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Teen Is Sent Home From School Because of Inappropriate Outfit - This Is How She Got Her Revenge
Uplifting News

Teen Is Sent Home From School Because of Inappropriate Outfit - This Is How She Got Her Revenge

A student in Oklahoma protested her school's sexist dress code policy by making a fool out of the administration.Why One Student Was Sent Home From SchoolPhoto by PixabayOne day back in 2015, a teenager named Rose Lynn went to her school in Lawton, Oklahoma, wearing black leggings, a T-shirt, a long cardigan, and boots. While her outfit seems harmless enough, she was sent home by teachers because the shirt didn't cover her crotch."Today I was sent home from class, after being in school for two hours, for my outfit," Rose wrote in a Facebook post that went viral when it was first posted but has since been taken down. "Because I’m developed [more] than the average girl my age, I am required to go home and change. Yet, if I was skin and bones or overweight (not to offend anyone) I would be overlooked and no comment would be made (at my particular school) because ‘they must do that to feel better about themselves and they crave attention.’ But because I look like a curvy woman and may distract young boys, I have to miss class and change my outfit."To make matters worse, Rose Lynn was sent home before she could do her 20-minute algebra exam, so had to miss the test.How One Student Got Her RevengeWhen Rose Lynn came back to school, she wore something that had little chance of distracting the boys (or adults) — an oversized shirt that covered her crotch and black leggings. "I was completely covered crotch, butt, cleavage, etc. (even though the only problem was the crotch)," she explained, according to Yahoo.She was still taken out of class by two principals and three teachers and scolded, but not for how revealing her clothing was. It was due to what was written on her shirt. "They were upset because I was ‘mocking them’ and they didn’t appreciate it," she wrote on Facebook.On the shirt, she'd quoted the reasons why she was suspended in "silent protest." The front read, "It doesn’t cover your crotch" and the back said, "You’ll distract the boys."Rose Lynn was subsequently sent home again with the principal and teachers saying it was because she didn't have her student ID, which was left in the classroom she'd been called out of."Once again, society has failed to advocate [for] young ladies, by confining them in a box, where they are stripped from their sense of self-respect and self-expression, rather than teaching young men to respect the boundaries of young ladies. My response: #‎Feminism #‎YoullDistractTheBoys #‎SocietyIsFailing," Rose Lynn wrote.Stand Up for What You Believe InFollowing the incident, Rose Lynn committed to wearing oversize shirts with leggings, but says other students with less curvy bodies were not punished.Rose Lynn's father, Lance Miles, took his daughter's side. "If she was built like a board or as round as a ball she wouldn’t have been sent home but [since] she has a figure she was told she had to change," he said. Miles went on to blame the school — not a teenager — for their actions. "This is 100% on [Lawton Public Schools] because they have left the rule up to interpretation," he said. "She has been taught that if you believe in something, do what you must and be prepared for the consequences. She has done that."While 2015 might feel like a long time ago, a teenager was sent home from school for wearing a turtleneck(!) recently, proving that there's still work to be done. Still, I don't imagine this school in Oklahoma will be as strict with their dress code after Rose Lynn and her dad completely shut them down.More from Goalcast:17-Year-Old Girl Sent Home in Tears for “Inappropriate” Outfit – Her Angry Dad Fights Back With Powerful MessageMean Employees Mock Woman’s Appearance and Outfit – Her Response Goes Viral and Stuns EveryoneAppalled Mom Stands Up For Daughter Sent Home For Perfectly Reasonable Outfit

Student Gets Expelled For Outfit, Male Teachers Wear Skirts To Class In Protest
Uplifting News

Student Gets Expelled For Outfit, Male Teachers Wear Skirts To Class In Protest

Teachers in Spain are going to class in skirts after a student was sent to a school psychologist for wearing one and another was a victim of homophobic slurs for wearing a sweater. Student expelled for wearing a skirtIn Fall 2020, Mikel Gómez decided to go to his school in Northern Spain wearing a skirt over black pants. He wanted to wear one to support feminism and trans people.During math class, Gómez got warm, so he took off the pants underneath the skirt. The student was promptly sent to the school psychologist.Here's Gómez explaining the situation on TikTok (in Spanish).In solidarity, students across Spain wore skirts in protest of the student's expulsion.Teachers got in on the action, too, with one posting a photo of himself teaching in a skirt with the hashtag #LaRopaNoTieneGenero, which means clothes don't have a gender.Clothes don't have a genderFast forward to May 2021 and a student was bullied and a victim of homophobic slurs at Virgen de Sacedon primary school in Valladolid for wearing a sweatshirt with anime characters on it. The student took the sweater off, but two teachers — Manuel Ortega and Borja Velázquez — wouldn't let the situation go. They picked up where #LaRopaNoTieneGenero left off and started wearing skirts to school again in support of their student. Velázquez told El País that their decision to wear skirts was to continue the ongoing debate about tolerance and diversity. He also said the teachers at his school were making sure to tell their students that it's just fine for boys to enjoy cooking in the kitchen and have long hair, and the same goes for women who like soccer and have short hair.A global issue that needs to be stoppedThere's no question that the issues of discrimination based on clothing extends well beyond Spain. Need examples? How about the student sent home from school for wearing a turtleneck. Or what about the girl sent home for being curvy?Perhaps it's too late in the school year for teachers to follow their Spanish colleagues in North America, but I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a more global trend next year. More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Woman Shamed By Men For Taking Pictures At The Pool Shocks Them With Response
Uplifting News

Woman Shamed By Men For Taking Pictures At The Pool Shocks Them With Response

Taking photos by a pool was apparently something two guys thought was worth making fun of, but instead of backing down, this TikToker "killed them with kindness."She was taking photos on a pretty dayTikToker Samantha Longton was posing for photos in a pool on a gorgeous day when she overheard two men mocking her."Look at her," one man said to the other, "this is what's wrong with girls."Then, they posted up beside a slide and started laughing and shaking their head at her — but they didn't expect the response she was about to give.The men didn't see this response comingInstead of letting the guys make her feel bad about taking photos, she clapped back, addressing them in a polite yet confident manner."Do you guys want to take one, too," she asks the men. "What, babe," one of the guys responds, rudely."I could take a picture of you guys if you want to take a picture together. It's really pretty," she adds.One guy says, "Oh, yeah," but they didn't really mean to accept and started to leave."Oh okay, then next time," Longton said cheerfully. The two men walked away, but their rudeness lives on in a TikTok video that has received over 10 million views.'QUEEN'In the comments for the first video, Longton got an outpouring of support."I can feel the bad b energy radiating from here," one wrote."QUEEN the condescension in 'next time' and everything ab this is so good," another wrote.Another said her attitude was reminiscent of Elle Woods, the protagonist in Legally Blonde played by Reese Witherspoon."I think this is what my mom meant by 'kill them with kindness,' said commenter Ariel Hernandez.TikToker users also shamed the men for calling her "babe" and being just plain rude."What pathetic manchildren make fun of a gorgeous person living their best life?? SAD," said another user in the comments. Longton also posted a longer video of the complete interaction.The internet had her backMen shaming women is, sadly, nothing new. It's been happening for a long, long time. What is new is that women like Longton now have legions of supporters online who have their back, and who know that this behavior is simply unacceptable in 2021. See, social media isn't all bad.More uplifting stories:White Woman Pretends To Be Black Man’s Wife To Expose Realtor’s DiscriminationPoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimCompassionate Boss Helps Employee Who’s Sleeping On Job Turn Life AroundBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Teen Girl Shares Live Video Of Creepy Man Harassing Her, Twitter Has Best Response
Uplifting News

Teen Girl Shares Live Video Of Creepy Man Harassing Her, Twitter Has Best Response

A couple of Tiktok videos showing an older man creeping on an 18-year-old has gone viral, racking up more than 14 million views. He wasn't welcome at her tableTikToker @maassassin_'s account is mainly to show off her art, but at the end of April she was doing a live video to answer her followers' questions — and it's a good thing that she was because the two-part Live caught the entire, cringey, encounter.In the videos, we can hear a guy ask if he can take the extra chair at the 18-year-old's table. But instead of walking away, he proceeds to sit down with her. "How you doin,'" he asks. "Oh, I didn't mean you can sit there," says the TikToker, clearly alarmed.She handles herself wellYet despite her discomfort, the man — who the TikToker later claims appeared to be in his 30s — tries to drum up conversation by asking her name. She gives him a fake one, "Alyssa." "I see your hesitancy," the man says, adding that he "couldn't help but notice" she was sitting on her own so he wanted to approach."I'm currently on a Live, talking to some people," says the TikToker, while the on-screen text provides context: "I thought that maybe if I told him people were watching he'd leave."Her inkling was right and the man leaned back in his chair and walked away.At the end of the video, she lets out a nervous laugh because it was the first time this has happened to her.She reported the manIn a follow-up video, the TikToker explains that "it wasn't right" for a man of that age to approach her, who's just 18. "I was uncomfortable the entire time," she adds.In another video, she says she told the hotel office about the guy, and they knew who he was."The lady there does know who he is, so she told me that she's going to...have a talk with him and...tell him to leave people alone.""Of course that won't do much," she adds.The best responsesThe comments on TikTok were disabled, but once shared on Twitter the public weighed in."Damn, as a guy in my 30s I feel creeped out just watching this. How do other men justify this? We need to be better," said one user."Raise your hand if this creepy crawly crap happened to you when you were a teenager. He only leaves when she says she's doing a live feed," said another. "This stuff happens a bazillion times a day and it sets the tone of what young women and girls begin to expect from men."Another said: "That’s not a laugh, sweet girl, that’s fear. You handled yourself brilliantly—esp never having gone thru it b4...clearly irritated but not doing/saying anything to escalate. BUT THE FACT THAT YOU EVEN HAD TO MAKES MY BLOOD RUN COLD. Goddamn this man. Disgusting. I’m so sorry."In a couple of other video updates, the TikToker thanked everyone for their concern.Clearly disturbingThere was some discussion on Twitter about whether what the man did was really wrong — can a man not approach a woman? The failure in this line of thinking is, first and foremost, the extreme age gap between the approacher and the teen, and it's not like she looked much older than her age. Second, it's clear for everyone watching the video that she was uncomfortable — he should have taken that as a hint and left immediately. It shouldn't have taken her saying she was doing a Live to get him to go away.As the Twitter user said, "we need to do better." But fortunately, this type of behavior is seen as unacceptable in the public eye as evidenced by it going viral.More uplifting stories:Neighbors Stay Up All Night To Protect Asian Family From Recurring Racist AttacksBoy, 7, Saves 20-Year-Old Sister From Drowning With An Instinctive Yet Critical MoveAnti-Timeout Mom Reveals Game-Changing Parenting Tip In Viral Tik Tok Post8-Year-Old Boy Rescues Sister From Moving Car Driven By Volatile Kidnapper

Woman Dumped For Wearing Makeup Challenges Shallow Stereotypes
Everyday Heroes

Woman Dumped For Wearing Makeup Challenges Shallow Stereotypes

One woman accused by her ex-boyfriend of misleading him with makeup shared a powerful truth that challenges shallow stereotypes. UnmaskedAn unidentified 20-year-old woman took to Reddit with a personal dilemma, which she said all started with an innocent excursion. In a post that she since deleted, she recounted that after several dates, she and her boyfriend went backpacking with a few friends. There, she finally let her guard down and went au naturel without makeup. However, she says that his mood instantly turned when he saw her, per the Daily Mail. “At first, he didn’t say anything, just looked at me a bit weird,” she explained. Later, “When we were alone, he just told me that he didn’t know I had acne like that.”After that, according the woman, he was acting distant the rest of the trip.Once the two returned home, her boyfriend immediately broke up with her. Worse, he accused her of being deceitful."He told me that I lead him on and that I’m catfishing guys by putting makeup on," she recounted. It left her crushed, confused and looking for answers."I didn’t feel like I’ve done something inherently wrong… but at the same time, it haunts me that he thinks I’m catfishing people and I wonder if anyone else feels the same way"- Anonymous woman on Reddit On second blushThe post amassed over 1,800 comments, many from supportive Redditors scolding her boyfriend. “Acne isn’t a huge deal for normal people, potential boyfriend sounds like a really shallow guy to break up over something like that," commented one. “Minimizing flaws is not catfishing. He’s basically accusing the world of catfishing,” chimed in another. Another Redditor called her ordeal a blessing in disguise."It is completely normal for women to conceal blemishes with makeup. I’m sorry he was so rude to you, but it sounds like you are dodging a bullet by not getting further involved with him"Feeling good isn't shallow In her post, the woman revealed that the little makeup she wears is to conceal her hormonal acne, not attract attention. "I wear makeup because I’m not the biggest fan of my acne, and because it makes me feel a bit more confident"- Anonymous Redditor Sadly, women are still accused of everything from catfishing to inviting sexual assault because of the makeup they apply or clothing they wear. In reality, these women are just practicing self-love. Just like a man copping a fresh fade or sporting a crisp suit, they're just trying to find the right fit in their own skin so they can feel their best, whatever that is for them. Keep that in mind the next time you see someone donning makeup, while remembering that their greatest beauty is not skin-deep.For more uplifting news:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HouseOutraged Dad Stands Up For Daughter Sent Home From School For Her OutfitDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeSingle Dad Abruptly Abandoned By Mother Of Baby Discovers Power Of Vulnerability

Man Says Women Can't Be Captains - Captain Instantly Shoots Him Down
Uplifting News

Man Says Women Can't Be Captains - Captain Instantly Shoots Him Down

She gave him a lesson in grammar...and ignorance.She's damn good at what she does In 2015, Kate McCue became America's first cruise ship captain of a major vessel when she was given the keys to Celebrity Summit, according to People. Five years later, she moved up to captain an even bigger vessel, Celebrity Edge, where she presides over 1,400 staff.Yet despite her accomplishments and how she's clearly excellent at her job, she continues to get trolled on social media.Hilarious mic drop "How can you be a captain? Your [sic] only a woman," wrote one commenter on her TikTok page.Usually, McCue ignores these types of comments — she has better things to do. But not this time.In a now-viral video, McCue shut down the troll, but not in the way you'd expect."Normally, when I’m scrolling through comments and I see something like this, I totally ignore it and move on with my life," said McCue, speaking from her ship, Celebrity Edge. “But I think it’s about high time that I address this, because it’s 2020, and in this day and age, I’m shocked …”After a dramatic pause, she continued, "…that someone still doesn’t know the difference between you’re and your.”McCue goes on to give a lesson in grammar...and sexism.“So just a quick reference: You’re — as in ‘you are’ — like, ‘you are sexist.’ Your is something possessive, it belongs to you, like ‘your ignorance,'" McCue added. "But don’t worry. I’m here for you. If you need any more clarification, you can find me here, in my captain’s chair.”An inspirationThe video has received more than 3 million plays on TikTok and half a million on Instagram.One commenter on Instagram wrote: "This is how strong and smart women do! Awesome Kate!"Another said, "Wow.... She addressed it like a Boss... lovely."What McCue did was truly admirable. Instead of letting this troll get to her, she had some fun with it and made valuable points at the same time. What a great role model to show young and old what a badass woman really looks like.More uplifting stories:Dad Kicks Out Teen Son For Being Gay, Wife Instantly Breaks Up With HimWoman Abruptly Dumped By Fiancé For Being Overweight Gets Ultimate RevengeWoman Brutally Dumped For Being Overweight Gets The Last LaughWalmart Employee Gets Fired For Saving Woman From Assault, Customers Have Best Response

Outraged Dad Stands Up For Daughter Sent Home From School For Her Outfit
Uplifting News

Outraged Dad Stands Up For Daughter Sent Home From School For Her Outfit

A student in Oklahoma protested her school's sexist dress code policy by making a fool out of the administration.Sent home from school One day back in 2015, a teenager named Rose Lynn went to her school in Lawton, Oklahoma, wearing black leggings, a T-shirt, a long cardigan, and boots. While her outfit seems harmless enough, she was sent home by teachers because the shirt didn't cover her crotch."Today I was sent home from class, after being in school for two hours, for my outfit," Rose wrote in a Facebook post that went viral when it was first posted but has since been taken down. "Because I’m developed [more] than the average girl my age, I am required to go home and change. Yet, if I was skin and bones or overweight (not to offend anyone) I would be overlooked and no comment would be made (at my particular school) because ‘they must do that to feel better about themselves and they crave attention.’ But because I look like a curvy woman and may distract young boys, I have to miss class and change my outfit."To make matters worse, Rose Lynn was sent home before she could do her 20-minute algebra exam, so had to miss the test.She got her revengeWhen Rose Lynn came back to school, she wore something that had little chance of distracting the boys (or adults) — an oversized shirt that covered her crotch and black leggings. "I was completely covered crotch, butt, cleavage, etc. (even though the only problem was the crotch)," she explained, according to Yahoo.She was still taken out of class by two principals and three teachers and scolded, but not for how revealing her clothing was. It was due to what was written on her shirt. "They were upset because I was ‘mocking them’ and they didn’t appreciate it," she wrote on Facebook.On the shirt, she'd quoted the reasons why she was suspended in "silent protest." The front read, "It doesn’t cover your crotch" and the back said, "You’ll distract the boys."Rose Lynn was subsequently sent home again with the principals and teachers saying it was because she didn't have her student ID, which was left in the classroom she'd been called out of."Once again, society has failed to advocate [for] young ladies, by confining them in a box, where they are stripped from their sense of self-respect and self-expression, rather than teaching young men to respect the boundaries of young ladies. My response: #‎Feminism#‎YoullDistractTheBoys#‎SocietyIsFailing," Rose Lynn wrote.Following the incident, Rose Lynn committed to wearing oversize shirts with leggings, but says other students with less curvy bodies were not punished.Father speaks the truthRose Lynn's father, Lance Miles, took his daughter's side. "If she was built like a board or as round as a ball she wouldn’t have been sent home but [since] she has a figure she was told she had to change," he said. Miles went on to blame the school — not a teenager — for their actions. "This is 100% on [Lawton Public Schools] because they have left the rule up to interpretation," he said. "She has been taught that if you believe in something, do what you must and be prepared for the consequences. She has done that."Stand up for what you believe inWhile 2015 might feel like a long time ago, a teenager was sent home from school for wearing a turtleneck(!) just this February, proving that there's still work to be done. Still, I don't imagine this school in Oklahoma will be as strict with their dress code after Rose Lynn and her dad completely shut them down.More uplifting stories:Target Employee Receives $30K Of Donations After Public Shaming By CustomerPoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimGenerous Doctor Wipes Out $650K Debt For 200 Cancer PatientsBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Little Boy Defends Jogger Against Catcaller, Sets A Precedent For All Grown Men
Uplifting News

Little Boy Defends Jogger Against Catcaller, Sets A Precedent For All Grown Men

A young lad stepped in to fend off a businessman who was catcalling a jogger.Catcalled yet againSinger Julia Price was out for a run when something that frustratingly happens to women all the time occurred once again."I was on my usual running path when I heard an older man yelling loudly enough for me to hear through my headphones," she wrote on a Facebook post in 2015. "'Sexy lady, hey hey hey sexy lady!' He kept screaming it and I decided to just ignore him and keep running."But the ignoring strategy didn't work."This ignoring seemed to piss him off so he lashed out and said 'eff you, dumb B****!' Now let's keep in mind he was well-dressed and appeared to be on his lunch break from an office job," she wrote.Using the 'B' word was her 'trigger point.'"I ripped off my headphones prepared to stand up for myself when this little boy who was walking alongside his mother and little sister in a stroller looked at the guy and said, 'Hey. That is not nice to say to her and she didn't like you yelling at her. You shouldn't do that because she is a nice girl and I don't let anyone say mean things to people. She's a girl like my sister and I will protect her.'"Incredibly, the cat-caller was "immediately embarrassed," and started to leave. James saves the dayPrice went up to the mother and asked if she could hug the boy, named James, and hugged him (remember, this was well before we ever heard of something called COVID-19). "I told him how grateful I was for him. He just shrugged and said 'Well I just wanted to make sure your heart was okay,'" Price wrote."According to his mother, this is a typical day in the life of James," she continued. "Thank you so much to the mothers and fathers who are raising the next generation to be brave and courageous, and to be little earth angels for all. I am so touched."The story went viral and even got the attention of Star Trek's George Takei, according to Inside Edition. “Chivalry is not dead, though it is coming from unexpected places.”Little love warriorIn another post, Price, further shared her appreciation for James. "Yesterday I shared one of the most moving moments of my life, having no idea that James was actually a symbol of hope for all of us," Price wrote. "I think that there's a part of him that we all have in ourselves - that compassion and courage to stand up for others fearlessly, no matter what that looks like. I think we can look to James as an inspiration the next time we have an opportunity to be the brave one and help someone else."She continued: "Thank you for your thoughts and support of the little love warrior. I hope in some way he can feel how many people he has inspired. I hope he goes on to lead many movements and to protect all of his 'sisters' and of course his 'brothers' as well.""Thank you for sharing his message and celebrating his spirit with me!"Julia PriceHopeful for the futureCatcalling is a daily occurrence for many women, unfortunately making this story still relevant six years after it went viral. Yet there has been change in that span. We've seen #MeToo, further discussions about toxic masculinity like this one from men realizing how their behavior was wrong. We still have work to do, but clearly little boys like James are growing up and doing what Price hoped — calling out other men for toxic behavior. And that's something to feel hopeful for.More uplifting stories:White Woman Pretends To Be Black Man’s Wife To Expose Realtor’s DiscriminationPoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimCompassionate Boss Helps Employee Who’s Sleeping On Job Turn Life AroundBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Woman Asks To Work Less Due To COVID, Boss Has The Most Impressive Response
Uplifting News

Woman Asks To Work Less Due To COVID, Boss Has The Most Impressive Response

A Siemens software manager is being praised online for refusing to cut a female employee's hours. Instead of agreeing to cut her pay so she could help her kids with remote learning, her boss said she could work less for the same pay, sending a message to businesses everywhere about supporting women in the workforce. The pandemic isn't 'the great equalizer'The impact of the pandemic is not felt equally by men and women. Studies like this one show women are leaving the workforce at a substantially greater rate than men are because of their increased responsibilities taking care of children.In this case, the woman asked her boss to cut her hours to 80% so she could spend more time helping her kids with remote learning while schools are shut. But her boss refused.On Twitter, the boss explained why in a thread that has since gone viral.Too much pressure on womenThe boss, Aaron Genest, explains how companies still expect workers — especially women — to be just as productive as pre-COVID times with the added burdens the pandemic has brought on families. But "we shouldn't," he said.Genest said his staff has been performing extremely well under the circumstances, even though they're working fewer hours."I have a high-performing team who outperformed themselves again this year, outperforming almost every other team in my company in fact and winning awards for it," he wrote. "They didn't do it by working 9 to 5 or putting 40 hours of tracked time in during the week. They didn't do it by shutting their door and not seeing their kids or by using every moment of Zoom calls for work."So, how did they do it? "They did it by being a supportive group and working together," he said.Genest explains that his staff took time off to help with their families and their colleagues picked up the slack. "When someone has to leave to pick up their kids, someone else covers. When a 2-year-old bounces into a business call, they smile and everyone understands. When a day is less productive because they can't stand staring at the walls anymore, they get out so the next one is better."A message for bosses everywhere So, he denied the woman's request to cut her hours and her pay."No, you can't sacrifice your career advancement because of a perceived lack of productivity. No, you don't need to feel guilty about taking the time to make sure your kids are learning."Genest added that he wants this to inspire other companies to be more considerate of their employees during the pandemic."It's a small thing. I'm a single boss in a large company among many employers. But let me encourage anyone with the power to do so to deny this change. Work with your team from within, above, or below to support the people struggling through this. Please."Genest finished the thread by saying Siemens in Saskatoon is hiring. However, before you jump at the opportunity to work with this considerate boss, keep in mind that today, the temperature in Saskatoon hit -39.2 Celsius (-38.56 Fahrenheit).The pandemic is not business as usualThe pandemic has been so hard on all of us, the least we can do is be considerate. So if you're a boss out there, give your employees a break — especially ones with kids at home. And if you're struggling, don't be afraid to ask for help. We're only going to get through this if we help each other.More uplifting stories:50 Years After Their Love Was Torn Apart by Racism, They’re Finally MarriedPoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Katherine Heigl Reveals The Real Reason Why She Has A Bad Reputation
Uplifting News

Katherine Heigl Reveals The Real Reason Why She Has A Bad Reputation

Actress Katherine Heigl says she was bullied in her industry for speaking up. But after experiencing crushing anxiety, she sought help and has never felt more comfortable in her own skin.Labeled a 'difficult' womanIn 2008, actress Katherine Heigl, who'd grown from a child actor into a starring role on "Grey's Anatomy," started to feel attacked.It began when she complained that the 2007 Judd Apatow film "Knocked Up" was "a little sexist," and it escalated when she turned down her Emmy nomination because she “did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant [it].” Then, in 2009, she complained to David Letterman about working 17-hour days on "Grey's Anatomy."Heigl says she was painted as a "difficult" woman in the film industry. “I may have said a couple of things you didn’t like, but then that escalated to ‘she’s ungrateful,’ then that escalated to ‘she’s difficult,’ and that escalated to ‘she’s unprofessional,’” she told The Washington Post. “What is your definition of difficult? Somebody with an opinion that you don’t like? Now, I’m 42, and that s--- pisses me off.”Katherine Heigl She was blamed for speaking upHeigl said she was "told to shut the f--- up," and despite her repeated apologies, the industry wanted her to say sorry even more. “The more terrified and scared I was of doing something wrong, the more I came across like I had really done something horribly wrong.” Katherine Heigl Still, Heigl was getting hired for films and felt that if she was doing good work she'd prove her haters wrong.“You can be the most awful, difficult, horrible person on the planet, but if you're making them money, they're going to keep hiring you,” she said of the film industry. “I knew that whatever they felt I had done that was so awful, they would overlook it if I made them money — but then my films started to make not quite as much money.”Mounting anxietyDuring what Heigl calls the "shunning," Heigl started to feel extremely anxious.“I think my family, my mother, my husband, my friends were scared. And I regret deeply that I scared them like that. But I just couldn't control it. I had no tools,” she said, adding that mental health issues were rarely discussed in her family.In 2016, Heigl had another burst of anxiety and she finally sought the help of a therapist.“I asked my mom and my husband to find me somewhere to go that could help me because I felt like I would rather be dead,” she said. “I didn't realize how much anxiety I was living with until I got so bad that I had to really seek help. You can do a lot of inner soul work, but I'm a big fan of Zoloft.” Would Heigl be treated this way today?Looking back on it, would Heigl face the same kind of attacks for speaking up as today? In a post-#MeToo world, it's hard to imagine she would.“If she said [some of it] today, she’d be a hero,” said her husband of 13 years, singer Josh Kelley, to The Post.“She has very strong convictions and strong opinions on certain things, and she doesn’t back down from letting you know if she feels like she’s been wronged in any way,” added friend and actor James Marsden. “I’ve always seen that as just strength of character. I can see how that can get construed as being difficult or ungrateful or whatever. But if you know Katie, it’s simply because she has the courage to stand behind something she believes.”She's tamed her anxietyHeigl hasn't let the "shunning" ordeal keep her quiet. She's back to doing what she loves with a new Netflix series, "Firefly Lane," was outspoken about the killing of George Floyd, and has formed a community with her fans by responding to their comments on social media.“It took me a long time to feel confident enough to read their comments because I just assumed the worst,” she said. “Now, it feels like a little community. I've tried to rebuild that trust with my fans through social media, show them more of who I am off camera.”She's also stopped feeling afraid to speak up to her producers.“I spent a lot of years just being the actor hired,” Heigl said. “I feel now I have enough experience and enough wisdom to have a voice, to collaborate about character, about story, about cast. It's about having a seat at the table.”Coping during the pandemicDuring the pandemic, Heigl has been coping by spending time with her family in Utah, watercolor painting, and watching Netflix's "Bridgerton." Overall, she's feeling much more balanced.“I think she has found the person that she truly is, and she’s found her way to be that person with the world,” her husband said. “She just seems more at ease with family, career, and life itself, and I’m really super proud of her for that.” Heigl agrees: “I’ve grown into accepting that ambition is not a dirty word, and that it doesn’t make me less of a feminine, loving, nurturing woman to be ambitious and have big dreams and big goals. It’s easier to be happy because I have a little more gentleness for myself.”A redemption storyDespite being pushed down by her industry, Heigl kept moving forward. She continued to do what she loves and even after going through crippling anxiety she ultimately refused to stop being herself.Her passion and drive to continue speaking up is truly inspiring and proves how impossible it is to keep a strong woman down.More uplifting stories:Why We Need To Talk About Keanu Reeves’ Girlfriend Alexandra GrantWhat Finally Convinced Jennifer Lopez That She Needed A Divorce From Marc AnthonyWhy Shakira and Gerard Piqué Are Proud To Be An Unconventional CoupleHow Hailey Baldwin Dealt With Being In A Love Triangle Involving Selena Gomez