Refinery29 • June 12 2022

Body Checking Is Dangerous – & It's All Over TikTok

On TikTok, body checking videos manifest in myriad ways. Overt body checking trends on the platform can look like a fixation on weight and numbers. (Following the Beat media guidelines , we have not included links to the TikToks here.) Certain trends and sounds actively encourage users to disclose their weight and focus on body shape. In other videos, people accentuate certain areas of the body using filters and baggy clothing before revealing and focusing on a specific area of the body. The spe

Metro • May 28 2022

My mum's confidence was shattered once she started chemo - makeup changed that

Applying her cool ivory No7 foundation with a brush in the bathroom mirror after our shopping spree, my mum had a glint in her eye.

It was one of happiness, excitement and a renewed sense of confidence.

At that moment, I realised the power of makeup was more than just a superficial thing. For my mother with cancer, it was transformative and, in turn, my love for it was reinvigorated.

My mum has always been the strongest person I know and I’m not just saying that because of how she’s handled h

Al Jazeera • May 23 2022

Tory disdain for the poor is fuelling UK’s cost of living crisis

The British working class is struggling because this country is being led by a party whose members have nothing but contempt for the poor.

Britain’s cost of living crisis is spiralling out of control. The rise in food and energy bills is swiftly outstripping the disposable income of thousands of families, forcing them to make impossible choices between heating their homes, buying groceries, or putting aside money for their work commute.

According to the National Institute of Economic and Socia

Al Jazeera • April 27 2022

The basic Tory instinct to silence and demean working class women

The sexist and classist MoS article on Angela Rayner tells us nothing about the deputy Labour leader, but a lot about those governing our country.

On April 23, one of Britain’s most-read newspapers, The Mail on Sunday (MoS), published a sexist and classist attack on Angela Rayner, the deputy leader of the Labour Party.

The article, headlined “Tories accuse Angela Rayner of Basic Instinct ploy to distract Boris”, claimed that Rayner provocatively crosses and uncrosses her legs in the House of C

WalesOnline • April 7 2022

With every holiday home bought, a part of Welsh community and culture dies

With every property purchased and transformed into a holiday home by landlords, a part of the Welsh community and culture dies. For years, Wales has been screaming that we are not for sale.

Criticisms of those from afar profiting from holiday homes and the destruction of Welsh communities have been consistent. But the actions of Love Island star, Dr Alex George, and his purchase of four holiday homes in Pembrokeshire ( which you can read about here ) speak to our own contribution to the dissipa

Empoword Journalism • March 18 2022

Is There A European Refugee Crisis, Or A Racism Crisis?

The Russian invasion currently burning through Ukraine is a war crime; a man-made tragedy. Ukraine is a beautiful country, coloured by its vibrant culture, euphonious language and amiable people. Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine will result in the deaths of thousands of innocent people and the destruction of what was a beautiful country. It has already displaced millions of Ukrainians, with an estimated 2.8 million Ukrainian refugees fleeing to different states within Europe.

Europe has wel

Backbench • March 15 2022

Scotland’s Gender Recognition Act Is Not a Threat to Women

The reform of the Gender Recognition Act (2004) in Scotland caused shockwaves to many so-called feminists on social media in recent days. Furiously blanking through the echo chamber of Twitter were messages and misinformation with J.K. Rowling at the helm.

This was all in the name of “protecting” the rights of society’s most vulnerable, white middle-class women for what they interpret as feminism. You know, the type of liberal feminism that exists only to benefit already privileged white women,

Mercury Magazine • December 21 2021

Travis Scott’s continued attempts to shift blame is abhorrent

Astroworld, a festival meant to be filled with fun and electricity in the air turned into a mass casualty incident, leaving ten dead, hundreds injured and marked as one of the most disastrous occurrences at a music festival since the Woodstock 99’ fiasco.

When lives are lost are needlessly lost, when vulnerable people are hurt, it is second nature for the public to desire justice for those who can no longer claim it for themselves. Surprisingly, after Astroworld, there are still Travis Scott fa

The Indiependent • December 20 2021

'House of Gucci'— Gaga And Driver Shine in Ridley Scott's Latest Stylish Romp: Review : Film Reviews

Mere months after his last film, Ridley Scott is back once again with an all-star cast in ‘House of Gucci’— a story of greed, lust and how the iconic fashion house became a brand worth killing for.

The palpable air of not only 80’s Italian glamour, but also the eternal glamour of the titular luxury fashion house is felt all throughout House of Gucci. Director Ridley Scott successfully coordinates every aspect of the film, from his casting, direction decisions, and music choices to create a cohe

Candid Orange • December 20 2021

The price of sustainability: Whose responsibility is it to save the planet?

In a world that’s warming by the day, the world’s most powerful leaders scrambled together at COP26 to tackle climate change. November 2021 saw the UK host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Glasgow with One goal in mind: to ensure global temperatures do not continue to rise beyond the threshold of 1.5 degrees above preindustrial levels.

The effects of climate change have become increasingly more apparent in recent years – from catastrophic bushfires in Australia to the wil

The Meridian • October 21 2021

Ethnonationalism: One of Wales' Biggest Threats

There is a narrative that is often promoted in Wales that racism doesn’t exist; we are England’s more friendly neighbour. Although Wales is a country full of culture, history and picturesque views, it is undeniable that there are systemic issues regarding race and ethnicity. Denial of this allows these issues to continue within our communities. As Dr Bethan Harries states “This awkward truth must be acknowledged if the country is to make real progress in redressing racism and inequalities.”

Redaction Report • October 18 2021

Justice remains elusive for Indigenous Canadians

CANADA is often perceived as a utopian nation – especially compared to its southern neighbour.

But the nation still has issues that persist from its colonial past and epic failures in its decolonisation process.

These have materialised as epidemic levels of violence against Indigenous women and girls – creating an issue so severe it has been labelled a genocide by the UN Human Rights Office.

As of 2018, Indigenous women were three times more likely to experience violence compared to their whi

Backbench • October 16 2021

Welsh Conservatives should work on punctuality, rather than cast blame elsewhere

The suggestion of vaccine passports and COVID passes have enraged the anti-vaccine population across Britain. Many feel that these sorts of passes have the potential to infringe on their rights to medical confidentiality. Although, in the post-lockdown age they are considered necessary by some to control the virus that has killed nearly 5 million worldwide over the short span of two years.

Downing Street decided to drop their plans of vaccine passports for those in England after receiving heavy

Mercury Magazine • October 14 2021

Is Nicki Minaj destroying her legacy?

“Although hardcore Barbz are here to stay, those who are casual fans and listeners are starting to become turned off by her recent behaviour. She was not only losing followers on Twitter dropping to under 23 million, but she has also limited comments and most of the general public have been voicing dismay over her recent controversial actions across TikTok and Twitter. Her recent antagonistic behaviour is a real threat to the legacy which she worked hard for a decade of her life building. Surprisingly, her PR team hasn’t decided to take control or advise her to take a hiatus from social media to avoid more controversy to avoid what is left of her legacy crumbling away further.”

The Boar • June 29 2021

Police and the Capitol riots: the Republican Party is a part of the insurrectionist mob

The Black Lives Matter Movement brought a direct spotlight on the institutional racism, corruption, and abuse of power within the American police force. The killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, by active police officers, sent reverberations throughout society which was felt globally. With this came calls to defund the police service and invest the money elsewhere within society to aid in building communities, bettering education to provide more opportunities for young people. Many local

The Boar • May 26 2021

Britain is institutionally racist. No report can negate that

In March, Downing Street and The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities published a report. It was met with much criticism, as the report itself minimises institutional racism, saying that there was no evidence. Instead, it shifted the blame to factors such as individual responsibility and family background.

This section of the report faced particular outrage. Many academics stated that the report itself “cherrypick[ed]” information to justify pre-determined answers, and was overall of low q

The Boar • March 25 2021

The Holyrood inquiry could permanently damage Scottish independence

The ongoing dispute between Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond is one of the most controversial in Holyrood history. Alex Salmond, the previous First Minister of the Scottish Parliament and leader of the Scottish National Party, and his successor Nicola Sturgeon were initially a power duo in the pursuit of Scottish Independence.

The current inquiry concerns the mishandling of harassment claims which were presented against Alex Salmond by the Scottish Government.

The Boar • March 23 2021

The British government have failed NHS workers

The British Government have continued to fail NHS workers as many called for a raise in their wages instead of the empty gestures of clapping from the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. Other members of their cabinet such as the Health Secretary Matt Hancock expressed that a raise for NHS staff would be introduced however he expressed that a pay increase would need to reflect the economic circumstance of the country.

The Boar • February 23 2021

Grenfell survivors are yet to receive justice

On 14 June 2017, seventy-two were killed in the fire that destroyed Grenfell Tower. The rapid speed of the fire was found to be caused by the highly flammable cladding that was sold to the builders of the tower by the company Arconic. Multiple emails have been found from Deborah French, Arconics’ UK sales manager, attempting to “push” flammable cladding on housing projects like Grenfell despite her knowledge that the cladding had a “bad behaviour” in fires. Arconic and Ms French still thought it

The Boar • February 8 2021

Gavin Williamson should be ashamed of his proposed higher education policies

The government has recently announced intentions for a “lifelong loan entitlement” as part of its new skills white paper for England. This is intended for further education study, but it is anticipated that the Treasury will stubbornly oppose the idea altogether.

The white paper claims that the new loan entitlement will be implemented in 2025 and will “transform the funding system”, making it easier and more accessible to get a loan for higher education courses for the duration of a university degree.