A Guide to How Gender-Neutral Language Is Developing Around the World by the Washington Post, Adapted by Newsela Staff on 01.27.20 Word Count 1,119 Level 1040L

A guide to how gender-neutral language is developing around the world By The Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 01.27.20 Word Count 1,119 Level 1040L

In English, "they" is being used more often to refer to a single person without assigning that person a gender. Illustration: Newsela staff

What pronoun do you use to identify yourself? He? She? They? Something completely different?

It's a question more people are asking as the world grows more accepting of different gender and sexual identities. Not everyone identifies as masculine or feminine. Some people are non-binary, meaning their gender identity falls on a spectrum. Nouns in some languages, like Chinese and Persian, don't have a gender or already have a gender-neutral form. But other languages possess grammar based on masculine or feminine forms.

So how do you talk about being non-binary in gendered languages? In many ways, in fact.

In recent years, LGBTQ communities around the world have championed more inclusive language. LGBTQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer. Activists and linguists have created entirely new terms and altered already existing words and grammar constructions. For some people, it can be hard, scary or simply tiresome to keep explaining why more inclusive

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. language is needed. It can also be dangerous. In the United States, according to the FBI, hate crimes against the LGBTQ community have been rising for the last three years.

Here's a look at some possible changes in seven languages:

1. English: 'They' As Singular And Gender-neutral

English grammar has masculine and feminine singular pronouns, but other than that, nouns don't distinguish between genders.

In 2019, the Merriam-Webster dictionary added a new definition for "they." It became the pronoun to use for a "single person whose gender identity is non-binary."

Critics of the change have argued that "they" as both singular and plural can be confusing and muddy a sentence's structure. Shakespeare and Jane Austen, among many other famed English writers, didn't think so and used "they" and "their" for singular pronouns. This was standard in English until 19th-century grammarians shifted course and imposed "he" on the entire language.

2. Spanish: Alternative Inclusive Case Endings Such As 'x' Or '@' And 'e'

Spanish has feminine and masculine cases added to all nouns. Even the word for "the" differs if the noun is male (el) or female (la). Nonetheless, some Spanish speakers say it doesn't have to be that way.

In the U.S., it's now common to use "x" or "@" to create a gender-neutral noun. That's why you may have seen "latinx" or "latin@" instead of Latino (male) and Latina (female). Some Spanish speakers are angry about this form. They see it as a term imposed on them by American English speakers rather than something that comes from within their culture and language.

Teens in Argentina are leading the charge to end gender in their language. They are replacing the masculine "o" or the feminine "a" with the gender-neutral "e" in some words in hopes of changing their deeply-gendered culture.

The movement made headlines in Argentina last year. A young activist, Natalia Mira, used the gender-inclusive language during an interview and was attacked by the male journalist interviewing her.

3. Arabic: The Dual As Neutral And Gender-bending The Binary

Arabic is another gendered language. Each verb, noun and adjective is always assigned either a masculine or feminine form. The masculine form is used in plurals, even if it's just one male in an otherwise female group.

Modern standard Arabic has a plural option for nouns and verbs that doesn't refer to a specific gender. Some people, therefore, use the dual of they and you — "huma" and "intuma" — to be gender-neutral.

Others use masculine and feminine pronouns interchangeably, or a speaker chooses to use the feminine form. The aim is to undercut the language's male dominance. Arabic has many dialects, so different communities have developed their own codes. In some Tunisian dialects, for example, it's common to use the feminine pronoun for everyone.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. While queer and feminist communities in the Middle East are still fighting to gain acceptance, there is still no agreement on how to define words like gay, bisexual and transgender in Arabic. Some people use a transliteration of the English words in LGBTQ, while others prefer the phrase "mujtama'a al meem," or the meem community for short.

Many are taking their language from within Arabic culture. For example, they are drawing from poetry depicting same-sex relations in Medieval times.

4. Hebrew: New Gender-neutral Endings For Verbs And Nouns

Hebrew also assigns a gender to verbs, nouns and adjectives based on the noun. Activists use the feminine plural. Others will sometimes use the masculine form and sometimes feminine for the same person.

Among Hebrew speakers, there are also now several ways to express a verb or noun in gender- neutral ways. The Nonbinary Hebrew Project, for example, has built a third gender in Hebrew. It draws, in part, on non-binary and queer references in Jewish texts like the Talmud and Torah. As the group argues, the male rabbis writing in the third century recognized several gender categories. Modern-day Hebrew speakers surely can, too.

In Israel, another option puts both the masculine and feminine endings on nouns and verbs so all are included.

The Academy of the Hebrew Language, which rules on new Hebrew words, has declined to consider them.

5. German: Prioritizing Gender-neutral Terms

German's complicated grammar includes masculine, feminine and neutral genders. The neutral gender usually didn't apply to people, but that's changing.

In January 2019, Hanover became the first German city to require that all official communication use gender-neutral nouns. The city no longer uses the words for a male voter (wähler) and a female voter (wählerin), for example. Instead, it uses words that don't indicate one gender or another, like voting person (wählende).

In 2014, the federal justice ministry stated that government paperwork must be gender-neutral.

As with other countries, the Association for German Language has rejected these other forms.

6. French: Asterisks To Make Gender-neutral Nouns

French also assigns a gender of masculine or feminine to all nouns; masculine pronouns are used for a group of people unless the group is made up entirely of females.

However, a group of mainly French feminists is pushing against these rules. They say that using masculine pronouns keeps women in gendered professional roles and relationships.

They use asterisks to combine case endings and create a more inclusive gender-neutral plural.

However, in 2017, France's government banned the use of inclusive, gender-neutral language in official documents.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 7. Swedish: 'Hen' As Singular And Gender-neutral

In 2015, Sweden added the word "hen" as a gender-neutral alternative to the masculine pronoun "han" and the feminine "hon."

At the time, hardly anyone in Sweden knew what it was. LGBT groups promoted it as a way to raise awareness. But support also came from another area as well. Nurseries, kindergartens and preschools argued that the pronoun allows children to grow up without gender biases.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Which two sentences from the article include CENTRAL ideas of the article?

1. Nouns in some languages, like Chinese and Persian, don't have a gender or already have a gender-neutral form. 2. In recent years, LGBTQ communities around the world have championed more inclusive language. 3. They have created entirely new terms and altered already existing words and grammar constructions. 4. For some people, it can be hard, scary or simply tiresome to keep explaining why more inclusive language is needed.

(A) 1 and 2

(B) 1 and 4

(D) 3 and 4

2 Which of the following summaries of the article is both accurate and objective?

(A) Languages around the world are undergoing changes to be more gender-neutral. The masculine and feminine forms in many languages make this challenging. Though these changes still face resistance, support for them is growing.

(B) Languages like English and German make it especially hard to use gender-neutral language because of their nouns. The terms in Spanish and French make adapting much simpler. Though it is challenging, activists insist it is important.

(C) Languages around the world are making changes to create gender-neutral terms for government use. Many people complain that this is confusing for people trying to write properly, but it is an important and necessary change to make.

(D) Languages around the world have many terms for both genders but no gender-neutral language. This is because of changes that grammar experts made centuries ago. To make life easier for everyone, the ancient terms including all genders should be used once again.

3 How are the sections organized to help to develop understanding?

(A) by a list of languages to compare and contrast the ways in which people have tried to create gender- neutral terms

(B) by a series of problems that activists have encountered with gendered terms to show how they solved them

(D) by pros and cons to evaluate whether it is better to use ancient term or to create entirely new ones

4 What is one reason why the author mentions groups such as the Academy of the Hebrew Language and the Association for German Language?

(A) to highlight the effects of male and female specific pronouns on students

(B) to emphasize what caused activists to use asterisks to alter gendered terms

(D) to illustrate that gender-neutral language still has problems with acceptance

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Issue Overview: College education By Procon.org, adapted by Newsela staff on 11.15.16 Word Count 804 Level 1030L

Ciearra Jefferson celebrates her graduation with her class after President Barack Obama delivered the Howard University's commencement speech on Saturday, May 7, 2016. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Since the 1600s, Americans have argued over whether a college education is worth the cost. In 2015, there were 20 million U.S. college students, and students on average owed more than $28,950. The debate over whether everyone should go to college continues today.

People who argue for college say that college graduates have higher employment rates. They also have bigger salaries, better social skills, live longer and have healthier children.

People who argue that college is not worth it say students owe too much on college. They have to pay off so much money that they have to put off saving for retirement, buying a house or getting married. Many successful people never graduated from college. Also, many jobs, especially trade jobs, do not require college degrees.

College In America, 1600-1900

Colonial America produced nine colleges that are still in existence today. Most of them were founded and attended by wealthy people, and focused on general education and moral character.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Their goal was to produce Christian gentlemen who would inherit family businesses, go to church and be responsible leaders in the New World. Colonial college tuition was so expensive that it made college impossible for most families. Only about 1 percent of white males aged 18 to 21 attended college. Colleges did not allow women or blacks.

States began opening public universities starting with the University of Georgia in 1795.

The 1862 Morrill Land Grant Act gave government land to states to open "land grant" colleges. They were required to focus on "useful arts" like agriculture, mechanics, mining and military instruction.

College In The Early 1900s

Women, blacks, immigrants and Roman Catholics were excluded by most traditional colleges. In the early 1900s, colleges were created to educate these groups.

The price of college was still too high for the average family. For the 1907-1908 academic year, Brown University in Rhode Island charged $105 for tuition, $48 for fees $60 for room, $150 for food, and $30 for books and lab fees. It totaled $393 per year, which equaled $9,535.67 in 2012.

Between 1920 and 1945, the number of college students grew from 250,000 to 1.3 million. However, a white person was four times more likely to attend college than a black person. Women made up about 40 percent of college students. They were trained separately from men to become teachers, good wives and mothers.

WWII Through The 1980s

After World War II ended in 1945, the number of students at universities skyrocketed.

In 1944, Congress passed the GI Bill, which paid for the education of returning veterans from the war. It had an enormous impact on education. By 1945, 88,000 veterans got an education through the GI Bill, and by 1950, that number was 14 million veterans.

Government Pell Grants, which gave money to students, were introduced in 1972 and made college possible for many students. By 1978, college aid was given less as grants, and more as loans that had to be paid back, increasing the amount of debt a graduating college student owned.

During this time, the idea of a college education changed. At first, half of high school graduates went to college. Then, universities were expected to educate them all.

Meanwhile, colleges were opening to different student populations. New laws, such as affirmative action, said that black students and women could not be discriminated against.

The 1970s also saw the shift from education for education's sake to focusing on getting a job after graduation.

In the 1970s and 1980s, people began talking about whether the return on a college degree was worth the money. In 1971, a male college graduate earned 22 percent more than a high school graduate. By 1987, the earning gap nearly doubled to 38 percent. The 1980s also brought a dramatic increase in the cost of college, which was rising faster than the average family income.

College Enrollment And Costs, 1990s To The Present

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. In the 1990s and 2000s, colleges increased their enrollment and tuition costs. Those years also saw a lower unemployment rate for college graduates than high school grads. College enrollment increased 11 percent between 1990 and 2000. Between 2000 to 2010, it increased 37 percent to 21 million students. The average college tuition in the 1990-1991 school year was $10,620 and rose to $18,133 in the 2010-2011 school year.

A 2011 Pew Research survey showed 50 percent of college presidents said college is meant to "mature and grow intellectually." A total of 48 percent said college should provide skills, knowledge and training to help people succeed in the working world.

The number of colleges and universities grew from 1,851 in 1950 to 6,900 in 2013. In the 1949- 1950 school year, 2.66 million students attended colleges and universities. By 2013, 20 million students were enrolled in colleges and universities.

Source: college-education.procon.org

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Why does the author include the section "College In America, 1600-1900"?

(A) to show that the "useful arts" are agriculture, mechanics, mining and military instruction

(B) to show that the Morrill Land Grant Act was important in the history of college

(D) to show that college was initially limited to a small, privileged part of the population

2 Read the introduction of the article [paragraphs 1-3].

What purpose does the introduction serve in developing the main idea?

(A) It highlights the fact that Americans have been debating college education for a long time.

(B) It sets up the two positions of people who support college and people who are critical of college.

(D) It lists the important social and economic benefits of college education.

3 How does the author convey the importance of the cost of college?

(A) by connecting the cost to how it excludes many people from attending college

(B) by showing that a college education was also costly in colonial times

(D) by explaining how college got more expensive in the 1970s and 1980s

4 What is the purpose of this statement from the article?

(A) to highlight the lack of agreement on the purpose of a college education

(B) to highlight the importance of intellectual maturity and growth

(D) to highlight the majority opinion of college presidents

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Opinion: I'm an actor, but my "Mockingbird" role hurts my heart By Gbenga Akinnagbe, Washington Post on 12.20.19 Word Count 1,039 Level MAX

Gbenga Akinnagbe plays Tom Robinson in the Broadway production of "To Kill a Mockingbird." Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Photo: Noam Galai/Getty

I was 8 or 9 when I first realized that I would have to soften my voice, cross the street or use big words I learned on TV to make white people feel safe around me. Since November, I have been playing Tom Robinson in Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of "To Kill a Mockingbird." For Tom, who has never known a day without oppression and the threat of violence, modulating for white people is imperative. But he can only go so far to make them comfortable. And when he is falsely accused of raping a white woman in the Jim Crow Alabama of 1934, there can be only one ending for him. He is a smart man; he never expects to survive this ordeal, and he doesn't.

When I accepted the part, it was exhilarating. I was prepared for the long hours, the conversations dissecting race and class, and what the role would demand of me. I loved the work. I still do. What I did not anticipate was how deeply it would affect me — how wearing it would be to play a part that makes me the daily object of racist invective and racial violence for a majority-white audience.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Since our early rehearsal, I could see that it was important to the creative team to make theater that would reflect our national struggles in an inclusive way. For a year of preparation, the play was a piece of living text that we dissected endlessly. I got used to the safe space nurtured in that rehearsal room. I put it out of my mind that the play was going to be on Broadway — and that it was based on a book of which so many Americans felt ownership. I did not expect, ever, that performing it and rehearsing it would not be the same experience for me.

Most of the audiences who have seen the play have been white and seemingly well-off. That has been the heart of the theater in the United States for decades, after all. And for the most part I have found that these white theatergoers have a genuine experience of emotion and empathy at "To Kill a Mockingbird."

But what has surprised me is how much it hurts my heart to tell this black man's story, with its inevitable end, for the nightly consumption of this audience. I didn't realize how desperate I'd be for the comforting faces of people of color in the sold-out 1,435-seat Shubert Theatre. I know that the black people who come to this play share the pain I experience onstage in a way white theatergoers cannot.

The N-word is said a lot in the play — most often by white people, and most often to me or about me as Tom Robinson.

During our early rehearsals, I felt like I was in some bizarre alternate universe where that word, shared as freely as midday salutations and germs, didn't have its historical meaning. After a short while, the shock of hearing the largely white cast say it over and over faded, and it settled into its place as the common vernacular of the world we were creating.

Later, during performances, as we could feel this process replicated with the audiences — their discomfort giving way to their becoming entirely accustomed to it — I realized the brilliance of Sorkin's writing.

The heavy use of this word and its effects on the cast mirrored the process of its introduction into the culture and its use as a whole. The term became a weaponized insult to distinguish black people from white ones, and to degrade us in the process. Over time, white people began to use it to describe black people as a group in graphic and destructive terms. And ultimately, some black people adopted and adapted the term, using it to identify themselves and one another as a way to defuse the term's basic ugliness.

We got used to hearing it. At least, I thought I got used to it. But then last week, three lovely, older white ladies came backstage after the show and asked me how it felt to be the object of that word — all while using it themselves to pose the question. I walked home wondering if I had done something that made them feel that saying that word to me was so inconsequential, or if they believed their good intentions took the sting of it away.

I love this role. Our Tom Robinson, the Tom that Aaron Sorkin wrote and that I play, has a voice and agency that the Tom of the Harper Lee book and 1962 film did not have. Making work that shows black people as whole people, people with thoughts, opinions and complications, is everything to me.

The experience of playing Tom has been taxing in all the ways an artist wants to be taxed. We have the good fortune of this amazing platform — a Broadway stage — upon which to engage with some

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. of our most shameful American history. This is often cathartic. But when the play is over, I am still a black man, in this racist country, still subject to its lethal systems and structures.

And when I'm on the witness stand during each performance, fighting for my life, images of black people running for their lives from the police fly in and out of my head. I cannot stop them. I think about Sandra Bland. I think about meeting Tamir Rice's mother, Samaria Rice. I think about getting to know Trayvon Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, over the years.

I look out to all those white faces with enough disposable income to be able to afford to see this show, and I hear Jeff Daniels as Atticus Finch ask me the age-old question, "Why'd you run? If you didn't do anything wrong, why'd you run?" I think how, after all this time and so many dead innocents, do they still not understand why we would run? In that moment, like so many moments in this play, it's no longer a play, it's no longer a role, it's not a theater and it's not safe.

Gbenga Akinnagbe is an actor, activist, writer and producer.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Which answer choice would BEST describe the audience's reaction to the use of offensive language during the play?

(A) They are shocked at first but become angry with the cast over the course of the play.

(B) They are confused at first but become increasingly upset over the course of the play.

(D) They are uncomfortable at first but become accustomed to it over the course of the play.

2 How does the author communicate that events in the play are similar is to events in the real world?

(A) by comparing the cast of the play to the audience members who pay to see the performance

(B) by explaining that his role made him think about real-life victims of injustice

(D) by describing how he prepared for the play by studying the history of racism in the United States

3 Which answer choice BEST explains why the author wrote this article?

(A) to encourage readers to attend a performance of "To Kill a Mockingbird" by stressing its importance

(B) to contrast the audience's experience of seeing "To Kill a Mockingbird" with the actors' experiences

(D) to describe how the plot of the "To Kill a Mockingbird" play differed from the plot of the book of the same name

4 Read the following paragraph from the article.

How does this paragraph support authors’s position?

(A) by emphasizing the racial divides that he witnessed while performing the play

(B) by revealing his anger at the audience that came to watch him perform

(D) by describing the beauty of the theater that he performed in every night

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Black History Month: Librarian of Congress on her trailblazing role By Jason Dick, CQ-Roll Call on 02.20.20 Word Count 805 Level MAX

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden at the Library of Congress. Hayden, a former Chicago children's librarian, is the first woman and African American to serve in the role. Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo

WASHINGTON — The first African American and first woman to hold the position of librarian of Congress says she is partly in her role thanks to the inspiration of Frederick Douglass. Carla Hayden, who was sworn in in 2016 year, discusses with Roll Call the significance of Black History Month, her own place in it and how African American culture and history is integral to American culture and history.

Hayden's interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Roll Call: Some of the early figures in American history, people like Frederick Douglass, or Hiram Revels — the first African-American member of Congress — who are some of these figures who speak to you most, as somebody who has this front seat to history?

Carla Hayden: Well, I have to admit that Frederick Douglass might have a lot to do with the fact that I am a librarian. Frederick Douglass and his emphasis on literacy and reading, and the ability

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. to read being linked to freedom. In fact, I have one of the quotes that I use all the time and we sell it in the library shop: "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." Frederick Douglass said that when he was writing his autobiography, he knew literacy and learning to read must have been important (because) the person who owned him didn't want him to learn to read. And right then, he knew there was something about reading that was tied to the ability to either free yourself or have an amount of freedom.

RC: You have your own space in African-American history and U.S. history as the very first African American who's the librarian of Congress.

CH: Very daunting to know that you are a historical figure, in that sense.

RC: You have come into your office at this very pivotal time in American history, right when the first black president is leaving office. Talk a little about that.

CH: It's been very daunting, I mentioned, to think of your(self) as an individual … that might be cited in the trail of history as being a first or something like that. And on the other hand, it was inspiring for me to work with young people. The Library of Congress just opened the Young Readers Center for Saturdays. And to see the young people there and you think, "They can make their own history." So being able to talk with young people about historical figures, and you never know, right in this room, somebody turns to the person next to you that could be the next … you could be the next president. That's what makes you, I think, as a person who is involved in history, more inspired yourself.

RC: We're at a time in American history when there is a lot of tension in the body politic. What would you say to someone who questions whether we need a Black History Month? Who asks, "Why don't we just have an American history month?" What would you tell them as a librarian, as a keeper of historical knowledge for the country?

CH: That also comes up with Women's History Month, which is going to be in March, and other aspects of just putting a spotlight for a concentrated period of time on a particular group. And, what it does is give people an opportunity to concentrate or find out about a particular group or segment in our history. It's a wonderful vehicle. I know that there are displays in just about every school and every library in the country that are bringing things to the attention of students, and also their parents. There are some parents in different age groups who might not have had the history presented to them. It's useful. And I think it could also be a way to have young people — I keep going back to young people because they really are the future and the hope — to get them to think about making history themselves.

RC: One of the things that is very striking about the Library of Congress is you have custody of so many aspects of American history — art, literature — and really it seems that there is an intertwining of African American history with American history that makes it incredibly poignant, just from looking at some of the books or the photographs or the paintings that we see just as we walk into any one of the buildings.

CH: African-American history is American history. And, the fact that African Americans were basically brought to this country to help build the country is reflected in so many of the

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. documents, even photographs, everything that the library has collected over time really shows that integration in the true sense of the word — of African American history and general American history.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Read the following sentences from the article.

1. The first African American and first woman to hold the position of librarian of Congress says she is partly in her role thanks to the inspiration of Frederick Douglass. 2. Carla Hayden, who was sworn in last year, discusses with Roll Call the significance of Black History Month, her own place in it and how African American culture and history is integral to American culture and history. 3. You have your own space in African American history and U.S. history as the very first African American who's the librarian of Congress. 4. Very daunting to know that you are a historical figure, in that sense.

Which two sentences taken together provide the BEST evidence to support the idea that Carla Hayden's position as librarian of Congress is historically significant?

(A) 1 and 3

(B) 1 and 4

(D) 2 and 4

2 Read the following statement.

Carla Hayden believes students can learn how to make a difference during Black History Month.

Which detail from the article BEST supports the statement above?

(A) And, what it does is give people an opportunity to concentrate or find out about a particular group or segment in our history.

(B) I know that there are displays in just about every school and every library in the country that are bringing things to the attention of students, and their parents.

(D) And I think it could also be a way to have young people — I keep going back to young people because they really are the future and the hope — to get them to think about making history themselves.

3 How are Frederick Douglass' and Carla Hayden's ideas connected to each other?

(A) Douglass' idea that slavery was fundamentally wrong led to Hayden starting Black History Month.

(B) Douglass' idea that reading leads to freedom inspired Hayden to become a librarian.

(D) Douglass' belief that people did not want him to learn to read inspired Hayden to read his books.

4 Which of the following would BEST describe Carla Hayden's reaction to being the first African American librarian of Congress?

(A) She is anxious about having to defend awareness months, like Black History Month.

(B) She feels limited by the pressure put on her due to both her race and gender.

(D) She is enthusiastic about having the opportunity to inspire young people to make history.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. PRO/CON: Is binge-watching a harmless pleasure or a harmful addiction? By ProCon.org, adapted by Newsela staff on 02.14.20 Word Count 1,227 Level 1120L

Is binge-watching a harmless hobby or a dangerous vice? Photo: Guido Mieth via Getty Images.

The term "binge-watch" may seem like it's been around forever, but it was actually first used in 2003. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means "to watch many or all episodes of (a TV series) in rapid succession." The phrase gained popularity in 2013 when Netflix released the full 13-episode season of the series "House of Cards" at once. In 2015, "binge-watch" was declared the word of the year by Collins English Dictionary, which said use of the term had increased 200 percent in 2014.

Seventy-three percent of Americans admit to binge-watching. Ninety percent of Millennials (individuals born between 1981 and 1996) stated that they binge-watch, as did 87 percent of Generation Z (individuals born between 1995 and 2012). Around 40 percent of viewers in these age groups binge-watch an average of six episodes of television, or about five hours, in one sitting.

Helen Newstead, the Head of Language Content at HarperCollins Publishing, said that the rising popularity of the term "binge-watching" is a sign of the biggest change in people's viewing habits since the introduction of the videocassette recorder nearly 40 years ago. The videocassette

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. recorder, or VCR, allowed viewers to record any show they wanted to watch later — meaning, they no longer had to stay home to see it.

Binge-watching has clearly taken the world by storm. But is it a harmless pleasure or a harmful addiction? The pros and cons of binge-watching are explored below.

PRO: Binge-watching leads to beneficial social connections

Binge-watching creates a sense of community around a show. Experts refer to this community as a "shared cultural space." It's a form of common ground. It allows viewers to discuss and share their enjoyment of a show with everyone from a family member to a coworker to a stranger in line at the supermarket.

Romantic relationships can also be strengthened by binge-watching together. Binge-watching creates a shared interest. It's a fun and easy way for couples to spend time together. Binge- watching can also help couples who may be having family issues or going through other problems. If couples see fictional characters experiencing similar troubles, they may be able to better understand and deal with their real-life issues.

A study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that binge-watching can help long-distance relationships, too. Sharing the pretend world of a show helps long-distance couples recreate the experience of friendships and relationships they miss out on by not living in the same place.

PRO: Binge-watching has health benefits, like stress relief

According to psychiatrists, binge-watching releases a chemical called dopamine in the brain, which creates a feeling of pleasure and can help people to relax and relieve stress. Psychologists say that finishing a series can give viewers feelings of control and power. This can be especially beneficial for viewers who do not feel they are in control of their daily lives.

John Mayer is a clinical psychologist. Mayer says, "We are all bombarded with stress from everyday living, and with the nature of today's world where information floods us constantly. It is hard to shut our minds down and tune out the stress and pressures. A binge can work like a steel door that blocks our brains from thinking about those constant stressors that force themselves into our thoughts." In other words, binge-watching prevents us from obsessing about the parts of our lives that stress us out. It gives our brains a break.

Binge-watching can also be healthy in cases where the show relates to the viewer's real life. For example, a character might serve as a role model by solving a problem that the viewer is currently dealing with. The show may offer new solutions that could actually improve someone's day-to-day life.

PRO: Binge-watching makes a show more fulfilling

While binge-watching, the viewer can feel the pleasure of full immersion — of being in "the zone." This is a satisfying feeling, similar to staying up all night to finish a really gripping book.

Today, many shows are made for binge-watching. Consider the number of shows that Netflix releases as full seasons; "Stranger Things" is just one recent example. Watching multiple episodes at once can make a show's story easier to follow. As a result, shows made for binge-watching can

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. be more complex than shows meant to watch on a weekly basis. Binge-able shows can feature multiple storylines, complex relationships and many multidimensional characters. Steven Johnson is a media theorist. He says watching these more-intricate shows may actually make viewers smarter, because they require greater attention and more deep thought to process and understand.

CON: Binge-watching leads to mental-health issues

A University of Texas study found that binge-watchers were more likely to be depressed, lonely and have less self-control than those who do not binge-watch. According to Yoon Hi Sung, one of the authors of the study, "When binge-watching becomes rampant, viewers may start to neglect their work and their relationships with others. Even though people know they should not, they have difficulty resisting the desire to watch episodes continuously."

Binge-watching can even lead to addiction. Dr. Renee Carr is a clinical psychologist. She has pointed out that the human body "can become addicted to any activity or substances that consistently produce dopamine." In fact, she says, the same neuronal pathways that are activated by drug addiction are activated by an addiction to binge-watching.

Another study found that, rather than relieving stress, binge-watching actually worsened stressful feelings like regret, guilt and personal failure, because of a sense of wasted time and inactivity.

When that binge-watching session ends, the viewer may even feel depression or anxiety because their favorite show is over.

CON: Binge-watching leads to serious physical health problems

Binge-watching requires sitting for hours and hours, a behavior which has long been linked to serious medical issues such as slow metabolism, heart disease, cancer and blood clots. The frequent snacking that can accompany a binge-watching session can also be linked to weight gain and damaged arteries.

One study found that binge-watching was related to poorer sleep quality, fatigue and insomnia, due to something called pre-sleep arousal. Getting very invested in the characters and plot of a series right before bed winds the viewer up rather than helping them calm down before bed. Some viewers may be unable to sleep as a result. Others may actively choose binge-watching over sleep: one survey found that just over 45 percent of binge-watchers had stayed awake all night to binge- watch a show.

CON: Binge-watching makes the show less fulfilling

When viewers have to wait for the next episode of their favorite show, it may make them impatient — but this experience can also be pleasurable. Damon Lindelof is the co-creator of "Watchmen" and other popular TV shows. He has said that something is lost when we binge-watch: "This idea of anticipation. That Christmas-morning feeling..."; it simply "doesn't exist in binge culture," he said. In a binge-watching society, the pleasure of anticipation is lost.

On top of this, many shows are not made for binge-watching. Consider plot points that repeat after a commercial break or at the beginning of a new episode. If someone binge-watches, they'll notice more repetition. Also, the viewer won't have time between episodes to digest and really think

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. about the show. One study found that binge-watching lowered levels of sustained memory and self-reported enjoyment levels.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 What is the relationship between the following selections from the article?

According to psychiatrists, binge-watching releases a chemical called dopamine in the brain, which creates a feeling of pleasure and can help people to relax and relieve stress. She has pointed out that the human body "can become addicted to any activity or substances that consistently produce dopamine." In fact, she says, the same neuronal pathways that are activated by drug addiction are activated by an addiction to binge-watching.

(A) One selection illustrates the causes of increased dopamine levels in the brains of people who binge- watch television; the other describes the effect of that increase.

(B) Both selections support the idea that binge-watching increases dopamine levels in the brain, leading to reduced stress and increased relaxation for the viewer.

(C) One selection illustrates a possible neurological problem caused by binge-watching; the other describes a potential solution to that problem.

(D) Both selections support the idea that binge-watching affects brain chemistry, but they emphasize different psychological consequences of those effects.

2 Which of these statements would be MOST important to include in an objective summary of the article?

(A) Experts agree that binge-watching has negative effects on viewers, citing increased levels of anxiety and physical health problems.

(B) Binge-watching can create a sense of community and shared experience around a television show, strengthening people's relationships.

(C) Experts agree that binge-watching has real effects on viewers, but they disagree about whether those effects are positive or negative.

(D) Binge-watching can create physical health problems for viewers, since the long hours of sitting it requires are linked to illnesses like heart disease.

3 Read the following paragraph from the introduction [paragraphs 1-4].

What is the main reason why the author includes this paragraph in the article?

(A) to provide context for the debate that follows by giving readers a sense of how many Americans binge- watch

(B) to illustrate how drastically binge-watching has changed the way Americans watch television

(D) to explain one of the main worries experts have expressed about Americans' binge-watching habits

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 4 Read the two sentences from the section "CON: Binge-watching leads to mental-health issues."

A University of Texas study found that binge-watchers were more likely to be depressed, lonely and have less self-control than those who do not binge-watch. Another study found that, rather than relieving stress, binge-watching actually worsened stressful feelings like regret, guilt and personal failure, because of a sense of wasted time and inactivity.

How do these sentences develop the debate about binge-watching in the article?

(A) The sentences provide firsthand testimony to support the idea that binge-watching is harmful to viewers' social and emotional health.

(B) Both sentences directly contradict earlier claims about the possible social and emotional benefits of binge-watching.

(D) Both sentences describe experts' opinions about the positive social and emotional consequences of frequent binge-watching.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Science explains what drives today's celebrity- obsessed culture By Atlas Obscura, adapted by Newsela staff on 11.06.19 Word Count 1,057 Level 1080L

Image 1. Some fans of the TV comedy "Friends" felt like the characters were their real friends. This close relationship with media personas or celebrities is called a one-sided, or parasocial, relationship. Photo from Getty

Years ago, Jaye Derrick was having trouble in her relationship. Whenever she had a fight with her boyfriend, she would turn on the TV show "Friends." Derrick noticed that the show's six main characters were beginning to feel like real friends, making her feel supported during a troubled time.

Derrick is a social psychology professor at the University of Houston. Her "Friends" experience inspired her to study the phenomenon known as parasocial relationships.

Everybody Does It

Parasocial relationships are strong emotional bonds with people you've never met and who do not relate back to you: video game characters, book characters or even real-life people.

If you've imagined that Jennifer Lawrence is your best friend or created a universe where you could hang out with Harry Potter every day, then you've been in a parasocial relationship.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. In her research, Derrick says almost everyone has been in such a relationship. "As soon as you explain it, they say 'oh my God. I do that.'"

Where does this come from? Humans tend to latch onto and identify with the people around us. Even if that person will never know us, keeping up with their lives brings us joy.

Humans depend on social interaction to survive, says Gayle Stever. She studies adult parasocial relationships at SUNY Empire State College.

Parasocial relationships can resemble the real-life relationships we have with our family, friends and romantic partners. A television character may not return your feelings, but you experience the same emotional ups-and-downs with them as you do in real-life relationships, says Derrick.

Studies by researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of Calgary surveyed young adults. They revealed that 90 percent felt a strong attraction to a celebrity, 65 percent felt strong attachments to multiple celebrities. Thirty percent even wished to be the celebrity they admired, reports Pacific Standard.

Making An Emotional Investment In The Relationship

Today, many people see actors through screens more frequently than they see their close friends. Parasocial relationships have become some of our most important relationships.

Parasocial relationships have existed as long as we've been telling stories, says Riva Tukachinsky, a communications professor at Chapman University in California.

Parasocial relationships can be used as an escape, to develop parts of our brains or simply as a source of enjoyment, explains Tukachinsky.

Like real-life ones, parasocial relationships can be deep and develop over decades, while others are more casual. A person can have multiple parasocial relationships that serve different purposes. Lady Gaga fans, which she calls "Little Monsters," for example, often refer to her as "Mother Monster."

Stever says there are three types of such relationships: parasocial interactions, parasocial relationships and parasocial attachments.

Parasocial "interactions" occur while you are following a person's story on screen or on the page and start feeling emotionally invested in it. Whenever you scream at a character to not go into the dark creepy cellar alone, you are interacting with the character.

Meanwhile, parasocial "relationships" form when you keep thinking about the celebrity when everything is

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. turned off. Teens expressed their parasocial relationships with both actor Taylor Lautner and his "Twilight" movie character Jacob Black, often like they were the same person, says Tukachinsky.

Why Do These Relationships Form?

Some parasocial relationships are powerful enough to influence big life changes. Mae Jemison was the first black female astronaut in space. She spoke about how she was inspired by actress Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhura on the show "Star Trek." She was the lone black woman on the bridge of the starship Enterprise.

Parasocial attachment develops when a person needs the other to feel more secure. Stever interviewed a woman with cancer who could only get through her treatment by listening to songs by Josh Groban. His voice comforted her.

Children often form relationships with cartoon characters, which can help them learn to interact with others. It's now seen as normal for teenagers to have romantic parasocial relationships with celebrities. Several researchers noted that parasocial relationships can help the elderly overcome losing a loved one.

The same feelings you experience during a real-life breakup bubble up when a show ends or a beloved band splits up. People are known to shed tears when celebrities die, which shows how influential parasocial contact has become.

Make- Believe

Relationships Are Still Relationships

Today, through social media sites like Twitter, fans now can hear back from a celebrity. Celebs start seeming more like "real people," say Alice Marwick and Danah Boyd in the International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies.

A celebrity tweeting back might make it harder to separate real life from fantasy, says Derrick.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Still, most people, Derrick says, understand that a parasocial relationship is not "real," even if it feels that way. "People know that Justin Bieber isn't really on the other end of the telephone."

Several studies in the 1980s attempted to link people in parasocial relationships to loneliness and low self-esteem. The connection couldn't be made. In fact, researchers from the University of Delaware discovered that people who seek more relationships in real life are more likely to form more parasocial relationships.

In a 2008 study, Derrick found that people with low self-esteem can benefit from parasocial relationships. That celebrity can help the person "become more like who they would ideally like to be," she says. They also provide those people with safe and reliable relationships.

Says Tukachinsky, even parts of our real-life relationships are somewhat imaginary. When we talk about what our good friends are doing based only on their Facebook posts, we don't actually know more about them than we do about Taylor Swift.

Yet parasocial relationships are real relationships. The person on the other end of the relationship may never know you, but those feelings you form when you read about or watch them onscreen are real.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 How do parasocial relationships affect people?

(A) They cause people to be preoccupied with imaginary friends instead of real friends.

(B) They cause people to be preoccupied with television, books and social media.

(D) They give people enjoyment but take away from other relationships.

2 Why was Mae Jemison attached to Nichelle Nichols?

(A) because she also wanted to become a famous actor

(B) because she related to her identity as a famous female actor

(D) because she related to her identity as the only black woman on "Star Trek"

3 How does the author convey the importance of parasocial relationships?

(A) by emphasizing that although a parasocial relationship has some imaginary parts, it still can produce strong and healthy feelings

(B) by emphasizing that although a parasocial relationship is completely made up, it is more important than face-to-face relationships

(C) by highlighting the necessity of parasocial relationships for people to grow up to have normal face-to- face relationships

(D) by highlighting the necessity of parasocial relationships for people to grow out of adolescence and into adulthood

4 Read the paragraph from the section "Make-Believe Relationships Are Still Relationships."

Several studies in the 1980s attempted to link people in parasocial relationships to loneliness and low self-esteem. The connection couldn’t be made. In fact, researchers from the University of Delaware discovered that people who seek more relationships in real life are more likely to form more parasocial relationships.

Why did the author include this paragraph?

(A) to prove that people are healthier when they have more parasocial relationships

(B) to highlight the importance of treating loneliness and low self-esteem

(D) to dispel the misperception that fantasy relationships are unhealthy

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.