“Welcome to the September edition of the OSA JEDI Newsletter, which aims to spotlight things in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion! This month, the HS Telegraph is highlighting the development of historical beauty standards, and the Girls Place affinity group on campus.” --The Telegraph Staff
A Safe Space For Young Women On Campus -- Ava Rukavina
It’s important that female-identifying students have a place to feel heard and seen at school. In her article, Creating a Safe Space for Highschool Girls, Sarahí Monterrey writes, “It’s no secret that the teenage years are a critical stage in life in which young people need a great deal of guidance and support. As a high school teacher, I noticed that in particular, many girls in my school were dealing with low self-esteem, depression, and, frankly, a lot of drama.” Luckily for us, Oakland School for the Arts has just the thing.
The Girls Place is an affinity group here at OSA. In the words of Jordan Dinkins, one of the students running the club, “[it’s] meant to be a safe space for girls or anyone who is interested in learning about women's issues. We want it to be a successful club that'll be able to help kids who have not been educated about our bodies.”
Dinkins &Reyhana Shephard are currently taking steps to get the group up and running. Meetings will be held in room 315 Tuesdays at Lunch. Unfortunately though, they haven’t started yet, as very few people know about the space. The two students have been preparing for the role that they’ll be playing in the club. Dinkins says, “Responsibilities that come with running [The Girls Place] are basically turning our minds into a teacher's mind. We need to be able to help people that are in need of education.”
They hope that more people hear about The Girls Place so they can get started. If being a part of this space sounds interesting to you, or anyone you might know, spread the word.
“We honestly just hope people find our club fun and also a way of learning things they might have not known before,” says Dinkins. “We are here to help!”
It’s important that female-identifying students have a place to feel heard and seen at school. In her article, Creating a Safe Space for Highschool Girls, Sarahí Monterrey writes, “It’s no secret that the teenage years are a critical stage in life in which young people need a great deal of guidance and support. As a high school teacher, I noticed that in particular, many girls in my school were dealing with low self-esteem, depression, and, frankly, a lot of drama.” Luckily for us, Oakland School for the Arts has just the thing.
The Girls Place is an affinity group here at OSA. In the words of Jordan Dinkins, one of the students running the club, “[it’s] meant to be a safe space for girls or anyone who is interested in learning about women's issues. We want it to be a successful club that'll be able to help kids who have not been educated about our bodies.”
Dinkins &Reyhana Shephard are currently taking steps to get the group up and running. Meetings will be held in room 315 Tuesdays at Lunch. Unfortunately though, they haven’t started yet, as very few people know about the space. The two students have been preparing for the role that they’ll be playing in the club. Dinkins says, “Responsibilities that come with running [The Girls Place] are basically turning our minds into a teacher's mind. We need to be able to help people that are in need of education.”
They hope that more people hear about The Girls Place so they can get started. If being a part of this space sounds interesting to you, or anyone you might know, spread the word.
“We honestly just hope people find our club fun and also a way of learning things they might have not known before,” says Dinkins. “We are here to help!”
***
Beauty Standards Of The Victorian Era -- Orion Songster
Beauty Standards Of The Victorian Era -- Orion Songster
Throughout the Victorian era, extremities were everything–except of course for the face and skin. Extravagant hairstyles with braids and ringlets were countered by pale unmarked skin. Tight corsets contrasting large hips and breasts stood out against the “no-makeup” makeup look.
The era lasted from 1837-1901, when Queen Victoria ruled. She was idolized, everyone wanted to look like her. People tried to achieve her translucent skin with arsenic (a very dangerous chemical). Queen Victoria believed that makeup was a horrid thing, only for actors and prostitutes, so people began wearing barely any. Tuberculosis also had a physical effect that was similar to the ideal look at the time, and so many people died untreated for it during that era.
Women’s body standards of the Victorian era were impossible, to say the least. Although at the start they used simple corsets, soon ones that tightened waists to extreme amounts were popularized. They used padding in their hips and bust to create more illusion of an hourglass figure. This was not just a trend for women, men also wore corsets to slim their waists, although not as extreme.
The era lasted from 1837-1901, when Queen Victoria ruled. She was idolized, everyone wanted to look like her. People tried to achieve her translucent skin with arsenic (a very dangerous chemical). Queen Victoria believed that makeup was a horrid thing, only for actors and prostitutes, so people began wearing barely any. Tuberculosis also had a physical effect that was similar to the ideal look at the time, and so many people died untreated for it during that era.
Women’s body standards of the Victorian era were impossible, to say the least. Although at the start they used simple corsets, soon ones that tightened waists to extreme amounts were popularized. They used padding in their hips and bust to create more illusion of an hourglass figure. This was not just a trend for women, men also wore corsets to slim their waists, although not as extreme.
The Fashion of the Roaring 20’s -- Vivien Mansbach
The roaring ‘20s era was revolutionary for not only body norms but fashion as well. Women’s standards favored an androgynous, extremely thin figure, and very flat chest. The silhouette of the flapper dress made it easier to dress in a style that mimicked high fashion, while still being affordable.
For men, lines became blurred in terms of how they expressed gender. It can be said that the Roaring 20’s were the beginning of androgyny in the mainstream, and also the beginning of fashion trends that have carried over to today, like wool cardigans for both genders, fitted suits and fine jewelry for men, the Clara Bow cupid’s bow lips, and fedoras.
Though the Roaring ‘20s are often referred to as the ‘age of freedom,’ no beauty or body standard is ever truly free for everyone. Women who weren’t as thin as the standard required were forced to wear the primitive and painful reducers, and men who couldn’t afford the sleek look of the tailored suit were looked down upon. The flapper style was affordable for women, but the men’s standard truly put the wealthy on a pedestal.
The roaring ‘20s era was revolutionary for not only body norms but fashion as well. Women’s standards favored an androgynous, extremely thin figure, and very flat chest. The silhouette of the flapper dress made it easier to dress in a style that mimicked high fashion, while still being affordable.
For men, lines became blurred in terms of how they expressed gender. It can be said that the Roaring 20’s were the beginning of androgyny in the mainstream, and also the beginning of fashion trends that have carried over to today, like wool cardigans for both genders, fitted suits and fine jewelry for men, the Clara Bow cupid’s bow lips, and fedoras.
Though the Roaring ‘20s are often referred to as the ‘age of freedom,’ no beauty or body standard is ever truly free for everyone. Women who weren’t as thin as the standard required were forced to wear the primitive and painful reducers, and men who couldn’t afford the sleek look of the tailored suit were looked down upon. The flapper style was affordable for women, but the men’s standard truly put the wealthy on a pedestal.
