Historically, one’s clothing was determined not just by gender, but also by one’s class. Take the hijab. Hijab as a historically mandatory piece of clothing for Muslim women is a misconception; the scriptural evidence is shaky at best, and women from cultures that adopted Islam weren’t forced to wear the hijab. In fact, not even all Muslim women from the Middle East wore hijabs. Historically, it was worn by wealthy women and only when they went outside (if ever); women not endowed with as much wealth wore more practical clothing. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
