Why I've spent 7 years of my 20's as a single woman
I’ve spent my 20's as a single girl; now a woman, and during this entire period I’ve learned so much and discovered even more.
Joy JohanePublished 9 minutes ago in Humans
The woman behind one of the greatest books that shaped the world.
One of the most moving, powerful and influential books I have ever read is Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembwa, an award-winning Zimbabwean novelist, playwright, filmmaker and gender and cultural activist. I came across a main character that looked like me in more ways than one; an African girl, ravelling through post-colonial Rhodesia. I fell in love with the story and a greater love for the author formed. So, imagine my face when a friend told me they had met her - the author. I can't lie, I was quite envious because first of all, they didn't like reading nor had they read any of her work. Yes, 19 year old me was a little bitter I must admit. As the years swam by, I discovered greater wanders about the invigorating character that is Tsitsi. I learned that she was the strength, poise and fragility that posed in her books and now I'll share part of her essence with you.
Joy JohanePublished about a month ago in Humans
Does Football Increase The Risk of Cardiac Arrest?
The European Championship is one of those events that I, like millions of football (soccer) lovers was looking forward to this summer. With the harrowing impact of COVID-19, it had already been postponed by an entire year and its commence was met with great anticipation, hope and excitement.
Joy JohanePublished about a month ago in Cleats
Lolita the Orca
Lolita is a killer whale that has lived at the Miami Seaquarium for more than 50 years. She is over 20 feet (6 meters) in length but lives in the smallest Orca tank in the world - which goes against guidelines. The tank is 20 feet deep and 35 feet wide, barely compensating for a mammal as large as Lolita. Over the years, her captivity has angered many and attempts to get her moved and reunited with her original family through lawsuits and protests have failed. She was captured from Salish Sea Southern Resident Orca Community on August 8 of 1970, where boats, planes and explosives were used to gather and separate calves from their mothers. A total of 80 Orcas were captured that day.
Joy JohanePublished about a month ago in Petlife
The Destructive Nature of Beauty Filters
The existence of Instagram and social media filters has redefined beauty standards across the world. Their existence, whilst meant to be fun has now become something that is harmful and unhealthy. Social media filters are so popular that they have even led to the development of mobile applications dedicated to altering the human face in the very same way filters do. However, their purpose is to make it easier for just about anyone to do this and make it less detectable. Their continued growth and success is a show of their demand, with competitors aiming to outdo one another and push the bounds of what artificial intelligence can do to ensure that the beauty standard is achieved even if it is just in digital form. With celebrities scattered across Instagram, many utilize these filters along with influencers and millions are exposed to this standard without being aware of the deceit behind it.
Joy JohanePublished about a month ago in Blush
Helmets Don't Save Lives
The conversation on concussion prevention within American football cannot be had without discussing why. The right question to ask is not why concussions occur but why it’s important to limit and prevent them. Within the last decade, a multitude of former NFL players who have been diagnosed with a brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) have taken their own lives. This is not a coincidence but a serious reality faced by real people. Does this mean that the long-term effects of repeated concussions can lead to severe brain changes? Evidently, and if so, what exactly are those changes and just how damaging can the effects be?
Joy JohanePublished 6 months ago in Unbalanced- Third Place in Beyond the Vote Challenge
Advocate For The Innocent
The United States has the worlds highest wrongful conviction rate. What is worse is that there are far more false convictions than there are exonerations, creating a justice system that is not only flawed but one that is untrustworthy and unreliable.
Joy JohanePublished 11 months ago in Criminal - Second Place in Like, Share, Subscribe Challenge
Cynthia Gwebu: A woman for ALL women
Within some societies, women are almost always expected to wear and know about makeup, and when one doesn’t, she must be prepared to explain herself. Alicia Keys is a prime example of this. She literally had to sit down and explain why she decided to go makeup free on the cover of her album, Here. As if that wasn’t bad enough, a lot of people were offended and outraged by her choice. Twitter was at it on the night of the 2016 VMAs, where a makeup free, Keys graced the event. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but not all women know or even care for makeup and that's okay. 2 years ago, I was a clueless girl that barely knew anything about this world. I didn’t even own lip gloss, okay? The aspect was foreign and unnecessary to me, but my interest grew. I was captivated and enthralled in learning about myself and journeying through my femininity, and through it all, YouTube was there – that little search engine that would lead to many teachings that molded parts of me.
Joy JohanePublished 12 months ago in Viva
