Why you aren't special for being awkward > Universal traits aren't exceptional Cazzy Lewchuk Opinions Editor Yo hear it all the time, especially from vulnerable or attention-seeking people on social media. “I’m so awkward!” or describing a common, slightly embarrassing situation, “LOL, only My Awkward Self would get into this everyday situation we all experience sometimes!” Awkwardness should never be celebrated or glorified. We all experience moments of social anxiety. Some of us have Why it’s ok to® not be the best feminist ever > Complex social movements are tough Cazzy Lewchuk Opinions Editor ’m as feminist (or, if you consider feminism to be a female-only movement, pro- feminist) as the next guy. In fact, probably more than the next guy. Anyone who knows me can vouch that my actions, social media posts, and penned articles advocate for the rights and empowerment of women. Feminism is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities” and “organized activity in support of women’s rights and interests.” I think feminism is really important, but I don’t devote all of my time to it. ’ve never taken a class on women’s or gender studies. I don’t know the finer points of feminist theory or classifications. | strive to use feminism in my everyday life and hope that my behaviour can be an example. I’m not a perfect feminist, and while perfection is something we d all like to have, I know I will never be a perfect or superior model example of one. And that’s okay. Ultimately, feminism is about treating others with respect and equality. No matter what sort of wave you subscribe to, or degree of radical you believe in (or if you don’t even know what that means}, you disorders that cause us to not function well in social situations, leading to difficulty in life. Such conditions should never be understated or trivialized— and as such, they aren’t things that should be celebrated. We all want to function effectively in society. We all want to fit in, and not feel worried when interacting with other people. We all have momentary lapses of reason that cause us to do embarrassing things in social situations. You know when you see someone waving so you wave back, and then you YY ie most likely have the same goal: creating a fairer world for all. (The only exception is if you're a full-on raging sexist and bigot, but I imagine you’ve stopped reading by this point anyways, if that’s the case.) A lot of people, even now, don’t identify as a feminist. They may choose to use an alternate term like “equalist” or the patriarchal “meninist.” Some of the people who refuse to adopt the label really are sexists who think less of women, or believe that they are not disadvantaged in society in any way. Others simply don’t want to put too much emphasis on debating complicated social justice issues. Many of them, including people I know well, are female, compassionate, and not necessarily ignorant; they just don’t want to get too involved in a movement. I believe the term “feminist” is important and universal. By definition, I’m an intersectional feminist, because I believe that feminism ties in to others affected, including men and LGBTQ+ individuals, and that the treatment of women is affected by other factors, such as their race. However, I don’t really enjoy spending my time talking about these issues and defining my beliefs to others. These are global issues that are not easy to address; I enjoy treating people with respect, realize they were waving behind you? That’s universal. That sort of thing is something we all experience from time to time. Youre also not necessarily a total introvert because you value company but also enjoy spending time alone. With the rise of social media and popular mass websites such as Buzzfeed, ideals of how to behave socially have become tainted. It may seem rude to tell others they should work on being more social, but it’s the truth. Working on developing social skills will not only help you feel Image via Thinkstock and I do my best to encourage others to do the same. Anyone who researches feminism in-depth knows that the subject is not only complicated, but downright frustrating and upsetting. Feminism isn’t supposed to be fun. By definition, it’s about disrupting societal oppression and acknowledging the systematic abuse inflicted since society’s inception. Getting deeper into the topic leads not only to depressing truths, but to conflict and anger with others who may not share your woke views. It’s no wonder some people are turned off from the issue entirely, or feel powerless to overcome it. There are many inspiring advocates out there doing work for feminism that goes far beyond anything I would feel comfortable doing. They devote their lives to helping humanity and making the world a better place, despite the crippling oppression that dominates the world. While you should absolutely feel pressured to treat others equally (which ideally would be universal, anyway), you shouldn’t let anyone get you down as long as youre doing your best. As long as you genuinely want to treat others respectfully, admit when you made a mistake, and work towards behaving better, it’s all you should be expected to do. better in everyday situations, but will lead to you becoming more likeable to others. Learn to have a full conversation with a stranger. Learn to be alone with someone you don’t know very well. Work on communicating effectively and describing yourself in a positive manner. If someone asks about your life and interests, don’t downplay yourself in your answers. Celebrate good interactions you have, and strive to continue having them. Nobody wants to be awkward, but a lot of people fall into a loop of negative thoughts and behaviour. Whether you really are a socially anxious and awkward person, or just have those thoughts sometimes, it’s not who you want to be, is it? The internet, social media, and our own reshaped society all contribute to this negativity. In some ways, the art of functioning like a normal human being has become lost. We are turning into a culture of forever introverts who panic at the thought of normal social interaction. It’s not healthy, and it’s very detrimental to creating happier people. For everyone's sake, name your kid something normal > Unique names ruin lives Cazzy Lewchuk Opinions Editor YS it is my real name. No, it’s not short for anything. This is how it’s spelt. My parents found it in a baby names book. For almost every single person I’ve ever met, I’ve had to give at least one of those answers—and, far too often, all of them. All because my parents decided to give me a unique name. If you have a name that’s spelt oddly, pronounced uniquely, or is generally uncommon, you know exactly what I’m talking about. There are advantages to having a unique name. If you Google my first name, the results are mostly me, which is excellent for building my brand as a writer. People definitely remember my name: As far as I know, I’m the only Cazzy in Canada, and the only Cazzy Lewchuk in the entire world. But giving your kid a name that isn’t well-known dooms them to a life of explaining their name. Shakespeare asked “What’s ina name?” but the truth is, names are an essential part of our being. It’s usually the first thing people learn about us. It’s our identity and our distinction. When you name your child something odd, you're guaranteeing that everyone they meet will be judging them, whether consciously or not, by something they can’t control. Your child will get sick of constantly explaining something as simple as their title to everyone they met. They will feel resentment towards their parents and grow up hating their name. It follows you everywhere you go—from job applications and social media, to Starbucks, where you stop bothering just give them an alias. Your name should not be a core aspect of your identity. Your name should be a socially- distinguishable way for people to refer to you, without giving much thought towards it afterwards. It’s not just names that stand out on their own. Odd variations of popular names— Caitlynn, Ayden, or Emilee—are in some ways even worse. The misspelling will forever lead to mix-ups, constant corrections to teachers/peers/bosses, and yes, odd Starbucks drink labels. Some names are distinctive but well-known through pop culture. I’m talking names like Anakin, Lennon, or Hermione. Names that are almost exclusively associated with a fictional character or individual. No matter how much you love a band or movie, doing this kind of thing will just lead to worn-out jokes and references. It builds resentment, and will probably lead to your child hating the very thing they’re named after. Your child is special enough on their own. Giving a child a name so they appear extra special only leads to them standing out in the wrong way. It gives unwanted attention to something that should be so basic to their existence, but ends up becoming the bane of it. If you want your child to grow up sick and tired of having to define themselves by an arbitrary label, feel free to give them a “special” name. Otherwise, stick with Tom, Dick, and Harry. Actually, maybe not Harry. That boy wizard ruined it for all of us.