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.
First Nations
First Nations are indigenous communities in Canada that are neither Métis or Inuit. The term came about in the 1980s as an alternative to the word “Indian”. Unlike the latter two groups, First Nations are entitled to reserves, or land set aside by the Canadian government for First Nation peoples to live on.
The term “First Nations” is not officially recognized by the Canadian government. This is due to the “Indian Act of 1876”, which specifically used the terms “Indian” to describe all Indigenous peoples in Canada. While the term “Indian” has mostly been retired from use, “Aboriginal” has also been used as a synonym for “First Nations” when they are not quite the same. “Aboriginal” refers to all indigenous communities in Canada, including the Métis and Inuit, who are legally distinct from First Nations peoples due to reserve legislation.