LAVENDER CLEAVAGE
I WROTE THIS SPEECH WHEN I STARTED SIXTH FORM FOR A COMPETITION. WE LOST AGAINST SOME 12 YEAR OLDS TALKING ABOUT HOW SCHOOL LUNCHES NEED TO BE BE MORE LIKE JAMIE OLIVER LUNCHES. THERE WERE ONLY OLD, WHITE MEN JUDGING THIS COMPETITION. WITH RECENT EVENTS SPIKING FEAR, AND A NEW, AND VERY MYSOGINISTIC PRESEIDENT, I THOUGHT IT APT TO BRING OUT AN OLD PIECE. I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT
“Feminism” Wait 5 seconds
You probably just decided in the last few seconds whether or not to pay attention to the rest of this speech. Here we are, another group of teenage girls banging on again about feminism. I’m sure many of you here have seen the rise in popularity of the subject of feminism in today’s society. And maybe you are a little nervous around the subject.
Another stated, “Feminism is sexist”
And the most prominent example to me was a woman who stated, “Modern feminism in Western States looks pathetic. Women shouldn’t be fighting for superiority in the western world; they should be fighting for equality where it is absent.” These are some of the examples why the meaning of feminism needs to be changed. Feminism is often viewed as -Sexist
Perhaps you feel attacked when stating an opinion about how you perceive women. Or have to be especially careful around an acquaintance that strongly believes in -Anti-feminine women’s rights. Perhaps you are a bit unsure about your views on the -Aggressive matter of feminism. Or maybe you are not really bothered. -Or perhaps a mob of bra-less women burning their undergarHowever the matter of feminism ments at the stake. is important and vital in today’s evolving society. But how it is per- This model must change in order ceived is detrimental. to bring about the beliefs of what feminism actually stands for. On a social media site, a page was created inviting women to share Feminism is the belief in the their opinions on the matter. Many social, economic and political stated that they did not need femi- equality in the genders. The model nism for various reasons. of the feminist movement should not strive to achieve feminine Some stated: “instead of empower- superiority. It should not be sexist; ing all people, they [feminists] tear it should not tear anyone down. down anyone who is not openly feminist” The model of the feminist movement should move from CONAnother woman stated that she was FLICT to Cooperation, so that not suppressed, both men and women are treated
as like individuals, with equal opportunities socially, economically and politically. There are statistics after statistics that prove the inequality of women and men. Pay gap statistics, the number of women in power vs. men statistics, how many women are educated versus men, what jobs are available to women. The lack of gender equality is ubiquitous around the globe. In some countries is may be the difference in pay for the exact same job. In others it may be the lack of laws that women may be unprotected when she is beaten, raped or physically harmed. In some countries social stigma prevents women asking a man out for coffee, or a man emasculated for being a nurse. Or gender roles placed upon us at birth. Feminism is gender equality. And if women are as equal socially, economically and politically as men are, then that is simply more people contributing to the social, economical and political state of whatever country or society they are a part of. If men and women work together to put into action gender equality, society and the world would benefit. However if two individuals must work together to create a positive effect, then men and women must also work together to cause a posi-
tive effect. A cooperative attitude needs to be taken when approaching feminism. Without men, half of the human race is not game for gender equality. Men, in this patriarchal system, cannot remove themselves from their power and privilege in relation to women, but with this power and privilege and cooperation with the feminist movement can create a mass movement of social change that will positively transform society. Maybe if I were boy my words would be taken a little heavier. If we were boys, we would not be seen as just a bunch of teenage girls ranting about gender equality. Maybe one day you might see me burning bras at the stake. But I’m desperately hoping that one day, when I receive my paycheck with my male co-worker, the numbers will match. One day, when I look on the news, different global political bodies have equal input from men and women. One day a male friend of mine will chose to become a midwife and be supported for his choice by all his friends. One day I will be part of a global society that appreciates each individual for who they are and what they contribute to the world and it would be completely irrelevant if they were a woman or a man. Feminism is not a fight between the genders; it is a cooperative effort to make each individual to be recognized just as valuable and human as one another.
NUDE AND NAKED what is so fascinating aout the unclothed body? from the innate sexuality of bodies in porn, art and the power bodies have. where are the borders of these themes with bodies? paintings like the Birth of Venus display a nude figure with the hint of Venus’ sexuality. portraits of the nude body, which convey the raw energy of a human show little sexuality and don’t show a body idealized, but just as it is.
The Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli
oil on canvas, Albert Edelfert
Standing by the Rags, Lucian Freud
Two Nudes, Pablo Picasso
Nude portrait of Louise O’Murphy, François Boucher “ The nude fascinates us for a ver y simple and quite profound r e a s o n a n d t h a t i s t h a t i t ’s a r t a b o u t u s . We a l l h a v e a b o d y ; w e’r e a l l f a s c i n a t e d b o d i e s a n d b o d i e s i n t h e u n c l o t h e d s t a t e ,” e x p l a i n s Ju s t i n P a t o n , c u r a t o r o f Nu d e , a n e x h i b i t a t t h e A r t G a l l e r y o f N e w S o u t h Wa l e s i n S y d n e y, “O u t o f t h a t c o m e s the modern nude and our anxieties and our excitement about what lies under clothes, which are the two key impulses that h a s d r i v e n t h e n u d e t h r o u g h o u t i t s h i s t o r y ”.
THE MOVIE MY FRIEND, OSCAR. IS A MOVIE ALONG THE ARTSY LIKES OF JUNO AND CONTAINS REALLY BEAUTIFUL MORALS ETC ETC (YOU SHOULD GO WATCH IT). AFTER WATCHING THE FILM I WAS INSPIRED HOW ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS SEES THE WORLD THOUGH HIS CAMERA. THE DIFFERENT PERSPECIVE HE HAS WHEN HE TAKES PHOTOS AND WHAT HE TAKES PHOTOS OF. IT INSPIRED ME TO LOOK AT THE STREETS, THE ROADS AND UNI WITH DIFFERENT EYES. SO I CHALLENGE YOU TO LOOK IN THE CORNERS OF THE STREETS, THE TORN DOWN GIG POSTERS (AS PICTURED ON THIS PAGE), THE MINI FORESTS GROWING ON DERELICT PHONE BOOTHS AND THE SECRET SMILES PEOPLE HAVE AS THEY WALK BY. PHOTOGRAPH IT IF YOU WANT, OR JUST APPRECIATE THE LITTLE GLORIES THIS UNIVERSE HAS
NAKED
This is me Naked Not literally but seriously I feel like it’s the real me and im Scared should’ve been prepared Not always cared but made aware just because my heart is bared for You And im asking myself who Allowed you Gave you Asked you Wanted you Oh wait That was me
LACE
You smile into my eyes while your fingers lace through mine and warmth rips through my skin as a mirror image tears my face I can’t help but think to this morning Delicate fingers bracing my neck a flat palm against my skin; a dance of tongue and flesh And you. As you look down in the shower and water drips off your hair, arms wound around me as your head rests by my heart I fear what will come next
the honey glow, a pressure in my chest let only little gasps through oh, i’m sorry. i’ll slow down
STORM
LAME
i do the things we do, but no one feels my skin like your fingertips, snail trailing around my freckles, my lips, ears, neck. up and down my spine, you never touched me before this, my skin sings for you
The waves of my heart lull with the tide Softly they kiss the shore Not moving anything Caressing the sand Gentle and distant There was a storm here once before Wreckage sometimes still surfaces Mangled, rusting, ugly, It destroys the landscape But there are people who clean it Remove the carnage And return even when more appears I got used to the lapping splash and fizz Electric over quickly The sound sings me to sleep Curled up in the sand Close but not touching the waves Now they burn me Crashing around my ears I am thrown by the storm A tangle of limbs spinning I don’t know what is up anymore If I let go I might die If I let go I might finally live There was a storm here once before Now the ocean is rising again The waves are larger But do I run and hide? Or succumb to the tide?
THESE POEMS WERE WRITTEN BY A COUPLE PEOPLE, WHO WILL REMAIN NAMELESS. THE WORDS EBB AND FLOW AND I BELIEVE CONVEY SUCH EMOTION AND THOUGHT. IF YOU’F LIKE TO HAVE A POEM IN THIS ZINE, ANONYMOUSLY OR NOT, JUST EMAIL lavendercleavagezine@gmail.com
THIS ISSUE WAS QUITE A SENSUAL AND WOMEN-ORIENTATED WORK. THESE THEMES INSPIRED ME THIS WEEK. I FELT POWERLESS AFTER THE 2016 USA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THE NEWS OF INCREASED HATE CRIMES AND THE RISING HYSTERIA OF MY GENERATION AFTER ALL OF THE EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURED SO FAR THIS YEAR. FOCUS YOUR ENERGY ON YOUR INNER POWER, EQUALITY AND LOVE OF ALL HUMANS. GRASP AND HOLD ONTO WHATEVER YOU FEEL GIVES YOU STRENGTH AND CONFIDENCE. WHETHER THAT IS YOUR FEMENINITY, YOUR MASCULINITY, YOUR CHARM, YOUR LOVE, YOUR JOB, OR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. MARVEL IN WHAT YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN. LOVE TO YOU ALL,
EVE
END