“No-Shave November” reflects gendered shaving norms

“No-Shave November” is more than just a time of year where beards and hairy legs become more socially acceptable—it has the potential to be a conversation starter for many issues, such as men’s health and the pervasive shaving norms that exist in our society alike. Bringing awareness to male-specific illnesses—like testicular or prostate cancer—is the largely unreferenced reason behind No-Shave. The official movement began as a product of a Chicago family who lost father and husband Matthew Hill to colon cancer in November of 2007. As a result, the No-Shave November organization encouraged people to donate the money that they would have spent on shaving products to a cancer research charity of their choice.

The spirit of No-Shave exists outside of the United States, too. Overseas in Australia and parts of Europe, people participate in “Movember.” Founded in 2003 by the Movember Foundation, the focus of this group is to grow a notable, well-groomed mustache throughout November. The official rules exclude the growing of beards and goatees, unlike No-Shave.

The emphasis on facial hair is great for those who can grow it. But what about those who cannot, including—but not limited to—women?

Movember suggests that persons unable to participate—known as “Mo Sistas”—ask other participants about their mustaches, thus opening the conversations about men’s health issues. No-Shave November, which has less regulations and rules than Movember, is more inclusive.

“The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free,” according to the No-Shave website. There is a lack of a gender focus, however, unlike Movember.

As a result, the meaning of “hair” is left up to the No-Shave participants themselves. While many apply this definition to their beards, people also apply it to the entirety of their body—including their genitals.

Herein lies the discussion about gendered shaving norms that No-Shave can provide. Society views male body hair as natural—but the same cannot be said of women. When women join No-Shave, they are often met with disgust from the people in their lives, males and females alike. Despite our society’s obsession with hairless skin being a relatively new phenomenon, the thought of a hairy woman still repulses some people.

There is no time more perfect than November—when body hair stands center stage—to address this disparity. The controversy continues from leg hair to genital hair. Some people see hair in that area as natural on both men and women, and some see it as dirty or unappealing. While it tends to be seen as a female-centric issue, men experience discrimination too, and some people believe they can dictate how their partners shave “downstairs.”

No matter your preference, it isn’t difficult to agree that body hair or lack thereof remains a personal choice: during November and every other time of year. No one should feel that their bodily choices are anyone else’s business but their own.

Celebrate No-Shave with an air of inclusivity. Take time to educate yourself and above all else remember what it really stands for—beyond your retired razor.

Second Chance Prom provides LGBTQ+ friendly dance experience

The Geneseo Pride Alliance held their annual Second Chance Prom in the Knight Spot on Saturday Oct. 22. Working alongside Geneseo Late Knight to bring the event to life, the group decked out the room with balloons, streamers and other classic prom decorations to give attendees the feeling of stepping into their prom night—with a few changes.

It is no secret that prom is considered a quintessential American experience and that there are high stakes involved—stakes that pressure the average teenager to carry prom out successfully—from finding the perfect dress to having the perfect slow dance. In American culture, prom is supposed to generate memories that one will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Adults and teenagers alike even see it as a threshold to coming-of-age.

But for some Geneseo students, the prom experience was imperfect from the start. Not everyone had the opportunity to take the person they wanted to prom because that person was the same gender or because at the time there was someone out there for them that they simply hadn’t met yet. Some students skipped their proms to circumvent the pressure that came along with the event or were uncomfortable with attending because they had to dress a certain way. Others simply couldn’t afford it.

Second Chance Prom exists to make these issues null and void and to give students the chance to reclaim their prom in whatever manner they see fit. Additionally, free admission and a GLK card stamp also prompted students to come.

Prom goers could bring any partner or none at all. Attire ranged from jeans to beautifully bedazzled dresses. Everyone was considered “prom royalty” and was provided with sashes that affirmed them as so. People gathered in rings to toss balloons and to erupt into wild dancing. The Macarena was just as acceptable as modern “club” dance moves.

There was no expectation for how students should act, apart from having respect to one another. “Look around,” Pride Alliance president history major sophomore Danny Kahl said. “Everyone is having so much fun without the pressure of ‘real prom.’ Everyone can just be themselves.”

Pride defines their meetings by the safety that they provide to students. This very purpose inspired the dance. Much like the meetings themselves, the Second Chance Prom was held not just for LGBTQ+ students, but also for students of any gender and sexuality. The diversity of the attendees reflected this idea.

“Pride holds a lot of importance to me,” chemistry and education major junior Danielle Weaver said. “But above all else, it is a place for me and many others to go to feel welcomed.”

“Many people, myself included, have found a family and entourage that I might not have found elsewhere,” Pride Alliance editorial board member pre-biology major sophomore Austin Ainsworth said.

Geneseo students who haven’t attended a Pride meeting could feel the club’s mission through the energy of the dance. Everyone was united by a single cause that cannot be defined through our society’s narrow confines of coming-of-age, gender or sexuality—to retake prom in a way that our high schools would have never dreamed of.

A guide to safe role-play this Halloween

Autumn provides a great time not only for spicing up one’s coffee, but also one’s sex life. With the ubiquitous availability of costumes, October allows for the popular addition of role-play into many couples’ intercourse repertoires. For the curious, role-play is a type of sexual interaction in which persons take on a “role” outside of themselves, such as a police officer or a teacher. They engage in intercourse using these roles to enhance their experience. A police officer might “arrest” their partner, or a teacher might “punish” their partner sexually. It allows people to get creative and to act on fantasies that regular sex may not fulfill. While costumes aren’t a requirement, they add excitement and an alternate reality to the bedroom.

For some who entertain the thought of role-play, it dies as just that: a thought. Perhaps it is not witches and the bogeyman that scare us, but admitting to our partner that we are interested in something outside of our sexual norms.

If you are afraid of bringing up role-play to your partner, consider that you do not have to immediately come out and admit your interest. You can take small steps to breach the subject, such as mentioning that they would look attractive in a certain costume or that you find a particular role attractive. You know your partner best, so tailor your “baby steps” to their personality and temperament.

Eventually, though, you must mention your interest in role-play to your partner if you want to partake in it. Do not take their curiosity as consent. When it comes to sex, communication is paramount.

If you and your partner agree that role-play is something you would be interested in, but do not know how to progress, then you can talk about what types of situations you would potentially be interested in. This creates a great opportunity to learn about the other person more intimately.

You can even make a date out of your interest in role-play by going to a Halloween store together. If you’re on a tight budget, consider visiting stores post-Halloween to score clearance costumes.

Once you have your costumes, set up boundaries with your partner. Discussing how far you are willing to go and what is acceptable is vital to creating a safe, enjoyable experience. Safe words, phrases or signal words said during sex—which will indicate that a person isn’t comfortable with the current situation and wants it to stop—are popular techniques used to ensure a comfortable environment. Consider the green, yellow, red system. Green represents consent to the situation, yellow denotes a warning to proceed with caution and red symbolizes a demand to stop.

Additionally, research should be done on how to safely perform riskier sexual acts—such as bondage or choking—if you plan to incorporate them into your role-play. You don’t want to unintentionally injure your partner or make the situation uncomfortable.

Role-play can be a healthy way to navigate the previously unexplored fantasies that you and your partner have. It can change the entire chemistry of a sexual experience. Take it upon yourself to expose yourself to this world of sexual interaction: you might be surprised by what you discover.

WAC Open Mic Night offers inviting platform to speak out

Geneseo’s Women’s Action Coalition hosted their third annual Open Mic Night on Sunday Oct. 16 in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Students were encouraged to use the opportunity to vent their concerns about modern society in front of an accepting audience. “The [problem with] domestic violence is that it’s kept quiet,” English major sophomore and WAC member Jennifer Galvao said. “An open mic is an opportunity to speak out.”

Participants ranged from poets to musicians. Some wrote their own music for their performance, such as communication major junior Allison Altschiller. Her songs “Love Song,” “Black and White” and “Losing You” all carried a personal edge that made the audience sway and smile alongside her otherwise dour lyrics.

Other participants performed covers, including freshman Finn Jackson. His combination of guitar and raspy vocals shined in his renditions of Vance Joy’s “Riptide” and Wilco’s “I am Trying to Break Your Heart.”

The night’s poets were just as impressive. Political science major sophomore Emily Arpino approached the microphone apprehensively. “No matter how bad this is, you better applaud,” she said into the microphone, jokingly. As she recited her poem, every audience member could feel the raw passion behind her words.

History major sophomore Simone Bouchey spoke next. Her poem discussed society’s view of femininity, equating it with peeling an orange. Men who are too impatient and hungry will damage the skin of the orange while unwrapping it, whereas a man who takes their time and is gentle will be met with a glowing, undamaged orange.

In addition, WAC had numerous activities for audience members when the performers took breaks. One such activity was submissions for a WAC “zine,” where participants took old newspaper, cut out buzzwords and glued them onto white paper to create art that will later be used as pages of the zine. Hand drawn art accompanied many of the repurposed phrases.

One participant cut out a picture of First Lady Michelle Obama’s face and surrounded it with newspaper clippings reading, “Thank you.” Another read, “When will you learn that it’s not us versus them, but ourselves versus ourselves,” which was made entirely out of advertisements. These pictures will be published and distributed by WAC in the future.

Another table had arts and crafts made by WAC editorial board members. These included purple ribbons, the official symbol of Domestic Violence Awareness month. There were also hand-woven chokers that boasted affirmative statements such as, “Not yours,” embodying the raw strength that Open Mic Night hoped to inspire.

And inspire, it did. Open Mic Night brought out the best in Geneseo students, as everyone bonded over shared words and shared experiences.

“Night at the Gatsby” demonstrates, educates art of swing dance

The spirit of swing lived on in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom on Friday Sept. 30. Geneseo’s Swing Dance Club hosted their “Night at the Gatsby” event in partnership with Geneseo Late Knight to create an affair that was both fun and instructional. Students took to the floor as philosophy major senior Mo Hossain—president of the Swing Club—instructed participants on the basics of swing dance. Slowly, the room began to sway and swivel to the beat of the live instrumental band.

The rest of the club’s members strategically scattered themselves across the length of the ballroom for the stragglers and the unsure. They approached those who were not dancing, offering encouragement. Some members even extended their hands, willing to give the doubtful a one-on-one lesson.

Despite leading the group, Hossain practiced this kindness with a few wall-huggers. His very presence was supportive enough for many of his pupils to encourage one of their own friends onto the dance floor. Students who entered the room nervous about their lack of experience exited with a sense of confidence.

“I liked how it was low pressure,” English major freshman Merrin Sardi said. “They were very calm in explaining how to do the dances.”

Hossain felt incomplete at Geneseo before starting to swing dance. “I started dancing because I felt like I was missing something in my college experience,” he said. “Dancing and jazz gave that to me. I hope that other people can find what they’re looking for in their college experience. I’ll be even happier if they discover swing for themselves.”

While swing dance elicits grand images of Gatsby parties and lively flappers, it is actually a broad term that encompasses an assortment of partner dances based off of the jazz music that dominated from the 1920s-40s. During this “big band” era, dances such as the Lindy Hop and the Balboa became popular. The deft movements that they required attracted younger dancers, and they continue to draw in an audience to this day.

Almost as impressive as their dancing were the outfits students donned for the event. While many opted for their daily wardrobe, a choice that did not hinder their dancing in the least, others channeled the styles of the 20s for the night. Students wore jeweled headbands that dangled in front of loose hair or decorated themselves with a single massive feather to mimic the image of a typical flapper. Some even wore flapper dresses with dangles, beads and lace as they flew freely around the dance floor.

The Swing Dance Club created a magical night and lent students a new talent. “Night at the Gatsby” provided a great way to get in the “swing” of things for this year’s set of Late Knight events.

Iconic 90’s style thrives through thrifting

As high fashion continues to evolve and push boundaries, thrift stores remain firmly—yet stylishly—in the past. While Kylie Jenner shocks the fashion world with jeans sliced opened over her butt, some toddler’s creation already beat her to the punch, with a pair of safety scissor-mauled boyfriend jeans sitting resolutely on the clearance rack. After all, one person’s trash is another one’s treasure.

And trash, there is. To the unobserving eye, thrift stores tend to showcase a chaotic pit of shirts advertising long-finished family reunions and mom jeans—and not the flattering kind. This reputation makes thrifting—the act of shopping at thrift stores—seem like the poor man’s option. Some view these establishments as pitiful—if not occasionally handy for tax returns—and last resorts for those who couldn’t afford the mall.

As time changes, so do attitudes. As wide-eyed millennials, we have begun to stare longingly back at the 90s, even if some of us don’t necessarily remember them. We watched reruns of “Clarissa Explains it All” or “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”; we felt at home with the slightly fuzzy lull that VHS tapes and outdated filming equipment in tandem brought to older television shows.

In these 90s sitcoms, the clothes remain as some of the most noteworthy aspects. Fashion felt more loud and outrageous, whether it was with Clarissa Darling’s overlapping patterns and ridiculous hats or Will Smith’s iconic oversized brightly colored shirts and pants.

Even the subtler style of clean shirts and high rise jeans worn in other 90s television hits such as “Beverly Hills 90210” appeals to millennials. These understated trends have a certain look that millennials who spent the 90s sucking on their pacifiers instantly feel drawn to. Fashion seemed to be based more around layering cool brands and styles rather than focusing your outfit on one or two, as we do today.

Entering the thrift store world, one doesn’t exactly go looking for brands like Versace. The one thing that thrifting does, however, is act like a sand trap for the times of yore. If VHS tapes and wired phones can find their way to the thrifting complex every day, it should be no surprise that the clothing racks haven’t escaped the same fate.

Thrifting has thus made its way into the mainstream millennial’s shopping circuit. The same fascination that was popular in the 90s era has infected our fashion taste, too. From crop tops and scrunchies to gel shoes and color-blocked windbreakers, many different styles from the 90s are fair game for today’s current fashion trends. Clothing stores such as Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 tried imitating these styles, but nothing quite lives up to the original—which you can get for a mere $5 at Goodwill.

The treasure hunting aspect absent from most mainstream department stores plays a role in the fun of searching for the perfect look, as well. Perhaps you may even have the same luck in Geneseo’s very own Goodwill—it’s certainly worth a shot.

Let’s talk about sex...toys

Millions of people use sex toys, most of whom do not classify themselves as “sexual gurus” or “deviants.” According to 2016 data research by Statistic Brain, sex toys are a $15 billion industry. Contrary to some peoples’ beliefs, it is completely normal to be interested in using sex toys for pleasure. For 18 years of my life, the sex shop next to the local bagel store remained a constant. It never moved, never modernized. The old sign that simply read “Adult”—one must admire their tact—never went out, even through Hurricane Sandy. It survived two separate drunk driving incidents in which the impaired driver sailed through the shopping center it called home. I questioned it as a child.

But when I hit puberty, those questions morphed into a singular judgment—the customers of this sex shop were freaks. How dare they blatantly buy dildos and strap-ons? How dare they be so confident? And how dare I not be one of them?

Only after years of wrongly viewing human sexuality as a male-dominated sphere did I begin to understand the appeal of sex toys. When I recognized that sex had the power to be a positive force in a person’s life, my foolishness left me feeling ashamed of how judgmental I was.

I then decided that those same sex toys I once saw as delinquent were for those who embraced sexuality, lived it and breathed it. I figured I was just not one of those people and that I would forever stay on the outside looking in on their world over a poppy seed bagel.

In truth, mystery shouldn’t surround toys—especially with the convenience of the Internet. Literally anyone can buy and use any toy that their heart desires, all only a click away on Amazon. Anyone who wishes to become educated on the matter can with a simple Google search, where one will find many informative articles—I suggest “The Shame Free Guide to Buying a Sex Toy” published by the Huffington Post.

Additionally, toys do not have to be used alone or, in other words, they should not be considered something you use when you can’t get a date. While you should not be embarrassed to use a toy when single, toys aren’t restricted to solo use.

Talk to your partner. If they’re concerned about not sexually satisfying you enough, assure them that a toy cannot give affection or even come close to replacing a human—it just heightens the experience.

You might be surprised what you learn from one another. And if you are alone there’s no harm in amplifying your one-on-one time. Never feel ashamed for loving your own body. It’s the only one you’ve got—so make it happy.