Just Hilly

This essay is on a proposed new, more precise and ethical way to systematically test athlete's hormone levels to check their eligibility for competitions. The feminist theory, in regard to how sports reproduce gendered ideas and practices related to sexuality (Group, 2020), is the theory I felt most aligned with the issues to be discussed. It is a mostly accepted belief, that due to the natural, physical advantages males have, sports should be separated by male and female to create a fair playing field. Most sports authority organizations around the world segregate their athletes. Prior to puberty, there is no difference between males and females in terms of athletic ability and performance. Once puberty starts, a male’s testes begin producing 20 times more circulating testosterone than their female counterparts which triggers major physical and physiological changes.(Handelsman et al., 2018) In regards to sports, the changes in a male’s height, bones density, muscle gain, muscle r...

Healthcare workers are members of the working class that gain income from directly caring for and treating the sick and ailing. They are responsible for the maintenance of the hygiene, nutrition, clinical treatment and rehabilitation of those unable to keep up with their own care while recovering from disease and injury. As voluntary members of this group of laborers, healthcare workers (HCWs) acknowledge that the welfare of their patients usurps any personal feelings or ideals they may have as part of their professional obligations; just as a convicted rapist is expected to get the same standard of care for their ailments as any other patient in the healthcare setting. Similarly to how HCWs don’t choose their patients, they also don’t decide the types of care plans or preventative measures to be put in place- governing bodies of health science research and the biomedical sciences inform healthcare schools, institutions and workers of what is effective treatment and prevention.  In...

Hey everyone, Happy New Years, Valentine's, Black History month and Women's History month! My first post for today will be about stressors. It can be therapeutic to write them down to see them in front of you rather than just in your head or in the moment feelings. Seeing them written down can help you prioritize which are affecting you the most and which you can tackle the most directly. Only focus on what you yourself can control in this moment.  For example: 'I have a goal weight I need to make by the end of the year and my slow progress has me stressed.'  Rather than focusing on the deadline, focusing on acknowledging current progress outside of weight (longer stamina, going down a clothes size, better sleep etc), can help keep a positive outlook on your weight loss journey. Taking a step back and re-evaluating the current changes you've been maintaining and decide which ones you want to switch up and bit to see if that gives you better results scale wise.  Prac...

On Thursday, June 20, my mom and I were harassed and threatened at a local fair by that man in the photo. I am spreading his image and what happened to us warn others and create awareness of the unstable and violent individuals in our communities. What should have been a fun night out was tarnished by this incident and him getting away without any real consequences isn't right.

I recently went on a date with my partner to a local Irish Bar in my area called Kitty Mulligans. I follow them on Instagram and was excited to see them post about having bingo nights as a weekly event on Thursdays. I'm a big fan of playing bingo, I find it to be a fun game to play while chilling and having some food. Our reservation was made the day before and when we went in our name was on a little chalkboard on our table. A very cute touch that I haven't seen before. The owner introduced himself and was a sweetheart.  The layout of the bar with a large counter was separated from a side section for tables and booths with nice big barn doors separating them. The side with tables and booths is a space that can be booked for private events which I thought was cool. The list of food and drinks on their website was actually shorter than the actual sit down menu. We took quite a while to decide on what to get. My partner and I both shared their Grilled Chicken Flatbread and their ...

     Staying true to my new years resolution, I've been pushing myself to continue creating art. Also, I've been seeing a psychologist for talk therapy for free through my school. She has been encouraging me to channel my creativity in moments where I need a break from stress or when I feel overwhelmed.  Using art as an outlet has been my thing since I was little but being intentional about it as something to ground me is new. So far it's definitely been helpful, and I'm happy with where I'm at skills wise. Hoping to get more commissions this year and potentially earn income off my art. I have a few friends who are also artists and they've also been putting in the work this year to try and get more 'business' from their art. It's exciting seeing others with similar goals around you.

Today at my college they held a 'Take Back the Night' event that was about highlighting the voices and experiences of sexual assault victims, promoting the importance of consent and the different resources available to anyone going through interpersonal violence, sexual harassment etc. As a small opener they had students write messages to anyone struggling with their experiences, to uplift, spread awareness or positivity. I chose to make my message about coercion, albeit I did misspell the word lml.  "A 'YES' AFTER 10 'NO's IS A NO!  #stopcoercion' I am unfortunately one of billions of victims of various forms sexual harassment and sexual assault but one of the seemingly 'lesser' overlooked forms is coercion. It can look like your partner begging you throughout your evening to have sex, possibly throwing in some guilt tripping, maybe blackmail, even potentially leaving without a ride in somewhere unfamiliar or threats of bodily harm etc. Your in...