Seven (they/them)

i was thrilled to collect @WarwickBoar’s award for best newspaper design last weekend at #spanc23! our team has worked exceptionally hard this year and i’m glad it’s been recognised! it makes all the hours in the office worth it 🥳

No, I'm thrilled this software is on my computer. Really.

Three years of English baristas spelling my name wrong and a Hungarian barista got it in one. Didn't even have to check.

If you’re that high risk, you shouldn’t be in large crowds.” They’re saying the quiet part out loud. Many believe disabled people should stay home forever and not belong in society. We deserve to exist in society safely. The fact that this even needs to be said is disgraceful!

I was born in the right generation, I love citing 'thottimami69420' as a source in journalism pieces.

this isn't absolutely every problem i've come across. these are commonly reoccurring though! anyone can write good health articles and don't want to discourage anyone! but it's important to be critical, use your noggin, and consider your position of privilege when writing.

& downright dangerous when giving health advice to other people. i've had writers actively promote disordered eating because "it's backed up by science", ignoring that it's also DISPROVEN by other studies. or is badly proven. or is just plain nonsense.

& the wealthy have been gatekeeping health for centuries and it only gets worse every year. but they want to blame people for being victims of the system. "i went without sky tv so i could go to private school" translates into "you are poor and unhealthy because you made the &

& people are often blamed for being unable to follow that advice, by those who assume we live in a meritocratic society. they assume all 'unhealthy' people are 'making bad choices'. this ignores that people don't have the time/resources to invest in health. &

editing health articles is always a dice roll. will it be: 1. fatphobic 2. racist 3. ableist 4. transphobic 5. classist 6. pseudo science 7. a combination of above? let me elaborate 🧵

classism is HUGE when talking about food and making "healthy choices". these are statements of privilege: "eat better", "go to the gym", "take supplements". people don't realise that the majority of 'health' advice assumes you have extra money to invest in it. on top of that &

& vice versa is also true. similarly to racism, beauty and health standards frequently uphold transphobia or can be dog whistles. you think women shouldn't have broad shoulders or square jaws? step back and evaluate why.

4. transphobia is deeply entrenched in uk culture right now (which shouldn't be surprising to anyone). but it permeates health articles too. language choices is one of the biggest examples i see. saying 'women' when talking about beauty or certain conditions is infuriating. &

& are also frequently cited (as are their publications) without thinking about the implications of doing so. yes. i hate the lancet. shoutout to my favourite 'causes' of autism i've had able-splained to me this year: smartphones and junk food.

3. ableism. do i even need to explain this? whether it's co-opting disability language, ignoring 'health' is different for everyone, or trying to 'cure' disabilities, ableism is present in most health writing in some form. studies that are actively harmful to disabled people &

& written by someone white, citing white sources about non-white practices. there's also a real lack of insight into beauty trends that encourage white western beauty standards. you *need* to critique these.

2. racism often, when i edit an article about a 'new beauty trend', it is cultural appropriation. especially lifted from asian cultures in recent years. the main problem is not recognising the history / significance, misunderstanding the practice and who can use it, and often &

& to your body being deprived (especially as cutting carbs is purely to do with water reduction). but people keep writing this stuff most of the time, articles i edit about dieting will cite uncertified 'professionals', poorly designed studies, or (90% of the time) tiktok.