Unseen and Unheard

Perspectives on the lived realities of marginalized communities
E. J. R. David Ph.D.
By flickr user J-Dave [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Dear High School Students

The high school years may be great, and by all means savor them. Enjoy high school and treasure your experiences, but don't let this time be the peak of your lives. Dream big.
"Belly-2354 1920 (1)" by PublicDomainPictures - http://pixabay.com/es/vientre-cuerpo-calor%C3%ADas-dieta-2354/. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Belly-2354_1920_(1).jpg#/media/File:Belly-2354_1920_(1).jpg

Considering the Negative Consequences of a “Bikini Body”

From "#thinsperation" to the "Bikini Body," there is an abundance of "products" that are endorsed by celebrities and "experts" who perpetuate the "thin body ideal." The impact of this message on society is troubling, ranging from body image problems to serious eating disorders. One nutrition and health psychology expert shares an open letter about this disturbing reality.
By Jennifer Pahlka from Oakland, CA, sfo (LOL Just divorced. And no, that's not my car.) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Divorcing Differently: End a Marriage, Save the Relationship

Often, divorce probably will be ugly as it seems to inevitably signify the end of fighting for each other and the beginning of fighting against each other. But what if sometimes it didn’t? What if sometimes we are able to keep fighting for each other in the midst of the change? What if we chose to divorce differently? A "differently divorced" woman shares her experiences.
E.J.R. David

Internalized Oppression: We Need to Stop Hating Ourselves

Have you ever used bleach or skin whitening products? Have you ever refused to speak your heritage language or tried to get rid of your accent in order to fit in? Did you ever try to hide an important part of your identity—like your ethnicity or sexual orientation—because you were ashamed? Do you know someone who has? Ever heard of "Internalized Oppression"? Read on.
By Unknown? [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

52 Years Later: The Distortion of Martin Luther King's Dream

Having a "colorblind" and "melting pot" society are popular ideas that many have automatically regarded as consistent with MLK's dream of a just and equal society. The research literature, however, suggests that such "catchy" concepts have merely hidden prejudices and preserved oppressive systems, operating as barriers to truly achieving MLK's dream. Let's break them down.
ThinkThorpe, LLC

"Do I Sound Gay?"

Why would a gay man dislike “sounding gay?” Why would “sounding less like a man” make a gay man view himself as inferior, unattractive, and undesirable? Why does "passing" as straight make a gay man feel good? Read on as we explore Internalized Homophobia - a very real but largely unseen, unheard, and unspoken psychological struggle that is experienced by many gay men.
The Walt Disney Company

We Can Dream: A Marginalized Peoples Version of ‘Inside Out’

'Inside Out' is the nation's #1 movie. Critics and audiences are raving about it. Adults cry because of it. Even scientists applaud its scientific accuracy. But how reflective is it of marginalized peoples' minds and lived realities? What would the 'Inside Out' movie look like if it explored the inner workings and psychological experiences of marginalized peoples? Read on.
"No sexism racism homophobia" by Kurt Löwenstein Educational Center International Team from Germany - ws'08 (21). Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:No_sexism_racism_homophobia.jpg#/media/File:No_sexism_racism_homophobia.jpg

5 Questions We Often Ask Ourselves After Microaggressions

Society’s awareness of microaggressions and its many expressions have increased over the past few years. The internal dialogues and psychological struggles that microaggressions cause marginalized people, however, are rarely discussed and remain largely “Unseen and Unheard” by the general public. I hope this helps.