critical analysis- "When Enforcing School Dress Code Turns into Slut Shaming"

   "When Enforcing School Dress Code Turns in Slut Shaming" gives reports on several different middle and high schools, where the girls have had enough from the dress code. The author explains through different quotes and stories of girls being slut shamed by their school dress code to create the argument that the way most schools are executing their rules is wrong. In fact, the person writing this article has gone through this herself. For example, the article begins with an example from the authors own life. "I had my leggings on under a dress, which admittedly probably didn’t pass the fingertip rule. My female teacher admonished me in front of the class before sending me home to change."  Using the word admonished gets a cross to the reader that the teacher was very serious with her, almost critical.
        She again gave more quotes from students who experienced the same thing. "Lucy Shapiro, a 12-year-old at Haven, added that when both she and a friend wore the same type of athletic shorts, a teacher disciplined her but not her friend because, she was told, “I had a different body type than my friend…With all the social expectations of being a girl, it’s already hard enough to pick an outfit without adding in the dress code factor.”, she includes about a middle schooler. She also gives examples of girls protesting their right to wear what they want without having to worry about whether or not their bodies will "distract" male students. "Five hundred students signed their petition, and a group of girls wearing leggings and yoga pants (also banned) protested outside the school last week with signs saying, “Are my pants lowering your test scores?” she reports on a group of girls in Illinois. She supplies well, thought out evidence showing that her opinion is obviously the better one. She also gave a good counter argument. She mentioned how many schools would suggest uniforms, but refuted the argument by talking about how most high schoolers (including herslef) would oppose that idea. "Many teens (including myself when I was in high school) would argue that a uniform would prevent them from expressing their identity through their clothing when forging their individuality in middle school and high school is hard enough." However she didn't include much information from the opposing side, even if she had I think her evidence still would've given a better argument.
    Not only does she give strong evidence, but she also compared the situation to much bigger things in the world. "The argument being made by school administrators is not that distant from the arguments made by those who accuse rape victims of asking to be assaulted by dressing a certain way." Again, she countered the argument by comparing it to something that most people are appalled by. Also, by including her own experience in high school to start of the article makes the reader want to hear what she has to say. Overall, I think the author executed the article very well and convinced readers that didn't already share her opinion, to seriously think about it.

A link to the article: http://time.com/36997/when-enforcing-school-dress-codes-turns-into-slut-shaming/

Romeo and Juliet -Literary Essay

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet follows two young teenagers who fall and love, only to both end up dead. William Shakespeare includes various themes in the play, like rivalry, fate, love and marriage. However I think religion is a theme that is particularly under looked and has much more to do with the okay then many may think. Religion completely changed the plot, and even caused the couples deaths. Friar Lawrence’s character represents religion in the story; therefore he is the one to blame for the couples’ death. Not only does he make poor decisions, but he also fails to fix his mistakes.

            Friar Lawrence represents religion in the story. Religion is something people go to for guidance; they ask the leaders of their place of worship and god for advice. Romeo and Juliet ask the same from Friar Lawrence. In act 2 scene 3, Romeo immediately goes to Friar Lawrence after meeting Juliet. After some discussion of Romeos newfound love, he asks him to marry them. “We met, we wooed and made exchange of vow, Ill tell thee as we pass, but this I pray: That thou consent marry us today.” Romeo begs. Friar Lawrence is instantly concerned and asks about Rosaline, Romeos previous beloved. However Romeo protests, “Thou chid’st me off for loving Rosaline.” This means that Friar Lawrence often gave his pupil advice about Rosaline. Already, we are introduced to the close relationship the two shares. Another example of Friar Lawrence giving advice is when Romeo and Juliet are wed. He warns Romeo in act 2 sc. 6 to be careful with his love. “Therefore love moderately” he advises. This is again more guidance given to the teenagers. The biggest advice the Friar gives them of course is when he gives Juliet the potion. When the soon to be wife of Paris has nothing left she can do to prevent the wedding, she asks Friar Lawrence for help. In Act 4 sc. 1 she pleads “Therefore out of thy long experienced time, give me some present counsel…” His advice is to obviously take the vial. This changes the story completely, and contributes to the reason of why he’s responsible for their deaths. After all the guidance Friar Lawrence gives them throughout the play, he obviously represents religion.

Religion and Friar Lawrence play such a big role in the story, they are responsible for the couples’ deaths. First off, Friar Lawrence gives Juliet the liquid that makes her appear dead, putting her in a situation that results in her and her husbands suicides. “Take thou this vial, being then in bed and this distilled liquor drink thou off,” Friar tells Juliet. By trusting a 13-year-old girl with such a big responsibility was an ignorant decision; and this ignorant decision cost Romeo and Juliet their lives. Another terrible decision Friar Lawrence made was not giving Romeo his letter on time. Friar Lawrence trusted Friar John with a huge piece of information. He failed to even tell Friar John how critical it was for Romeo to receive the letter with information about Juliet taking the potion. In act 4 sc. 2 Friar John returns with the same letter. “I could not send it-here it is again-(gives Friar Lawrence a letter) Nor get a message to bring it to thee, so fearful were they of infection.” Friar John explains. Lawrence then makes an effort to go to the tomb where Juliet resides and save her, but obviously fails. After Romeo kills Paris in act 5 sc. 3, and says his final words “And so I die with a kiss”, Juliet awakes to find Lawrence. However as soon as he hears something outside, he leaves Juliet with her dead husband, fearful that the watch will discover him. “Stay not to question, for the watch is coming. Come, go, good Juliet, I dare not longer stay”, He tells Juliet right before running away. The widow then left alone, takes a dagger to her heart and kills herself. By leaving Juliet alone and not giving Romeo the correct information, Friar Lawrence completely changes the direction of the play. And because of his poor guidance, he causes the couple to die. 

Friar Lawrence could've easily avoided Romeo and Juliet's deaths. Friar Lawrence should not have so immediately married the to young teenagers, especially knowing that it was in secrecy. In act 2 sc. 6, Friar Lawrence warns Romeo about the marriage. "These violent delights have violent ends and in their triumph die, like fire and powder, which, as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey is loathsome in his own deliciousness and in the taste confounds the appetite", he says. This obviously shows that Friar Lawrence has a bad feeling about the marriage. Not only does he not stop the marriage, but he actually marries them himself. And again, in Act 3 sc. 3, he admits to Romeo that marrying Juliet was a disaster. He says, "Romeo, come forth, Come forth, thou fearful man. Affliction is enamoured of thy parts, and thou art wedded to calamity." This also reveals that Friar Lawrence was hypocritical. He marries the two but then admits to it being a bad idea. This also shows that Friar Lawrence is unaccountable and sort of has bad character. He stood by watching the teenagers die, even though he could've prevented it.

 Friar Lawrence is a symbol for religion in the story, and because he fails Romeo and Juliet, so does religion. He makes cowardly, ignorant decisions that were easily avoided. Overall, Friar Lawrence completely changes the fate of the teenagers and the plot of the play.

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

    This week, I began to read Kitchen, by Banana Yoshimoto.The book follows Mikage, a young woman trying to juggle adulthood, her love for cooking, and the endless amounts of deaths that seem to haunt her.
 The story takes place in Tokyo during the 1980s. Mikage, after losing her last blood relative, her grandmother, moves in with Yuichi and his mother, Eriko (who was once his father), a kind family that also seems to be haunted by death. Over the summer, Mikage pursues her love of cooking, finds a part time job where she can exercise her devotion to kitchens, and moves out in the fall. A few months pass when suddenly on a night in january, she gets a call from Yuichi telling her Eriko died, 3 months ago. Mikage and Yuichi seem to come to the conclusion that everywhere they go, they're followed by death. They even make jokes about becoming hit men. Although Yuchi and Mikage still make jokes and laugh with each other, the inevitable fact is that, they have nobody but themselves.
    I think that the author is trying to have death represent something. I think the overall message of the story is that death can't be avoided, which is okay. Death is something that happens to everyone and is apart of nature. And that even people like Mikage or Yuichi, who are always surrounded by death, can still be okay.