Democrats won campaigns in November by focusing on the economy and cost of living. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump traveled to Pennsylvania to sell his administration’s actions on affordability.

It's been a long, slow climb, but women's sports are finally getting the respect they deserve, thanks in no small part to superstar athletes like Coco Gauff, Caitlin Clark, and Simone Biles. And as more and more young girls see themselves competing at the highest levels, the more women's sports will continue to thrive. But there are still some hurdles to overcome. Girls in sports have long been subjected to double standards that men don't have to think about, like being seen as too "pretty" to be taken seriously as athletes, as well as being constantly criticized and underestimated. (All the while, being too muscular or "manly" opens up athletes to a whole different kind of scrutiny.) Serious Simone Biles GIF by Team USA Giphy For too long, girls have been sent the message that they have to be either/or. You're either a girly-girl or a tomboy. You're either into sparkly princesses or sports practices. From a young age, girls need to know that they don't have to choose between feeling beautiful and being badass, that we can be both at the same time.Perhaps that's why a portrait shoot shared by HMP Couture Imagery showing girls dressed up in fancy dresses and sports equipment went insanely viral.The shoot is called "Because you can do it all," and since its posting in 2019, it has been shared over 200,000 times.Heather Mitchell, the photographer from Alabama who ran HMP Couture Imagery, told Upworthy how the portrait shoot came about."My youngest daughter is 8 and she is trying softball this year for the first time," said Mitchell. "We were at practice a few weeks ago and I was talking with the other moms. I was saying that I hoped Paislee learned to love the game because she was athletic. One of the moms told me that she was not athletic, that she was a girly-girl." Baller in a ballgownHMP Couture Imagery/Facebook "I couldn't sleep that night," Mitchell continued. "All I could think was, 'Why does she have to choose?' I played every sport my school offered and wore lipstick to every game. So the next day we went to the studio and created her shot."Mitchell said she only spent about three minutes shooting because she knew exactly what she wanted to create. After she posted the photos of Paislee to her personal Facebook page, she got a ton of requests from other parents for the same kind of shoot. After adding two days to the schedule, they sold out in an hour, and the requests just kept on coming.The sparkly-sporty shoots became one of Mitchell's most popular bookings.Mitchell hoped that girls would see these photos and realize that they don't have to choose one identity.The idea that crinoline and cleats can't exist in the same mental space is silly, but common. Girls (and boys for that matter) can love pretty things and kick butt at sports. They don't have to be one thing or the other. You really can do it all. HMP Couture Imagery/Facebook "My parents taught me that I could be anything I wanted growing up," Mitchell told Upworthy. "I didn't realize till I was much older that everyone is not that blessed."The photos going viral was not only good for Mitchell's photography business but it helped spread the message far and wide. These images are an excellent reminder to question our assumptions and not place unnecessary limits on anyone—and an empowering example for girls who don't fit neatly into a socially constructed box. After all, even someone like Caitlin Clark likes to wear a fancy dress every now and then. And her athleticism and impact on the sport is not up for debate because of it."I hope that every little girl that sees this series can see that there is no box," said Mitchell. "Whatever their dreams are they can achieve."Mitchell retired from her photography business in 2023 to focus on her health after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Sadly, her husband announced her passing in 2024 in a tribute, writing, "To know her was to love her. What you saw, was what you got 24/7. What I loved most was that if you knew her, you were constantly inspired and challenged every day in every way to become a better person than you were the day before. She believed in kindness, forgiveness, honesty and valor. That is the ultimate legacy and impact she left on everybody she touched."Thank you, Heather Mitchell, for helping girls feel freer to be their sparkly, sporty selves as part of that legacy. This article originally appeared six years ago. It had been updated.

One of the major differences between women and men is that women are far more likely to be judged on their appearance rather than their character or abilities. "Men as well as women tend to establish the worth of individual women primarily by the way their body looks, research shows," Naomi Ellemers, Ph.D., wrote in Psychology Today. "We do not do this when we evaluate men."Ellemers believes that this tendency to judge a woman solely on her looks causes them to be seen as an object rather than a person. "As a result of focusing on their outwardly visible features, we are tempted to overlook their inner states, ignore markers of their intentions, beliefs, and desires, and less likely to empathize with their plight," Ellemers continued.Women in the spotlight are constantly judged more for their appearance than for their performance in their field. Tennis star Serena Williams once won the French Open, yet much of the press focused more on what she wore on the court than on her victory. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been repeatedly criticized throughout her political career for her clothing and hairstyles rather than her accomplishments.Maggie Vespa, a news anchor at KGW-TV in 2019, was criticized by a male viewer for how she dressed, and she brilliantly turned the incident into an opportunity to highlight the double standards women face. — (@) "Just wanted to let you know that the clothes you've been wearing, especially those crazy pants that ride half way up your torso, are not cool looking, in any way!," Jeffrey, a male viewer, wrote to Vespa on Facebook. "You're way too pretty to look so foolish."The next day, he sent her another message: "OMG, you really looked uncomfortably tonight. Try dressing like a normal woman. Doesn't KGW pay you enough for a wardrobe makeover?"Vespa posted about the emails on social media and received hundreds of responses, so she carved out a few minutes on the newscast to address the situation. - YouTube www.youtube.com "Let's just get this out of the way at the top, okay? This is dumb. We know that," Vespa responded. "These are my pants. I like them. I bought them." Vespa said the harassment "hit a nerve" with people on social media who used it as an opportunity to discuss "the pressure women obviously face, especially those in the public eye to embody the epitome of physical attractiveness at all times." "If we don't, it's somehow seen as a sign that we're less credible or less capable and, by and large, guys don't have to deal with this," she continued. "As my awesome male coworkers can and have attested to."Vespa then showed photos of five different pairs of high-waisted pants she wore in the week following Jeffrey's messages. Her colleagues joined in as well, donning their own high-waisted pants to show their support.Maggie Vespa in 2019.via KGW-TV / YouTubeVespa then brilliantly transformed the harassment into an empowering message."Our goal here is to send a message, to women, to girls, to everyone: Dress how you want, look how you want, and if anyone tries to make you feel less than because of that, that's their problem, not yours," she said. "There's no one way for a normal woman to look or be."This article originally appeared six years ago.

There are lots of different kinds of service and companion dogs. Some are "seeing-eye" dogs that assist people with visual impairments. People with mobility issues, hearing loss, or who are at risk of seizures might benefit from a service dog to help them and keep them safe. People with autism, PTSD, anxiety, or depression can also benefit from a highly trained canine companion.Regardless of the task, certified service animals must undergo an extremely rigorous training process. Their job is not an easy one, and they need to prove they're capable and not prone to being distracted. No one knows this better than the folks at Double H Canine Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, a training facility for pups.The team at Double H also recognizes that not every dog is suited for a life of service. In a hilarious viral video posted to YouTube, it's abundantly clear that not all dogs are meant to follow orders.Ladies and gentlemen, meet Ryker. He's a Belgian Malinois who was a student at Double H, trying to earn his service dog bona fides (bone-a-fides?). Unfortunately, Ryker flunked out in such spectacular fashion that the team couldn't help but put together a little "highlight" package of his best moments.Ryker really tries his best, but the poor guy just can't help himself. He doesn't want to work; he wants to play. Ryker steals a tennis ball from the bottom of a walker, drags around an entire wheelchair by its handle, and pulls his trainer over trying to go after a fetch ball. There is no piece of equipment that he doesn't want to chew or climb on. There is no leash that can contain him. There is literally not a single distraction that he will not fall for. Perhaps his most extreme fail happens when Ryker tries to open a refrigerator door, and instead ends up dragging the entire thing halfway across the room.Definitely not service dog behavior. Watch his contagious, fun-loving spirit in the video here: - YouTube www.youtube.com The video racked up over 2 million views, and commenters agreed: Ryker may not have passed, but he was definitely a certified Very Good Boy.'Why bring one thing from the fridge when you can bring the whole damn thing""Frankly, I don't understand why he didn't pass. I mean he folded the wheelchair up. He removed the walker from the person after they clearly were done with it. He washed the floor. He moved the fridge. What more could you ask of him?""My family and I adopted a service academy 'drop-out' ten years ago. He's still with us and is the most AMAZING dog I'll ever have.""Being a service dog was not his purpose in life... still a good boy, his purpose was to give us laughs.""On the plus side, if you lose a tennis ball Ryker is your dog!"In Ryker's defense, only about 40-50 percent of dogs enrolled in service dog programs ultimately graduate on average, making his dropout pretty normal. But while he may never be the world's greatest service dog, he continues to provide an invaluable testament to being true to oneself. - YouTube www.youtube.com The list of skills that service dogs can have is astounding. Not all dogs will acquire all of these skills, but some of the basics are:Carrying things for their ownerGuiding their owner safelyWaking their ownerWaking their handler and/or helping them upInterrupting dissociating or freezingFind their owner if lostAlerting bystanders, calling for help, or even using a dog-friendly phone to contact emergency services!And so many more A Belgian MalinoisPhoto credit: CanvaThe fact that Ryker has had any training at all makes him exceptionally well-suited to civilian life. As a family house-dog, Ryker won't need any of the skills above, but his abundance of love and playfulness will serve him incredibly well with his forever family. And his viral bloopers continue to remind us that sometimes, the most meaningful gifts a dog can offer are laughter, presence, and unconditional love. In that sense, Ryker found exactly the life he was meant to live.This article originally appeared five years ago. It has been updated.

"Can I buy you a drink?" is a loaded question. It could be an innocent request from someone who's interested in having a cordial conversation. Other times, saying "yes" means you may have to fend off someone who feels entitled to spend the rest of the night with you.In the worst-case scenario, someone is trying to take advantage of you or has a roofie in their pocket. It can extremely difficult for women, especially when under pressure to respond quickly, to suss out which is which.Feminist blogger Jennifer Dziura found a fool-proof way to stay safe while understanding someone's intentions. It's not a snarky put-down or anything that will embarrass a man who approaches, but she says it instantly reveals their true intentions with incredible accuracy.Dziura is a New York-based writer, educational humorist, educator and the founder of Get Bullish. She says if a man asks if he can buy you a drink, to ask for a non-alcoholic beverage or food. If they're sincerely interested in spending some time getting to know you, they won't mind buying something booze-free like a soda or a bowl of popcorn. But if they intend to lower your defenses, they'll throw a mild tantrum after you refuse the booze. Her thoughts on the "Can I buy you a drink?" conundrum made their way to Tumblr, where they went massively viral. Jennifer Dzuria's Tumblr post on alcohol. via Tumblr Notice it's not about the money. She's not asking men to buy her a burger and fries for $20, but something comparable to a drink, just without the alcohol.She went on, recounting a few experiences of her own showing real-life examples of the technique in action. Jennifer Dzuria's Tumblr post on alcohol. via Tumblr The posts caught the attention of a bartender who knows there are many men out there whose sole intention is to get someone drunk to take advantage. The bartender replied in the comments:"Most of the time, when someone you don't know is buying you a drink, they're NOT doing it out of a sense of cordiality," the bartender wrote. "They're buying you a drink for the sole purpose of making you let your guard down." That's why Dziura's advice is so important, it separates the men who just want to get you drunk from those who want to get to know you. It'll also save you a lot of time from speaking with someone you don't want to in the first place.The bartender shared a few tips on how to be safe and social when someone asks to buy you a drink."From the other side of the bar, I see this crap all the time. Seriously. I work at a high-density bar, and let me tell you, I have anywhere from 10-20 guys every night come up and tell me to, 'serve her a stronger drink, I'm trying to get lucky tonight, know what I mean?' usually accompanied with a wink and a gesture at a girl who, in my experience, is going to go from mildly buzzed to definitively hammered if I keep serving her. Now, I like to think I'm a responsible bartender, so I usually tell guys like that to piss off, and, if I can, try to tell the girl's more sober friends that they need to keep an eye on her. Rule number one: Never accept a drink unless you saw a bartender pour it. Photo by Michael Discenza on Unsplash The bartender expanded with a few safety rules he or she always encourages women, or anyone, to follow when out at a bar or club:"1. ALWAYS GO TO THE BAR TO GET YOUR OWN DRINK, DO NOT LET STRANGERS CARRY YOUR DRINKS. This is an opportune time for dropping something into your cocktail, and you're none the wiser."2.IF YOU ORDER SOMETHING NON-ALCOHOLIC, I promise you, the bartender doesn't give two shits that you're not drinking cocktails with your friends, and often, totally understands that you don't want to let your guard down around strangers. Usually, you can just tell the bartender that you'd like something light, and that's a big clue to us that you're uncomfortable with whomever you're standing next to. Again, we see this all the time.Finally, they recommended a few light drinks for anyone who might feel uncomfortable not drinking alcohol, but that doesn't want to get drunk, including:X-rated (vodka liqueur) + SpriteMelon liquor + soda waterCoffee liquor + soda waterFor anyone who likes the taste, light beers and seltzers (High Noon, White Claw) are extremely light and low-alcohol.If you do accept a drink from someone at a bar and you want to talk, there's no need to feel obligated to spend the rest of the night with them. Jaqueline Whitmore, founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach, says to be polite you only have to "Engage in some friendly chit-chat, but you are not obligated to do more than that." But what if you don't want to have a drink with the guy? "Say thank you, but you are trying to cut back, have to drive or you don't accept drinks from strangers," Whitmore says. - YouTube www.youtube.com What if they've already sent the drink over? "Give the drink to the bartender and tell him or her to enjoy it," Whitmore says.Have fun. Stay safe, and make sure to bring a great wing-man or wing-woman with you.This article originally appeared six years ago. It has been updated.

It's amazing to consider just how quickly the world changed in early 2020. One day, we were all just casually going along, living our lives. And then the next day, everything was different. If you were to have told someone in February of 2020 that the entire country would soon go on some form of lockdown, nearly everyone would be wearing a mask, and half a million people were going to die due to a virus, no one would have believed you.Yet, it happened. And in addition to changing the world as we know it, it also sparked a sharp political and cultural divide here in the United States.Leah Holland got one of the most poorly-timed tattoos everPPE masks were the last thing on Leah Holland of Georgetown, Kentucky's, mind on March 4, 2020, when she got a tattoo inspired by the words of a close friend."We were just talking about things we admire about each other and he said, 'You courageously and radically refuse to wear a mask,' like meaning that I'm undeniably myself. I thought that was a really poetic way of saying that," Holland told Fox 13.So, she had "courageously & radically refuse to wear a mask" tattooed on her left forearm.It's a beautiful sentiment about Leah's dedication to being her true self. It's also a reminder for Holland to remain true to herself throughout her life.However, the tattoo would take on a very different meaning just two days later, when the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Kentucky. Almost immediately, everyone in the country was advised to wear masks whenever they left the house. Some refused, citing their own personal freedom to do with their body as they wish. Holland had, completely inadvertently, taken sides in a massive culture war with some simple black ink on her forearm. - YouTube www.youtube.com "It basically looked like I'm totally, you know, anti-mask or whatever, which is not the case," said Holland.Now, she was embarrassed to be seen with the tattoo for fear she'd be associated with the anti-maskers who either deny the existence of the virus or refuse to wear a mask to protect others. Either way, it's a bad look.So Leah started wearing long-sleeve shirts and cardigan sweaters whenever in public to cover up the tattoo.TikTok users asked each other to share their 'dumbest tattoo' @wakaflockafloccar #stitch with @hannanicbic I could NOT have had worse timing. #fyp #foryoupage #tattoo #worsttattoo #winner P.S. I’m not anti-mask I promise ??‍♀️ In her video response, she talks about how her tattoo was about "not pretending to be something you're not," but then revealed it to show how — in an incredibly ironic twist — it made her out to be someone she isn't. "I just kind of wanted people to laugh with me because I think it's funny now, too," said Holland. At least the tatoo was able to spark a little levity in some dark times. Plenty of people on TikTok laughed along with her with one user suggesting she update the tattoo with the phrase: "Hindsight is 2020." Another playfully accused her of "jinxing" the world and causing the virus outbreak. Another suggested adding an asterisk and "except during COVID" to the tattoo.Some commenters tried to make her feel better about her poorly-timed body art. "Maybe tattoo a pair of theatre masks (one smiling, the other crying) on top, but for now, wear a hoodie," one user wrote. "Don't worry, in 15 years it will have its original meaning again!" another added. "I was dying laughing. I'm like, I'm glad there are people that find this as funny as I think it is," said Holland."It will be a funny story to tell years from now," she said. "I don't think it will ever not be a funny story." A group of friends chatting wearing masks.via Canva/Photos As the pandemic abated, Holland still had to explain her tattoo. The risks associated with COVID have decreased, but a fierce debate still raged over personal freedom versus responsibility to the greater good. Should you wear a mask in public when you're sick? Should you ever be required to wear a mask? How do you balance individual rights with our need to live in a cooperative society? Most won't soon forget the COVID-19 era in America, and there's no doubt that many will still feel passionate about those who refused to wear masks. Just don't lump Holland in with that group because of a poorly timed, but quite beautiful, sentiment. She'd never wear a mask, unless it were to protect herself and others from a deadly virus. This article originally appeared four years ago.

Each year that I teach the book "1984," I turn my classroom into a totalitarian regime under the guise of the "common good." I run a simulation in which I become a dictator. I tell my students that in order to battle "Senioritis," the teachers and admin have adapted an evidence-based strategy, a strategy that has "been implemented in many schools throughout the country and has had immense success." I hang posters with motivational quotes and falsified statistics, and provide a false narrative for the problem that is "Senioritis.""1984" is a book by George Orwell, written in 1949, about a fictional future where a totalitarian regime watches over everyone, rewrites history, and controls what people think. The book's protagonist, Winston Smith, quietly rebels against the regime in an attempt to regain hope, freedom, and truth. It has become essential reading for students worldwide as a blueprint for recognizing the tactics used by authoritarians. 1984 GIF Giphy I tell the students that in order to help them succeed, I must implement strict classroom rules. They must raise their hand before doing anything at all, even when asking another student for a pencil. They lose points each time they don't behave as expected. They gain points by reporting other students. If someone breaks the rule and I don't see it, it's the responsibility of the other students to let me know. Those students earn bonus points. I tell students that in order for this plan to work they must "trust the process and not question their teachers." This becomes a school-wide effort. The other teachers and admin join in. Senioritis is dangerous for everyone.Photo by Diana Leygerman used with permission I've done this experiment numerous times, and each year I have similar results. This year, however, was different.This year, a handful of students did fall in line as always. The majority of students, however, rebelled.By day two of the simulation, the students were contacting members of administration, writing letters, and creating protest posters. They were organizing against me and against the admin. They were stomping the hallways, refusing to do as they were told.The president of the Student Government Association, whom I don't even teach, wrote an email demanding an end to this "program." He wrote that this program is "simply fascism at its worst. Statements such as these are the base of a dictatorship rule, this school, as well as this country cannot and will not fall prey to these totalitarian behaviors."I did everything in my power to fight their rebellion. If you see something, say something.Photo by Diana Leygerman used with permission I "bribed" the president of the SGA. I "forced" him to publicly "resign." And, yet, the students did not back down. They fought even harder. They were more vigilant. They became more organized. They found a new leader. They were more than ready to fight. They knew they would win in numbers.I ended the experiment two days earlier than I had planned because their rebellion was so strong and overwhelming. For the first time since I've done this experiment, the students "won."What I learned is this: Teenagers will be the ones to save us. Young person reading George Orwell's '1984'Canva Photos Just like Emma Gonzalez, the teen activist from Marjory Stoneman Douglas, my students did not back down nor conform. They fought for their rights. They won.Adults can learn a lot from the teens of this generation. Adults are complacent, jaded, and disparaged. Teenagers are ignited, spirited, and take no prisoners. Do not squander their fight. They really are our future. Do not call them entitled. That entitlement is their drive and their passion. Do not get in their way. They will crush you.Foster their rebellion. They are our best allies.This story originally appeared on Medium and is reprinted here with permission. It was originally published seven years ago.

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