Jose Gonzalez Campelo/The Cougar

The results are in: This summer’s color is pink, pink, and more pink. With a massive opening weekend and a surprise collaboration with the inventor of the atomic bomb, “Barbie” might just be this year’s biggest hit.

But not everyone seems to think life in plastic is so fantastic. “Barbie” has already been the subject of significant backlash, from waves of negative reviews to scathing commentaries from various high profile figures.

While critiques of the film vary, a significant number of commentators have claimed that the film is “anti-man.” Some claim the film depicts male characters as “bumbling idiots” that exist as accessories to the women, while others took issue with the message behind the film. 

In some areas, the critics are not wrong. “Barbie,” is an unapologetically feminist film. It handles sensitive issues like sexism and the expectations placed on women all while presenting the concept of patriarchy as unquestionable fact.

Acknowledging the idea that women might still be oppressed seems to be challenging for some, but the unfortunate reality is that even in 2023, women still make less money than men. Even within the same occupations and even with more education, the patriarchy persists.

But even if “Barbie’s” critiques of the real world were valid, some have argued that the film diminishes the problems of its male characters. Ryan Gosling’s “Ken” is regularly ignored by Margot Robbie’s “Barbie,” and his sense of rejection is played for laughs.

Moreover, the fictional world of Barbieland is unquestionably ruled by women. The men (Kens) serve as literal “accessories,” with little more purpose than to elevate the women (Barbies). Barbieland’s president is a woman, as is every other position of power.

If the film ended with this status quo unquestioned, the critics might have a valid point. But actually watching more than the first half of the film (spoilers ahead) would reveal that the filmmakers didn’t intend to depict this as an “ideal world.”

In fact, Ken’s frustration at his lack of agency leads him to embrace the patriarchy and turn Barbieland into “The Kendom.” If the film was seeking to villainize men, this would be the point where Barbie takes her home back and casts Ken out for his evil ways.

But instead, Barbie learns from her experience in the patriarchal “real world”. She apologizes for making Ken feel powerless, and encourages him to learn who he is apart from her. Ken even admits that he didn’t feel right in a leadership role since it didn’t fit him.

This is the core of the film’s message to men: “You matter, but not because of who you’re with or how much power you have. You matter because you’re you.” By the end of the film, the Kens embrace the slogan “I’m Kenough,”and Barbieland is made more equal in structure.

The truth is that, in some ways, patriarchy can hurt men too. Being forced to suppress your feelings and embrace hobbies you don’t like to be a “man” can lead to feeling trapped, as depicted by Michael Cera’s “Allen,” who feels pressured to embrace the Kens’ hyper masculinity.

 While “Barbie” is chiefly a film about womanhood, it’s also a deeply moving film about what it means to be human, and is full of charming characters both male and female.

Greta Gerwig has created something that, judging just by box office numbers, clearly resonates with a lot of people. So maybe consider swallowing your expectations and watch the film with an open mind. Who knows? You might just find that pink is your color after all.

arts@thedailycougar.com

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“Barbie isn’t anti-men, it’s anti-patriarchy” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campon/The Cougar

The humanities are dying. While the “liberal arts major working at a coffee shop” is something of a stereotype, the facts seem to show that it’s not far from the truth. 

In 2020, the number of humanities majors dropped for the eight consecutive year. While around 20% of American students in the 1960s were enrolled in humanities degrees, that number sits closer to 5% today.

Between student loans and a rapidly increasing shortage of relevant jobs, it’s not hard to see why many students seem to prefer “safe” majors in STEM fields or other areas. If you can make more money and make a difference in a different field, why should anyone study humanities?

To somewhat oversimplify things, science and similar fields can answer the “what” and the “how” but the humanities aim to answer the “why.” Philosophy, art and literature challenge students to wrestle with complex questions about what it means to be human. 

While it can be easy to dismiss these ideas as interesting but impractical, the more “practical” fields could not exist without them. There is no scientific definition for justice that a prosecutor can lean on, nor innocence for a public defender to consult.

In other words, engineering provides the tools needed to build a bomb and the humanities push us to consider the destruction it could cause. Even Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, left his fortune not to science but to peacekeeping efforts.

But even if the humanities provide ethical guidance, some would argue it’s the lack of practical skills that leave so many graduates unemployed. In fact, a significant percentage of humanities majors say their degree has no relation to their job at all.

You’re not exactly learning rocket science in a BA program, but humanities courses do hold practical value. The ability to creatively analyze problems, think rationally and communicate across barriers are all important skills, no matter the job.

Some colleges have even created specialized programs in applied humanities that help students gain marketable skills. But even if they weren’t profitable, the world needs the humanities now more than ever.

When Robert Oppenheimer, one of the leading scientists on the Manhattan project, witnessed the atomic bomb for the first time, he didn’t lean on his background as a scientist. As he witnessed unimaginable destruction, he allegedly quoted an old Hindu text.

“Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.”

Between the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the advent of AI and the rise of social media use, humanity has a lot of hard questions to answer. Those questions aren’t going to be found in the back of engineering textbooks, so maybe it’s time to get back to the classics.

Malachi Spence Key is a journalism senior who can be reached at
opinion@thedailycougar.com

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

It’s summertime! The days are getting warmer, the mosquitos are out and it’s prime time to get some much needed rest as the soft sloshing of pool water lulls you to sleep. But just as soon as you’re about to enter dream land, you wake up with a start, thoughts racing through your brain. 

You realize you forgot to schedule an internship for the summer. Maybe you don’t even have a summer job set up, and all your friends seem way ahead of you there. Your parents are nagging you to “pad your resume,” whatever that means.

Sure, summer is supposed to be for resting, but it can be hard to relax when everyone around you seems to still be moving at lightning speed. Everyone else in your life is getting “career ready,” so surely there’s no time to lose — right?

The thing is, we weren’t made to go 100% all the time. Careers are important, but rest is important too, and you should consider using at least part of your summer to give your brain and body a break.

That’s not just friendly advice either. Science firmly backs the need for rest. One study, conducted by the American Psychopharmacological Association, showed that people who took vacations on a regular basis had reduced stress, anxiety and depression across the board. 

Moreover, participants in the study actually reported that rest allowed them to become more productive, not less. Some experts, such as University of Washington mental health counselor Julia Kocian, note that the human brain works differently while resting, allowing us to focus more.

“The idea is we need to spend time in different brain states,” Kocian said. “When we engage in a variety of activities that require more and less focus, our brain can spend time in the different states, which helps it function and allows us to be creative, to problem solve.”

When we don’t get enough rest, the consequences can be severe. One recent study found that stress associated with working excessively led to a significant increase in the potential for strokes and heart disease. 

But more importantly, you’re only in college once. Summer break is one of the things people tend to miss most about this period in their lives. You have the rest of your life to be stuck in an office for eight hours a day.

And while some, especially working students, may not have the privilege of a completely open summer, consider taking a break if you can. Get outside, be young, let your boredom push you to try something new.

Make this summer one worth remembering.

Malachi Spence Key is a journalism senior who can be reached at 
opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“Enjoy your summer, that internship can wait” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Disability is commonly thought to be defined by its physical aspects and how able-bodied someone is.

However, disability encompasses a wider scope of social, political and cultural factors that are evolving and difficult to capture in a single sentence. Because of this, the view society has on disability needs to be redefined to reflect the actual experiences of disabled people and the issues they face, as well as involve people outside of the community to fight for disability rights.

Currently, disability is seen by some as a bad word that people are scared to approach. Susan Wendell makes an important point in “The Rejected Body” when she talks about how the definition of disability is not created to “include” people but to “exclude” them.

People do not want to be disabled.

Their understanding of disability focuses on the negative connotations that come with identifying as disabled that include ableist language, inaccessible buildings and the never-ending fight for fair treatment in the workplace and medical field.

People fear the word because they know they will not be treated with respect and dignity.

Wouldn’t this realization force people to fight for disability rights? Once they realize that groups of people are ostracized from society, wouldn’t they want to figure out ways to deconstruct and end this misconception and discrimination?

Sadly, the battle for disability rights is still confined to those in the disabled community.

Curb cuts, which are an important aspect of universal design, were notably advocated for by Ed Roberts, a prominent activist in the disability rights movement. Because of him and other activists disabled people were able to live their lives more independently, a sentiment that was unheard of and dismissed in the 1970s.

Another example of the battle for disability rights confined to its own bubble is Simi Linton’s experience from her book “My Body Politics”. Throughout the book, her desire for love and intimacy is challenged by a myth enabled by doctors that said disabled people were unable to love and could not be loved.

The lack of information regarding disabled people’s sexuality and pleasure prompted her to set out to find her own answers on how the disabled community can seek intimacy in their own ways. This advocacy on her end only furthers the idea that it’s disabled people who have to seek out their own answers or else no progress would be made.

Finally, a more notable and powerful form of activism from the disability rights movement is the Capitol Crawl where over a thousand people, many with various forms of disability, climbed the steps of the Capital to showcase the physical, social and political barriers the disabled community faced during that time and to fight for Congress to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act.

With that in mind, if you were to ask someone to recount a prominent moment of the disability rights movement or why it is important to support it, it is unlikely that someone will be able to tell you an informed, thoughtful answer.

Many people are removed from the disability rights movement even though it is something that directly affects them whether they know it or not. People are just taught to push it aside which leaves them no room to draw connections.

If able-bodied people were to take a moment to look at the issues the disability community faces, they will see a battle against time.

Crip time and chrononormativity are two terms used to describe the way time is used in society. Crip time highlights how disabled people use time differently than able-bodied people because their body demands a different regime and accommodations. Chrononormativity is how society expects a person to follow a certain timeline of achievements and expectations that, quite frankly, do not fit everyone.

The disability rights movement aims to reconstruct these strict boundaries of time and allow individuals to create their own timeline that prioritizes their needs, wants and desires. Whether this is allowing yourself to take more sick days or deciding to not get married and have kids, these decisions impact the happiness and fulfillment you feel in your life.

Regardless, even if the disability rights movement did not impact your life or you do not see the connection in your own life, the one thing we all share in this world is the lived human experience.

Simi Linton stated in her book, even if disabled people have their own experiences navigating the world, they all share “the vantage point of the atypical” of living in a world built for the non-disabled.

Disability is part of that lived human experience that we all share and disabled people should not be excluded from living a fruitful and engaging life.

If anything, people should be enraged at the discrimination and injustice the disabled community has faced because, in the end, they’re our community as well.

As people, a community of individuals striving to lead better and happier lives, we need to support one another and not leave a single person behind.

It’s our life goal.

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Disability rights movement is for everyone” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Access to gender-affirming healthcare is a highly debated subject. Should young people be able to make such decisions about their bodies? 

The answer is yes. 

People often undermine how stressful it is to experience gender dysphoria. In some cases, the condition causes suicidal thoughts and other related urges. Just like any condition, treatment is necessary to prevent harm to the afflicted person.

Contrary to popular belief, gender-affirming healthcare is not harmful. 

It’s quite the opposite. 

Studies show that individuals experiencing gender dysphoria who undergo gender-affirming therapies and procedures reduce the risk of suicide and negative self-image significantly.

In other words, there are numerous benefits of accessible gender-affirming healthcare, including affordable hormone replacement therapy and surgeries. Condemning these forms of care is detrimental to the wellbeing of transgender youth and adults. 

As Texas legislators continue to draft anti-trans bills, self-harm and suicide rates among transgender youth have risen dangerously. These bills threaten the health care and safety of transgender individuals of all ages, though young transgender people are particularly vulnerable.

Understanding that gender-affirming healthcare is not just cosmetic is essential. These treatments help significantly improve the mental and physical health of transgender individuals. Denying access to such care is an abomination to human rights and has severe consequences, such as depression and suicidal tendencies.

Additionally, it is imperative to note that young people can decide about their bodies. The idea that they are too young or immature to be able to self-identify is ridiculous and dismissive of the hardships they experience. Ensuring the accessibility of gender-affirming healthcare guarantees young transgender people can live healthy, happy lives.

Access to healthcare is a fundamental right and denying HRT and gender affirmation surgeries is a significant violation of those rights. Denying healthcare based on gender identity is outright discriminatory. 

Adolescent transgender people deserve the same access to healthcare as everyone else without negative stereotypes and discrimination.

As discourse regarding gender-affirming healthcare continues, it is crucial to recognize that real people are suffering behind the curtains. Transgender individuals do not decide to transition without serious consideration and they do not take it lightly. 

 For many transgender folks, it is a matter of life and death.

Research reveals increasing rates of suicide and self-harm among young transgender individuals, and accessing gender-affirming healthcare services can help reduce these risks exponentially. When transgender people, particularly young people, have access to the care they need, they have the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives.

Supporting transgender youth during transition is vital, including advocating for accessible gender-affirming healthcare. This means combating harmful legislation and ensuring all health insurance covers the costs of these services.

We must also address misinformation regarding gender-affirming care. Many wrongly assume these services are harmful when they are not. They are crucial to supporting the mental and physical health of transgender people. 

Accessible gender-affirming healthcare is essential for the wellness of transgender youth. We must advocate for accessible healthcare and combat restrictive legislation.

We must address these negative stereotypes and misconceptions regarding gender-affirming services and support trans folks in their journeys to being their true selves. 

Grayson Alexander Darwin is a Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies freshman who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Gender-affirming healthcare is a fundamental right” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

The Student Government Association has had a rocky few weeks as former President Joshua Martin lost the re-election he contested that deemed Benjamin Rizk of the Students Unite party the winner. 

This is not the first time an administration has caused a rift in the elections nor the first time SGA has done something to make the students wonder how they got there. It is vital that students know the recurring patterns that are seen throughout each administration as it sets up the stage for the incoming one. 

Some might think that the discrepancies of this administration start with the election code changes or the increase in campaign spending caps enacted by President Joshua but although these are all red flags, the real issue lies within the culture of SGA and its inability to work together to reach a common goal. 

A common theme throughout each administration is how members of SGA feel discouraged by the process that ends up putting opposing parties apart rather than working on compromising. 

Senior psychology major Esmeralda Ledezma was a senator for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in the 59th administration but ultimately left her position. 

“What drew me to SGA at the beginning was having the opportunity to represent my college, especially knowing that there were a lot of issues in CLASS and wanting to be part of the solution,” Ledezma said. 

“I genuinely just did not look forward to the meetings anymore, because I knew they were going to be unproductive. And the reality is that we weren’t going to compromise on things that the opposing (party) ran on and the party that I ran on,” Ledezma continued. 

This sentiment can be seen in the 58th administration where senior political science major David Paul Hilton was the Former Speaker of the Senate who resigned from his position after experiencing a continuous lack of communication among the organization and unnecessary meddling from the Supreme Court. 

“There was a move to push a bill that would amend the recall special election code to basically allow for campaigning,” Hilton said. “That went through the Senate (which) was then brought to the Supreme Court and they said that it was unconstitutional.”

“Just by bringing that to the floor, we were all barred from student government until the first of January,” Hilton said. 

These are just a few instances throughout the years where former members of SGA have called out the organization for prioritizing their personal agendas rather than focusing on the task at hand. 

As adults in college, there shouldn’t have to be a lesson on how to work with other people who do not share the same views as you. Arguably, it could be a place to learn how to gain these skills but if each administration is unable to pass those skills down to the next administration because of a petty rivalry, is that really student government? 

Even then, future students who want to become involved in SGA have to learn about its history and current predicaments to make sure the same mistakes are not repeated. Its lack of accessibility makes it difficult for students with different perspectives and backgrounds to get involved. 

It’s also safe to say that a majority of the students do not hold this much time or dedication to be able to reconstruct SGA entirely. The culture and politics of SGA are something that can only be reconstructed through years of collaboration of administrations, not a single academic year. 

If each administration is unaware of the goals and workings of the previous administration, how can they become better for the student body? 

How can they become more inclusive and collaborative if they are blind to previous mistakes? 

It’s a hard task to tackle and an even harder truth to accept: SGA needs to reconstruct its current culture because the current system is not where it needs to be. 

With the incoming administration, members of SGA should be clear about their goals and expectations. They should be able to make suggestions, accept rejections and take in criticism without taking it personally. 

As an organization meant to represent its students, it’s vital that SGA strives to fix this overarching issue not just for the future of SGA but for the students they claim to serve. 

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“SGA needs to fix its work culture” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

With Student Government Association elections starting this week, it is important that students head out and vote for the SGA president they want for their university. 

Last year, only a little over 2,000 students voted in the SGA elections while 43,488 students were enrolled in the Spring 2022 semester. This means only around 5 percent of the student population participated in the elections for president. 

This is an alarming number as SGA decides on many things that directly impact students. SGA can suggest bills relating to parking expenses, syllabus changes, student jobs and even student fees. 

If students are not voting, these decisions will not accurately represent student wishes and demands which can lead to a conflict of interest. 

The purpose of SGA is to represent students but this mission can be easily muddled. Many students are unaware of the candidates on the ballot which can create confusion and mistrust. In order to become an administration that abides by its students, there needs to be transparency and a push for student engagement on campus.

A way for students to become informed on elections and their candidates is to attend the SGA Presidential Debate. This year’s debate was held last Thursday in the Student Center Theatre and also live-streamed. 

The total attendance for this year’s debate was 121 students according to assistant director Allyson Yolland from the Center for Student Involvement. Again, this number is a stark contrast compared to the student population. 

A lot of this information is new to many students which only emphasizes the divide students have with SGA. The main contributor to this divide is that it’s the students who have to take the extra steps to become informed about the elections rather than SGA doing a better job of implementing it into the student life and culture.

Student government does not sound fun or enjoyable to many students which is an acceptable feeling to have. But when student fees and budget reallocations are on the line, there should be a concern as to how these issues are dealt with. 

To increase student engagement in regard to voting, there are usually giveaways for students who cast their votes. Last year, it was a Nintendo Switch and this year there’s a chance to win a TV or an air fryer to name a few. 

So even if student government issues are not your cup of tea, casting your vote will get your voice heard but might also get you an air fryer. 

It’s a win-win situation. 

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“More students need to vote in SGA elections” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

If your situation allows it, moving out of your parent’s house might be a decision that teaches you more than you’ll ever imagine. 

As you enter adulthood, independence is something you might find yourself battling with. 

There are many ways to become independent and the answer differs for every person. Independence might mean being able to do whatever you want whenever you want. It might also mean owning your own car or apartment and even holding a job. 

Whatever it may be, there is a common consensus that living on your own is the epitome of independence. 

As of right now, over half of young adults are living with their parents. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with living with your parents. If anything, it’s a commendable decision once you look at the current economy. 

However, if you feel like there is no more room for you to grow under your parent’s watchful eye, moving out might bring you more breathing room. 

Of course, you must take into consideration your mental health, your expenses and your ability to be responsible for every aspect of your life. It sounds scary but it’s true when they say your parents will not be there forever. 

By moving out and living on your own, there will be a lot of things you’ll be able to do that you probably weren’t able to under your parent’s roof. Suddenly, you can decide when and where you want to go, what groceries you want to buy, how much of your paycheck will end up in savings and maybe even the possibility of getting a pet. 

It teaches you new skills as suddenly the responsibilities your parents used to have over you are now in your hands.

The new feeling of autonomy might be overwhelming but if you set boundaries for yourself and plan accordingly, this new level of freedom might be liberating. 

The whole point of moving out and living on your own is to figure out who you are without the interference of others. If you continue to stay in a place that hones harmful or old ideologies, it’ll be harder for you to grow out of them. 

Again, it’s possible to still grow despite living at home but it’s easier to develop your own thoughts and feelings about things when you are in a new environment. 

Self-expression is easier to do without a watchful eye and everyone can agree that sometimes parents hold you back from living your true self. They might have their children’s best interests at heart but with each new generation, new cultures and forms of self-expression might not match those of the older generation. 

Moving out is not a decision to be made on a whim and sometimes it’s the only answer for people who live in a suffocating home environment. 

But if you have the resources and confidence to move out, you should do it. 

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Moving out will teach you new things about yourself” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Graduate programs are known to be the next step to enhancing your education which is why they should be focused on upholding the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. 

A lot has changed over the past few years regarding admission numbers, especially the amount of students of color earning graduate degrees. 

In 1995, 75 percent of white students made up the population of graduate students in the U.S. while the rest were a mixed population of Black, Asian, Hispanic and Native American students. 

In 2015, data shifted to where only 56 percent of white students made up the population of graduate students while the rest were students of color and international students. Still, the shifts in the individual populations of people of color differ and have a long way to go.

For example, Black students increased from 6.9 percent to 13.5 percent, Asian students actually decreased from 7.3 percent to 6.3 percent, Hispanic students increased from 4.9 percent to 9.2 percent and Native American students decreased from 0.6 percent to 0.4 percent.

Of course, these numbers continue to change over time, decreasing and increasing as new students enroll each year. The common theme is how more students of color are applying and enrolling in higher education over the past 20 years. 

On the other hand, numbers can only say so much about graduate school and the experience students of color go through. Navigating through a white-dominated field of academics can open up a plethora of microaggressions, imposter syndrome, tokenization and marginalization. 

In general, graduate students are three times more likely to experience mental health issues than the average American. For students of color, this could be worsened through systematic and social barriers that isolate them from the graduate school experience. 

Historically, students of color, more specifically black students, were excluded from receiving the same education as their white counterparts. Even today, hate crimes continue to occur on college campuses that are racially motivated against people of color. 

Because of this, graduate schools should garner an inclusive environment with resources and funds dedicated to support students of color as they continue on with their education. 

Since students of color are less likely to take advantage of mental health resources on campus, universities should aim to close that gap by reaching out to students and ensuring that counselors represent the students they are trying to help. 

On the academic side, the implementation of graduate programs meant to highlight the contributions of people of color and marginalized communities are essential in becoming inclusive. 

UH has its own African American Studies graduate certificate as well as a graduate certificate in Women’s Studies. Although these are just graduate certificates, they offer an advanced academic venture into the history of marginalized communities that can be pushed into full-fledged graduate programs if the University aims for it.  

Graduate programs are a space for students to grow and increase their scope of the world. It is only logical that those spaces include a diverse group of students and their pressing thoughts to create it. 

Cindy Rivas Alfaro is a journalism sophomore student who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Diversity, inclusion is important in graduate school programs” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Getting into college is a big step and a life changing decision for many individuals, but what comes after may be even more impactful.

For many students in STEM, graduate school is the obvious path as it can lead to medical school, optometry and other forms of higher education.  

However, when liberal arts students mention attending graduate school, people can often be caught making remarks about how it is ‘unnecessary’ for future careers in the humanities. 

Yet, for many liberal arts and humanities undergraduate students, graduate school is a practical and impactful part of their growth and career.

“Even the people with no interest in majoring in the humanities benefit from the people getting graduate degrees in those fields,” said Ph.D. English student Karen Lagana. “The latter enhances everyone’s understanding. Their knowledge seeps into the culture and helps improve education in the humanities at all levels, including high school.”

“It’s benefitted me because I’ve been part of a community with like-minded colleagues and mentors,” Lagana said. “This elevates my own understanding.”

The arts are often extremely competitive, and while experience can help those flourish, unpaid internships or low paying jobs are just not feasible for most. 

Having a graduate degree can make candidates not only gain experience while earning an education, but appear more impressive and hirable. 

In fact, the number of grad students has more than tripled since the 1970s, no doubt due to the increasing demand for higher education in jobs.

Because about one in three Americans are college graduates with a bachelor’s degree, this has caused a devaluation of undergraduate education.

While STEM degrees remain largely important, employers find that many candidates with liberal art degrees have some much wanted qualities.

Employers rank skills like communication and critical thinking higher than technical aptitudes, and these wanted skills are often hallmarks of liberal arts training.

Moreover, many liberal arts programs focus on research, analysis and writing, making these students exceptional candidates for a wide variety of jobs. 

“The humanities often offer opportunities for interdisciplinary studies, enabling students to develop a well-rounded perspective and a broad range of knowledge that is applicable to multiple fields,” said junior sociology major Joshua Glover. 

“Pursuing graduate studies in the humanities is not only beneficial for those interested in academic or research careers, but also for those seeking careers in various fields such as law, education, non-profit organizations and more,” Glover said. “A deep understanding of the humanities and the ability to think critically are in high demand.”

Overall, while it can be easy to discredit the importance of graduate degrees for the liberal arts, it needs to be understood that these degree programs have true and worthy benefits.

They allow for the individuals in these studies to strengthen their resumes, gather deep and thoughtful understanding of their studies and prepare for a rigorous career.

Graduate degrees in the liberal arts are important to pursue and should be valued by prospective students who want to further their education and careers. 

Sarah Elise Shea is a freshman English literature major who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Graduate degrees in the liberal arts are important” was originally posted on The Cougar