When you have a disability, some things are more challenging. In this same mindset, when performers are told to limit their movements or to restrict themselves in some way, they could become frustrated. But to Dr. Telory Arendell, associate professor in the department of theatre and dance at Missouri State, she considers it freeing to not be confined by the norms and … [Read more...]
Picture yourself in a national park like Denali, the Everglades or Yellowstone. What comes to mind? Dr. Judith Meyer, a historical geographer at Missouri State University, wants to know how you experience that landscape and why. She has long been fascinated with Yellowstone, where she served as a tour guide for several summers. One of her research interests is what she calls … [Read more...]
When #fitspo became a trend, it was intended to be a motivator to stick to a workout routine or eat a healthy diet. The images associated with the hashtag were also deemed body positive since they showed women (and men) who were not just thin, but also muscular. “My own hypothesis is the media, including social media, is creating increased pressure for women to not only be thin … [Read more...]
“Normal” is a loaded term. It suggests that one thing is better than another. In newborn babies, what is normal? And what does it mean for a child’s development if he is different from that standard at birth? Do parents and pediatricians need to fret about it? Dr. D. Wayne Mitchell studies these differences. Using data he and a team of scientists collected, … [Read more...]
The Children’s Bureau’s most recent child abuse statistics reveal that 7.2 million children were reported as abused in 2015. This number had unfortunately grown from the previous report by more than half a million children. Dr. Paul Durham is a distinguished professor of biology at Missouri State University and the director for the Center for Biomedical and Life Sciences at the … [Read more...]