Misc links

[sqbr]

For anyone not subscribed to alias_sqbr: I am in Melbourne for Worldcon! I may at some point be up for visitors (though possibly not :/) and if you see me come up and say hi! (If you want :))


Can Preschoolers Be Depressed? Lots of food for thought for me about my own (utterly miserable) childhood(*) and relationship with my parents (who were great at telling me I was awesome and giving unconditional love, but not so good at encouraging an open discussion of feelings)

Women Are Not Marshmallow Peeps, And Other Reasons There's No 'Chick Lit'

That post about women in maths

Marginalized folks shouldn't always have to be "the bigger persons" A corollary that occurred to me while reading this: a really simple way to be an "ally" (as much as that term makes sense) is to always try to be the bigger person, always give the benefit of the doubt to those you have privilege over in a given context. So, for example, when discussing sexism men should give women the benefit of the doubt and be more patient/polite etc. Not INFINITELY so, but more than normal.

(*)It belatedly occurs to me there's an element of appropriation in this since I've never been diagnosed with a mental illness. But I was definitely one of those sad shy children where the teachers take the parents aside and say "Sophie's a great student, but I worry...". Hmm. Shall ponder when not about to go to sleep.

Comments

[onceamy]

The preschoolers with depression article really hit home -- I was eight when I was first diagnosed with "stress/anxiety disorder" which is really just code for "depression". I'm still trying to sort out my feelings with it, and the idea that there is research for children going on really lightens that.

(In other words, thanks for posting the link!)

[sqbr]

I'm glad it was helpful. (I had further thoughts, but they devolved into vague flailing, I think I need to think about the topic some more!)

[furikku]

Ahahaha, "Can Preschoolers be Depressed." AMAZINGLY, IT TURNS OUT THAT YOUNG CHILDREN CAN HAVE NEUROCHEMISTRY ISSUES! THAT THEIR BRAINS ARE MADE OF THE SAME STUFF AS ADULT BRAINS! I KNOW! IT IS A MINDBLOWING CONCEPT!

It floors me that there's actual scientists who are resistant to this idea.

It belatedly occurs to me there's an element of appropriation in this since I've never been diagnosed with a mental illness. But I was definitely one of those sad shy children where the teachers take the parents aside and say "Sophie's a great student, but I worry...".

A lack of diagnosis does not necessarily mean a lack of illness.

[furikku]

Yeah, it is just kind of annoying because a lot of people who deny the validity of childhood mental illness seem to be under the impression that small children are robots or something, and I guess they don't develop souls or whatever until puberty. :/

I totally understand on the complicated topic. Well, I assume I do.

[pseudo_tsuga]

I actually got into a facebook argument over the first article. I was dumb to begin it by being in favor of medication for children when they need it but at least I now know who not to talk to about it. It was a guy who constantly needs to prove he's the good white guy and he kept on going on about how evil Big Pharma is. *sigh*

[sqbr]

Oh god, "anti Big Pharma" people can so easily fall into such incredible levels of ableism.