the launch of her new brand Yitty, and her iconic People's Choice Awards speech, Lizzo has shown she is determined to be a part of activism. Now, she is putting words to her commitment. January 22, 2023, should have been the 50th anniversary of Roe V. Wade, the Supreme Court case which granted people the right to an abortion. However, the case was recently overturned, leaving many with no idea what to do next. January 22, 2023, was also the day that Lizzo clarified her stance on the issue. As a Black woman in America, it is no surprise she is passionate about the subject. She remarked, "Fifty years later, we're still fighting the same fight for rights" (McNamara 1). She has taken a strong stance in support of bodily autonomy, and the pro-choice movement.
The ¨Truth Hurts¨ singer is no stranger to advocacy. In June 2022, Lizzo released what would become one of her most popular songs ¨About Damn Time¨. However, many people felt that the use of the world sp-z in the song was harmful to the disabled community. Lizzo responded with incredible grace, immediately removing the lyric and apologizing to anyone who had been hurt. Unfortunately, we live in a time where many celebrities respond to criticism defensively and end up canceled. Lizzo proving her commitment to activism for several different communities will leave her with a legacy to be proud of. Celebrity support can bring hope to the millions navigating current abortion bans. To see an A-list celebrity like Lizzo speak out for all people with uteruses is genuinely inspiring. She has said she is speaking up because "Because your body is nobody's business." Everyone can follow her example and advocate for people in their daily life. Every person speaks out against injustice in their school or workplace. Others can attend protests, or help those in their community in need. Whoever you are, you could be more like Lizzo! Sources: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/lizzo-bodily-autonomy-50th-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade An Important Holiday #3: Ramadan
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