Family Therapy
Family therapy is a type of talk therapy that involves multiple members of a family unit. The point of family therapy is to bring new perspectives on familial issues that would not be present in one-on-one therapy sessions. The presence of the therapist helps family members foster good communication and conflict resolution skills. Family therapy is suggested for a variety of familial issues, ranging from small disagreements to sizable, potentially relationship-ruining arguments.
Under the family therapy umbrella lies marriage/couples’ counseling. Marriage counseling consists of the couple and usually one therapist working together to resolve existing or perceived marital issues. The role of the therapist in marriage counseling is especially important to prevent excessive argumentation and make sure both partners understand each other. The point is not to facilitate arguments, but rather to host an open forum in which all parties can air their grievances in a respectful manner.
Feminism
Feminism is the belief in economic, social, and political equality of the sexes. It does not call for the destruction of men’s rights in exchange, just an equal playing field. Feminism is often considered a modern philosophy, even though many cultures such as the ancient Roman empire were making strides in women’s rights. Feminism is not necessarily a western concept either; many regions all over the world rejected patriarchal societal structures in favor of neutral or matriarchal social and government systems.
In modern history, the eras of feminism are most commonly broken up into four waves, with the first occurring in the 1840s in New York with the first Women’s Right Convention. The first wave of feminism was characterized by the calls for women’s suffrage in western Europe and the U.S. The second wave first started in the 1960s around the same time as the civil rights movement in the U.S. and mainly focused on women’s rights to autonomy. Third wave feminism came about in the 1980s to oppose the perceived rigidity of the second wave, and the fourth wave exists now through social media as a way to unite women in their shared experiences.
Femme
Femme describes an individual, specifically a queer person, who exhibits typically feminine traits in their gender expression. A person does not necessarily have to be female or identify as a woman to be femme. The term originated in queer communities to describe lesbian women who had a preference for butch women, but now can refer to anyone who purposefully presents in an overtly feminine manner.
Just like how someone doesn’t have to be a woman to be femme, one doesn’t have to be femme if they are a woman. Queer women who identify more with traditionally masculine traits are often referred to as butch. The butch-femme dichotomy, while being a major part of lesbian history, has been placed under scrutiny for its perceived inflexibility. This caused a shift in the usage of the terms “butch” and “femme” in recent years, transforming them into identities that transcend the gender binary.
Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that carries around 50 times the potency of heroin and 100 times that of morphine. Its incredible strength makes it extremely easy to overdose on, with around two-thirds of all overdose deaths in the U.S. being linked to fentanyl. What’s more, fentanyl is very addictive in the same manner as other opiates, and attempts to quit consistent use of the drug often result in withdrawal symptoms. Some withdrawal effects include increased irritability, nausea, body aches, and insomnia.
Due to fentanyl’s low cost, potent dosage and high quantity, some drug handlers decide to mix their other products with fentanyl to increase its volume. As a result, many of the people who overdose on fentanyl had no intention of taking it in the first place. Some may have accidentally taken it with other illegal substances, like heroin or cocaine, but many simply had it mixed with prescription drugs like Adderall or Vicodin.