The Tender Archives: 012
“A piece inspired by cell phone repair shop in my neighborhood called “U BREAK I FIX,”. It strikes me as a metaphor for something deeper, like the unpolished art of mental health. The truth is, it’s on me to clear out the debris of old traumas—the damage from storms I didn’t even brew. You break, I fix.”
Can You See What I See?
Dehara explores the deeply personal ways we experience love, guilt, and anxiety, highlighting both our unique differences and our shared need for community.
From Simran to Sweety
Siona shares her journey towards accepting her lesbian identity as an Indian American and how Bollywood shaped their understanding of love.
Young, Broke, and Overlooked: Why being the future means getting ignored in the present
“I have been on my own for almost 4 years now, paying bills, rent, making sure my car is gassed and I have something to eat at the end of the day. This constant struggle is overlooked and so is the majority of my generation especially in the workplace.”
Real Life Handmaid's Tale: The Not-So-Fictional Life Of Women
Carolina Dionísio establishes parallels between fiction and real-life to prove that “The Handmaid’s Tale” is not an exaggeration, and that the world is growing more and more dystopian and abusive towards women.
A Little Revenge Can’t Hurt, Right?
Kennedy Smith takes a journey through some acts of revenge that she regrets (and some that she doesn’t), bringing in a bit of new scientific research that claims revenge sets off the same pleasure that addiction does.
Aestheticism in Media: The Toxic Romanticization Of Beauty Over Morals
Carolina Dionísio discusses Aestheticism in the media, the toxic romanticization of beauty over morals, the racist beauty standards that make it "easy" to brush over the abuse and help romanticize these villains, and how bad all this is for real-life victims.
Where Have All the Feminists Gone?
“Embracing feminism in its whole, not solely western feminism rooted in racism and classism, alleviates the issues of infighting and severance while shifting our focus to the fighting for our basic human rights. Feminism, at its core, is an ever-evolving movement focused on dismantling systems of oppression.”
The Exotic Subject
Inspired by thinkers like Clarice Lispector, Hélène Cixous, Susan Sontag and Fernanda Young, Thais Diniz explores how femininity and trauma become aesthetics under the algorithm.
Beaten: An Exploration of Kink in Popular Media
Daniel G. critiques the shallow and sensationalized portrayal of BDSM and deviant sexuality in mainstream media, calling for more authenticity, nuance, and respect for the subcultures it attempts to depict.
My Mid-Twenties Are Ghetto: A Testimony in Progress
A raw, reflective, and darkly funny meditation on what it means to hold faith, Black womanhood, and burnout in the same body by Leeyan Redwood.
Situationships and Emotional Bankruptcy
Exploring the complexities of intimacy, emotional detachment, and the cultural impact of hyper-sexuality in modern relationships.
Another Kind of Masculinity
Oscar Fitzgerald unpacks a deeply personal journey with gender through the lens of fashion, pop culture, and queer identity.
American Grown Filipino: Comfort Food Keeping Memories
Summer Smith explores how classic Filipino dishes like lumpia, balut, and sinigang connect them to family, culture, and key moments in their life.
Through Daria: Exploring Feminism, Race, and Growth
Author Calypso Morgan dives into the cultural legacy of “Daria,” unpacking its sharp commentary on adolescence, identity, and social norms. Blending personal insight with critical analysis, Morgan shows how the series remains both relevant and quietly radical decades after its original run.
A Farewell to Joann Fabrics
In this ode to Joann Fabrics, Kennedy Smith reflects on the role it played in her creative journey - from childhood sewing projects to solo Pinterest-fueled runs. As the store shuts down for good, she captures the quiet heartbreak of losing a space that felt like a safe haven for crafters and offline creativity.
I’m Not Lonely, I Just Miss My Friends
Cristina Afonso’s piece gently explores the feelings of nostalgia and change that come with moving away from home. Through small, familiar moments—like late-night chats in a McDonald’s parking lot—she reflects on how leaving can shape who we become.
Online Dating Isn’t Fun Anymore
Kennedy Smith unpacks the rising disillusionment with dating apps among Millennials and Gen Z. Drawing from personal experience, survey data, and expert commentary, she explores the emotional toll of digital dating, the erosion of real-life social spaces, and the loneliness exacerbated by a lack of accessible Third Places.
Here to be Queer
A tender meditation on queerness, solitude, and self-love by Stacia Laroche.
Autism Acceptance
In their deeply personal and powerfully reflective essay, Summer Smith explores their journey of self-diagnosing as autistic, recounting formative experiences of social isolation, sensory sensitivity, and the exhausting need to mask in neurotypical spaces.