The Portrayal of Black Cultures in Mainstream Media
Finding a place as a Black artist in a predominantly white TV industry is an enormous struggle, particularly for budding professionals. Evidenced by a lack of necessary representation of Black people on screen and the lived experience of Black artists, it can be said that the industry has not always welcomed them with open arms. Many of these artists have openly expressed the issues of racial disparities in their profession. Even the few who triumph are compelled to constantly push themselves to thrive in the industry.
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Nationality and Borders Bill: Gaslighting Migrants
The Nationality and Borders Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 6th July 2021. It makes changes to the UK immigration system as it relates to asylum seekers and refugees; and does this primarily by introducing a two-tier system for asylum-seekers arriving in the UK, differentiating based on methods of arrival.
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I called my boss 'mate' and had an existential crisis
I go through phases when it comes to addressing people. For a long time, ‘man’ was my go-to. Yeah man. Thanks man. You’re standing on my foot, man. For a while I moved onto ‘dude’, because I’m a bit of a slacker and it felt apt. I’ve never been much of a ‘pal’ guy: I feel you have to look at least a bit hard to say pal, and I look like Tin Tin, so.
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There’s No “Me” in “Mummy”: My Identity as a Mother
Back in December 2020, I tripped and fell into Bullet Journal Instagram. As someone with a creative streak I don’t indulge in nearly often enough and a crippling need for order and organisation, I’d found the answer to a question I didn’t realise I was even looking to answer. I knew, then and there, that I needed to join the Bullet Journal revolution.
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Why Are Ghost Towns So Morbidly Fascinating?
Back in December 2020, I tripped and fell into Bullet Journal Instagram. As someone with a creative streak I don’t indulge in nearly often enough and a crippling need for order and organisation, I’d found the answer to a question I didn’t realise I was even looking to answer. I knew, then and there, that I needed to join the Bullet Journal revolution.
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Surviving the Financial Stress of the Festive Season
Christmas is one of my favourite times of year, it’s a time for big turkeys, fairy lights and cosy pyjamas. It’s a season to spend time with your family and friends too. But there’s always one thing at the back of my mind at Christmas – how I’m going to afford presents for the people around me.
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Lessons from a life unpaused: a new reverence for experience
Born in Bristol, Yuup was started because its founders saw that across the city there were talented people ready to share their brilliant experiences with others, but a world of big business and algorithms (that demands a level of technological/digital literacy) isn’t always the most welcoming environment to people that run small businesses. The people behind Yuup also saw that, similarly to them, people in the midst of the pandemic were craving authentic connection with others.
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Scandals, Scandals, Scandals: What Happened to Accountability?
Dominic Cummings took his ‘tour de Barnard Castle’ for an eye test in early April 2020, and subsequently undermined public confidence and adherence to lockdown measures with his unapologetic stance. Priti Patel was found to have broken ministerial code and had been bullying her civil servants, and Boris Johnson decided that the inquiry didn’t matter.
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Approaching the murder of David Amess: Has Tory funding cuts to mental health services escalated a tense situation?
It is important to first note that this article has absolutely no intention of trying to reconcile with what could have led to these specific and individual circumstances, nor to make judgment of those involved in this tragedy, but instead aims to look at what the current circumstances can indicate about this type of attack and what this indicates about the UK’s current socio-political climate.
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#Witchcore: The Trending Aesthetic
If there was ever a time to find a star-studded dress, a moon crescent necklace, a gothic pair of candlesticks, and all-things-witchy in décor and accessories, this is the time to find it, and it no longer is only in the ‘Halloween’ section of home décor at Poundland!
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Fireworks! Love them, hate them or worry about them?
I was 13 in 1981 when Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married, and on the eve of their wedding day there was a massive fireworks display in Hyde Park, London; the biggest since 1749, my sister took me. I was on the brink of rebellion, starting to form my own thoughts and ideas, so I wasn’t that fussed about the royal couple but I let her drag me along. It was the most spectacular thing I'd ever seen! It was a heaving crowd, booming bangs and the whole thing set to Handel’s Firework Music. Me, my sister and half a million other people stood in awe on that hot, sticky July night watching the audacious fireworks spectacle for a good half hour.
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Communicating COP26: Why Young People Need to be Involved in Conversations around Climate Change
As a 30 year old, I am young enough to have been let down by the generations before me but I am old enough that I am letting down the generations behind me. I have benefitted enormously from the degradation of the natural world and from pumping carbon into the atmosphere.
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Spiking: A Missing Part of The Narrative
Unless you live in some kind of cave far removed from society, you’ve probably heard about the influx of spiking cases sweeping the UK. There are so many areas of this that need to be discussed: the HIV hysteria, power dynamics, false information and victim blaming to name a few. However, one part that seems to me to be distinctly missing is long term support and genuine acknowledgement of the effect this can have on the victims: past and present.
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A Brief Examination of the Importance of Female Friendship in the 21st Century: Stresses and Strains
Female friendships have been underpinning women’s lives since time immemorial. Historically when women married purely for economic reasons, it was often their female friends who would provide emotional and intellectual support, a deep understanding and solace, unavailable within the marriage.
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What’s the Origin Story of Halloween? Why Do We Celebrate the Holiday?
It’s the holiday that, nowadays, seems to pay homage to America; it’s often a commercialised, over-the-top affair that gives a flavour of US life to those across the globe. With how the day has evolved over time, it’s origins have certainly become overshadowed by more recent customs that have transformed tradition into scary fun.
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Imagine if We Had Sex Education When We Were at School
When I was at school sex education was a bit dry, pun intended. It didn’t really talk about pleasure, it just scolded us, made us afraid of getting pregnant or getting the clap.
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Advocating for Bi Awareness and What Being Bi Means To Me
The boy and I remained close friends for years. He was perturbed and irritated by the fact that I was now apparently a lesbian, partly because he believed it made his already poor social standing significantly worse. He once told me that he had never mentioned my new relationship to his dad because it would make him look 'less of a man'. He was convinced that other boys and men would assume he was in some way inadequate and had therefore 'turned' me.
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My Relationship with Religion - "Trouble Started when the Word Was Made Flesh"
All that my parish priest had done with people’s donations, though, is cover the crucifix in gold. I wasn’t quite sure how that would work, but probably Jesus would feel flattered and improve the fate of the poor around the world. So either Aunt Gianna really hoped for the best, or she liked to fool herself.
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Why Are Young People The Scapegoats for Covid?
If we don’t go out, we’re killing the economy. If we do go out, we’re narcissistic and thoughtless. We’re the most likely group to suffer long-term due to long COVID but women’s health is one of the least researched medical fields. It’s a bleak paradox, with no easy solution but please spare a thought for young people next time you click on that Daily Mail article – we’re probably in line at a walk-in centre.
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The Care Cap And Why It Matters
On the 8th September, the Government’s plans for a new Health and Social Care Levy won a majority in a snap commons vote. The tax will raise funds for the NHS and subsidise health and social care reforms, including the long awaited care cap. But what is the care cap, and why does it matter?
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