Tag: trauma
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Toy Soldiers Fighting for Better Lives
Did an important song hit number 1 on this day in the 80s? Could a Latin Pop star tell a better story than a first lady? Was a song able to make an addicted teen pause? Martika and the song Toy Soldiers would be a hard yes. If I’m being honest, 1989 was a blur.…
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A Myth Grew Out Of Gen X: The Alpha Male
The concept of the alpha wolf is well ingrained in the popular wolf literature, at least partly because of my book “The Wolf: Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species,” written in 1968, published in 1970, republished in paperback in 1981, and in print until 2022. Although most of the book’s info is still accurate,…
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Be Excellent to Each Other Instead of Bogus!
The Harvard Institute of Politics did a study on youth fears regarding democracy. IOP Polling Director John Della Volpe feels that there’s a healthy debate raging on the reasons why Millennials and Gen Z are concerned. Politicians, media, big money, and structural barriers like racism and access to education are all contributing factors in the…
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Cyndi Lauper and Other Powerful Women Pass the Torch
As the Era of Cyndi Lauper comes to an end with her final tour she passes the torch to Taylor Swift who is on her Eras tour! When I asked for reader feedback and ideas for Fem Fridays, Gen X Watch reader Charity asked for articles where I project who the future Fem Fridays would…
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Nostalgia in a Modern World: Embracing Meaning
“The Greek word for “return” is nostos. Algos means “suffering.” So, nostalgia is the suffering caused by an unappeased yearning to return.”― Milan Kundera, Ignorance Gen X tends to fall into a trap of judgmental attitudes towards other generations too often. We exaggerate our upbringings as these overly independent coming of age stories that are…
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Jodie Foster is the Freaky Fem Friday a Fan Wanted!
Was there an actor who was part of my childhood? Did she make movies with important statements? When outed without consent did she take back the narrative of her life? Is she mentor to many? And are there lessons we can learn from a mistake? If we are talking about 2 time Oscar Winner Jodie…
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Gen X Conditional Love Trap
One night I received a phone call from a woman I’ve known since we were teens. Her child had recently came out trans. She told me that her child was in a local hospital for a suicide attempt. I pulled my car over and collected my breath as I asked her how she was and…
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Why Fem Friday: Powerful Women’s Stories and Struggles
Why does a guy tell Fem Friday stories? Do the stories matter? And what can we do together? Why Fem Fridays Started After my second Fem Friday, a progressive minister told me that a woman should be writing these stories. I told him that I’m a feminist and intentional representation matters. He then told me…
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Then and Now: Queer Quips
From the hidden corners of underground bars to the vibrant online space of today, queer jokes have evolved alongside changing societal attitudes. Let’s reflect on the transformation of queer humor from an increased understanding of how jokes can harm to celebrating resilience, resistance, and queer joy. THEN: Gay! We’ve all seen the gif. You know…
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Pat Benatar is All Fired Up to Be Invincible
Can a bank teller become a rockstar? Can ideals survive realities of misogyny? Is love a battlefield and is hell for children? Pat Benatar’s life and music says yes. Shine Pat Benatar was raised in a home where female empowerment and equality was the norm. She was taught that women were equal and could accomplish…
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Comments
Thanks for the tour through the bittersweet… Obviously, for everyone that trip back is going to be different even though…
Wow, this article is so well-written! I really enjoyed how you highlighted Tina’s race as a factor that prevented her…