Halloween is approaching, and as much fun as this holiday can be it’s also the perfect occasion and excuse for certain individuals to showcase their ignorance. Yes, I am talking about cultural appropriation.

Not many of us realise how important of an issue this is, and how recurrently we tend to forget about it when it comes to choosing a “spooky” and “fashionable” costume. Your favourite Disney character may be Mulan, you might love the traditional gypsy clothing or you may even admire Frida Kahlo’s art but this will never be enough to appropriate their culture for a day and leave behind their history and context.

Frida Kahlo, and Beyoncé dressed Frida Kahlo images via Nickolas Murray and Twitter

I, as a black person, have entertained plenty of debates with people who don’t understand why cultural appropriation is wrong, and with the excuse of globalisation believe that we should all have the right to adopt the culture of others. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all pro multiculturalism and learning about other social realities besides our own, but sadly this isn’t it. A Halloween costume of a slave is nowhere near educational nor respectful towards the African culture, nor a Pocahontas one towards the Native American one. Dressing up as a culture that has been or still is oppressed is an offensive act, especially if you do it for the sake of having fun. There’s plenty of history and events you’re marginalising by doing so, you’re taking on a “character” for a day and then going back to your rather privileged reality, often, without even informing yourself on the culture you decided to “represent”.

A shocking example is Percem Akin’s 2017 costume, the known makeup artist though that a slave costume was a great idea for this holiday. Surprise, it’s not. The post and video, that

have since been removed, were captioned “Color and Pain”, but let’s call it what it is; a black face. No matter how beautiful you may consider black women, doing a black face is not the right way to demonstrate it. At the end of the day, Akin gets to wash off her makeup, and go back to her own identity and comfortable ignorance. However the real marginalised groups can’t simply wash off the years of suffering systematic and historical oppression. I hope you’re getting the point.

The features that many decide to adopt for a day or two are the same ones that non-white communities have been judged for over the years. The box braids everyone is loving at the moment have always been a protective hairstyle for black women and a symbol of their culture, yet they’ve been called “unprofessional” and “messy” for going to school or work with it. So for them to become fashionable now, for the simple fact of a white influencer wearing them without even knowing nor informing her audience on their history seems a bit unfair to us.

Next time we start discussing and choosing our Halloween costumes let’s be more responsible, let’s take into account other aspects besides looking good and getting that Instagram worthy picture. Because Halloween lasts for a day, but our negligence and careless actions have a long-term impact, not only on who we are but on our society as a whole. There are plenty of costume ideas out there, that are much more scary and appropriate than the ones we’ve mentioned previously, we just need the right will and a bit more of creativity, but we’re certain that we can respectfully celebrate Halloween without the slave look.

Words by Chiara Ferrari

The post Cultural Appropriating On Halloween and Everything That’s Wrong With the Pocahontas Costume appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Big, small, round or pointy; whether you love your boobs, or you are learning to appreciate them – looking after them is imperative. This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month – you’ve probably heard of it; you might even know someone personally who has been affected by breast cancer but truthfully when was the last time you checked your breasts? Despite 50% of the population owning a pair of boobs, speaking about checking them remains a dangerous taboo. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chance of successful treatment and therefore, monthly boob checks should be an uncompromisable step in everyone’s health and self-care routine.

Bodies, specifically women’s bodies, are often stigmatised by society. We face it all; we are sexualised, pressured to look a certain way by the media, and told from a young age not to discuss our natural bodily changes including periods, sex and yes, boobs. So, it is no wonder breast health is often overlooked as just another thing women should handle in private. Thanks to charities such as Coppafeel, this outdated mindset is finally changing.

Checking your boobs for the first time can be daunting and this is largely due to the fear of the unknown that surrounds it. It is important to remember that 9 out of 10 breast lumps are not cancerous but taking the time to self-examine your breasts could be life-saving. Breast cancer survival is improving every year in the UK, doubling in the past 40 years. This is due to a range of improvements in treatment, care and screening but the most important factor that remains is earlier detection and faster diagnosis.

A Guide to Check Your Boobs – What Do I Look for?

Anyone can check their breasts themselves and it only takes a few minutes. Don’t be anxious to have a proper squeeze and familiarise yourself with what your own ‘normal’ feels like. Boobs do naturally change over our lifetimes but getting to know your own body is the first step in noticing what is ‘normal’ for you, this can be different for everyone.Your comfort should be the main priority here; you may prefer lying down, standing in front of a mirror, or doing it in the shower. There is no wrong method as long as you are taking the time to check in with your body.

The main things to examine are:

1. 1) A change in shape or size.

2. 2) Redness or rash.

3. 3) Lumps (both visible and under the skin).

4. 4) A change in skin texture or thickness.

5. 5) A change in nipple appearance (particularly inverted nipples).

6. 6) Dimpling or puckering of the breast.

7. 7) Bloody discharge.

8. 8) Constant pain in the breast or the armpit.

1) A change in shape or size.

2) Redness or rash.

3) Lumps (both visible and under the skin).

4) A change in skin texture or thickness.

5) A change in nipple appearance (particularly inverted nipples).

6) Dimpling or puckering of the breast.

7) Bloody discharge.

8) Constant pain in the breast or the armpit.

Note: it is important to inspect the whole breast, the armpits too and up to the collarbone.

Doing this simple routine each month will help you stay on top of any changes and enable you to act quickly if anything looks or feels unusual.

Yes, Men Get Breast Cancer Too

Everybody has breast tissue and consequently, breast cancer can affect everyone. While less common than in women, up to 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK. Many diagnoses go undetected because it is not widely known that men can get breast cancer too but checking our chest region should be a monthly practice for everyone. The most common symptom to keep track of are; lumps on the chest area that are often painless. Other things to keep a note of include – discharge, ulcers, swelling, and a change in nipple appearance.

Who Can I Talk to?

Facing cancer, or a potential diagnosis can feel incredibly lonely. It is very easy to feel as if no one knows how you are feeling at all. The sympathetic looks, while meaning well – don’t typically offer much reassurance for anyone navigating such an unknown disease. First, you must know you are not alone in this. In fact, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK and 1 in 8 women will develop the disease at one point in their life.

If you have symptoms or feel anxious about anything, making an appointment with your GP is the first step. Bring a loved one with you or go alone if you prefer. At a time where everything can feel so uncertain, it helps to remember you still have control of your surroundings.

The GP may refer you to a Breast Clinic. Breast Cancer Now explains what can be expected from an appointment at the clinic including a mammogram, ultrasound scan, core biopsy, and fine-needle aspiration. These tests may initially sound frightening, but all the clinic staff are extremely friendly and will do their absolute most to make you feel comfortable during the appointment.

There are charities working daily to dismantle the stigma surrounding breast cancer and offering their support to those navigating a diagnosis either personally or through a loved one.

Breast Cancer Now is a research and care charity providing support for anyone affected bybreast cancer. They are committed to helping individuals not just through treatment butinto the future as well. They operate a free helpline on 0808 800 6000 which allows callers to talk to professional breast care nurses.

CoppaFeel is another name you’ve likely heard of who are making extreme moves in dismantling the stigma surrounding breast examinations. Coppafeel specialise in educating individuals in a fun and approachable way which in turn, is normalising breast and pec checking for everyone. They even offer a handy service that sends text reminders to check your boobs each month.

COVID-19 has heavily impacted developments in cancer research this year but Breast Cancer Haven is fighting to support patients despite the climate. They are running free online classes including yoga and support sessions, which are hosted by health care professionals. They are easily accessible from remote locations, meaning the people who need support are getting it no matter what.

In such an uncertain world, it is very easy to shy away from our health and postpone checking our bodies out of fear, silenced by the noise of everyday life. But this October, it is time to commit to our breast health for once and for all. These are our bodies and we need to take the time to care for them. Remember to have a squeeze and stay safe.

Words by Yasmin Norvill

Graphics by Frances Scott

The post Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Reducing the Stigma and the Importance of Self-Checking appeared first on Voir Fashion.

On the 4th of August, one of the biggest catastrophes for Lebanon occurred.

A warehouse explosion killed over 100 people and injured over 4000 in Beirut’s port district. Videos that were shared on social media and news sites show the gravity of the blast and the devastation caused by it, bodies are still being found and the city remains in ruins.

The explosion not only caused destruction but deteriorated the state of a country that has been suffering for years and years. Lebanon has been facing one of the worst economic crises since the civil war that ended in 1990, it’s suffering the social and economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, and its political landscape is stained by corruption and instability.

Eyewitnesses compared the explosion to a war alarm and a flash-back to the bombings of 2006, explaining the realities that the Lebanese community has faced and continues to. The path to recovery from this catastrophe is a difficult one that will require support from the entire world, here are ways in which we can all help:

Raising Awareness

Beirut Was in a Huge Economic Crisis — Then the Explosion Hit via Vice News

Raising awareness on the occurred and providing everyone in your surroundings with accurate and useful information can help, even more, than you may think. It can help you and others to be educated about the situation, it can lead you to money donations or social and moral contributions, it can even directly help inform the Lebanese people of organizations and local people that are willing to support them with shelter and food.

But do not confuse an Instagram post with raising awareness. Although the videos and images have already gone viral, sharing them on your story with a hashtag just isn’t enough. We’re talking about a devastated community, real people that have been broken down and need a serious contribution that goes beyond a screen. So share useful links like petitions, share accurate data, and educate yourself with the context and history of the country without treating this as a singular event.

Donations

We should not only use our own knowledge to raise awareness but also take advantage of all resources and contribute with donations, who are dedicating their platforms to raise funds to help the people recover from the devastating effects to their communities.

Here are the Organisation’s and Charities to donate to:

Impact Lebanon, a non-profit organisation that started a JustGiving relief fund.

Lebanese Red Cross, acts as the main provider of ambulances in the countryAUBMC, Caring for the people of Lebanon

Or you can donate to one of the many ​organisations and funds​ shared by local activists and NGOs.

Direct action

If you are located in Lebanon or know people that reside in the country or nearby, who haven’t been affected or injured by the blast, volunteer and involve everyone else who can to do the same. There are plenty of volunteering opportunities, organisations that have organised a front line such as the ​Lebanese Red Cross​.

Another direct way to help is through blood donations, giving blood to the ones who need it is vital due to the increased demand of blood transfusions if you are in Lebanon and have the possibility to donate. ​

Here​ you can find more information on the procedure and the possible places in need​. Words by Chiara Ferrari

Images from Official Sites

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