Editors’ Note It has been a while since we last gathered in the BSB at 8pm on a Sunday for some fat chats, and we have missed you all LOADS. A lot has changed in the past few months and our lives/Catz/the world are very different to how they were back in March. Something that hasn’t changed though is our passion and determination to get the Catz community (and anybody who’s interested tbh) talking openly about important issues facing women* at university. WHAT IS ‘CATZ CALLS OUT’? For those unaware, Catz Calls Out (CCO) is a student-run society based at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford (Catz.) We meet every two weeks to talk about the challenges caused by sexism and inappropriate ‘normalised’ behaviours faced by members of Catz. Our meetings revolve around set topics (past meetings have looked at ‘slutshaming,’ and ‘the role of gender in the world of academia.’) Everyone in college is welcome to attend as issues discussed involve all gender identities, whether they wish to share their thoughts, or just sit and listen.
WHY AN ONLINE ZINE? WHAT IS A ZINE? You may be thinking, why have we made an online zine? And what is a zine? Well, having only started CCO in January of 2020, it’s safe to say that COVID-19 definitely messed up our plans. We had talked about making our Trinity meetings more varied in their activities and wanted to promote gentle activism in the form of self-expressive arts (letter-writing, poster-making, drawing etc.) Zines are homemade magazines used to share information that is viewed as too niche or controversial for mainstream media (there is a strong feminist tradition in zine making - see the ‘Riot Grrrl’ movement!) Zines are artsy, creative and full of strong, opinionated self-expression, so it seemed like a perfect way to combine our original plans for Trinity term meetings with the virtual Trinity situation. Additionally, we felt that 1) people who previously may have been hesitant about attending our meetings may feel more comfortable contributing anonymously to a zine (meaning we get more input from the Catz community), and 2) the online platform of the zine would mean that more people, who may not have come to our meetings before, would be able to see the contents of our discussion.
WHY HAVE WE CHOSEN THESE TOPICS? CONSENT was the founding premise of CCO so it was an obvious choice of subject for our zine. We were unhappy about the inappropriate behaviours that (mostly) women* were experiencing at university and wanted a safe place to discuss and tackle these issues. We want a college environment that is founded on R.E.S.P.E.C.T, and the first step in encouraging this is establishing clear boundaries. We then chose to look at TOXIC MASCULINITY because it was a conversation that kept cropping up in our meetings that people seemed keen to talk about. At first, we were apprehensive to address it in the zine - was it our place as women* to be leading a discussion about toxic masculinity? Could we actually fully understand it? After looking at the poll results, we realised that it is an issue that affects all gender identities and that our platform could be used as a forum to share different perspectives, and ultimately help make our community a more supportive and respectful place.
Our final choice of topic, WOMEN* SUPPORTING WOMEN*, arose from our experiences in college too. This October marked 100 years of women* being allowed to study at Oxford, so it seems only natural that we marked the occasion by celebrating the women* in our lives, and how best to uplift and empower each other in a historically male-dominated environment.
WHERE HAS ALL THE DATA COME FROM? HOW HAS IT BEEN USED? Our meetings acted as a space that allowed all members of the community to speak about the issues raised and make their voices heard in a safe place. Therefore, it made sense that our zine was driven by the voices of as many students who wanted to get involved, rather than just writing from our point of view. We released a poll at the start of Trinity term, asking Catz students for their thoughts on our chosen topics. Below is a breakdown of the data received. Of the 64 responses: 37 (57.8%) identified as female, 26 (40.6%) as male, and 1 (1.6%) as preferred not to say 33 (51.6%) were first years, 26 (40.6%) were second years, 4 (6.3%) were third years and 1 (1.6%) were fourth years. We used our poll not only to obtain statistics on certain topics, but also to invite people to share their thoughts and experiences anonymously. We believed it was important to continue CCO’s spirit of initiating and facilitating discussion so we have used the poll responses to drive our zine, to make sure we stay true to the Catz community and are not manipulating the narrative. Responses remain unedited for the most part, asides from cutting to make space for other responses. A handful have been summarised to avoid identification of specific parties and preserve anonymity.
FINAL WORDS Creating this zine has been a labour of love and so rewarding for us. The process has allowed us to explore different perspectives, confront and challenge internalised prejudices that exist within so many, as well as just learn more about topics that affect us all in college. This zine is a display of Catz viewpoints, written and compiled by those within our community. We are grateful to everyone who contributed and ask that as readers, you embrace all topics with an open mind, and that you respect and give time to everyone’s thoughts and opinions. We hope you enjoy reading the zine and find it interesting!
Zara Small and Maya Dhillon EDITORS IN CHIEF
Contents Consent 2
WHAT IS CONSENT?
3
IS CONSENT GENDERED?
4
TAKING A ONE NIGHT STAND - ANONYMOUS SUBMISSION
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IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT RUINING THE MOOD, YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT RAPE - ZARA SMALL
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CATZ ON CONSENT
Toxic Masculinity 10
HAVE YOU SEEN TOXIC MASCULINITY IN COLLEGE?
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DON'T YOU KNOW THAT IT'S TOXIC? - ANONYMOUS SUBMISSION
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TOXIC MASCULINITY AND GENDER
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PREVENTING TOXIC MASCULINITY
Women* Supporting Women* 19
"UGH, SHE'S SO MUCH BETTER THAN ME!"
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"NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS!"
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THE INFLUENCE OF THE MALE GAZE - ANONYMOUS SUBMISSION
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LISTEN TO HER - ANONYMOUS SUBMISSION
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THE BIG, BAD, FEMINIST PLAYLIST
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DEAR ME...
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LIFT EACH OTHER UP!
Signing off... FURTHER RESOURCES This zine is a collective effort with contributions from Zara Small, Maya Dhillon, Rachael Parker-Allen, Niamh Bradford, and additional anonymous article authors. The zine was written using insight and direct quotations from Catz students (2017-20) responding to an anonymous poll written by Catz Calls Out. The zine section ‘Toxic masculinity’ had additional input from Tom Graham, Matt Emmett and Ollie Spacey (Catz male welfare reps 2018-2020). Art and design contributors are Eloise Newman, Freya Bolton, Dali Dunn, Iris Petrillo, and Rosa Haworth.
Consent
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What is consent? This section of the zine focuses on consent and the experiences of members of the Catz community. While this topic welcomes discussion, it is very, very important to emphasise that both the definition and necessity of consent are non-negotiable. Consent is needed for all sexual acts of any kind, in any heterosexual or LQBTQIA+ encounter.
SEX WITHOUT CONSENT IS RAPE. Ensure that all sexual encounters are consensual. Consent cannot be coerced, pressured, forced, or assumed (even in long term relationships). Blurred lines do not exist: if there’s no clear yes, it’s a no, and if you’re ever unsure, stop and check in. Make sure everyone involved has the capacity to give consent. • When alcohol or drugs are involved, question whether you AND all other people involved are in a state that allows you to give consent • If anyone is too drunk or high they cannot give consent • Alcohol or drugs never justify sexual violence or harassment and this is noted in the University Harassment Policy Ultimately, consent is simply about respecting and communicating with another individual, so if there’s any doubt, ask!
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Non-sexual consent Consent is broader than sexual intimacy. Giving people personal space, asking before you hug someone, asking before you sit on someone’s bed, or asking before you move a disabled person’s mobility aid are all important examples of where non-sexual consent is needed. This is not being ‘too PC’, but respecting that everyone has different boundaries.
Some ways of asking consent: “Do you want to do X? "Can I take this off?" "Is it okay if I touch you here?" "Do you want me to keep going?" “Can I…?” "Do you want me to...?" "Do you like...?" "How does that feel?" "Would you prefer X instead?"
How to give verbal consent Consent is an enthusiastic, freely given, “YES”. Some different ways people might say no: ● “I’m not sure” ● “I’m not feeling it” ● “Maybe” ● Non-interested cues ● Changing the subject ● Silence ● Intoxication
To consent to something is to agree to do it, by choice, when you have the freedom and capacity to make that choice. In the context of sexual activity, consent may be given to one particular act but not another, e.g. to vaginal but not anal sex, or to penetrative sex but only with conditions (such as wearing a condom). Consent can be withdrawn at any point during a sexual activity and each time it occurs. Consent is legally defined in Section 74 of the 2003 Sexual
Offences Act, which can be read online at legislation.gov.uk. The UK law defines sexual assault as intentional, non-consensual sexual touching, and defines rape as non-consensual penetration of mouth, anus or vagina with a penis. While these legal definitions are important, understand that they are limiting; for example, the specific inclusion of penises in the law is exclusionary of trans and lesbian experiences.
IN A MALE/FEMALE SEXUAL ENCOUNTER, DO YOU THINK THAT THE FEMALE ALSO HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK FOR CONSENT?
92% said Yes (all gender identities)
As many people answered in our poll, all parties involved in a sexual encounter should of course ask for consent. However, it is important to recognise that in cis/het encounters there is an inherent power disparity caused by gender (poll answers listed “females dominating in sex being less common”, “women feeling scared to speak up, say no, change their minds”, “penetrative sex allowing more power to cis men in that situation”), which tends to push the responsibility of asking for consent upon the man*. This is dangerous in one respect, as it forces the damaging assumption that men* always want sex. Fur-
Is consent gendered? thermore, because the majority of conversations revolving around consent (exacerbated by media portrayals too) focus upon cis/het relations, there is a lack of discussion about sex outside of that paradigm. This is obviously problematic because it neglects a significant percentage of the population’s experiences. We therefore thought it necessary to include a perspective outside of the cis/ het narrative to demonstrate how consent needs to be asked for and given by every party. Below is a bisexual woman’s* account of her experience of consent in a same-sex encounter, discussing how consent is not gendered.
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CW: Discussion of consent,
When I came out as bisexual, I became the token ‘gay’ of my year group at school, yet simultaneously was still only the ‘half-gay’ girl. My close, and notso-close, female friends used me for kissing experience; my best friend (at the time) once asked me if I would be her first kiss because she ‘wanted to get it over with’. I was always so willing to help friends with their sexual expression: taking them to STD clinics, advising them on approaching their crushes, kissing them when they wanted to make someone else jealous (a hugely problematic act looking back, though I didn’t realise it at the time), and listening as countless people introduced me as their ‘bi’ friend to new people. But my most memorable experience of woman* on woman* sex was when I slept with a girl who, upon waking the next morning, said ‘don’t tell anyone about this’ and ‘by the way, I’m straight’. I offered to make her breakfast but she walked out of my house with-
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Taking a one night stand ANONYM OUS
out another word. I then found out that she slept with a boy the following weekend, and told everyone that he had taken her virginity. That hurt, especially since we had been really close a few years back. More importantly, she made me reconsider everything I thought I knew about consent. For me, her regret and denial of the experience told me that she wished it had never happened. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve replayed that night in my head. There was no moment where she said or indicated for me to stop, and she had gotten into my bed and started kissing me. We both knew I had more experience than her, so I was happy to let the sex revolve around what she wanted, and she didn’t touch me apart from kissing. She guided me with her words and hands, and I asked for it to end because she bit my lip so hard it began to bleed. I still have a blood burst vessel on my upper lip today, so I have a nice perma-
sexual trauma and biphobia
perience, and EVERY time sex occurs thereafter. You’d think this was obvious, but I have spoken to a number of women* discussing sexual experiences with women* (especially first-time experiences) and they’ve seemed confused about who should initiate and who should ask for consent.
nent reminder of that night to carry with me every day. I’ve learnt to forgive myself for that night, and for all the times I allowed people to erase my bisexuality, or use me for their own gain. It has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, and there are moments where it all comes flooding back and I feel like I’m drowning. But I have heard so many problematic things at university with regards to consent that I felt it necessary to share this story. So often we discuss consent within heterosexual experiences but consent has nothing to do with the genders of the parties involved and everything to do with communication and enthusiasm. EVERY person involved in or present for the sex acts should communicate exactly what they do and do not want throughout the entirety of the ex-
There’s no one person who asks for consent or determines if consent has been given – if you’re confused then ask straight up. Everyone involved should be into it every step of the way, and communication about sex should always be welcomed, whether or not a sex act is taking place in that moment. If you do consent in one moment, there is no obligation to continue with this consent; you can change your mind at any point and whoever you are with must respect that. And by all means, please talk about sex outside of the moments where it happens or seems like it is about to happen. Sex and consent are ongoing conversations we have throughout our lives. Welcome them with open ears.
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CW: Rape and sexual assult
If you are worried about ruining the mood...
...you are worried about rape.
94% of Catz students who responded to our poll reported having observed a ‘blurring of the lines’ of consent in the media. Whether that be a movie sex scene initiated through a glance and lip bite, or the abhorrently blatant “I know you want it” from Robin Thicke’s 2012 rape-culture-perpetuating and ear-bleed-inducing ‘Blurred Lines’; there appears to be a concerning trend of verbal consent ruining a ‘mood’.
BY ZAR A SM ALL
same insight. These scenes direct our understanding of consent to one that is initiated by presumption and is distinctly non-verbal. Even more surprising than our normalisation of ‘fuzzy’ definitions of consent, is the normalisation of on-screen rape. In the 1964 James Bond film ‘Goldfinger’, after Bond meets burglar Pussy Galore he ‘initiates’ on-screen sex by telling Galore that sex is “customary”. When she refuses, he throws her on the floor multiple times and overpowers her attempts at retaliation. The scene ends with Bond 'successfully’ pinning her down and forcing her into a kiss. The following scene is depicted romantically and leaves the rest up to our imagination. Whilst it’s clear that Bond has just raped Galore, he is still portrayed as a hero and the film is continually advertised as a Saturday evening family classic.
The mood dictated by on-screen sexual interactions is rarely one with room for communication, understanding and changings of mind. Characters partaking in sex scenes ‘know what their partner wants’, and are able to ‘give it to them’, with a disregard for specific and informed consent. Worryingly this has contaminated our definition of ‘sexy’ beyond lace and candles to an assumption and persuaded acceptance of rejecting our personal boundaries. TV and film sex scenes are, of course, scripted and rehearsed; actors are aware their character is about to enage in sexual activity, but Whilst it’s granted that modern as a viewer, we do not share the day filmmaking does have some good examples of consent the general media portrayal of consent is still nowhere near perfect. A classical example of this arises with pornographic narratives of a
6
“I wish consent was talked about & normalised a lot earlier than it is... I think learning about it earlier would make it easier for people to determine their boundaries, rather than only discovering them when they're broken, which tends to be the case now I feel.” - Catz woman*
fact that consent as an important, appealing characteristic is not unanimously agreed upon within Catz, is extremely worrying and highlights how overlooked rape culture and sexual assault can be in university environments. However, the rejection of consent as a ‘sexy, appealing’ quality can also be interpreted as a worrying side effect of normalised non-consensual sex and also suggests a taboo with asking verbal consent - a viewpoint shared by over half of Catz students.
“I’ve been with my boyfriend for over a year and he still asks for consent. This should be the norm and it’s lame that I’m giving him praise for what should be basic human respect but at the same time I really appreciate the fact that not all guys ‘assume’ consent especially if you’ve slept with them before.” - Catz woman*
submissive woman* and a dominating man* who knows what ‘she sensual sex, built on a taboo of wants and needs’, without deemnot killing a ‘mood’. ing it necessary for screen time So how do we address Catz studedicated to seeking consent. dents feeling a taboo about verConsidering that Specifically, 75% of bal consent? Despite the minoriover 50% of 16-17 76% of Catz have Catz women* re- ty of poll respondents who didn’t year olds are behad at least one ported a taboo with recognise consent as a ‘good, lieved to have illenon-consensual asking verbal con- sexy, appealing’ characteristic in gally watched porn, sent, whilst only a partner, overall 91% of Catz did, a growing majority sexual experience 35% of Catz men* composed of the majority of males of young people’s did. These results and 100% of females. This directly first sexual experiences arise from are closely guided by person- contradicts the assumptive, sexviewing rehearsed scenes which al experiences and cannot be ual ‘mood’ the media has accuscan permanently instill false excompletely analysed. However, tomed us to. Shared stories highpectations. Pornography follows the drastic gender split of view- light how “talking about it before and subconsciously teaches ‘sexpoints potentially addresses the is just SO SEXY” and “boy asking ual scripts’ of how sexual intergeneralisation that men* have a 'would you like to sleep with me' actions must occur with no place responsibility for consent. De- when we were making out was SO for communication, consent, and spite this, it’s unHOT”. Whilst verbal respect. “The ‘mood’ for sex we 100% of Catz certain whether consent should be have learnt to expect is a precarwomen* think Catz women recappreciated as the ious one, built on a presumptively ognise a stronger consent is a ‘good, bare minimum, its mutual dialogue of giving and resexy, appealing’ attractive nature is taboo due to not ceiving, sans specific consent. generally asking for unsurprising since characteristic Nonetheless, pornography and consent, or due to asking specific R-rated sex scenes cannot take their experiences of being asked. questions, such as “does this feel full blame for the infrequency at Regardless, the recognition of a okay?” and “do you enjoy this?”, which consent is taboo with verbal are inherently sexually suggesasked for and re58% of Catz consent poses the tive. It therefore makes sense to ceived. But in a col- experience a taboo question of what re-write the sexual ‘mood’ into lege environment with asking for people are ‘afraid’ one built on communication and with mandatory verbal consent. of when asking con- trust, which is indicative of all consent training, it sent. If you’re wor- parties' satisfaction. is shocking that 76% of Catz re- rying about your partner saying ported having at least one sex- “no”, then you’re worrying about Acknowledging that the vast maual experience in which they did rape. If you’re worried it may seem jority of Catz students find verbal not have consent. The extent to un-sexy or un-appealing, you are consent to be desirable and atwhich non-consensual cues have a cog in the machine of non-con- tractive, means that there is no excuse for not asking loud and contaminated the sexual narraclear. Socially approved notions of “I find it weird how, despite tive is also highlighted by only non-consensual sex are rape and most people recognizing it as 80% of Catz men* agreeing that there is no excuse for using this a completely positive thing, consent is a ‘good, sexy, appealtaboo to impair our choices. There there can still be a sense of ing’ quality in a sexual partner. is no worst case scenario in askawkwardness about asking Whilst this majority is positive, it outright for consent from ing for consent, and celebrating is grossly overshadowed by the both parties, as if there is its firm place in our sexual narra20% of male respondents who did something embarrassing about tive makes for a more enjoyable, not see their partner’s consent as acknowledging what is about to and safer experience. a good sexual characteristic. The happen." - Catz man*
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Catz on Consent
YOUR P OST I V I E EXPERIEN CES O F CO NSENT
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Our conclusions on consent • • • •
TALK to your partner. Verbal consent is not ‘awkward’ and is infinitely better than assaulting someone. Both casual encounters and intimacy within relationships need consent. Intimacy needs expressed consent EVERY time it happens, even if you have been with them before. • Consent can be retracted at ANY point in an encounter. • Consent sounds like an enthusiastic “YES”; the absence of “no” is NOT consent • Consent for one act of intimacy does not automatically guarantee consent for all intimate activities
Oxford University Student Union Student Advice Service 01865 288466 advice@ousu.ox.ac.uk Oxford University Student Union It Happens Here Campaign vpwomen@oxfordsu.ox.ac.uk Equality and Diversity Unit Harassment Advisor Network 01865 270760 harassment.line@admin.ox.ac.uk Oxford University Counselling Service 01865 270300 www.ox.ac.uk/students/shw/ counselling/ Sexual Violence: Response & Prevention at Oxford University https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/ welfare/sexual-violence Oxford Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre For self-identifying women 01865 726 295 / 0800 783 6294 Sun: 6.00pm-9.00pm Mon & Thurs: 6.30pm – 9.00pm Fri: 11.30am – 2.00pm www.oxfordrapecrisis.net/ ‘Bletchley Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Police House, Queens Ave, Bicester, OX26 2NR 0300 130 3036 www.solacesarc.org.uk
Resources SurvivorsUK For male survivors of sexual abuse 0845 122 1201 Mon & Tues: 7.00pm – 9.30pm Thurs: 12.00pm – 2.30pm www.survivorsuk.org Survivors’ Network For self-identifying women 01273 720110 Wednesday 7pm – 9pm help@survivorsnetwork.org.uk Survivors’ Network For trans and non-binary people 01273 204050 Sunday 1pm – 5pm Galop For LGBTQ+ people 020 7704 2040 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 10am - 4pm referrals@galop.org.uk Respect Support for perpetrators and abusers 0845 122 8609 Mon – Fri: 9.00am – 5.00pm www.respect.uk.net
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Toxic
Masculinity def. Toxic masculinity is the narrow description of harmful behaviours and attitudes that stem from certain cultural norms of masculinity defined by violence, sex, status and aggression. It is the "expectations that boys and men must be active, aggressive, tough, daring, and dominant.”
Masculinity
is not toxic “Violence, arrogance, objectification of women, repression of emotions, promotion of an idealised physical masculine form, discrimination to minorities based on their race, sexual orientation and/ or gender, 'lad culture' (e.g. gang exclusivity, alcoholism, etc.)”
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Toxcitiy
is not masculine
“Aggression and unsentimentality. It discourages engaging with "feminine activities" or presenting feminine out of fear of shame.”
“The tendency of men to not seek emotional support (until it's too late, if ever), giving them a higher propensity for mental health issues, ranging from anxiety / depression to suicidal ideations and more serious issues”
Displays of toxic masculinity
(Most frequent responses from the poll)
• Rape jokes - both in online
group chats and in-person
• Misogynistic/racist/
homophobic/transphobic comments - both in online group chats and in-person
• Men* making competitions
out of how many women* they can get with/sleep with.
• Men* mocking other men*
for showing emotion/being ‘sensitive’
• Older male students making younger female students uncomfortable/targeting them
• Rig-offs and jugs in the bar • Crew dates and other sport socials
Have you seen toxic masculinity in college? 70%
Of Catz poll participants said they had seen displays of toxic masculinity within college/university. Read below to see their thoughts on the subject.
Why does the college environment potentially facilitate this behaviour? • “In college it is quite easy to spend
• “I think the very nature of having so
• “With each year group in college being
• “College environment creates a
time with a small segment of people who are similar to you. Maybe this could magnify things.” around 160, I think it can sometimes cause almost a hierarchical atmosphere amongst the guys in that many want to establish themselves as being a top dog to be known and respected amongst the rest of college [...] It’s completely different to the setup at non-college-based unis where there is less of a large community in halls.”
• “To an extent, sports teams always
create an all male environment where dominance is encouraged due to the desire to win, but undermining this can be detrimental to the team’s success and unity under the identity created.”
many guys in one place, sometimes by chance with fewer girls around, makes it worse.” structure where smaller groups are constantly in a public larger arena of spectators. Thus, behaviour can be validated and perpetuated within the smaller group.”
• “It’s this whole idea of being a big fish in a small pond.”
• “University is the first time that men
can do and say as they please without the restrictions of their parents/ school. The fact that everyone wants to fit in and be secure about their 'manliness' in a new male group of friends may also come into play.”
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Don’t you know that it’s TOXIC? The dangers of denial ANONYMOUS SUBMISSION
‘Something that doesn’t exist.”’ “Toxic Masculinity is so bad said Sharon
‘Bullshit.’
Man - stop making up words you toxic feminist” [1369 likes; 1244 dislikes]
Here are a handful of ‘definitions’ of the term ‘Toxic Masculinity" posted by users of the websites Urban Dictionary. Whilst Urban Dictionary isn’t exactly the go-to source of most journalism, we think it’s pretty useful here as a glimpse of one of the major obstacles in dealing with toxic masculinity: the denial from some that it even exists at all.
“Male: *doesn’t feel like talking about his feelings* Beta male cuck: TOXIC MASCULNITY!!!!!” [902 likes; 851 dislikes]
‘A term invented by man-hating fake feminists seeking to suppress men’s biological trait[s]. Those who use this misandristic [sic] term claim they are not calling masculinity itself toxic, but rather the toxic actions that are performed through masculinity. If you are a sane, logical person, you will obviously realise what a nonsensical meaning that is. Fake feminists only use such term[s] to control and suppress men - we as a society cannot let that happen, thus we have to understand the true meaning of said term.’ “Jack: You know what Chris? Women just love to stare at my big guns. It seems my hard work at the gym has finally paid off. Chris: Oh Jack, you don’t say. I bet all the girls get wet just by looking at your big boy muscles. Sara: Ugh! This is a perfect example of ‘Toxic Masculinity.’ Jack: Oh fuck off Sara. You’re just mad cause you’re fat and miserable, no one wants to date someonle like you. Go bother someone else.” [1323 likes; 1262 dislikes]
‘A healthy trait native to and suitable for men that turns poisonous hen feminist women seek to destory men by draining it from them using it to replace their own femininity.’ “I don’t want men to have the freedom to be their natural selves so I label their behaviour as toxic masculinity” [924 likes; 882 dislikes]
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The posts continue for several pages. 12 out of the total 22 definitions claim that ‘Toxic Masculinity’ is a fake concept. Most of these, like the examples given here, express a blatant misogyny and a complete disregard for non-binary gender identities. The notion of ‘toxic’ is repeatedly turned against women*, and there is a recurring suggestion that ‘Toxic Maculinity’ serves simply as a weapon against men.
“toxic feminist”
“Feminist women seek to destroy men”
“Man-hating fake feminists” “A term used to demonise men in order to push a political goal”
“Weaponized”
What is completely dismissed here is one of the core ideas of ‘Toxic Masculinity’: that men (whether cis- or trans-) are oppressed by this culture too. The term is not a weapon in some ‘women’ vs. ‘men’ war, but an acknowledgement that certain societal expectations of men are at the root of much of the suffering of people of all genders, albeit in different ways.
Everyone will have varying definitions of what ‘Toxic Masculinity’ means to them, and it’s important to discuss these opinions in order to build up a bigger picture of how this toxic culture affects people’s lives. Some common understandings of the term include the expectation for men to suppress their emotions and be ‘aggressive’, along with a normalized culture of sexism. To deny that ‘Toxic Masculinity’ exists at all though, is to dismiss some extremely pressing issues*:
Women are twice as likely to have experienced domestic abuse than men
20% of women have experienced some type of sexual assault since the age of 16
Three-quarters of registered deaths from suicide in the UK are among men
‘Toxic Masculinity’ is of course not an excuse for sexism, abuse, or assault of any kind - but the consistency of these statistics year on year on year suggests that the way in which men have been taught to think about themselves by society, is definitely one of the roots of these crises. We have to hope that those who have posted the misogynistic and spiteful definitions on Urban Dictionary represent a small, extreme, selection of views on ‘Toxic Masculinity.’ Along with a keyboard-warrior cruelty, it seems that these are posted with knowledge of their controversy. That is not to say, though, that ‘less extreme’ rejections of the term ‘Toxic Masculinity’ present any less of a barrier in ending this damaging culture. There is a loop, made up of a denial rooted in defensiveness, that is difficult to break.
Recognizing that this culture is toxic is the first step everyone needs to take *Statistics taken from ons.gov.uk and rapecrisis.org.uk
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“Do you think toxic masculinity affects all genders? What are the different impacts it has on men* and women*?” TOXIC MASCULINITY NEGATIVELY IMPACTS ALL GENDER IDENTITIES. OUR POLL HIGHLIGHTED MANY DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDINGS OF TOXIC MASCULINITY AND ITS EFFECTS, YET ALL RESPONSES AGREED ON ITS NEGATIVE IMPACTS. THEREFORE, WE ASK YOU TO READ THESE RESPONSES WITH AN OPEN MIND AND TO BE RESPECTFUL OF INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES.
men* “I feel in order to fit in that I have to match the level of aggression/show of power." "As a guy it can feel belittling and like I don't belong.”
“Creates a level of expectation for other men that things like sharing emotions is not okay or that they need to also be overly aggressive in order to prove their manliness.”
“I believe it affects men more, especially LGBT, as it makes you believe you don’t have the qualities of a man which can affect mental state.”
“Toxic masculinity surrounding transphobia and insecurity of men who are attracted to trans women has a highly negative effect on trans women.”
“The normalisation of this behaviour may have very negative mental health impacts."
“A man who displays toxic masculinity may put the males around him in an uncomfortable position; they either have to replicate his actions and seem 'cool' or have to stay quite/ tell them to stop and seem 'weak'/'uncool.'”
"It impacts men by encouraging them not to explore nor accept feelings. It is unhealthy to keep feeling bottled up and not learn how to express them.” “Women can also feed into it if they are unsupportive of male vulnerability.”
“Can make some men feel really inferior if they don’t take part in it”
non-gender specific “Toxically masculine men are less likely to be understanding of women's vulnerabilities.” “(Toxic masculinity is) created by and affecting both genders, and the impacts it has are so varied I wouldn't really classify them.” “It suggests that it is normal for men to behave in a toxic way, meaning women will feel the need to put up with toxic behaviour.”
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“The ideals of a masculine man dismiss a more caring side/ self aware side that is needed to embrace feminism, and see everyone as equals. You can't see everyone as your equal when you are spending all your time trying to prove your male dominance/become more "alpha".” “In essence, it’s one of the key contributing factors to the reinforcement of damaging gender stereotypes for both genders.”
women* "In a culture infected with toxic masculinity, women are more like furniture than people". “By encouraging the judgement of women by their sexual appeal etc. these external judgment-values become internalised creating often low feelings of self worth.” “Treated as commodities only valued through the male gaze.” “Objectification.” “Women seem to be more observant and sensitive to it as we may experience it less compared to men who have normalised it.” “Linked with misogynistic attitudes, so plays a big part in sexism and domestic and sexual violence.” “Sense of loss of control and not being listened to.” “Feel intimidated and compelled to laugh along in order to be 'mates with the lads' and not be *that* ‘feminazi’.” “As much as toxic masculinity can be damaging to men's mental health it creates an environment that is flat out dangerous and violent for women.” “Causes some women to be less vocal and confident in a social situation than they would be amongst other social groups” “Women are more likely to be objectified, voices repressed which often leads to less self confidence which then impacts on e.g. work or academic performance which contributes to the cycle of women having less access to high leadership roles.”
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Preventing toxic masculinity Our poll highlighted the effects of toxic masculinity in college, home, or work environment. The cultivation of an aggressive and emotionally repressive environment can isolate and upset individuals, with a vicious cycle created by a lack of emotional support and guidance. This can also be enhanced by those who witness the behaviour as being damaging and feel afraid to call it out as it goes against the group/societal norm, as well as risking personal harm.
Why do we need to end toxic masculinity?
The concept of ‘rape culture’ can help to explain why these behaviours are societally damaging. Rape culture is the concept of rape and sexual assualt being normalised due to societal attitudes of gender and sexuality. Unsolicited nude photos, rape jokes, “boys will be boys” and sexist attitudes, all distinctly contribute to the victimisation and degradation of those who have their sexual autonomy removed though sexual violence and assult. These behaviours support perpetrators of sexual assault, normalising such behaviour and potentially causing 'victim-blaming’.
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Given less coverage in responses, were the impacts of toxic masculinity directly on the men* who conform to exhibit these traits. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised that younger male life expectancies may be associated with the negative ways masculinity has been defined in society and how this reinforces a diminished self-care and neglect of both male mental and physical health. Risk-taking behaviours and apprehension in seeking help were among the WHO-recognised reasons for certain men*’s poor mental health. Not only can these toxic behaviours encourage susceptibility to physical injury and an unwillingness to seek help for illness, but are also greatly prevalent in men*’s mental health and suicide. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that the suicide rate for men* is about four times higher than it is for women*. Therefore toxic masculinity has risks to individuals, observers and society. How do we stop it?
What can we do to prevent toxic masculinity? Identifying and eliminating the masculine norms we project • •
“Boys will be boys”, “I wouldn’t date a man under 6 foot”, “Don’t be a girl”, “Boys don’t cry” “Man up” These sayings not only negatively impact the man* to whom they are projected, but feed into a wider culture, impacting male mental health as well as legitimising more violent or misogynistic behaviour.
Celebrating healthy masculinity •
•
The term ‘toxic masculinity’ describes only a subset of negative traits, and also alludes that there are many other forms of positive masculinity. The support that males show to each other, e.g. friendly competition and comradery in college sports teams, can be a unique and healthy display of masculinity.
Through conversations with male ideas from your questionnaire responses, we have come up with the following suggestions: Support in the college community Encouraging students to call out negative behaviour and explain the consequences • If you feel you are a bystander to toxic masculinity, try and call it out, or speak privately to your friend who displayed the behaviour. • If you have been called out, or told that your words have hurt someone, listen and try to understand why. • If you personally are not impacted, try and think of ways to explain the impact language can have on lived experiences, as just stating ’toxic masculinity’ might lead to defensiveness and misinterpretation of the term • If you feel like a joke is inappropriate, don’t laugh along with it Encouraging students to seek support with Junior Deans, Welfare, College Counsellor
•
behaviour; support if you feel tar-
Actively decouple the normalised association between masculinity and violence a Junior Dean, Counsellor, or OSARCC if they would like support (resources can be found at the end of the zine) Essentially, preventing toxic masculinity means recognising that what you say has consequences, and involves working out and unpacking what those consequences might be. It is also important to remember that masculinity is a label that has constructed meanings associated with it. These tend to cultural contexts. Recognising that there is no one way to show masculinity is part of this process.
work through your thoughts on such issues.
Further Reading • • • •
XY online - a website focused on men*, masculinities, and gender politics Dr Michael Flood’s lecture ‘Men, Gender, and Healthy Masculinity’ Tony Porter TED talk ‘A Call to men’ Connell, R. W., and James W. Messerschmidt. 2016. ‘Hegemonic Masculinity: Rethinking the Concept’. Gender & Society.
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Women* Supporting Women*
ART BY IRIS PETRILLO
“Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women” MAYA ANGELOU
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Ugh, she’s so much H OW D O W E C O M PAR E O U R SELV ES TO OT HER WOMEN*.? “Academically, in terms of appearance, in terms of likeability, in terms of aesthetic (insta or otherwise), how cool I/they appear to be.”
“Just about everything if I’m honest! Looks, skills, and talents, intellect, ability to socialise, ability to attract romantic partners.”
“Although I try not to ever compare myself to other women, the place where I often fail is around body shape and figure.”
“What other girls have achieved. How ‘successful’ they are mostly. Also how good a friend/person they are which i feel both link to popularity.”
“Achievements in terms of academia, sport etc. Also social lives such as relationship status or how ‘popular’ they seem to be.” “Physical looks, funniness, academic achievement, sexiness, defo for male and female attention.” “Personality, popularity and attractiveness.”
“Most ways, but particularly looks and perceived attractiveness/attention from boys.” “Since downloading TikTok I have definitely started comparing my body and looks with girls on there. [...] I am concerned especially for younger girls on the app who are exposed to that all the time.” “I notice feeling more competitive/toxic in the domain of attention for sexual partners.” “How comfortable I am with my sexuality (not so much with defining it, but with being sexually attractive,) and level of sexual experience too.”
“My body, weight, prettiness, cleverness, number of friends, number of male friends, how my ethnicity and skin colour affect things differently than for white women literally everything.” Quotations taken from responses from catz self-identifying women*
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‘Not like other girls!’
JU DGI NG OT H ER WO MEN * A N D CASUA L SEXISM
IN IT TOGETHAIR - ROSA HAWORTH
92%
of Catz women* have looked down on or been jealous of a fellow female.
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81%
of Catz women* have experienced casual sexism from a friend
DISMANTLING INTERNALISED MISOGYNY
The
influence of the
male gaze Although it seems like a ‘get out of jail card’ to blame everything on the patriarchy, there is no doubt that the history of a male-dominated society has influenced how women* look at themselves and each other. The answers to our poll about why we feel in competition with other women*, both inside and outside of college, reflected this too. Therefore it seems necessary to look at how the male gaze has motivated this internalised misogyny, and how we can try to dismantle it. A reason that arose repeatedly in the poll regarding how we may compare ourselves to other women* was “how attractive I am to men*,” “competition for sexual partners,” or “how many guys I have slept with.” The frequency of these responses serves to demonstrate how entrenched these values are within us, and how problematic they are. When we judge ourselves and others for how we are perceived through the eyes of men*, it reinforces this antiquated notion of women* as commodities or sexual objects, clinging onto misogynistic values from the past. We should not diminish ourselves to entities that are just vying for male attention, compliments and satisfaction. This is, of course, easier said than done - and the fact that so many women* feel this way is a prime example of how the social construct of the patriarchy has manifested itself into our psyche and evaluation of self-worth/other women*.
Something else that came up consistently in our poll, was how men* perceive us outside of our sexuality: do they think we are funny? Are we ‘one of the lads’, and therefore different from other girls? This shows that even outside of ‘sexual competition’ we still look to men* to validate us. Many poll respondents mentioned how they are concerned about how many ‘male friends’ they have - the more the better being the implied logic. It’s tough not to equate this with the trope of ‘I hang out with guys because they just have less drama!’ which is a flawed philosophy that further promotes internalised misogyny. It’s still difficult to fully articulate why having ‘male friends’ is something that is treasured and perhaps even tokenized to the extent that it can be. Part of it may be to do with being considered ‘equal’ to a man* rather than being a ‘sexual object’ as discussed above. Being ‘one of the guys’, and valued as ‘funny’ and ‘witty’ by boys also might make us feel ‘special’ and therefore different from other girls. While it may not be on purpose, by caring about, or even bragging about the ‘guy friends’ you have, you’re still allowing men*’s perception of you to shape how you view yourself, and also that you value the women* friends you have as less significant.
Nobody is saying “Don’t have guy friends!” or “If you sleep with a man you are a bad feminist!” That would be ridiculous. It is however important to recognise how the historic dominance of men* in society still has an impact on how we view ourselves and value women*. As women*, we are taught to compete for male validation from an incredibly young age, which is incredibly destructive for ourselves and our relationships with other women* - and not to mention that it is also horribly heteronormative. The fact that the male gaze has managed to penetrate into our collective psyche and make us feel shit about ourselves and judge other women* is tragic. We need to combat our internalised misogyny by valuing ourselves outside of the male gaze (hard as it can be!!) and loving/supporting the women* in our lives. Competing with each other and giving into antiquated values is stupid and futile; coming together and uplifting one another is the best form of rebellion to the male gaze there is.
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Listen to her
A SNAPSHOT OF THE FEMALE EXPERIENCE
Accept my intelligence
Consider my safety
Hear my voice
I frequently encounter my male peers mansplaining stories of the female experience as an overreaction.
I frequently avoid wearing a lowcut top or short skirt knowing that I could be catcalled. But even if all my skin is covered, I feel anxious walking outside knowing that I could be catcalled. Catcalling is not, in any capacity, a compliment. It is the unwarranted sexualisation of the female body, regardless of what they are wearing.
I am confused as to why so few female voices are leading my academic field.
I am powerless to the preferential treatment my male tutorial partners are given. I wonder why women’s passions are compartmentalised; it seems she can never be more than one label at once (sporty, or arty, or intelligent, for example). I constantly doubt or play down my intelligence. I am deeply apologetic if I get anything wrong. I question the authority of my voice in the presence of outspoken male peers, doubting my convictions. I feel undeserving of my mark if I do well in an essay or exam. I have been talked over or put down by male peers and academics in tutorials and seminars.
I avoid walking near the curb of a pavement in fear of someone pulling over and dragging me into a car. I do not leave for a night out without my phone being charged in case something happens to me. I ask to dance with my male friends in clubs as a means of protection against men who might sexually assault me.
I have bitten my tongue on countless occasions after hearing a sexist remark, knowing that if I call it out I may be socially or academically reprimanded.
I never go to toilets alone in nightclubs, primarily for fear of being sexually assaulted.
I question why the fuck Oxford still employs tutors who are not trusted to be on their own in a room with female students.
I never leave my drink unattended or accept drinks from strangers in case it is spiked with a ‘date rape’ drug. I always keep an eye on my drink as it’s being made, knowing that it could be spiked by a barman.
I worry about my financial security knowing that the gender pay gap stands at 8.9% (2019). How could my intelligence ever match that of my male peers if we are not paid the same?
Where does female selfdoubt end and the reality of living in a patriarchy begin?
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I am constantly afraid of interaction with catcallers. If I ignore them, they may get verbally or physically aggressive. If I engage with them, they think that this gives them the right to carry on pestering me.
I never walk home alone after a night out because I know how vulnerable young women are. I get very concerned if I haven’t heard from my female friends the night of/morning after a night out. I will panic if a female friend hasn’t messaged to say they’re home. I fear I will be socially ostracised if I speak out against a male student who has acted inappropriately on a night out.
I am told that I should write essays not how I would like to, but as if I am a ‘privately educated male’. I am labelled as ‘bossy’ and ‘domineering’ for speaking my mind, whilst my male equivalents are praised for their outspokenness. I am humiliated and confused when my sex life becomes a source of gossip. Stories of my sex life are recited only from the male’s perspective, to which I am entirely powerless. I feel disempowered hearing phrases such as ‘I fucked her’ or ‘I shagged her’, as if sex isn’t a two way exchange. I feel rejected when my sexual desires are entirely disregarded. I rarely feel I can voice my sexual wishes because men have been programmed to think sex finishes when he finishes. I am inundated with portrayals of women solely through the male gaze, in film, television, literature and music videos. I am exhausted and emotionally drained when I call out sexism in everyday conversations, often having to fully justify why these behaviours are offensive as if my voice isn’t enough. I am incredibly proud to be a woman. But I am sick to death of living in a world like this.
It’s time to start listening to her.
The BIG, BAD FEMINIST playlist C O M P I L E D B Y T H E W O M E N * O F C AT Z . SONGS VIBING SISTERHOOD, SELFLOVE, AND ESCAPING THE MALE GAZE.
1. SEX YEAH - MARINA 2 . O K AY O K AY - A L E S S I A C A R A 3. BOYS WILL BE BOYS - DUA LIPA 4. POWER - LITTLE MIX 5. BITCH - MEREDITH BROOKS 6. LIKE A GIRL - LIZZO 7 . B O Y P R O B L E M S - C A R LY R A E J E P S E N 8. B.B.A - MAE MULLER 9. T H E S E B O O T S A R E M A D E F O R WA L K I N G N A N C Y S I N AT R A 10. BODY OF MY OWN - CHARLI XCX 1 1 . C O N F I D E N T - D E M I L O VAT O 12. RUN THE WORLD (GIRLS) - BEYONCE 13. BAD GIRLS - M.I.A 1 4 . M E N E X P L A I N T H I N G S T O M E - TA C O C AT 1 5 . Q . U . E . E . N - J A N E L L E M O N A É F E AT. ERYKAH BADU 1 6 . F O R E P L AY - S H E N S E E A
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Dear Me...
We asked the women* of Catz to write love letters to themselves, discussing the insecurities they have, confronting them, recognising what they admire in themselves, and what it means to them to be a woman*. (Letters have been shortened.) “I love that I take risks and do new things, even if it means I end up looking silly. I’ve learned how freeing it is to refuse to let things embarrass me and to enjoy trying something different even if I am not the most experienced at it. This has let me make and record music, and play in front of crowds. I can hear mistakes I’ve made but I learn from them. And mostly I’ve learned to not be too critical of myself! To just go for things and enjoy them." “I love seeing my body change as I eat or exercise differently (been inactive recently but working on muscly arms which has been really cool!) and my face and hair as it grows out/changes colour. I love when my skin is soft, my belly (when it rolls over itself and when it’s tight), that I can make shapes with my tongue and click my toes, my curiously muscly calves, my long fingers. I’m excited to keep growing into, and with myself in the years to come." “Although I haven’t mastered it yet, I do try to remember that everyone is different, and just because I am not super skinny it doesn’t mean that that’s a bad thing - it’s
just how my body is shaped. I might not like it but I need to start to try and appreciate my body more, and some days I like my figure. Small steps…” “Being of Asian ethnicity makes me feel less attractive than others automatically, as I always feel less
female (and male) friendships I have made, as every single woman in my life inspires me, showing me how strong, and beautiful (in and out) they are! My most important value is always to be kind to others - but I need to remember to be kind to myself too!” “I often feel shit about my height/chubby thighs. But I’ve never seen a girl and thought - oh she would look better if she had X or did X. So why do I do it to myself? Sometimes I imagine I’m looking at myself from someone else’s perspective, and rationalise that they probably haven’t noticed/don't care about my body. I think women supporting women is so important, and now trying to apply the same logic, love, and empowerment to myself.”
pretty than any white girl. I'm not too sure how this mentality developed but it probably has a lot to do with just western standards of beauty in society, and growing up in a girls only school which was mainly white.” “I like doing little things to make people happy - it brings me joy as well as positivity to them. I also love the strong
"I've reached a point in my life where I feel happier than I ever have in my body, academic, and emotional intelligence. I've never felt so powerful. I think the most significant thing is to know that if I'm having an insecure day or overthinking some aspect of myself, I can point to the here and now, and remember that I'm able to feel that confidence, and that power.”
Concluding with your positive experiences of and favourite things about Catz women* “Most of my time at catz tbf, I LOVE my catz girls.” • “Women are fucking wonderful and powerful and incredible and I love them. Celebrating each other will help us slowly break down this false construct of competition between us and I love that Catz is clearly all about that.” • “I am so grateful for the Catz norm for women to support each other through such little actions, but actions that have the biggest impact.” • “I think there’s such an atmosphere of female solidarity, at least in second year, which I’m so grateful for. Particularly when we’re drunk and at an Entz. Miss those vibes :(“ •
"TIPSY IN THE LOO" BY DALI DUNN
“I've learnt so so much from my friends who are much more educated on intersectional feminism than I am - they've helped me put into words my experience and helped me validate other people in turn.” • “You can always rely on girls to understand sexism that you experience where it would be too subtle for your guy friends to understand.” • “When worried about a womantype issue/insecurities my female friends - even female acquaintances - are always very positive and reassuring.” • “Girls bathroom can be very supportive and positive. I have made many friends that way!” •
“The women on my STEM course are so clever, fearless, and vocally dominant and I love it. Although we are outnumbered, I do not feel afraid to voice my opinion or to get things wrong and that is entirely thanks to how great the other women are that do my subject!” • “Catz football team has been the loveliest environment and I have never felt so supported as a woman in any other situation.” • “Enabling conversations, sharing experiences, making experiences feel valid.” •
“Getting ready for a night out where everyone comes together and hypes each other.” • “Standing up for each other when a friend experiences sexism or inappropriate behaviour.” • “With experiences of being scared of people in clubs - girls will ALWAYS make sure you get out safe.” • “Turning jealousy of another woman into a way to compliment
them/ learn from them/boost them up is the most powerful thing and I stan.”
Lifting each other up
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Signing off... Thanks for reading our zine!! <3 We hope you enjoyed, and feel encouraged and empowered to further discuss the topics covered! Writing this zine would not have been possible without the insight of experiences, emotions and issues that were contributed by our college community. Whilst many respondents shared similar outlooks, all experiences were unique and so helped us construct a truly diverse and genuine portrayal of the issues discussed. Our poll questions were purposefully provocative - we wanted them to evoke discussion and help us create a zine that was truthful of personal experiences. Receiving such a wide range of experiences demonstrated how vital it is to have these discussions in the first place. There is so much we can learn from other people’s points of view, and confronting these perspectives can challenge our own, ultimately maturing us. In our first section on consent, we emphasised that whilst many respondents understood that consent was important and that non-consensual sex is rape, our personal experiences of consent were not as well defined and often led to confusing and uncomfortable sexual experiences. In the toxic masculinity section, the majority of respondents were able to name the particular set of behaviours often deemed as toxic masculinity, and acknowledge its impacts on all genders in distinct ways. Many men* questioned why, as women* writing this zine, we felt the need to discuss toxic masculinity, so once having addressed our reasoning in the editors’ note, we aimed to present as many viewpoints as possible and provide resources from male writers. Our final section, women* supporting women*, had many positive responses that highlighted the support and sense of community felt by Catz women*. It also emphasised the pressures many women* faced relating to appearance, intelligence (academic and emotional), as well as suggesting that it was our own insecurities that led to wom-
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en* to judge other women*. Most responses brought forth the same wishes for non-judgemental female unity, which greatly encourages the need for more open discussion, support, and questioning of our own behaviours in preventing further judgement. We tried to provide as many different views as possible in each section of our zine, and offered the opportunity to submit art or articles for any issues that students felt passionate about. On reflection, there are still a few things we would’ve done differently:
• Eradicate heteronormative language in our poll:
• Poll question “do you think that
• •
•
• •
•
the female also has a responsibility to ask for consent?” was specifically written in a heteronormative scenario and could’ve been improved by providing space to discuss LGBTQIA+ experiences. Used more gender inclusive language in our poll: The poll used language such as ‘female, ‘male and ‘both genders’, and could’ve been improved by ‘women*’, ‘men*’, and ‘all genders’, respectively. Originally our last section was called females supporting females, but on reflection and conversation it changed to women* supporting women* . Included non-sexual consent questions Some poll respondents expressed that they couldn’t answer many of the consent questions as they had not had sexual experiences. We would now emphasise that sexual interactions are a personal choice with no quantifiably ‘correct’ number of experiences to have had. Including the question ‘Have you got any examples of good non-sexual consent you've experienced?’ could have broadened our discussion.
In the same vein, there are still so many topics that we wanted to cover but couldn’t because of zine space (and our sanity - this project has taken a loooong time haha). Many poll answers suggested different perspectives and conversations that would be relevant to CCO meetings. Some topics we plan to cover in the next year are: • Intoxicated sex • Revenge porn • Gaslighting and validation of emotions • Asserting and respect our boundaries • How to ‘call out’ negative behaviour We would like to close this zine in the same way we opened it. Keep an open mind, and be sure to listen to and validate other’s opinions. Maintain that whilst points of view can differ, our understanding and validation of each other's experiences can help us to extend our viewpoints and provide support to those who need it. Put communication first; listen, speak, and learn. Please contact Zara at zara.small@stcatz.ac.uk, Maya at maya.dhillon@stcatz.ox.ac.uk, and Rachael at rachael. parkerallen@stcatz.ox.ac.uk for any questions, or comments regarding Catz Calls Out and the zine.
PEER SUPPORTERS Rachael Allen: rachael.parkerallen@stcatz.ox.ac.uk Rory Sinnott: rory.sinnott@stcatz.ox.ac.uk Matt Emmett: matthew.emmett@stcatz.ox.ac.uk Alex Wainwright: alexander.wainwright@stcatz.ox.ac.uk
WELFARE REPS Male: Oliver Spacey - oliver.spacey@stcatz.ox.ac.uk Female: Grace Olusa - omorinre.olusola@stcatz.ox.ac.uk LGBTQ+: Gaia Clark Nevola - gaia.clarknevola@stcatz. ox.ac.uk
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CATZ CALL OUT 2020