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By Iza Piatkowski As Black History Month comes to a close, The Youth Press wants to highlight an important issue that continues to impact the community today: the mistrust towards the medical system held by many African Americans. Dr. Laura Bogart, a behavioral scientist and social psychologist at the RAND Corporation, defines medical mistrust as “an absence of trust that health care providers and organizations genuinely care for patients’ interests, are honest, practice confidentiality, and have the competence to produce the best possible results.” This mistrust is justified, as the healthcare system has failed African Americans completely throughout history. Myths about physical racial differences, torturous medical experiments, and unfair medical treatment have all contributed to this failure. Myths about physical racial differences, once used to justify slavery, are still viewed as true by many doctors today. Historically, one of the most widely believed myths is that Black people have a significantly higher pain tolerance than white people. As a result, physicians often used slaves in painful medical experiments. Dr. J. Marion Sims, regarded as the father of modern gynecology, used Black women to practice painful gynecological operations without anesthesia between 1845 and 1849. Dr. Thomas Hamilton, who believed black skin was thicker than white skin, experimented on his slave John Brown for nine months to prove his theory. Today, as published in a 2013 review in The American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, Black people continue to receive inadequate pain management. A survey of medical students and residents from The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that when given examples of Black people in hypothetical medical scenarios, the students and residents believed the black patients felt less pain and were therefore less likely to recommend appropriate treatment. A third of them also believed Dr. Hamilton’s disproven theory that black skin was thicker than white skin. Even in the twentieth century, the federal government was conducting experiments on black people. In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service began a study on the natural history of syphilis called the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. It initially involved 600 black men, 399 with syphilis and 201 without. Subjects did not give informed consent for this study, simply being told they were being treated for “bad blood.” Although penicillin, the treatment for syphilis, was widely available, participants in the study were not treated. According to the World Health Organization, untreated syphilis can “affect multiple organs and systems, including brain, nerves, eyes, liver, heart, blood vessels, bones and joints” and can even “cause death.” Syphilis, an easily transmissible STD, can also be congenital. 67% of women with syphilis “will have an adverse outcome of pregnancy,” with 26% experiencing “fetal loss or a stillbirth.” Despite these risks, the study went on for another 40 years until a 1972 Associated Press article revealed the study to the public. Given these facts, it should not be surprising that a Pew Research study revealed only 42% of black Americans said they would be willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite the structural inequality black Americans face, the healthcare system has not been forgiving. According to a KFF study, Black people continue to face barriers to healthcare and are more likely to report unfair treatment while seeking medical care. There is work that can and should be done to reduce the health disparities the African American community faces. An article from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy presents the following solutions: raising awareness among health care providers, increasing health literacy in affected communities, advancing health equity, providing more resources, and tracking results. The United States healthcare system needs to work to improve all of these things, or Black Americans will continue to rightfully mistrust the system that is supposed to help them stay alive. If you would like to learn more about the health inequalities African Americans face, we encourage you to read the following sources used to help write this article: USC solutions: https://healthadministrationdegree.usc.edu/blog/examples-of-health-disparities Tuskegee Syphilis Study: https://www.cdc.gov/tuskegee/timeline.htm#:~:text=In%201932%2C%20the%20USPHS%2C%20working,Syphilis%20Study%20at%20Tuskegee%E2%80%9D Barriers African Americans continue to face: https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/report/key-data-on-health-and-health-care-by-race-and-ethnicity/ History/impact of racial difference myths: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/racial-differences-doctors.html Issue of mistrust: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletter-article/2021/jan/medical-mistrust-among-black-americans#:~:text=The%20medical%20establishment%20has%20a,the%20course%20of%20the%20disease

By Samantha Quinones Happy Women’s History Month! What better way to celebrate than to understand exactly how feminism came to be, and all the struggles along with it? In this article we will be discussing what exactly feminism is, how it came about, what its waves are, and lastly some common misconceptions. Let’s start off by defining what exactly feminism is. In its simplest terms, feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of equality of gender. All that means is women want to have the same rights as any other gender and not be discriminated against because of gender bias. The whole point of it is to end gender discrimination and bring about gender equality. Seems pretty basic, right? Well, while defining feminism in its broadest terms is quite easy, there is actually a lot of lore behind how feminism began. What most people don’t know is there’s actually multiple waves of feminism, and that different countries are currently in different waves. Let’s break down exactly what these entail using the history of our very own USA, and if history isn’t really your thing, scroll to the end of the paragraphs to see the definitions of each. The 1st wave was between 1884 - 1920. This was the very start of feminism in America. It began with the convection at Seneca Falls, where feminist icons Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott lead the petition of 12 resolutions, 11 of which were unanimous. They focused on women’s right to vote, and in 1920, white women received the right to vote, while in 1965, women of color received their right to vote. The different dates certain women got the ability to vote has caused controversy among many feminists nowadays, as they claim 1st and 2nd wave feminists were still somewhat discriminatory based on skin color. However, the overall goal of 1st wave feminism is gaining basic women’s rights, and many countries today are still stuck in this wave, but are progressing with the help of 3rd and 4th wave feminists! The 2nd wave was between the 1963 - 1980s, and it called for a reevaluation of gender norms and roles, and an end to gender discrimination in America. These women took the small flame 1st wave feminists had set in motion and turned it into a wildfire. They began truly challenging the patriarchy and unfairness societal expectations had placed on them. Being a housewife and having children was slowly no longer a forced expectation, but becoming a free choice women now had the option of. They pushed the Equal Pay Act, and went through being cases, such as the currently controversial Roe vs. Wade court case of reproductive freedom. Again, a main problem was that it heavily focused on white women instead of all women, but that’s where 3rd wave feminists came into play. To finish off with 2nd wave feminists and summarize their goals, they focus on tackling main societal rooted prejudice against women in addition to basic rights. 3rd wave feminism is where it gets a little tricky. It started in the1990s and is currently happening at the same time as 4th wave feminism. They have always been somewhat at odds with 1st and 2nd wave feminists, and constantly aimed to separate themselves from them, claiming they still discriminated amongst other women based on skin color. However, they respect the foundation other feminists before them were able to lay out. Their main focus covered harassment of women in the workplace and lack of women in power. They also sought to encourage women to express their individuality/sexuality and be more inclusive of women of other races. Inclusivity is key when it comes to 3rd wave feminists 4th wave is ever-present today. Some consider it to be an extension of the 3rd wave, while others believe it to be a whole new idea separate from previous waves. It focuses on derailing corrupt systems that allow harassment and misconduct to occur instead of just raising awareness to the people about injustices in gender discrimination. Social media has had a major impact as well, bringing about more insecurities than ever for men and women alike. Due to our favorite socials like Instagram and TikTok, people compare themselves to everyone like no tomorrow, which is why 4th wave feminists hyper-focus on inclusivity to any and all women, and spread positive messages to men struggling with self doubt as well. Unfortunately, lots of people nowadays tend to misunderstand what exactly feminism is because of common stereotypes portrayed on Instagram reels, TikToks, and other forms of interactive social media. So, what exactly are people getting wrong about feminism, and what’s the truth behind it all? The most common current misconception is that feminists hate all men. Yeah, yeah, I know that popular audio probably just popped into your head, but in reality, true feminists only hold very strong negative feelings towards the few men who participate in discriminatory behavior, or who allow it to happen with no repercussions, and in fact are somewhat averse to the women who deem it acceptable as well. Another popular one is that feminists want power over men. This one is pretty easy to debunk as the whole point of feminism isn’t to have power over men but to share it with them as equals. Feminists don’t want anyone to suffer the suppression they have, so it makes no sense as to why they would try to subject men to the same treatment. A lot of people believe we’ve already reached gender equality and that feminism is useless now, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, more developed countries such as the United States have much more inclusion than ever before, but there are still countries where women haven’t even reached 2nd wave feminism, such as Afghanistan, Syria, and South Sudan. The goal is to continue until every woman in the world, regardless of where they are from, have the freedom to choose whatever life they want without fear of prejudice or violence. The all too familiarized stereotype of feminists being angry, radical, easily offended, and “all the same” has also become quite popular on social media, and while some feminists can be toxic when spreading the message of feminism, a majority are not at all. Just like feminism, feminists are diverse and come from every background. Anyone can be a feminist, including men, so generalizing such a big movement is ignorant in and of itself. That’s not to say that some of the jokes aren’t done in good humor, but you should make sure not to post something out of disrespect. The last major misconception is that feminists want opportunities handed to them and don’t want to actually work. I mean, would it be nice to have a rich hot partner who lets you buy whatever you want so you don’t have to work? Yeah, probably. But the reality is that giveaways are not what feminists are pushing for. The idea is to have the freedom to choose whatever life YOU want to lead, regardless of your gender. So, if you wanna girlboss your way through life, go ahead and become that millionaire, but if you want to be a housewife, you go be the best housewife! At the end of the day, that freedom of choice comes from the efforts of true feminists, who simply want people to be able to live their life without dealing with gender restrictions. I hope this was helpful for you and gave you something interesting to think about! If you want to continue reading articles such as these, go check out our other articles or DM us @youth__press on Instagram for new topics you want to see!

By Samantha Quinones If there’s one thing Gen Z hates more than the patriarchy, it’s calling to make a doctor’s appointment. Luckily, we got you covered. Here’s all the ins and outs on how to navigate the world of your medical health when you become an adult. How to schedule a doctor’s appointment: 1.Locate what office you will be going to. Ideally, it should be your primary care office, but if no appointments are available in the time frame you need, book one with an office close to where you live. 2. Check if you have health insurance so you can roughly guess how much money you will need to pay for the visit. 3. Make the phone call. While this may seem daunting, there is a very easy script to follow: Hi, my name is ___ and I’m calling to schedule an appointment with doctor _____ sometime next week/asap/around [available dates]. If you are scheduling with a clinic you don’t typically go to, leave out the part about which doctor you would like to have and instead say what you are calling for. Once the appointment is scheduled, mark it on your calendar and prepare any necessary paper work and/or documents for the visit. Keeping track of any and all symptoms on a piece of paper could be helpful, or even keeping a log of when you have taken over-the-counter medications so you don’t take too much. Knowing what medication you may take for any chronic illness is also incredibly important so make sure you know what you are taking and ask questions if you aren’t sure. On the day of the visit, SHOW UP EARLY! This will stop any stress of being late and you will have plenty of time to fill out any necessary paperwork and get in and out quickly. If your doctor gives you a prescription, make sure you know exactly how they plan to treat you with it, and if they give you specific instructions, ask them to write them down so you don’t forget. And you’ve done it! You successfully made a doctor’s appointment, so what’s next? Common appointments you have to schedule as an adult Annual check up w/ primary care doctor Women: Gynecology appointment Optometry appointment Dentist biyearly checkups/cleanings How to get health insurance: Open enrollment for a nongroup health plan, [meaning individual health insurance not provided by a job] starts November 1 and ends December 15 if you want your insurance by January 1, OR January 15 if you want your insurance by February 1. During this time period, you can enroll in, renew, or change your health insurance. This type of insurance is typically used for people who need special plans or are struggling financially. The easiest way to apply is to go to healthcare.gov and create an account, then submit your application. If your employer offers health insurance, which most do, all you have to do is sign up for health benefits when you’re hired. If you have any questions about what type of health insurance they offer, it’s usually best to ask that during the interviewing period. If you ever do have any extra questions or concerns, make sure to talk to your employer. After reading this article, hopefully you are more prepared and less nervous about this aspect of adulting. Will we still call our mom and ask her what our social security number is when the doctor asks us? Probably. But at least we can schedule that appointment on our own and impress her with our social skills. It’s the small wins that count. Stay educated, healthy and [hopefully] happy. Good luck!

By Samantha Quinones As a new adult, or soon to be adult, voting might not be on the top of your bucket list. I get it, you can buy a lottery ticket now! I mean, why vote when you can possibly be a millionaire right? This mentality is not uncommon, but it should be addressed. As an American citizen, voting is your right and duty, and especially as a young adult, your vote matters more than you might think. General elections are often the most focused on, but state and local elections can actually have a far bigger impact on your day to day life, as officials elected there often make policies which are more concentrated to your area. Today, lets discuss why teenagers need to get involved with the upcoming election. Your Questions: Answered Q: Why should I vote? A: When you vote, you exercise your natural right as a US citizen and truly become a member of the society you helped build. Young people are the most influential in the country, and as shown by CIRCLE’s research, the only reason why it seems like youth don’t vote often is because of uneven civic education opportunities. When the youth took charge in 2018 in states such as Wisconsin, Nevada, and Montana, they were able to decide key statewide races. Q: What should I do before I vote? A: Educate yourself, then cast your vote. You never want to be an uneducated voter. You are ultimately choosing who will be making decisions that will either effect your day to day life or the future of the country, and you should not leave anything to chance. If you can persuade others based on your own reliable research, and your own opinion, you set off a whole chain reaction of others participating in the democratic process that could possibly determine the future of your country. If you want to have a big impact, focus your energy on showing your research to people in “swing” states (states with more electoral votes) and spread the word through social media or large social gatherings. Early civic engagement can also benefit you when you vote in the future. Civic engagement includes volunteering, helping your neighborhood community, working with social movements, or even just reading the news. Anything that helps you understand different ways of life and gain diverse experience will automatically make you a more responsible voter for when the time comes. Always look at both sides of an issue before coming to conclusions about where you stand. If you want your voice to have a major impact, help educate everyone and anyone. While you might not become a millionaire, you will join millions of American citizens as they participate in the democratic process. So vote today, and contribute to the future of our nation! Register to Vote Today!: vote.gov If you want to learn more about youth voting and its impact check out circle: CIRCLE - Tufts University Learn about political issues from a nonpartisan standpoint: procon.org

Rays Awareness envisions a future where healthcare access transcends socioeconomic barriers. As a skin cancer awareness organization, they are committed to championing health equity and disseminating information on skin cancer while equipping marginalized populations with preventive skin care measures. High school senior Sabrina Manero decided to found Rays Awareness after one transformative shift as a hospital volunteer, during which she helped a woman experiencing homelessness navigate the complexities of her nuanced health insurance company. During such an encounter, she recognized firsthand the disparity in healthcare access faced by marginalized populations. This fueled her desire to empower underprivileged communities to reclaim control over their health, compelled to action by her firm belief that medical accessibility should not be contingent upon one’s socioeconomic status. "Initially, I was unsure of how I wanted to direct my vision, but I eventually settled on aiding skin cancer prevention and detection efforts due to my mother’s harrowing battle with skin cancer. " Growing up with a mother who received a new melanoma diagnosis each month, I slowly witnessed my mother’s body evolve into a mural of dermatological design decorated with impressions of surgery, radiation, and photodynamic therapy. As such, I become intimately cognizant of the importance of sun safety, especially since skin cancer is largely preventable. This experience allowed me to finally establish the mission of my non-profit: championing health equity by raising awareness about skin cancer and providing preventive care measures to marginalized populations (and settle on our witty name— Rays Awareness). In recognition of the record-breaking heat in Phoenix, Arizona, which exponentially pronounces the vulnerability of low-income communities, she began her efforts by distributing hundreds of hats, sunscreen bottles, and water to individuals experiencing homelessness downtown. "Since this population’s lack of resources, combined with limited access to healthcare, exacerbates their susceptibility to skin cancer, it felt right that this is where I begin my journey." Since then, with the help of a robust support system, comprised of business partnerships, generous donors, and medical professionals Sabrina has expanded her nonprofit to involve 200+ student volunteers (spanning 25 states) who have hosted over 40 donation drives and fundraised nearly $10,000, all of which has enabled the distribution of 9,000 ounces of sunscreen and 3,000 sun-protective items to various humanitarian assistance organizations. In the near future, Sabrina seeks to collaborate with Title 1 schools to implement our dermatologist-approved skin cancer prevention and detection lessons within the school curriculum. By doing such, she hopes that she can equip young students with the knowledge necessary to protect their vulnerable skins from developing a life-altering cancer. Learn More About Rays Awareness: https://raysawareness.org/ Follow Rays Awareness on Instagram [@raysawareness_]: https://www.instagram.com/raysawareness_?igsh=MW5kenQ0YXYzNGFrNg==