GIRLS Magazine by GIRLS Magazine

VOLUMEÂ 1 | ISSUE 1 | APRIL 2017

girls magazine DLROW EHT

ELUR NEMOW

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GIRLS MAGAZINE

"WHEN THEY GO LOW, WE GO HIGH." MICHELLE OBAMA

girls mission statement Created by Adrianne Ramsey, GIRLS Magazine is an engagement of feminist voices, a safe space, and a collaborative community for independent girls to discover, share, and connect! When Donald Trump called Hillary Clinton a "nasty woman" as they sparred during the third presidential debate of the 2016 United States Election, American women rallied together. However, the controversy did not necessarily cause women to automatically support Hillary Clinton. “I’m a nasty woman” became a battle cry against Trump that has grown even stronger since he was shockingly elected as President of the United States. The current American political climate has caused many women to question what they thought America was, who they are, and who they want to represent them. Sometimes it can be easy to think that we don’t have to do anything. “Someone else will do it.” “Someone else will bring up what I’m feeling.” “This will never happen.” Well, this nightmare is happening. The legality of Roe v. Wade is being threatened under the current Trump administration. Black trans women are the most targeted group in the United States. A Latina actress has never won the Academy Award for Best Actress in nearly 90 years of Oscar history. Muslim women are subjected to unjust harassment every day, simply because of their choice in religion, how they look, and/or what they wear. Hateful stereotypes about Asian women persist. Shouting “I’m With Her” clearly wasn’t and isn’t enough. The worldwide protests are great, but where was this passion before the election? Why were we complacent? Why didn’t we act? We as women –immigrants, refugees, Black, White, Asian, Native American, Muslim, Latina, LGBTQ, disabled, etc. – cannot be complacent for one second longer. We need to stand up. We need to rise. We need to unite and spread awareness, as well as create platforms to support one another. GIRLS Magazine is a revised portfolio of interviews with college students/recent graduates who are artists, activists, writers, or a combination of all three, about their stances on social activism. The eight women who have been interviewed are a diverse group who are passionate about protesting and raising awareness, particularly in light of Trump’s election. They were asked about their political views, if they have attended any marches in their local area within the last year, how their art/writing has been affected by current politics, their views on Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, what direction they feel the United States needs to go in, and their thoughts on intersectional feminism. In addition, members of the USC “I AM THAT GIRL” Chapter have contributed to the magazine by submitting blurbs about what they think feminism is.

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muslim, american, feminist SURAIYA ALI Suraiya Ali is concerned with how the voices of Muslim people are historically left out of political conversations that affect everyone. GIRLS talks to her about her mission to fight back against islamophobia and racism.

“This country was not made to serve people like me.” Those ten words are heartbreaking, but nineteen-year-old Suraiya Ali isn’t sad – she’s realistic. Born and raised in Texas, Suraiya is a sophomore at USC, majoring in International Relations and Global Business (her emphasis is in Marketing) and minoring in Iranian Studies. She is very outspoken about rampant racism against Muslims in America, actively attends protests for various leftist issues, and is a dedicated writer and artist. She sits down with GIRLS to discuss her experiences as a Muslim woman, why Hillary Clinton will never represent her, and why everything she does is an act of defiance.

GIRLS MAGAZINE | INTERVIEW

GIRLS MAGAZINE

GIRLS: You are such a strong proponent for Muslim rights. What is your background? Suraiya: My mother and father are both mixed. My dad is Pakistani (Gujurati) and Persian. My mother is Indian (Marathi) and Persian. I was born in America, but I identify as a Persian and South Asian queer woman. It’s a little wild to consider the fact that I have been made an “enemy of the state,” but I relish the title now. GIRLS: You are a writer and artist. Tell us a little bit about what you do. Suraiya: I’m an illustrator who uses water-soluble ink and graphite. I write poetry and call-to-action pieces trying to document the immigrant daughter experience. I also write for “Brown Girl Magazine” – the dialogue of resistance and revolution is one that I hold dear. I also post on Twitter and Facebook about any photo-shoot or creative project that I take part in. Whether it’s breaking down barriers in my Muslim community or sitting in LAX for 8 hours, I will post and I will march. GIRLS: Who did you vote for? Suraiya: I voted for Hillary, which isn’t something I’m very happy about. As a brown girl, I didn’t like the idea or concept of voting for a lesser of two evils who sees one of my nations as a possible axis power in a future war. But the election felt very dire. We did what we had to, even if I didn’t agree with her foreign policy. GIRLS: When Hillary lost, did you feel bad for her? Suraiya: I felt bad for her as a woman. She had to deal with a humiliation unlike any other woman in modern history. But it would be naïve to say that she didn’t bring a lot of it on herself. She ignored the rural poor and didn’t campaign effectively. She never understood the struggle of being a person of color. She was willing to go to war and support Israel to an even greater extent. She lost. It was her fault. As a woman she may not get the credit she deserves, but at the end of the day I have no time to care about her hypothetical victory. Until a Black Muslim woman is sworn in as President of the United States, we can’t really say we’ve made any progress. Hillary is a start, but she isn’t the end.

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GIRLS: Hillary Clinton has been accused of being a face for white feminism. How do you feel about that? Suraiya: White feminism wants to see me in a grave, get credibility and money off the back of my labor, and suffer in silence. I have no time for it. I don’t tolerate it. GIRLS: What was the first emotion you felt when you realized that Trump was going to win? Suraiya: Dread. This country was not made to serve people like me. That I understand, I’ve always understood this. But I didn’t think it could fail me so much. Fail my mother and father who came here to make sure I wouldn’t feel that dread. Being from Texas has taught me what racism, xenophobia, and neo-Nazism is. I know exactly how much I am not welcome here, and I knew the nation was going to turn into what it has turned to. But I still went to bed at 9, already knowing that he would win. I woke up at 1 in the morning to my Colombian and Palestinian roommates crying, wailing actually. Why? Because they didn’t know how to feel. Or maybe they did – maybe they needed to get that dread out. Later that day I broke up with the man I was seeing because he didn’t believe in islamophobia. I knew I couldn’t ignore that any longer – this was the time to make allies, not excuses. All around me I saw girls crying and people looking exhausting. This nation went through something it had yet to go through – a culminated dread. GIRLS: Fast forward to inauguration day – where was your head at? Suraiya: I was smug because I knew I was going to be marching the next day. And I knew this nation wasn’t going to quit on its citizens. On inauguration day, Trump waged a very fascinating physiological war with the rest of us. His administration will do negative things for sure. And they will, quite possibly, band us together against a common evil, that evil being them. Maybe Trump will do for women the last thing he thought he would – support us by showing us what to hate holistically.

GIRLS: Did you go to a Women’s March? Suraiya: I went to the one in Downtown LA. I think it healed a lot of wounds. It had its problems, yes. But I also think it proved that this citizenry will not go down into authoritarianism without a mass mobilized fight. I saw grandmothers march next to infants. I saw women kissing women and men giving women a place to speak. I saw one thing: hope. GIRLS: When Trump passed a Muslim Ban just one week into office, that must have been awful for you. Suraiya: I was scared for my life and my family’s life. I cried two times while at work and no one understood why. I felt violated. I am a Muslim. I am Persian. My father called me and told me not to tell people who I am and to take off my religious jewelry. He told me things that broke me down to tears. I’m crying a little bit now just thinking about it. To think Lady Liberty wears a hijab, yet my father is telling me that I must take off my hamsa? Lie about where I’m from? That my big eyes and curly hair give me away regardless? It shifted how I viewed myself, honestly. I became my own symbol of resistance. GIRLS: Did you actively protest the Muslim Ban? Suraiya: “I want my 100 Nazi Scalps.” That’s what my sign said when I went to LAX [to protest the ban] and braved riot police. People thought it was clever and funny but I meant it. I still mean it. This isn’t a game of liberal niceties. The president waged a war and we have continually given him one right back. And all I really want to see is this resistance continue until something just as exogenous as his election occurs to get him out of office. GIRLS: Let’s get back to your art and writing. Who are some artists and writers that inspire you? Suraiya: The Antifa is my true inspiration. They are artists in how they protest – I would say that there is a lot of beauty and romance in their love for bashing Nazis. The words of Gramsci, a Marxist, have become very important to me. Along with the Sufi Muslim poets, I find a balance between that divine love and demand for freedom.

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GIRLS: How has your artistry been affected by the political climate? Suraiya: I have felt a serious stifling of my artistic vision for a few years now. Trump has awoken in me a voice that I had forgotten about. My art and writing now carry motifs of freedom, justice, and love like never before. And I’m happy for that. This voice is going to propel me to make sure that man is invalidated for the rest of his days. My writing has always been about aggressive love at all costs, but now, that love serves a form of resilience that can be translated into a serious fight for the liberty we deserve. GIRLS: Do you fear for artists and writers in this political climate? Suraiya: No. Everyone has found a purpose. We had purpose before now, but the last two generations didn’t have an all-encompassing physical war. This may serve as that. Maybe we’ve all been united in a sense of urgency – the harder, faster, and better we create – the more likely we may be to shift this nation’s narrative. Consider it a second revolutionary war of sorts. I think that our words will flow with more urgency because the eloquence and stakes are higher.

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GIRLS: Any advice for girls interested in getting involved in social activism but don’t know how? Suraiya: Every generation has its time and place for action. Maybe the Facebook feed is that place. I’m not going to judge people who post. I’ll march two times as hard for those who can’t join us.

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i'm not with her CYNTHIA FONG

Passion and persistence are why Cynthia Fong has become a role model for how to stand up for what's right. Read more to find out why she refuses to back down in the midst of political turmoil.

“Donald Trump will do nothing for women, and Hillary Clinton isn’t a feminist icon,” says Cynthia Fong. The twenty-four year old is very deadpan in her criticism of both 2016 Presidential candidates but isn’t going to waste time debating who is better/worse. Cynthia has mature sensibilities and is very smart and quick-witted, which is no surprise: she graduated magna cum laude from Brown University in 2014, receiving a B.A. in Public Health and Ethnic Studies. The Bay-Area native moved back to San Francisco after graduation and currently works as a Community Organizer for the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco. Cynthia has become well known for her strong activism: she participates in several marches, demonstrations, and protests/rallies for numerous causes, such as housing rights, immigrant rights, NO-DAPL, and Black Lives Matter. She talks to GIRLS about those shocking election results, how the country needs to mobilize itself for battle, and what she did in place of a Women's March.

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GIRLS: Why are you such an outspoken activist? Cynthia: I often post on various forms of social media – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat – about current politics. I think it’s important to live your politics and that we need deep relationship building, mass mobilizing, and organizing. This means that we need to reach out to people in our lives, have hard conversations, and build political awareness.

GIRLS: You openly dislike both Trump and Hillary. Who did you vote for?

GIRLS: Although you didn’t support either candidate, how did you feel when Trump was declared the winner?

Cynthia: I reluctantly voted for Hillary Clinton, not because I believed in her campaign but for lack of options. California has been a reliable blue state, and since the Electoral College determines the presidential election, I didn’t feel that compelled to vote for either candidate. Neither candidate will deliver the change we need to ensure that my communities have the resources to thrive and survive in the coming years.

Cynthia: I was surprised at the results and felt deep feelings of disbelief and despair. It wasn’t until Clinton lost a major swing state that I started paying attention to the results; I hadn’t been earlier because I didn’t think Trump had a chance of winning.

GIRLS: How did you feel on inauguration day? Cynthia: In a way, inauguration day didn’t feel any different than most days after the results came in – my community was mobilizing to ensure that we could take care of each other and head to the streets. I participated in the J20 Inauguration Day March. The week of the inauguration, the Bay Area was busy. There was over 10 art builds, multiple meetings for several affinity groups per day, and numerous people prepared for various actions.

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GIRLS: You did not attend a Women's March. What did you do instead? Cynthia: I participated in building #thevillage, a local action in Oakland that attempted to reclaim public land for those without homes. It felt like the right thing to do: homelessness and housing instability in Oakland has been escalating. As a housing rights advocate, it felt meaningful to be able to build tiny homes and throw down specifically under the leadership of frontline communities. GIRLS: What type of feminism do you support? Cynthia: Intersectional feminism is the framework we need to deliver on the promise of gender-based justice. White feminism is not feminism – feminism that doesn’t advocate for gender-based justice for all people who are oppressed on that axis (not just women of color, but trans, non-binary, or gender-queer folks of color, of working-class backgrounds, immigrants, etc.) is not feminism. I’m Chinese and identify as a queer API (Asian Pacific Islander), so this clarification of feminism means a lot to me.

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GIRLS: How do you want to change things now that Trump is in office? Cynthia: My goals would have been the same regardless of who took office: dismantle American imperialism so that the people I love and care about can live full and non-oppressive lives. Just think about Trump’s Muslim Ban and how that has negatively affected people; it’s so upsetting. Trump being in office serves as an impetus – people are activated and ready to fight. My hope is that this moment will help us mobilize as many people as possible and build the progressive leftist politics we need.

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the future is female HANNAH GOTTLEIB-GRAHAM Leaping into social media acclaim with strong opinions . and political film photography, Hannah Gottleib-Graham is a bonafide feminist activist. So how does she plan to fight back against Trump? GIRLS finds out.

“Fuck white feminism, honestly,” says HannahGottleib Graham. “I’m only down for intersectional feminism.” She has a soft voice and a lovely complexion, but don’t be fooled: Hannah has a fierce, strong candor and isn’t afraid to voice her opinions, whether they are about art or resisting Trump’s administration. Thanks to her inspiring social media posts (she has over 1,500 followers on Instagram and has received over 200 likes on a couple of Facebook posts), incredible photography, and budding stance in the art world, Hannah is a force to be reckoned it. The twenty-one year old is a senior at Sarah Lawrence College, majoring in Art History with a focus on photography. “I’ve recently started to shoot a series of portraits taken at antiTrump protests and rallies around New York. I’m hoping to turn these portraits into a collage,” Hannah explains. “Politics affect everything, especially art.” Although she knows America has a bumpy road ahead, she’s set major goals to fight for human rights Get a peek into her creative world as you listen in to this brutally honest girl talk.

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GIRLS: How has the 2016 Election affected you as a non-woman of color? Hannah: My mother is Portuguese and my father is Scottish; ultimately, I’m white and white passing. I’m in an odd position because my first language was Portuguese and I lived in Portugal and Spain for five years, where all of my mother’s side lives. People often ask me if I’m Latina, but I’ve never received any sort of racial prejudice and I fully recognize my racial privilege. This election has taught me that I need to work on being an ally for people of color who need love and support right now, and that I need to put their feelings above my own. GIRLS: Who did you vote for the in 2016 Presidential Election? Hannah: I voted for Hillary Clinton because I’m a democrat and a feminist. While I’m not fully in line with all of her political values or agendas, I respect her qualifications and thought that she would make a solid president. I certainly believed that she was our only viable option and that Trump absolutely had to be defeated. I advocated for her and her campaign as much as I could while she was still in the running. I think that she could have done a lot more to be a positive force for intersectional, millennial feminism, and that she didn’t use her platform wisely. Yes she’s a democrat and a feminist, but at the end of the day, she’s also a rich, old, traditional white woman, so that background didn’t help her make bold moves.

GIRLS: How did you react to the 2016 Election results? Hannah: I was in my house with a room full of about 30 people who I dearly love. We stayed up, cried, and held one another all night. I felt terrified for our country’s future, as well as for the futures of many of my friends who felt personally victimized by Trump’s attacks. GIRLS: How do you feel now? Hannah: I feel sick, angry, and scared on a regular basis. The [Betsy] DeVos confirmation made me particularly upset, because virtually everyone I know called their senators and spoke out against her nomination. I had great experiences at public schools before attending Sarah Lawrence and knowing that a white billionaire whose aim is to essentially obliterate the public school system is our Education Secretary is really unnerving. GIRLS: What marches that you have attended post-election? Hannah: I’ve participated in multiple (at least 10) marches and rallies around Trump Tower, as well as two airport marches [protesting Trump’s Muslim Ban] outside of JFK Airport.

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hannah gottleibgraham GIRLS: How do you want to change things now that Trump is in office? Hannah: I was naïve to the incredible amount of racism, sexism, and xenophobia that is still extremely prevalent in this country. I want to be an ally to those who are hurting and speak out against the aforementioned acts that I witness on a daily basis, attend protests and rallies whenever I can, share articles and knowledge with my peers, and be as politically active as I possibly can . GIRLS: You attended the historic Women’s March in Washington, D.C. How was it? GIRLS: You are known for shooting political film photos at protests and rallies. Have you exhibited your work? Hannah: Yes! This February, I participated in an amazing group show, “Nasty Women,” in which women-identifying artists made work that responded to Trump’s presidency. The show was in Queens, New York and we raised over $45,000 for Planned Parenthood.

Hannah: I had conflicting feelings about it. I ultimately wasn’t happy with how much the event felt like a happy parade, a spread of “woman love.” I wanted more of an uprising, a march, a protest…there were too many white woman donning pink pussy hats and vagina signs, and while their arguments against Trump are valid, they felt surface-level and non-intersectional.

GIRLS: Do you think the art world will be heavily affected by current politics? Hannah: Almost every day I read an article about a wealthy artist or collector donating money to Planned Parenthood or the ACLU, so that’s really encouragingI think that artists increasingly feel that they have a responsibility to engage with our political climate and weave this trauma into their work. I’ve always been inspired by artists of color, but now more than ever I think that it’s important to recognize minorities’ contributions to the art world. GIRLS: What is your advice for girls who are interested in getting involved with social activism but don't know how? Hannah: I think that any form of activism right now is helpful. Do what you can! PAGE 13

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being a queer, non-binary black woman in trump's america

KEISA REYNOLDS Keisa Reynolds is an activist, advocate, live storyteller, journalist, and creative non-fiction writer. This megatalented woman gets deep with GIRLS about how America was the one who lost on election night.

When asked if she thinks Trump’s administration will do any good, Keisa Reynolds quickly answers: “Not one bit. Not even for conservative white women.” The twenty-four year old Bay Area native graduated from Columbia College: Chicago with a B.A. in Cultural Studies and a minor in Education, and has spent post-graduate life actively fighting against racism and sexism in America. Keisa sits down with GIRLS about why she doesn’t entirely support intersectional feminism, rooting for Bernie Sanders, and why she wants people to love harder than they ever have before.

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GIRLS: Why did you initially support Bernie Sanders? Keisa: I voted for Bernie in the primaries because addressing poverty outside of neoliberal strategies needs to be prioritized. He and his policies are from perfect, but they were more closely aligned with mine than Clinton’s. When he lost the nomination, I voted for Clinton because fuck Trump. GIRLS: So why not Hillary? Keisa: Her policies have created more harm than many supporters have wanted to admit. She isn’t comparable to Donald Trump. But choosing to ignore valid criticisms, especially ones brought forth by vulnerable populations, reminded me of how pervasive white feminism is. GIRLS: What did you do on election night? Keisa: I went to a watch party with mostly liberals and progressive leftists. Everyone was having a good time, but then it become somber when it was apparent that Trump was going to win. I ended up at a local bar with my roommates, and everyone kept refreshing their phones, placing them down, and sighing. At work the next day, my colleagues and I created a healing space for faculty, staff, and students, even closing early to give ourselves personal time. After work I baked a bunch of cookies and hung out with a guy I was dating. We just held each other because that’s all we could do in that moment. I had difficulty processing it, so I mostly wanted to spend as much time as possible with people I cared about. GIRLS: What were the emotions you were processing? Keisa: Shock, honestly. I am fairly realistic about the state of our country and society in general, so a white supremacist and rapist getting elected is fitting given America’s history. But I was still surprised and gutted because I knew the work that comrades of mine have been doing was about to get 10 times worse.

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GIRLS: Did those feelings subside by inauguration day? Keisa: No. I felt ill. I watched Trump’s speech, made the mistake of following social media and saw how he was being celebrated, and got pissed off because of it. I went to a protest with a dear friend of mine, then to an event hosted at the progressive magazine where I previously interned and currently freelance. I needed reminders that we were going to keep fighting. GIRLS: And how do you feel now? Keisa: Some days I am still in disbelief, then his administration enacts a Muslim Ban, removes protections from trans students, cuts funding from social services, and I think – yeah, this is really happening. All of his policies have upset me because I know at least one person directly affected by every single policy change/implementation. I want more people to resist, educate themselves and the people around them, and give more support to activists and organizers who have worked tirelessly for decades on issues. This administration didn’t come out of thin air, and a lot of the methods of resistance have come from a long, important history. I want people to show up more than they have before. GIRLS: What marches have you attended since Trump was sworn in? Keisa: I went to a protest on inauguration day and went to the O’Hare Airport the first nights of the Muslim Ban. It didn’t occur to me to go to the Women’s March in Chicago. I knew there would be a large turnout there, so I didn’t feel pressure to show up. I probably would have gone if I were in a smaller city/town that needed more support. It was beautiful to see how millions of people showed up, but I don’t feel I missed out. I am fortunate to live in a big city [Chicago] where there are countless opportunities to get involved in organizing on small and large scales.

GIRLS MAGAZINE

GIRLS: How do you think this political climate will affect women of color? Keisa: It does not change much for me since I grew up as a black girl in a low-income neighborhood with parents and family members who have experienced audism, racism, racialized sexism, and xenophobia. If anything, I witness more incidents where black girls, women and femmes, particularly trans girls and women, are silenced and harmed while our physical, intellectual, and emotional labor is being extracted with no regards to our safety and humanity. GIRLS: You are a writer. What do you mainly write about? Keisa: I focus largely on the ways people are impacted by oppressive systems and how they try to move forward. As a journalist, I try to amplify the work of activists, organizers, artists, and community members, and highlight the ways they are resisting. In my personal essays, I reflect on the ways my experiences were shaped by discrimination and oppressive state practices. I try to create space for understanding.

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GIRLS: Compare and contrast white feminism and intersectional feminism. Keisa: White feminism is dangerous and gets us nowhere. But I’m still confused about what people mean by “intersectional feminism,” especially if they haven’t engaged the history and theories by black feminists and other women of color. Does intersectional feminism mean we are addressing the different ways people are harmed by systems and institutions? I can’t get down with intersectional feminism if it is having a brown face with white feminist ideologies, or we’re collecting marginalized identities but not tackling issues at their core and critically analyzing how marginalized people are affected by the prison industrial complex, economic insecurity, housing and gentrification, and so forth. I am down with the potential of intersectional feminism and figuring it out as a framework for feminist organizing.

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proud to be a nasty woman JOJO KORSH JoJo Korsh’s beaming confidence and commanding creativity are her best weapons – and she wants all women to feel just as powerful. She gets candid about her artwork, unwavering support for Hillary Clinton, and why she thinks Trump will do nothing for women.

With over 1,200 Instagram followers, participation in a couple of art exhibitions under her belt, and a B.A. in Fine Arts from USC’s Roski School of Art and Design, Johanna “JoJo” Korsh sounds like she’s living the good life. But at this point in time, the only thing this twenty-two year old artist wants is independence. “ALL of Trump’s policies upset me, but specifically the attacks on Roe v. Wade and limitation of women’s reproductive rights,” she says. As a feminist artist, the themes that JoJo gravitates towards are sexual assault and the dehumanization of the female body. She firmly states that "all women should recognize that our rights over our physical bodies are in deep jeopardy.” JoJo talks to GIRLS about why she looks to Hillary Clinton as an inspiration and how the 2016 presidential election was a huge wake-up call.

GIRLS MAGAZINE | INTERVIEW

GIRLS: Hillary Clinton suffered a humiliating defeat. Do you feel for her? JoJo: YES. I think she handled her campaign with a huge amount of grace and composure. I voted for her because I believe it’s time for a woman to be in the White House. I was so upset and saddened as an American woman when she lost. GIRLS: When Trump was declared the winner, how did you react? JoJo: I was at home with my roommates and cried for hours. I did not realize how little I knew about the majority of Americans. I was angry and upset but also proactive and willing to fight. I want to be more active in physically protesting the things that are going on.

GIRLS: What marches have you attended post-election?

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JoJo: I went to a NO-DAPL march and the Women’s March in Downtown Los Angeles. The Women’s March was so amazing; just to see the collection of men and children and watching women of all ages come together was awesome. GIRLS: You post a lot on social media. Do you think it is becoming a comparable activism alternative to actually going to a protest? JoJo: It’s great to be involved online. I think both [social media posting and protest participation] have their place. As someone who works full time, I can understand where it is hard to physically be apart of everything. I think social media can be as effective, especially as someone who has friends that live across the country and the world. PAGE 18

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GIRLS: Does your art relate to the current political climate? JoJo: I paint, draw, and shoot photography. I think my work has always been somewhat political because it deals with feminity and society, but I have definitely become more aggressive in my content. Art is such a powerful method of communication with the public, especially in the form of street art. The art world is responding well to the craziness going on. GIRLS: What artists inspire you? JoJo: There are so many, but a couple that come to mind are Marilyn Minter, Robert Mapplethorpe, Cathie Opie, and Georgia O’Keefe.

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GIRLS: How do you feel this political climate affects you, as well as women of color? JoJo: I think the political climate affects you regardless of color, though I think it is naïve to not recognize that there are issues that uniquely affect women of color differently. It can be difficult to satisfy all intersectional parties within feminism at the same time, but I think being conscious that some breeds of feminism do not include all women is most important.

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who cheers for women? LIZ ERWIN Liz Erwin declares herself a writer and an activist, but admits there’s always room for improvement in both categories. Read on to find out about her plans for instilling positive change.

“I feel like my place is to stand up for what I believe in, but in some contexts, I need to sit down and listen up,” Elizabeth “Liz” Erwin confesses. At twenty-two years old, Liz is a senior at UC Berkeley majoring in English Literature with a concentration in French. When her nose isn’t buried in a good book, she is passionately advocating against the Trump administration on social media or during a march. As a white woman, she acknowledges the liberal bubble she has lived in for majority of her college experience and how she constantly checks her privilege. She chats with GIRLS about supporting marginalized groups, protesting in Berkeley, and how if the Trump administration continues on their current path, the only thing they will do for women is unite them in opposition.

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GIRLS: When Donald Trump was elected, how did you feel? Liz: I spent the beginning of election night at a Berkeley bar with friends. We were preemptively celebrating the victory of a candidate whom five months before, we had adamantly opposed. In the primaries, I voted for Bernie Sanders with no reservations, but in the general election I voted for Hillary Clinton. As soon as the general election results were finalized, I spent the rest of the night comforting a trans woman and her wife, knowing that the next four years would affect them and other marginalized people far more than it would affect me. I was shocked and outraged but became mad at myself for feeling those emotions. I couldn’t separate my own feelings from the knowledge of how my white privilege has shielded me from realizing that America has always been unsafe.

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GIRLS: Did you feel for Hillary when she lost? Liz: In the end, I did want her to win. I came to really abhor the whole “Bernie Bro” culture that labeled her as being “no better than Trump.” I didn’t want to support neoliberalism, but I voted for her, I rooted for her, and while the anger I felt toward Trump subsumed many of the feelings I held toward Hillary, her loss did sting. GIRLS: Since you felt sadness when she lost, does Hillary inspire you? Liz: As far as the possibility of having her in this nation’s highest political office goes, I think we can do better. I hope we will do better. But a part of me feels that saying that is a way of playing into both the blatant and implicit sexism she had to face during her campaign. She is qualified and unyielding, and while she is endlessly problematic, she became a good point of departure to those new to the cause.

GIRLS: You attend UC Berkeley, whose mostly liberal students have no problem protesting. What marches have you participated in since Trump was elected? Liz: I have gone to three post-election marches in Oakland, the UC Berkeley Inauguration Day Teach-In/Walk-Out Rally, the Women’s March in San Francisco, the No Milo [Yiannopoulos] Protest at Cal, and a “No Ban, No Wall” protest in San Francisco. GIRLS: Wow, you are active! How was the Women’s March? Liz: Although it entailed a lot of ciscentric language and problems with intersectionality, it was powerful and uplifting. The battle doesn’t always have to be grueling.

GIRLS: You post a lot on social media. Do you think it is more proactive than marching? Liz: Twitter is my main platform, but I also use Facebook and Snapchat to try and raise awareness about opportunities to volunteer and mobilize. I’ve been guilty of shaming others for sticking to social media instead of attending events, but I’m learning that resistance takes many forms. Marches are powerful, but the culture might not be sustainable. Social media enables folks to stay informed and hold difficult conversations, but it can sometimes lead to inaction. If we fuse the two, maybe we can create a system of engagement that will organize and mobilize. GIRLS: Where does your passion for intersectional feminism come from?

liz erwin GIRLS: Name a Trump policy that upsets you. Liz: Trump’s reinstatement of the Global Gag rule will cause irreparable damage to women’s health around the world. I especially feel the need to become thoroughly informed about the policies Trump is enacting and seek out ways of combating their illegality.

Liz: Many women of color have not only been combatting oppression for ages; they’ve been experiencing it. Being female-bodied does not erase my white privilege. The ways in which this administration may affect me feel less important than the harm that has been happening towards marginalized people. I want to contribute to the work these communities have been putting into the fight for equality, but I want to do so knowing that this is not about me. White feminism is NOT feminism. It’s yet another way for white people to insert themselves into a narrative that they’ve dominated for far too long. To ignore the narratives of trans women and women of color is to erase them, and to erase them is to perpetuate the problem against which all feminists are ostensibly fighting.

GIRLS: What change do you want to see in America now that Trump is in office? Liz: I want to continue to protest, to engage in political discourse, call my senators, and donate when I can. Over time, however, I hope to direct my efforts toward a specific set of issues. I don’t want that to mean ignoring everything that falls outside of a single platform. It just means starting with the foundations and working upward from there.

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ready for action IRENE ROJAS-CARROLL

Firmly believing that there are several ways to make an impact, Irene Rojas-Carroll talks about why there’s potential everywhere for growth and change.

“We’ve got to stop this phenomenon – not limited to white people or white feminists – of just looking out for ourselves or our little group,” says twenty-two year old Irene RojasCarroll. She graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in AfricanAmerican Studies in 2015 and currently works as a Communications Associate for ACLU of Northern California. A staunch supporter for marginalized and LGBTQ communities, Irene has steadily braced herself for the next four years under the Trump administration. She talks to GIRLS about why she hasn’t cried about Trump’s win and how she isn’t an activist, but an “organizer.”

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GIRLS: Who did you vote for?

GIRLS: How was inauguration day?

Irene: I voted for Hillary Clinton because I could stomach her policy positions more than Donald Trump, and I knew I could keep agitating for even stronger politics outside of voting.

Irene: I felt energized by the actions going on in the Bay Area, at the inauguration, and around the country. It reminded me of the skills that it takes to actually grow a movement and how much I have to learn and share. I hope we can harness people’s immediate desire to react – which has been amazing but also exhausting to witness – and be more strategic, creative, and sustainable.

GIRLS: How was election night for you? Irene: I stayed up late watching live newscasts of Democracy Now and refreshing election results. Around 10 PM it was clear that Trump was going to win the Electoral College system. I was with my family and my partner; I didn’t feel very emotional (I waited weeks for sadness or anger but it never really came), more just tired and ready to get on to the practical work of dealing with the reality of the election. I was slightly surprised, but I was not shocked by any means. I do think Hillary could have leveraged her concession speech and remaining time in the spotlight much more strongly by rallying Democrats and her supporters to come out in real opposition to the Trump administration and a Republicancontrolled government.

GIRLS: What marches have you attended since Trump’s win? Irene: I attended a march in Oakland soon after the election and one in San Francisco the night of the inauguration. I did not attend a Women’s March; instead, I went to support a project that organizers had just set up – building tiny houses for and with homeless people in a public park in a Black neighborhood in Oakland. I’m happy I attended because there were a lot of people at the Oakland march and I’m all about people using their time and skills in the way that makes the most sense for them. GIRLS: How do you feel that this political climate will affect women of color? Irene: For me specifically, I still won’t be very directly affected by policies coming from the feds in this new administration. The phrase “women of color” encompasses so many different experiences. It came about as a term of solidarity, not an identifier, between Asian American women, Black women, Native American women, etc. I identify as a queer multiracial Latinx (white, afro-indigenous Colombian). I do think it’s a more stressful time for me, and I plan to be more vigilant about how I internalize stress and the urge to react to news. Let’s learn from the mistakes of past movements and be radically inclusive in our politics. That means being bold, being uncomfortable, and building relationships.

GIRLS: You are also a visual artist. Will Trump’s policies affect the art world? Irene: I have the most fun with my art when it’s political. I hope more people will be making art, period, and especially art around explicitly political themes. Some artists who inspire me are Favianna Rodriguez, Julio Salgado, Pete Railand, Micah Bazant, Melanie Cervantes, Jesus Barrazas, Jess X Chen, Lorin Smith, Jamila Woods, and Annie Danger. GIRLS: How do you think people should make an impact in the next four years? Irene: Both [social media and actively protesting] are important, and there are many more ways to act and grow movements than just posting on social media and marching. Someone I know who is very public about their struggles with health care on social media probably wins more people over to their cause than many marchers do, and they’re also doing political work in other ways. I’m especially excited about using marches sparingly and strategically, and dovetailing with other actions or creative ways to engage people.

irene rojascarroll

GIRLS: What are your goals for the future? Irene: I’ve been thinking about developing longer-term vision for myself for a little while now. What I mean by that is vision and purpose that goes far beyond the next four years (or however long he lasts). This time since inauguration has pushed me to be serious about investing in myself longterm. It’s been a very busy time at work for me, and [Trump’s] policies and executive orders are going to keep coming. I’m happy that people are paying attention and are both concerned and hopeful about where people are organizing for a more just world going from here.

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white feminism is white supremacy MADDIE PINE

Maddie Pine was stunned when Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, but she recognizes that her privilege as a white woman had everything to do with her surprise. Below, she gets serious about how she is unpacking what that means for her every day.

The past couple of months have been a long, retrospective journey for Madelaine “Maddie” Pine. The twenty-two year old Bay Area native is getting ready to graduate from Seattle University, where she will receive a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Biology. She is passionate about science, equal rights, and intersectional feminism, but she never dreamed that Hillary Clinton would lose the presidential election. “I voted for Hillary because she is the most qualified candidate this country has ever seen,” she says. “She’s flawed, sure, but we could’ve worked with those flaws.” Trump’s win has caused her to increasingly check her privilege, target haters with precision, and make her position on various issues clearer. Even though Maddie is anxious about future policies that Trump may pass, she’s not letting that hold her back. But first, she talks to GIRLS about how that fateful Tuesday night shocked her into action.

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GIRLS: How was election night for you?

GIRLS: What marches have you attended since Trump’s win?

Maddie: I was with my sister and one of our female friends. We took turns leaving the couch where we watched election coverage to cry. I felt – and still feel – incredibly scared and sad. Trump’s administration will only hurt people. Even those who stand to benefit financially from his time in office will suffer in a further loss of any humanity they had to begin with.

Maddie: I went to a Women’s March and a “No Ban, No Wall” demonstration in Seattle. As for the Women’s March, I was conflicted throughout and after my participation. I’m really glad that I went because it provided me with an opportunity to ask myself hard questions. I tried to be aware of the ways in which this march was received differently by police, city officials, and white people than those for Black Lives Matter and immigration reform.

GIRLS: How did Hillary losing affect you?

GIRLS: How do you feel this political climate affects you as a white woman?

Maddie: I was utterly distraught because I really wanted her to win. I can’t imagine how she felt then or is feeling now. I hope she has the space to express all the feelings she may experience in the next four years. GIRLS: How was inauguration day? Maddie: I did my best to avoid social media and news coverage; I felt sad and uneasy all day. In the evening I attended a community event in Seattle hosted by Planned Parenthood featuring local leaders in racial, environmental, and gender justice. I felt an odd combination of fury and hope. But on a day-to-day basis, I feel confused. I have a hard time making sense of the barrage of information about Trump’s administration’s moves, the media’s portrayal of them, and my own opinion of it all.

Maddie: Up until now I haven’t had to think about the ways my privilege protects me from the systems that deprive so many people in the United States. This political climate has thrust me into new conversations with myself about how White Supremacy erases my humanity, infects feminism, and hurts the people I love. “White feminism” is not feminism; it is White Supremacy. Intersectional feminism is the only type of feminism – it holds up the complexity that is the feminine experience of the world. GIRLS: What do you think of people’s criticisms of Hillary Clinton? Maddie: I think that feminists can learn a lot from Hillary Clinton’s trajectory. If we can examine the way she evolved in her career, the portrayal of her marriage [to 42nd U.S. President Bill Clinton], her feminity, her power, and her mistakes, we can learn a lot about how to do better. She is not perfect, but no feminist “icon” is. We set ourselves up for failure when we create icons out of individuals and expect perfection. When there is no room for growth, failure is inevitable and that is what makes movements like feminism vulnerable to oppressors. GIRLS: How does your background in science affect your opinions about some of Trump’s policies/proposed policies? Maddie: The Trump administration’s blatant disregard of fact and science upset me the most. His hatred underlines each policy he proposes, from transgender people using public restrooms or refugees entering the country. Heart disease poses a greater risk to the lives of people living the U.S., but it will likely go untreated if millions of people lose their health care. His policies are irrational and based in an alternative reality and that scares me because I don’t know how to combat that. GIRLS: What change do you want to see in America? Maddie: I want to support communities and groups that have been working to combat injustice long before Trump’s presidency, dismantle the systems that allowed him to reach this level of power, and work with and challenge other white women to identify and deconstruct the white supremacy we have internalized.

maddie pine

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what is feminism?

USC'S "I AM THAT GIRL" CHAPTER I AM THAT GIRL is a national non-profit organization whose mission statement is about “helping girls to transform self-doubt into self-love by providing a safe space to connect and have honest conversations about things that matter. We are shifting girl culture by raising the stands for how girls treat themselves, each other, and the world.” USC alum Alexis Jones is one of the co-founders of I Am That Girl. In 2014, Alexa Trujillo and JoJo Korsh started USC’s I Am That Girl chapter, which has many members and holds weekly meetings and various events throughout the school year. Several of USC’s chapter members agreed to participate in the inaugural issue of GIRLS and submit blurbs about what they think feminism is. “Being proud to be who I am and having a support system.” – Gabby Fernandez, Junior

“Feminism is bringing up and empowering women to their full potential in a society that is not built for it.” – Cailin, Junior

“Being me.” – Jordan, Sophomore "Empowering myself and the women around me.” – Gabby Cohen, Senior "Girl power! And boy power. And everything in between.” – Ali Brown, Senior "An unbiased support of women for who they are as human beings on a biological, psychological, and social level.” – Brittany, Junior

“Empowerment. Equality. Embracing the beauty and intellect that is every woman.” – Samantha Johnson, Senior “Feminism is believing in equality for everyone! No matter what gender, race, class, etc.” – Aly Ferguson, Junior “Feminism is gender equality and respect for everyone.” – Tiffany Brown, Junior

"The radical idea that women are equal and should make decisions about their own lives.” – Maia Chloe Lopes-Gillbert, Sophomore

"Feminism is the social, political, and economic equality between the sexes. It requires active participation from men and women.” – Sarah Vuss, Freshman

“Feminism is empowering both men and women around me to lift each other up. #GirlPower.” – Samy Harbert, Senior

“Activism centered around gaining social and economic equality between men and women.” – Arielle Goldberg, Sophomore

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points of action The Trevor Project Non-Profit focused on LGBTQ suicide prevention Social Media Handle: @TrevorProject Website: www.TheTrevorProject.org

Planned Parenthood Country’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider Social Media Handle: @PPact Website: www.plannetparenthoodaction.org

Equality California Nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization Social Media Handle: @eqca Website: www.eqca.org

ACLU Works to defend individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the constitution Social Media Handle: @ACLU Website: www.aclu.org

Southern Poverty Law Center Fights hate groups and bigotry using education, litigation, and advocacy Website: www.splcenter.org EarthJustice Largest non-profit environmental law organization in the country Social Media Handle: @Earthjustice Website: www.earthjustice.org

Women’s March Organizes marches for the advancement of women, such as The Women’s March (January 21st) and “A Day Without a Woman” March (March 8th) Social Media Handle: @womensmarch Website: www.womensmarch.com For Inquires Contact: info@womensmarch.com

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights Works to protect best interest of children who come to US on their own Website: www.theyoungcenter.org

Ms. Foundation Women This non-profit organization has led the change for women’s rights, equality, and justice Social Media Handle: @msfoundation Website: www.forwomen.org

Black Lives Matter An affirmation of and embrace of the resistance and resilience of Black people Social Media Handle: @Blklivesmatter Website: www.blacklivesmatter.com

AJ+ A news source for the connected generation, sharing human struggles, and challenging the status quo Social Media Handle: @ajplus Website: www.ajplus.net The Resistance Party Grassroots movements fighting against Donald Trump’s agenda and white supremacy Social Media Handle: @ResistanceParty Website: www.theresistanceparty.org United State of Women Dedicated to being the megaphone for the gender equality movement Social Media Handle: @USOWomen Website: www.theunitedstateofwomen.org

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the american woman

ADRIANNE RAMSEY Once it was clear that Donald Trump had won the 2016 Presidential Election, the comments that irritated me the most were: “This isn’t the country I know” or “I’m so disappointed in America.” Seriously? America was built off of slavery, genocide, racism, and sexism. This country consistently stands for white supremacy, violence, and wealth. Americans can never afford to be complacent; there are constant problems running rampant in this country. People like Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and Paul Ryan are everywhere. Open your eyes and your ears. Trump’s first one hundred days in office should be a big wake up call to everyone. People are terrified for their lives, and they have every right to be. We can’t afford to be lazy: we have to fight back and resist against fascism. While we have suffered some blows, we’ve also had some victories: Trump’s Muslim Bans have been blocked nationwide by federal judges. The American Health Care Act was pulled from House consideration due to lack of GOP support. The Trump administration is under FBI investigation due to Russia’s interference in the election. For anyone who has ever wondered whether marching, speaking out at town halls, posting reflective pieces on social media, and making calls to Congress works – it does. Our voices will be heard, and we need to continuously speak up about what we believe in.

GIRLS Magazine was inspired by two protest movements. The first was the Women's March, which I attended in Downtown LA. I marched because the future is intersectional and women of color matter too. Because it’s my body and I’m tired of racist, sexist, misogynistic white men defunding an organization that is there for me if and when I need them. Because it’s 2017 and it’s sad that we’re still fighting for human rights. Because I am strong and will never stop fighting. Because the rights of all women, no matter what race, trans or cis, religion, short or tall, and more. MATTER. Also: if one didn’t have the privilege or desire to participate in a Women’s March, that doesn’t make them any less of a woman or a fighter. The second inspiration was the 1960s AntiVietnam War Protests. This was a time when artists rose up and created love instead of war. People pushed up, fought against inequality, and protested against the government telling us how to live our lives. We are all Americans, and American women need to fight everyday for basic human rights. We will fight until we get what we should already have. We will fight even if men slam the door in our faces. We will fight because it is the absolute right thing to do. We are the resistance.

GIRLS MAGAZINE | LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 1 | APRIL 2017

DLROW EHT

girls magazine

ELUR NEMOW