In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Teresa Lynch discuss the portrayal of women in video games and its impact on gender stereotypes. Teresa explains her research on gender stereotypes in media, influenced by her personal gaming experiences. She highlights the evolution of female character representation, noting a shift from sexualized to more diverse and empowered portrayals. They also address the economic significance of the gaming industry, which generated $59 billion in consumer spending in the U.S. in 2021, and the prevalence of online gaming, with 89% of gamers playing online weekly. The conversation also touches on the challenges women face in gaming communities and the importance of diverse and interesting character portrayals.

Key Takeaways:

• Game context can change how a character is perceived. A female character in a bikini in a beach volleyball game might not feel objectified in the way that the same character in the same outfit in a war game might.

• How women are portrayed in video games can influence gender stereotypes in society.

• To be able to interface with gaming technologies and utilize video games as an entertainment option allows you to develop tech savviness and comfort with technology that can boost your skills in other aspects of your life.

• Gaming is not just for young people. It is not just for any one demographic. While the term "gamer" can be gatekept by certain members of the gaming community, if you play games, you are a gamer.

"Everybody benefits from more interesting characters and from lots of different kinds of physical portrayals of characters." — Dr. Teresa Lynch

Connect with Dr. Teresa Lynch:

Professional Bio: https://chronoslaboratory.com/people/faculty/

Website: https://teresa-lynch.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-lynch-22364845

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

In this episode, Therese Markow and Jill Dixon discuss the rising food insecurity in the U.S., highlighting the critical role of food banks. Jill explains that food banks coordinate efforts across 200+ food banks and thousands of food pantries. The Food Depot in Northern New Mexico serves 43,000 people annually, distributing 10 million pounds of food. Recent cuts to federal programs like TEFAP and SNAP have significantly impacted food banks, with the Food Depot losing 10% of its food supply and 58,000 New Mexicans at risk of losing SNAP benefits. Dixon emphasizes the need for community support and innovative programs to address these challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• Food banks across the US all have different requirements based on the people they serve, where they are, and what those people need. If you've seen one food bank, you've seen one food bank.

• While food drives are still extremely meaningful and important, fund drives are becoming increasingly common and necessary.

• The vast majority of people who receive SNAP assistance and turn to food banks when SNAP assistance is not enough are already working at least one job or are caregivers.

• Food banks are a highly sophisticated business network, working together nationwide to acquire supplies through different means.

"Hunger is not actually its own issue. It's a symptom of poverty; it's a symptom of the cost-of-living crisis that is making it increasingly hard year over year." — Jill Dixon

Connect with Jill Dixon:

Professional Bio: https://thefooddepot.org/jill-dixon/

Website: https://thefooddepot.org/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jill-dixon-22b15b312

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

In this episode, Therese Markow and Irin Carmon discuss Irin's new book, "Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America." 80% of maternal deaths in the United States are due to completely preventable reasons. She highlights the three pillars of reproductive justice: the right not to have a child, the right to have a child, and the right to parent in a safe community. She shares her personal experiences and those of five women to illustrate systemic inequalities in maternal care. Irin emphasizes the need for respectful, autonomous care and the impact of systemic racism and misogyny on maternal health outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

• Abortion care affects all levels of pregnancy care. In many states, such as Alabama, many former abortion clinics want to turn into birth centers, but are prevented by the government and state medical associations.

• 80% of maternal deaths in the United States are due to completely preventable reasons.

• In the US, we have a system where OBGYNs are classified as primary care providers and are the most common way people give birth, which is not right for everyone.

• False binaries (C-Section vs vaginal birth, epidural or not, etc.) are a way to pit women against each other for their own biological story that is often outside of their control.

"There's something profoundly wrong with a system that doesn't recognize your full humanity at a point where you need it the most. Because these are life and death experiences, even in the best of circumstances and regardless of the course of your pregnancy and your choices around it, they concern our deepest held values and our ideas about our destiny." — Irin Carmon

Episode References:

• Pregnancy Justice: https://www.pregnancyjusticeus.org/

Connect with Irin Carmon:

Professional Bio: https://www.irincarmon.com/about

Website: https://www.irincarmon.com/

Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Unbearable/Irin-Carmon/9781668032602

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.