Do you really know?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is euthanasia? Mar 20, 2021

Show notes

What is euthanasia? Thanks for asking!

Euthanasia is the act of intentionally ending a person’s life in order to relieve their suffering. The practice is often confused with assisted suicide but there is a key difference. When it comes to euthanasia, medical practictioners carry out the final deed, whereas with assisted suicide it’s the patient who commits the act.

Laws on euthanasia and assisted suicide vary across the world, and it’s a complex ethical subject. The general trend in the Western world is that people are becoming more open to the idea of legal euthanasia. It’s being debated in a number of places.

In the countries where euthanasia is legal, how is it carried out? So where is euthanasia actually allowed then? What are some of the main arguments for and against euthanasia? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

What is the baby bust?

What is period poverty?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the baby bust? Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

What is the baby bust? Thanks for asking!

You’ve almost certainly heard of the baby boom, which saw birth rates soar in many countries following the end of the Second World War. Well, we’re currently experiencing the opposite of that thanks in part to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many observers have labelled this a baby bust.

Are you saying there’s been a significant drop in the number of births? What are the likely consequences of this baby bust? Are governments taking action to stop this trend? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

What is the three-finger salute?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is period poverty? Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

What is period poverty? Thanks for asking!

Menstrual hygiene products are an essential expense, but many women on low incomes find that the cost is out of their reach. This is known as period poverty and it affects more people than you might think, even in developed countries. A survey in the UK found that over 40% of 14-21 year olds had used items like socks, tissues or paper as a makeshift replacement for sanitary products.

Activists have been campaigning for a number of years now to bring about change. They see period poverty as a form of injustice and want to put an end to it once and for all.

Surely tampons and sanitary pads don’t cost that much, do they? Why are periods such a taboo subject? Have these campaigns led to any concrete change so far? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

What is the three-finger salute?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is newspeak? Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

What is newspeak? Thanks for asking!

Lockdown, patient zero, social distancing and PCR tests - the last year has seen the emergence of many new terms due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Some have labelled this vocabulary Coronaspeak. At Do You Really Know, we’ve covered several such topics to decipher their meaning. But today we will be discussing a different type of newspeak. The idea of newspeak didn’t emerge at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic; rather it was invented by George Orwell in his dystopian novel 1984. The book sheds light on the mechanisms behind modern-day thought control.

So what is newspeak like as a language? Can it be learned? How is newspeak relevant in the 21st century? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

What is the Matilda Effect?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the three-finger salute? Mar 13, 2021

Show notes

What is the three-finger salute? Thanks for asking!

Since the start of February, protesters in Myanmar have been pictured making a three-finger gesture as a symbol of opposition to the country’s recent coup d’état. They’ve taken to the streets to protest against what they see as an attack on democracy.

So why are the protesters using the three-finger salute?

Well it might look like a scout salute but it actually comes from the Hunger Games series of books and films. The story sees heroine Katniss Everdeen lead a revolt against the rich, sadistic elite in the nation of Panem. District 12 villagers use the three-finger salute as a symbol of unity. The franchise met huge success in Asia upon the release of the first film in 2012. And the three-finger salute was actually used in Thailand in the aftermath of a coup d’état in 2014. It even ended up being made illegal. It reappeared at Hong Kong protests in 2019 and 2020, as a symbol of resistance against the Chinese government. Some activists have suggested the three raised fingers represent the French Revolution ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity.

Are you saying we can compare what’s going on in Myanmar to Hunger Games? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

What is the Matilda Effect?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is class-passing? Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

What is class-passing? Thanks for asking!

Everybody loves a rags-to-riches story, but the reality is social mobility is far from easy. Class-passers are those who manage to successfully improve their status and navigate their new life as part of a higher socioeconomic group.

To understand class-passing, let’s first discuss the idea of social classes. Within our societies, people are divided according to factors like their family background, education, wealth, occupation and income. Most commonly these categories are described as the lower, middle and upper classes. A person’s life path and opportunities are often defined by their social background. For example, just 26% of poorer school pupils in the UK went on to higher education in 2017, compared to 44% among their better-off peers.

Is there a surefire way to climb the social ladder? Or do I just need to hope for a lucky break? Shouldn’t class-passers be proud to have made it? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

What is the Matilda Effect?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Matilda Effect? Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

What is the Matilda Effect? Thanks for asking!

Imagine humanity only using half the brains at its disposal to solve the many scientific challenges it faces in the present and future. While such an idea might seem crazy, it’s not so far from reality. In recognition of International Women’s Day, which took place on Monday, let’s discuss a form of bias known as the Matilda Effect.

Over the years, very few female scientists have got the same level of acclaim as their male counterparts, whether it be in the history books or on award winner lists. As a simple illustration, if you ask someone to name a female scientist, Marie Curie may well be the first name they come up with. Even so, her husband is often referenced as having contributed to her work, and she is rarely referred to by her last name alone.

Where did the name Matilda effect come from? Do you have any examples of forgotten female scientists? What can we do to help these female scientists be remembered? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: