Right now, Siri has trouble understanding people who speak English with any accent aside from a standard American white male. So does Alexa.
If you are not a white male who was born speaking English in America, you can help! Project Common Voice is seeking to create a library of speaking samples for people from all genders and all accents in order to improve accessibility to voice recognition software.
Just click "donate your voice" and read a sentence. There! Now AI can be better available to everyone.
(If you are already in Siri's current target audience but still want to help, you can validate other peoples' sentences.)
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I was visiting my cousins recently, and they have the sweetest dog! Her name is Lily, and she will look at you with the sweetest brown eyes if you aren't petting her. Except sometimes, when she gives you the side eye.
I completely forgot that All Saints had more hits than just Never Ever! Reading their Wikipedia page is a strange saga of failure and renewal. They split twice and got dropped by two labels but kept getting on the horse and releasing more albums, including one released just last year. Who knew?!??
PURE SHORES
by All Saints
I've crossed the deserts for miles
Swam water for time
Searching places to find
A piece of something to call mine
(I'm coming)
A piece of something to call mine
(I'm coming)
(I'm coming)
Coming closer to you
Went along many moors
Walked through many doors
The place where I wanna be
Is the place I can call mine
(I'm coming)
Is the place I can call mine
(I'm coming)
(I'm coming)
Coming closer to you
I'm moving
I'm coming
Can you hear, what I hear
It's calling you my dear
Out of reach
(Take me to my beach)
I can hear it, calling you
I'm coming not drowning
Swimming closer to you
Never been here before
I'm intrigued, I'm unsure
I'm searching for more
I've got something thats all mine
I've got something thats all mine
Take me somewhere I can breathe
I've got so much to see
This is where I want to be
In a place I can call mine
In a place I can call mine
I'm moving
I'm coming
Can you hear, what I hear
It's calling you my dear
Out of reach
(Take me to my beach)
I can hear it, calling you
I'm coming not drowning
Swimming closer to you
Moving, coming
Can you hear what I hear?
(Hear it out of reach)
I hear it calling you
Swimming closer to you
Many faces I have seen
Many places I have been
Walked the deserts, swam the shores
(Coming closer to you)
Many faces I have know
Many way in which I've grown
Moving closer on my own
(Coming closer to you)
I move it
I feel it
I'm coming
Not drowning
I move it
I feel it
I'm coming
Not drowning
I'm moving
I'm coming
Can you hear, what I hear
It's calling you my dear
Out of reach
(Take me to my beach)
I can hear it, calling you
I'm coming not drowning
Swimming closer to you
(Take me to my beach)
I'm moving
I'm coming
Can you hear, what I hear
It's calling you my dear
Out of reach
(Take me to my beach)
I can hear it, calling you
I'm coming not drowning
Swimming closer to you
(Take me to my beach)
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Scientists in China have teleported a photon into orbit. TELEPORTED IT. Into ORBIT. COME ON!!! They used a technique called quantum teleportation, where the properties of one particle are instantly transferred to another.
Don't Bother Running
Just when I started to get into jogging, it turns out that it is the worst way to get fit. Well, fine then. Be that way.
Beware the Second-Born
New research shows that second-born children are more likely to cause trouble. We (I say we, because I am a middle child) get in trouble with school and, when we're older, the law in greater numbers. This may explain the fact that I have always had a bit of an urge to steal stuff. Seriously. I never have, but I remember as a kid, standing in stores staring at all the stuff and just wanting so badly to take it. I was a little criminal at heart!
Listen to the Voices in Your Head
Typically we think that people who hear voices are in need of help, but there is a growing movement of people who hear voices and don't want to stop. There are even support groups that give tactics like wearing headphones when you talk to the voices in your head, so that people think you're talking on the phone to an actual person.
As the laws around marijuana became more and more lax in BC, dispensaries began popping up all over the place. At this point, I think there are more dispensaries than Starbucks in Vancouver, which is saying something. Turns out, that these dispensaries lend to the safety of the streets they are on, and when they are forced to close, crime increases. (This still doesn't explain to me how they all stay in business, I know a lot of people smoke pot, but that many? I guess I also wouldn't expect four coffee shops on the same street to be able to stay in business either, but they do. The world is funny.)
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Guys. Avocados. They're a trick. A trap. A tricky trap!
That's right! The millennial, health-conscious, hipster SAVIOUR of foodstuffs! The magic ingredient in pretty much every paleo, keto, and vegan dish! The instagram-ready toast topping! They are a trick!
Why?
They. Have. Calories. CALORIES!!!
Did you know that?
Okay, so obviously avocados have calories, but I mean the Have Calories. Like, a weighty amount of calories.
So... let's just say that you have noticed that your sweatpants have become unusually form-fitting against your thighs and your shorts from last summer are just a liiiiiiiittle too tight. Let's just say that this kind of thing happens enough that it is no longer an anomaly of one particular item of clothing, but a reality of your changing body.
Let's also say that you don't really fancy buying a whole new set of clothes, and instead would rather go the cheaper route of investigating the cause of this newfound body padding.
Then let's just say that your diet hasn't really changed much except for the fact that you started adding avocados to things. Throw an avocado on your breakfast eggs! Add some avocado to that salad! Mix some avocado into that smoothie! It's healthy fat and it tastes good! It adds nice texture! It's great!
No problem, one avocado just adds 300-400 calories. Just enough to more-or-less double the calorie count of your breakfast without you realizing it. That's A LOT of calories for one little piece of fruit!
So if you're wondering how much damage a measly avocado could do, the answer is, a comfortably-fitting summer wardrobe's worth of damage.
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The Backstreet Boys weren't exactly known for their lyrical greatness, but I still think that if you have a team of professionals writing your songs, they should be able to stand up to some scrutiny.
For the sake of simplicity, this analysis won't even delve into the weird music video, where the boys of the backstreets transform some intelligent-looking women into fun fantasy ladies. Let's focus on the song lyrics instead.
My main beef with As Long as You Love Me is pretty much the main point of the song:
"I don't care who you are / Where you're from / What you did / As long as you love me"
Really? You don't care ANYTHING about this person or their past?
First of all, this demonstrates a very low level of interest in the person at all. I realize that small talk on dates can be a bit dull, but we ask people where they are from in order to learn more about them. If you don't even care who they are... What do you care about? Are you the worst date ever?
Second, I mean, sure, we've all made mistakes. But since they later say "Doesn't really matter if you're on the run", so it sounds like they don't care about how legal this person's history is.
Again, we all make mistakes, and just because someone has broken a law doesn't mean they don't deserve love, but are there no limits? Is it just enough for them to love you?
Okay, let's get into this: here are some potential scenarios that could unfold for the BSB if they took this song to heart.
Howie: He met his beloved at a party. She was standing off to the side looking bored and superior to the whole thing, which was very alluring to him. Turns out she is a hired assassin who was there casing the joint to later kill the owner: Howie's best friend. By the time he found this out it was a real Romeo and Juliet situation.
Brian: Brian was at a gas station when a frail young thing ran in looking frantic: she was literally on the run. He looked in her eyes, fell instantly in love with her, and swore to protect her no matter what. He left his life behind to escape together, and so not only was the latest BSB/NKOTB tour cancelled, but it turned out that she had orchestrated a terrorist act and was running from the FBI.
AJ: Swiping on Tinder, AJ came across a cute guy with eyes like magic. They met, and it was instant love. A couple weeks later, AJ noticed that this guy was really secretive about his past relationships. At first he thought that he was just uncomfortable bringing his past into their new love. Nope, turns out that all his past lovers disappeared about 2 months into their relationships. AJ was sure this time would be different. It wasn't.
Nick: Really into the whole "I don't even care who you are", aspect, Nick lets his friends set him up with strangers all the time, and never asks them anything about themselves. Unfortunately, because he didn't even bother to find out who he was dating or what they did, it later turned out that he had been harbouring a fugitive who ran an international scam out of his house, and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. (This actually helped his career, as he had been trying to break the "good boy" identity he had honed in BSB.)
Kevin: Kevin was shopping in Whole Foods and met a lovely woman. When he found out she had been born with male genitalia, he told her he didn't care, as long as she loved him. She was relieved. They shared an intimate, loving, healthy relationship and adopted two kids, teaching them to judge a person by the content of their character, not the private parts they were born with.
So things turned out pretty great for Kevin and his family.
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This week's "I want to go to there": I just spent the weekend at my cousin's cabin on a lake, and now
I'm dreaming about this whole "recreational property" thing. (Key word: dreaming.)
Photo credit: Foter.com
Light Up Your Brain
Neuroscientist Greg Dunn wanted to refresh his work and inspire others to admire the wonder of the brain. So he created this stunning piece of art, illustrating the brain's neural connections through LED lights.
r u a bunny?
Artist Del Kathryn Barton has a new series of paintings called r u a bunny? that gloriously explores femininity.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
“I can ignore what you’re saying, and just look at your actions. Our actions always reveal our real values.”
This little reminder has been coming up a lot in my life lately. Most frequently (believe it or not) through my workouts. I've been doing online HITT videos, and they always suggest resting instead of quitting when you're tired. It never occurred to me to take that advice outside of my workouts until this moment (because, genius)!
"Growth for a nonathlete is working toward one's full potential in expressing your best self and feeling good about it--. to know that you're pushing in a direction that is fulfilling, makes you feel good, and makes you feel like you're working at your best."
Does anyone else find summer solstice to be the most depressing day of the year?
The world has been getting lighter and brighter for six whole months, and we have just entered the carefree days of summer where, even if we don’t have jobs that give us summer breaks, the bright mornings and prolonged evenings give a feeling of lightness and mental holiday.
Then, right when we start to enjoy it, BAM! Get ready for the darkness to begin closing in once again.
Sure, you could go out and enjoy the sun while it lasts, but what’s the point? It’s already fleeing from you. Now every day, every moment, that passes, somewhere inside your body, you know that the world is getting darker and colder. Just to remind you of your slow, inevitable march towards death, the sun begins withdrawing from your life.
Sigh.
(There’s no way I’m being overly dramatic with this, is there?)
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This may be the creepiest bathroom advertisement I've ever seen in my life.
In case you're confused (I was), or the glare is making it hard to decipher, that is a pair of eyes peering out in the darkness, with the words "Feeling in the dark about your vaginal symptoms?"
UMMMMMMMMMMM, WHAT?
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The music video for this song reminds me of Rex Morgan from Empire Records. It's like a parody of 80's symbolism and flouncy pirate shirts. The effects! The meaningful shots of birds! The sheer volume of emotions in Gowan's face!
Despite everyone's love for hating on selfie-taking Millenials, a new study shows that selfies are not necessarily narcissistic. According to researchers, people take selfies for three general reasons: communication (a way to start conversation with family and friends), recording their life (and instead of showing you the pics in person, they just share them online), and finally, self-promotion. That last group are the narcissistic ones, the other two don't match with narcissistic personality traits, and most people fall into the first two camps. Motherhood and Self-Esteem
Yoga may help prevent cognitive decline. A recent study shows that women who practiced yoga regularly had greater cortical thickness, previously linked with language and memory. First, remember that this is a correlational, not experimental study. Second, note that they only had 42 participants. Finally, keep in mind that meditation has been shown to increase prefrontal cortex activity, so that may be the cause. Of course, there are other studies showing that memory improved in elders who learned yoga, so all signs point to yoga!
Here's something: I was recently going through some old posts, and as I chuckled at the stuff I used to write (it's okay to think you're funny, right? Or to think that you used to be funny? I'm allowed to appreciate my own writing, aren't I?????), I realized something: I used to write a lot of little, one-off, observational-type posts. It was fun! I thought they were funny and I still do!
I don't really do that anymore.
So then I thought, 'Hey, I should do that more. It was fun. I'll make a little image to go with my little quickie posts.'
In a flash of genius, I decided to call them "mini-posts" and use a post-it for the image (because post-its are basically mini posts! Get it? HILARIOUS!)
So I drew this, complete with a little doodle of my curly-haired self peaking out the bottom of the note.
I realized two things:
1) This is a terrible, boring image.
2) My hair is giving us all the finger.
Sorry.
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What a beautiful portrayal of a couple that loves each other in an incredibly simple, real way. They don't know what's going on with their lives, but they know that they want to figure it out together. They are committed, funny, and enjoy each others' company, even when their lives are a mess.
Guess whose relationship did NOT look like that when she went to see the movie? This girl! I saw this movie with my boyfriend at the time, and afterwards tried to express what they had that we seemed to be missing. He didn't get it.
500 Days of Summer
This gem was the perfect display of a relationship that just wasn't going to work. The two were clearly on different wavelengths and wanted entirely different things out of their lives and each other. Maybe they were having a good time together, but there was no real future there.
Guess whose relationship was basically the exact same thing? This girl! I walked out of that movie feeling deeply sure that my then-boyfriend and I needed to break up, but I wasn't ready to face it yet, so I shoved that feeling down for two more months.
About Time
This is a movie (SPOILER ALERT!) about a guy who can travel through time, and who frequently goes back in time in order to woo the woman of his dreams. When I write that down it sounds creepy, but it is utterly charming in the movie. He also learns a lot of important lessons about love and life and making the most of what's happening along the way.
Yes, it's entirely unfair to expect your boyfriend to travel back in time in order to woo you, but guess who was suddenly hit with the realization that even if he could travel in time, her boyfriend would probably not bother? Even if it meant un-ruining her birthday (for a totally hypothetical example)? This girl!
Plus, I tried to engage him in a conversation afterwards about what we would do differently with our days if we could time travel, and he was completely unwilling/unable to engage with the concept of re-imagining his day going differently.
Obviously, these relationships were already bound for disaster, and the movies just made me realize it sooner. So really, I should thank these movies for pointing out to me that I was with the wrong person at the time. And I do!
Thank you, movies. No, really. Thank you.
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This week's "I want to go to there": This photo stacks 100 sunsets on top of each other, creating the most stunning, painterly sky. Can I live under it? Photo by Matt Malloy
Protest Princesses Get Real
Amanda Niday's picture of Disney Princesses as protesters, created for the Women's March on Washington went pretty viral at the time. So what did she do? She made it real, with real women. I love it so so so much! Check out Niday's Tumblr and Society6 shop, because she is great.
The ingenuity of human brains is always pretty amazing. When trying to solve the problem of having a safe, cheap, and effective light source for people in developing countries, Jim Reeves and Martin Biddeford invented a light that is powered by gravity. GRAVITY! It is 100% free forever after it is purchased, doesn't require kerosene or electricity. It's basically magic.
Life with a Cephalopod
A Disney artist created a little series imagining life with a pet octopus. It's adorable and fun and makes me want a pet octopus. Which is entirely the point, I'm sure. See the whole series here.
Back in the day, I wrote a column for a local website on cheap things to do in Vancouver. Being that this city is consistently in the top five most-expensive cities in the world, learning how to live on the cheap was vital to my survival.
It's been awhile since I got to share my cheap-living strategies with the world, and so here are my favourite ways to live cheap without hurting too much. (Okay, some of them suck, but sometimes life sucks, and then we move on.)
First, the sucky things:
Learn the difference between a "want" and a "need." It's no fun to say, "This is the best-looking couch I've ever seen and lying on it would change my life, but I actually have a perfectly reasonable couch in my living room right now, so I don't need it," but it's probably accurate. Sometimes we want things SO BAD, it feels like we need them. Again, we probably don't. If you didn't know you needed it until you saw it in the store, then you definitely don't need it. Sorry.
Learn the difference between "cheap" and a "good deal." Just because something is a great value for you money doesn't mean you can afford it. I know, right??? It's just not fair! Life isn't fair, and the amount of money in your bank account doesn't change based on how much that thing is on sale for. Take heart, though! There is an unless. You don't save money by buying something that's a "good deal" unless it's something you always need to buy (like, I don't know, toilet paper), then, by all means, splurge on that sweet, sweet deal! Otherwise, the discount does not make it affordable. Sorry.
Learn how to stay within your limits. Figure out before you head out for the night how much you can afford to spend, and then stick with it. Bring only cash if necessary. Become okay with having just one drink and nursing it for a while. Practice saying, "I'm okay, thanks," or "I'll just have a water this time," when everyone else is ordering another round. It's fine! Tell yourself that you're the designated driver, if that makes you feel better.
Now, the less-sucky things:
Figure out a few actually-cheap or free things that feel luxurious to you. With all that self-control, you might start feeling like you're always depriving yourself, and that gets a bit tiresome. So what things are free, or very cheap, that make you feel nice? A weekly fancy beverage? Bubble baths? I find sitting in the park or at the beach on a blanket with a book to be like a mini-vacation. Sometimes I get ice cream, and then life becomes a dream. Of course, these faux-luxuries are pretty limited to warm weather. In the winter, I'm just sad all the time.
Make your first hang-out suggestions into free or cheap things. Our tendency is to presume that doing things with friends must cost money - we go for meals, drinks, or to see movies. It doesn't have to be that way! Invite people over to your actual home, the place you're already paying to be able to hang out. Or if you want to get out of the house, suggest going for tea or a walk instead of drinks.
Look up all the free things in your city. Does the art gallery have a free night? What can you get out of your library (I guarantee it's more than books)? What local theatres have pay-what-you-can nights? Which yoga studios have "karma" classes that are cheap or free? What free events are currently listed on Eventbrite? Do a little research and then have these options in your back pocket for the next time you need something to do.
Take advantage of your memberships. Are you a member of car2go? A local community centre? CAA? I can almost guarantee you that your memberships offer perks and discounts at other businesses. Do a little digging.
Learn how to fix your things. It boggles my mind how many people think they need to buy new clothes because a button fell off. Most shirts COME with spare buttons, for pete's sake! Nobody expects you to start sewing your own formal wear, but seriously, anyone can sew on a button or repair a torn hem. The less you waste things, the less money you spend.
Stock up on no-name brand goods. Sometimes it's worth it to buy the name brand. If you ask me, Honey Nut Cheerios are just better than "Hunny-n-Nut O's" or whatever, and dollar store Q-Tips are thinly-masked ear-stabbers. HOWEVER! Some things are just as good (or better) in the cheap version. Did you know that professional chefs buy no-name grocery staples? If you don't like having those ugly no-name containers out and about (I don't), then transfer the goods into jars.
Get to love used stuff. I legitimately love shopping second-hand. If you've got a thrift shop near your house, make a point of stopping in a couple of times a week to see what's new. I have gotten some of my favourite outfits, including tons of normally-insanely-expensive outdoorsy clothing, for a song in this way. Venture out of the clothing section, too! Books, decor, sporting goods, even electronics (most let you plug them in to make sure they work).
Bonus: this is an entirely eco-friendly way to shop, AND it can allow you to "splurge" on things you don't necessarily need, which is fun. Double bonus: sign up for the email list of some larger thrift shops and get emails when they have sales. Yes! Thrift stores have sales! Triple bonus: you can often get much higher quality goods at a thrift shop than a discount shop, for a similar price.
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You know how you try to take a picture of a thing, and then there your cat is, right in the middle of it? And then you think, "Oh darn, then I guess I'll take a picture of the cat."
I mean, I haven't watched it in a couple of years because the stories got a little too twisty-turned in on themselves and Clara was... less than interesting, but I keep meaning to get back into it and now I have a really really good reason to jump back on board: THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED THE NEW DOCTOR AND IT'S JODIE WHITTAKER.
You may know Jodie Whittaker as Danny's Mum in Broadchurch. I can't WAIT to see what she does with the role.
If you, also, are excited about this, or at least no more apprehensive than you are about all the "new Doctor" announcements, because you aren't a sexist turd, do yourself a favour and don't read any of the comments on any of the news stories about this. I don't know WHY I did, but I was treated to a bunch of men AND WOMEN saying "If she's crap, don't say I didn't warn you", "Boo on the BBC for shoving political correctness down our throats", and "I don't even know how I feel about female doctors in real life, let alone on a TV show." (UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!)
Excuse me while I rip my hair out, chant "there is no use in trying to change their minds, logic will not work, move on with your life" over and over again, and then go binge all the Doctor Who stuff I missed for the past couple of years.
One thing I will say: I am often wary of "girl versions" of popular male-centred entertainment. For example, I thoroughly loved the all-female Ghostbusters, but kind of wish they had just made a sweet female-cast ghost-fighting comedy instead of redoing an old story. It naturally puts us in a "girls against boys" situation where people can't help but compare and to me that's not the point. HOWEVER, on a series like this where the whole concept is that the lead character is played by different actors over time, it's completely different. Unless there is a good reason, this lead character should be played by as diverse a group of actors as possible. Why? BECAUSE THE SHOW WILL BE BETTER! You'll have more opportunities for different styles of comedy, drama, and action, and if the whole idea is that they change every so often, then why make them only change within a tiny subset of humanity? All this to say, hoorah for a woman as The Doctor, and hopefully the next one won't be white.
I had NO IDEA as a youth that this song is so freaking empowering! Annnnnd, because I'm the coolest, reading the lyrics became a #whyisandreacryingthistime post on my Instagram. I can't help it, guys! People standing together and supporting each other ALWAYS gets my tear ducts ducting.
CAN'T HOLD US DOWN
by Christina Aguilera ft. Lil' Kim
So what am I not supposed to have an opinion
Should I keep quiet just because I'm a women
Call me a bitch cause I speak what's on my mind
Guess it's easier for you to swallow if I sat and smiled
When a female fires back suddenly big talker don't know how to act
So he does what every little boy would do
Makin' up a few false rumors or two
That for sure is not a man for me, slanderin' names for popularity
It's sad you only get your fame through controversy
But now it's time for me to come and give you more to say
This is for my girls all around the world
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth
Thinkin' all women should be seen and not heard
So what do we do girls, shout out loud
Lettin 'em know were gonna stand our ground
So lift your hands high and wave 'em proud
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will
Can't hold us down
Nobody can hold us down
Never can, never will
So-what am I not supposed to say what I'm saying
Are you offended with the message I'm bringin'
Call me whatever 'cause you words don't mean a thing
Guess you ain't even a man enough to handle what I sing
If you look back in history it's a common double standard os society
The guy gets all the glory the more he can score
While the girl can do the same yet you call her a whore
I don't understand why it's OK,
The guy can get a way with it the girl gets named
All my ladies come together and make a change
And start a new beginning for us, everybody sang
This is for my girls all around the world
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth
Thinkin' all women should be seen and not heard
So what do we do girls, shout out loud
Lettin 'em know were gonna stand our ground
So lift your ahnds high and wave 'em proud
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will
Can't hold us down
Here's something I just can't understand
If the guy have three girls then he's the man
He can even give her some head, or sex her off
But if a girl do the same, she's a whore
But the tables about to turn
I bet my fame on it
Cats take my ideas, and put their name on it
It's aight though, you can't hold me down
I got to keep on moving
To my girls to their man who be trying to mac
Do it right back to him and let that be that
You need to let him know that his game is whack
And Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera got yo back
You're just a little boy
Think you so cute, so coy
You must talk so big to make up for smaller things
You're just a little boy
All you do is annoy
You must talk big to make up for smaller things
This is for my girls all around the world
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth
Thinkin' all women should be seen and not heard
So what do we do girls, shout out loud
Lettin 'em know were gonna stand our ground
So lift your ahnds high and wave 'em proud
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will
Can't hold us down
This is for my girls all around the world
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth
Thinkin' all women should be seen and not heard
So what do we do girls, shout out loud
Lettin 'em know were gonna stand our ground
So lift your ahnds high and wave 'em proud
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will
Can't hold us down
Uh, oh oh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Can't hold us down
Yeah, we here, we back again, yeah,
Lil Kim and Christina Aguilera
Can't hold us down
Screenshot, Can't Hold Us Down music video
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Sweden, always ahead of the game, has some gender-neutral preschools. This is not achieved by dressing everyone in matching sackcloth, but by making sure that toys are not segregated by gender, that posters depict a combination of gender norms (like a robot in a tutu), and instructors talk more about humans, kids, adults, and friends than boys and girls. And, guess what? It's working! Kids who attend these gender-neutral preschools have better outcomes than those who don't.
You know how everything in life defaults to being male unless there's a reason to make it female? Well, that holds for research on animals: they generally use male mice. The result is that women may be getting worse medical treatments. Thanks, guys!
I have a theory about systemic biases in the world and a way we can take a big step in combating them. A lot of people aren't going to like it, because it's basically tokenism on fire, but I think it could actually help.
I believe that we could take huge leaps in removing systemic barriers, overturning the patriarchy, and dismantling white supremacy by artificially boosting the numbers of women, people of colour, people with disabilities, queer, trans, overweight, and whatever else you can think of, people in our TV shows, movies, video games, books, stock photography used for advertising, and other entertainment.
Let every writer or ad exec come up with a novel, screenplay, or ad campaign that looks however they want, and then send someone else in to change characters named Ryan to Ming-Na, and so on. I theorize that in 5-10 years we would make significant gains in the rest of society for equality.
Why?
Because it would use our brains' cognitive biases for good by changing our implicit biases.
If you don't know about cognitive biases, here's a little psych 101:
Our brains encounter a LOT of information every single day and have to make a ridiculous number of decisions. If we had to consciously sort through it all, we'd never do anything. To free up space for us to stare at budget spreadsheets and groan (or do more enjoyable things), our brains take a looooot of shortcuts. Some of these shortcuts are summarized as cognitive biases.
Here are a few of the common cognitive biases that exist in every single human brain:
The Availability Heuristic: The easier it is to recall information, the more likely we are to think it's true. If something springs to mind right away, we assume it's correct.
The Familiarity Heuristic: The more familiar something is, the more we like it. Also called the "mere exposure effect", because merely being exposed to something makes us like it more.
Bandwagon Effect: We are more likely to adopt a belief if other people around us hold that belief.
Confirmation Bias: We pay more attention to information that confirms beliefs we already hold.
Implicit Bias: This is more socially-constructed than cognitive in origin, and is (in my opinion) the resulting impact of all the other biases rolled up in one. Implicit biases are the attitudes or stereotypes we hold about a group of people without being aware of them, that often go against our stated beliefs. For example, people who think they aren't racist who subconsciously view black people as dumb, dangerous, and bad. Fun fact: since implicit bias comes at us subconsciously from all aspects of society around us, it can help people hold negative views about their own group.
(Side note: if you think you're exempt from these biases, there's a name for that, too: Blind Spot Bias. This is when you see biases in others but not in yourself. These are all scientifically tested and confirmed as things that human brains do.)
Implicit bias affects us all.
The researchers who discovered implicit bias did it through a test that revealed anti-black and pro-white associations (black being associated with danger and badness, white with safety and goodness). They would take the test every day to observe if there were any changes, even consciously trying to change their test scores. Only once did one of them succeed: that morning he had watched a speech by Martin Luther King Jr. on television. He came in to work, took the test, and the implicit bias had disappeared*.
They realized that being exposed to positive examples of black people that were salient, recent, and easy to remember, changed the bias.
Do you see where I'm going with this?
Right now, there's a cycle going on. Our mass entertainment (the stuff that's meant to appeal to everyone) centres around one kind of person: white, male, heterosexual, able-bodied, fit, etc. The vast majority of advertising and entertainment confirms the story that white people and their experiences are normal, that male stories are universal, and so on. So then what is going to be more familiar? What will be easier to recall? What will our sense of the "bandwagon" of beliefs surrounding us be? What implicit biases will come out of this?
With some notable exceptions, there is a clear picture of what is "mainstream" and what is "special interest" in our society right now, and that matters to our brains.
We could start a new cycle.
What if names like Abdullah and Satoshi were just as common on television as Adam and Jennifer? What if ads for dish soap featured just as many men expertly doing the dishes as women? What if exciting video games were played from the perspectives of people with disabilities? What if the doctors, lawyers, cleaning people, magazine editors, terrorists, romantic leads, superheroes, singers, and news anchors that we saw represented in our entertainment and advertising were a genuine mix of race, cultural background, religion, gender, sexuality, ability, and body type?
What if all of that was mainstream?
How would this impact our cognitive biases? How would that impact our real-world behaviour?
Inserting diversity into our entertainment would not solve all our problems. Not by a long shot. But would it help us as we do the harder work? Can we hack our cognitive biases to help push us towards confronting systemic barriers in the workplace or biases that are leading directly to violence?
I think it would. At the very least, I think it's a) possible and b) technically an easy thing to test.
Now all we have to do is convince every gatekeeper to entertainment media to get on board with the experiment. Easy, right?
So, that's my theory! Ready? Poke holes in it. Tell me what's missing. Let's make it better - or throw it out if needed.
*This is a story I remember discussing in at least two psychology classes, but I now can't find any evidence of it. I presume it was in some of my intro psych textbooks, but those aren't available online to confirm. So I guess take it with a grain of salt.
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