Articles written by Stephanie Joynes

What is Helium

About me - Stephanie Joynes

I'm a new mom, and that's pretty much my identity right now.

Prior to motherhood, I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I graduated from high school, I left Ohio and started studying English and Anthropology at Syracuse University with every intention of

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Society & Lifestyle > Gender Issues Is equality something men and women really want?: 1 of 27
Equality is based on the idea of having the opportunity to pursue the life you want whether you are a man or a woman. Yes, both men and women want equality.In traditional cultures there were men's gender roles and women's gender roles based on the logic that women were giving birth and, therefore, needed to stay closer to hom... More..
Society & Lifestyle > North American Culture Native mascots: Right or wrong?: 1 of 15
The issue of Native mascots has been huge in American Indian communities for decades. Some people will say it is political correctness run amok. I say these people have probably never had a single conversation with a Native person.I've worked with Native communities for several years, and while there are serious issues facing... More..
Hobbies & Games > Kids Games & Toys Are Bratz dolls appropriate for young girls?: 3 of 44
Every generation has their toy icons, from Charlie McCarthy to Cabbage Patch Kids to Barbie dolls. Then the Bratz dolls came along and this controversy of the representation of women is again in the limelight. Between Barbie, Bratz and other dolls with their impossibly tiny waists, large breasts, flashy clothing options and b... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Pregnancy Common myths about pregnancy: 1 of 12
My daughter turned one year old a few weeks ago, but my memory is still pretty clear from my pregnancy days. There are so many myths and marketing ploys about how your pregnancy is supposed to be, that we have gone further and further from what pregnancy is really like.Here's the refresher course:Myth 1: You will look as fabu... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Society & Lifestyle (Other) Creativity is not a dying art: 1 of 10
Creativity is not a dying art, but it is struggling to show itself. We are lucky to live in an age where we can be creative with our graphic design on computers, our paintbrushes on canvas, and our words on the page. We take our freedom of speech for granted, and all of the design that makes our lives easier around us. Now we... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Family Law There should be restrictions on the availability of abortion, except when the mother's life is at stake: 6 of 59
No one is ever Pro-Abortion. No one ever says, "Yes, everyone should have an abortion. It's a great idea!" This is a difficult issue with serious emotions involved. But when it comes to providing the choice of an abortion, it is important that we provide that option to American women.Prior to the decision of Roe vs. Wade, the... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Babies (Other) Unexpected challenges of first-time parenting: 3 of 28
There are so many things I wish people had told me about the first year of parenting. Sure, they made jokes about the sleep deprivation, losing the baby weight, and the death of my sex life. But now my baby is about to turn one year old in exactly three weeks, and I'm realizing that there are a lot of secrets behind the Baby ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Baby Accessories Outfitting your baby from head to toe: 2 of 13
Outfitting a baby can be an overwhelming experience, and planning a baby registry while standing in the store with a scanner in hand can be a daunting moment for any pregnant woman. What kind of baby clothing will you need? What size? Do you need those cute little shoes? It's easy to obsess.When filling your new baby's closet... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: Positive birth stories: 6 of 35
It was my expectation to go through hours upon hours of labor and excruciating pain. I had gone to the childbirth classes, practiced my breathing and fully expected to have a natural childbirth. Well, I didn't get what I expected and I'm actually pretty grateful for it.The night before my water broke, I had an overwhelming cr... More..
Arts & Humanities > Museums & Galleries (Other) Museum etiquette: How to behave when visiting an art museum: 3 of 16
We call it "edu-tainment" in the museum field; a cross between education and entertainment. But museums are not amusement parks, nor are they cold boring places either. They are intended to give visitors an experience they will take with them for the rest of their lives. After working at the Smithsonian Institution for severa... More..