Capitalism is the Abusive Relationship We Can’t Leave

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By Max Sheffield-Baird
Art by Whitney Young

CW: DV, childhood bullying, SA, specifically nonconsensual exposure of genitalia.

It’s no wonder that domestic violence survivors like myself stay so long in relationships that are toxic. The entire culture we are surrounded by and what we have to do to merely survive is both pervasive and normalized. And I’m not talking about patriarchy or white supremacy, though of course, these aspects of our culture fit the bill as well.

I’m talking about capitalism.

The more I process my own history of abusive relationships and walk the path of healing, the less I have allowed anyone to control my life or treat me as subhuman. This shift in my own thinking has made me realize that this mindset is incompatible with being a willing participant in capitalism.

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Know Your Options—A Guide to Choosing The Right Birth Control For You

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By Nicole Mitchell
Art by Kelcie McKenney

Finding the perfect birth control for you is difficult. There are so many options, each with different side effects, lengths of efficacy, and more. If you’re struggling to find a new birth control, just starting, or straight-up curious, we want to help you make an informed decision. We’ve done the basic research so you don’t have to. (Although, you’ll still want to talk to your doctor about what’s best for you!)

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What I Keep in My On-the-Go Anxiety Kit 

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By Emily Laptad

Picture this: You’re out and about, maybe you’re grabbing coffee with a group of pals or maybe you’re at the office getting ready for a meeting. Then out of nowhere, your heart rate goes up. You start to get a wee bit fidgety. Impending doom is suddenly all you can think about. 

There’s a name for that, it’s anxiety, and it loves to creep up at the most inconvenient moments—especially if you’re neurodivergent like I am (hi, I’m Emily!). That’s why I created an on-the-go anxiety kit that I carry with me everywhere. 

So, the minute I feel that little anxiety monster sneaking up on me, I know I’m covered. I just have to pull out the kit and use any of the sensory-based tools I’ve stocked to both prevent anxiety and panic attacks and to move me out of one after it’s started. 

I decided to make my anxiety kit after seeing a TikToker who did the same, and now I never leave the house without it. (Also proud to report that my therapist was 100% on board when I told her about it the following week).

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Meghann Henry’s Tool for Leading What If Puppets? Diversity is Key.

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By Sophia-Joelle Oswald
Photos by Travis Young

Meghann Henry stepped into a man’s legacy and made it her own when she joined What if Puppets just a few years ago. What started as a team of three has grown to 11 team members led by Henry who are making a large impact on the Kansas City community. 

These days the group leans heavily into knocking down barriers. No longer male-dominated, they’re creating characters who depict a range of people who face unique challenges and come from all walks of life. An effort has been made to hire women and non-binary folks—so there’s diverse representation in everything What If Puppets does.

We sat down with Henry to discuss what it’s like to be a woman in puppetry, the impact What if Puppets has on the community, and what we can look forward to in 2023.

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Take on the 2023 Trans Rights Readathon with these books

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By: Sophia-Joelle Oswald

The Trans Rights Readathon, which started on March 20th and lasts until March 27th, came from the mind of Sim Kern. This trans author, whose books include Seeds for the Swarm and Depart, Depart!, suggested the readathon in response to the hundreds of anti-trans bills being proposed in the United States. 

Kern eagerly reached out to BookTok with the hopes that other people would be excited to raise some money through the enjoyable act of reading. Thousands of readers on BookTube, Book Twitter, and Bookstagram have since jumped on board. 

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