This is an excellent piece of writing — easily an example of the very best Medium writers have to offer:

• Your prose is simultaneously sophisticated, intelligible, and easy to read;
• You reference lots of evidence to support your claims;
• You ‘hook’ the reader by beginning with a personal anecdote, which opens up space for the teaching elements of your article to follow;
• You show a vulnerability and honesty in your writing that’s neither self-indulgent nor alienating to the reader;
• You discuss ideas in a logical, step-by-step way that leads the reader on a journey — part science, part personal reflection — that makes sense every step of the way; and
• The substantive discussion of your article is both fascinating and socially important/valuable.

You’ve written an exceptional essay here, Zara. It was a pleasure to read and highly informative. It deserves far more attention than it’s received so far. Very well done!