Core

CORE

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to the second issue of Core, a publication focussing on female empowerment in the modern world. In this issue, we looked at love in all its forms - romantic, friendship and self. In recent years sexuality and love has developed beyond it’s previous constraints, opening new doors and re-defining itself.

We want to embrace everything about being a woman; the good, the bad and the media’s version of ugly, and turn it into something beautiful that we can celebrate together. For too long women have been held to unrealistic beauty standards, and its time we kicked down those doors, broke through the barriers and took back the power. Embracing everything about ourselves and learning to love all those imperfections is our driving force, and we want you all to be able to appreciate yourself inside and out.

What we are constantly told is the only definition of beauty is, quite frankly bullshit.

Everyone holds their own beauty, whether it’s in the colour of their skin, their religion, their size or their age. This is our year to grab the reigns, kick negativity to the curb and really take charge of how we view ourselves. No longer will we let comparison be the thief of joy, and instead we encourage you to build a supportive and compassionate life, full of joy, diversity and fun.

We hope you enjoy our second issue, and finish it feeling refreshed, represented and confident.

Faith Richardson Editor

Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls

Best Feminist Books

There are few things better than settling down and rifling through the pages of a book, particularly when the book is brilliantly written, hilarious, insightful and gives you some all-round excellent food for thought. Recently there’s been a huge upswing in popularity of feminist publishing, and we wanted to give you a short list of some of our favourite feminist books to get stuck into. Ranging from advice, to memoirs and everything in between, you won’t be able to put a single one down.

Katherine Ormerod’s insight into social media and how it affects us is painfully refreshing and serves as a much-needed reminder that social media can be both a blessing and a curse. Get your hands on a copy if you feel like you need a bit of a social media detox, or if you just fancy a funny and original insight into how we function in the 21st century.

Knocking down the bizarre ideas and misconceptions around feminism one at a time, Feminists Don’t Wear Pink is a brilliant analogy of modern day feminism, and why strict rules on what feminism “should look like” is as restrictive as the patriarchy it’s fighting.

This feels like a motto that everyone should adopt when trying to make any decision, no matter how huge or menial. What would the Spice Girls do? is the perfect balance of nostalgia, pop culture and girl power, and should leave every woman nodding, cheering, and probably doing a peace sign or two.

Female empowerment for the 21st century based on what our 90s feminist forebears did for us - the kind of girl power we can all get on board with.

The perfect pocket sized guide to feminist issues, alongside the history and theory behind many of the issues women face, both past and present. Think of this like the beginners guide to feminism in all its glory, here to educate, celebrate and give people everywhere the ultimate informative guide on how to fight the good fight.

If there’s something we could all do with a little bit more of, it’s self-confidence. Viv Groskop’s book How to Own the Room is a bible on public speaking, confidence and how to get your voice heard. Whether you’re looking for ways to amplify your voice, or you’re trying to find it in the first place, Groskop’s book will get you there.

The Noughtie Girl’s Guide to Feminism is celebratory in every way. Side-stepping the angry bra-burning and man-hating of previous feminist waves, it hits the perfect notes of empowerment and inclusivity. Women can be feminists without giving up on men, make up or missionary if those things make you happy, and Levenson’s book aims to celebrate anything and everything that bring joy and power to women.

Making Our Own Rules

E B D U O R P

é m o l a S i n a t s e d r A

Salomé Ardestani is a 26 year old half-Iranian woman living in the North East of England.

After years of identifying as bisexual, she realised that she identified her sexuality as lesbian.

We discuss sexuality in the modern era and how her family’s culture impacted her ability to identify herself.

What was your coming out process like?

I came out as bisexual when I was younger but people sometimes try and rule that out as “just a phase” so they forget about it really. I didn’t make some great big announcement when I knew I was gay. It’s easy to daydream about it being like a Drag Race runway but really I just started referring to myself as a lesbian until other people did.

Do you find people have generally been very accepting about your sexuality?

I feel like people have been generally very accepting of it. But some, you won’t fit into their stereotypical picture of what a lesbian looks or acts like, so they ask stuff like “are you not just gonna go back to guys eventually?”. But it’s been getting less and less so, to be honest. With more gay - and bisexual - women represented in film, entertainment, music etc. people can see that lesbians aren’t always Boo from Orange is the New Black.

Do you feel like your family’s Iranian culture and beliefs impacts on your sexuality and your freedom to be a lesbian in any way?

My nana in Iran is the only family member who’s very religious. My dad’s family are quite progressive to be honest, they wouldn’t understand but would still love me. I don’t hide it from them, I put couple photos up of me and my girlfriend, Louise, on my Instagram and I wonder who they think she is to me. Yes, through no fault of their own, I do think their culture impacts on my freedom as a gay woman because I couldn’t be visible in front of them. Iran is one of 72 countries where it’s still illegal to be gay.

Is there anything about how the world views gay relationships that you wish would change?

I wish I could change that some people think it’s something you can choose. Like you decided it one day. I didn’t wake up and think “I’m gonna try it” or I decide it. I also wish I could change that some places in the world put gay people and their relationships in the same category as murderers.

The laws in these countries are backwards.

How has being with Louise changed your life and your view of romantic relationships?

It’s made me feel relaxed in my own skin because it’s living exactly how I want to live. Because the dynamic is different in a gay relationship it’s made me see how I’ve played the role of “girlfriend” before and how now, I don’t feel like I have a typical role to fill. Because the dynamic is different in a gay relationship the roles aren’t already dictated like in most heterosexual relationships, so you can do what you want. Anyone can be bought flowers at any moment, but it might also be your turn to deal with the spiders.

YOUNG AND WILD AND FREE

Photography by Faith Richardson Styling by Jessica Lois Bailey & Faith Richardson Make Up & Hair by Jessica Lois Bailey

Why Instagram Purging is the Best Thing for your Mental Health

Instagram is a glorious platform, full of creativity, fun and talent, but recently I’ve started noticing a shift in how I feel about things when I use it. I’m not talking about the truly atrocious attempts by Instagram to keep changing the algorithm so that you never actually see anything unless it was posted at least 6 days ago. I mean the actual posts themselves. The content that I’ve started noticing the most isn’t that which fills me with inspiration or love; they just make me feel negative for one reason or another.

There are several different reasons that I’ve started unfollowing these people who make me feel a certain way, and to be clear it isn’t the fault of those posting – they’re just posting photos of themselves looking cute and doing their thing, but I’ve noticed recently that a lot of people I’d followed over the years no longer filled me with motivation or inspiration.

The first reason I’ve unfollowed people is insecurity.

I follow a tonne of “Insta models” and influencers who’s literal job it is to look good and promote all these expensive products and beautiful hotels and vacations. I’d scroll past endless photos of 6ft tall, size 4 women with a never ending tan who seemed to do nothing but travel and lie on a beach – and instead of just appreciating it for the image it was and moving on, I’d started comparing myself and my life to then. I initially followed them for their aspirational lifestyle and thought “hey you know what, one day that will absolutely definitely be me”. But let’s be real here – it’s probably not going to be me. I might end up with a respectably paid job, and considering I’m aiming for a job in the fashion industry I’m sure it will come with a couple of perks, however I’m not going to grow 6″ any time soon, I enjoy burgers too much to ever be happy at a size 4, and my skin’s version of a strong tan is where it sort of balances out at the right side of bottle-of-milk.

And I’m ok with that. There are always areas that I want to and can improve on, but I’m genuinely happy with how I look. I have aspirations for my life, but when I stop comparing it to other people’s, I’m happy with where it’s at right now. So all these constant online comparisons do is bring me down. They make me question why that isn’t me and they just sort of negate any achievements I’ve actually made so far. Instead I follow people who bring a sense of positivity and realness.

And it’s so much more refreshing to see. They encourage a real life outlook – for example following fitness accounts who say it’s ok not to want to weigh yourself ever, or having a G&T is part of a real life balance. They’re the kind of positive influences that everyone should follow and everyone needs to hear in a world that is constantly trying to tell you that you’re not quite good enough but if you buy their ~thing~ then you will absolutely 100% be better. So that’s why I’ve started to unfollow anyone who isn’t actively trying to make people feel sub-par, but their Instagram is just a constant reminder that I’m not A, B or C. The second reason I’m unfollowing people is quite simple; their Instagrams are really fucking dull. Everything they post is literally just the same. It’s the same pose and the same backdrop and their clothes are just variations of the same outfits in assorted colours or prints. They stop providing any kind of inspiration or creativity, and it just becomes tedious, quite honestly. The same goes for those accounts that are nothing but selfies. Selfie after selfie after selfie, and it just becomes sOoOo dull. I want to see what people do in their lives; the places they visit, the food they eat, the pets they have, the mishaps and the ups and downs. In short, I want to see real life.

I want authenticity and truth. 4,000 perfectly angled images of your face looking almost identical becomes so monotonous that I can’t even deal. So I unfollowed them. It gave my Insta feed space to breathe, to see more accounts that actually inspire me and which give you a connection, which is what I hadn’t even realised I’d been missing until it came back. Sure, I love a good outfit post and mine are generally the same mirror selfies every time, but a) I’m not a fashion blogger and b) I have 10 other things to post about inbetween them. This goes for influencers/bloggers and real people, FYI. If your Instagram is repetitive and dull, ya gone.

Finally, and the toughest of all, is unfollowing people that I actually know in real life. This is inevitably the hardest, because there’s a chance that they’ll take it personally and it can be really hard to swallow the fear of pissing off your aunt June or your best friend’s sister or that girl that you sort of know but not really but keep bumping into in the toilets at the pub. But frankly I’ve reached a point where I just don’t care. It is, after all, only Instagram, and I want my Instagram to bring me happiness. If person x posts things that make you feel some kinda negative way, then just get rid of them. Honestly, it’s that simple. I’ve unfollowed people who’s personalities I really didn’t like.

I’ve unfollowed people who’s pushy beliefs are so grating and they posted 50 photos a day chastising people for not following their way of life. It is one thing to want to educate, and one thing to be proud of your opinions and beliefs, but it’s quite another to beat down people who don’t share them. And I’m honestly sick of feeling like I’m being told off for living a different life to someone. So girl bye.

At the end of the day my Instagram is mine. I want it to be a positive and refreshing break from my day to day life, not a constant stream of negativity and frustration. And if your account doesn’t give me that, then I have no bad feelings about unfollowing you. If you take it too seriously then that’s on you. It is the internet at the end of the day. So the next time you scroll through your feed and think “Urgh you again” or “Oh god why aren’t I you” and then spend the next 12 hours poking at your stomach roll or feeling knocked down about the promotion you were so happy about 2 hours ago or the marks that you spent months accomplishing, then just unfollow that bitch.

It’s probably not their fault, and it’s mostly your own issues let’s be real, but why make life any harder than it needs to be, especially on something as effectively meaningless as social media.

Think of it like a wardrobe purge – you have to get rid of those jeans that give you a muffin top that wasn’t there before, tops that you bought because other people had it even though it never suited you, and shoes that hurt your feet until they bleed but you think complete some phantom outfit you haven’t bought yet. Instead, get rid of the people, accounts and images that make you feel these things. A metaphorical digital purge, if you will.

Getting rid of any unnecessary negativity is the key to moving forward with a happier life – and honestly who doesn’t want that.

Our 5 Favourite Positivity Inspiring Instagrams Whether we’re a fan of it or not, social media is a major part of everyone’s life. It can connect people, inspire people and forge connections, but with it can also come a very negative space where comparison rules and every scroll of the newsfeed can cause us to feel like our lives aren’t living up to other peoples.

The best cure for this is to purge your newsfeed, cleansing it of accounts that make us feel self conscious, unhappy or a sense of failure. If you scroll past something and it makes you feel bad, get rid of it. You don’t need that negativity in your life. Instead, follow accounts that inspire you and make you feel free, creative and positive. We’ve put together a list of our all time favourite accounts that radiate positivity and acceptance, and give us all the good feelings when we see their content.

1 Adolescent Content champions diverse youth culture and positive messages that help inspire self acceptance.

2 FGRLS CLUB is a digital feminist platform full of relatable content and reminders to take care of yourself.

Created by women, for women, this is your one shop stop for the kind of posts that make you laugh, nod and remember to care about yourself.

3 Girl Boss is dedicated to ambitious women and provides, in their own words “a delicate balance of memes and life advice�.

Sugar Magazine encourages self acceptance better than no other.

Covering everything from diet culture to mental health, they’re champions of self care.

4

5 We couldn’t mention positivity accounts without Jameela Jamil’s I Weigh. Giving us pause for thought to think about how we value ourselves outside of physical appearance is something not done often enough, and I Weigh is a not-so-gentle reminder that you are far more than your dress size.

Under the Surface

JAMEELA JAMIL AND MODERN FEMINISM

Jameela Jamil is fast becoming one of the world’s leading forces in feminist empowerment. With over 2 million followers across Instagram and Twitter, Jamil’s focus on modern day feminism and the celebration of all human beings is infectious. She isn’t afraid to wage a war on the patriarchy, unrealistic beauty standards and the media’s tendency to shame, mock and ridicule, and she does it with sincerity, humour and a level of self-awareness that is often missing from many modern day feminist conversations.

One of Jamil’s biggest successes has been her secondary Instagram, “@i_weigh”, which is her own movement to celebrate the value of people beyond just what they weight on the scales. Full of inspirational messages and photos, it also features people, both celebrities and non-celebs, sharing photographs of themselves noting all the things that are valuable about them, such as empathy, honesty, self-expression and friendship.

She is also known for her no-bullshit approach to calling out people by name for their damaging, dangerous or offensive behaviour and remarks. One of her more famous call-outs was to the Kardashians for promoting dangerous diet products, such as detox teas and appetite suppressing lollipops.

Tagging them directly in her posts, she calls them irresponsible and toxic influences on young girls for promoting scam weight loss products that are neither FDA approved nor supported by any medical professionals.

Jamil is also very willing to cop to her own mistakes and blind spots when it comes to her work and her message. A pinned Tweet at the top of her Twitter proclaims “It’s never too late to check yourself and right your wrongs”, going on to list ways in which she used to be unfair in her outlook of both feminism and the world at large.

She also recently Tweeted a statement, noting that she had removed a post about excessive plastic surgery potentially being a by-product of self-hatred, which had left the trans community out of the conversation.

This self-awareness and total honestly about her own blind spots is what make Jamil a refreshing force of nature; no one is exempt from her tireless work to make the world a more inclusive and accepting place, not even herself.

Jamil is not afraid to share those parts of her that have long been considered shameful by the media, such as the cellulite on her legs or the stretch marks on her breasts, and does it with such confidence and self-assuredness that the comment sections are flooded with men and women alike thanking her for changing their lives and their own perspectives of their bodies. Jamil also told one journalist during an interview with The Guardian that she banned any airbrushing of her photos, venting “I just find it really toxic and I’ve had enough.”

One of the most refreshing things about Jamil is her refusal to change to Hollywood standards. She makes a very important stand against being pressured to look thinner or whiter or dress a certain way in order to find success in America after moving there four years ago in 2015. She was told she was “too old and fat and ethnic to give up her career in the UK and move to America at 29” – it would be fair to say she proved them very, very wrong.

YOU’RE A NATURAL...

Mate Dates: The Ultimate Antidote to Bad Romantic Ones I am a firm believer in mate dates. They’re the perfect way to do those fun dates you’ve always wanted to go on, without having to drop a less-than-subtle hint to your SO or that one person you found on Tinder who didn’t immediately ask for nudes.

I absolutely love a good date. I’m a huge activity fan, so anything that involves trying something new is a winner with me. They also offer some form of distraction or talking point if your date is less than interesting or has no idea how to hold a conversation. This is why mate dates are absolutely heavenly. You never have to worry about what to say, or whether you’ve spilled food on yourself, or if you’ve had one too many and are suddenly aggressively asking them whether they believe in feminism.

I find that all too often we reserve dates and activities for relationships. They’re always a great ice breaker for a first date, or the perfect way for avoiding a slump in a relationship’s fun-ometer.

But mate dates are just always a good idea. I’m lucky to have a best friend who absolutely fucking loves a mate date. We’ve done so much together; we’ve gone trampolining, ice skating, even the simple things like brunch and shopping, and we’ve had many “quiet” drinks in the pub that have ended with us drunk in love with each other, cry-laughing into our rums and putting the world to rights.

I have had a few car crash dates, and my matedate-bestie has had enough that I’m actively encouraging her to write a book on them all.

So what can be better than booking a sausage making class in Northumberland, falling over each other in hysterics while she tells me her latest Tinder abomination and not having to worry about whether your date finds your abysmal sausage making skills a turn on or a sign that you’re probably going to maim them in bed.

Websites like Groupon and Wowcher are a haven for mate date ideas. There’s always something utterly obscure that you would have never dreamed of. You can get everything from spa days, to mini breaks, to a jewellery making class.

Find yourself a friend who is willing to do all those fun activities you want to do, who wants to try rock climbing and aerial yoga and silver ring making workshops. It’s honestly so much fun, you can bond properly, and your liver will thank you for doing something together that doesn’t involve too many cocktails and rolling on the floor convinced you’re in a Beyoncé music video.

Photography by Faith Richardson Styling by Jessica Lois Bailey & Faith Richardson Make Up & Hair by Jessica Lois Bailey

I THINK I'M IN LOVE WITH MYSELF