For this week's roundup of health and wellness news, I tackle heartbreak, pubic hair, and more.
BREAKING BINARIES
Last Friday, Oregon made history by being the first state to acknowledge nonbinary as a legal gender for ID cards. The U.S. as a whole, however, still requires residents to identify as male or female on official documents, such as passports. If, like me, you're confused how these male- and female-centric policies have worked (or not worked) in the past, keep in mind that intersex residents have been denied passports after failing to list a gender. Read more by Bitch's Sarah Mirk.
BIT BY BIT
While the story of the Brock Turner (aka "Stanford swimmer") rape case may have sounded familiar for too many women and girls, the case was arguably sealed by one unique attribute: eyewitnesses. The two graduate-student passersby not only intervened to stop the assault and to chase down the perpetrator, but also agreed to testify at trial. This exemplifies how bystanders can play a role in sexual assault prevention, potentially lending support to the increasingly common bystander intervention training (BIT) programs offered by many colleges. Read more by Huffington Post's Tyler Kingkade.
LOVE DRUNK
In last week's Modern Love column, a recent Brown University graduate breaks down the neurological basis of heartbreak. Biology backs up many common clichés, from the beating of the heart slowing so noticeably that the body feels as if the blood-filled organ is breaking to the digestive system contracting so noticeably that the body feels as if there's a pit in its stomach. To be clear, while the essay's title ("Can Tylenol Help Heal a Broken Heart?") emphasizes how these heartbreak symptoms might be eased with pain-relief medication, the essay is an enlightening neurological read and enticing personal composition, more so than true medical advice. Read more by New York Times's Melissa Hill.
PUBIC ENEMY NO. 1
To shave or not to shave? Results are inconclusive, but recent studies suggest "not to shave" (or wax, or Nair…) may be the safest way to go. Along with pubic hair removal being associated with increased rashes and ingrown hairs, a 2014 study found removing pubic hair might increase one's chances of contracting an STI, due to small scrapes that can occur along the skin. Read more by Mic's Hayley Wilbur.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Sexual-assault activists have been leading a successful push to label those who experience sexual violence as "survivors," rather than "victims." While the switch from "victim" to "survivor" works to remove the connotation of helplessness, instead focusing on the individual's strength, some feel discomfort with what Parul Sehgal calls the "mandatory heroism" of survivor status. On the microlevel, it is, perhaps, best to allow individuals to define their own experiences—however, what terminology should reporters (like myself) use when discussing individuals en masse? Read more by New York Times Magazine's Sehgal.
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