C. C. Harper - Author

  So back to the matter at hand.  Cultural norms play a crucial role in shaping the perception of what is considered "trashy." The label is often applied inconsistently, reflecting societal values that evolve over time and differ across regions, classes, and subcultures. As I have stated before, many times, what is deemed inappropriate or vulgar in one society may be perfectly acceptable or even aspirational in another. For instance, a good example of how what is deemed inappropriate or vulgar in one society may be acceptable or even aspirational in another is the perception of female body modification and beauty standards. In Brazil, for instance, undergoing plastic surgery, particularly procedures like butt lifts or breast augmentation, is often seen as a status symbol, associated with beauty and self-care. In contrast, in France, excessive cosmetic surgery is often frowned upon and associated with artificiality or insecurity. A woman who flaunts surgically enhanced feature...

  Although I’m a little bit late on my postings, I haven’t forgotten the topic I was addressing, which was: What makes a woman "trashy"? – And that I started exploring in my previous article " The Making of a TrashyWoman – A Cultural and Social Exploration. " So moving forward. The concept of a "trashy" woman has deep historical roots, often tied to moral, social, and economic anxieties. Throughout history, women who defied societal norms have been labeled in ways meant to discredit and control them. The idea of "respectability" has long been used to differentiate between women who were deemed acceptable and those who were seen as socially undesirable. This distinction between the two was often drawn along class lines, with working-class women being more likely to be considered "trashy" simply for their lack of access to the refinement and etiquette associated with a higher social standing. Moral Panics and the Policing of Wome...

The other day I was researching some concepts to incorporate in a character of mine, and one of them was the concept of "trashy” women.  What makes people label a woman as “trashy”, or vulgar. Is it the looks? Is it the social background? Is it the kind of language they use? Or is it a combination of all these?  One of the websites I came across was "Ask Men" or something like that, which had a forum where they posed the question, and there were these users - whom I assume were men - that provided several fascinating answers. These answers varied from "Women who wear gym clothes at the church", to "Women who cuss", to "women who smoke during pregnancy" or "Women who don't supervise the education of their children."  However, no matter how fascinating and amusing the answers were, they lacked consistency and coherency. My thoughts were that the fact that the answers I found were so varied—and sometimes contradictory—suggests tha...

The other day I was thinking to myself “When did I start writing? Was it before or after I developed my extreme fondness for reading?” I’m not really sure, but my perception tells me they manifested at about the same time. Of course as a child I read quite frequently and even with my friends we were always playing and telling stories to each other. Yet, that was not writing.  The first time I remember writing a story was when I was “talking”, with a friend of mine, through notes we used to put in each other’s mailbox. They were not exactly letters, they were more like the 80’s version of WhatsApp messages, but in handwriting, some were a lot more extensive and there was no shortening or contraction of words, which - by the way - I find it to be one of the most vile and hideous manner of stabbing a language in its written form.  Anyway, our storytelling game started with a dream, or a nightmare depending on the perspective. Though I think it wasn’t really a nightmare, it was on...

    Yesterday, on Instagram I came across a post - on one of my fellow authors’ account - about this trend of criticizing adults for reading YA books. I have to admit that I was completely oblivious to it, but apparently it has sparked a fair amount of debate in recent years. Personally I found it such an odd behavior that I nearly dismissed it. But after replying “I don’t think there’s much to understand” to Tanya, I started thinking that I actually might be wrong, and there is something here that requires to be studied, analyzed and understood.   I didn’t have much time to think about it thoroughly, with all the variables and elements that might be involved, but I firmly believe that criticizing someone's reading choices is counterproductive. In my opinion reading, in any form, is a valuable activity, and people should do it more often. So, I decided to get it out of my system in an exploratory manner, approaching as many hypotheses as I could think of and this is ...

  As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, millions of us engage in a time-honored ritual: setting New Year resolutions. From promises to eat healthier, exercise more, or finally learn that second language, we embark on this journey of self-improvement with high hopes and determination. Yet, as the weeks roll by, these resolutions often dissolve into the chaos of daily life. By February, the gyms start to empty, journals gather dust, and the motivation that seemed so abundant fades into a familiar routine. Why is this so common? And more importantly, is there a better way to approach self-growth and fulfillment? The answer lies in embracing a philosophy that has stood the test of time: Carpe diem! The problem with New Year Resolutions is that the concept is deeply flawed. It implies that meaningful changes must be tied to a calendar date—that January 1st holds some sort of magical power to reset our habits and mindset. Take a habit; for example, it takes at least 60 days to ...

 Remember when I said my mind felt like a chaotic storm filled with worry and sadness? Well, it still is! But rather than stay stuck in this creative slump, I decided to dive into updating my Erandelle Guidebook. Just a casual 40 new pages, no big deal. On top of that, I created a guide for the Esir’s constructed language and its dialects for the Kril and Selies. Easy, right? If you’re not up to speed, Erandelle is my fictional world that I’ve been shaping for a quite a while, and is connected to a novel that’s still giving me the runaround. I promise I’ll finish it eventually; I have until I’m 132! If you’re curious, my first post on Medium shares the details of the early draft . But back to the guide. I desperately needed something to keep my creativity flowing, so I made a basic outline of the cultures and customs of my fictional characters. Feeling as creatively stuck as I was, I thought tackling something simpler might help. To my surprise, this mechanical approach didn’t just...