tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89029187767692470412024-03-05T06:58:29.472-08:00Antiquity and beyondCharlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229642785316117606noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8902918776769247041.post-42211952921706295732021-03-09T03:58:00.010-08:002021-03-09T04:19:07.466-08:00Why history matters<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">This is a blog post I wrote for the history department at the University of Northampton, please click the link below to see more blog entries from some amazing students!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://historyatnorthampton.com</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span><span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have been asked so many times, ‘what is the
point in studying history?’ and ‘what good is a history degree?’ So, I thought
I would write a blog about it!</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPhbppnZya2oy_8YxlYjPJd_Mf6G858UkedhoFNtxR9uiYwBAU8f3roTj4DozOJ21Hid94WNwdY41Eux5Zsz42JaSbH8lTVLw7SceEFpud58r2s5U7jnb8BoDRlP0sU2TtRRPwsm6-hY/s1024/lukas-blazek-gnvurwjskay-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPhbppnZya2oy_8YxlYjPJd_Mf6G858UkedhoFNtxR9uiYwBAU8f3roTj4DozOJ21Hid94WNwdY41Eux5Zsz42JaSbH8lTVLw7SceEFpud58r2s5U7jnb8BoDRlP0sU2TtRRPwsm6-hY/s320/lukas-blazek-gnvurwjskay-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span></div><span><span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span> </span>What drives your desire to study? Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@goumbik?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" target="_blank">Lukas Blazek</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/studying?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
I have always been fascinated with the history of medicine and have recently
been listening to an American podcast called </span><a href="https://thispodcastwillkillyou.com/" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">This Podcast Will Kill You </a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> It is hosted by two epidemiologists who discuss viruses and explore the biology
of viruses, the history of the disease and the impact it has today. It was whilst
listening that I thought, why are the sciences and humanities often put in
opposing corners when this extremely successful podcast looks at the history of
medicine as well as the science. They explain why it is important to understand
the history of disease as often this explains people’s attitudes today. So,
what better way to outline why history matters than with a 5-point list!!</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<br />
1) We can learn from past experiences. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">History allows us to explore the past, this
could be in terms of politics, culture, gender, economics, religion etc. We are
already (hopefully) learning from the mistakes made during the Covid-19
pandemic. This can extend further to see how people in the past responded to
pandemics, what worked for them and what didn’t? We can see what happened when
far right or far left groups entered politics and gained power. What were the
warning signs, and can we spot them today to prevent any future harm?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">2) To become good citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A lot of citizen tests refer to the history of
the country, this is partly to ensure that people have an understanding of why
things are a certain way. Studying history means you can explore why people
have fought and continue to fight in some countries for the vote and human
rights. Homosexuality is still illegal in many countries and here in Britain
the LGBTQ+ community can still receive hatred and hostility. Perhaps a better
understanding of their struggle could create more empathy amongst the ignorant.
Studying history enables us to think critically about information we receive
and understand the origins, for example, why did we join the EU? Do those in
power who argue against this understand the implications that could have?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkxskP6A9F7KlCxT-ofwwFxobVsGcNrFXypncUnJFtWPSZWIGKn1im0-p6aU2vckCHazJ_OzwWC4L9VOZOKuTPKdvmCepJ4e9I7F28JeERl6RztCdlhUxDGV7uicj1c0GjNKsQm1WuU8/s1024/clay-banks-znnlyjoh8i8-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkxskP6A9F7KlCxT-ofwwFxobVsGcNrFXypncUnJFtWPSZWIGKn1im0-p6aU2vckCHazJ_OzwWC4L9VOZOKuTPKdvmCepJ4e9I7F28JeERl6RztCdlhUxDGV7uicj1c0GjNKsQm1WuU8/s320/clay-banks-znnlyjoh8i8-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span> <span> </span> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">With great power comes great responsibility. Use your knowledge for good!<span> </span>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@claybanks?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" target="_blank">Clay Banks</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/studying?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">3) To become better humans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Studying history isn’t just about kings and
queens (unless that’s what you’re interested in). History can be family
history, learning about your ancestors or even your local community. This isn’t
always positive but that isn’t a bad thing, it’s good to feel angry or
disappointed about people’s past decisions. By feeling angry that means there
has been a change and we can continue to change hopefully for the better. We
can see how far humanity has come and explore where we could potentially go. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">4) History directly impacts today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">History is often referred to as a ‘dead’
subject but decisions from the past can still be felt today. The media often
claim that we should return to having the death penalty, but I feel that if
people understood why the death penalty was abolished and what an execution
actually looked like, then they wouldn’t be so quick to throw that idea around.
The NHS has been in crisis for a long time, but do we understand why the
welfare state was created and what we would lose if we no longer had it. We are
so fortunate in this country to get free medical care but in countries such as
America, there are those who can’t afford cancer treatment and who get into
extreme debt because they can’t afford health insurance to cover their HIV
medication. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">5) History is fun!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So, after all that doom and gloom I thought I
would end on a positive note. History is so much fun and isn’t just about
remembering key dates. The areas to explore today are endless, history covers
witchcraft and folklore, sexuality, sports and leisure, crime, the media,
medicine and so on. I regularly feel like a curious child asking BUT WHY! The
next time someone says, ‘can you get a job studying history’, the answer should
be a big fat yes. You can get a job studying history, it provides opportunities
to develop many transferable skills such as being analytical, being creative,
being able to construct an argument and being able to communicate in a variety
of different ways. But, job opportunities aside, it is a fascinating subject! I
have really enjoyed the virtual talks from museums since Covid-19, but I can’t
wait to be able to visit them again and absorb the history, when it is safe to
do so.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></span></span><p></p>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229642785316117606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8902918776769247041.post-67289098918706343822020-11-17T04:55:00.010-08:002021-03-09T04:20:44.837-08:00A Curious History of Sex by Kate Lister (review)<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">This is a blog post I wrote for the history department at the University of Northampton, please click the link below to see more blog entries from some amazing students!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://historyatnorthampton.com</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cthFWOEWJKpVIYNS3nSP_20SzgOI45X7mSJCS_ZXTF9DyPdseylWMLlhyphenhyphen1qzDH7pzKAothSS8nKzf8w-rwn8KhMcVMGkgOzbwNpSH06G706ru34MxiRsmgD9SrgA1HdRaLLzrEdPrCE/s1880/pexels-photo-3773663.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="1880" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cthFWOEWJKpVIYNS3nSP_20SzgOI45X7mSJCS_ZXTF9DyPdseylWMLlhyphenhyphen1qzDH7pzKAothSS8nKzf8w-rwn8KhMcVMGkgOzbwNpSH06G706ru34MxiRsmgD9SrgA1HdRaLLzrEdPrCE/w500-h316/pexels-photo-3773663.jpeg" width="500" /></a></span></div><span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span><span> </span>Hang on, cheeky, that's just two lemons...Photo by Dainis Graveris on <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-lemons-3773663/" target="_blank">Pexels</a></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">SPOILER
ALERT! I loved this book!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
<br />
I wanted to read <i>A Curious History of Sex</i> for so long and I was not
disappointed when I decided to treat myself. It was so well written, I was
constantly sending pictures of paragraphs to my family saying, ‘you need to
read this book!’ A word of caution however, I would not advise reading this
around young children. Titles such as ‘A History of C**t’ or ‘Sex and Bread’
could lead to some awkward conversations. Kate Lister’s writing is so down to
earth that it makes it accessible to general readers, whilst academics can
enjoy it as she has fully referenced. Lister is witty throughout the book which
kept me fully engaged. Descriptions such as, ‘In possibly the most champion act
of mansplaining in the whole of human history, two Renaissance anatomists
proudly claimed to have ‘discovered’ the clitoris in 1559. (Cue slow- clapping)’
had me laughing out loud and cheering along.<br />
<br />
A constant feature throughout was the changing terminology used for describing genitalia.
Lister provided a whole new set of words and phrases along with the date they
were being used. I thought I was fairly up to date with my slang, but I will now
be using ‘flapdoodle’ and ‘pudding bag’ much more regularly. Lister explained how
language and meanings changed over time. I now feel completely justified in my
continual use of the word c**t as vagina is much more offensive (it is a sheaf
for a sword/penis).<br />
<br />
The images used throughout are divine. If you follow Lister’s other Twitter
account ‘Whores of Yore’ then you will be familiar with her historical sexual
images. I think they are great as often they would be images deemed pornographic
or shameful, but Lister encourages the reader to embrace them whilst
contextualising them. Some of my favourites were the Victorian ladies who were
naked cycling. Who knew bikes were such a controversial object.<br />
<br />
One aspect that I think should be acknowledged and praised is that the book
examines sexuality on a global scale. The focus was not white, European centred
but explored sex in Asia, Africa and racial prejudices. Images from India of devils
having sex were bright and beautifully designed whilst practical images from
Japan about menstruation were fascinating.<br />
<br />
Overall, I think this book is a must read whether you want an introduction text
to the history of sex or an interesting read during lockdown. It wasn’t a complete
history of sex, but Lister never claimed it was. If you are interested in the
history of sex, medicine, gender, language or culture then I think this is
definitely something you should have look at. I will be buying everyone a copy
for Christmas!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229642785316117606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8902918776769247041.post-33380764105080423512020-11-17T04:54:00.005-08:002021-03-09T04:45:45.727-08:00Mary Wollstonecraft statue<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">This is a blog post I wrote for the history department at the University of Northampton, please click the link below to see more blog entries from some amazing students!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://historyatnorthampton.com</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7FJ032GgJx1hHMNQR1E2a0RTajbg6cxf6jrNzQjOp7K4O9e-GAd-XKdF6Ultxc6vBSRYGsoroLZL9GyTRA8TTXZXr6awmPdQP_ddQeM2hEMrgKrsB4iReAgzP0mOHghLwICoRYlsyBc/s1365/800px-mary_wollstonecraft_statue_2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="768" height="569" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7FJ032GgJx1hHMNQR1E2a0RTajbg6cxf6jrNzQjOp7K4O9e-GAd-XKdF6Ultxc6vBSRYGsoroLZL9GyTRA8TTXZXr6awmPdQP_ddQeM2hEMrgKrsB4iReAgzP0mOHghLwICoRYlsyBc/w387-h569/800px-mary_wollstonecraft_statue_2020.jpg" width="387" /></a></span></div><span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Sculpture_for_Mary_Wollstonecraft" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>A Sculpture for Mary Wollstonecraft</a> in Newington Green, London. </span><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After
taking part in my Citizenship and Gender class on feminism, my lecturer
informed us that a statue of Mary Wollstonecraft had been unveiled and he would
like to hear our opinions on it. The summer had seen a lot of publicity
surrounding statues with the Black Lives Matter movement and so I was excited
to see what this new feminist statue would look like. I was so disappointed
when I saw images of the statue and read some of the comments from the artist.
Wollstonecraft promoted equal education for boys and girls, she was an author
and had so many achievements and yet, I don’t feel this statue represents any
of this.<br /><br />
In case you haven’t see it, the statue is a small, silver naked woman on top of
what appears to be a giant mass. The statue is not of Mary Wollstonecraft but
is supposed to represent ‘everywoman’. The artists comments explained how the
‘everywoman’ statue conveyed the body that most women aspire to have. I find
this message extremely problematic for multiple reasons. How can there be an
‘every’ woman? Where is the ‘every’ man? The statue doesn’t look like me, my
mum, my sister or my neighbour, in fact I can’t think of anyone resembling it.
It doesn’t look like amputees or women with physical disabilities. The statue
doesn’t represent women of colour. The statue doesn’t represent trans women.
The statue doesn’t represent plus size women. The statue doesn’t represent all
ages. The list of things this statue does not represent is extensive and yet it
is supposed to represent ‘everywoman’.<br />
<br />
As a woman who advocates body acceptance this statue is problematic. It is an
exclusive icon and doesn’t embody the different shapes and sizes that women
come in. In a society that is trying to teach the younger generations not to body
shame but instead think about their personal attributes, I feel this statue is
almost outdated. Mary Wollstonecraft wanted better education opportunities for
girls but how does this statue convey that? <br /><br />
Why must society continue to sexualise woman? As a feminist and reformist, none
of her achievements involved nudity and yet, a commemorative statue celebrating
her work is of a naked woman. Why is it that statues of male reformists and
radicals will be of them, no doubt fully clothed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The message I receive from this statue is
that the best way to get the publics attention is to have a naked woman
involved. This statue doesn’t acknowledge the intellectual achievements of
Wollstonecraft but instead shows a naked, imaginary woman.<br />
<br />
I’m so disappointed by the execution of this statue as I think it had to the
potential to be so much more powerful and positive than it actually was.
Hopefully the next feminist statue will be fully clothed and will focus on
their impact in history.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWEnZrd9Hqx9YiLCfBndcVi7mMhPhOLJ_CBoOK8YEzPs43KGPf52zwkBmN7ZFCvvajMHQYAHrFFhDKDrPb5Zae12_tGw1JPe5SWjR0o2IU2N4SyC2LfUjFCeLwKYA8W59v_wp6syT5dg/s976/800px-mary_wollstonecraft_by_john_opie_c._1797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWEnZrd9Hqx9YiLCfBndcVi7mMhPhOLJ_CBoOK8YEzPs43KGPf52zwkBmN7ZFCvvajMHQYAHrFFhDKDrPb5Zae12_tGw1JPe5SWjR0o2IU2N4SyC2LfUjFCeLwKYA8W59v_wp6syT5dg/s320/800px-mary_wollstonecraft_by_john_opie_c._1797.jpg" /></a></span></div><span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Mary Wollstonecraft by John Opie, c. 1797</span></div><o:p style="font-size: 12pt;"></o:p></span><p></p>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229642785316117606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8902918776769247041.post-62021643814264141742020-11-14T15:14:00.009-08:002021-03-09T04:54:14.731-08:00Black Lives Matter <p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a
blog post I wrote for the history department at the University of Northampton,
please click the link below to see more blog entries from some amazing
students!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>https://historyatnorthampton.com/</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8LTCyC-RtdpB-OEl6ihAng6U7fdtwxaou_DGcqNkoP4U977zk-kges8OPX3B0yDlHqknGj94nA_KJ6WgyKpcA6TUEeFanocFB57Rm6F7I86_GtgviTO91wRQ8LPC-x3ny0mwT8uDtjA/s768/black-lives-matter-london-george-floyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="768" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8LTCyC-RtdpB-OEl6ihAng6U7fdtwxaou_DGcqNkoP4U977zk-kges8OPX3B0yDlHqknGj94nA_KJ6WgyKpcA6TUEeFanocFB57Rm6F7I86_GtgviTO91wRQ8LPC-x3ny0mwT8uDtjA/w536-h302/black-lives-matter-london-george-floyd.jpg" width="536" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I wanted to
write about my thoughts and feelings on the Black Lives Matter protests as I
feel it is a really important thing to recognize and acknowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I completely
agree with the protests and understand whole heartedly why they are happening.
The accumulation of a global pandemic and black people continuously being
treated unfairly has resulted in widespread public outrage. The unlawful
killing of George Floyd was the event to tip things over the edge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
By studying riots and rebellion at university I discovered that public protests
have been a legitimate way for the public to express their dismay. It is all
well and good that individuals can petition parliament and write on social media,
but it is only public disruption that really gets the government’s attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
Once the economy is affected by looting and destruction, that is when people
are suddenly outraged. I still don't understand why so many people are so
intolerant and angry about the destruction of shops, but not by the murder of
people. The police brutality has been video recorded for the world to see time
and time again, so it isn't as though people are reading about these events or
overhearing about them, but not seeing them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
I live in a village and the people in this community seemed lovely and really
friendly, however, since the protests I have seen really ugly language used by
people I live around. I am mixed race but very light skinned and often people
don’t realise that I have black origins and so I hear a lot of the racial
comments they make.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
As for racism, I have experienced this from people who would not consider
themselves racist. I was told at school to straighten my hair for interviews,
so I look more professional.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
My paternal grandmother was Italian and my paternal grandfather was from the West
Indies, my maternal grandparents were both Scottish. I have had multiple
partners say to me not to tell their friends or family that I am mixed race or
to say I am Italian. I have had people look at me in shock when I tell them
where my grandparents were from and say, ‘but you are so well spoken’. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
I have had people think I am adopted because my brother looks white and my mum is
white, whereas I have olive skin. I was labelled ‘quarter cast’ throughout
school because my dad was ‘half cast’. I have had assumptions made about
me time and time again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
As I have olive skin, I have been present when people have spoken in negative
ways about black people not realising that is my heritage. I don’t consider
myself part of a ‘black’ community and don’t think of myself as of colour until
people make comments. I will always remember the story my dad told me of when
my grandad came to Britain.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
There were signs up in cafes and shops saying, ‘no blacks, no dogs, no Irish’.
He went into a café that said, ‘blacks welcome’, he was then told to leave
because he was ‘too dark’. I think there is a wider problem in society not only
that black people are treated unfairly but also that some black and other
ethnic minorities are treated more unfairly than others. I have seen people
have prejudice towards African people but then say, ‘oh I’m not racist because
I have a friend who is black’.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
I feel deeply anxious and overwhelmed at the state of Britain and the world
at the minute. I think the government is encouraging racial disturbances by not
acknowledging and supporting the protests that are occurring.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
Yes, there is a pandemic at the moment but if you were to listen to the
government then we are doing exceptionally well at managing this. The media
applauded the crowds of people out on the street for VE day. They were mildly
disappointed by the huge gatherings on the beaches and I feel that the
reporting of the protests has been completely misleading.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
I fail to understand how someone cannot get the concept that ‘Black Lives
Matter’. Why retort with ‘All Lives Matter’, nobody has said that all lives <em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;">do no</span></em>t matter. It
is the same as saying everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
This issue does not just apply to black people but other minority groups. I
have heard people saying there should be equal rights for men the moment you
mention equality for women. As soon as equality for women is mentioned then
people start labelling them ‘angry feminists’ as though it is a negative thing.
The same thing applies for the LGBTQ+ community, if there is gay pride there
should be straight pride.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
I hate how divided our society is and I honestly think Brexit has just fuelled
this expanding gap. Our current government seems to want to divide people
rather than unite, but then they are surprised that they get an uprising.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229642785316117606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8902918776769247041.post-78105668630758041922020-11-14T12:26:00.004-08:002021-03-09T05:02:38.067-08:00Lockdown and studying online<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a blog post I wrote for the history department at the University of Northampton, please click the link below to see more blog entries from some amazing students!</span></p><br style="font-family: arial;" /><b style="font-family: arial;">https://historyatnorthampton.com/<br /><br /><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOaJSlgc1XcNRaf06sloTGtHWcelC-uOhPsPQhdtR3XUXFgh9SZvUbvI58fHpNDp2XQoGTvQHH7MQbwlctTyr4FuUyAlTQc4igAHNGGTz2_jUnFCjzHMv7hy4oX-SYoNFRzCiTuYd_mE/s259/images-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOaJSlgc1XcNRaf06sloTGtHWcelC-uOhPsPQhdtR3XUXFgh9SZvUbvI58fHpNDp2XQoGTvQHH7MQbwlctTyr4FuUyAlTQc4igAHNGGTz2_jUnFCjzHMv7hy4oX-SYoNFRzCiTuYd_mE/w259-h346/images-2.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">We have all been impacted by Covid-19 for
months now and I just wanted to give people a bit of an insight about my
experience of how the history department at the University of Northampton has
addressed this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Seeing Covid-19 moving across Europe was quite
a scary experience. Never before have I and many others lived during a
pandemic. Not only did I have mine and my family’s health to worry about but
there was the uncertainty of what will happen with schools, universities and
work. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Thankfully, the history department shouldered part of that burden. We
moved to online learning instantly! It was a lot to adapt to but a lot of the
infrastructure for integrated learning was already in place. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">We were kept
updated about what would be happening and what options were being explored
regarding assessments. We were given three separate dates to sit exams and
submit work to relieve some of the pressure. For example, we could sit exams on
the original dates in May or the future dates in July and August with no
detriment to our grades. The exams were also going to be online, with an extra
hour and open book. Personally, this was a massive weight off my mind. I have
two children and so having the flexibility to sit exams at different dates was
a huge help. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The history department held regular virtual
drop in sessions where we could all speak about our concerns with the course,
life in lockdown and the future. They have been so supportive and have said
they will continue to hold virtual drop in sessions over the summer, even
though we wouldn’t be at university then. Staff also held virtual exam revision
sessions. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">This wasn’t easy for students or staff as normally we would have face
to face interaction. It was a huge help though knowing that the staff were also
trying to adjust to online learning and all that entailed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Access to resources was another concern for a
lot of us. No one could go and get library books due to the lockdown, so the
lecturers put this forward to the library staff to try and digitise more books.
In the grand scheme, not having library books was not a massive priority but
for us university students it was a real concern. We were given information
about different organisations that were giving free access to their materials
which I definitely utilised! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">On a lighter note, the history society and
staff organised a virtual quiz that students could attend, and the staff had
question rounds. Some staff were not as kind with their questions…I’ll mention
no names! This was a really fun evening where we got to see students from other
year groups and have a bit of a giggle. Some students were more competitive
than others and I look forward to many more virtual history quizzes in the
future.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It has been really reassuring for me seeing how
the history department has handled the move to online learning. It definitely
gives me peace of mind that should we have to have integrated learning in the
future, the department will be able to handle it with ease.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><b style="font-family: arial;"></b></div>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229642785316117606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8902918776769247041.post-87460954134684038762020-11-14T12:20:00.007-08:002021-03-09T05:00:47.176-08:00Being a mature student<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a blog post I wrote for the history department at the University of Northampton, please click the link below to see more blog entries from some amazing students!</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>https://historyatnorthampton.com/</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictJnWoTNJTh7WRnpCMfm97iXGkR6iy6K4whbVi0BsumUBpypXIBi8nMW_4_TyIwKl_UgGDABHnrozDNbvXr0aLXUlOP-mgqBpIrLBl7985XTJgT96CH7eXqJP7oLbmHx_6KRze43uk2E/s359/unknown-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="359" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictJnWoTNJTh7WRnpCMfm97iXGkR6iy6K4whbVi0BsumUBpypXIBi8nMW_4_TyIwKl_UgGDABHnrozDNbvXr0aLXUlOP-mgqBpIrLBl7985XTJgT96CH7eXqJP7oLbmHx_6KRze43uk2E/w555-h216/unknown-3.jpg" width="555" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I have been reflecting about my university
experience a lot recently as I am entering my final year as an undergraduate
history student at the University of Northampton. I have seen a lot of blogs
and helpful guides about going to University as a college leaver and moving
away from home, but very little about mature students…So here I am!<br /><br /><br />
When I enrolled at the university I was 28 with two boys aged almost 2 and 6 (I
had to just ask my son how old he is!) I had been battling my anxiety and
depression for years, but it peaked after my second son was born. I had spent
almost a year trying to get my self stable because my desire to study and
improve my life was being hindered by my anxiety. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">It was a tough journey, but I
made it. I was absolutely petrified that first day, but I thought, ‘take it one
step at a time, what’s the worst that could happen...’ I never would have
imagined that I would now be close to graduating and have met so many amazing
people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">If you are like me you may have many worries
about being a mature student, especially on a more academic course like
history. Vocational courses tend to have more mature students who have
experience working within their chosen field. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I imagined history to be all
young people that I wouldn’t be able to connect with. I’m not going to sit here
and lie and say, ‘the classes were so diverse’. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Of course, most of the students
were under 21 but something I did start to realise was that age is irrelevant.
There were young people who had really meaningful and insightful contributions
to give to class discussions. There were mature students who were more reserved
and quieter. What mattered most were people’s personalities! Most of the people
I sit with are all young, but I have never felt my age to be of any
significance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Another area that I was really concerned about
was how tolerant would staff be of my situation. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I didn’t want to fall behind
but at the same time I didn’t know how much flexibility there would be if my
children were sick or my car broke down. I was worried that I could pay all
this money and then have to withdraw if I couldn’t get the right balance. I
hadn’t studied for almost 10 years and my conversations revolved around Peppa
Pig and bedtime routines. I had no idea if my brain could even work in the
adult world anymore! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">My mind was very quickly put at rest. Everyone has other
responsibilities outside of studying whether that is a job, sports or caring
for a relative. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">But what I found amazing was how supportive the staff and
students were. As a year group we have been really close. We send notes and
update people if they can’t make a class as well as sharing reading if it is
overwhelming. We each have a PAT (Personal Academic Tutor) but you are
encouraged to approach another member of staff if you have a better
relationship with them. Lecturers always put their drop-in hours up on
announcements so you can always go visit them to discuss a concern or for a
chat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The one piece of advice I would give everyone,
not just mature students is to try not to be afraid. I have found everyone
within the history department extremely supportive, understanding and
approachable. If you have a problem, then talk to someone before it gets out of
hand. They all want you to succeed and will go above and beyond to give you
help if that is what you want, but you need to be open.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvOcj4VOi82LbC4pn4-9w8oAnMSLJ9msBYlg4NV-fBQSppg1dcnSwOJf_1Yyj_pSiFsCZ4e-nspPohUVFZ7RzSBCW2KmpPWpzKqadU8IEW2dzx7TlpvwfSjOFgU_WDBX9zccC_l7ZPc8/s300/tumble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvOcj4VOi82LbC4pn4-9w8oAnMSLJ9msBYlg4NV-fBQSppg1dcnSwOJf_1Yyj_pSiFsCZ4e-nspPohUVFZ7RzSBCW2KmpPWpzKqadU8IEW2dzx7TlpvwfSjOFgU_WDBX9zccC_l7ZPc8/w394-h221/tumble.jpg" width="394" /></a></span></div><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> I hope this blog has
reassured some of you who might be thinking, ‘how can I relate Mr Tumble to the
18<sup>th</sup> century?’</span><o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229642785316117606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8902918776769247041.post-41627176303144525002020-11-14T12:18:00.002-08:002021-03-09T05:08:18.313-08:00Advice for people starting university<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a blog post I wrote for the history department at the University of Northampton, please click the link below to see more blog entries from some amazing students!<br /><br /><b>https://historyatnorthampton.com/</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBLtQ4yQyhogy0-EogrfExs8AsFUyluc_PYv8kvOxP-7FnL-lHdqquqdysvIs8WN5-Non6HKWG7lE85KHgJ20Tpv4GkZBIXcKVTQyxY22focJ3cXbhBh8weP1Z_-ypAzikLxnjL350Qo/s800/youve-got-this-emma-matthews-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBLtQ4yQyhogy0-EogrfExs8AsFUyluc_PYv8kvOxP-7FnL-lHdqquqdysvIs8WN5-Non6HKWG7lE85KHgJ20Tpv4GkZBIXcKVTQyxY22focJ3cXbhBh8weP1Z_-ypAzikLxnjL350Qo/w407-h407/youve-got-this-emma-matthews-unsplash.jpg" width="407" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span> </span><span> </span>You can do it! Image from <a href="https://unsplash.com/" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Try not to stress out</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As a mature student I didn’t have the nerves of waiting for
A level results to see if I had got into the university of my choice. I knew
months before that I had an unconditional offer from Northampton, but in some
ways that was worse! This meant I had much longer to worry and stress about
what university would look like for me. If I could tell my past self one thing
it would be to try not to worry (I know, easier said than done), but everyone
is in the same boat. Whether you are a school leaver or mature student, you
will likely be going in knowing no one and that’s ok! I did not meet one person
who was rude or didn’t want to speak to me or made me feel uncomfortable.
Everyone wants to make friends and you are no different.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>Try new things</b> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">There
is a long list of things I would like to go back and tell myself. However,
another university related word of wisdom I would give is to try and experiment
with your writing style and explore subjects you haven’t looked at before. Your
first year doesn’t count so use this time to make mistakes and try new things.
All of the lecturers offer to meet up and give you more feedback on your
assessments, definitely use this! Don’t be too hard on yourself if you aren’t
acing every essay, if you could do it all perfectly then you wouldn’t need to
go to university.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Enjoy yourself</b> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Finally, try and enjoy yourself. For a lot of people, it will be their
first time in a new city and living away from their parents. Don’t compare
yourself to other people, we are all on our own journey and you will find your way.
Your experience will likely be slightly different from mine due to Covid but I
would recommend using all the support available if you need it. One thing I
really like about Northampton university is that the classes aren’t held in the
old-style lecture theatres. This means that you get to know the lecturers and
they get to know you. You aren’t alone, the history department are (mostly)
really friendly and willing to help, all you need to do is ask!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229642785316117606noreply@blogger.com0