Thoroughly modern millennial

Category: Blog

  • Ways To Support The Women’s March (if you can’t attend in person)

    Ways To Support The Women’s March (if you can’t attend in person)

    We may be only a few days away from the inauguration of President Trump (vomits), but there’s a much more significant event happening in DC just a day after.

    The Women’s March on Washington is due to take place next Saturday (21st January), with many sister solidarity marches happening all over the USA, and in the UK, Australia, Canada, and many other countries. After a fraught and divided 2016 the mission for the march is to bring forth a global conversation about women’s rights, diversity and equality. It’s affirmative, non-violent action in the face of a year that has both physically and vocally threatened the lives of women and minority groups. More importantly it’s an opportunity for people around the world to stand united in the face of corrupt, misogynistic governments, institutions and people.

    “…We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.”

    – Women’s March Mission Statement

    Whilst attending marches and protests is a powerful tool, I know there are many passionate activists who cannot attend for financial or logistical reasons, are not physically or mentally able to attend. But there are many other ways in which you can participate, some of which don’t even involve getting off the sofa.

    Financially support protesters

    Protesting is costly. There’s travel expenses, accommodation fees, and food bills to consider, all before you even pick up a placard. Even if you can’t make it to a march, there may be someone who is dying to go, so why not help them out. If you are financially able donate to the Women’s March fund, sponsor transport, or have a look on their Facebook group or individuals on GoFundMe. Even the smallest donations make all the difference – think bottles of water, the cost of a return bus ticket or even printing costs for posters and banners.

    Educate yourself on the issues and organisations the march is trying to protect

    People aren’t marching for the sake of marching. The issues that underpin a protester’s motivation to march is just as important as showing up on the day, so swot up on what’s at stake. There’s a heavy focus in the US on protecting reproductive rights and Planned Parenthood – who’s federal funding is likely due to stop once Trump’s Administration in office. In the UK the Women’s Equality Party, Amnesty International, Verve, The Equality Trust & Unite are all key sponsors for the London March, and there are countless other charities around the world that are aligning their values with the protesters this weekend. One easy way to support these organisations is to learn about them and what they do. The next step, support them financially, volunteer, or educate others.

    Get loud online

    Linked with the last point, once you know what rights and issues are at stake, shout as loud as you can about them. Scour hashtags, promote the march on social media, repost articles, or encourage others who are based in nearby cities to attend in your place. Tweet media outlets and journalists urging them to cover the marches and the issues they are raising. Share articles and correct facts to stop the spread of fake news. And don’t limit yourself to your Twitter feeds. Get the message out on Instagram, Snapchat, your blogs (wink wink nudge nudge) and Facebook. Engage everyone you can, as vocally as you can.

    Keep talking

    Long after the protesters will leave DC, New York or London, the issues they have marched for will still (unfortunately) exist. The DC organisers have already noted aiming their rhetoric at Trump himself is not effective. Take Trump out the equation and we still have a divided world filled with racism, sexism, and homophobia. They have instead insisted the Women’s March’s priority is to raise awareness of pro-women issues. And we need to be consistently vocal about that fact. Hate does not dissipate over night. Which is why these important conversations need to be kept alive. The march is step one, it’s up to us to follow through.

    — — —

    I’ll be making the most of these tips myself (as I’m unable to attend the London march *sad times*), but I hope you guys take these on board too!

    Ria Xx

  • Poetry | A Feminist Prayer For A New Year

    Poetry | A Feminist Prayer For A New Year

    I.       Write
    Tell tales of a Brave New World
    less damaged than our own
    fragmented universe
    Or else, allow us to escape
    into a tangled narrative of imagination

    II.     Fight
    Like a girl. Like a boy. Like them.
    Like you, for them
    Bite bullets with a passion so loud
    it seals your imperfect skin
    from the burn of a thousand suns

    III.   Rise
    among the voices.
    Among the trauma, the hurt,
    the gut wrenching loss
    Together we a stronger,
    but you must first feel the call
    Can you hear now?

    IV.   Rinse, clean

    And repeat.

    – R. Cagampang (5.1.17)

    — — —

    A little ditty inspired by my personal feminist work ethic for the coming year. Enjoy.

    Ria Xx

  • Thoughts On 6 Years Of Blogging (& 1 Year of TMM)

    Thoughts On 6 Years Of Blogging (& 1 Year of TMM)

    Happy kinda-sorta blog birthday to me.

    The funny thing about rebrands is that you almost forget when to celebrate these kinds of things. But, yes, it’s been about a year since I hit publish on my first blog post as Thoroughly Modern Millennial.

    Aside from TMM surviving out 2016, I also hit the 6 years of blogging milestone back in December last year.

    Oh boy. 6 years is a long time guys. If my blogging life were a child it would be in Primary School already, learning how to read and do their times tables, and could probably work an iPhone to write their own blog posts (…maybe ambitious thinking for a 6 year old but I’m sure there are child genius’ this age who can sight read Mozart pieces on the piano or something right?). I, personally, have changed a lot in those six years. I’ve gone from Uni fresher to graduate to full time ‘adult’ (*snorts*). I’ve gone from writing about fashion shows and beauty products to activism, writing and books (though fashion, lifestyle and beauty still have a place in my heart).

    Not only have I changed, but the blogging community has changed too.

    You’re probably sick of us ‘old’ bloggers talking about it but blogging really was so very different six years ago. The volume of sponsored post/ad revenue/PR sample/event business was very much in its infancy. It was a very experimental and ‘odd’ thing to blog. For the most part, yes, all of us were in our bedrooms just writing for the hell of it. Now it’s a multi-million dollar industry (if you count the rise of Instagrammers, YouTubers and Snapchat-ers). Blogging is commercial now – and I wish people would seriously stop pretending this isn’t so. The fact I ‘rebranded’ (and not just renamed my blog) proves that, we’re semi-business savvy no matter how long we’ve been at the game.

    There are so many facets of the community now and as long as you don’t get caught up in clique-y drama, stick to your people and ‘do you’, there’s a lot of opportunity to grow. But equally it is harder. You really have to work at your niche and the volume of content can be really overwhelming.

    That feeling is one I’ve experienced many a time over the past six years. It’s been hard to keep going, but it’s been equality hard to just throw the towel in and let go. And I think that feeling right there trumps all in hindsight. It’s the feeling that this little corner of the Internet is so much a part of me, that the idea of not blogging anymore feels far too weird to contemplate.

    Despite the blogging breaks and numerous hiatus’ I’m drawn to the idea of evolving and seeing that progress in my blog posts.

    In the spirit of that, this is where I stand with TMM.

    As I said when I ‘rebranded’ I wanted to do more. I wanted to show you guys more of my writing, my interests, and what I feel passionate about. I did, but I want to focus in on the stuff that people really responded to. The activism, the political, the racial, all dotted among the ’trivial’ lifestyle/beauty/fashion lines. I want to focus on writing, on quality (not quantity), and my fervent love of pop culture. I want keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone and equally want to put some good out into the World.

    — — —

    If you made it to the end of that ramble, congrats! As a bit of call and response, I’d love to hear any thoughts on what you’ve enjoyed and would like to see more of on TMM.

    Ria Xx