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The first of our 2020 reflection pieces. The global pandemic from nature's perspective by Maddie Noton. The houses are awash with morning sunlight. The reflective glimmers of their windows face the gaze of the blue skyline, and below is a burrow of tiny houses and shops. The brewing buzz of the city hums away like a diligent bumblebee as the approaching sun drowsily arises from its slumber. Perched upon a windowsill, the awakening dawn is observed by a robin. Like always, he prepares to greet the day. A redbreast and golden beak glow under a spotlight of sunshine whilst a pair of black, beady eyes survey potential flight routes through the city. Finally, he chooses a curved seat of black metal on which to rest. Extending his wings, he springs forward and rides the blowing breeze, deep into the heart of the city. He soars, skimming across rooftops of houses; gliding past unopened blinds and dances by an array of doors, waiting to be opened. But when his thin talons meet the cool touch of the metallic material, he notices an eerie and incomprehensible silence. The townspeople - the lively hustle and bustle of their rushing feet and bodies - are absent. The frivolous music of their movement is replaced by a looming quiet, which stretches and smothers itself over the surroundings. The robin turns his sharp sight to the shops, which stand devoid of their usual visitors who wade in and out like clockwork. Despite the sun’s strengthening glare, their interior lights, which often emit an artificial glow, cease to shine. This incongruent darkness unsettles the robin, who now hops off his pedestal to traverse the empty pathway ahead. Bumbling along, he recognises a quaint café, consistently swimming with customers and their hot beverages, which they curl their pale fingers around as the steam dances up from its surface. It perches on the corner of the district – a familiar sight: the door, offering invitation in a welcoming poise; scatterings of pastry crumbs assembled in a beckoning breakfast buffet and the rhythmic sway of feet, which cascade in step to the soft music from within. Fuelled by nostalgic enthusiasm and anticipating a hearty, morning snack, the robin quickens his approach. But something is amiss. Upon arrival, he sees shelves of untouched coffee cups; chairs resting on their front legs against the empty tables and the invitation of entry diminished by a glass door sealed shut. He hears the ghostly whistle of the wind, eclipsing any audible lullaby of music and rustling through the rickety chairs, which chatter in place of the conversations of customers encumbered on their seats. The robin clambers onto a table and puzzles over this odd morning. For as long as he remembers, as the light and warmth of the day routinely chase away the stifling darkness and cover the empty walkways, so too do the crowds of people. Yet now, in their absence, the robin is accompanied solely by intermittent specs of dust, which occupy the undisturbed air and gently jostle against their neighbours. The robin’s watchful gaze searches the street, expectant of the usual crowd of come-and-goers, but not even a mere whisper of the usual activity is present. He chooses to further investigate and sets off in the direction of the local park, where the normal hubbub of the town congregates in jovial masses. The visitors of this particular spot often bear wicker baskets of small pastries and other such goods, and – if feeling generous – they offer small samplings to the robin. Having now anticipated (and yet missed out on) breakfast, the robin is ready for a feast, and so hurriedly skips towards the park. But, instead, he stumbles upon a ghost town. As the grass brushes against his forlorn feathers, he scans the hilly desert. The trees appear unmoved by this strange abandonment, their jackets of green leaves hugging the oak beneath. So too are the flowers still blooming and brandishing their beauty amidst a gentle breeze. Yet their stagnant poise only draws close attention to the lifelessness of the scene, the empty echo of the valley. Suddenly, a person! A tall, fluorescently dressed individual sporting large, circular instruments over her ears, appears in sight. The robin is startled yet pleased with this confirmation of life. Politely, he steps forward to greet her, but she moves at a surprisingly quick pace: long legs bending and pushing off the ground with strange velocity. As the robin nears, he notices tight-fitting lycra, which clings to her skin, and he hears heavy breathing emitting from a red, flushed face. Then, as peculiar as the first, another person appears from the opposing direction. Again, dressed in similar attire and likewise panting like a dog, he approaches at speed, neither stopping for the robin nor even casting a sideward glance. The pair acknowledge one another with a brief nod, but do not speak. It would appear that the individuals create an extraordinary amount of distance between themselves when it is apparent to the robin that the path allows room for multiple passers-by. As fast as they appeared, the two are gone and the park resettles itself in its original isolated ambience. In a perplexing trance, the robin paces the park, the town, the shops, the cafes, the side streets, the main streets and the houses. The sunshine and its blanket of warmth begin to evanesce and retreat, painting the blue, cloudless sky in a piercing shade of orange. The sun itself succumbs to fatigue and sinks like a teardrop over the pastoral landscape. The robin completes his journey in the heart of the town, stopping at the familiar, metallic resting point on which he favours rest. Although he cannot fathom an explanation for the town’s sudden depletion of movement and activity, he assures himself that with the replenishment of day, the regularity of life will be reinstated. Satisfied in this confident conclusion, he marks the end of his day with a sleepy yawn, stretching out his feathery wings before leaping into his flight home. As he gathers height, the city shrinks away with the day’s light. The robin, preoccupied with the contemplation of the strange happenings of the day, does not notice the illumination of lights below his timid body, which beam from the windows of houses, stretching far and wide over the landscape. Instead, he anticipates a revitalising nap. He will return tomorrow to greet the day as usual. Maddie Noton is a second year MA Italian and English Literature student at the University of Edinburgh. This piece was edited by Phoebe McKechnie and Tamara El-Halawani.

With artwork by Lowri Evans, Pranavi Hiremath asked five of her friends from India about their first lockdown experiences. They share some remarkable stories. Here is part two. Nishant studies Bachelor of Laws at the University of Lancaster. I am an Indian student studying at the University of Lancaster. In the last week of my second term (March 2020), India declared a national lockdown and I was stranded in the UK. Luckily, I have my elder brother studying in Edinburgh at the University of Edinburgh. After finishing the last week of my second term, I packed my entire belongings and stored most of my luggage in a storage facility at Lancaster. I took a train to Edinburgh to stay with my brother. At that time, even the UK had declared a lockdown and so the whole train was almost empty. An empty train felt very weird, but it was a good thing for me as I could maintain distance from other people and take two seats for myself. My brother stays in an apartment with three other friends. In the beginning week of my stay in Edinburgh, we were allowed to play in the Meadows. We used to play football with a few more of my brother's friends. But then the UK government imposed a stricter lockdown to control the spread of the virus and the Meadows were closed. So, my brother, his friends and I occupied ourselves with other fun activities in the apartment. We played poker with fake money at night and most of the time I had luck towards my side. We sometimes cooked pasta from scratch or chicken gravy for everyone. We used to go bulk shopping together in a friend's car and store food for at least a month. My online classes started after a month's break. I had to watch pre-recorded videos and then attend my seminars. But most of my time used went in watching Netflix. I had my exams in a few weeks. During that time even my brother and his friends got busy with their exams, so I started going for morning jogs to Blackford Hill. In no time, two and a half months passed by. It was then that the Indian government started the “Vande Bharat Mission”, to help Indians stranded outside of India, to travel back to India. My brother and I registered for travel. We asked for help wherever we could. We contacted our Uncle who stays in Edinburgh to recommend our names to the Embassy. From India, our parents were contacting the government to bring us back home. As soon as the mission started, a week later we were given tickets to fly back home and we didn’t miss it. Once we reached Chennai, India, we were quarantined for seven days in a government-recommended hotel. On the first day, they took a swab test and declared us negative the same day. On the seventh day, we had to give another swab test, which again tested negative. For those seven days, we did not leave our rooms. We were provided with food on our doorstep. For all the seven days my routine was fixed: eat, sleep, watch Netflix, and eat again. The first two or three days were fun, later it got mundane. Once we got out of the hotel, our parents had booked a taxi for us to go back home. Our home was at least 500 kilometres away and on the way, we had to stop at six police checkpoints, to provide our purpose of travel. After all of that, we finally reached home. Chandiya studies Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. The lockdown placed on 16th of March probably had the most impact on my life. I couldn’t even experience 5% of my University life that semester. It was my first year to have been away from my parents. I returned to India only in June when COVID-19 cases were rising in India, which I did not mind because of the food and the poor quality of living I was given in the UK. I stayed at catered accommodation, which should have been a better situation for the lockdown, but that wasn’t the case. Since it was catered, I did not have access to a kitchen which was a great disadvantage because the only food I was receiving was a sandwich and a snack for breakfast and dinner. With no lunch provided, it meant that I had to starve for a meal every day. As days passed, I started to get ready-made foods by ordering through Tesco’s delivery services but again the food started to cause me problems since I was eating too many instant foods and that was not healthy. The four months in lockdown put me and my family through things we never thought we’d have to face. Long story short, it was a bad time. Long story short, I survived. Jayawanti studies at the University of Edinburgh. On the 12th of March, there was widespread information all over my country on the closing of colleges due to the spread of the life-threatening coronavirus that put the world to a standstill for months to come. My worried parents had asked me to come back home for my safety. I, being a student of this esteemed University, decided to continue my classes and insisted to my parents that the University take all the measures to ensure the safety of its students. The very next day there was an announcement from the Vice-principal, that the final exams were to be cancelled and that international students were allowed to travel back home. By now the government of India had released a statement saying “All the flights from the UK will be cancelled from the 18th of March onwards’. I was in an oblivious state of mind as I had less than a day not only to pull myself together but to also pack up my entire stuff and travel to Glasgow in a cab as no flights were leaving from Edinburgh to India. Finally, I boarded the flight from Glasgow to Chennai via Dubai. When I reached Dubai, I had to wait for 8 hours for my connecting flight back home. This unusual situation made me fear being stuck in an airport, something that I had never felt before. There were flights before mine which were meant to leave for India but they were cancelled. I considered myself extremely fortunate because my flight wasn’t cancelled. I was able to reach home safely and was asked to self-quarantine for 28 days with a notice stuck in front of my house. This was an experience like no other and I am eternally grateful to everyone that took utmost care in bringing me back home safely. This piece was edited by Pranavi Hiremath and Tamara El-Halawani.

With artwork by Lowri Evans, Pranavi Hiremath asked five of her friends from India about their first lockdown experiences. They share some remarkable stories. Here is part one. Manab Mohanty studies Computer Science at the University of Edinburgh This year has been a ride for everyone, hasn't it? Many people will walk out with a story to tell, many will not be able to walk out at all. I was one of the early ones to contract the virus and the fact that I was able to live through it, came as a pleasant surprise to all the people I know back in my county in India. I remember back when I was 16, an astrologer was contacted because my father truly felt helpless about me. My exams in 10th grade were given way too much importance in life and now I find it funny that someone who reads stars and the lines on your palms was recruited to reassure my father that I’m going to be alright. He’d said one thing which I remember to this day, “When this guy hits 20, life is going to change forever for him. It’s up to him whether he walks out as a stronger successful person, or just starts to spiral out of control.” Yes, very dramatic. The funniest part is, this happened. I remembered all this to double-check what happens in 4-5 years. I got covid back when it was informally called ‘the coronavirus’ and it was just before I turned 20. Like everyone, I had booked flights in a hurry. My flight was 11 hours later from when I booked it, so obviously, my stuff had to see the worst of me. They were packed in a swift and nonsensical fashion, which I regretted when I came back again to open it up. I flew through Amsterdam- New Delhi- Bhubaneswar, a total of 30+ hours and I was so tired that I must have lost some weight. When I reached home, usually I would touch my father’s feet but this year none of that happened. This right here was the hardest thing which people are still going through. The world has changed and suddenly hugs and kisses are now weapons and not visiting family and friends is an act of love. Humans have been put into cages. We are animals now, spiralling out of control, but life goes on. I was checked at the airports obviously and I did not show any symptoms, so I could go back home. I started getting a fever and so the next day, my father took me to the hospital where I was tested. He insisted I get tested even if I did not have symptoms, just to be safe. The world has changed and suddenly hugs and kisses are now weapons and not visiting family and friends is an act of love. Humans have been put into cages. We are animals now, spiralling out of control, but life goes on. The worst thing was, there was only one guy before me who had been tested positive in my city and he was all over the news. My father also happens to be the superintendent of the hospital I was tested at. This was to my disadvantage if I tested positive as I would get into a lot of conflicts. And that is exactly what happened. Some people made up this story of how I was already in town for 10 days before I got tested and I was going around spreading the virus- even though I reached home on the 18th of March and got tested on the 19th. My family and I were all over the news and not in a great light. There was a lot of victim-shaming. That is what covid does; it makes you the bad guy. After even making it to the national news as someone who deliberately was spreading covid- escaping the law (otherwise how will the media get a story out of it) and after getting a lot of heat from people on my social media and threats to hang me and my family- I thought I will never get out of this. During all of this, while I was put into a hospital room for 14 days where no one would even come close to me, I did not feel human. The worst thing was, there was only one guy before me who had been tested positive in my city and he was all over the news...Some people made up this story of how I was already in town for 10 days before I got tested and I was going around spreading the virus...There was a lot of victim shaming. I came back home just two days before my birthday. I was so embarrassed and scared to be in my own home. The entire aspect of Covid disappeared into the background and everyone just saw me as a criminal. After having explained everything on my social media and to the government, with my boarding pass and other things I could put forth- the people who wanted to see the truth understood what had happened - the rest did not. Keeping aside all that, I had one of the best birthdays of my life. Never did I want to meet my family so desperately- the 14 days in the hospital felt longer than the year I spent at University. It was all so poetic and film-like. I eventually had trouble sleeping and had some problems like anxiety and PTSD, took medication for a while but eventually, everything seemed to get better. It always feels like it is never going to get better, but it always does. Time heals everything, doesn’t it? I eventually had trouble sleeping and had some problems like anxiety and PTSD, took medication for a while but eventually, everything seemed to get better. This would have never happened had it not been for the pandemic. The year I’ve had is something I would never wish upon others, but I’ve always been very optimistic and I genuinely feel much more strength now than I did at the beginning of the year and that’s the point of life. Whatever happens, might not be easy, but is important. Lasya Priyanjani Galla: BA Fashion Design at the University of Leeds. It was a normal weekend when I suddenly got an email saying that my University was temporarily closing and the whole country was going under a strict lockdown due to COVID-19. As an international student, I could only travel back home three months later. After going through so much trouble, I was alone in Leeds and India had cancelled all flights. There was so much stress about buying groceries and stocking up before the spread of the virus got too severe and it was unbelievable that life came to such a sudden pause, especially during the most important years of my life. Although I was a person who was isolated from her classmates, a part of me was pretty relieved when the lockdown began. The first days were a time of high motivation and effort on keeping up with the trend of learning a new skill. I would sketch, design, practice embroidery, and do lots of other things. These days also included movie marathons, long calls, and lots of eating. As I already said, I was very comfortable staying in my room and worrying about nothing. But nobody can keep passing days without a motive for tomorrow. I could have been a carefree person and enjoyed the beautiful springtime, being safe like a lot of my friends did, but I didn’t. I instead, unintentionally, began to reassess my personality and of course, at my age, such reassessments lead to overthinking. For me, overthinking or reassessing did not mean “rising from the ashes like a phoenix”, but it was just a realisation that broke me down and made me scared of entering my classrooms again or worse, entering the world and facing it. The days that came, once the days of high motivation dissolved, included all the overthinking. They just continued and they still seem to persist. The days that came, once the days of high motivation dissolved, included all the overthinking. They just continued and they still seem to persist. My lockdown experience wasn’t an Instagram fairy tale but was rather the opposite. Once India set up emergency flights for Indians away from their home, to get on to the list of one of the flights that was close to my city was another stressful thing to do. After a long two-week process of requesting contacts to help me out, I finally got on the flight and was able to travel back to India. But again, there were so many further complications while travelling, being quarantined at a hotel and getting tested once I was in India. It was a psychologically distressing time, awaiting the results of the virus tests and financially as well because of the high expense of being quarantined in a hygienic place. But I got through all of that and was able to go home safe, after a week of being quarantined. When I came back home, I was full of fear, regret, and a strong desire to change myself. Since then, every step I have taken, with the help of my parents, was towards a more confident me. I am still at home and still overthinking but for the first time in so long, I finally feel that maybe I can actually do it. I have to see the beauty and strength of what I already can do and develop in that. Now that I have some positivity blooming in my life when I am at the most comfortable place I can be, home, it feels like I needed this. This whole time was necessary for me to come out as a better person and fearlessly face the world. Pranavi Hiremath studies Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh. The year took an unusual turn that left me alone in a country far from my own. Stuck in a room under unpredictable circumstances, as it felt that way during the initial emergence of the virus in the UK. The flights were cancelled as swiftly as the lockdown was announced. I had only two days if I wanted to catch a flight home, which meant packing everything I had and finding a place to keep them until I came back. But travelling wasn’t the best option for me because it meant exposing myself to the virus and its consequential uncertainty at the time. So, I decided to stay. The first week consisted of long calls with my parents - they were also trying to contact everyone they knew in the UK for advice. They were worried about what the future would hold and how long I would have to stay in a room since even India went into lockdown and organising repatriation flights was still in debate. My whole flat was empty. All my flatmates, fortunately, were able to get back home safely. They were kind enough to let me use any groceries they had bought. Which saved me from going to the store to stock up. The week was tough considering I was alone and was stuck in, what felt like unforeseeable circumstances. But it was only for that week since I was then invited to stay with a lovely family in Eyemouth. Mr and Mrs Pawley and their two dogs. They saved me from my four walls, and I was taken to a home. From a dreadful three months I would have had, then to be taken to the most beautiful town with a beach, a river, and a forest, living with the kindest and generous people. And the best part of it all, I have to say was the dogs! They saved me from my four walls, and I was taken to a home. It was three months of eating food I never had before: homemade scones, tarts, quiche, apple pie and so much more. Watching so many movies. Learning so many new things from them not only about the town, about the UK and their experience in India not only gave me an insight into a culture that wasn’t mine but also a deeper insight into the culture I grew up in. Learning about their lives and listening to their wonderful experiences and stories made me happy. During the times when we were allowed to go on walks, we took long walks in the forest, to the river, along the shore, up the hills to the most beautiful views. In three months they became family. I am so thankful to them for their care and for letting me be a part of their life. Also for tolerating me for all the times I woke up late (which was pretty much every day), me being messy and clumsy. I am so thankful to them for their care and for letting me be a part of their life...I consider myself extremely lucky. All-in-all despite the fear and unpredictability that the pandemic induced for me and considering how much worse others had to go through all over the world, I consider myself extremely lucky. I am filled with gratitude to have had an experience that I will carry with me for my entire life, which I wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for the pandemic. This piece was edited by Pranavi Hiremath and Tamara El-Halawani.

Kate Charlton and Antony Haslam explore the Fresher experience at Edinburgh University and the surrounding public rhetoric concerning students during the pandemic. “You clowns were to blame for the outbreak in university halls. Even after the outbreak you carried on partying. Pathetic.” COVID’s second wave, which tore through the country in the Autumn, has been marked by frustration and anxiety from the general public - not only at the state of escalation but also at the government for their ineffectual handling of the situation. This anger from the public has not only been projected onto appropriate authorities but has also found its way onto the heads of our student population, with media and online outlets pointing the finger at students returning to universities in September as causing the rise in cases. In a time that is just as uncertain for students as it has been the wider population, it is our view that students have found themselves on the receiving end of, particularly harsh and undue criticism. Seeing the backlash one Edinburgh University fresher received under an Edinburgh Live Facebook post, we thought it was necessary to look further into why students have been blamed, and more importantly, gain their direct perspective. We don’t deny that the movement of vast numbers of students across the country, into the close quarters of student accommodation, contributed to a rise in cases nationwide. However, it is the rhetoric surrounding who’s to blame for the wave, that we take issue with; the rhetoric that seems to scapegoat students, shirking blame from the universities and government who encouraged the movement of students to their university cities. We reached out to the first-year who received the harsh comments under the Edinburgh Live Facebook post after she posted a TikTok criticising the way freshers have been treated. She was branded as showcasing “absolutely disgraceful behaviour” with “only [herself] to blame”, making the general sentiment clear that students are the culprits, rather than victims, of the pandemic. When we asked Tizzie how she felt after reading those comments, she stated that she was “extremely disappointed” by them, that they played into the narrative of scapegoating students as it’s the “easy” thing to do. She was branded as showcasing “absolutely disgraceful behaviour” with “only [herself] to blame”, making the general sentiment clear that students are the culprits, rather than victims, of the pandemic. What’s interesting about the responses beneath the article, is the fact that students are often viewed as a voiceless demographic, they are expected to be seen and not heard. As soon as they speak up and dare to criticise authority, they are met with contempt and are not treated by the public as equals with the right to speak up (like @woodstevie’s Tweet, referring to the EL article: “For fuck’s sake you bunch of snowflakes, the reason we are in this mess is because people can't take 3 months out of their life to try and combat this virus... Selfish attitudes”). Students, as Tizzie argued, are often the ‘easy’ demographic to blame, a third-party option to avoid direct criticism of the government or university; “both [government and the university] are in the wrong, you can’t blame one or the other, so it’s easy to find a middle ground and blame the students, it was inevitable students were going to be blamed”. Tizzie came across as somewhat defeated, as though she and many students feel resigned to accept that this is how they’ll be treated and there’s nothing that can be done to change it. This encouraged us to gather a selection of first-year students from different Edinburgh University halls, who we asked the same questions, to gauge opinions on university social life, teaching and provision of mental health support. @woodstevie’s Tweet, referring to the EL article: “For fuck’s sake you bunch of snowflakes, the reason we are in this mess is because people can't take 3 months out of their life to try and combat this virus... Selfish attitudes” In what has undoubtedly been a challenging year for everyone’s mental health, students have perhaps been uniquely vulnerable to issues of isolation, anxiety and depression. This is true of all students who are confronting these issues away from home, regardless of their year of study. However, it’s freshers who are potentially experiencing this separation for the first time. This has, quite rightly, been documented in the mainstream media, but it feels to us that this discussion is likely too little, too late. This is tragically true for Finn Kitson, the 19-year-old first-year student at Manchester, who was found dead at his Fallowfield accommodation in October. His father, Micheal Kitson, was quick to point out on Twitter that “if you lockdown young people because of COVID-19 with little support, then you should expect that they suffer severe anxiety”. It is clear that Finn’s father is in no doubt about the role Fallowfield’s student lockdown played in his son’s death, yet this is just one tragic outcome of inadequate student support. “if you lockdown young people because of COVID-19 with little support, then you should expect that they suffer severe anxiety”. The freshers that we spoke to in Edinburgh were, across the board, highly critical of the University’s provision of support this semester. One student living in Pollock stated that “we’ve been left to do everything alone, there has been absolutely nothing [support wise] … you don’t see anyone [wardens, support staff etc]; it’s only security and police walking around”. This kind of intimidating presence of authority, in place of something welcoming, undeniably causes anxiety for students who are, potentially, living away from home for the first time. At a time when students are already isolated from help, seeing security and police patrolling their accommodation has left freshers feeling like prisoners, in what is supposed to be their term-time home. One comment under the EL article went so far as to suggest that students deserve to be treated like this, “they really should be locked there for years till they learn something 😁”. Student frustration at being treated like inmates in the accommodation they’re paying for was never more apparent than in the student protests that followed the fencing-off of parts of Fallowfield accommodation in Manchester, which saw students holding signs saying: “HMP Fallowfield: £9K To Enter”. “HMP Fallowfield: £9K To Enter”. Our discussions with freshers in Edinburgh, alongside the protests at Manchester, suggest that this sentiment is widespread; students feel trapped and isolated, having obvious effects on mental health. This becomes yet more of an issue when paired with up to a three-week wait to see a university counsellor in Edinburgh. One student pointed out that, “because we’ve had so little support from the uni, we’ve become better at supporting ourselves and looking out for each other”. A small consolation for freshers that have otherwise been left out to dry. We wanted to explore what led to this feeling, asking what the first-years thought more generally about the University’s handling of the movement of students into Edinburgh in September. One student pointed out that, “because we’ve had so little support from the uni, we’ve become better at supporting ourselves and looking out for each other”. When pushed on whether they thought the University had handled the movement of students to Edinburgh well (and what could have been done better), a theme started to emerge. The recurring answer argued that the University placed great emphasis on so-called ‘hybrid learning’. This was the case for many students, ourselves included, with the University suggesting that we would be expected to be present on campus for a ‘blend’ of in-person and online teaching. The students we spoke to collectively agreed that the University had encouraged them to travel to the city for studies, therefore paying rent on their accommodations. The cynic may argue that this was essentially tricking students into moving to Edinburgh, despite the inevitable second wave. One student commented that she felt like “the university pranked [them] with the promise of hybrid learning, but as soon as [they] got here everything was online.” and that they “feel used for money”. Another commented that “the university made such an effort to persuade us that we would get the full experience, that they had prepared everything for us, but in reality, they just wanted our rent money”. This supports our argument that the University is, in fact, more responsible than they would like to admit for Autumn’s rise in COVID cases. They encouraged the movement of students across the country, but when there came an inevitable rise in cases, their role was conveniently forgotten and students and their socialising shouldered the blame. One student commented that she felt like “the university pranked [them] with the promise of hybrid learning, but as soon as [they] got here everything was online.” Once students had arrived in Edinburgh, it wasn’t just the unexpected lack of face-to-face teaching that caused unease, but also the challenge of socialising. Moving to university and making new friends, at its best already a nerve-wracking and unfamiliar experience, was made extra challenging by the pandemic. The students we spoke to were asked to reflect on how their university social lives had been affected. Aside from the social distancing measures that have affected all our social lives, they outlined other difficulties faced in their particular situation as first-years, living in halls. A range of opinions was offered, with one student arguing that they’d had a lot of fun, but that it may have been because they were “lucky” with who, and how many, they had in their social bubbles. One response that repeatedly cropped up was that students who knew people before coming to university had a massive advantage in being able to socialise and that students tended to stick with who they already knew, as it wasn’t easy making friends outside of their flat. They commented, “the real advantage that those who came from huge boarding schools have is coming knowing loads of people, that’s the only real advantage … it certainly makes it easier.” The wide range in responses concerning the different experiences of freshers’ this year invited us to delve deeper into how, and why, such a variation occurred. There was a benefit for people who knew each other before university, and it’s undeniable that Pollock has been known to be cliquey amongst private school students, who were friendly before coming to Edinburgh. One interesting factor, which has been overlooked, is that the accommodation that students were allocated resulted in differing chances of socialising, due to the number of people in their flat. Salisbury Court, for example, consists of flats of between eight and ten students, which allows those living there to form social bubbles of up to eight, while still complying with Scottish guidelines. On the other hand, Robertson’s Close (a significantly cheaper accommodation) consists of flats of four. One student that we spoke to who lives there, told us how they aren’t allowed to form a bubble with another flat, even though that would give them an equal footing with other students in bigger flats in Salisbury and Pollock. When asked whether there was unfairness to how accommodations affected students, responses we got included; “100%, smaller flats in different accommodations [than Pollock] without larger social areas will have found it harder” from one student, and “I live in a three-person flat, so that has limited who I meet”, from another. In Pollock, the JMCC would usually be a social hub, but this year its arrangement saw students sitting alone, spaced apart at individual desks. Although, as one student points out, “at restaurants and bars you’re allowed tables of 6, yet in the JMCC it’s the whole exam hall set-up; we can’t even face each other”. Pollock’s strict meal-time regime seems far removed from the experience in self-catered flats, which aren’t subject to the same policing. One student admitted that the format of the JMCC makes him less likely to eat there; instead preferring to eat a ready-meal or order a takeaway, allowing him to be with his friends. There is a level of irony here in that the regulation of the JMCC, which is intended to stop social mixing, maybe promoting eating in groups in students’ rooms. The student went on to point out that he realises that this is not particularly healthy, nor economical, but that for other students who feel too nervous to eat alone, they may have little choice. A couple of students who we spoke to raised the point that coming from a wealthier background improved their opportunity to socialise. One student commented that, in her experience, “the fear of fines controls your social life. I have had to turn down a lot of social events just because I didn’t want to get fined and couldn’t afford it. People who can afford that, however, can attend and meet people.” Although we aren’t condoning going against the guidelines, it’s clear how unfair it is that some students have to sit back and watch their peers be able to break the rules and enjoy themselves without fear of repercussion, without being afforded that same option. One student commented that, in her experience, “the fear of fines controls your social life. I have had to turn down a lot of social events just because I didn’t want to get fined and couldn’t afford it. People who can afford that, however, can attend and meet people.” The restrictions on socialising and gathering in halls saw several students opting to rent Airbnbs in Edinburgh to avoid the worst periods of 'lockdown'. This was seen particularly in October, with entire houses in Pollock facing restrictions. Many of those who could afford the costly move, something far out of the reach of most students, were able to dodge the worst of the isolation and continue to socialise; “The renting of AirBnbs has allowed wealthier students to socialise and avoid the constraints of Uni accommodation. This meant less wealthy students were left alone, and even more isolated in student accommodation.” These students shouldn’t be blamed for wanting to get away from halls, given the nature of their experience in the first semester, and we aren’t criticising them for this. Rather, we are attempting to provide an alternate view on student behaviours in response to their treatment by the University. Instead of blaming these students for their choices and feeding into the rhetoric of scapegoating the entire student body, this needs to be viewed in its context. Their choices need to be considered against the backdrop of having been failed by the government, as well as let down by their University, resigning students to taking matters into their own hands. We hope that any first-years reading this article have found solace in the experiences that we have described. If you are a fresher who has at all felt isolated, or maybe felt as though you are alone in your experiences, then hopefully reading what other first-years have said has provided you with some comfort in knowing that you aren’t alone in any struggles you are facing. Finally, we want to emphasise that whatever emotions you feel towards the University or your situation, are completely valid; you have every right to be angry and disappointed at the unfair hand you’ve been dealt. These are the feelings that have fuelled the wave of student activism currently sweeping across the UK, breeding real changes for students: rent rebates, no-detriment policies and petitions to see fees cut. Further Resources: Mental Health 1. The University’s online counselling service (via Teams): https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-counselling 2. 24/7 online community support for student mental health: https://togetherall.com/en-gb/ Click on ‘register’ → ‘I’m from a university or college’ → enter uni name + submit 3. Feeling Good App: https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/feeling-good-positive-mindset/ Provides students with a free programme aiming to alleviate stress and anxiety through a set of curated exercises My in-app login username = edinuni1. My in-app password = positive Student Coronavirus Guidance Scottish Government website: https://www.studentinformation.gov.scot/coronavirus Student Activism No-detriment policy petition for Edinburgh: https://www.change.org/p/university-of-edinburgh-reinstate-the-no-detriment-policy-for-final-year-students-at-the-university-of-edinburgh?redirect=false Kate Charlton and Antony Haslam are students at the University of Edinburgh. This article was written before the current lockdown restrictions.

Lucien Staddon Foster provides an incredibly important reflection regarding the horrific racial traumas that Black people have had to face over the last six months since George Floyd's murder. It provides a strong reminder of what not to forget and what needs to be done to stand in solidarity with the BLM movement. As I write this, it has been exactly six months since Derek Chauvin, aided by Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, knelt on George Floyd's neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds. Ultimately, taking his life over a dispute regarding the validity of a $20 bill. In response, we saw public outcry on an extremely unprecedented scale, with protests occurring in over 60 countries across all continents, making this summer of protest one of the largest demonstrative movements in history. But where are we now? Like so many other important issues this year, the spotlight has slowly drifted away; spurred by our constantly wavering attention spans and active dismissal from mainstream media outlets. Justice never seemed to reach George Floyd’s killers, their trials don’t even start until March and conviction is always unlikely in these cases. Even Breonna Taylor’s murder was reduced to nothing but a debate topic, despite the public pressure from the huge numbers that came out to seek justice, both on the street and in petitions gathering over 11 million signatures. We saw her name become an empty phrase thrown around by those who really couldn't care less about what she, as a brilliant daughter, friend and employee, had taken away from her and the huge loss to her community. We saw her name become an empty phrase thrown around by those who really couldn't care less about what she, as a brilliant daughter, friend and employee, had taken away from her and the huge loss to her community. The solidarity displayed over the summer, with protests on the street and our feeds packed with pro-Black content and anti-racist infographics, has gradually drained from the mainstream, leaving me, and many other Black people, feeling arguably more alone in our struggles than ever. Whilst I have had increased success in talking to white peers about issues of race, something I never felt comfortable or able to before the summer’s heightened focus on racial inequalities. However, this local and circumstantial change is meaningless when the neighbour’s walls got more justice than Breonna Taylor herself (1). Most morbidly, the supposed engagement with racial justice from my white peers has appeared to all but vanish in some cases. I've sat by as the president-elect, Joe Biden, is paraded as a hero, a saviour of their normalcy, with little regard to the insult or damage he has caused to Black communities. We're told to shut our mouths and play along, as though our criticisms can only be a direct endorsement of Trump and his hateful presidency. We’re expected to celebrate a man who's challenged our Blackness (2), called Black men "predators" (3), caused the mass incarceration of thousands under his 1994 Crime Bill, and ultimately promised donors that "nothing will fundamentally change" between his presidency and Trump's (4). Given how listened to I felt in the summer amongst widespread anti-racist discussion, although outrageously performative at times (see Blackout Tuesday and the BLM tagging challenge), it's so incredibly disheartening to see this momentum stall while we continue to suffer and die ourselves. This year alone, there have only been 16 days where the police did not kill someone in the US, 237 (or 28%) of these victims have been Black, despite only accounting 13% of the population (5). But what action is actually coming from all the woke talk of the summer? We're told to shut our mouths and play along, as though our criticisms can only be a direct endorsement of Trump and his hateful presidency. When calling out these issues, I'm regularly told to stop being divisive and work towards bridging the gap in our polarized society, to practise compassion and healing with those who barely regard Black people as human, let alone believe in their struggles. How am I expected to find commonality with those who both morally and financially supported Kyle Rittenhouse? Who received brand deals and a publicly crowdsourced bail release following his triple-homicide at a protest. How out of touch must our leaders, and many of their followers, be to suggest that overcoming these differences is even possible? Even in the UK, opposition leader, Keir Starmer, has dismissed the Black Lives Matter movement, calling some of their aims “nonsense” and simply saying it’s dominated by “radical Marxist agenda” without actually addressing the problems behind the demands (6). On both sides of the Atlantic, it has become obvious that our leaders and those meant to hold them accountable continue to disregard Black struggle. How am I expected to find commonality with those who both morally and financially supported Kyle Rittenhouse? Who received brand deals and a publicly crowdsourced bail release following his triple-homicide at a protest. How out of touch must our leaders, and many of their followers, be to suggest that overcoming these differences is even possible? The injustices of the summer are not exclusive to diasporic Black populations either. Recently, we’ve seen just how widespread crises of police brutality and inequality are with the End-SARS movement concerning Nigerian injustices and the Lekki Massacre, on which the EDI magazine has already run a piece (7). All across the African continent, militarized police forces, often supported by our governments (8), harass, oppress and kill their citizens. However, public concern has appeared to fade again, as pleas for justice and an end to brutality become just another social media fad. It’s understandable that many only want to focus on issues widely regarded as close to home (such as US and European injustices), but for many of us, these issues are incredibly close to home and the decline in attention and discussion leaves us feeling demoralised and alone in our struggle. As Black students, many of us have had family and friends affected or displaced by this violence across the African continent; for me, it’s my mother, who has had to move cities in Nigeria due to the instability and lack of safety from police-protest clashes. Additionally, the university offers little support to those of us who are affected immensely by these issues; we're expected to work business-as-usual despite the stress, hurt and frustration brought about by injustice and violence against our people. However, the university’s student support and its shortcomings are part of a much wider issue that I won’t touch on any further in this article. Whilst there have been many further injustices and a decline in the momentum of protests over the last six months, perhaps I have been overly negative, as there have also been significant developments and achievements. Since May, many more people are aware of and educated on systemic inequalities and are actively trying to better themselves concerning their privileges. We've seen policymakers put under pressure to address these issues, and devise strategies to correct our path towards one of equality. We even saw the first Black female vice-president, Kamala Harris, elected in the US, although this has its own complexities that I won't get into now, either. Here in Edinburgh, we've seen the launch of BlackED, a group dedicated to providing for the unique needs of Black students and establish a better sense of community and anti-racist culture at the university. Their efforts even made the front page of The Times (9), with their campaign towards the renaming of the eugenicist-celebrating David Hume Tower (now 40 George Square) getting national coverage, and of course, a significant backlash from racists and the Conservative Party (Tomato or tomato?). Here in Edinburgh, we've seen the launch of BlackED, a group dedicated to providing for the unique needs of Black students and establish a better sense of community and anti-racist culture at the university. There's a long way to go before anything resembling equality can be reached, but following a summer of heated debate and protest, a large step has been taken and eyes all around the world have been opened. Even though public attention has drifted, the lessons learned from this summer are unlikely to be forgotten, and the legacy of George Floyd, and too many others, will continue to drive the movement for a better world. Keep listening, keep learning and speak out on injustices where you see them - we can't let our progress go to waste. Guide for further resources: Follow @blcked_movement on Instagram - they’re a great place for information and support surrounding some of the aforementioned issues. Read ‘Beyond Breonna: Louisville Police Make the Case for Abolition’ https://theintercept.com/2020/11/27/defund-police-louisville-breonna-taylor/ Watch ‘The Black Voters Who Could Swing Pennsylvania’ to better understand some of the criticism surrounding Biden: https://theintercept.com/2020/10/29/philadelphia-black-voters/ References: (1) - Brett Hankison, one of the officers involved with the illegal raid on Taylor's apartment, was charged with 'wanton endangerment'. This was the only charge to come out of her death. (2) - Biden: 'If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black' https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/22/politics/biden-charlamagne-tha-god-you-aint-black/index.html (3) - Biden in 1993 speech pushing crime bill warned of 'predators on our streets' who were 'beyond the pale' https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/07/politics/biden-1993-speech-predators/index.html (4) - Joe Biden to rich donors: "Nothing would fundamentally change" if he's elected https://www.salon.com/2019/06/19/joe-biden-to-rich-donors-nothing-would-fundamentally-change-if-hes-elected/ (5) - mappingpoliceviolence.org by Samuel Sinyangwe (6) - Black Lives Matter UK criticises Labour Leader Keir Starmer for dismissing calls to defund the police https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-defund-police-black-lives-matter-backlash-a4483981.html (7) - #EndSARS: The Edinburgh Voices https://www.theedimagazine.com/post/endsars-the-edinburgh-voices (8) - End SARS protests: UK police trained 'brutal' Nigerian security forces https://www.independent.co.uk/news/end-sars-nigeria-protests-security-forces-uk-police-training-b1254970.html (9) - Edinburgh University ditches David Hume over slavery link https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/edinburgh-university-ditches-david-hume-over-slavery-link-kz9dl2p3v Lucien Staddon Foster is a Third Year Geography student at the University of Edinburgh

Pranavi Hiremath examines the human evolutionary view of gender roles and identity, whether this is integral to our survival and if other species adopt such roles too. Above: 'Vacancy II', 11 3/4 x 16 1/2, 2019. The image is part of a series of collages produced through play with light and shadow on film. In this silhouette still, the composition is balanced with various found and cut paper media that bring colour into the black and white film still. In direct relation to the article, the deformation of the shadow against the wall may represent the culturally constructed gender norms and roles which come to deform our true self. Gender roles have been ingrained into our society for generations. We became slaves to this social construct from the time our parents took us to the toy store. The girls went to the pink aisle with barbies, dollhouses, kitchen sets while the boys went to the blue aisles with superheroes and cars. We also became supporters of these ideas by adhering to them and often rejecting anyone who didn't. Only recently have we been able to open our minds and recognise the flaws in this social construct of gender roles. It is important to state the differences between the often-confused terms sex and gender or gender role. Sex depends on biology to differentiate between males and females (e.g. sex organs), while gender or gender role is described as a socially constructed and accepted behaviour of a male or a female. Humans or homo-sapiens are animals too and we have well-defined gender roles in our species, and it has helped us develop our civilisation. So, does this mean it is a vital component necessary to survive? Does this imply all other animals on this planet also have such roles? Research shows that the answer would be not really. Gender roles are thought to be a product of culture. Culture in this context means the transfer of information from one generation to the next. A young boy and a girl aren’t brought up with the same values. A different set of values are taught to each sex. They are assigned a gender at an early age; boys are taught to earn for the family and not cry while the girls are taught to be caregivers and sensitive. This is also often why people associate higher positions like CEOs with men over women because women are thought to be emotionally-driven, while men are thought to be rational. This isn’t the case with animals, like killer whales, where females don’t learn special behaviours but all whales simply learn from each other, like strategies to kill prey. They don’t necessarily have a sex-specific cultural training that humans do. But unfortunately, it isn’t that straightforward. Sex and gender are intertwined together and it is an on-going debate whether gender roles are biologically determined or are a product of social construct. It becomes an even more complex study once the variations in sex and gender identity are included. Human females may be considered to have more nurturing attributes as a product of childbearing. The role of carrying and caring for an infant and the father providing resources are said to be the root and evolutionary consequences of the gender roles we see today. It is presumed that sex might have been just the simplest way responsibilities could have been divided (division of labour) because the females had to stay back and look after their offspring and couldn’t go hunt at the same time. Although it is important to note that the extent to which gender is determined by biology is unclear. Since, anthropologists have found from analysing skeletal remains that even women were hunters, gatherers and they fought in battles. From about 1700 through 1900 women also served as soldiers. It is also important to account for the variations and the spectrum of sexual identity. Gender roles and conformity to them get in the way of humans expressing their identity. In this study, it was shown that in an anti-homosexual society with rigid gender roles, a part of being a homosexual included believing that only heterosexual relationships are appropriate. Thus, it is important to include and understand that sometimes a person’s genetically assigned sex doesn’t line up with their identity: transgenders, non-binary or gender non-conforming. Our society today goes as far as to stereotype individuals based on their sex and almost force them to adhere to the “acceptable behaviours”. These ideas have led to discrimination, inequality and sexism. There might be both socially and biologically determined factors affecting the behaviour of females and males. Culture plays a significant role. Humans have many different cultures, and gender roles are not always the same in each culture. But each human does go through cultural training and are expected to behave in a certain manner. It is our responsibility to understand, respect each individual and their self-identity. Oppression for one means oppression for all. If women are forced into certain gender roles, men are thereby forced to fill the vacant space. Eradicating rigid gender roles and the associated inequality is vital as it prevents violence, promotes self expression and as a whole our community becomes safer and healthier. Gender equality is good for the economy as well, it is a step towards ending poverty and witnessing the full capacity of a country. Therefore, our society is capable of becoming more peaceful and successful once gender roles are eradicated. More on what you can do: 6 Everyday Ways to Bust Gender Stereotypes: https://www.girlscouts.org/en/raising-girls/leadership/life-skills/everyday-ways-to-bust-gender-stereotypes.html 10 ways to eliminate gender bias in the workplace: https://www.sagepeople.com/about-us/news-hub/eliminate-gender-diversity-workforce/ 12 steps to achieve gender equality in our lifetimes: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/mar/14/gender-equality-women-girls-rights-education-empowerment-politics Further Reading: Is gender identity unique to humans? https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/is-gender-identity-unique-to-humans Harm caused by gender stereotypes: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/WRGS/Pages/WrongfulGenderStereotyping.aspx Evolved but Not Fixed: gender roles: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6664064/ Pranavi is a second year Astrophysics student at the University of Edinburgh.

T.W. this article discusses eating disorders Lauren Deveney provides an open experience of her eating disorder, OSFED, and how a Doctor at the University of Edinburgh was unaware as to what this actually was. This is a call to action for raising awareness around, and getting rid, of the stigmatisation attached to eating disorders. Description: Under the scrutiny of the modern world and how we look at ourselves not truly for who we are but as we feel others look at us. We objectify ourselves and become detached from the self. Earlier this year I was diagnosed with an eating disorder called OSFED, which stands for Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder. After suffering from the illness for over half of my life, I was relieved to have finally been given a name for what I was experiencing. For me, this made the illness a physical, tangible thing which was easier to comprehend and manage. OSFED, previously EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified), began as a category of eating disorders which did not necessarily fit the specifications of the better known illnesses such as anorexia or bulimia. Therefore, there has been little research on this category of eating disorder, with many sufferers being diagnosed with OSFED simply because there is no other clear diagnosis available. Due to this lack of refinement, it took almost ten years of having a seriously bad relationship with food for me to be officially diagnosed. I was not diagnosed until I saw a counsellor at University, who I spoke to about my restrictive and obsessive habits when it came to food. Despite being given this generalised diagnosis, I was not aware of the stigmatisation and ignorance I would later encounter on my journey to recovery. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, with approximately 1.25 million people in the UK suffering from disordered eating (Source: BEAT). Despite the statistics revealing that it is not exactly an uncommon illness, I encountered a surprising stigma in society and insufficient knowledge from medical professionals. Granted, OSFED is not exactly a ‘well known’ eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia, but it is one of the most common. It is a tricky illness, characterised by all the same symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and restrictive intake disorder, but for some reason the sufferer’s BMI remains steady. Therefore, as there are often no apparent physical signs of weight loss, I found people struggled to take my diagnosis seriously. Recently, I spoke to a doctor from my University who asked me if I had anorexia or bulimia. I explained I had neither but experienced aspects of both, and that I had been diagnosed with OSFED. From his response, it was clear to me then that he actually had no idea what OSFED was. I was in disbelief. How could this doctor not be aware of the illness that has taken over my entire life? An illness that has caused me to do irreparable damage to my body and my mental health over so many years. I was so overwhelmed with so many emotions from anger to complete hopelessness. Illnesses such as OSFED and BED (Binge Eating Disorder) account for almost half of all eating disorders. With anorexia making up 10%, and bulimia making up 40%. It strikes me then, as to why OSFED is not as widely recognised or taken as seriously as other eating disorders? Is it the long standing issue of medicine overlooking mental illnesses in favour of physical ones? Indeed, it was only when I had lost almost a stone in weight that I was officially diagnosed by my doctor noticing a physical problem in my body. After considering this question, I came to the conclusion that there really was no good enough answer or ‘excuse’ for not recognising this deadly illness, whether the signs are physically noticeable or not; especially as a medical professional at a University where the majority of students are young adults, and so fall under the ‘at risk’ category for developing eating disorders. I argue then, that this is not an individual problem, but an institutional one. The only way forward to combat, what I will call DESI (Disordered Eating Stigma and Ignorance), is education. Starting at the root of the problem, medical professionals need to be better equipped to deal with patients suffering from disordered eating. In addition to this, we need to normalise this illness in society and the media, starting by having difficult conversations about DESI with family and friends before turning to the wider picture. I know personally I have encountered friends and loved ones who have not understood the full extent of DESI until I have sat down with them and spoken about my personal experiences and my overwhelming feelings of shame in relation to food and my body image. Charities, such as Beat, work fervently to provide critical support through helplines and online chat rooms for sufferers who are in desperate need, as well as raise money for life saving research. Recently, there has been an increase in media attention and coverage in regards to eating disorders. Many mainstream celebrities have revealed their struggles with body image and disordered eating, such as actor Sophie Turner who recently opened up about her battle with body dysmorphia. It has come to my attention too, that many celebrities are wanting to openly speak out about their experience with disordered eating. Sportsman and television personality Freddie Flintoff, along with actor Christopher Eccleston, have both recently released raw and heart wrenching documentaries in which they open up about their experience with disordered eating. One thing which was synonymous with both documentaries, was the fact that they were each working towards battling the ingrained stigma of eating disorders in contemporary society. The fact that they both identify as men is also significant, as previously men have been forgotten about in much of the discourse surrounding eating disorders. Whilst it is true that the majority of sufferers are women, men account for approximately 25% of eating disorder cases (Source: BEAT). However, throughout the COVID 19 pandemic, Beat has seen a staggering increase in demand for their services. Should one charity really have to carry this burden on their own with minimal assistance from the UK government? Perhaps then, we should look to the government to better equip the NHS with more specialist facilities for those with eating disorders. These facilities may include; more specialist medical centres in addition to the few present already, more trained professionals specialising in eating disorders, and inclusive access to these facilities for all. I received my referral to one of these specialist centres 10 months ago and I still have not been seen. This has forced my family to set aside hundreds of pounds for counselling, which a lot of people do not have access to and should not have to pay. Looking at the wider issue, does this ultimately come down to medicine’s continuous failure to support those suffering from all mental disorders? Historically, mental illness has been received by society with prejudice, judgement and ignorance. In a sense then, this failure from professionals, such as employers and the doctor I personally encountered, to recognise eating disorders as a serious mentally and physically debilitating illness, really is not that surprising. Therefore, we need to initiate discussions surrounding eating disorders and DESI in order to slowly break down the barriers of stigmatisation and peel away the layers of shame which shroud this illness. I would like to offer my ever enduring appreciation to those at my University which have offered their continued help and support, along with my friends and family. If you or someone you know is suffering from a potential eating disorder, here are some useful resources; Beat- https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ Samaritans helpline- 116 123 Edinburgh Crisis Centre- 0808 801 0414 Sources- The Priory Group, https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ Lauren Deveney is a Third Year Ancient History student at Edinburgh University

Pranavi Hiremath explores the use of sex education to prevent child abuse in a powerful piece. Caption (Fabiana Duglio: Artistic co-ordinator): The artwork by Ellie Ibbotson portrays her childhood trauma regarding her fear of bath-taking. It represents the power of disturbing memories in unleashing an overwhelming sensation of fear. Likewise, sexual violence and abuse have similar traumatic psychological impacts on victims - thus correct sexual education is key to overcoming the phenomenon and its lasting consequences on an individual and collective level. “With trust, I let you in With innocence, I believed But you played with me You misused Blinded by innocence I never realised you made me a victim But soon to be shattered Soon to be in pain and regret As my innocence grew to knowledge” Most children victims of child abuse are unaware of the crimes being done to them, which leads to them realising too late or is some cases not at all. The fact that most people have a story to tell about their experience of sexual violence is extremely scarring and devastating. Although there isn’t an exact definition for what sexual violence or sexual assault is, the bottom line is that any intentional act of sexual advance: physical, verbal or imagery, towards an un-consenting or unaware individual, is a crime. Here, I say ‘unaware’ because unfortunately, even children are victims of sexual abuse and in most cases, children are not aware of what is happening. Eradicating sexual violence from our society is a battle that has only begun. The most important step that should be taken to do this would be by teaching children about sex and sexual violence in schools. Sexual abuse towards minors usually occurs because they are vulnerable, unaware and most of the times the abuser is known and trusted by them. Even more alarming is the fact that the victims usually do not report or inform their guardian because either they are ashamed, confused or do not know that they have been abused. Therefore, providing education in schools about what is wrong and what is right, educating them about sex, sexual abuse, what constitutes ‘good touching’ and ‘bad touching’, relationships and most importantly what they must do if they ever find themselves or their peers in such a situation, will help children set boundaries and will help prevent abuses and the consequent trauma. This will also help them grow into responsible citizens who are aware of how to treat others and not indulge in such a crime themselves. Interviews and research have shown how due to lack of sex education, young girls and boys do not know about contraception, sexually transmitted diseases and most importantly, are unaware of the importance of consent. Studies have also shown that being sexually abused at a young age causes mental health issues like depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, anxiety, eating disorders. Sex education and awareness at a young age can prevent harm and consequential mental health issues. Sex education is still a controversial subject in most countries and has not been made compulsory to learn about, including in European countries as well. It was only in 2019 that the UK government’s Department for Education made sex education mandatory for primary and secondary schools in England. The curriculum was revised after almost 20 years (last revised in 2000). Sex and sexual violence education have many obstacles such as economic factors, religious beliefs and differences in opinions. Even countries that have made sex education compulsory face backlash from parents because of their opinions and religious beliefs. For now, at an individual level, we have to be responsible citizens by trying our best not to cause any harm and not be harmed by taking measures to stay safe, talking to people you trust or professional counsellors in case of an unfortunate event. Do what you can to educate and spread awareness about sex and sexual violence. Further action: Students at University of Edinburgh: All the help and guidance the university provides. https://www.ed.ac.uk/students/health-wellbeing/crisis-support/sexual-violence https://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/support_and_advice/the_advice_place/harassment_safety_and_crime/bulling_discrimination_and_harassment/sexual_harassment/ More about how not having access to sex education will ultimately harm children and teenagers. This article includes how different communities react to sex education in the UK and how the victims and possible victims themselves are not being given a chance to have their say. Includes interviews of teenagers, young victims in the UK: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/backlash-against-sex-education-uk-will-ultimately-harm-children/ Sexual violence against children and prevention: https://www.unicef.org/protection/sexual-violence-against-children https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/childsexualabuse.html For more information on sex education in European countries, UK: https://www.debatingeurope.eu/2020/02/12/should-sex-education-be-compulsory-in-every-school/#.X5p95oj7Q2w https://populationmatters.org/news/2020/06/16/can-relationships-sex-education-help-save-planet Sex Education in UK: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06103/ https://www.fpa.org.uk/relationships-and-sex-education/our-views Sexual Abuse and Mental health: https://www.mhanational.org/sexual-assault-and-mental-health Pranavi is a second year Astrophysics student at the University of Edinburgh.

After experiencing being the only male taking ‘understanding gender in the contemporary world’, a gender studies module at the University of Edinburgh, Antony Haslam makes the case that “gender issues must be the concern of everyone: men; women; and non-binary alike. ” Art caption: "What a wonderfully complex thing! this simple seeming unity- the self! (...) some queer long-forgotten sensation of vein and muscle, of a feeling of vast hopeless effort, the effort of a man near drowning in darkness." H. G. Wells, The Sleeper Awakes (p.21) Enrolling in Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World, an undergraduate Gender Studies module at the University of Edinburgh, as a bloke, and discovering the abysmal turnout by men, ought not to have been a surprise to me. Although data on gender identity isn’t recorded on enrolment, there is a general trend that more women than men tend to take these types of courses. Despite the best efforts of course convenors, there is a wider perception that Gender Studies (and feminism) equals ‘women’. So, when I first looked at my Gender Studies tutorial group (digitally, of course- HybridTeaching™) and realised that I, a man, was the anomaly; I felt compelled to make the case that gender issues must be the concern of everyone: men; women; and non-binary alike. We need to start conversations in which guys aside their masculinity; this toxic mindset is a key reason so many of us are frightened (yes, frightened) to openly embrace feminism and gender issues. There is, however, undeniably a challenge presented. Being outnumbered on a gender-imbalanced course does make you second guess the validity of your opinion. Do I really have the same right to comment on gender inequality as the women and the non-binary individuals on the course? I don’t know if I can answer this correctly, and I can’t speak on behalf of my peers, however, it has certainly been my experience that what I’ve had to say has been welcomed. Also, I wish to be clear that I am not painting myself as oppressed by this; I am merely presenting what I see as the potential challenges in getting more men engaging with Gender Studies. Studying gender and recognising the privileges afforded by my maleness doesn’t make me (or you) a militant, ‘man-hating’ feminist. Rather, it has allowed me to recognise that gender issues affect men, too. I want to make the case that we need more of us engaging with these issues, to help us to break down the stereotype that the concealment of emotions is part and parcel of being a ‘man’. It is this, our attempt to be ‘men’, that translates into the tragedy of male suicide in the UK. Therefore, the first question we must ask is: “Why should men be concerned with learning about gender inequality?” Well, in life, we needn’t be directly affected by an oppressive force to feel a deep sense of anger or discomfort at the injustice. For example, as a white student living in Edinburgh, I am not directly affected by violence at the hands of the Nigerian Special Anti-Robbery Squad. Yet, I still feel a gross sense of injustice that not a single SARS officer has been prosecuted for human rights violations, torture or extra-judicial execution, despite countless documented incidences (1). This idea that we can (and should) support social causes, even if we aren’t explicitly affected, is no different with gender issues. As a man, I would have continued to happily earn my salary after Equal Pay Day (which, last year, happened to fall on November 14th). Equal Pay Day represents the point when women effectively stop earning their salaries, while their male colleagues continue to do so, because of the wage gap. Despite not personally suffering in the situation, I still feel it is a gross injustice that women spent the last 48 days of last year essentially working for free. Despite progressive legislation, the gender pay gap and ‘motherhood penalty’ (the reality that women’s careers suffer for having and raising a child) are real inequalities that still exist. These are inequalities that everyone should be opposed to, regardless of how you identify. A University of Bristol study found that fewer than a third of women return to full time employment (or their self-employed status) after having a baby, compared to over 90% of men (2). Being opposed to such inequalities does make you a feminist, and this really shouldn’t be something that scares men. Despite the images that the media love to portray of feminists as aggressive, feminism isn’t anti-men. Realising that the title ‘feminist’ isn’t something to fear and isn’t something that undermines your masculinity should represent an empowering first step towards engaging with gender issues and overcoming our toxic tendencies.. Having more men embrace feminism and engage with gender issues isn’t solely about increasing male enrolment in Gender Studies at university. It could simply mean more men engaging with relevant literature and discussing feminism and gender issues more readily. These changes provide a great starting point for more men to realise that gender issues affect us, too. Masculinities are an important part of Gender Studies and a greater understanding of how they work would be hugely beneficial for all men. The key issue with masculinity, for many guys, is the toxic idea that real men don’t cry; we ‘tough it out’. We keep a brave face on the exterior, trying our utmost to project the image that we don’t suffer with mental struggles. But we do. Everyone does. It is this perception, that the ‘masculine ideal’ is a man who doesn’t display his emotions, which is extremely harmful. Men often won’t have an open and frank conversation about how they really feel with their friends, for fear that this public display of emotion may undermine their masculinity and result in castigation by the Gods of ‘lad culture’. It is this suppressing of natural emotions which is so detrimental to our mental health. I therefore see conforming to this toxic ideal as a key cause of the tragic reality that men in the UK are three times more likely to take their own lives than women (3). Critically engaging with gender issues will help men to challenge the status quo of masculinity and explore why this desire to feel strong, in control and ‘manly’ has had precisely the opposite effect; crippling one in every eight men with mental health problems and making suicide the leading cause of death for men under fifty in the UK (4). So, what now? I want to see more men picking up feminist literature. I want you to stop fearing what other guys might think of you as you read Feminism is for Everybody (5) on the train. As I’ve already argued, feminism isn’t exclusionary of men and reading feminist authors’ work isn’t emasculating. Fact. We need more men to realise that our gender doesn’t have to mean abstaining from compassion, and it certainly doesn’t mean we have to conceal our emotions and tears in public. My personal call is to see more young men signing up for gender modules. It is my hope that this will help us all to break the stigma around men’s mental health. So, I leave you with the simple message: read something feminist and make sure to look after your own and others’ mental health. With this in mind, the following may be of use for anyone who wishes to further engage with some of the topics I’ve discussed: GenderED General information on GenderED (the cross-university hub for gender and sexualities studies at the University of Edinburgh): http://www.iash.ed.ac.uk/gendered Searchable database of gender & sexuality courses at the University: http://www.iash.ed.ac.uk/gendered/courses Mental Health Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). A leading stand against suicide and a great general resource: https://www.thecalmzone.net/ More information regarding the link between masculinity performance and male mental health issues: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/m/men-and-mental-health Feminism Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk ‘We Should All Be Feminists’- a thought provoking talk covering many of the same ideas that I have suggested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg3umXU_qWc A simple myth-busting guide to feminism that clarifies some key ideas and is aptly named “A Beginner’s Guide To Feminism”: https://oxwomin.wordpress.com/2017/11/08/a-beginners-guide-to-feminism/ A short transcript of an interview with Kimberlé Crenshaw which begins to introduce the nuances and complexities of feminism, including intersectionality theory: https://www.law.columbia.edu/news/archive/kimberle-crenshaw-intersectionality-more-two-decades-later References: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/06/nigeria-horrific-reign-of-impunity-by-sars-makes-mockery-of-anti-torture-law/ https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/hr-skills-news/gender-pay-gap/81441/ https://media.samaritans.org/documents/SamaritansSuicideStatsReport_2019_Full_report.pdf https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/tackling-the-root-causes-of-suicide/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/FEMINISM-EVERYBODY-Passionate-bell-hooks/dp/0745317332 Antony is a second year Geography student at the University of Edinburgh.

Bethan Bottomley reflects on the differences between 'self care' and 'personal care' and how the challenges she faced in lockdown provided the chance for her own self care to develop into meaningful actions. Reflecting on the year so far, the term ‘biblical’ doesn’t feel at all melodramatic. Just about every test on our resilience as a species has been thrust on stage and, throwing into sharp focus the harsh realities of our crumbling society. The government guidance towards self care in lockdown was reflective of the negligence that the mental health sector has faced since its existence, and a feeling of hopelessness was a comparable pandemic in itself. The introspective nature of being locked inside was challenging even for the most resilient of us; the relentless cycle of updates and news forced us face to face with the systemic problems that are holding us back. We were forced to challenge the failings of the current societal formula and the truth that if meaningful and sustainable changes are not made now, we limit any hopes we may have for the future. When reflecting on the guidance given for self care over the last few months, the governments all too familiar bandage approach lacked a consideration for the long term. Yes, taking regular walks and checking in with friends gives my brain the space to breathe, but it does not quiet the anxiety for the future that can only come from transparency and radical action. This strange and incomparable time saw my mental health be both better and worse than ever before and the juxtaposition caused me to consider the difference between, what we call ‘self care’, and personal care. When we take care of ourselves personally we are tending to our personal needs, and by all means sometimes that's obtaining the material things that help us to relax. However, when we talk about self care, we have to make room to consider all the things that attribute to the ‘self’. This includes all of the components that contribute to who we are - our jobs, our family, our culture and essentially all of the things that nourish our development as human beings. The things we enjoy are no less important because of this, and making time for yourself is no less of a priority, but it’s time to reframe the idea of self care not just as a new house plant or a face mask (both kinds!), but instead as acts to meaningfully improve our quality of life. Even as I am writing this, a beautiful black athlete is on the news talking about how she uses skin lightening creams and serums in order to ‘improve’ her body image. She is saying she does this not just for her own self esteem, but also to earn the respect from sponsors and coaches that she should be receiving as a result of her performance alone. This is where we see capitalism rearing its ugly head,forming this bandage approach to self care. By marketing serums and spa treatments as a quick fix to the problem, we fail to expose and treat the rotting infrastructure underneath. This athlete is told that her skin is the problem. It’s not, racism is, and no amount of cream is going to fix it. This modern, materialistic approach fits in with how we currently view the narrative of self care; the idea isn’t completely on a tangent - anything that helps to improve your mental and physical wellbeing will aid in taking care of the self. So self care in this sense is a flexible term, but even so, when we are practicing this notion of self care, what (and who) are we practicing this for? In her essay ‘A Burst of Light’ Audre Lorde reflects on self care as “an act of political warfare” in a revolutionary approach to exploring her identity as a black, lesbian woman. She discusses in this essay that practicing self care rituals ensures resilience to the homophobia and racism that she faces every day around every corner. In this sense, Lorde looks after herself in order to maintain the strength to keep writing and empowering other women facing systemic oppression, which in turn makes the very act of her writing the most powerful self care. Lorde spent most of her adult life writing about white supremacy and feminism. Without her writings, and the collective effort of activists taking up space and projecting their voices, movements like Pride and Black Lives Matter wouldn’t be making the waves in society and culture that they are today. Societal progression is the result of self care; it is the result of people demanding better. This is when we see that the impact of self care in tackling the roots of an issue that affects your life and your ambitions, as opposed to bandaging the short term effects, is the best and most effective way that we can care for ourselves; not just by influencing our own situations but by also impacting on the lives of the people that matter to us. This could include our family members that come from the same socio-economic backgrounds as us, our friends whose gender or the way that they choose to worship is not respected or our planet whose resources for surviving are being looted. It could be anything that transcends ourselves beyond our personal needs and helps to improve our quality of life. I have been very fortunate over the last half a year and although coronavirus has directly impacted me in many ways, it also gave me the time to truly focus on my mental wellbeing. I began therapy at the beginning of lockdown and am thankful for the time this afforded me to focus on it without distraction. It also gave me the time to educate myself and to allow myself to be impassioned by causes that are close to me. It began by learning to make my own beeswax wraps and it developed into being active in tackling the structures of racism in my place of work. Self care in this way feels good, it feels nourishing and has meaning. We must start removing ourselves from the idea that activism is in any way self righteous. Self care is not indulgent, it is the only way that we can change the world. It may have taken a physical illness to expose the rife anxiety and need for radical self care across the world; but for whatever issue, new or old, that the effects of Covid-19 has helped to unearth, our activism towards them has to reflect the same patience and attention that we put into our personal care. Because candles and face masks (again, both kinds!) are nice, but dismantling systems of oppression is the most healing thing we can do for ourselves and the people we care for. Finally, for those of you reading now that are struggling with anxiety, know that for whatever uncertainties the future holds, the actions you take today control your history and you can put yourself on the right side of it.

Lucien Staddon Foster explores London's influence in Edinburgh and how University students should embrace multiculturalism as opposed to private school elitism in combatting bigotry and racism. It's hard to miss Edinburgh's uniquely strong English influence, especially that of London. It is so powerful that some parts of Edinburgh are often criticised as being an extension of London in terms of influences, attitudes and the Status Quo. Whether it's the ever-creeping prices of a pint, the growing London-calling student diaspora, or a simple shift in tempo and ambience, the influence of one capital on another is as inescapable as a signet ring at a JMCC dinner. This influence, however, is both a curse and a blessing, particularly from the eyes of a BAME student. Allow me to explain. “Whether it's the ever-creeping prices of a pint, the growing London-calling student diaspora, or a simple shift in tempo and ambience, the influence of one capital on another is as inescapable as a signet ring at a JMCC dinner. ” Just 8% of Edinburgh's population identifies as BAME (1). A stark contrast to the multi-cultural powerhouse that is London's 35% (2). Assuming discrimination and prejudice decrease with exposure to different cultures, peoples and lifestyles, the heavy influence of London on our capital can bring a shift in attitude that better welcomes the BAME people who call Edinburgh home. However, London is also home to vast inequality, much of which acts along racial lines, and with it, comes specific harmful attitudes, perceptions, and ignorance. Unfortunately, those uniquely London-based attitudes can be spread to Edinburgh through its student intake and run the risk of becoming increasingly widespread, exacerbated by Scotland’s lower diversity. As far as the University is concerned, there is already a poor track record when it comes to diversity. The University of Edinburgh takes in half as many BAME students as its Russell Group peers3, and many degree programmes see significant attainment gaps based on ethnicity (as much as 17.7% for my course (4)). Thus, a disturbing pattern against the potential satisfaction and success of BAME students is revealed and it becomes reinforced when student origin is considered. As of 2018, 34% of Edinburgh University students are privately educated (5), likely hailing from predominantly White and wealthy schools and colleges. Whilst the obvious issue here is over-representation, given that just 7% of the UK population is privately educated, another sinister situation arises, one regarding the students themselves. There's a certain type of student I'm sure you're well aware of; you can spot them from a mile away. Charged with pride for their South London or home county independent school; they waltz through the streets with a swing of flairs and a flash of a signet ring, with a demeanour consisting of equal parts arrogance and insecurity. There is nothing inherently problematic about privileged upbringings or needing to be noticed wherever you go, and I have no quarrel with those of us with those traits. Nevertheless, there is a fundamental common denominator for those matching this caricature. Beyond their work with foreign children on their gap year, they have likely had little to no real contact with BAME people. Think about their schools; you can probably count the pupils with a complexion darker than the façade of Appleton Tower on one hand. When the time comes for them to connect with one another in the fine establishment of Pollock Halls of Residence, they often bring with them harmful bigotry fuelled by a lack of diversity in their home lives. I'm sure if you spoke to any BAME friends of yours they'd return with countless examples of discriminatory acts and attitudes they have encountered during their time here. As your friends aren't here, I will lead with some personal examples of mine. "When the time comes for them to connect with one another in the fine establishment of Pollock Halls of Residence, they often bring with them harmful bigotry fuelled by a lack of diversity in their home lives." To preface this, allow me to tell you about myself. I am of mixed heritage, equal parts Black Caribbean and White English. I came to the UK when I was tiny and have lived here ever since. I am very obviously not white but just about ambiguous enough to throw a few White Brits off the scent. During my time at Edinburgh, specifically, when I was in halls, I have been subjected to all forms and flavours of bigotry. And more times than not, the culprits have been from the very social group I have been talking about. I have been questioned on whether I've been involved in knife crime or whether I know any Black person they can pluck from their memory. I have been praised for "how well (I) speak for a Black guy". I've endured three complete strangers pulling and running their hands through my hair on the middle of an ATIK dance-floor. I have even been called "Tropical Boo" by another stranger in a club, who I am sure meant well but it comes across as nothing but a fetishisation of my ethnicity. So why then, do some from the most diverse parts of the UK harbour such bigotry and disrespect? I certainly don't have all the answers, but I am truly concerned about the president it may set in Scotland's White-dominated spaces. The "posh-boy banter" that's so prevalent in wealthy parts of the South, from which Edinburgh draws many students from, oozes with toxicity regarding ethnicity, race, sex, gender, religion and sexuality; and as a result, Edinburgh runs the risk of adopting such a culture. That's not to say Scotland doesn't have its own issues in regard to these, which it certainly does, but a specific type of prejudice and behaviour comes creeping in on top due to Edinburgh's strong ties to England's capital. "I have been questioned on whether I've been involved in knife crime or whether I know any Black person they can pluck from their memory. I have been praised for "how well (I) speak for a Black guy"." During this time of demonstration and solidarity with BAME communities, we must recognise our own issues and the nuances behind them if we hope to transition further towards equality. At Edinburgh University, I believe a start can be made by addressing the negative influences of the capital and its surrounding bubble of affluence, and in its place, the positive aspects must be adopted. Such that, we embrace London’s multi-culturalism rather than its elite. Through this, we can reduce the toxicity and hardship that plagues both our UK-based and international BAME students. If the White-dominated private schools don’t address the toxic behaviour that’s often so rampant within them, it is our job to make sure that culture has no place in Edinburgh. References: 1, 2 Equality Evidence Finder Scotland 3, 4 EDMARC 2019 – Student Report 5 Higher Education Student Statistics: UK. 2018/2019 Statistical Bulletin

Kate Charlton looks into the debate over taking down PornHub and the #TraffickingHub and how OnlyFans could be used as a more ethical means of sex work. Past Growing up as a young girl, porn was a dirty word that I was taught not to discuss. In sex education in  school, boys were taught about masturbation and porn whilst girls were taught about pregnancy and periods - the pleasure/practicality divide between boys and girls cemented from a young age. Like with me, for many women porn was a taboo subject. It has been ingrained into girls from a young age that sex is about reproduction, not pleasure. This stems from the harmful gender binary of women as innocent and domestic vs. men as powerful and virile. For women, the fact that porn and masturbation isn’t discussed with us at a young age reinforces the idea that for us, sex isn’t about pleasure because if we learn to enjoy sex then we might get pregnant. Boys don’t have this same issue and therefore, can be freely taught about shameless masturbation. This was why I saw women watching porn as liberating for their sexual prowess, charging a field dominated by men to reclaim sexual pleasure as their own. This was why I saw women watching porn as liberating for their sexual prowess, charging a field dominated by men to reclaim sexual pleasure as their own. Present However, people cannot claim to be feminists and enjoy the sex industry without taking active measures to respect and support its workers. It has always been known that PornHub is exploitative of its workers, and it has recently come to the forefront of news again with the #TraffickingHub campaign. The campaign, founded by Laila Mickelwait, aims to take down PornHub, and for the company to be held accountable for profiting off of the trafficking and abuse of women and children. They use the example of a 15 year old girl who went missing and was only found a year later after 58 films of her abuse emerged on the site (1) . Another 14 year old girl was kidnapped at knifepoint and her r*pe was filmed and posted on the site, and only when she posed as a lawyer after months of asking for them to take it down, did the site finally do so to avoid legal action (note: not for ethicality or compassion). PornHub has no systems in place to regulate such videos being uploaded in regards to age nor consent and only an email address is required. Subsequently through ad revenue on these videos, PornHub profits millions upon millions. “Tell your bff that sex workers are not the enemies of progress, that they are in fact exploiting the system built to oppress them, and that this alone is iconic as fuck” - Florence Given, 2020 The concept behind OnlyFans is a stepping stone for female sex workers to gain bodily and monetary autonomy over their work outside of male pimps and porn directors. Women finally have the chance and the platform to be their own boss from the safety of their homes and outside of the corruption of the present sex industry. Physical harm that plagues street work (work necessary for some women as a means to survive) and also film set work isn’t an issue as women can control what they uploaded and when, essentially the freelancers of the sex industry. In spite of the promising model, OnlyFans doesn’t come without its issues.  Hacks and underage workers (for example in BBC documentary Nudes4Sale (2)) plague the site.  With technology as advanced as it is today, subscription content can be illegally downloaded and  uploaded onto PornHub for free without reprimand from the website (a perfect example of why PornHub is corrupt). OnlyFans does require age verification but this is easy to cheat; the law doesn’t require these sites to ask for ID and so it is clear why there is a lack of incentivisation in these industries to be thorough. With influencers being open about OnlyFans and the rewards they reap, it is easy for underage and impressionable people to see how much money they are earning and want to do it themselves, but like with PornHub this can lead to exploitation. If age verification checks were vigilant, however, and there was no risk of underage users, then OnlyFans does have the potential to be a trailblazer in the revolutionising of sex work. The response to OnlyFans has been an eye opener for me. Debate on Twitter consists predominantly of men shaming women for 'not respecting themselves' for building up their own profile on the website, versus the defence consisting mostly of women who stood up for the positivity in women's bodily autonomy. Why is it that these men are deluded into thinking their opinion matters on the topic of the female body? They happily partake in watching PornHub, where notoriously women are abused and mistreated in the name of good content for their pleasure (as I will explore below). Are men scared now that women have risen up the ranks and have control over their content? How can it be that men can guiltlessly enjoy content on PornHub but shame the very people that they use for their pleasure? Why shouldn't women be able to take control and capitalise on the sexualisation of their bodies that are a product of hundreds of years of patriarchal society? There is a lot of stigma around the field of sex work, some criticism deserved in terms of how the industry treats its workers and the safety of the job. However, people must respect sex workers like the humans they are. The work they do is necessary for their livelihood and they just want to survive like you and me. Furthermore with the rise of OnlyFans, sex work can potentially be safely regulated to protect its workers. OnlyFans requires age consent in the form of picture ID taken alongside the picture of the account holder so users must be verifiably over the age of 18. If this verification process is airtight then the website could be the new normal of safe and ethical sex work. Although as I have previously stated there are many shortcuts around this, PornHub doesn’t require users to do this at all which is indicative of their ethics regarding the exploitation of underage people. Future The future of porn relies on safety and ethicality for its workers. In the era of #MeToo, it is our responsibility as a society to support and protect sex workers and create an environment for them to work where they won't come into harm. In my opinion, if you watch porn but don't support the autonomy of (legal) female sex workers on OnlyFans, then you are being a hypocrite. OnlyFans does have vast progress to be made with it's model and the practical application, in that verification checks must be even tighter and underage girls protected, but the concept behind the website is paving the way for exploitation-free and abuse-free sex work. For the future of porn to be ethical, PornHub must be taken down. I implore you to abstain from using the site in the meantime to prevent the website traffic that funds them. That being said, womxn remember it is perfectly normal to enjoy (ethical) porn and masturbation and it isn’t just something men are allowed to do! To be active in bringing down PornHub sign the petition (which already has over 1 million signatories) on the TraffickingHub website: https://traffickinghub.com (1) Traffickinghub - Shut Down Pornhub and Hold Its Executives Accountable for Aiding Trafficking [Internet]. Traffickinghub.com. 2020 [cited 4 July 2020]. Available from: https://traffickinghub.com/ (2)  BBC Three - Nudes4Sale [Internet]. BBC. 2020 [cited 4 July 2020]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p087m1nh