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...

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 ...

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...

One of the greatest and most impactful inventions of mankind, arguably up there with the wheel, the internet and the MMR vaccine- the automobile created one of the great permanent shifts in the course of human history. After spreading throughout the globe and transforming the way people could travel, motor vehicles also obtained the status as an important tool to be handled with care- a tool for men. In this day and age, 2024, the belief that women are bad drivers, dangerous on the road, unaware of how to handle their vehicles etc. has remained as a globally shared stereotype in global societies by long held misogynistic views perpetuated by the patriarchy. To first understand the origins of this stereotype, why it continues to persist over the years and the deconstruction of it, one must first understand patriarchy as an institution that often dictates the overarching views of civilizations. Institutions in general, serve as a guide for participating members of society by providing th...

There is a general respect for the arts among Long Islanders, and there are quite a few spaces in both Nassau and Suffolk counties. In my town, or hamlet really, Bay Shore has been renowned as the place to go for things like festivals, parades and free outdoor activities for the community. The Westfield Mall, roughly a mile or two from main street, serves one of the main commercial hubs in the community. The Islip Arts Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to the showcasing of work by Long Island artists and authors, is located in this commercial hub right next to the Dick’s Sporting Goods.  The IAC focuses on hosting exhibits to uplift different communities within the LI greater community as well as offering a myriad of art classes year round.(Dekoning, par. 5) Like most places, the IAC suffered a huge hit during the height of the covid pandemic- their former residence closed down; the manager of the Westfield Mall in Bay Shore invited them to relocate to an open space avai...

Last Thursday night, I went out on another date with my partner at the same little bar I mentioned a few posts ago. It's called Nostalgia and is a very cute 90's themed bar in Bethpage, NY. We went for what we found out is going to be a new monthly drag show hosted by some of my friends who are drag queens along with performances by other local queens as well.  (Video shows a quick vid I took of one of the sets done by my very talented friend Gemma Tolstoy  ) The bar is very queer friendly and definitely in my opinion a safe space for LGBTQ+ folks looking to go out and have a fun time. Definitely a mixed crowd bar depending on the night, when I go tends to be more folks in their 20's with just a  sprinkling of those in their 30's and 40's. The place is totally decked out throughout with everything 90's from movie memorabilia, autographed headshots of 90's celebs, fun colored lighting, Pokemon decor around the bar, CD and comic book themed bathrooms and the r...

I saw that a couple of my friends and mutuals have joined the new Meta platform called Threads. I'm not sure if I'm ready to join a new social media platform but from what I've seen it looks similar to Tumbler and Twitter. Maybe it's supposed to be the Elon Musk free version.The Meta monopoly is growing and isn't slowing down. Formerly known as Facebook. Inc., Meta now owns and controls its old namesake and sister apps Facebook and Facebook Messenger along with the acquisition of WhatsApp, Instagram and the newly dropped Threads. Reminds me of the old high school U.S. history picture of the octopus gobbling up companies, representing the monopolies that took over during the late 19th and early to mid 20th centuries. Anyway heres a post I saw on my friends insta story she made on there that I related to.  Thanks for checking out my blog :) Post by @fallinginsociety View on Threads

This was my first time going to the Pride parade in NYC and I had a blast. I definitely baked in the subway but survived (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧.I was so happy seeing all the self expression, creativity, and most of all diverse representation at NYC Pride this year. The different flags, fans, signs, aesthetics and open acceptance of different gender identities and sexualities was refreshing. There was a little bit of craziness involving a fountain in Washington square park that I did not part take in (fear of ringworm and hepatitis lol). Mr Softee and McDonald's served as safe havens from the heat. Definitely got my steps in, I need to remember to wear sneakers next year. Here are some photos I took throughout the day. Thanks for stopping by on my blog :) P.S. Look it's me, Hilly! I got my photo taken by the lovely @irawilderphoto on Instagram. Definitely a highlight of the day.