Challenging Invisibility

This book explores the invisibility and invalidation of bisexuality from the past to the present and is unique in extending the discussion to focus on contemporary and emerging identities. Nikki Hayfield draws on research from psychology and the social sciences to offer a detailed and in-depth exploration of the invisibility and invalidation of bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality. The book discusses how early sexologists’ understood gender and sexuality within a binary model and how this provided the underpinnings of bisexual invisibility. The existing research on biphobia and bisexual marginalisation is synthesised to explore how bisexuality has often been invisible or invalidated. Hayfield then evidences clear examples of the invisibility and invalidation of bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality within education, employment, mainstream mass media, and the wider culture. Throughout the book there is consideration of the impact that this invisibility and invalidation has on people’s sense of identity and on their health and wellbeing. It concludes with a discussion of how bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality have become somewhat more visible than in the past and the potential that visibility holds for recognition and representation. This is fascinating reading for students and academics interested in in bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexual spectrum identities and for those who have a personal interest in bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality.

African migrants have become increasingly demonised in public debate and political rhetoric. There is much speculation about the incentives and trajectories of Africans on the move, and often these speculations are implicitly or overtly geared towards discouraging and policing their movements. What is rarely understood or scrutinised however, are the intricate ways in which African migrants are marginalised and excluded from public discourse; not only in Europe but in migrant-receiving contexts across the globe. Invisibility in African Displacements offers a series of case studies that explore these dynamics. What tends to be either ignored or demonised in public debates on African migration are the deliberate strategies of avoidance or assimilation that migrants make use of to gain access to the destinations or opportunities they seek, or to remain below the radar of restrictive governance regimes. This books offers fine-grained analysis of the ways in which African migrants negotiate structural and strategic invisibilities, adding innovative approaches to our understanding of both migrant vulnerabilities and resilience.

"Based on in-depth ethnographic research in formal and informal educational spaces, The Politics of Asian American Invisibility, argues that Hmong American youth are rendered invisible by dominant racial discourses and current educational policies and practices. We illustrate the way Hmong American students are erased by the Black and White racial paradigm and the Asian American panethnic category that perpetuates the model minority stereotype. Furthermore, we argue that current educational policies around English learners marginalize Hmong youth. Far from being passive or silent victims, Hmong American communities are actively resisting their invisibility through various forms of educational advocacy and through community-based education. The Politics of Asian American Invisibility highlights one group's struggle for educational justice"--

Over fifty-five years of independence, African countries continue to suffer from the precolonial challenges and confusions. Notably, the African dream has been abandoned, and the pursuits of which have been kidnapped by a gang of destiny robbers hopping about as messiahs without direct appointment by the African people. These groups of opportunistic and materially possessed misguiders claiming to be leaders of Africa have defiled all odds and continue to enjoy the top cream at the expense of starving population. Yet the African people are squarely responsible for every misfortune they are suffering from. For so many years, Africans have been offered opportunities to elect leadership based on quality and the content of their brains, but a majority of them prefer to go for other qualities which are completely unjustifiable and misguided. A factor that has contributed to the mass breeding of ineffective and insensible cadre of misleaders the continent continues to suffer from. The African continent is featured as a wealthy continent with numerous natural resources. The irony remains that the resources from the bellies of Africa are not utilized for the benefit of the African people, despite benefiting many other continents outside Africa. Africans are implored in this book to wake up and reposition themselves in the rightful places before the world. The writer utilizes rare evidences within the African context to narrate the story of the unfortunate perpetual underdevelopment of the African continent, which for the rest of the time has been surviving at the mercies of generosity of other tax payers in most of her sustenance, but even so, management of the generously acquired support is lacking with several accounts of theft and looting of public resources reported every day in the continent. Life gets harder by the day and for many years, Africans have been moving away into other civilizations to seek “greener pastures” which seem not to be greener anymore. The rest of the world, just like Africa are beginning to feel the pinch of economic hardships and service provision to citizens is taken into focus. Meanwhile, the continued elopement scheme of the African masses into other continents is depriving her of her only vital resource it needs to jump start her journey to economic freedom and power. It is only through erection of effective and astute leadership that the Africa dreams will be secured and realized.

A must-read comic book about SuperAvni, a young superhero, who handles the challenge of cyber bullying in this story. If you have not read it yet, you are missing something! SuperAvni is a next-gen superhero who combines empathy and technology to fight modern-day challenges. She is a social impact influencer and a rebel that youth can relate to. SuperAvni's alter ego, Maya, is just like any other college-going youth. She sees around her the youth's usual challenges, ranging from bullying and career anxiety to broader issues such as environment and gender inequality. But she summons her inner superhero, SuperAvni, to overcome these roadblocks. The pandemic has changed the world in more ways than we can imagine. While the cyber world has come to the rescue of many, its challenges and complexities have also magnified. This is resulting in a severe impact on our mental health. This is where SuperAvni shows up with her support! She is an empathetic superhero who helps the youth in addressing the complex issues of the cyber world one at a time. SuperAvni aims to spread awareness about the myriad safety and well-being issues prevalent in the cyber world while ensuring that no individual is alone in this journey. SuperAvni might be a superhero, but just like each one of us, she has a vulnerable aspect to her. Every time she uses next-gen empathy to connect with someone and feel their emotions, she is left drained. Her energy level falls drastically, and there is just one way she can regain her strength…food and music! About the Authors: Saurabh Agarwal: Saurabh is a Harvard and IIT educated life skills educator and has conducted hundreds of experiential learning workshops with children and youth. Abhishek Singh: A global storyteller and an ex-management consultant with over a decade of experience across health, communications, media, and social sectors. Illustrations: Charbak Dipta

A comprehensive collection on the topic of whiteness from writers in the field of mental health and activism. Whiteness is a pervasive ideology that is rarely overtly identified or examined, despite its profound effects on race relationships. Being intentional about naming, deconstructing, and dismantling whiteness is a precursor to responding effectively to the racial reckoning of our society and improving race relationships, addressing systemic bias, and moving towards the creation of a more racially just world. In this collection of essays, scholars from a variety of backgrounds and trainings explore how the longstanding centering of whiteness in all aspects of society, including clinical therapy spaces, has led to widespread racial injustice. Contributors include: David Trimble, Lane Arye, Jodie Kliman, Ken Epstein, Toby Bobes, Cynthia Chestnut, Ovita F. Williams, Gene E. Cash Jr., Carlin Quinn, Christiana Ibilola Awosan, Niki Berkowitz, Jen Leland, Mary Pender Greene, Hinda Winawer, Bonnie Berman Cushing, Michael Boucher, Robin Schlenger, Alana Tappin, Timothy Baima, Jeffery Mangram, Liang-Ying Chou, Irene In Hee Sung, Ana Hernandez, Robin Nuzum, Keith A. Alford, Hugo Kamya, and Cristina Combs.

This Companion addresses the contemporary transformation of critical and cultural theory, with special emphasis on the way debates in the field have changed in recent decades. Features original essays from an international team of cultural theorists which offer fresh and compelling perspectives and sketch out exciting new areas of theoretical inquiry Thoughtfully organized into two sections – lineages and problematics – that facilitate its use both by students new to the field and advanced scholars and researchers Explains key schools and movements clearly and succinctly, situating them in relation to broader developments in culture, society, and politics Tackles issues that have shaped and energized the field since the Second World War, with discussion of familiar and under-theorized topics related to living and laboring, being and knowing, and agency and belonging