The 2016 Oscars took place last night, and we think the red carpet was kind of the best part (but not as great as Leo's win, of course). We saw a lot of dresses with plunging necklines and backs this year. We don't know about you, but we loved this daring trend. Here are our favorites, in no particular order:

1. Cate Blanchett

We love the balance of fragile flowers with this risky plunge!

2. Saoirse Ronan

Nominated for her role as a sheltered, shy young woman in Brooklyn, Saoirse showed that she does not share those characteristics with her character when she donned this stunning and eye-catching gown! 

3. Charlize Theron

Who knew a deep-cut neckline could elevate a simple red dress to this magnitude?

4. Rachel McAdams

Rachel, whose film Spotlight won Best Picture, mixed things up with a high neckline and open back. Needless to say, she looked oh-so-sophisticated.

5. Julianne Moore

While Julianne—who had the honor of presenting Leo with his first Oscar—didn't have the most adventurous neckline on the carpet, this plunge still made a gorgeous addition to her dark gown.

6. Margot Robbie

Margot sparkled for all to see in this solid gold gown!

7. Olivia Wilde

Not only did Olivia's dress have an interesting square neckline, but it also had an open back. That paired with the neutral color worked so well together!

8. Jennifer Lawrence

J. Law rocked this nude and black gown, with its fairly deep neckline.

9. Kerry Washington

Okay, we're not sure if this really counts since Kerry wore this to the after party. But, regardless, it is a beautiful open-back gown that we wish we had the guts to wear! 

Collegiettes, which celebrities made your best dressed list? Let us know on social media!

If there’s one thing that college students need, but don’t get enough of, it’s “me” time. “Me” time is obligation-free time to focus on whatever it is that makes you happy, even if that means vegging out on Netflix and focusing on nothing at all! It’s easy to get caught up in scheduling out every second of your free time in the name of productivity, but this can become emotionally taxing and lead to burnout. Our generation is so obsessed with the idea of having it all—with a full social calendar, stellar grades, an enviable internship and anything else that could be verifiably followed by the #goals tag—that we often glorify the exhausting pursuit of these goals by talking about how little sleep we’ve gotten or the fact that we haven’t had time to eat all day. Chronic sleep deprivation, a lack of free time and even neglecting our mental health have strangely become badges of "validation" in the competition to prove to ourselves and to others that we are trying hard enough. But it’s time for a reality check. Running ourselves ragged isn’t admirable—it’s unhealthy. We end up cheating ourselves of focus and efficiency, but more importantly, our self-love tends to suffer, too.

Related: 6 Things You’re Doing That are Jeopardizing Your Mental Health

It may seem counterproductive, but taking even an hour or two of the time you’re spending on everything but yourself each week and turning that into “me” time to improve your relationship with yourself can actually help you get more done during the rest of the week. These are just a few ways that practicing self-love will pay dividends in the rest of your life.

1. You'll be more sure of yourself

Having some time to yourself gives you the chance to think over the week’s events and process your reactions to them. This can be hard to do in the presence of your roommate, your SO or your squad, who likely all have opinions about the goings-on in your life. When you’re constantly surrounded by people, you can sometimes end up letting their opinions of what’s best for you sway how you really feel. Or worse, you end up so consumed by talking your loved ones through what’s going on in their lives that you undermine the significance of what’s happening in yours. “Me” time is essential to figuring out what might be in your best interest when you’re feeling conflicted.

Catherine Lowe, a junior at Winthrop University, has spent the past four years purposefully staying out of serious relationships to get to know herself and to better be able to make decisions about what’s best for herself during tough times. “I strongly believe that having a relationship with yourself is the most important relationship anybody can have. If you don't know who you are as your own person, who will you be when you're dating someone? I've figured out what works best for me, and I have also grown as a person because of it,” she says.

While staying out of relationships may not be for everyone, there’s something to be said for taking the time to develop a strong sense of self and reaping the benefits of knowing you can “do you” when facing big decisions—like changing your major, accepting a job offer or even getting into a new relationship.

2. Your other relationships will improve

As counterintuitive as it sounds, we swear it’s true! Julie Zielinger, renowned feminist blogger and author of College 101: A Girl’s Guide to Freshman Year explains, “Self love is crucial because it (perhaps deceptively) improves one's relationships with others. When you have a strong sense of who you are and your own value, you're less likely to allow others to negatively influence you. Conversely, feeling that your self-conception is entirely at the mercy of others is completely disempowering and prohibits your ability to realize your full potential.”

Not taking “me” time can also inhibit your ability to manage stress and anxiety. If you don't take the time to check in with yourself every now and then, these feelings can fester and you can end up lashing out at your loved ones when you don't mean to.

Amber Layfield, a senior at Appalachian State, learned this the hard way when she realized that the effects of not making time for herself resulted in poor stress management, which was damaging to her relationship with her best friend. "There were a few months when my best friend and I didn't speak because I had become so unpleasant towards her and towards myself, and until I was able to be alone for a while, I didn't see how I was just ruminating and overthinking the bad things,” she says. While Amber was able to repair her friendship, making that time for yourself will help facilitate clearer communication with your loved ones and help you avoid putting your most important relationships at risk in the first place.

3. You’ll be more productive

We've all been on the end-of-the-semester struggle bus, when you can't help but have an IDGAF outlook on everything from your grades to club meetings you used to look forward to. You don't actually mean you don't care, but the burnout is real. Instead of trying to force yourself to study for hours on end (only to inevitably end up browsing your Twitter feed absentmindedly), take one hour to nurture yourself and help you reset.

Health and wellness expert and lifestyle coach Peggy Hall agrees that setting boundaries for your personal time empowers you to do more and be more successful without sacrificing your well-being. "Instead of just studying or writing that paper ‘until you finish,’ set a stopping time—and trust me, you will be more productive! Set your own boundaries in terms of what you are willing to do. Decide how much of your life you're willing to give away to those things.”

Remember that just because you’re limiting how much of yourself you give, does not mean you’re limiting your potential, you’re actually enhancing it! You can do more by doing less and that’s nothing to feel guilty about.

4. You’ll learn to prioritize

If you already have a number of obligations that are stressing you out, you may be wondering how to not feel exceedingly overwhelmed each time a deadline creeps closer on the calendar. The first step is to distance yourself from the situation that's stressing you out, even if only for a half hour. When you come back you'll be able to evaluate the situation with much more clarity.

Erica Maybaum, a junior at Boston University, couldn't agree more. "I am a huge proponent of ‘me’ time, especially because I have way too many things going on and sometimes forget to even breathe," she says.

Once you're in a better frame of mind, Hall describes how you can shift your perspective and take control of the deadlines you feel are running you into the ground. "Instead of saying, ‘I HAVE to do x, y, z’ think and say the words, 'I get to …'.  What happens when you use these words is you go from being helpless to powerful, because in fact you have chosen [what] you are spending your precious time and energy on.” Even though it sometimes feels like your schedule runs you, use Hall’s advice to remind yourself that you are, in fact, in charge.

Zielinger also stresses the importance of choosing to spend your time and energy on a select number of commitments that really matter to you, rather than overwhelming yourself by trying to have it all. "I think it's more beneficial personally, professionally and academically to focus on doing one or a few things well rather than trying to do everything. So many women feel that ‘success’ is about quantity rather than quality, but I've always found the opposite and would advise young women to prioritize what makes them happiest and most fulfilled," she says.

Sometimes we end up taking on responsibilities that we don't even want, just out of concern for what other people will think of us. Take a few minutes of “me” time right now to think about if you're really, truly happy with all of your commitments and if you're in them for the right reasons (trust us, this article isn't going anywhere!). If it's not making you happy, you should probably think about ditching it ASAP.

5. You’ll be happier

All of these little improvements that practicing self-love will make in your life add up to one big one: your happiness! Making time to love yourself will keep you grounded and in touch with what really matters the most in your life.

Not quite sure how to find your happy place? Zielinger has a few suggestions. "I think stress release is a different experience for everyone, but should revolve around regularly doing something that feels indulgent—whether that's shirking all responsibilities to binge-watch a TV show, to bake something delicious or have a night out with your friends," she says.

Like Zielinger says, stress release is different for everyone. Erica, for example, finds her happy place alone. "On Sundays I actually do something where I take myself on a little date. As silly as it sounds, it is the absolute best part of my week! I basically go [out] and explore the city, eat at a fun restaurant or even have an at-home spa day. I have a habit of getting lost in relationships, so this is a great way to keep myself grounded and, more importantly, a great reminder that I must always love myself first."

It's so easy to get wrapped up in your friend group, your SO, grades or a new job, and taking time for yourself can seem frivolous (if not impossible). But it's important to remember that college is a time for finding yourself. How can you do that if you don't make the time? Maybe give up some of the bragging rights of doing it all and having it all in favor of doing what makes you happy.

"Risk being ordinary," says Hall. "Perfectionism is one of the fastest ways to keep you from living a full, balanced life. Sometimes good is good enough, and if you are spending time trying to prepare your meals so they are Instagram worthy, or redoing your hairstyle and makeup until it's ‘just right’ before you leave the house, or dissing yourself because you did only 20 minutes on the treadmill instead of 45, then you are creating a recipe for disaster. Cut yourself some slack and take on this mantra: ‘I don't have to be perfect to be a success.’ Take it from someone who could not sleep until all her clothes were hanging (color-coded) in the closet in the same direction. Good is often good enough."

If you're unhappy, chances are you're living by someone else's idea of having it all. Think about what it really means for you to love yourself, and remember: you are good enough. 

Whether you're a history nerd, a theatre nerd -- or neither -- you've probably fallen in love with Hamilton. While you wait approximately 100 years before you can get a ticket, take a look at these signs your obsession with the musical has gotten a little too intense...

1. It's your most listened to album on Spotify

This is a given. You find yourself listening to the soundtrack while you study, while you shower, while you nap, and soon enough you have every song memorized down to the pauses between lyrics.

2. You justify your constant listening by claiming it helps you study

"Hey, this is helping me pass American History (and biology?)." While some of the songs may help you out a liiiiittle in class, this just becomes an excuse to keep singing along.

3. You start quoting it in everyday conversations

Somehow hip-hop centered around the origins of our nation becomes relevant no matter what you're talking about. You'll probably start quoting without realizing it, too.

4. You become REALLY into Broadway even though you can't sing to save your life

Suddenly, theatre is everything. You consider going to BroadwayCon, getting into other musicals or hitting up that friend from high school who always dragged you to plays. You can't carry a tune or dance to a beat, but you've never been more sure about your love for the stage.

5. You get defensive when people say he shouldn't be on the $10 bill

Suddenly, talks of removing Hamilton from the ten feel personal. It's like they're considering replacing your firstborn or childhood best friend.

6. You follow all of the cast members on social media

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Vine (Does anyone use that anymore? Doesn't matter.)

7. The ticket lottery becomes life or death

It doesn't matter that it's a Wednesday during finals or that you're a five hour flight from New York. If you somehow manage to score tickets, you'll spend your life savings to go.

8. You feel like the founding fathers are your real homies

Sure, they lived hundreds of years ago and are middle-aged men. They still have a special place in your heart.

9. "Hamilton" has become your most searched term on Tumblr

Memes, GIFs, puns, covers -- you've seen them all.

10. You've fallen in love with Lin Manuel Miranda's Twitter

Not only can he rap, sing, write, compose, and act -- he's also hilarious, inspiring and super humble. Check it out if you haven't already.

11. The soundtrack gets you through your workout

An hour of cardio isn't so bad when you can listen to half the songs in that time. People may start to wonder why you're smiling while running on the treadmill...

12. You've watched every interview of the cast on Youtube

Favorite backstage memories, audition processes, inside jokes -- you might as well have been there when it all happened.

13. Of course, you know all the words to every rap

You may be the worst rapper on the planet, but somehow you've mastered every line in Guns and Ships and the Cabinet battles.

14. You've purchased merchandise

A shirt that says "Yay HAMLET!" or a phone case with the Schuyler sisters on it, most likely.

15. You constantly wonder if you'll ever be lucky enough to see the show

The production won't be over any time soon, so hopefully you'll be able to ~rise up~ and get tickets sooner or later.

Even if your obsession is a little intense, it's all good. Lin Manuel-Miranda and the rest of the cast and crew have created something magical that deserves attention and praise. Talk less, smile more!

In college, it can be hard to make time to exercise. When the choice is between Netflix and chill or jump on the elliptical, well, you can imagine which often wins. It’s an even harder choice to avoid the pizza and ice cream in the dining hall and head straight for the salad bar. Not only are these choices hard, but also maintaining a healthy lifestyle can often get down right expensive.

How much of a priority is a healthy lifestyle for college women? And more importantly, is it possible to truly maintain a healthy lifestyle between the partying, late night eating and all-nighters that are so prevalent in college? We asked 12 college women to weigh in.

“While I am a full-time college student, I am also a nationally qualified NPC Bikini Bodybuilding competitor. I live on campus, have a meal plan and am forced to use the less-than-stellar campus gym six days a week and still manage to place in my competitions. However, it's not the enigmatic dining hall meat or the ceaseless amount of reading that I have to do for class that prevent me having an optimally fit college experience. It's compromising my leg day gains with thirsty Thursday dollar beers. It's the struggle of staying focused while my peers are telling me I'm not getting the ‘full college experience’ by opting to stay sober some weekend nights. I love competing and fitness so making the best out of the dining hall and the on campus gym isn't impossible. The real struggle is Thursday night through Sunday morning.”

-Angela, Siena College Class of 2017

“In high school I played many sports, mainly volleyball and soccer. I never really had to go out of my way to exercise on my own or pay a lot of attention to what I was eating especially since my mom was fairly health conscious with our food. However, I struggle to be healthy and fit in college. I have little time to join a sports club and dragging myself to the gym is just so unappealing that I rarely go. Healthy food is more expensive and it is difficult to eat healthy as the food prep often takes longer. I do not eat healthy very often and I do not exercise regularly. I think the craziness of college gets in the way and having a low budget does not help. But I think it can be done. I have been trying to be more conscious, especially in the food department. Hopefully I will be able to get back on track with eating balanced meals and light exercise so I can live a fuller, healthier life.”

-Katie, Virgina Commonwealth University Class of 2018

RELATED: 10 Things You Can Do to Lose Weight Throughout the Week

“I think it is extremely hard to live a healthy lifestyle in college, especially if you are on the meal plan. Most of the meals are prepared in the kitchen, so it is hard to keep track of calorie intake and micro-nutrition when you are eating from the school cafeteria. While most people would argue that well you can eat off the salad bar, that gets boring after a while. Since I personally am not a fan of salads, I don't eat healthy. I'm constantly on the go and sometimes it’s just easier to grab a plate of fries and call it a day. I do have time in my schedule to exercise, I just choose to nap instead of going to the gym. As mentioned before I am constantly on the go an anytime I have free time I like to spend it in bed Netflix-ing.”

-Tamiracle, University of Florida Saint Petersburg Class of 2017

“Maintaining a healthy lifestyle in college definitely requires discipline and dedication, but I think that once you realize how beneficial it is to you mentally, physically and emotionally, it becomes a much less daunting task. […] For at least five days of the week, I eat clean and try to do as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Steel cut oats or protein pancakes with fruit for breakfast, only whole grains, no meat and minimal dairy. I'll treat myself, but I make sure to supplement that with a ton of water, seltzer, and a decent amount of sleep in between 18 credits and my internship. Yes, there are days when I can't do it all, but I feel so much better because of the way I eat and I'd advise anybody to do it who is looking to look and feel better. Positive changes start with you! You always have a choice when it comes to taking charge of your lifestyle and your body. Try swapping out one unhealthy thing in your diet every few weeks and watch the subtle changes take place in your body and appearance.”

-Emily, Rutgers University Class of 2017

“I think it's easy to live a somewhat healthy lifestyle in college if you make it a priority. However, if your school has a dining hall and meal plan system, things are significantly harder. Schools make larger batches of unhealthy food choices because it's cheaper and faster, which is unfair to the students. My school in particular cooks almost everything in oil and that makes it very hard to be a healthy individual.”

-Hannah, Kenyon College Class of 2018

“It's not that difficult to live a healthy lifestyle in college. Yes, you will experience times when all you want to do is ‘pig out’ on junk food, but that is completely fine. We all have time to exercise, but it takes the mentality and motivation to go and workout. A healthy lifestyle is a lifestyle that is balanced. You have to listen to your body; when it's tired, don't push yourself, when it's hungry, eat something that will nourish your body, when you want sweets, eat sweets (there's no law saying you can't). It truly is about listing to your body.”

-Tessa, Winthrop University Class of 2019

RELATED: The Real Reasons College Girls Work Out

“I think I eat pretty healthy, especially for a college student. However, the lifestyle of a student can make it difficult to stick to a good routine. I exercise five mornings a week, and I go to the gym around 7:30 am so that I have time for everything else in my day. However, late at night it can be harder to make healthy choices.”

-Malia, Christopher Newport University Class of 2017

“I think it's definitely harder to live a healthier lifestyle in college because of the unlimited meal plan and the general idea that most affordable food is often unhealthy on a college student's budget. I tend to eat on the healthier side, in my opinion, because I like knowing what I'm putting in my body and I've always been like that. Sure, it's sometimes tough to balance in grocery shopping time and other time-consuming activities associated with being healthy but I love running and it's my de-stressing mechanism from college. Diet is 75% and exercise is 25% so as long as you're eating well, there's a good chance you're still staying healthy. A healthy lifestyle to me is working out 3-4 times a week and eating healthy everyday. I make sure I walk everywhere so that I'm getting in that extra kick even on my off-days.”

-Trina, Southern Methodist University Class of 2019

“I definitely think a healthy lifestyle is possible in college. The dining halls offer so many options and there are always opportunities to choose the healthier alternative. Now that I live off campus I think that I eat much healthier because I am in charge of the food I buy and what is available to me. I definitely don't work out as much as I should but I try to take advantage of the different workout classes my school offers as well as our unlimited access to the gym. I think students have a conception that you can't be healthy in college because of things like the freshman 15 or the sophomore slump but if you put in a little more effort you can definitely live a healthy lifestyle if you want to.”

-Katie, SUNY Oneonta Class of 2017

RELATED: 5 Times It's Okay to Skip a Workout

“I think it is extremely difficult to lead a completely healthy lifestyle in college, especially in Manhattan. Getting healthy food is expensive and it takes lots of time to actually find the places that sell it for a reasonable price. Plus if you are taking 18 credits, have a job, and extracurriculars, it's hard to find time to exercise. To me, a healthy lifestyle is eating well and exercising every other day. And it's hard to do all of that unless you really commit.”

-Isabel, NYU Class of 2018

“I think that it is possible to lead a healthy lifestyle in college, it just takes a little bit of effort and planning. At the start of the week, I plan out what times each day I will be able to exercise and plan out my workouts ahead of time in my planner to ensure that I do them each day. I also pay attention to what I eat and make sure to eat balanced and healthy meals and try not to snack too often. I believe that a healthy lifestyle is composed of healthy eating, exercise and respecting your body.”

-Abby, University of Florida Class of 2019

“I do think that it is harder to live a healthy lifestyle in college, especially if you weren't in the habit before coming to college. I know for myself that I find it hard to make time in my busy schedule to go to the gym here on campus. I do try to eat as healthy as I can, although I do let myself cheat on some days. But trying to add a workout at the gym has been the hardest for me, because I am either in class or trying to get a handle on my homework or wanting to hang out with friends and a lot of times the gym falls to the wayside. Being fit and healthy in college is obtainable. You just have to make the conscious decision to prioritize that into your week and actually take a break from studying or whatever you would normally be doing to go. It's hard to get the gym in there, but I always leave feeling so much better about myself after a workout. Now, I need to go and try to actually fit it into my schedule for this week! It's been awhile.”

-Leah, Clemson University Class of 2018

There are many misconceptions surrounding women in Islam fostered by traditional media and manufactured stereotypes. Seldom do real Muslim women get the opportunity to speak up about these fallacies. In reality, it’s nearly unfathomable to generalize the women of a religion of 1.7 billion -- consequently, these generalizations lead to statements and questions that many non-Muslims are begging to vocalize -- such as these 19 statements and questions that are explained, so you won’t ever have to say them to a Muslim girl.

1. You’re not *that kind* of Muslim, right?

If by that kind, you mean the kind that doesn’t need to justify or validate her faith based on the actions of an extremist minority is a completely inaccurate representation of my entire religion, then yes -- I am that kind.

2. Islam oppresses women

There is literally a Muslim saying that says “paradise lies at her feet,” elevating the importance of women. People misconstrue cultural norms and blend it with religion, when in reality they are two separate entities, do I look oppressed to you?

3. You’re so exotic

While this may come across as a compliment it is actually diminutive to fetishize a certain aspect of someone you find to be different or foreign. Muslim women are more than just their race or religion, and to marginalize us into nothing more than traits such as olive skin or curly hair is demeaning.

4. You can't be a feminist and a Muslim

The two are not mutually exclusive. While many feel as though Muslim women need saving from the prison bars society believes we live behind, the truth is many Muslim women can be and are feminists who just like normal feminists advocate for the advancement of women. We don’t need groups like FEMEN to insult our religion in an attempt to impose their own White, Western, radical idea of feminism on us. We can be both.

5. You probably have really strict parents

And you’re probably making that assumption after meeting one Muslim girl’s parents. Mine let me come home at 3 a.m, travel around the world by myself and get piercings -- everyone's different. 

6. You’re lucky you’re in this country because…

Stop. Right. There. Please do not use the struggles of the people of my nationality in an attempt to make me feel better about myself. By saying things like “in your country a lot of girls don’t get to go to school,” or “in your country there are people dying from…” It’s point blank offensive.

7. I bet you can belly dance

I bet you watched “Arabian Nights” and assumed every Muslim girl can belly dance.

8. You’re not like most Muslim girls

Why? Because I don’t wear a hijab, have an accent and freely speak my mind? These kind of assumptions are so detrimental to perception of Muslim women and Islam. Please don’t generalize the women of a religion of 1.7 billion.

9. Why don’t you wear a hijab (headscarf)?

The hijab is undoubtedly a symbol of Islamic identity for women, but it doesn’t have to be the only one. I represent my faith in many other ways, including my writing -- and that’s sufficient enough for me. People practice their religion in different ways, and that’s okay -- a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf is not more Muslim than one who doesn’t. That’s not how religion works.

10. So are you more Muslim or American?

Again, the two are not mutually exclusive. I can still hold an American passport, be born and raised in this country and still call myself Muslim. I don’t have to “choose” between one or the other. This is a misconception that derives from the inability to see culture and religion as two separate entities. I follow American culture, but Muslim faith, so I am both Muslim and American.

12. Are you going to get an arranged marriage?

The idea that Muslim women have to get an arranged marriage is not only out-dated but inaccurate. This practice is still common in many Muslim countries, but again, it lies behind the whole idea of separating culture and religion. Many countries that have similar cultures to Muslim countries but are not Muslim practice arranged marriage too -- it's not linked to religion so much as culture.

13. You don’t have an accent at all

Please refer to #11 on the list and then understand that I have been speaking English for almost all of my life, just like many other Muslim girls born in the United States, it would be surprising if I had an accent.

14. You speak English really well

See #13.

15. You’re really *insert adjective here* for a Muslim girl

You’re really *outspoken* for a Muslim girl, you’re really *smart* for a Muslim girl, you’re really *fun* for a Muslim girl -- I’ve gotten all of these and every single time it never fails to catch me off-guard. Please don’t ever tell someone they are really something for someone of their race or religion. It marginalizes the entire religion and while it may be intended as a compliment, these kinds of microaggressions are offensive, and should be avoided at all times.

16. My other Muslim friend doesn’t do that -- why do you?

Because we’re different people and we are free to practice our faith in whatever way we choose to?

17. Does it suck not being able to eat bacon?

Wouldn’t know, don’t care to.

18. Would you ever date a *insert race here*?

Some Muslim girls date people outside of their race and religion, some don’t. It’s not your business who does and who doesn’t.

19. Do you just pretend to be Muslim?

Many are under the impression that Muslim girls who don’t wear headscarves or have assimilated into American culture only “pretend” to be Muslim for the sake of their parents or for appearances. My faith is a relationship between myself and God. I have no interest in faking appearances or showcasing my piety like a trophy. I’m an American-Muslim and proud of it, I don’t need to pretend to be anything I’m not.

Whether we want to admit it or not, many of us have felt it­––that unexplainable sadness after sex. If you’ve experienced a feeling of depression after sex, you can rest assured that it’s a lot more common than you’d expect (even if the sex is awesome). Seriously, according to a study published by the Journal of  Sexual Medicine , up to 46 percent of women reported experiencing feelings of anxiety, agitation, melancholy or sadness after sex at some point in their lifetimes. What’s going on? We recruited the help of Laurel House, author, dating and relationship expert to get the scoop on exactly what these feelings are all about. 

1. You're not ready

A huge reason why young women experience negative emotions after sex is that, quite frankly, they are having sex when they don’t really want to or are not emotionally or physically ready. Low self esteem, internalized fears or guilt, and/or emotional distance can also attribute to these feelings.

“If you feel low immediately after sex, it’s probably because you are finally allowing yourself to truly ‘feel’, and you realize that you don’t feel connected enough to have sex with this person,” Laurel says. “Even if you are in a relationship and this isn’t just a hookup, having sex and the release of hormones upon orgasm can force you to feel emotions that you have been avoiding tapping into.”

Lauren encourages collegiettes to avoid suppressing such feelings. “[This] doesn’t mean that you should indulge your grief and go deeply into it in that moment––but do make sure that you think about it at some point and be honest with yourself about where it came from and what it is telling you about where you are emotionally,” she says.

2. Hooking up just isn't for you

Feeling emotional after sex can happen to women at any age, so collegiettes are no exception! There is nothing wrong with non-commital sex, but some women aren't able to handle it as well as others. Ashley*, a junior at UCLA, has had her fair share of hookups in college­­––most of which resulted in her feeling bad about herself for the next few days. “This feeling comes mostly because I know it was just a hookup and we’re probably never going to even talk again,” she says. “It has me questioning myself and my decisions for sure.” Ashley is not alone.

Teresa*, a junior at James Madison University, thinks some women can feel sad after sex if they are not on the same page with their partner beforehand. “Once, I had sex with a guy I just met and he didn’t even ask for my number or anything before I left,” she says. “It made me upset that I was just another girl to him!” While some women are completely okay with no-commitment hookups, others are not––and it is important to find out where you stand on that ladder. 

3. Biology may be to blame

In the study published by the Journal of Sexual Medicine and Dr. Robert D Schweitzer, this post-sex sadness has a name and is referred to as postcoital dysphoria, PCD, or post-coital tristesse, PCT. It is something that can be experienced by both men and women, but is relatively unique to each individual. 

According to Laurel, PCD is totally normal and biological. When you have sex, tons of hormones––particularly dopamine and prolactin––are released that allow you to be vulnerable and tap into your true emotions. “With that, sometimes tears are shed too. You aren’t necessarily crying because you are sad, but you may be," she says.

After reaching an orgasm, a woman's dopamine level drops while her prolactin level rises. Prolactin is the hormone that women have for milk production (but men have it, too). Prolactin works to counter dopamine and shut down sexual desire, and surges of it can continue to be released up to two weeks after orgasm, according to the Entelechy Journal. So, it is possible to be sad after sex for totally biological reasons!

RELATED: Getting Attached After Sex: Myth or Fact?

4. You're not connected to your partner

Laurel's best piece of advice when it comes to sex is to connect emotionally before you connect physically––whether it is just a hook up or a significant other. “Some girls are better at shutting down or ignoring the emotional side of sex­­––others aren’t,” Laurel says.  However, she notes that you have to be honest with yourself.  “Can you truly view sex as just fun and feeling good? Truly? If not, do not do it! Check in with yourself. Be honest. Then, listen to what your gut is telling you. If you ignore it, you are hurting yourself even more,” she says. 

While you may think that only girls who are hooking up with random guys get sad after sex, this is not the case! Even girls in relationships can experience sadness after sex. Laurel recommends addressing these feelings with your partner. “Thank them for making you feel safe enough to drop your walls and tap into your vulnerability,” she says. 

Mia*, a sophomore at Millersville University, says that she protects herself from feeling discomfort by only having sex with someone she is completely comfortable with. “I know, in this generation, it may be old fashioned to make a guy wait for sex, but I never hook up the first time we hang out,” she says. “Even if it is just a fling, I still make sure I get to know the individual first­­––it makes me feel more comfortable during the experience and better about myself afterwards.” This isn't the case for everyone, but you have to know yourself and your limits.

RELATED:  5 Conversations You Need to Have Before Sex

No matter the case, if you are experiencing emotional distress after sex, you should always seek guidance from an outside source. Sex is a physical, psychological and emotional connection with someone––but what happens in the heat of the moment may not feel so great later on.  

*Names have been changed

Psychology 101 may not be the first place you normally go for dating advice. Here’s a secret though—you can use some of what you learn in class towards your advantage on the guy scene. There are reasons you fall for certain people (besides their cuteness), and once you understand the rules of attraction, you’ll be the master of making guys fall for you.

Syracuse University’s Human Sexuality and Love, Lust, and Relationship professor, Dr. Joe Fanelli says, “Initially, it’s about an attraction to someone. Then, for an interest in dating them, there has to be that desire to make a connection.”

Her Campus is here to help you make that connection. Here are some of the secrets behind the science of attraction, and how to use them to make him fall for you (take them with a grain of salt!).

1. Use your body language

Usually, but not always, physical attraction is the instigator for a conversation, or that first introduction. It may not be love at first sight, but more likely attraction at first sight.

For example, we like the fit, healthy bodies of those Calvin Klein underwear models because, “attractiveness may [unconsciously] provide a clue to health and reproductive fitness,” Fanelli says.

The hottie’s abs and chiseled chest are essentially saying, “I’d give good genes to our babies.” Just what you wanted to know on your first date, right?

Other physical attraction cues may not be so obvious.

“When it comes to chemistry, there are certain people we are drawn to because of pheromones,” Fanelli says. “These may be triggers that signal ‘my DNA is different than your DNA’.”

The pheromones (our natural ‘scent’) aren’t conscious to us, but they may be a reason that initial attraction turns into wanting something more.

Before you even say a word to him, signal your interest with subtle, non-verbal clues using your body language.

How to make it work:

According to Love Signals: A Practical Field Guide to the Body Language of Courtship, we naturally blink faster when we are emotionally excited. Bat those eyelashes to let him know you’re interested without saying a word. People also, “lean toward whatever – or whomever – they find most important at the time,” according to Love Signals. Use this trick and slightly lean towards him, whether it’s in your chair in class, or while standing at the bar.

2. Be a copy-cat

According to Fanelli, similarity to a person is another important factor in attraction. We like people who are similar to ourselves. It’s that butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling you get when, the more you talk with someone, the more you find out you have in common.

“These matches may be conscious, for example two athletes, or people with similar extracurricular interests, or unconscious, like finding out you enjoy the same music,” Fanelli says.

If you’re meeting him for the first time, use the “chameleon effect” from Love Signals: mirroring movements and gestures shows you’re interested. In one study from The Journal of Nonhuman Behavior, researchers found that it’s not just mimicking of movements that indicate interest, but also timing.  If he moves from slouching to sitting up straight, a few seconds later do the same.

How to make it work:

To use mimicking, take a sip of your drink when he does, copy the way his hands are resting on the table, or pick up on his words or phrases and repeat them later in the conversation. Remember the timing aspect as well: try to copy his movements sooner rather than later, or it won’t come across as “synchronized.”  But don’t make it too obvious!

Similarity, in terms of personality, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be mirror images of each other (in fact that might get a little boring). The important thing here is being open to each other’s interests.  If he likes hockey, watch a game with him at least once or twice. If he’s a country music guy, and you can’t get enough hip-hop, well, at least you can both appreciate a strong love for music.

3. Keep him close by

You see him once, and think he’s cute. See him twice, and you smile at each other. See him a third time, and you’ll want to say hi. This is the basic idea behind the attraction theory of proximity.

“We like familiarity,” Fanelli says. “If you’re attracted to something, the more often you see it, the more attracted you’ll become.”

In one study of a 320-person dormitory, students evaluated their ‘liking’ of peers. The study found that students liked better those who were near them physically (closer on floors, or had rooms nearby). Dormcest ring a bell?

How to make it work:

Similarity may also play a role here. Wherever you meet him, the gym, the library, or class, if you both frequent the same spots, you’re likely to run into each other again. This also means, if you hit it off one night, make sure to let him know you want to hang out again, since, (now we know!) the more you see each other, the more likely you are to fall for him, and him for you! But, no, please don’t stalk him.

4. Spill the beans

Revealing things about who you are can help raise your attractiveness. It creates a closeness to that person, and lets him feel closer to you.

A study published by the American Sociological Association, found that “bestowing secrets upon a certain someone straightforwardly implies trust and a willingness to strike up a relationship,” and that withholding information about yourself “implies just the reverse.”

“Self-disclosure is really an important part of the process of intimacy,” Fanelli says. “This might be telling how many siblings you have, that you come from a small town, or that you like jazz music,” he says. “You have to learn to trust the person, before you can move to deeper levels of self disclosure.”

These deeper levels may be telling him your goals in life or what makes you who you are. But, “revealing too much too soon can also be a distancing move,” Fanelli says. Be careful not to scare him off by telling him your life story on day one.

How to make it work:

On the first meeting, tell him about yourself first. As Fanelli suggested, start by sharing the more basic things: your likes, dislikes, where you’re from. The casual, “what year are you? What’s your major?” lines always to the trick to get the ball rolling as well. Then let him do the same – the disclosure should always come from both sides! The more that you share, the closer he’ll feel to you and the more he will be willing to share. As the relationship continues, give each other the more serious, big-picture things.

5. Get his adrenaline pumping

If you want to make him fall for you, take him on a roller coaster. It may not be that simple, but Fanelli says adrenaline is sometimes misattributed to arousal.

“Excitement generates a level of attractiveness,” Fanelli says. “People who experience similar arousal find each other more attractive.”

Fanelli says you don’t need to go on a bungee-jumping date to make this happen though. “Any experience that generates excitement can be arousing.”

In one study, for example, males interacted with females on either a high-suspension bridge, or on level ground. They were more sexually aroused by the females on the bridge, indicating that they misattributed the feelings of physical arousal being on the high bridge, with attraction to the female.

“People who experience similar arousal find each other more attractive,” Fanelli explains.

How to make it work:

It could be as simple as a competitive board game, Fanelli says, or a pick-up game of basketball. “Watching a scary movie, could even be arousing and enhance levels of attraction,” he adds. Do things that are exciting. Take a run together, play Monopoly, or watch a thriller like Black Swan or Source Code.

6. Make him a cuddle fan

When you first fall for him, he’s usually all you can think about. Fanelli says this is part of the early ‘lust’ experience of attraction.

“It’s the release of dopamine and endorphins in your brain,” he says. “It’s a cocaine-kind of rush – part of a chemical reaction.”

This gives us almost an obsession with the other person, where you’re always thinking about them, and wishing to be with them. This chemical rush can’t last for long, though.

How to make it work:

“After about two months, other reactions take place,” Fanelli says.  These are less lust-based, and more comfort-based. Cuddling is one way to keep the chemicals flowing, which Fanelli says, makes you feel warm in the closeness of that other person. The chemical oxytocin is released during cuddling which brings feelings of attraction. Pop in a movie and get your cuddle on!

7. Fanelli’s attraction formula: Find your own happiness

Fanelli says that ultimately, attraction comes down to the fact that interesting people are interesting to be with.

“Rather than spending your time trying to lure him in, remember that people who are comfortable with themselves are interesting because they’re doing things that make them happy,” he says, “and that’s very attractive.”

When you’re doing something that ‘turns you on’ (whether it’s playing music, or playing sports), “that is a turn on to other people,” Fanelli says.

Before you worry about attracting him, make sure you find yourself attractive. “Be yourself, and do things that make you happy,” Fanelli says.

Sources:
Dr. Joe Fanelli, Love, Lust, and Relationships professor, Syracuse University
Some Evidence for Heightened Sexual Attraction Under Conditions of High Anxiety
Love Signals: A Practical Field Guide to the Body Language of Courtship
Proximity and Peership: Bases of Balance in Interpersonal Attraction
The Courtship Dance: Patterns of Nonverbal Synchronization in Opposite-Sex Encounters
Personalistic Self-Disclosure and Attraction: Basis for Relationship or Scare Resource

In all our years of watching The Bachelor, we’ve never seen anything like last night’s episode. Yes, we’re talking about that awkward moment when Ben told both Lauren B.andJoJo that he’s in love with them. JAW. DROP.

We think it’s fair to say everyone watching had these 40 thoughts.

1. We better prepare ourselves now. The preview hinted that Ben’s going to drop the L-bomb on two women.
2. But that was probably just really misleading editing, right?
3. Ben would never do that. He’s America’s sweetheart.
4. Surely Ben won’t tell Caila he loves her. This date is beyond awkward.
5. We can literally hear crickets chirping.
6. Bullet dodged—Ben did not tell Caila he loves her.
7. One down, two to go.
8. Guess this could still happen.
9. This date with Lauren B. is adorbs.
10. Oh look at the baby sea turtles!
11. Cannot get distracted by the cuteness. Is he going to say it or not?
12. Oh my gosh, he said it and our hearts literally just exploded.
13. They could not be a better match.
14. She’s the one; we can end this season here and now.
15. And wait…he’s not just going to say it once.
16. He’s saying it over and over again. SO SWEET!
17. Man, his date with JoJo is going to be totally weird.
18. How can he go from lovey-dovey time with Lauren B. to a one-on-one with JoJo?
19. Hmm, looks pretty dang easy for him actually.
20. Oh no—he’s got that love look in his eyes again.
21. Is he going to do it? Whew, don’t think so.
22. And now JoJo is telling Ben she’s in love with him.
23. And she’s just as shocked as we are when he says he loves her, too.
24. WTF JUST HAPPENED?
25. WHO IS ALLOWING THIS?
26. WHERE IS CHRIS HARRISON?
27. He just keeps saying it again and again.
28. Ben sure is loose with the ILYs, isn’t he?
29. This cannot be happening.
30. He’s going to crush one of these girls when this is all over.
31. Could he just keep dating both of them?
32. Is that something we’d be okay with if everyone’s feelings were spared?
33. Oh crap, completely forgot Caila is still here.
34. Poor girl, she won’t be for long.
35. And she’s gone.
36. Well, looks like Ben is really on board with this “in love with two women at the same time” thing.
37. This is unlike anything we’ve ever seen on this show. Not kidding.
38. Where do we go from here?
39. Ew, no. Group hug at the rose ceremony? Really, Ben?
40. Well, this is about to get real complicated.

Our collegiettes know it best: navigating high school, college, and post-grad life is nothing short of complicated, particularly when we account for the hot conversation topics that are the female body and sex. Contemporary sex culture—saturated in sexting, casual hook-ups and Internet porn— heavily influences the day-to-day decisions that we make (oftentimes subconsciously) and plays a leading role in what is perhaps the most anxiety-inducing stage of our lives.

We know our collegiettes get it; they experience it firsthand. But did you know that only 13 states require that sex education be medically accurate, or that 70 percent of 16-24 year olds wish they’d known more about relationships and the emotional side of sex before their first sexual encounter? Though media seemingly often focuses on campus violence, were you aware that one in five college females are raped, but that only an estimated 11 to 20 percent report the crime to authorities? Did you know that in a 2014 study, a third of college men agreed they would “force a woman to have sexual intercourse” if they knew they could get away with it, but that that percentage dropped to 13.6 percent when the word "rape" was used in the question?

In GIRLS & SEX: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape, author Peggy Orenstein offers a clear-eyed, timely and authentic picture of the sexual landscape girls face in high school and college today. In her book, Orenstein reveals to girls and their parents comprehensive and in-depth facts about what teens and young adults experience daily, how they negotiate those experiences, and how they feel about them. Orenstein delved into the depths of teenage sexuality through copious adolescent interviews and dozens of consultations with psychologists, professors and experts. Her research exposes surprising, frequently upsetting, and always illuminating realities of collegiette’s sexual encounters in the modern world, and her writing indulges us in the scary truths of topics such as The Alcohol Effect, The Virginity Sweepstakes, The Tyranny of “Hot”, The Assault Epidemic and The Hookup Culture.

Orenstein is the New York Times bestselling author of Cinderella Ate My Daughter, a contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine, has been published in various publications including USA Today and The New Yorker, and has appeared on myriad shows like Today and CNN. Basically, she knows what’s up. GIRLS & SEX prompts us to consider how the personal realms of our lives are actually still incredibly political, and Orenstein poses this thought-provoking question: how can girls achieve equality in the classroom or the boardroom if they don’t have it in the bedroom?

We’ve partnered with Orenstein and HarperCollins Publishers to bring ten winners a signed hardcover copy of GIRLS & SEX by Peggy Orenstein, valued at $26.99 each, before it officially goes on sale on March 29. As students, mentors and members in society, it is our job to participate in a candid dialogue about the sex culture that we live in today. This begins, of course, with becoming well informed, and there is no better way to do so than with Orenstein’s latest, GIRLS & SEX.

Enter below now for your chance to win! For more from Peggy Orenstein, be sure to follow her Twitter and Facebook pages.

GIRLS & SEX

Over the years, MAC Cosmetics has teamed up with tons of well-known celebs in order to create one-of-a-kind lip products. Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, and Rihanna are just a few glam stars who have partnered with the makeup brand in the past. Recently, MAC announced a brand new collaboration—with Caitlyn Jenner! In April, the company will unveil a new shade inspired by Caitlyn, appropriately called Finally Free. The shade will be available beginning on April 7, with the proceeds going to the MAC AIDS Fund Transgender Initiative.

Caitlyn could have chosen to partner with any makeup brand, but she had specific reasons for choosing MAC. "MAC was the first to come to me, and a company, I realized, would really make a big commitment. I knew the VIVA GLAM campaigns; I saw that the proceeds were going, in those cases, mainly to AIDS and HIV causes, and I was wondering if they were interested in doing something specifically geared toward trans issues because we need funding. MAC is a global company. It’s in places around the world where not just trans issues, but women’s issues, are a major subject that you have to talk about," she explained. Through MAC, Caitlyn hopes to help increase funding within the transgender community, while using MAC's global influence to reach out to other parts of the world.

"Not only is it the good stuff, but MAC also has the willingness corporately to use its reach to make a difference, to change people’s minds. To help raise funds for HIV and AIDS, and in our case, for trans issues," Caitlyn said of her decision to collaborate with MAC. Not only will her lipstick shade increase funds for the transgender community, but it'll also allow Caitlyn to live out a dream that she's had for quite some time. "And honestly, my ultimate fantasy—I never thought in a million years that it would ever happen—was to get involved with a makeup company." 

Although the MAC has yet to release a photo of the lipstick shade, Caitlyn hinted at what makeup-lovers can expect. The best part? This shade is totally versatile, and can be worn with your everyday outfits—no need to glam up! "I wanted a lipstick that would be universal, suited to more people, and was an everyday lipstick, not just a high-glam, once-in-a-while kind of lipstick," she said.

Caitlin's ultimate goal is to spread awareness and help out a greater cause. "To be honest, I want people to use it every day so they have to buy more," she said. "I want to raise a lot of money. It’s very simple." BRB while we start saving up money to buy Finally Free when it hits the shelves!

Spring break is right around the corner, and if you’re lucky, that means friends, sun, sand and bikinis. However, after a winter of eating junk food and binging on Netflix, you might not feel quite bikini-ready. If you’ve been slacking on healthy eating and regular workouts, now is the time to get back into shape! Whether you want to tone up everywhere or focus on one specific area, here are some fast ways to get toned and look your best in time for spring break!

1. Crab push-ups

We all want biceps that can rival Jennifer Aniston’s, but arms can be a difficult area to target. Crab push-ups are a great way to tone multiple arm muscles at once for maximum results.

1. Get in the “crab walk” position: sit down on the floor with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, with your palms on the floor and your fingertips facing inward towards your body.
2. Push up with your arms to raise your body off the ground.
3. Slowly lower yourself back down, stopping just short of touching the ground, and repeat.
4. Do 20 reps.

These can be challenging at first, so try starting out doing 10 at a time if you need to, and adding more as you get stronger!

2. Arm circles

Arm circles are an incredibly simple and effective way to tone your entire upper arm. To challenge your muscles, use wrist weights or hold a small weight (one to three pounds) in your hands.

1. Keeping your arms straight, hold them out to your sides so your body makes a “T” shape.
2. Move your arms in wide, slow circles.
3. Complete about 25 reps (one full circle is a rep).

3. Reverse crunch

Ab workouts can get repetitive and monotonous, so change it up by introducing some new exercises! The lower abs are a difficult area to target just by doing crunches and sit-ups, so the reverse crunch is a great way to tone this area.

1. Lay on the ground with your knees slightly bent (as if you were doing a sit-up) and your arms at your sides.
2. Raise your legs until your hips are slightly off the floor.
3. Slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
4. Complete 15-20 reps.

4. T-bends

T-bends are a move that can help you whittle your waist and get that coveted hourglass figure.

1. Using a pair of light weights (about three to five pounds), hold your arms out in a T-shape.
2. Keeping your arms straight out, slowly bend at the waist to the side, and then return to the starting position.
3. Repeat on the other side.
4. Complete 10-15 reps.

5. Warrior I pose

Yoga poses can be extremely effective for toning. The Warrior I pose is a great way to tone your legs and give you a great head-to-toe stretch at the same time!

1. Raise your hands above your head and arch your back.
2. Lunge forward with one leg, so your knee is at a 90-degree angle to the ground.
3. Hold this pose for 30 seconds, and then repeat on your other leg.

6. Side leg raises

To tone the muscles on your hips and the outsides of your legs, which are often hard to target during regular exercise routines, consider trying side leg raises.

1. Lay on your left side with your legs straight out and your left arm cushioning your head for support.
2. Slowly lift your right leg, keeping it straight, until it is at about a 45-degree angle from the ground.
3. Hold the position for a few seconds, and then slowly lower your leg, but don’t bring it all the way down.
4. Repeat 15 times on each side.

To make this exercise even more challenging and effective, try adding ankle weights.

7. Medicine ball squats

Squats are one of the most effective moves for toning your booty to make sure you’ll rock your bikini bottom! To make a basic squat even more effective, incorporate a medicine ball into the move.

1. Choose a mid-weight medicine ball, eight to 12 pounds depending on your preferences, and hold it out from your chest.
2. Squat down so your knees are at a 45 degree angle to the floor, making sure your knees don’t go past your toes.
3. Slowly raise yourself back upright.
4. Complete 20-25 reps.

The added weight from the medicine ball will make your muscles work harder, leading to faster results! Squats can often be difficult to do correctly, so try watching this tutorial to ensure you have perfect form and won’t injure yourself.

There’s always pressure to get into perfect shape for spring break, but don’t stress out too much. Eat right, work out, try some of these toning exercises, smile and you’re sure to rock your bikini no matter what!

Yesterday, Adele kicked off her world tour in Belfast, Ireland—and following leap year tradition, when women are known to propose, the British singer called out to her audience for any girls wanting to propose.

Interacting with her crowd in a way only Adele does, she invited fans on stage—first, singing happy birthday to one girl (um, best birthday ever!)—before a second fan took the stage to propose to her boyfriend, Neil. Apparently, she'd tried proposing to him already, to which he'd said, "maybe in a little while." But Adele can be pretty convincing. Not taking no for an answer, she had the crowd join her in a chant urging Neil to say yes.

You can watch the proposal at the 2:20 mark:

As you probably guessed, the boyfriend did say yes (we think?)—and naturally, Adele invited herself to the wedding.

On Monday, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas asked a question during Monday’s Supreme Court arguments in which two men challenged the law banning them from gun ownership due to their domestic violence charges, according to NBC News. This is crazy news, because Justice Thomas has not asked a question in court in 10 years. He just broke a decade of silence.

Justice Thomas asked a series of questions of a government lawyer, Ilana Eisenstein, who was defending a federal law stating that anyone with a misdemeanor from a domestic violence conviction cannot own a gun. He asked, "Can you give me another area where a misdemeanor violation suspends a constitutional right?"

Justice Thomas then followed up: “Can you think of another constitutional right that can be suspended based upon a misdemeanor violation of a state law?" As Justice Thomas and Eisenstein debated, NBC reports that Thomas asked ten questions overall, shocking courtroom attendees who were used to the Justice’s quiet demeanor.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Justice Thomas often remained silent as a way of respect for the lawyers, in order to not add to the interruptions that they usually receive during proceedings. This all comes after news of the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, who was well known for being outspoken in the courtroom.

We've all seen the hilarious "Hotling Bling" memes and GIFs, but this new parody created by Planned Parenthood NYC has got to be one of the most original interpretations of the song. In the video, a teenager imitates Drake, incorporating all the dance moves that we know and love (and his impression is pretty spot on).

Although the video is a parody, it should stilll be taken seriously because it addresses a topic in a way that young people can understand. Throughout the video, the organization urges viewers to learn more about how "Planned Parenthood can help you protect your sexual and reproductive health in a safe, confidential environment, regardless of your age or ability to pay." Moreover, getting information is actually easier than young people might assume. In fact, all it takes is a text! For more information about Planned Parenthood, text "nowuknow" to 77948, and be sure to check out the video below!

It's 2016, and the age of "marrying up" is over. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in "assortative mating," where people marry other people like themselves. In the past, women were encouraged to seek out potential breadwinners to marry. However, as more women started earning college degrees, building careers and marrying later in life, they looked for love and compatibility in marriage instead of just the highest salary.

According to the The New York Times, while this change in marital tradition seems awesome, it's also having some unforseen consequences. With the existence of "power couples" on the rise in the U.S., the class divide between rich and poor has been widening.

So why is this change in marriage behavior happening? According to research cited in the Times, when you want to marry someone you enjoy hanging out with, that usually leads to marrying someone who's a lot like you. They'll probably have a similar education background, as well as similar career aspirations. And if you're both educated and ambitious, you're likely to end up making a lot of money.

What does this mean? Well, it means society has to take a hard look at gender norms as women start earning more money than their husbands. And it also means thinking seriously about income inequality, as rich power couples end up passing their wealth along to their children, creating an even more stratified society. Marriage equality is a positive change, but we've also got to think about what other areas of society it's affecting, and what we can do to mitigate any new inequality it might be creating.

Energy drinks have been known to have their fair share of health-related issues. With studies confirming that drinks like Red Bull can give you wings with a side of heart problems, it's no wonder energy drinks have such a sketchy reputation. One college campus has even banned the sale of energy drinks, but the reasoning for the ban has gotten them some pushback.

Beginning on March 7, Middlebury College in Vermont plans to stop selling energy drinks to students on campus. Campus officials are claiming that the drinks are linked to "problematic behavior" such as alcohol abuse, "high-risk sexual activity," and drunk driving. 

"Energy drink consumption facilitates unhealthy work habits such as prolonged periods of sleeplessness, contributing to a campus culture of stress and unsustainable study habits," reads a sign posted inside the school's dining hall, according to NBC News. 

Despite resistence from some students, Dan Detora, the executive director of dining hall services, is sticking by the ban.

"I see it as the equivalent of banning cigarettes," he told NBC. 

According to Detora and his research, energy drinks have been linked to heart problems, seizures and liver damage. But did they really have to connect risky sex with energy drinks? That's a pretty tenuous connection, and seems to shift the focus off solving the root problems that cause issues like campus sexual assault.

The drinks aren't banned from campus altogether, as student are allowed to consume them on campus. They just have to find a different merchant to buy them from. Plus, there's still plenty of coffee on campus.

El Pais Tentaciones just caught the wrath of Lena Dunham after the Spanish newspaper featured an image that the director and Girls star claims featured "more than the average photoshop."

On Monday, Dunham posted the cover photo to her Instagram, thanking the paper for featuring her while also taking a not-so-subtle jab at the publishers due to the way that the photo was edited. 

The picture in question was taken in 2013 by Raven Afanador and featured in a spread for Entertainment Weekly. On Tuesday, the editors of El Pais published an open letter addressed to Dunham in which they denied changing anything about the photo, claiming that they only used the original image that they later received from the Corbis Agency. 

"Those who know and follow our magazine know that we do not use Photoshop or other digital tools to change the physique of the people featured on our cover or inside stories," the letter reads. "This time we just cropped the original image to fit the format of our cover."

Soon after, the actress Instagrammed the photo again, this time with an apologetic caption. 

"[But] it's a weird feeling to see a photo and not know if it's your own body anymore (and I'm pretty sure that will ever be my thigh width but I honestly can't tell what's been slimmed and what hasn't.)," she wrote. "I'm not blaming anyone (y'know, except for society at large.) I have a long and complicated history with retouching. I wanna live in this wild world and play the game and get my work seen, and I also want to be honest about who I am and what I stand for."

Dunham's apology is pretty long but she goes on to blame several other possible reasons as to why she slammed the newspaper in the first place, including the criticism of Hillary Clinton, whom she has publicly endorsed, and turning 30. 

Raven Afanador still has yet to comment on the issue. 

As Mad Max: Fury Road's costume designer, Jenny Beavan, proudly approached the stage of the Dolby Theatre to accept her Academy Award for Best Costumes a few faces (read: men) in the crowd decided not to clap for her. Maybe they weren't fans of the Oscar-winning film's costumes, maybe they felt that there should have been a different, more qualified winner, or maybe it was for a more completely ridiculous reason. We'll go with the latter.

In a Vine posted shortly after the ceremony on Sunday, several men can seen throwing some openly judgmental looks at Beavan, who was dressed in a leather jacket and pants, and refusing to clap for her as she accepted her award. Uh, was she not dressed to their standards, or what? 

Beavan later addressed her outfit, simply claiming that all she wanted was to feel comfortable. 

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm really dressed up," she said. 

Oh, Hollywood.

Endless finger pointing has been happening regarding a group of 30 black student protesters at Valdosta State University who were reported kicked out of a Donald Trump campus campaign rally on Monday, according to USA Today. The students claim they were sitting silently in protest when they were escorted out.

“We didn’t plan to do anything,” Tahjila Davis, one of the visibly upset and tearful protesters, told USA Today. The students claimed that their only intent was the watch the rally in silent protest.

“The only reason we were given was that Mr. Trump did not want us there," Brooke Gladney, another protester, said of the incident.

According to the Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks, “There is no truth to that whatsoever. The campaign had no knowledge of this incident.”

The Secret Service and the Valdosta police both deny throwing the students out of the rally.

Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress told USA Today that the students "were told the leave the PE complex by the Trump detail,” but said he thought it was the right decision as the students had allegedly been "disruptive."

The incident came just one day before Super Tuesday, the day of primaries that could predict the Republican presidential nominee. Like it or not, it’s looking more and more likely that it will be Trump who will receive the nomination.

The FDA has just announced that surgery-free sterilization device for woman, Essure, can have some nasty side effects, according to BuzzFeed News. These include reported pain, perforation of the uterus and pregnancy. CNN reports that Essure will now require a "black box warning" label, meaning that using it is extremely dangerous.

Because of the new FDA restrictions, the company that manufactures Essure will now be required to complete extensive studies on the product.

Many women say that the strong warning that the FDA has given simply isn’t enough. Essure has been on the market for fourteen years and has since accumulated a coalition of 27,000 women against the product on Facebook.

“We are outraged that it appears as if the FDA is going to leave Essure on the market,” the group said. “These studies could take several years, and leaving the device on the market will only put more women’s lives at potential risk.”

The product itself is a metal coiled that it non-surgically inserted into the fallopian tubes. The body builds up scar tissue around that coil, which blocks sperm from ascending the fallopian tubes and fertilizing eggs. A lot of women choose this option because there's no surgery involved, which definitely seems like a good reason. After all, why go under the knife if it's not necessary? But according to one study cited by BuzzFeed News, women who have Essure are actually 10 times more likely to need follow-up surgeries than women who have tube-tying surgery in the first place. That's upsetting news. 

What’s even worse about Essure is that because it’s meant to be a permanent birth control device, there’s no clear protocol on how to remove it if problems arise. Extreme measures can be taken to remove it, such as hysterectomy or removal of the uterus and ovaries—more surgeries that the women who chose this product were hoping to avoid.

"I feel as if the FDA truly failed these women," Madris Tomes, a former FDA contractor, told CNN. "My hope was that they would recommend a recall. How can we trust the FDA to make good decisions regarding safe and effective devices?"

Tomes has been analyzing FDA data on Essure, and presented the agendy with data showing that hundreds of women have had miscarriages, stillborn pregancies, and other problems while using the device, causing more than 300 fetuses to die.

For now, this definitely doesn’t sound look like the most promising birth control option.