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The enduring appeal of Friends, and why so many of us feel we’ve lost a personal friend in Matthew Perry

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-gerace-325968">Adam Gerace</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> The <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/videos/world/friends-star-matthew-perry-dies-aged-54/cloatn0ae00ea0jqbpdz0h8td">death of Matthew Perry</a>, best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the television series Friends, has seen an outpouring of grief from fans and the Hollywood community. His passing at age 54 has shocked both those who admired his acting work, as well as those who followed his efforts to bring awareness to <a href="https://people.com/tv/matthew-perry-opens-up-about-addiction-new-memoir/">the pains of addiction</a>. Tributes to Perry have understandably focused on his star-making turn on the incredibly popular television sitcom. Scenes, catchphrases, and his character’s lines have been lovingly repurposed across the internet to memorialise the gifted actor. Meanwhile, many viewers have situated their <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/friends-fans-mourn-matthew-perry-new-york-apartment-1235772520/">recollections</a> of Perry and the series within the context of their own experiences. Viewers who came of age, or were the characters’ ages during the show’s original run, have reminisced about what the work of Perry and his co-stars meant to them at formative times in their lives. Newer viewers have similarly shared how important the series has been to them – their relationship with the show often beginning long after production ended. For many, Friends was the television equivalent of the soundtrack to their lives. To appreciate the staying power of the series for original and <a href="https://www.etonline.com/streaming-friends-how-a-90s-sitcom-became-gen-zs-new-favorite-show-132624">newer viewers alike</a> almost 30 years since it debuted, we need to consider what functions television viewing serves and the bonds we form with its characters. <h2>Enduring appeal</h2> Part of Friends’ popularity lies in its timing. The show premiered in 1994, a period when network television was still dominant. By its end a decade later, while the power of the big television networks had <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08838150701820924">eroded</a>, the series had maintained <a href="https://www.ratingsryan.com/2022/09/friends-nbc-ratings-recap.html">an average</a> of more than 20 million viewers each season. The 2004 finale brought in a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/08/arts/friends-finale-s-audience-is-the-fourth-biggest-ever.html">record-breaking</a> 52.5 million viewers in the United States. The series then entered repeats around the world. It hasn’t left our screens since. The late 90s and early 2000s have sometimes been referred to as the end of monoculture. While a <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/12/17/21024439/monoculture-algorithm-netflix-spotify">contested and controversial idea</a> because of, among other concerns, who was included and excluded on our screens, monoculture meant we watched <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/bestmusic2012/2012/12/21/167836852/the-year-in-pop-charts-return-of-the-monoculture">many of the same things</a>. One of the most popular shows of its era, Friends brought people together. It was a show we watched with our families or friends, spoke about the next day with colleagues, and it provided a common connection. It allowed bonding with real friends as much as fictional ones. Friends did not only reflect style of the time; it also frequently created it. Jennifer Aniston’s haircut, coined “<a href="https://www.bustle.com/style/the-rachel-haircut">The Rachel</a>”, or Perry’s lovable smart-alecky cadence, typified with Chandler’s catchphrase of “Could I be any more…”, were endlessly imitated. I know I attempted to replicate Chandler’s <a href="https://www.gq.com.au/style/celebrity/unexpectedly-great-fashion-inspiration-courtesy-of-friends/image-gallery/f55ac75cc180e31c462525da961295fc">sweater vests</a> and light blue denim look. Participation provided viewers <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2011.00866.x">a sense</a> of identity. As people enter their 30s and 40s, they often <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208595">gravitate</a> towards the memories made during their formative adolescent and young adult years. So perhaps it’s no surprise Friends endures for original viewers as it represents – and was a part of – their lives at this important time. <h2>Likeable characters</h2> Television and other fictional media meet our needs for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.2009.01368.x">both</a> pleasure and extracting meaning. We get excited, entertained and moved by television. As part of this, we bond with fictional characters. We cannot help but <a href="https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327825MCS0403_01">empathise</a> with them. A series like Friends with its characters and their combinations of breakups, makeups and other mishaps allowed us to safely use our empathy muscles to cheer on and sometimes commiserate with the group of six. It helped that each character was flawed but inherently likeable. Fictional characters also allow us to <a href="https://theconversation.com/neighbours-vs-friends-we-found-out-which-beloved-show-fans-mourned-more-when-it-ended-212843">experience lifestyles</a> we might not otherwise. In the case of Friends, who didn’t want to live in a rent-controlled apartment like Monica’s, or regularly meet their supportive and funny pals for coffee at Central Perk? As a teen, I imagined such a world for myself in the not-too-distant future. Younger generations might be more aware of how out-of-reach that lifestyle was, or find the show’s <a href="https://ew.com/tv/jennifer-aniston-friends-offensive-new-generation/">humour sometimes dated</a>. But the idea of what the friends’ lifestyle represented – possibility, freedom, a chosen family – evidently still holds appeal. <h2>Fictional relationships, but real sadness</h2> In forming relationships with fictional characters, we form bonds with the performers who bring them to life. The lines between character and creator become blurry, both because of the knowledge about actors’ lives celebrity culture affords us, but also because their characters seem so real. When the actors pass away, we <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.06.042">feel real grief</a>. It’s important for fans of Matthew Perry to <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/why-with-all-the-sht-happening-in-the-world-its-still-okay-to-grieve-a-celebritys-death/">acknowledge</a> their loss. Even though his character is fictional, and you didn’t know him personally, you can still feel sad. Watching the series may be difficult right now. With time, it will become easier. Matthew Perry wanted <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/matthew-perry-death-addiction-alcoholism-drugs-b2437980.html">his legacy</a> to be awareness of addiction and the help he provided to people struggling with this disorder. Hopefully what will be felt now, alongside collective sadness, is an empathy for those facing addiction. That may be the power of television, and of a character named Chandler, and the actor who brought him to life, who many considered their friend.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/216626/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-gerace-325968">Adam Gerace</a>, Senior Lecturer and Head of Course - Positive Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-enduring-appeal-of-friends-and-why-so-many-of-us-feel-weve-lost-a-personal-friend-in-matthew-perry-216626">original article</a>.

Bizarre reason Pink has begun to receive "many death threats"

Pop sensation Pink, whose real name is Alecia Beth Moore, recently found herself embroiled in a controversy that led to the cancellation of two tour dates in Tacoma, Washington, and the singer addressing the "many death threats" she received from individuals who mistakenly accused her of showing support for Israel during her shows. The allegations arose amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Pink felt compelled to clarify her stance. On social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), Pink shared a statement explaining the misunderstanding. She revealed that some concertgoers had mistaken the Māori Poi flags used in her performances for Israeli flags. Pink emphasised that she was not taking a side in the conflict but rather incorporating these flags as a tribute to the Māori people of New Zealand. She stated, "I do not fly flags in my show in support of anything or anyone except the rainbow flag. That will remain my position. I am a human. I believe in peace. Equality. Love. I am deeply saddened by the state of the world. I pray for all of us." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This post will be controversial for some. At this point, breathing is controversial. I am getting many threats because people mistakenly believe I am flying Israeli flags in my show. I am not. I have been using Poi flags since the beginning of this tour. These were used many,… — P!nk (@Pink) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pink/status/1713747866777448930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2023</a></blockquote> In the face of this controversy, Pink also addressed the cancellation of two Tacoma, Washington tour dates, initially citing "family medical issues" as the reason. In an Instagram post, she expressed her apologies to ticket holders and stated that Live Nation was working to reschedule these shows. She extended her well wishes, saying, "I am sending nothing but love and health to all." Pink's commitment to her values and her desire to maintain a peaceful and inclusive message in her performances remain steadfast. This controversy came just three weeks after she ejected a concertgoer from her San Antonio show for attempting to protest circumcision. During an acoustic session, the man displayed a sign on his phone reading, "circumcision: cruel and harmful". Pink responded by asking him to remove the sign and humorously quipping, "You spent all this money to come here and do that? I'm gonna have to buy a Birkin bag with that type of money. Get that s--t out of here." Pink is not only known for her incredible musical talent but also for her strong convictions and commitment to social causes. This latest incident further highlights her dedication to promoting peace, equality and love. The singer is set to embark on a tour Down Under next year, with Tones and I joining her for this musical journey. She also recently added two extra shows to her Australian lineup to accommodate her enthusiastic fan base. Images: Instagram

Legal

Feeling lonely? Too many of us are. Here’s what our supermarkets can do to help

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-grimmer-212082">Louise Grimmer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> Even <a href="https://endingloneliness.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Ending-Loneliness-Together-in-Australia_Nov20.pdf">before COVID-19</a>, <a href="https://aifs.gov.au/resources/resource-sheets/understanding-and-defining-loneliness-and-social-isolation">social isolation and loneliness</a> were all too common across the community. Living among millions of other people is no comfort for people in cities, where the pace of life is often hectic, and technology and digitisation often limit, rather than help with, social interaction. The pandemic <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/amp-amp0001005.pdf">amplified these problems</a>. In its wake, more of us report we’re lonely. For some, a weekly shopping trip may be the only chance to interact with others. A supermarket chain in the Netherlands is helping to combat loneliness with so-called “slow” checkouts where chatting is encouraged. Could a similar approach work here? <h2>We’re getting lonelier</h2> Around a third of Australians report feeling lonely. <a href="https://lonelinessawarenessweek.com.au/download/512/">One in six</a> experience severe loneliness. According to the annual Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (<a href="https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/hilda/publications/hilda-statistical-reports">HILDA</a>) Survey, people <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-17/social-media-work-hours-cost-of-living-rising-loneliness/102563666">aged 15 to 24</a> report the greatest increase in social isolation over the past 20 years and the highest rates of loneliness. Another <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-14/middle-aged-men-experiencing-high-level-loneliness/102563492">Australian survey</a> found men aged 35 to 49 had the highest levels of loneliness. Loneliness and social isolation are <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-17/social-media-work-hours-cost-of-living-rising-loneliness/102563666">not the same</a>. Social isolation is a matter of how often we have contact with friends, family and others, which can be measured. Loneliness is more subjective. It describes how we feel about the “quality” of our interactions with others. Technology is <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/live-long-and-prosper/202210/technology-use-loneliness-and-isolation#:%7E:text=Technology%20compulsion%20might%20lead%20to,disconnection%20and%20reduce%20well%2Dbeing.">contributing</a> to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-17/social-media-work-hours-cost-of-living-rising-loneliness/102563666">high rates of loneliness</a>. Instead of meaningful face-to-face interactions, many of us now rely on social media, phone apps and video calls to socialise. We’re also working longer hours, often at home. And due to the cost of living, many of us are choosing to stay home and save money, rather than eat out or go to “the local”. It isn’t only in Australia where this is happening. In the UK, around <a href="https://www.lonelinessawarenessweek.org/statistics">3.9 million older people</a> say television is their main company. Half a million may go five or six days a week without seeing anyone. The World Health Organisation <a href="https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/demographic-change-and-healthy-ageing/social-isolation-and-loneliness">recognises</a> loneliness and social isolation as public health issues and priorities for policymakers. These issues seriously affect people’s mental and physical health as well as longevity. The impacts are comparable with other <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-15967-3">risk factors</a> such as smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity and not being physically active. <h2>Could slow, ‘chatty’ checkouts be part of the solution?</h2> For many, a visit to the supermarket may be the only time they interact with others. Sadly, increased use of technology, including self-serve checkouts, and cashiers tasked with speedily processing customers can make it challenging to have a conversation. <iframe title="The FASTEST checkout cashier ever😮 TikTok: rogerlopez7511" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TpALSOvw4LU" width="100%" height="750" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Four years ago, the Netherlands’ second-largest supermarket chain, <a href="https://jumbo.com">Jumbo</a>, introduced Kletskassa or “chat checkout”. It’s for shoppers who want to chat and aren’t in a hurry. Recognising loneliness was an issue for many, the idea was to increase social interaction between customers and staff by slowing things down and encouraging conversation. Jumbo’s chief commercial officer, Colette Cloosterman-van Eerd, <a href="https://www.dutchnews.nl/2021/09/jumbo-opens-chat-checkouts-to-combat-loneliness-among-the-elderly/">explained</a>: <blockquote> Many people, especially the elderly, sometimes feel lonely. As a family business and supermarket chain, we are at the heart of society. Our shops are an important meeting place for many people, and we want to play a role in identifying and reducing loneliness. </blockquote> The first Kletskassa, in Vlijmen in Brabant, was so successful the family-owned company started rolling out slow checkouts in <a href="https://www.dutchnews.nl/2021/09/jumbo-opens-chat-checkouts-to-combat-loneliness-among-the-elderly/">200 of its stores</a>. Not only were customers responding positively, the concept also appealed to Jumbo’s employees. They are trained to recognise signs of loneliness and come up with local initiatives to combat social isolation. Cloosterman-Van Eerd said: <blockquote> We are proud our staff want to work the chat checkout. They really want to help people and make contact with them. It’s a small gesture but it’s a valuable one, particularly in a world that is becoming more digital and faster. </blockquote> The original focus of Jumbo’s initiative was older shoppers. However, the trial showed people of all ages were keen to use the Kletskassa. The desire for human interaction didn’t change across age groups. So, these “chatty” checkouts are open to anyone who will benefit from social connection. Some Jumbo stores also have an <a href="https://www.brightvibes.com/dutch-supermarket-introduces-a-unique-chat-checkout-to-help-fight-loneliness/">All Together Coffee Corner</a>, where locals can enjoy a coffee and chat with neighbours and volunteers who also <a href="https://scoop.upworthy.com/dutch-supermarket-introduces-a-unique-slow-checkout-lane-to-help-fight-loneliness-595693-595693">help out</a> with shopping and gardening. The Netherlands’ government is partnering a range of organisations, local government and companies to come up with solutions to combat loneliness across the country. Some 50% of the 1.3 million people over 75 report they regularly feel lonely. Jumbo’s initiatives are part of the Health Ministry’s <a href="https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/blog/governments-ramp-up-the-war-on-loneliness/">One Against Loneliness</a> campaign. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/11SY0wG6Zc8?wmode=transparent&start=10" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Jumbo supermarket’s innovation of slow chat checkouts has been extended to 200 of its stores.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Supermarkets as ‘third places’ to combat loneliness</h2> In the 1980s, sociologist Ray Oldenberg coined the term <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00986754">“third place”</a> – a place that’s not home (the “first place”) and not work (the “second place”). Third places are familiar public spaces where people can connect over a shared interest or activity. Libraries, coffee shops, book stores, community gardens, churches, gyms and clubs are examples of third places. They all provide the opportunity for close proximity, interaction and often serendipitous conversations with other people we might not usually meet. Kletkassa have helped thousands of people, of all ages and backgrounds, by providing a few minutes of kindness and conversation. Imagine what could be achieved if our supermarkets offered their own version of the “slow checkout” for anyone who’s in need of a chat to brighten their day. The first chain to introduce this sort of initiative in Australia would have a solid advantage over competitors through differentiation and prioritising customers. At the same time, it would make a small but meaningful contribution to improving social wellbeing. Challenge extended!<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211126/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-grimmer-212082">Louise Grimmer</a>, Senior Lecturer in Retail Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/feeling-lonely-too-many-of-us-are-heres-what-our-supermarkets-can-do-to-help-211126">original article</a>.

Caring

What is ‘sundowning’ and why does it happen to many people with dementia?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steve-macfarlane-4722">Steve Macfarlane</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> The term “<a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/tips-coping-sundowning#:%7E:text=Late%20afternoon%20and%20early%20evening,tired%20caregivers%20need%20a%20break.">sundowning</a>” is sometimes used to describe a tendency for people living with dementia to become more confused in the late afternoon and into the night. At the outset, I should emphasise the term “sundowning” is overly simplistic, as it’s a shorthand term that can encompass a vast number of behaviours in many different contexts. When assessing changed behaviours in dementia, it’s always better to hear a full and accurate description of what the person is actually doing at these times, rather than to just accept that “they’re sundowning.” This set of behaviours commonly described as “sundowning” often includes (but is not limited to) confusion, anxiety, agitation, pacing and “shadowing” others. It may look different depending on the stage of dementia, the person’s personality and past behaviour patterns, and the presence of specific triggers. Why then, do such altered behaviours tend to happen at specific times of the day? And what should you do when it happens to your loved one? <h2>Fading light</h2> We all interpret the world via the information that enters our brains through our five senses. Chief among these are sight and sound. Imagine the difficulty you’d have if asked to perform a complex task while in a darkened room. People living with dementia are just as dependent on sensory input to make sense of and correctly interpret their environment. As <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314685#causes">light fades</a> towards the end of the day, so too does the amount of sensory input available to help a dementia patient interpret the world. The <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314685#causes">impact</a> of this on a brain struggling to integrate sensory information at the best of times can be significant, resulting in increased confusion and unexpected behaviours. <h2>Cognitive exhaustion</h2> We have all heard it said that we only use a fraction our brain power, and it is true we all have far more brain power than we typically require for most of the day’s mundane tasks. This “cognitive reserve” can be brought to bear when we are faced with complex or stressful tasks that require more mental effort. But what if you just don’t have much cognitive reserve? The changes that ultimately lead to symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can begin to develop for as many as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4486209/">30 years</a> before the onset of symptoms. During that time, in simple terms, the condition eats away at our cognitive reserve. It is only when the damage done is so significant our brains can no longer compensate for it that we develop the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. So by the time someone first presents with very early dementia symptoms, a lot of damage has already been done. Cognitive reserve has been lost, and the symptoms of memory loss finally become apparent. As a result, people living with dementia are required to exert far more mental effort during the course of a routine day than most of us. We have all felt cognitively exhausted, run down and perhaps somewhat irritable after a long day doing a difficult task that has consumed an extreme amount of mental effort and concentration. Those living with dementia are required to exert similar amounts of mental effort just to get through their daytime routine. So is it any surprise that after several hours of concerted mental effort just to get by (often in an unfamiliar place), people tend to get <a href="https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/sleep-issues-sundowning">cognitively exhausted</a>? <h2>What should I do if it happens to my loved one?</h2> The homes of people living with dementia should be <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/gps.5712">well-lit</a> in the late afternoons and evenings when the sun is going down to help the person with dementia integrate and interpret sensory input. A <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/tips-coping-sundowning">short nap</a> after lunch may help alleviate cognitive fatigue towards the end of the day. It gives the brain, and along with it a person’s resilience, an opportunity to “recharge”. However, there is no substitute for a fuller assessment of the other causes that might contribute to altered behaviour. <a href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms/sundowning#:%7E:text=The%20reasons%20why%20sundowning%20happens,to%20sunlight%20during%20the%20day">Unmet needs</a> such as hunger or thirst, the presence of pain, depression, boredom or loneliness can all contribute, as can stimulants such as caffeine or sugar being given too late in the day. The behaviours too often described by the overly simplistic term “sundowning” are complex and their causes are often highly individual and interrelated. As is often the case in medicine, a particular set of symptoms is often best managed by better understanding the root causes.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/208005/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steve-macfarlane-4722">Steve Macfarlane</a>, Head of Clinical Services, Dementia Support Australia, & Associate Professor of Psychiatry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-sundowning-and-why-does-it-happen-to-many-people-with-dementia-208005">original article</a>.

Mind

With so many people speaking ‘their truth’, how do we know what the truth really is?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jeremy-wyatt-1429400">Jeremy Wyatt</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-waikato-781">University of Waikato</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joseph-ulatowski-1439138">Joseph Ulatowski</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-waikato-781">University of Waikato</a> When Academy Awards boss Bill Kramer recently <a href="https://nz.news.yahoo.com/oscars-boss-bill-kramer-applauds-150147102.html">applauded comedian Chris Rock</a> for speaking “his truth” about being slapped by Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars ceremony, he used a turn of phrase that is fast becoming a part of everyday speech around the world. Take <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/06/harry-meghan-oprah-interview">Oprah Winfrey’s interview</a> with Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, for example. Oprah asked, “How do you feel about the palace hearing you speak your truth today?” Or consider Samantha Imrie, a juror in the civil lawsuit over Gwyneth Paltrow’s role in a 2016 ski accident with Terry Sanderson. Asked about Sanderson’s testimony, <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/gwyneth-paltrow-utah-ski-collision-trial-juror-samantha-imrie-reveals-why-actress-won/AV5O32FOYZAXTD4DY6ECWUCCQY/">Imrie replied</a>, “He was telling his truth […] I do think he did not intend to tell a truth that wasn’t his truth.” But what does it mean for someone to speak “their truth”? Perhaps it’s time to reconsider how we use this expression, given it can be easily misinterpreted as endorsing a problematic view of what it takes for a claim to be true. <h2>Truth relativism</h2> On its face, speaking about “my truth” or “your truth” suggests that <a href="https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-think-about-truth-in-a-philosophically-informed-way">truth is relative</a> to an individual. Philosophers call this view “truth relativism”. It says that when someone makes a claim, that claim is made true or false by what they believe or how they feel, rather than by the way the world actually is. A problem with relativism is that it seems to leave reasoned debate without any clear goal. Suppose, for example, we are discussing whether the New Zealand government’s <a href="https://www.dia.govt.nz/Three-Waters-Reform-Programme">Three Waters Reform Programme</a> will “maintain and improve the water service infrastructure”. Presumably our goal is to determine whether it’s true that the reform will maintain and improve the water service infrastructure. However, if there is no truth to identify here – only “your truth” and “my truth” – then it isn’t clear why we should have this discussion at all. What’s the alternative to truth relativism, then? To reject relativism is to grant that at least some of our claims are true or false because the world – which exists independently of our minds, languages and cultures – is a particular way. For instance, because lemons are more acidic than milk chocolate, the claim that lemons are more acidic than milk chocolate is true, and the claim that milk chocolate is more acidic than lemons is false. Likewise, since <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-vaccine-opponents-think-they-know-more-than-medical-experts-99278">vaccines don’t cause autism</a>, the claim that vaccines cause autism is false, and the claim they don’t cause autism is true. <h2>Truth and respect</h2> You can stick with this straightforward view about truth and still recognise that everyone deserves to be heard and respected. As John Stuart Mill <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mill/#LibeFreeSpee">pointed out in his book</a> On Liberty (1859), if we fail to consider a wide range of perspectives, even those views that may ultimately turn out to be false, it is more likely we will be unable to discover important truths about the world. This means that valuing truth should actually encourage you to engage with points of view that differ from yours. It’s also worth noting that, in some cases, people who claim to speak “their truth” may not actually be endorsing relativism. This might be said of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3pJBurhbZM">announcement</a> by Meka Whaitiri that she intended to join Te Pāti Māori. Offering a heartfelt explanation of her reasons for the decision, she concluded by directly addressing her Ikaroa-Rāwhiti constituents: “I have spoken my truth.” But she also explained: "The point here, whanau, is Māori political activism. It’s part of being Māori. It comes from our whakapapa. And we as Māori have a responsibility to it. Not others — we. Today, I’m acknowledging that whakapapa. I’m acknowledging my responsibility to it, and it’s calling me home." This suggests that in speaking “her truth”, Whaitiri was in fact outlining her reasons for joining Te Pāti Māori. Her main objective was to underscore the significance of whakapapa, rather than to defend truth relativism. Whaitiri’s reasons are certainly strong ones, though framing them in terms of “my truth” could lead others to misinterpret them. Moreover, if Pākehā responded to Whaitiri by saying “this is her truth, not our truth”, then we would be back again with the problem of relativism. We need to value people’s unique identities, experiences and reasons for doing things, and we also need to value truth. Truth is a central goal of reasoned debate, and that’s something we will certainly need when addressing the many pressing issues currently facing Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205388/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jeremy-wyatt-1429400">Jeremy Wyatt</a>, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-waikato-781">University of Waikato</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joseph-ulatowski-1439138">Joseph Ulatowski</a>, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-waikato-781">University of Waikato</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/with-so-many-people-speaking-their-truth-how-do-we-know-what-the-truth-really-is-205388">original article</a>.

Caring

Empowerment, individual strength and the many facets of love: why I fell for Tina Turner

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/leigh-carriage-456522">Leigh Carriage</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a> For singers – amateur and professional alike – the name Tina Turner evokes instant reverence: Turner is a singer’s singer and perhaps the performer’s performer. A highly successful songwriter, the consummate dancer and fittingly ranked as one of the <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-artists-147446/">100 Greatest Artists of All Time</a> by Rolling Stone magazine, Turner was the ultimate entertainer. Upon hearing of her death, I was deeply saddened. I immediately recalled the intoxicating power and timbre of her voice, her mesmerising energy and her commanding performances. I started singing sections of songs such as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2T5_seDNZE">Proud Mary</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Lehkou2Do">River Deep Mountain High</a> and of course iconic original songs, such as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I07249JX8w4">Nutbush City Limits</a>. This was an intimate, sentimental, nostalgic and danceable song celebrating Turner’s roots growing up in the small town of Nutbush, Tennessee. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Tina Turner was raw. She was powerful. She was unstoppable. And she was unapologetically herself—speaking and singing her truth through joy and pain; triumph and tragedy. Today we join fans around the world in honoring the Queen of Rock and Roll, and a star whose light will never… <a href="https://t.co/qXl2quZz1c">pic.twitter.com/qXl2quZz1c</a> — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1661514993383120896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <h2>Fierce hard work</h2> My first encounter with Turner’s brilliance and might was hearing her hits of the mid-1980s, with songs like Graham Lyle’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGpFcHTxjZs">What’s Love Got To Do With It</a>, Al Green’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rFB4nj_GRc">Let’s Stay Together</a> and – love it or hate it – the powerful rock ballad <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcm-tOGiva0">We Don’t Need Another Hero</a>, the theme song to Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. Once introduced, I immersed myself in her extensive back catalogue, soaking in her early 1960s soul, funk and emerging rock tracks. Today, I flashed back to memories of the physical energy and technical focus and practice it took just attempting to sing any Turner songs in my 20s. The degree of difficulty required to perform as Turner did cannot be understated. To sing with such consistency in such high registers, belting out song after song live with impeccable pitch, breath control, fitness, articulation and rhythmic precision is one thing. To do all of this while dancing with intense pace to highly choreographed routines throughout each show is on a whole other level. Her performance practice exemplified fierce hard work – with an immense energy and vitality in live performance. Try singing any of her songs at a Karaoke bar. Very quickly you gain some insight into the technical demands her songs require. <h2>Making songs her own</h2> For every singer, selecting a repertoire to cover is an ongoing quest. In a sea of the world’s great songs, Turner selected songs she could make her own. She remodelled every song she sang - realigning them so much that we now think of them as hers first. There are so many examples. My favourites are Turner’s formidable versions of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIPoC6JlP38">I Can’t Stand the Rain</a> (originally by Ann Peebles), <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC5E8ie2pdM">The Best</a> (Bonnie Tyler) and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4QnalIHlVc">Private Dancer</a> (Mark Knopfler). A great deal of the songs Turner was known for through the 1960s were covers. Turner’s forceful and expressive vocal delivery gave new life to these songs, realigning them with her uniquely identifiable sound and choice of vocal register, her phrasing choices and her punctuated rhythmic delivery. Turner is perhaps less known as a songwriter, but her diverse songwriting demonstrated her skill and thoughtful, well-crafted lyrics. On her 1972 album Feel Good, nine of the ten songs were written by Turner. From 1973 to 1977, Turner composed all the songs on each album. One of my favourites of her original songs is the power ballad <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l__zi3OtrQ0">Be Tender With Me Baby</a>. It speaks of a request for understanding, of her loneliness and vulnerability, sung with Turner’s intensity. Across her original songs and covers, Turner’s repertoire spoke of empowerment, individual strength and the many facets of love. Beyond performing, Turner represented inner strength, spiritual depth and resilience against adversity. In 1996, when Turner was 57, she recorded her ninth studio album, Wildest Dreams. One track, Something Beautiful Remains, may not be as familiar as many of her other hits, but it is the song I have kept returning to today. In the chorus, Turner’s lyrics are sadly perfectly fitting: <blockquote> For every life that fades Something beautiful remains.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206395/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> </blockquote> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1uXLFtXpeFU?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/leigh-carriage-456522">Leigh Carriage</a>, Senior Lecturer in Music, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/empowerment-individual-strength-and-the-many-facets-of-love-why-i-fell-for-tina-turner-206395">original article</a>.

Music

Many people are tired of grappling with long COVID – here are some evidence-based ways to counter it

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kyle-b-enfield-1409764">Kyle B. Enfield</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-virginia-752">University of Virginia</a> A patient of mine, once a marathon runner, now gets tired just walking around the block. She developed COVID-19 during the 2020 Christmas holiday and saw me during the summer of 2021. Previously, her primary care doctor had recommended a graded exercise program. But exercise exhausted her. After months of waiting, she finally had an appointment at our post-COVID-19 clinic at the University of Virginia. She is hardly alone in her extended search for answers. Studies suggest that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01214-4">from 10%</a> to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101762">45% of COVID-19 survivors</a> have at least <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html">one of the following symptoms three months after recovery</a>: fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, difficulty with daily activities or mental fogginess, otherwise known as “brain fog.” There are many names for this condition: <a href="https://theconversation.com/long-covid-stemmed-from-mild-cases-of-covid-19-in-most-people-according-to-a-new-multicountry-study-195707">long COVID</a>, long-haul COVID, post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and chronic COVID. Patients report that their symptoms, or the severity of them, <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007004">fluctuate over time</a>, which <a href="https://theconversation.com/deciphering-the-symptoms-of-long-covid-19-is-slow-and-painstaking-for-both-sufferers-and-their-physicians-164754">makes diagnosis and treatment difficult</a>. <h2>A response to infection</h2> Researchers and doctors have seen <a href="https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2694">similar recovery patterns from other viruses</a>, including <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/about.html">Ebola</a> and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, <a href="https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/middle-eastern-respiratory-syndrome-mers">or MERS</a>, which is another coronavirus. This suggests that the illness we see following a bout with COVID-19 may be part of a patient’s response to the infection. But doctors and researchers do not yet know why some patients go on to have persistent symptoms. My clinical practice and academic research <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_ylo=2022&q=Kyle+Enfield&hl=en&as_sdt=0,47">focus on critically ill patients</a>. Most of my patients now are people who had COVID-19 with various levels of severity. I often tell these patients that we are still learning about this disease, which wasn’t part of our vernacular before 2020. Part of what we do at the clinic is help patients understand what they can do at home to start improving. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ype9O4rD3Gk?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>For millions of Americans, COVID-19 is still a part of their lives.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Dealing with fatigue</h2> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95565-8">Chronic fatigue</a> can greatly affect quality of life. Exercise limitations can have their roots in problems with the lung, heart, brain, muscles or all of the above. Graded exercise therapy works for some but not all patients. Graded exercise is the slow introduction of exercise, starting slowly and gradually increasing in load over time. Many are frustrated because they feel more exhausted after exercising or even doing the routine tasks of daily living. The lack of progress <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109893">leads to feelings of depression</a>. The condition of feeling more exhausted after exercise <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/healthcare-providers/clinical-care-patients-mecfs/treating-most-disruptive-symptoms.html">is called post-exertional malaise</a>, which is defined as physical and mental exhaustion after an activity, often 24 hours later, that is out of proportion with the activity. For example, you feel good today and decide to go for a walk around the block. Afterward you are fine, but the next day your muscles ache and all you can do is lie on the couch. Some patients don’t even have the energy to answer emails. Rest or sleep do typically relieve the fatigue. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment; the severity and frequency of post-exertional malaise varies from person to person. <h2>Signs and symptoms</h2> Fatigue following any illness is common, as is exercise intolerance. So when should you see a medical professional? Diagnostic testing for post-exertional malaise exists, but it’s not readily available to all patients. These questions may provide clues to whether or not you are experiencing it: <ul> <li>Does it take more than one day to recover to your usual baseline activity?</li> <li>Do you feel unwell, weak, sleep poorly or have pain when recovering from activity?</li> <li>Are you feeling limited in your ability to do your daily tasks after activity?</li> <li>Does exercise activity affect you positively?</li> <li>Do you have soreness and fatigue after nonstrenuous days, or mental fatigue after strenuous or nonstrenuous activities?</li> </ul> All of these can be clues to discuss with your primary care provider, who may want to do additional testing to confirm the diagnosis, such as a <a href="https://me-pedia.org/wiki/Two-day_cardiopulmonary_exercise_test">two-day cardiopulmonary exercise test</a>. Before your appointment, there are a few things you can do at home that may help. <h2>Taking it easy</h2> One of those techniques is pacing, or activity management, an approach that balances activities with rest. The <a href="https://www.rcot.co.uk/">Royal College of Occupational Therapists</a> and the <a href="https://ics.ac.uk/">Intensive Care Society</a>, both in the U.K., developed what they call the <a href="https://www.rcot.co.uk/conserving-energy">3Ps – Pace, Plan and Prioritize</a>. Pacing yourself means breaking down activities into smaller stretches with frequent breaks rather than doing it all at once. An example would be to climb a few steps and then rest for 30 seconds, instead of climbing all the stairs at once. Planning involves looking at the week’s activities to see how they can be spread out. Think about the ones that are particularly strenuous, and give yourself extra time to complete them. This helps with prioritizing – and recognizing those tasks that can be skipped or put off. <h2>Focusing on the breathing</h2> Some patients with long COVID develop abnormal breathing patterns, including shallow rapid breathing, known as hyperventilating, or breath-holding. Either of these patterns can make you feel short of breath. Symptoms of abnormal breathing patterns include frequent yawning, throat-clearing, experiencing pins-and-needles sensations, palpitations and chest pain. Don’t ignore these symptoms, because they can be signs of serious medical problems like <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_attack.htm">heart attacks</a> and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/atrial_fibrillation.htm">abnormal heart rhythms</a>. Once those are ruled out, it is possible to relearn to breathe properly. You can <a href="https://longcovid.physio/breathing-pattern-disorders">practice these techniques at home</a>. The simple version: Find a comfortable position – either lying down or sitting upright with your back supported. Place one hand on your chest and the other over your belly button. Exhale any stale air out of your lungs. Then breathe in through your nose and into your abdomen, creating a gentle rise in the belly. You should feel the hand resting on your belly button move up and down. Try to avoid short, shallow breaths into the upper chest. Slowly exhale all the air out of your lungs. The goal is to take around eight to 12 breaths per minute. Focus on a longer exhale than inhale. For example, inhale as described for a count of two, then exhale for a count of three, as a starting point. If you take one breath every five seconds, you will be breathing 12 breaths per minute. As you get more comfortable with this, you can increase the time to further reduce your breaths per minute. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tEmt1Znux58?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Box breathing is easy to learn and you can do it anywhere, anytime.</figcaption></figure> A more advanced tool <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7uQXDkxEtM">is called box breathing</a>: Breathe in for a count of four to five, holding your breath for a count of four to five, breathing out for a count of four to five and hold that for a count of four to five. Long COVID patients who use these techniques show improvement in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(22)00125-4">symptoms of breathlessness and sense of well-being</a>. <h2>The road to recovery</h2> The patient I referred to earlier did all of these things. As we worked with her, we discovered she had multiple reasons for her symptoms. In addition to overbreathing and symptoms of post-exertion malaise, she had a new cardiac problem, possibly related to her COVID-19 illness, that made her <a href="https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.121.024207">heart work less well during exercise</a>. Now she is recovering; while not back to marathon running, she is feeling better. Currently there is no cure for long COVID, though we hope research will lead to one. <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=long+covid&term=&cntry=&state=&city=&dist=">Clinical trials looking at potential therapies</a> are continuing. In the meantime, people should be cautious about using medications that are not proved to help – and if you’re having symptoms, get evaluated.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/201451/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kyle-b-enfield-1409764">Kyle B. Enfield</a>, Associate Professor of Medicine, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-virginia-752">University of Virginia</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/many-people-are-tired-of-grappling-with-long-covid-here-are-some-evidence-based-ways-to-counter-it-201451">original article</a>. Images: Getty

Body

"I started walking the long way": many young women first experience street harassment in their school uniforms

Can you remember the first time you were harassed in a public space? What comes to mind? Can you remember how old you were, or what you were doing? Perhaps this is not something you have personally experienced, although we know <a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/everyday-sexism/">87% of young Australian women</a> have been harassed in public. We spoke to 47 adult women and LGBTQ+ people in <a href="https://www.streetharassmentjustice.com/">our recent study</a> on street-based and public harassment about their earliest memories of feeling sexualised, uncomfortable or unsafe on the street. Many mentioned they first experienced street harassment in their school uniforms. We heard variations of the phrase “it happened when I was in my school uniform” repeatedly from participants. For many, <a href="https://theconversation.com/whistling-and-staring-at-women-in-the-street-is-harassment-and-its-got-to-stop-38721">street harassment</a> began or became more frequent when they started wearing a high school uniform. Some participants, however, reflected on experiences from when they were even younger, wearing a primary school uniform. Studies from the United Kingdom have shown <a href="https://plan-uk.org/street-harassment/its-not-ok">35% of girls</a> wearing school uniforms have been sexually harassed in public spaces. Despite the importance of schools in the daily lives of young people, and the high rates of street harassment they experience, there’s been surprisingly little attention paid to the harassment of young people in school uniform. Findings from our <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540253.2023.2193206">new research</a> show school-related harassment is a serious issue that has largely flown under the radar in Australia. <h2>It happens beyond the school gates</h2> We know young people experience <a href="https://researchdirect.westernsydney.edu.au/islandora/object/uws:55181/">sexual</a>, <a href="https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/GLSEN%202015%20National%20School%20Climate%20Survey%20%28NSCS%29%20-%20Executive%20Summary.pdf">homophobic and transphobic</a>harassment from their peers and even teachers while they’re at school. But participants also told us about harassment occurring outside their school grounds. This was perpetrated by strangers (usually individual adult men, or groups of adult men), while they were in uniform and, therefore, clearly identifiable as school children. This took many forms, ranging from catcalling, staring or leering, wolf-whistling, and being followed by men in cars while walking to school, through to public masturbation and men rubbing themselves against victim-survivors (usually while travelling to school on public transport), sexual assault and rape. As one interviewee told us, "walking from high school to home […] that’s where most of the harassment I’ve experienced happened […] As soon as I stopped wearing a school uniform it happened less. So that’s disgusting for a lot of reasons." As another interviewee shared, these experiences were really scary not just because of what was happening at that moment but because the perpetrator “knows which school you go to” because of the uniform worn. <h2>The ‘sexy schoolgirl’</h2> Why is it that young people – and particularly young women and girls – are so routinely harassed in school uniform? We found harassment of schoolgirls was seen as being culturally sanctioned through the “sexy schoolgirl” trope. As one interviewee noted, "when you go on Google images and search for ‘school boy’ it will come up with a five-year-old boy but then ‘school girl’ it will come up with the sexy school girl costume." Participants discussed being targeted because they were viewed as vulnerable and (paradoxically) as both sexually innocent and sexualised, "that was part of the allure for them [the perpetrators], the innocence of a schoolgirl, a fearful schoolgirl in that situation, was like hot to them, they were really getting off on it." Another interviewee told us, "I went from being an innocent child to a child that felt uncomfortable and didn’t know why I was sexualised – and I didn’t understand it because I didn’t understand what sex really was." Because they were so young, many participants often lacked a framework or language to understand their experiences. For many, these experiences were also so routine they simply formed part of the background hum of everyday life. It was often not until years after these formative experiences that participants were able to articulate them as sexual harm and reflect on the impacts. <h2>Trying to avoid harassment</h2> Across our interviews, many participants discussed changing the way they presented themselves or changing the routes they took to school. They often focused on changing their own behaviour and <a href="https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-right-amount-of-panic">made their lives smaller</a> in an attempt to avoid further harassment. For example, "I started walking the long way. I started just going through the main roads, avoiding the back streets, even though it was a longer walk to be extra safe." In the longer-term, participants commonly described feeling unsafe, hyper-vigilant, and distrustful of men in public spaces. <h2>‘What if there’s a paedophile on the tram?’: school responses</h2> Unfortunately, the view that victim-survivors are responsible for their own harassment was often reinforced by schools if harassment was reported. Numerous participants told us how they were reminded of school uniform policies (such as mandated length of skirts and dresses) when they went to teachers for help. One participant recounted an experience where her teacher asked, "Why would you wear your skirt like this [short]? Whose attention are you trying to get? […] what if there’s a paedophile when you’re on the tram home from school […] thinking ‘this is the best day of [my] life’." Others did not seek help from their teachers because of this focus on students’ appearance at school – they felt they would simply be blamed for what happened. These types of responses teach young people to think street harassment and other forms of gendered violence are their fault. It also tells them their bodies are sites of risk that need to be managed and contained to avoid harassment. <h2>School uniform harassment is not ‘normal’</h2> While schools and school-related contexts were often sites of harm for our participants, schools nonetheless have a vitally important role to play here. Harassment in school uniform should not be seen as a “normal” part of growing up. There is an urgent need to provide young people with a framework to understand their experiences. Educational efforts must challenge the idea that harassment must simply be endured. Instead, schools should help young people understand harassment as a form of violence, and offer safe and supportive spaces to talk with peers and adults about their experiences. This should be incorporated into existing sex and relationships education <a href="https://www.bodysafetyaustralia.com.au/">in an age-appropriate way</a>. Importantly, responses to harassment should never blame or implicate young people themselves. It’s time for outdated practices such as measuring school uniform length to be relegated to the past where they belong. In the words of one participant, “the length of my skirt is not influencing how much I learn”. If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call <a href="https://kidshelpline.com.au/">Kids Helpline</a> on 1800 55 1800 or <a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/">1800RESPECT</a> on 1800 737 732. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-started-walking-the-long-way-many-young-women-first-experience-street-harassment-in-their-school-uniforms-202718" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Caring

How many of these dirty habits are you guilty of?

An infographic has revealed people’s strangest and most disgusting behaviour – and it’s certainly an eye-opener! A survey of 1,500 Americans and Europeans asked them to admit their most bizarre (like making strange noises when you’re alone) and unhygienic behaviour (like skipping showers for days) to the truly disgusting (like enjoying the odour of your own wind). While these strange and dirty habits are probably best kept to oneself, the truly surprising takeaway is just how common some of these habits actually are! <img width="634" height="1063" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/27/20/44C90CAB00000578-4926508-image-a-34_1506539085178.jpg" alt="How odd: People confessed to eating boogers, smelling worn underwear, playing with their pubic hair, and skipping showers to build up a good stink" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-6ccf2883e6e3758d"/> <img width="634" height="1721" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/27/20/44C90C9C00000578-4926508-image-a-33_1506539055033.jpg" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-b5f0ad83b9b4849f"/> <img width="634" height="923" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/27/20/44C90CBA00000578-4926508-image-a-35_1506539101918.jpg" alt="Free-boobing: Nearly all American women (and most European women) surveyed said they take their bra off soon after arriving home" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-4bc2fc5896e52837"/> <img width="634" height="797" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/27/20/44C90C9100000578-4926508-image-a-37_1506539107393.jpg" alt="Clean up: Most women also said they wash their bras at least once a week" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-2640efee79d3a970"/> <img width="634" height="1119" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/27/20/44C90C7B00000578-4926508-image-a-38_1506539110089.jpg" alt="No surprise here: About half of the men polled admitted to playing with their balls" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-1d9f4435a75a88b0"/> Infographic credit: <a href="https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/index.html" target="_blank">Superdrug Online Doctor</a>

Body

How many of these dirty spots in the home are you guilty of NOT cleaning?

Just when you think you’ve got the house spick and span, along comes a list like this to keep you on your toes. Ceiling fans The tops of these can get dusty and grimy quickly, especially if they are anywhere near the kitchen. Get up there with a hot soapy cloth and give them a good wipe down. TV remote Dirty fingers can leave sticky marks on your remote, which should be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth. If you ever eat in front of the TV you can just imagine how dirty the remote must be. Dustpan and brush The products that clean up the mess need a wash now and then too. A soak in a bucket of hot water and bleach is a great way to clean these. Then allow to dry in the sun. Yoga mat All that Zen-sweat can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Give your yoga mat a clean regularly by taking it in the shower with you and rubbing it with soap or shower gel, then dry on the line. While you’re in the mood, pop your gym bag in the wash too. Cloth bags If you’re toting around your groceries in a cloth bag, little bits of food can start to accumulate in the bottom. Throw them in the washing machine regularly to keep them in good condition. Tops of doors and picture rails What you don’t see can easily be forgotten but the tops of doors and rails can quickly accumulate dust and grime. Get up there with a hot soapy cloth, followed by a buff with a dry clean cloth. Bathroom door handle We don’t need to go into too much detail as to why you need to clean this, but it is important that you do it. Fridge seals and handle The grime that gets in your seals can be easily removed with a hot soapy cloth. Remember to clean the handle regularly too – just think how many times you open the fridge when preparing food (with potentially sticky fingers). Hairbrush All that hair and dead skin accumulates quickly in a brush. Remove any hair and then use hot soapy water to soak your brushes. Allow them to dry in the sun. Sponges It’s scary to think that the item you use to clean your whole kitchen could be harbouring some serious bacteria. You need to regularly clean your sponges and cloths by soaking them in the sink with a big glug of bleach in hot water. Image: Getty Images

Home Hints & Tips

Black Friday: so many online returns end up in landfill – here’s what needs to happen to change that

<a href="https://www.salecycle.com/blog/featured/11-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-online-retail-stats/">Two of the busiest</a> online shopping days of the year are upon us. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/65cd5dda-a5ea-411a-b0ef-08caee388b47">recession</a>, retailers will be desperately hoping that shoppers take advantage of discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to bump up annual sales figures. While this would boost a sector that has <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-retail-sales-rise-by-06-october-2022-11-18/">yet to fully recover</a> from the COVID pandemic, there’s a major downside. The more that shoppers buy online, the bigger the problem with returned goods. Almost <a href="https://www.statista.com/topics/2333/e-commerce-in-the-united-kingdom/">60 million people</a> shop online in the UK – in other words the vast majority. But most shoppers buy more than they intend to keep. They order multiple sizes and colours to find the perfect item, safe in the knowledge that there’s a convenient and “free” return option to dispose of the rest. <h2>The returns nightmare</h2> This has become so standard that there’s even a name for it – “wardrobing”. Around <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2020/06/12/how-your-return-policy-can-influence-new-sales-and-long-term-loyalty/?sh=4749b17a1c42">66% of </a> people in the UK consider the returns policy before buying online, and abandon orders when the policy isn’t obvious. <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/consumer/instagram-shoppers-buy-clothes-wear-once-ootd-picture-return-186572">One in ten shoppers</a>even admit to buying clothes solely for the purpose of taking a photo for social media. <a href="https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2019-08/royal-mail-delivery-matters-returns-2018.pdf">More than half</a> of all clothes purchased online are returned. Put another way, each British shopper returns an average of <a href="https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2019-08/royal-mail-delivery-matters-returns-2018.pdf">one item per month</a>. But if people have become used to treating their bedrooms and living rooms as the new in-store changing room, it’s not only clothes that cause an online returns problem. For example, <a href="https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2019-08/royal-mail-delivery-matters-returns-2018.pdf">42% of electrical goods</a> ordered online get returned, mostly because they arrive damaged or faulty. Returned goods are much more <a href="https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/170890/">complex to process</a> than other stock because they tend to arrive as single items that need inspecting individually to see why they were returned. They need sorting and possibly repairing or cleaning before being returned to stock, which for many retailers is in a different location. The associated costs are significantly higher than shipping out new products. According to <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/26/business/retail-returns/index.html">one US expert</a>, every dollar in returned merchandise costs a retailer between 15 and 30 cents. Returns were estimated to be costing retailers <a href="https://www.clearreturns.com/portfolio-item/black-friday-costs-uk-retailers-180m-in-returned-goods/">about £20 billion a year</a> in 2016, roughly half that of shop-bought products. Since then, it will have <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/286384/internet-share-of-retail-sales-monthly-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/">increased considerably</a> – particularly during COVID as online sales went through the roof. Every time you move a product there are also environmental costs associated with the journey. According to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01246-9">one recent study</a>, the carbon emissions from returning a product are about a third higher than shipping it out in the first place. <h2>What can be done</h2> It is tempting to think we need rules to curb all this over-buying and returning. But that would be very difficult to police and also potentially disastrous for online retailers. In any case, the sector is developing its own solutions: <a href="https://internetretailing.net/delivery/25-of-top500-brands-now-charging-consumers-for-returns/">a quarter</a> of leading UK brands now charge customers for returns, including fast-fashion players like <a href="https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2022/11/end-free-returns/">Zara and Boohoo</a>. They will not be doing this lightly: the Royal Mail <a href="https://www.royalmail.com/business/system/files/delivery-matters-uk-edition-2018.pdf">estimates 52%</a> of shoppers would be unlikely to use a particular online retailer if they had to pay for the returns. We both still see reports online claiming that substantial amounts of returned clothes end up in landfill, but this is not what we hear from our discussions with leading retailers. <a href="https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/You-and-your-home/Waste-and-recycling/Furniture-andhousehold-items/Clothing">Over 95%</a> of returned clothing can be reprocessed and made available for resale as a new product – subject to cleaning and sewing repairs and retailers having access to ozone cleaning facilities to remove perfume/aftershave smells, which is actually a major one issue. Our understanding is that many retailers are approaching that sort of turnaround figure. ASOS reportedly <a href="https://www.asos.com/responsible-fashion/packaging-and-delivery/6-ways-our-returns-are-more-responsible/">resells over 97%</a> of its returns, for instance. <h2>Challenges with bulky goods</h2> Unfortunately it’s very different with bulkier goods like furniture or kitchen appliances. These often require additional packaging, two-person collection and much more besides. Take memory foam mattresses. A consumer returning one won’t be able to squeeze out all the air and put it back in the modest-sized delivery box. The return will therefore be the size of a mattress, and you can’t get that many on a truck. Mattresses have also been slept on so there are hygiene considerations. The cover needs to be washed or discarded, depending on its condition. The mattress has to be inspected for damage like scuff marks, then cleaned and sanitised before being reboxed to be sold as reconditioned. There are comparable challenges across the board with bulkier products. To give another example, electrical items are expensive to repair and by law need to be tested before they can be resold. Faced with such issues, retailers frequently take the easy way out. They let returns languish in distributors’ warehouses before eventually sending them to landfill. We have seen this first hand in <a href="https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/170890/">our research</a>, working with four major retail brands that use returns specialist Prolog. One beauty retailer insists their returned electrical products in beauty kits be destroyed to protect their brand, leading to many being sent to landfill. We were able to demonstrate that these items could be processed more sustainably by harvesting the unused components for new kits, retained by Prolog Fulfilment for supplying missing components to other customers, or salvaged for warranty replacements. These sorts of options are available with a bit of investigation. Sometimes value engineering is also possible, where engineers repair returned products and provide feedback to manufacturers about common reasons for returns. Carbon footprints can also be reduced. For instance, the delivery company could hold the returns rather than sending them back to the retailer’s distribution centre. It’s still commonplace for retailers to process returns in a different location from where they ship out new products, so companies need to look at this too. These failures are both unacceptable from a sustainability point of view but also a major missed selling opportunity. Many returns could be refurbished with little effort and sold as “A-” grade at a small discount. When products can’t be resold, other options include resizing, donating to charity or working with specialist recycling companies to dismantle and recycle the smaller components to prevent any material going to landfill. As everyone gears up for the Black Friday weekend and then Christmas, it’s time for these retailers to do better. Consumers also need to be aware of this issue and apply more pressure. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/black-friday-so-many-online-returns-end-up-in-landfill-heres-what-needs-to-happen-to-change-that-195310" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Beauty & Style

To make our wardrobes sustainable, we must cut how many new clothes we buy by 75%

If things don’t change fast, the fashion industry <a href="https://www.stockholmresilience.org/download/18.66e0efc517643c2b8103605/1617805679501/Sustainable%20Textiles%20Synthesis%20Report.pdf">could</a> use a quarter of the world’s remaining global carbon budget to keep warming under 2℃ by 2050, and use 35% more land to produce fibres by 2030. While this seems incredible, it’s not. Over the past 15 years, clothing production <a href="https://archive.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/explore/fashion-and-the-circular-economy">has doubled</a> while the length of time we actually wear these clothes has fallen by nearly 40%. In the EU, falling prices have seen people buying <a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/textiles-in-europes-circular-economy">more clothing</a> than ever before while spending less money in the process. This is not sustainable. Something has to give. In our <a href="https://eeb.org/library/wellbeing-wardrobe-a-wellbeing-economy-for-the-fashion-and-textile-sector-summary">recent report</a>, we propose the idea of a wellbeing wardrobe, a new way forward for fashion in which we favour human and environmental wellbeing over ever-growing consumption of throwaway fast-fashion. What would that look like? It would mean each of us cutting how many new clothes we buy by as much as <a href="https://katefletcher.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Earth-Logic-plan-FINAL.pdf">75%</a>, buying clothes designed to last, and recycling clothes at the end of their lifetime. For the sector, it would mean tackling low incomes for the people who make the clothes, as well as support measures for workers who could lose jobs during a transition to a more sustainable industry. <h2>Sustainability efforts by industry are simply not enough</h2> Fashion is accelerating. Fast fashion is being replaced by <a href="https://amp.theguardian.com/fashion/2021/dec/21/how-shein-beat-amazon-at-its-own-game-and-reinvented-fast-fashion">ultra-fast fashion</a>, releasing unprecedented volumes of new clothes into the market. Since the start of the year, fast fashion giants H&M and Zara have launched <a href="https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/retail/why-shein-might-be-worth-100-billion-in-four-charts">around 11,000 new styles</a> combined. Over the same time, ultra-fast fashion brand Shein has released a staggering 314,877 styles. Shein is currently the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-05/shein-is-the-new-darling-of-china-s-fast-fashion-industry-but-at/100964524">most popular shopping app in Australia</a>. As you’d expect, this acceleration is producing a tremendous amount of waste. In response, the fashion industry has devised a raft of plans to tackle the issue. The problem is many sustainability initiatives still place economic opportunity and growth before environmental concerns. Efforts such as switching to more sustainable fibres and textiles and offering ethically-conscious options are commendable. Unfortunately, they do very little to actually confront the sector’s rapidly increasing consumption of resources and waste generation. On top of this, <a href="https://cleanclothes.org/news">labour rights abuses</a> of workers in the supply chain are rife. Over the past five years, the industry’s issues of child labour, discrimination and forced labour have worsened globally. Major garment manufacturing countries including Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Vietnam are considered an <a href="https://www.maplecroft.com/insights/analysis/worldwide-decline-in-labour-rights-strikes-at-heart-of-global-supply-chains/">“extreme risk”</a> for modern slavery. Here’s what we can do to tackle the situation. <h2>1. Limit resource use and consumption</h2> We need to have serious conversations between industry, consumers and governments about limiting resource use in the fashion industry. As a society, we need to talk about how much clothing <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620304564?via%3Dihub">is enough</a> to live well. On an individual level, it means buying fewer new clothes, as well as reconsidering where we get our clothes from. Buying secondhand clothes or using rental services are ways of changing your wardrobe with lower impact. <h2>2. Expand the slow fashion movement</h2> The growing <a href="https://slowfashion.global/">slow fashion movement</a> focuses on the quality of garments over quantity, and favours classic styles over fleeting trends. We must give renewed attention to repairing and caring for clothes we already own to extend their lifespan, such as by reviving sewing, mending and other long-lost skills. <h2>3. New systems of exchange</h2> The wellbeing wardrobe would mean shifting away from existing fashion business models and embracing new systems of exchange, such as collaborative consumption models, co-operatives, not-for-profit social enterprises and <a href="https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/certification">B-corps</a>. What are these? Collaborative consumption models involve sharing or renting clothing, while social enterprises and B-corps are businesses with purposes beyond making a profit, such as ensuring living wages for workers and minimising or eliminating environmental impacts. There are also methods that don’t rely on money, such as swapping or borrowing clothes with friends and altering or redesigning clothes in repair cafes and sewing circles. <h2>4. Diversity in clothing cultures</h2> Finally, as consumers we must nurture a diversity of clothing cultures, including incorporating the knowledge of <a href="https://www.russh.com/creator-of-australian-indigenous-fashion-yatu-widders-hunt-on-telling-stories-and-the-future-of-fashion/">Indigenous fashion design</a>, which has respect for the environment at its core. Communities of exchange should be encouraged to recognise the cultural value of clothing, and to rebuild emotional connections with garments and support long-term use and care. <h2>What now?</h2> Shifting fashion from a perpetual growth model to a sustainable approach will not be easy. Moving to a post-growth fashion industry would require policymakers and the industry to bring in a wide range of reforms, and re-imagine roles and responsibilities in society. You might think this is too hard. But the status quo of constant growth cannot last. It’s better we act to shape the future of fashion and work towards a wardrobe good for people and planet – rather than let a tidal wave of wasted clothing soak up resources, energy and our very limited carbon budget. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/to-make-our-wardrobes-sustainable-we-must-cut-how-many-new-clothes-we-buy-by-75-179569" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Beauty & Style

Lookism: beauty still trumps brains in too many workplaces

Universities position themselves as places where brains matter. It seems strange then that students at a US university would rate attractive academics to be better teachers. This <a href="https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/attractive-female-academics-rated-better-teachers">was the finding</a> of a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272775719307538?dgcid=coauthor">recent paper</a> from the University of Memphis, which concluded that female academics suffered most from this. It raises an uncomfortable proposition, that beauty trumps brains even in 21st century workplaces. It would certainly be supported by veteran female broadcasters <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/sep/22/bbc-subjects-older-women-to-lookism-says-libby-purves">such as</a> radio presenter Libby Purves, who recently complained about the way the BBC dispenses with women of a certain age. <a href="https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/news/articles/quarter-of-women-asked-to-dress-more-provocatively-for-video-meetings">Another survey</a>, this time in the UK, gave a deeper sense of the problem. It reported that employers were asking female employees to dress “sexier” and wear make-up during video meetings. Published by law firm Slater and Gordon over the summer, and based on a poll of 2,000 office-based staff working from home during lockdown, the report found that 35% of women had experienced at least one sexist demand from their employer, usually relating to how they dressed for video meetings. Women also reported being asked to wear more makeup, do something to their hair or dress more provocatively. Reasons offered by their bosses were that it would “help win business” and be “pleasing to a client”. It seems as though the shift to more virtual working has not eradicated what Danielle Parsons, an employment lawyer at Slater and Gordon, described as “archaic behaviour” which “has no place in the modern working world”. When employees’ performance is judged on the basis of their physical appearance, potentially shaping their pay and prospects in work, it is known as lookism. It’s not illegal, but arguably it should be. <h2>Beauty and the boss</h2> The Slater and Gordon survey findings affirm that many trends that we describe in our recent book, <a href="https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/aesthetic-labour/book232313">Aesthetic Labour</a>, are widespread and continuing despite remote working. Our book reports over 20 years of research and thinking about this problem. Although our research started by focusing on frontline work in hospitality and retail, the same issue has expanded into a diverse range of roles including academics, traffic wardens, recruitment consultants, interpreters, TV news anchors and circus acrobats. Companies think that paying greater attention to employees’ appearance will make them more competitive, while public sector organisations think it will make them more liked. As a result, they are all becoming ever more prescriptive in telling employees how they should look, dress and talk. It happens both to men and women, though more often to women, and is often tied in more broadly with sexualising them at work. For example, while Slater and Gordon found that one-third of men and women had “put up with” comments about their appearance during video calls, women were much likelier to face degrading requests to appear sexier. When we analysed ten years of employees’ complaints about lookism to the Equal Opportunities Commission in Australia, we found that the proportion from men was rising across sectors but that two-thirds of complaints were still from women. Interestingly, the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272775719307538?dgcid=coauthor">University of Memphis study</a> found no correlation for male academics between how their looks were perceived and how their performance was rated. <h2>Society’s obsession</h2> Of course, workplaces cannot be divorced from society in general, and within the book we chart the increasing obsession with appearance. This aestheticisation of individuals is partly driven by the ever-growing reach and importance of the beauty industry and a huge rise in cosmetic – now increasingly labelled aesthetic – surgery. These trends are perhaps understandable given that those deemed to be “attractive” benefit from a “beauty premium” whereby they are more likely to get a job, more likely to get better pay and more likely to be promoted. Being deemed unattractive or lacking the right dress sense can be reasons to be denied a job, but they are not illegal. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/146954050200200302#:%7E:text=DEFINING%20THE%20AESTHETIC%20ECONOMY%20An,omic%20calculations%20of%20that%20setting.">Some researchers</a> have described an emerging aesthetic economy. Clearly this raises concerns about unfair discrimination, but without the legal protection afforded to, say, disabled people. Not only has this trend continued during the pandemic, it might even have been compounded. With the first genuine signs of rising unemployment <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/employmentintheuk/october2020">reported this month</a>, research already suggests a <a href="https://www.recruitment-international.co.uk/blog/2020/08/job-applications-spike-by-more-than-1300-percent-for-some-roles">14-fold increase</a> in the number of applicants for some job roles. For example, one restaurant in Manchester had over <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/28/eight-people-claiming-employment-support-for-every-vacancy-says-thinktank">1,000 applicants</a> for a receptionist position, while the upmarket pub chain All Bar One reported over 500 applicants for a single bar staff role in Liverpool. Employers are now clearly spoilt for choice when it comes to filling available positions, and those perceived to be better looking will likely have a better chance. We know <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJCHM-04-2020-0314/full/html?skipTracking=true">from research</a> by the University of Strathclyde’s Tom Baum and his colleagues that the hospitality industry was precarious and exploitative enough even before COVID. It all suggests that lookism is not going away. If we are to avoid the archaic practices of the old normal permeating the new normal, it is time to rethink what we expect from the workplace of the future. One obvious change that could happen is making discrimination on the basis of looks illegal. That would ensure that everyone, regardless of their appearance, has equal opportunity in the world of work to come. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/lookism-beauty-still-trumps-brains-in-too-many-workplaces-148278" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Beauty & Style

How a new art project in Bathurst is embracing the many identities of the town

For many, Bathurst’s Mount Panorama is exclusively a car racing venue. For Indigenous Australians it is a place called Wahluu, where First Nations women once offered their sons for tribal initiation. It is a cherished Wiradyuri territory that hosts dreaming and creation stories. Earlier this year, further development on the site <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2021/05/03/wahluu-womens-site-be-protected-says-federal-environment-minister">was blocked</a>, with the federal government acknowledging the cultural significance of the location for the Wiradyuri people. In some respects, the conflicting identity of Bathurst’s mountain can be reconciled through the forms of masculinity it represents: the male-centric sport of car racing – so central to the town’s present-day image – and the rite of passage of young Aboriginal men into adulthood. Now, a new art project, <a href="https://kateofthesmiths.com.au/fast-cars-dirty-beats/">Fast Cars & Dirty Beats</a> is navigating these cultural differences by fostering a sense of community. Created by artistic director Kate Smith, Fast Cars & Dirty Beats embraces Mount Panorama’s/Wahluu’s dual identity that, for some, is representative of a cultural divide between black and white Australia. Smith’s vision is not culturally constrained, but rather expressive of a location that is complex and multicultural. Liaising with Bathurst Wiradyuri Elders, Smith and her artistic collaborators have developed a series of community-focused projects revolving around the cultural significance of Wahluu/Mount Panorama. One of these initiatives, Mountain Tales, was launched on the first of July as part of Bathurst’s Winter Festival. Mountain Tales is the culmination of a year-long community engagement connecting local schoolchildren, teachers and parents with skilled craftspeople and musicians, fashioning decorative lanterns and the cultivation of a drumming community. A lantern procession Although it was raining for the July launch, more than 300 locals formed a dramatic lantern procession on the cold winter’s night. I was swept up in the pageantry unravelling across the CBD, eventually settling at Bathurst’s historical <a href="https://tremainsmill.com/">Tremain’s Mill</a>. Here the community proudly displayed their beacons of light, paying homage to the Chinese presence in Bathurst since the 1800s. Supporting the procession, Rob Shannon’s drummers created a collective heartbeat, fostering a sense of joy and belonging. After this ceremony of light and sound, members of the community told stories about the significance of Mount Panorama/Wahluu. Yarns were shared concerning the mountain being a place where locals experienced a first kiss or participated in some youthful skylarking. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A paper lantern in the shape of a car." /></a><figcaption>Cars are central to Australia’s image of Bathurst – but they’re not the whole story. Kate Smith</figcaption></figure> Wiradyuri Elder Wirribee Aunty Leanna Carr-Smith explained to the group how the area plays host to both women’s and men’s business. But such stories are only for the ears of Indigenous women and men. There is a secrecy about Wahluu. Some stories are off limits to white Australians. Wiradyuri Ngayirr Ngurambang – Sacred Country The most breathtaking project launched at the Mountain Tales event is Aunty Leanna/Wirribee and Nicole Welch’s collaboration with Smith, <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/4hanss4771t8aim/SacredCountryV6_withAudio.mp4?dl=0">Wiradyuri Ngayirr Ngurambang – Sacred Country</a>, a film emblazoned across Tremain’s Mill. The old mill precinct is a reminder of colonisation and its violence. For this occasion it operated as a backdrop through which Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians connected. Beaming the film’s panoramic landscapes across this built environment juxtaposed the two cultures. Considering the urgency of global warming, the film brings together drone footage of Wahluu/Mount Panorama and aerial photography of other Indigenous landscapes in the region. It is an ethereal perspective. The soundscape is as rich and textured as the landscape, conveying an extraordinary, yet fragile, beauty. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=649&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=649&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=649&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Film still." /></a><figcaption>Projected onto the wall of Tremain’s Mill, Wiradyuri Ngayirr Ngurambang – Sacred Country is a meeting of Indigenous landscapes with colonial Australian history. Kate Smith</figcaption></figure> Wiradyuri Ngayirr Ngurambang – Sacred Country also explores shared understandings between First Nations and non-First Nations women. Their interracial connection is enacted through a seamless editing style that bridges the Tarana landscape to the Wahluu/Macquarie River, and then eventually to Wahluu/Mount Panorama. The film’s boundless landscapes evoke an all-embracing hospitality that traverses cultural differences. Sometimes the imagery creates vaginal shapes that feminises the country. The land and its creatures come across as alive and vibrant. Sky and earth are mirrored, inspiring our contemplation of eternity and the Indigenous custodianship of Country. Departing later that night, I pondered eternity. One lifetime is nothing compared to 65,000 years of Indigenous connection to Country. This awareness was both profound and comforting. But the night of collective celebration and storytelling also encouraged me, and no doubt others, to delight in life’s briefest moments. Wiradyuri Ngayirr Ngurambang – Sacred Country is playing at Tremain’s Mill, Bathurst, until July 17. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/185860/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/suzie-gibson-111690" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suzie Gibson</a>, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charles Sturt University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-a-new-art-project-in-bathurst-is-embracing-the-many-identities-of-the-town-185860" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Kate Smith

Domestic Travel

The immigration numbers bidding war is pointless – there are limits to how many migrants Australia can accept

Since late last year, various business lobby groups, the <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/australia-needs-explosive-surge-of-2-million-migrants-20211011-p58z0n" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NSW government</a>, management consultant <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/skilled-migrant-cap-stifles-economy-kpmg-analysis/news-story/dbeec35037ef1b117114bb8e6bdad394" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KPMG</a>, the <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/migration-boost-critical-to-recovery-business-council-20220217-p59xfc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business Council</a> and now a number of <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-we-open-up-lets-open-up-big-top-economists-say-we-need-more-migrants-177359" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economists</a> have been throwing numbers around, talking up the need for higher levels of immigration. I have written previously on the <a href="https://johnmenadue.com/australias-facile-immigration-policy-debate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facile nature</a> of the immigration debate in Australia, on the part of both the groups calling for “immigration to be cut wherever possible” and the groups calling for a bigger Australia. The problem is the debate focuses on targets and numbers for permanent migration, often confusing this permanent migration program with what matters for population which is net migration. At the same time, too little attention is paid to how migration targets would be delivered, the risks involved, and how the risks would be managed. So let’s start with basics. <h2>What matters is net migration</h2> The <a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official migration program</a> reflects the number of permanent resident visas issued in any one year, irrespective of whether the person is already in Australia (perhaps for a long time on a different sort of visa) or has been living overseas. Over the past 15 years, more than half of these permanent resident visas have been issued to people who have already been living long-term in Australia. <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia/latest-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Net migration</a> as calculated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics is a measure of long-term and permanent arrivals, including new people issued these visas, less departures of people who have been living long-term in Australia and intend to remain overseas for 12 out of the next 16 months. It is blind to visa status or citizenship. Net migration can fall sharply even when the migration program is large, as happened in <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia/latest-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2014-15</a> when we had one of the largest permanent migration programs in Australia’s history, yet net migration fell to 180,000. A sharp fall in net migration is usually associated with a weak labour market leading to large outflows of Australians, or Australians deciding not to return, as happened in 1975-76, 1982-83, 1991-92 and 2008-09. On the other hand, even when the migration program is being cut, net migration can be forecast to rise. This is what happened in the 2019 budget, when Treasury forecast the <a href="https://archive.budget.gov.au/2019-20/bp1/download/bp1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highest</a> sustained level of net migration in our history, after a year in which the migration program was <a href="https://www.pm.gov.au/media/plan-australias-future-population" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cut</a> from 190,000 to 160,000 per year. <h2>How many migrants, and which ones?</h2> Before discussing the various immigration targets that have recently been proposed, it’s useful to understand the government’s current forecasts and how it intends to deliver them – something surprisingly few do. The 2021-22 program has been set at <a href="https://www.pm.gov.au/media/plan-australias-future-population" target="_blank" rel="noopener">160,000</a> per year. But Treasury’s 2021 Population Statement assumed to increase to <a href="https://population.gov.au/publications/statements/2021-population-statement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">190,000</a> per year from 2023-24. There is no official government commitment to this increase to 190,000 – and there probably won’t be ahead of the election. There has also been no indication of the composition of this larger program, or what might be needed to deliver it. Planning documents say the 2021-22 migration program will be <a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">split evenly</a> between the family stream and the skill stream. This is because the government is at last clearing the very large <a href="https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/home-affairs-and-the-great-partner-visa-cover-up,14574" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backlog</a> of partner applications it (unlawfully in my view) allowed to build up. If the planned 72,000 partner visas in 2021-22 are delivered, the government might only need to allocate around 50,000 places for partners in future years because it will have cleared much of the backlog it has allowed to build up, which will result in a future overall family stream of around 60,000. This means that to deliver its total program of 160,000 from 2022-23, the government will need an extra 22,000 skilled migrants, and from 2023-24 when the total program increases to 190,000, an extra 52,000 skilled migrants. The current skill stream planning level of 79,600 has four main components. <ul> <li><a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/learn-about-sponsoring" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Employer-sponsored migration</a>: 23,503</li> </ul> There is scope to boost the number of these visas by processing them faster. However, even with a very strong labour market, it is highly unlikely that demand would rise much above 35,000 per year, especially if a more robust minimum salary requirement and strong monitoring of compliance with employer obligations are re-introduced to minimise the risk of wage theft. <ul> <li><a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/business-innovation-and-investment-188" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business innovation and investment</a>: 11,198</li> </ul> The passive investment subset of these visas, which provides visas to people who make a financial investment for a set period of time, is essentially a “<a href="https://johnmenadue.com/abul-rizvi-business-migration-should-focus-on-establishing-businesses-not-passive-investment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">buy a visa</a>” scheme. It should be either abolished or modified to ensure active investment. I resisted establishment of the passive investment component until I left the department of immigration in 2007. Long-term, removing it would cut the number of business innovation and investment visas to around 5,000 per year. <ul> <li><a href="https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-folly-of-the-global-talent-independent-visa,14617" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global talent independent</a> 9,584</li> </ul> This visa is highly susceptible to cronyism and corruption and attracts few migrants who wouldn’t otherwise qualify for other more robust visa categories. It should either be abolished or pared back to a few hundred per year for highly exceptional candidates. <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/immigration-update-australian-states-open-skilled-visa-nomination-programs-for-2021-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State and government sponsored and regional</a> 27,853</li> </ul> While the labour market is strong, there would be merit in increasing the allocation of places for these visas, as state governments are well placed to understand the needs of their jurisdictions. But it is unlikely they would be able to fill more than an additional 10,000 places per year, given the occupational targeting and employment criteria they have in place. <ul> <li><a href="https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Skilled independent</a> 7,213</li> </ul> Once again, while the labour market is strong, there is scope to increase the size of this category, but there are also risks that would need to be managed. As these migrants have no confirmed job and face a four year wait for access to social security, diluting criteria for this visa to increase the numbers would mean a rising portion would struggle to secure a skilled job. Those with options may leave to another country where job prospects are stronger. Others would be forced to take whatever job they can, including at exploitative wages. In my experience, increasing the size of this visa category to more than around 25,000 would involve substantial risks, especially if the labour market weakens once current stimulus measures are removed. <h2>190,000 won’t be easy to deliver</h2> In total, what I foresee gives us a skill stream of around 100,000. Together with a family stream of 60,000, that provides only enough to fill the existing program of 160,000 per year – not enough to increase it to the 190,000 proposed by Treasury or the 220,000 proposed by the <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/migration-boost-critical-to-recovery-business-council-20220217-p59xfc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business Council of Australia</a>. Those proposing much higher levels of immigration need to demonstrate how they would be delivered and how the risks of what might be a weaker labour market would be managed. And they need to acknowledge that the size of the migration program doesn’t determine net migration. That’s in large measure determined by the economy and how many Australians and migrants decide to leave, decide to stay overseas, or decide to return. This article originally appeared on The Conversation.

Travel Trouble

How many of these facts did you know about Titanic?

No matter when they were released, it’s always exciting to find fun facts about movies. Now OverSixty has taken a close look at the 1997 film Titanic starring Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Titanic, a romance and adventure movie, focuses on the sinking of the RMS Titanic, as told by Rose DeWitt Bukater. The film begins with men trying to locate a stunning blue diamond, known as the Heart of the Ocean, that sank with the Titanic. The crew uncovered a safe and inside found random papers and a nude drawing of a woman, Rose, wearing the necklace. Their discovery was aired on TV which prompted Rose to contact the crew and reveal she is in fact still alive and she is the woman in the drawing. From there, she is flown in and retells her story on board the Titanic. Below are a few interesting facts about the film, just in time for you to message your friends for a rewatch. After finding out that she had to be naked in front of Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet decided to break the ice and flashed him the first time they met. The scenes from 1912 during the film have a length of two hours and forty minutes - the exact time it took the Titanic to sink. When the ship collided with the iceberg, it took 37 seconds before sinking, which is the same length as the scene in the movie. The scene at the Grand Staircase where water crashed into the room had to be done in one shot because all the furniture was going to be destroyed making it impossible for a second shot. Jack drawing Rose naked is an iconic scene. But did you know Leonardo DiCaprio did not actually sketch it? It was in fact director James Cameron’s hands used and a mirror had to be used to show it as if he were right-handed like Jack. Dedicated to their roles, both Kate and Leonardo learned the polka dance for the crazy party in third class. Image: YouTube

Movies

From Tarantino to Squid Game: why do so many people enjoy violence?

Last month, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/oct/13/squid-game-is-netflixs-biggest-debut-hit-reaching-111m-viewers-worldwide">more than 100 million people</a> watched the gory Netflix show, Squid Game. Whether or not screen violence is bad for us has been extensively studied. The <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-29260-002">consensus is</a> that it can have negative effects. But the question of why we are drawn to watch violence has received much less attention. Death, blood and violence have always pulled a crowd. Ancient Romans flocked to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1234-981X(199710)5:4%3C401::AID-EURO205%3E3.0.CO;2-C">carnage in the Colosseum</a>. In later centuries, <a href="https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199592692.001.0001/acprof-9780199592692">public executions were big box-office</a>. In the modern era, the film director Quentin Tarantino believes that: “<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2013/01/quentin-tarantino-violence-quotes/319586/">In movies, violence is cool. I like it</a>”. Many of us seem to agree with him. A study of high-grossing movies found <a href="https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/133/1/71">90% had a segment</a> where the main character was involved in violence. Similarly, most Americans <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-58515-001">enjoy horror films</a> and watch them several times a year. <h2>Who is watching this stuff?</h2> Some people are more likely to enjoy violent media than others. Being male, aggressive and having less empathy all <a href="https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532785XMEP0702_5">make you more likely</a> to enjoy watching screen violence. There are also certain personality traits associated liking violent media. Extroverted people, who seek excitement, and people who are more open to aesthetic experiences, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532785XMEP0704_5">like watching violent movies more</a>. Conversely, people high in agreeableness - characterised by humility and sympathy for others - tend to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532785XMEP0704_5">like violent media less</a>. <h2>…but why?</h2> One theory is that watching violence is cathartic, draining out our excess aggression. However, this idea is <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/3/4/491">not well supported by evidence</a>. When angry people watch violent content, they <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Media-Entertainment-The-Psychology-of-Its-Appeal/Zillmann-Vorderer/p/book/9780805833256">tend to get angrier</a>. More recent research, derived from studies of horror films, suggests there may be three categories of people who enjoy watching violence, each with their own reasons. One group has been dubbed “<a href="https://psyarxiv.com/sdxe6/">adrenaline junkies</a>”. These sensation seekers want new and intense experiences, and are more likely <a href="https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532785XMEP0702_5">to get a rush</a> from watching violence. Part of this group may be people who like seeing others suffer. Sadists feel other people’s pain <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-psychopaths-to-everyday-sadists-why-do-humans-harm-the-harmless-144017">more than normal</a>, and enjoy it. Another group enjoys watching violence because they feel they learn something from it. In horror studies, such people are called “<a href="https://psyarxiv.com/sdxe6/">white knucklers</a>”. Like adrenaline junkies, they feel intense emotions from watching horror. But they dislike these emotions. They tolerate it because they feel it helps them learn something about how to survive. This is a bit like <a href="https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/musichtc_facpub/26">benign masochism</a>, the enjoyment of aversive, painful experiences in a safe context. If we can tolerate some pains, we may gain something. Just as “painful” <a href="https://tidsskrift.dk/lev/article/view/104693">cringe comedies may teach us social skills</a>, watching violence may teach us survival skills. A final group seems to get both sets of benefits. They enjoy the sensations generated by watching violence and feel they learn something. In the horror genre, such people have been called “<a href="https://psyarxiv.com/sdxe6/">dark copers</a>”. The idea that people enjoy watching safe, on-screen violence because it can teach us something is called “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000152">threat simulation theory</a>”. This fits with the observation that the people who seem most attracted to watching violence (aggressive young men) are also those most likely to be encountering or dishing out such violence. Watching violence from the safety of our sofa may be a way to prepare ourselves for a violent and dangerous world. Violence hence appeals for a good reason. Interestingly, a recent study found that horror fans and morbidly curious individuals were <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886920305882">more psychologically resilient</a> during the COVID-19 pandemic. <h2>Is it really the violence we like?</h2> There are reasons to reconsider how much we like watching violence per se. For example, in one study <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08934210500084198">researchers showed</a>two groups of people the 1993 movie, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106977/">The Fugitive</a>. One group were shown an unedited movie, while another saw a version with all violence edited out. Despite this, both groups liked the film equally. This finding has been supported by other studies which have also found that removing graphic violence from a film <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00224549909598417">does not make people like it less</a>. There is even evidence that people <a href="https://academic.oup.com/hcr/article-abstract/35/3/442/4107507">enjoy non-violent versions</a> of films more than violent versions. Many people may be enjoying something that coincides with violence, rather than violence itself. For example, violence creates <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12112">tension and suspense</a>, which may be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08838150701626446">what people find appealing</a>. Another possibility is that it is <a href="http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1087.404&rep=rep1&type=pdf">action, not violence</a>, which people enjoy. Watching violence also offers a great chance for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12112">making meaning</a> about finding meaning in life. Seeing violence allows us to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12112">reflect on the human condition</a>, an experience we value. Other theories are also out there. “<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781405186407.wbiece049">Excitation transfer theory</a>” suggests that watching violence makes us aroused, a feeling that persists until the end of the show, making the end feel more pleasing. The “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2011.570826">forbidden fruit hypothesis</a>” proposes that it is violence being deemed off-limits that makes it appealing. Consistent with this, warning labels <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1996-06304-002">increase people’s interest</a> in violent programmes. Finally, it may be that it is justified punishment, rather than violence, that we enjoy watching. Indeed, whenever people anticipate being able to punish wrongdoers, the <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1100735">reward centres of their brain</a> light up like fairgrounds. That said, <a href="https://academic.oup.com/hcr/article-abstract/35/3/442/4107507">less than half the violence</a> on TV is inflicted on baddies by goodies. <h2>Political motives?</h2> All this suggests that media companies may be giving us violence that many of us <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2011.570826">don’t want or need</a>. We should hence consider what other corporate, political or ideological pressures may be encouraging onscreen violence globally. For example, the US government has a close interest in, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/washington-dcs-role-behind-the-scenes-in-hollywood-goes-deeper-than-you-think-80587">influence over Hollywood</a>. Portrayals of violence can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0896920517739093">manufacture our consent</a> with government policies, encourage us to endorse the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10509208.2015.1086614">legitimacy of state power and state violence</a>, and help <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/78912/manufacturing-consent-by-edward-s-herman-and-noam-chomsky/">determine who are “worthy victims”</a>. The messages onscreen violence send can, however, cause us to become disconnected with reality. <a href="https://stevenpinker.com/publications/better-angels-our-nature">When crime rates fall</a>, <a href="https://publisher.abc-clio.com/9780313015977/">onscreen violence</a> can make us think that crime is increasing. Movies also lie about the real <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071054/">impact of violence</a> on the human body – with almost 90% of violent actions showing no realistic physical consequences to the victim. Movies can also <a href="https://doi.org/10.18357/ijcyfs101201918809">disguise the reality of male violence</a> against women and children. The American political scientist <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/84573/the-clash-of-civilizations-and-the-remaking-of-world-order-by-samuel-p-huntington/">Samuel Huntington once wrote that</a>, “The west won the world not by the superiority of its ideas … but rather by its superiority in applying organised violence. Westerners often forget this fact; non-Westerners never do.” We should be constantly aware of how fake violence on our screens serves real violence in our world. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-tarantino-to-squid-game-why-do-so-many-people-enjoy-violence-170251" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Movies

This WA town just topped 50℃ – a dangerous temperature many Australians will have to get used to

While Australians are used to summer heat, most of us only have to endure the occasional day over 40℃. Yesterday though, the temperature <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-13/onslow-in-the-pilbara-equals-australias-hottest-day-on-record/100754082">peaked at 50.7℃</a> in Onslow, a small Western Australian town around 100km from Exmouth. Remarkably, the town sits right next to the ocean, which usually provides cooling. By contrast, the infamously hot WA town of Marble Bar has <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-01/marble-bar-christmas-hottest-town-australia/100731946">only reached 49.6℃</a> this summer, despite its inland location. If confirmed, the Onslow temperature would equal Australia’s hottest on record <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/oodnadatta-holds-the-record-for-australias-hottest-temperature-and-it-looks-set-to-get-even-warmer/news-story/36a0585310acc37be3d14674569526a3">set in Oodnadatta</a>, South Australia, in January 1960. It would also mark only the fourth day over 50℃ for an Australian location since reliable observations began. Unfortunately, this extreme heat is becoming more common as the world heats up. The number of days over 50℃ has <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58494641">doubled since the 1980s</a>. These dangerous temperatures are now being <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/aug/13/halfway-boiling-city-50c">recorded more often</a> – not just in Australia but in cities in Pakistan, India and the Persian Gulf. This poses real threats to the health of people enduring them. <h2>Where did the heat come from?</h2> Hitting such extreme temperatures requires heat to build up over several days. Onslow’s temperatures had been <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=122&p_display_type=dailyDataFile&p_stn_num=005017&p_startYear=">close to average</a> since a couple of heatwaves struck the Pilbara in the second half of December. So where did this unusual heat come from? <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440801/original/file-20220113-19-77sy3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440801/original/file-20220113-19-77sy3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> This weather chart from 13th January 2022 illustrates the conditions just half an hour before the record-equalling 50.7℃ was recorded. The blue dashed line marks the trough which meets the coast close to Onslow and helped bring in the hot air. Bureau of Meteorology In short, from the bakingly hot desert. South to south-easterly winds blew very hot air from the interior of the state up to Onslow. The wind came from an area that has had little to no rainfall since November, so the very hot air was also extremely dry. Dry air kept the sun beating at full intensity by preventing any cloud cover or storm formation. The result? The temperature rose and rose through the morning and early afternoon, and the temperature spiked at over 50℃ just before 2.30pm local time. <h2>Aren’t we in a cooler La Niña period?</h2> Australia’s weather is strongly linked to conditions in the Pacific Ocean. At the moment we’re in <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/">a La Niña event</a> where we have cooler than normal ocean temperatures near the equator in the central and east Pacific. La Niña is typically associated with cooler, wetter conditions. But its effects on Australian weather are <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/about/?bookmark=lanina">strongest in spring</a>, when we had unusually <a href="https://theconversation.com/back-so-soon-la-nina-heres-why-were-copping-two-soggy-summers-in-a-row-173684">wet and cool conditions</a> over the east of the continent. During summer the relationship between La Niña and Australian weather usually weakens, with its strongest impacts normally confined to the northeast of the continent. During La Niña we typically see fewer and less intense heatwaves across much of eastern Australia, but the intensity of heat extremes in Western Australia is <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2015JD023592">not very different </a>between La Niña and El Niño. The pattern of extreme heat in Western Australia and flooding in parts of Queensland is fairly typical of a La Niña summer, although temperatures over 50℃ are extremely rare. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440812/original/file-20220114-23-1b2bb55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="men pump water from flooded street" /> Recent flooding in Queensland is also typical of La Nina summers. RAPID RELIEF TEAM <h2>Climate change is cranking up the heat</h2> Should these temperatures be a surprise? Sadly, no. Australia has warmed by <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/state-of-the-climate/australias-changing-climate.shtml">around 1.4℃ since 1910</a>, well ahead of the <a href="https://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20220113/">global average of 1.1℃</a>. In northern Australia, summer-average temperatures have not <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/#tabs=Tracker&tracker=trend-maps&tQ=map%3Dtmean%26area%3Daus%26season%3D1202%26period%3D1930">risen as much</a> as other parts of the country, because summers in the Top End have also got wetter. That’s in line with climate change models. When the conditions are right in the Pilbara, however, heat is significantly more extreme than it used to be. Heat events in the region have become <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2020EF001924">more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting</a>, just as in most other regions. Most of us have chosen not to live in Australia’s hottest areas. So you might think you don’t need to worry about 50℃ heatwaves. But as the climate continues to warm, heatwave conditions are expected to become much more common and extreme across the continent. In urban areas, roads and concrete soak up the sun’s heat, raising maximum temperatures by several degrees and making for dangerous conditions. Even if we keep global warming below 2℃ in line with the Paris Agreement, we can still expect to see our first <a href="https://science.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/melbourne-and-sydney-should-prepare-50-degree-days">50℃ days in Sydney and Melbourne</a> in coming years. In January 2020 the Western Sydney suburb of Penrith came very close, <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/sydney-s-penrith-the-hottest-place-on-earth-amid-devastating-bushfires/990f7843-278b-4973-90ab-b6dcb01c97aa">reaching 48.9℃</a>. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440813/original/file-20220114-19-defesm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="man holds child in front of cooling mist machine" /> Sydney and Melbourne will experience 50℃ days in coming years. Joe Castro/AAP As you know, it’s going to be very hard to achieve even keeping global warming below 2℃, given the need to urgently slash greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade. As it stands, the world’s actions on emission reduction suggest we are actually on track for around <a href="https://climateactiontracker.org/global/cat-thermometer/">2.7℃ of warming</a>, which would see <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-no-end-to-the-damage-humans-can-wreak-on-the-climate-this-is-how-bad-its-likely-to-get-166031">devastating consequences</a> for life on Earth. We already know what we need to do to prevent this frightening future. The stronger the action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally – including by major carbon emitting countries such as Australia – the less the world will warm and the less Australian heat extremes will intensify. That’s because the relationships between greenhouse gas emissions, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature16542">global temperatures</a> and <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-12520-2">Australian heat extremes</a> are roughly linear. You may think Australians are good at surviving the heat. But the climate you were born in doesn’t exist any more. Sadly, our farms, wildlife, and suburbs will struggle to cope with the extreme heat projected for coming decades. Let’s work to make this 50℃ record an outlier – and not the new normal.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174909/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-king-103126">Andrew King</a>, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-wa-town-just-topped-50-a-dangerous-temperature-many-australians-will-have-to-get-used-to-174909">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

COVID chaos has shed light on many issues in the Australian childcare sector. Here are 4 of them

Thousands of families are without childcare as <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/resources/national-registers/service-temp-closure-info">hundreds of services</a> have had to close due to a surge in COVID cases, while many more are running at reduced capacity. Many parents dread another <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-covid-control-to-chaos-what-now-for-australia-two-pathways-lie-before-us-174325">chaotic year</a> that may have them jugging <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2022/01/06/executive-functioning-is-much-harder-for-children-from-chaotic-households/">childcare and work</a> at home. The government <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-government-has-again-rescued-the-childcare-sector-from-collapse-but-short-term-fixes-still-leave-it-at-risk-166568">rescued the childcare sector</a> several times over the past two years – making services eligible for a portion of their pre-pandemic payments as families pulled their children out. But these measures were only temporary. The childcare system was already busting at the seams before COVID. I led an <a href="https://uneprofessions.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_38j3CdPsHnM8l81">international survey</a> in 2021, during the pandemic, in which early childhood educators’ gave ideas on how their government could support their work. In Australia, 51 educators participated. Here are four preexisting the issues that have <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/early-childhood-directors-are-carrying-an-exhausting-load-during-covid-19-even-beyond-major-outbreaks-research/">increased during the pandemic</a>. <h2>1. Staff shortages</h2> Currently, many childcare services are closed and others are operating at reduced capacity because staff are either sick with COVID or close contacts that need to isolate. But staffing problems plagued the sector well before the pandemic, with <a href="https://theconversation.com/early-childhood-educators-are-leaving-in-droves-here-are-3-ways-to-keep-them-and-attract-more-153187">more than a 30% staff turnover</a>. The agency responsible for early childhood education and care, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), released its <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-workforce-strategy">National Workforce Strategy</a> in 2021. It revealed 25% of educators have been at their service for less than a year. This high turnover harms relationships with children who need continuity. In a 2021 <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/73-of-early-educators-plan-to-leave-the-sector-within-three-years/">survey of almost 4,000 Australian educators</a>, 73% said they planned to leave their job within three years. The <a href="https://bigsteps.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Exhausted-undervalued-and-leaving.pdf">reasons</a> included low pay, overwork and being undervalued. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440392/original/file-20220112-23-1qok3m4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440392/original/file-20220112-23-1qok3m4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Child pouring out sand." /></a> 73% of early childhood educators plan to leave the profession. <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/z02yFSgVRbA" class="source">Markus Spiske/Unsplash</a> Women make up <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-workforce-strategy">91% the early childhood education and care workforce</a>. Pay is low in traditionally female occupations, and many educators leave simply because they <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0022185618800351">cannot afford to stay</a>. ACECQA has fast tracked <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/qualifications/requirements/children-preschool-age-or-under/recognition-as-an-equivalent-early-childhood-teacher">quick conversions</a> for primary and secondary school teachers into early childhood education, despite large and important differences in teaching philosophies. But there is unlikely to be a stampede to become one of Australia’s <a href="https://au.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/lowest-paid-jobs-in-australia">13th lowest paid workers</a>, just above a housekeeper. The national average salary for a childcare worker is A$29.63 per hour, but many earn as little as <a href="https://www.payscale.com/research/AU/Job=Childcare_Worker/Hourly_Rate">A$23.50</a>. This is in comparison to an average school teacher who earns <a href="https://www.payscale.com/research/AU/Job=Primary_School_Teacher/Salary">A$33.65</a> per hour. One educator in our study called for <blockquote> recognition of the equal value of early childhood educators with primary school teachers, especially for university-trained teachers, who experience a huge pay gap. </blockquote> Casualisation in the sector is another issue leading to high turnover. As part of government COVID rescue packages, permanent staff could receive JobKeeper payments, but casual staff at childcare services were not eligible. Many <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/08/05/hypervigilance-is-wearing-ecec-educators-down-as-the-pandemic-continues/">casual staff left</a> the sector. Government oversight is needed but there is always confusion about which government is responsible. Then there are also differences between community based and private services. <h2>2. Nobody is responsible for the sector</h2> Australia has one of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/quality-childcare-has-become-a-necessity-for-australian-families-and-for-society-its-time-the-government-paid-up-131748">highest levels</a> of privatisation in early childhood education in the world. This makes it harder for governments to control casualisation. However, the government sets the award wages. In a recent speech to the National Press Club, New South Wales Premier, Dominic Perrottet, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-08/perrottet-bid-to-take-over-childcare-from-commonwealth/100681344">said</a> he wanted states and territories to be able to take over responsibility for childcare from the federal government. This was part of his plan for “reform for a postpandemic world” which he said should be “state led, not Commonwealth led”. The federal government funds childcare, through subsidies, but providers are largely private and set their own fees. The state and territory governments fund community preschools. The federal government is responsible for the sector’s standards, frameworks and curricula, but the state and territory governments regulate them. This messy web makes it more difficult to reform the sector and manage costs for families. One level of government taking responsibility for childcare and preschool services will go some way to fixing the problems. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FIef0mCk7Ao?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet wants the states to take over responsibility for childcare. <h2>3. Too much paperwork</h2> In <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/07/26/acecqa-shares-findings-from-national-workforce-strategy-as-recruiting-challenges-persist/">ACECQA’s survey</a>, educators blamed <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2043610615597154">administrative overload</a> as one of the <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/07/26/acecqa-shares-findings-from-national-workforce-strategy-as-recruiting-challenges-persist/">three main reasons</a> they wanted to leave the profession. The increasing paperwork came as governments created <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi86rWw4Jv1AhUTS2wGHSpPD7MQFnoECCYQAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aasw.asn.au%2Fdocument%2Fitem%2F936&usg=AOvVaw0tkTyvOjf6LvcG5WzaJeYG">managerial systems</a> disguised as <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02680939.2017.1352032">quality assurance</a>, to try to regulate the sector. Now, educators must <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02680939.2014.924561">collect big data</a> every day, including <a href="https://bigsteps.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Exhausted-undervalued-and-leaving.pdf">mountains of checklists</a> for regulation and to document children’s learning. This extra workload <a href="https://educationhq.com/news/managerialism-has-taken-over-in-early-childhood-education-109737/">reduces time</a> spent on quality interactions. It also makes <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/10/25/bound-for-burnout-early-childhood-educators-are-swimming-against-a-gendered-micromanaged-tide/">educators feel micromanaged</a>, affecting their <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2020.1836583">identity and confidence</a>. Echoing the <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childcare/report/childcare-overview.pdf">Productivity Commission’s findings</a> in 2014, educators in our study said governments must “reduce paperwork”, which they described as “ridiculous”, “complex”, “indecipherable”, “frustrating” and “random”. As one educator said: “we need some paperwork, but we also need to be there for the children”. Over 60% felt frustrated three or more times a week. Nearly 40% of educators said the paperwork required for accreditation compliance (assessment and rating) <a href="https://educationhq.com/news/managerialism-has-taken-over-in-early-childhood-education-109737/">decreased the time</a> they spent with children. <h2>4. High burnout, low morale</h2> Despite being an essential worker, <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/early-childhood-directors-are-carrying-an-exhausting-load-during-covid-19-even-beyond-major-outbreaks-research/">educators are undervalued</a>, struggling for <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/18369391211050165">recognition</a>. Their strengths <a href="https://www.iejee.com/index.php/IEJEE/article/view/1447/532">are not mentioned</a> in <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/belonging_being_and_becoming_the_early_years_learning_framework_for_australia.pdf">curriculum</a> documents. Overwork is the <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/07/26/acecqa-shares-findings-from-national-workforce-strategy-as-recruiting-challenges-persist/">second reason</a> educators want to leave. Our study showed that during the accreditation period, when they need to fill out regulation requirement documents, 50% of staff reported working unpaid hours. <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/09/14/accreditation-effects-on-early-childhood-educator-morale/">Staff morale</a> also suffers during accreditation. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440556/original/file-20220112-21-1sgijcd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440556/original/file-20220112-21-1sgijcd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Childcare worker talking to kids." /></a> Despite doing essential work, childcare workers are burnt out and suffer from low morale. <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/preschool-teacher-talking-group-children-sitting-1214667421" class="source">Shutterstock</a> During the pandemic, educators reported an <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/18369391211040940">increased burden</a> with extra time needed for cleaning, health requirements, communicating with parents, rearranging work plans and spaces, caring for staff, and constant <a href="https://thesector.com.au/2021/08/05/hypervigilance-is-wearing-ecec-educators-down-as-the-pandemic-continues/">hypervigilance</a>. One said, “I would prefer to work somewhere for the same or similar wage with less stress and take-home work”. Burnout is the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13158-020-00264-6">third reason</a> educators want to leave. “The demand on educators is too high. The pressure is intense”, one told us. The National Workforce Strategy recommends directors give educators links to well-being services and strategies. While this is well-meaning, it is simplistic given the level of crisis. For example, we found 70% of educators felt overtired and 60% felt overwhelmed three or more times in the last week. Recognition of childcare as an <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/18369391211040940">essential service</a> – with assured funding provision and a more streamlined level of government regulation – is key to reforming the sector’s status, and educators’ pay. The sector is in crisis, so we need to stop talking about ideas to change it and take action towards <a href="https://thrivebyfive.org.au/">total reform</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174404/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marg-rogers-867368">Marg Rogers</a>, Senior Lecturer, Early Childhood Education, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-new-england-919">University of New England</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/covid-chaos-has-shed-light-on-many-issues-in-the-australian-childcare-sector-here-are-4-of-them-174404">original article</a>. Image: Pixabay

Family & Pets

Why kids should not have lots of toys (and what to do if yours have too many)

The festive season reinforces something parents and carers already know – many children today have a lot of toys. In the United States, children receive more than <a href="https://swnsdigital.com/us/2016/11/average-child-gets-6500-worth-of-toys-in-their-lifetime/">US$6,500 (A$9,073) worth of toys</a> between the ages of two and 12. Here in Australia, the toy industry is worth more than <a href="http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6954-play-time-where-aussies-buy-their-toys-and-games-201609070858">A$3.7 billion annually</a>. Lockdowns have resulted in online toy sales growing by 21.4% during 2021, with the online toy industry now <a href="https://www.ibisworld.com/au/market-size/online-toy-sales/">growing faster</a> than the overall online retail sector. The number of toys in Australian households is likely to increase when Christmas gift giving starts in earnest. Apart from environmental concerns, having lots of toys can <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/singletons/201712/study-underscores-why-fewer-toys-is-the-better-option">negatively impact children</a> as well as <a href="https://www.todaysparent.com/family/toys/too-many-toys/">parents and carers</a>. Here are some ideas for dealing with existing toys, as well as the upcoming influx of new ones. <h2>The problem with having too many toys</h2> Spaces with lots of toys are overstimulating and impact the ability for babies, toddlers and younger children to learn and play creatively. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436025/original/file-20211207-68670-1q22rxm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Child sitting in the middle of toys." /> The more toys, the more confusing for kids. www.shutterstock.com Similar to cluttered pantries or office spaces, which make it hard for adults to focus, having too many toys around the house can make it difficult for children to concentrate, learn, and develop important skills around play. Research <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163638317301613">shows</a> fewer toys at a time leads to better quality playtime for toddlers, allowing them to focus on one toy at a time, build concentration skills, and play more creatively. The other issue with having lots of toys “in play” is that we tend to place less value on them. By reducing the number of toys, adults can help children develop <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-06/too-many-toys-can-lead-to-stuff-addiction-maggie-dent-says/8684264">appreciation and gratitude</a>. <h2>What to do if you have too many toys</h2> De-cluttering is easier said than done, but organising toys has many benefits for children and adults alike. Fewer toys that are well organised leads to a calmer, less stressful environment which also reduces overstimulation in children and contributes to better <a href="https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/behaviour/understanding-behaviour/self-regulation">behavioural regulation</a>. Reducing the number of toys can also increase opportunities for children to build frustration tolerance and having to focus on one or two toys at a time can improve <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03004430.2010.503892">problem solving skills</a> as well as developing independent play experience and creativity. Organising toys can also help parents and carers improve general structure and routine in the home, which is great for everyone! <h2>How to organise toys</h2> A good first step is to conduct an inventory of all the toys in your house. Divide toys into “keep and play”, “keep and store” (toys that are sentimental, family heirlooms or part of a collection that can be put in storage) and “give-away or sell”. Toys that are “keep and play” should be organised in ways that allow children to clearly see and easily access them. Put two-thirds of these toys away in storage. Every month, rotate the number of toys available ensuring you have an interesting selection of “social” and “solo play” toys available and try to include “good” toys. Rotating toys can help with space issues and importantly it keeps the novelty alive. <h2>Is there such a thing as ‘good’ toys?</h2> With such a huge variety of toys available, the choice can be overwhelming. But when you are thinking about buying toys, there are some features that make certain toys better than others. “Good” toys are those that are appropriate for the child’s age and developmental level. If you are not sure if a toy is suitable in this regard, seek advice from staff in specialist toy stores or consult child development websites such as <a href="https://raisingchildren.net.au/">raisingchildren.net.au</a> and <a href="http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/parent-resources/">earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au</a>. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436026/original/file-20211207-21-3sc9sx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Mum and daughter playing with blocks." /> Toys that help a child develop and keep them occupied do not need to be expensive. www.shutterstock.com Toys should stimulate learning and keep a child’s interest at the same time and they should be safe and durable. In addition, toys should be able to stand the test of time (think Lego) and ideally be used in a variety of different ways over the years. We recognise that with <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-don-t-really-have-a-plan-warning-as-australia-fails-to-hit-poverty-goals-20211201-p59dqb.html">more than 17%</a> of Australian children living in poverty, there are also many families who do not have the problem of having too many toys. Good toys <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/dec/10/can-toys-be-educational-the-same-can-be-said-for-any-household-object?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">don’t have</a> to be expensive. While Australians spend millions each year on toys, it’s worth remembering simple, everyday <a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/10_household_items_you_can_use_for_play_with_toddlers">household items</a> - cardboard boxes, saucepans and cooking implements, buckets and tubs, cardboard tubes, plastic containers and stacking cups - make excellent toys for younger children. <h2>Categorising ‘good’ toys</h2> Parents may find it useful to categorise good toys. This ensures when you are organising toys, children have access to a variety of toys suitable for different types of learning and play development. Here are five ways to categorise toys: 1. manipulative/functional toys - these include construction and building toys, puzzles, stacking and nesting, brain-teasers, dressing toys, beads, blocks, bath toys, and sand and water toys. Manipulative toys are important for helping develop fine and large motor skills, dexterity and coordination, which are vital for drawing, writing, dressing and more. 2. active toys - including various outdoor toys, climbing equipment, sports equipment and ride-on toys. Active toys are great for general physical activity and motor skills development. 3. learning toys - these include board and card games, books, and specific-skill toys such as letter identification and shape and colour sorters. 4. creative toys - such as arts and craft materials, musical toys and instruments including digital music and drawing apps. 5. make-believe - including dress ups and role play (costumes, clothing, hats, masks and accessories), stuffed toys, puppets, dolls, transportation toys. <h2>What to do with toys you don’t need</h2> It can be hard parting with beloved toys, those that have been part of a special collection or even just trying to clear out toys that have accumulated over the years. Many people find it <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1470593111418794">emotionally challenging</a> to give away toys and prefer to keep and pass them on to children and family members. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436028/original/file-20211207-19-oumje7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="box of Lego blocks organised into compartments." /> Keep your toys organised to facilitate better play. www.shutterstock.com There are many charitable organisations that will be pleased to find new homes for good quality toys - <a href="https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/donate/clothing-and-goods/">The Salvation Army</a>, <a href="https://www.savethechildren.org.au/our-stories/we-want-your-pre-loved-items">Save the Children</a> and <a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Donate/Donate_Goods/">Vinnies</a> - all welcome toy donations, especially at this time of year. Also search “toy donation” in your area to find local organisations and make sure what you are giving is in good condition (if it’s a puzzle, make sure it has all the pieces!). Online platforms selling used items or secondhand dealers are other options which will give your treasures a second life. Finally, as we head into Christmas with Australians tipped to spend <a href="http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8783-ara-media-release-countdown-to-christmas-202109100615">more than $11 billion on gifts</a>, it’s worthwhile having the list of “good” toys handy so you can easily answer friends and relatives when they inevitably ask “what can we get the kids for Christmas?”.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172611/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-grimmer-212082">Louise Grimmer</a>, Senior Lecturer in Retail Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/martin-grimmer-330523">Martin Grimmer</a>, Professor of Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-kids-should-not-have-lots-of-toys-and-what-to-do-if-yours-have-too-many-172611">original article</a>. Image: Phillip Glickman/Unsplash

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