OCTOBER 2015
ISSUE #3
Girl Power Issue INSIDE • what girl power means to you • important women in literature, music and history • feminism • and more
Local Riot is a collaborative magazine created by two girls who wanted to provide an outlet for the creative souls of the world to share their work, thoughts and opinions. It is a magazine for young people by young people and is a place to come together, a place to be free of ridicule, a place to make friends, a place to educate yourself, a place to express yourself, a place to be heard.
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EDITORS NOTE Hey Riots! We know this issue took longer than usual to produce (with both of us having exams and all) but we promise you it is worth the wait! The Local Riot team is incredibly proud of this issue that is about something very important, Girl Power. Happy reading! - Ailish + Maisie
MANY THANKS TO: • WWS Movement – for participating in the interview and for those who shared their stories • Aly Peterson – for the images on the cover and contents pages • All those who submit work and our wonderful interns local riot magazine // 3
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CONTENTS Â
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CLASSICS: monthly favourites //
FEATURES: what is girl power? women who changed the world for the better we will speak movement interview women worth writing about feminism girls rock & girls roll my grandma tried to give me a nose job unrealistic expectations diversity and advantage: the round up of a memorable victory
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DISCLAIMER: the images in this issue are retrieved from tumblr/weheartit unless the source is stated. All credits go to their rightful owner/creator.
issue three // October + November 2015 GIRL POWER Social Media localriot.weebly.com twitter: @localriotmag ask.fm: ask.fm/localriotblog
Contact localriotblog@gmail.com
Co-ow ners
Ailish Delaney Maisie Evason
Graphic Design Ailish Delaney
Contributing Writers Caroline Gadsby Annie Downhour Ioana Florescu Ki’i Lily Midgett
Contributing Photographers
Get to Know the October / November Team REGULARS MAISIE EVASON: Twitter: @thebrkfstciub Instagram: @thelittlemermais Tumblr: flowahpetal.tumblr.com AILISH DELANEY: Twitter: @probablyailiish Instagram: @ailish.delaney Tumblr: lazyplum.tumblr.com LILY MIDGETT: Instagram: @lily.the.nefelibata IOANA FLORESCU: Twitter: @preachitjessie Instagram: @xoioana CAROLINE GADSBY: Twitter: @CarolineGadsby_ ANNIE DOWNHOUR RIOTS KI’I: Website: www.kiionline.com ALY PETERSON: Twitter: @dammitaly Tumblr: aleocn.tumblr.com SOHPIA OSLIN: Website: www.sophiaoslin.com
Want to see your w ork here? If you’re a creative soul and want to see your work, whether it be art, modelling, writing, poetry, photography, etc, just//email local riot magazine 6 it to us at localriotblog@gmail.com
Desperate Housewives I have officially completed all eight seasons of Desperate Housewives, I am a changed woman. Watching Bree, Gabby, Susan and Lynette (and all the other residents of Wisteria Lane) struggle through broken hearts, family problems and murder trials but come out stronger and closer than ever. Don't get me wrong, it has a few dud storylines but really so does every other television show. I highly recommend watching it, honestly it's now one of my favourite TV shows ever. Blue - Joni Mitchell If you've been anywhere near me for the past month or so you've probably heard me either talk about, sing or cry about Joni Mitchell's musical masterpiece Blue. I'm rather positive that pretty much every "Top 50 albums you must own" list will have this on it, and if it doesn't then it probably sucks. Joni Mitchells vocal range is astounding, despite the fact it makes it impossible to sing along to her songs, and the lyrics to this album practically enter your body and flow through your veins they're that powerful. Please, do yourself a favour and give it a listen. Thank me later. Thailand My October holidays were exciting to say the least. I ventured all the way to Thailand with the rest of the Evason clan and rekindled my love for the place. This was my third time in Thailand, but it was certainly full of firsts. My favourite place was an old town at the north of Thailand called Chiang Mai. It had an incredibly interesting history to it, the town was centred around the old gates to the city from the 1200s. Thailand is a delightful place full of lovely people and even lovelier food. If you're lucky enough to visit, chicken satay with peanut sauce is a must! - Maisie
One-piece Swimsuits One-piece swimsuits have made an appearance once again as the warmer weather comes around (for those in Australia anyway). I’ve always been of funky bathers but the one-pieces that my friends and I have owned growing up never appealed to me. As trends and tastes changed and evolved one-piece swimsuits have come back as fashionable with multiple styles that will make you feel heart eyes. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for one of my own and if your country is heading into warm weather again I suggest you do too. The Flash The Flash is a TV show by CW that centres on the DC comics of the same title. It follows Barry Allen on his journey of being the flash and his encounters along the way. Intertwining with shows such as Arrow, The Flash is a show with lovable characters, kick-ass action scenes and meaningful storylines that will keep you up all night continuously watching the next episode (at least that’s what happened to me). Barry Allen has captured my heart and I felt compelled to allow him to do the same to you, Purpose – Justin Bieber By now you have to have either heard of or listened to Justin Bieber’s new album Purpose. There are posts all over the Internet of people claiming that they’ve been converted to beliebers and I side with them as this new album has brought out the belieber that I was in primary school. Justin’s new album is full of catchy, upbeat songs and music you can tell has meaning and purpose (pun intended). Definitely go check it out if you haven’t by now, which would be surprising. - Ailish
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POWER
When you search “What is girl power?” on the Internet, this is what you find: “The phrase "girl power", as a term of empowerment, expressed a cultural phenomenon of the 1990s and early 2000s (decade). It is also linked to third-wave feminism. The meaning of the term changes in regards to each individual. Girl power is all around us in our every day lives, in its most basic form its female empowerment. Anything you do to help out your other girls is contributing to girl power. “To me, girl power means all girls putting aside their differences and coming together to fight for something more. It isn't about dominance, it isn't about overpowering men and it definitely isn't about changing to be more powerful. Girl power is embracing yourself and the women around you, turning each other's weakness' into strengths and using those strengths to fight for each other and for equality.” – Maisie, 17 “Girl power is about acceptance. It’s about accepting yourself and other females, and building girls up instead of tearing them down. It’s not about overpowering or belittling men; in fact it has nothing to with them. Girl power is about coming together to support one another in fighting together. It’s about empowering yourself and others, empowering all girls. It’s girls fighting together, girls loving one another, girls recognising the strength inside themselves and joining in the ongoing fight for equality.”- Ailish, 16 Instead of only voicing the opinions of our writers (as wonderful as they are!), we asked girls of different ages, races and backgrounds: w hat does girl pow er mean to you?
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What does girl pow er mean to you? “Girls sticking together, girls who are fighting for gender equality.” – Deanna, 16 “To me, girl power means girls uniting, not only for the fight for equality an feminism, but for the little things as well. Girl power is complimenting another girl in the school bathroom and making her day, girl power is making sure that each and every person that classifies themselves as a girl is empowered and confident in being a girl.” – Eloise, 17 “Girl power is girls coming together to stand with each other instead of against each other, bringing each other up and having each others backs instead of bringing each other down. Its empowerment in women and women being able to express themselves collectively as a group and as individuals.” – Fran, 17 “Girl power, to me, isn’t about over powering men nor is it girls running the world. I consider girl power a quality in which a female can accept herself for who she is and break out of the stereotypical boundaries that restrict some women.” – Jess, 16 “I’m a girl, and I am also a human. I have the ‘power’ to exist the same as any other. EVERYONE is equal – I don’t believe in the term.” – Alysha, 20 “Girls empowering girls! Lifting other girls up and making them realise that they are stronger than they think and have everything they need inside of them!” – Jen, 21 “To me, girl power is power itself. It is confidence, knowledge, creativity, self exploration. It is the ability to thrive as an individual, a human, as your soul and your passion, despite living in a society that sees
you as less simply because of your genetic makeup. Girl power is claiming and using your voice against the world, and making it certain that it does indeed hear it.” – Morgan, 16 “I think it means taking pride in females, supporting femininity. (EG. When a girl plays on an all boys team). “ – Rachel, 14 “I see girls have this drive and determination, working for every victory that they get, and that’s girl power. Things are not handed to us like they often are to boys, we have to fight harder to get top positions in work and sport, we have to fight to be heard and taken seriously, and we have to fight to love ourselves and other women in a world pitting us against ourselves and each other. We fight and we win and we will work so hard; that’s girl power.” – Erin, ARTLOVER96 “Girl power to me is empowerment for all girls; trans girls, bisexual girls, pansexual girls, lesbians, demi girls, black girls, ace/aro girls, brown girls, mentally ill girls, Muslim girls, Asian girls, demisexual girls, disabled girls, Latina girls, Hispanic girls, those who don’t identify as either, girls who don’t know what their sexuality is, girls who are survivors, girl power should apply to ALL GIRLS. Where we unite together and fight for each other to have respect, justice, rights, and safety all around the globe.” – Michelle, 16 “When people say girl power, I think it means when girls beat boys. Like superheroes, winning even though boys think they're better than girls.” - Rosie, 11 “It means to show boys that girls don't suck like they think do!” - Nell, // 9 9 local riotwemagazine
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“Little girls with dreams become women with vision.” - Unknown
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Women Who Changed the World for the Better Lily Midgett Women will always be important, no matter where you come from or even what you’re told. My mom owns a book called Pearls, written by Fawn Germer, which is full of inspirational quotes about the importance of women. My favourite quote in this book is as follows, “If you are an agent of change, you can’t look to the status quo for validation because you will never get it. That’s why the status quo is the status quo. It doesn’t want to change.” – Dr. Alexa Canady. I like that quote particularly because I feel like all women can be agents of change, it ‘s whether or not you use your skills provided to make a difference in the world. I believe that the following women have by far used their skills to make the world a better place for women.
Aung San Suu K yi is an Asian woman born in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) in 1945 during the
middle of a war. Many people say the fact that her father was a likeable leader of the Burmese effort for independence was the biggest factor in her personality. She is remembered for being strict, hardworking and as a woman who held high moral beliefs. She was a campaigner for democracy and human rights. She said, "It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it." I think that quote is so crucial to truly understanding her beliefs and what she wanted to do for the world. She really fulfilled that lifestyle and I believe that more people should honour her fight for human rights.
Sappho is a Grecian poet, one of the first, who lived around 600 B.C. in the Greek island of
Lesbos; because she lived so long ago, most of her work is lost, and no one really knows how her work was published. Many scientists believe that she was a singer so she performed her songs, passing them down to more and more singers. In one of her works she writes, “You may forget, but let me tell you this: someone in some future time will think of us” I think that thinking process is what led her to make a difference in the world. Now you may be asking what kind of difference she made. Sappho was believed to be a lesbian and she really made an attempt for equality. This is still something the world struggles with today, accepting people who are gay. However, I strongly feel like she made an impact through her writing.
Simone de Beauvoir really laid down the path for modern feminism through her writing.
Her most famous piece of work is “The Second Sex”; it talks about why women’s roles in society were viewed as inferior to men. Unsurprisingly, her work was received with great controversy. It was also seen by some people as pornography, so the Vatican placed it on the index of Forbidden Books. She had a relationship with someone named Sartre, who was her best friend and lover, but they decided not to marry because Beauvoir insisted that their
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relationship should not be influenced by the social norm. They dated other people and Beauvoir wrote a book about the complexity of relationships and the issue of a person’s conscience in relation to another’s. De Beauvoir wrote about ageing in her later years, she died six years after Sartre on April 14, 1986; the two lovers share a grave. These women I have written about may not be well known, or even liked, but I know that I appreciate what they did for us in the world of women. I think they played a crucial role to our history and are a true inspiration to us all. These women were “agents of change”; they were born with gifts, and used them for the betterment of our life. I believe without them, we might still be fighting for our rights to vote. I know we can beat this hard fight for equal rights, it will happen in our lifetime ladies! In the name of Girl Power!
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“I rarely do black and white shots. My pictures usually consist of being whimsical and bright, and using the black and white effect brings deep emotion and mystery. This is a self portrait, it portrays, in my perspective, ambition. During the past few years, I have struggled immensely, but the light has always been there, and I have always had the determination to grasp it.“
PHOTOGRAPHER: Sophia Oslin
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“She needed a hero, so that’s what she became.” - Unknown
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Women Who World for the
Changed the Better
We Will Speak is a movement founded by 17-year-old Emily Angelica (@femangel on twitter) that is centred around rape culture and sexual assault and focuses on forcing colleges to face the reality of rape in our society and crack down on it. It is a safe place for victims, friends of victims, and all who want to speak out. It is spreading awareness and educating others on the issues of rape and sexual assault. We contacted Emily to find about more about this movement, which is so relevant to everyone. Connect: @WWSMOVEMENT - twitter Local Riot: First of all, for the sake of those who haven't heard about the movement, can you briefly explain when and why the movement was founded? We Will Speak: The movement started [September 7]. I saw a boy on twitter making rape jokes and talking about how he "has standards to girls he rapes" and I also noticed he posted his college info. I reached out to warn the college about the student who was a danger to other members of the college but they ignored me. I started the movement to urge all colleges to crack down on this behavior and rape culture. A lot of times one student isn’t enough, but the movement could be a driving force in protecting young boys and girls from on campus sexual assault. LR: What has the reaction you received towards the movement been like? WWS: I’ve received loads of support and a surprising amount of hate. Troll accounts always flood the hashtag trying to trigger victims and bring us down but we don’t let them silence us. LR: Is that what you expected? WWS: I expected hate obviously but I didn’t expect to gain this much support from the media. LR: Do you have the support of your family and friends? WWS: Kids from my school aren’t too happy about my success but I don’t care. My mom and
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dad are proud as well as my close friends and 10 wonderful teammates at WWS Movement. LR: We've seen that you're going to be working with Buzzfeed, can you tell us a bit about the project? WWS: A video producer from Buzzfeed and another journalist for Buzzfeed News reached out to me separately. I am flying to LA October 8-11 to film an interview with Buzzfeed to raise awareness for the entire movement. LR: Is it hard hearing peoples stories about sexual assault and harassment? Does it ever get a bit too much? WWS: Reading the stories are never fun but I feel so proud of people using the tag to find the courage to speak up. It takes a lot of bravery. LR: We read that you're only 17? We're the same age! Does the movement take up a lot of your time and affect your schoolwork etc.? WWS: Yes I am only 17. It doesn’t affect schoolwork as much because I dropped out of my old high school and I am enrolled in online courses. But it does seem surreal because just the other day I was at a friend's party and I had to step out to do a phone interview, like its crazy to think even though I am only a teenage girl people are listening to me for once and hearing what we all have to say. LR: What is the ultimate goal of your movement? WWS: The ultimate goal is to make college campuses safer. To grow so that there are smaller divisions on campus of the group which serve as a safe place for victims to go and support each other. We want to bring victims and allies together to help them heal and prevent further assault. LR: What does feminism mean to you? WWS: To me feminism in the simplest terms is equality. If your feminism isn’t intersectional and doesn’t include trans issues, PoC, male victims, etc. then it doesn’t seem fair. Feminism has given me a community to make friends and grow to love myself. LR: And finally what advice do you have for people who have been abused or assaulted? WWS: For victims I would say please remember it is never your fault. There is always someone within the community willing to listen to you and walk you through it, and you don’t have to deal with this alone. We believe you.
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We then took to the public to find out why the We Will Speak movement is important to you. Â
@LIAMSINSTINCT
@miwaonthewall
@ptvheather
@imindigomoon
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We Will Speak because …
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Women Worth Writing About
Maisie Evason The literary world is full of admirable women. Some are poets, others are authors. In keeping with this months theme and releasing my inner literary nerd, I would like to bring to your attention to just a few of the women in the literary world that are worthy of admiration and praise. Maya Angelou - Poet + Author Maya Angelou was an African-American poet and author. Born in 1928, Angelou grew up in an America that disregarded her for not only her race, but also her gender. At a young age she was sexually abused by her mothers boyfriend, he was sent to jail for a day and was killed four days after his release. The event caused Angelou to believe that her words had killed a man, and because of this she became mute for almost 5 years, until a teacher introduced her to poetry, which is where she found her voice. For this reason, a large majority of the poetry written by Angelou address the sexism and racism she was subjected to. She also wrote several autobiographies in which she discussed her experiences throughout childhood and early adulthood. In 1993, Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton, the increase in fame that followed the recitation allowed her to spread her message of equality even further. Not only should Angelou be admired for her talent and her contribution to the literary world, her work as a civil rights activist helped improve the lives of many minorities across the world. J.K Row ling - Author J.K Rowling is easily one of the most admired women of our generation, and even the one before us. I must admit, embarrassingly I have only ever read the first book in her famous Harry Potter series. However, it's clear from its ever-increasing fame that the series is worthy of praise. The world that has come to life in Rowling’s books has become a sanctuary for many readers (and many of my friends), a gentle reminder of childhood dreams and unforgotten heroes. I think that's why I admire her, because using only her words she gave people an escape. She gave them a far-off dream that bit of hope. Rowling’s talent is incredible, in not only Harry Potter, but also her other works. Living in the spotlight for a long time has done no damage to who she is as a person; she has remained humble and grateful. Seriously, try finding a bad word written about her. Spoiler alert: you won't. Rupi Kaur - Poet Most likely the most unknown on this list, the poet Rupi Kaur is more than worthy of admiration. This year she created uproar after Instagram deleted her photos due to inappropriate content. If you didn't see the photoset, it was about women and their periods.
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The photo taken down was classed as inappropriate because it had a women lying down with menstrual blood on her underwear and her bed. Instagram classed our periods as inappropriate, ridiculous isn't it? So Kaur fought back and let everyone know, it's nothing to be ashamed of, it's natural. And she's right. As for her contribution to the literary world, Kaur is a poet and, a brilliant one too. The poems I have read by her focus heavily on women and equality. She creates poems with clear voice and expression that is honestly magic. She has released her first book of poetry titled Milk and Honey and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. Shonda Rhimes - Screenw riter + Author So screenwriter might not actually fit in the ‘literary’ category, but it is still writing so I'm calling it close enough! For those of you who don't know who Shonda Rhimes is, she is the ruler of Shondaland; the world that brought us Greys Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder and Scandal. Rhimes has used her writing skills to bring to life characters that tend to stray from, shall we say, the "social norms." My personal favourite of her shows is Greys Anatomy, a large part of the reason I enjoy watching the show is because the main characters and the patients are constantly bringing light to important issues. Season 12 of the show aired at the end of September, with the first episode tackling the issue of bullying and telling young children that it's perfectly okay to be whoever they want to be. Characters such as Callie Torres from Greys and Annaleise Keating from HTGAWM become a voice for the LGBT community as they break down social barriers and remain powerful women, no matter what their sexuality. Rhimes should be commended for her work as a screenwriter and I look forward to reading her book Years of Yes, a memoir that describes how Rhimes took on the challenge of saying "yes" to all the unexpected invitations she received despite describing herself as an introvert.
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“And though she be but little, she is fierce.” – Shakespeare
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Caroline Gadsby
For the longest time, feminism has been labelled as a movement of man-haters, women against men, or women superiority. It’s as if being a feminist has become synonymous with being someone who hates men and wants to establish matriarchy. What most people don’t understand, is what feminism actually stands for, and how vastly important it is. Feminism by definition is the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. The key term being equality. Feminism is the radical notion that women are people, not that they are better than men. It’s about gaining equal rights and opportunities for women, and allowing women to have control over their lives and bodies. At a time when women are sexualized and objectified in so many cultures, feminism is about so much more than putting an end to harmful feminist labels. It's about empowering women and young girls to stand up for both themselves and each other, and fight for equality. Feminists ascribe to a certain political and social philosophy based on liberating women, and through them our society, from age-old structures which empower and benefit the powerful at the expense of everyone else. Because women are oppressed at every level of the power structure, the liberation of women has the potential to change the whole structure and the way it functions. Feminist Culture on twitter states, “Feminism is a movement that should be based on empathy and not just personal experience.” In more ways than one, women have been subjected to inferiority. •
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According to the Pew Research Center, working women in the U.S. make 84% of what their counterparts earn. And that pay gap is not lessening on its own. To put it in perspective, women would need to work 40 extra days a year to make as much as men, according to Cosmopolitan.com. Women pay more for common household items than men. For instance, the average price for men's deodorant is $1-$2 cheaper than women's. The same goes for shaving cream, shampoo, socks, razors, and the list goes on. Throughout the United States political system, women are underrepresented, with only 20% of seats held in Congress, according to the Huffington Post. And currently, only six women are serving as governor out of all fifty states. Women are far more likely to fall victim to human trafficking, with an overall greater
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risk of rape and domestic violence. If more people, particularly men, focused on empathizing with women, these statistics would disappear. Emphasizing power among women and girls of all ages is becoming crucial to gender equality. In order for this world to become a more equal and loving place, everyone must take a stand against misogynistic behaviour. When people choose to ignore the cruelty of human trafficking and the unfairness of inequality in general, it will continue. The first step in making a difference toward feminist culture is learning that “giving someone else equal rights does not infringe or take away rights from you. It just makes it illegal to enforce your prejudice and hate.” (Unknown)
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“Just watch, all of you men. I’ll show you what a woman can do…I’ll go across the country, I’ll race to the moon…I’ll never look back.” – Edna Gardner Whyte
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Girls Rock & Girls Roll Ailish Delaney
Girls are strong, girls are brave, and boy do girls rock. Females have played an important part in the music industry for as long as there has been music. They have to put up with sexism in the industry, misogynistic remarks towards their music, and not being respected as a talented artist with thoughts and views purely because they are female. Women are a minority in the music industry and do not have the same privilege as men. They are role models to so many young girls, like myself, who look to music to find a powerful babe who will send them some inspiration. Female artists are often judged on their appearance before their art itself, people do not realise that girls are more than a pretty face; they are more than “bitches” in a rappers song. Girls have talent, girls have skill, and these are a few females who I though definitely fit the category of a modern day female music star. Beyoncé Beyoncé is known for being a talented musician and a feminist icon. Beyoncé has a long list of empowering songs for females, including “Girls (Who Run the World)”, “Partition” and “Pretty Hurts”. She is an incredibly successful artist in this male dominated industry and is accepting and secure with her sexuality, embracing rather than shunning it. Through her music Beyoncé promotes the message of gender equality and female empowerment and educates her fans on feminism. She is not afraid to express herself and owns her body in a way that contradicts the opinions of the media. Beyoncé is known as a feminist icon for many and is whom many people learnt about feminism from and learnt to embrace their selves due to. Nicki Minaj Nicki Minaj is a lady whom I admire. She creates both beautiful and badass music, all the while preaching about body positivity, self-love and the importance of education. Nicki Minaj expresses herself and her body and breaks the stereotypes she’s often confined to by the media. Nicki Minaj owns her sexuality and her body and continues to defy the ideal beauty standards of society. Nicki Minaj is a positive feminist role model. She encourages her fans to gain an education, embrace their sexuality and express themselves. She is climbing to the top
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in a male dominated genre and I suggest you listen to both her music and what she has to say. Scarlett Stevens Scarlett Stevens is the drummer from the Australian band, San Cisco. The drums have always been a predominantly male instrument but female drummers, such as Scarlett, are just as, if not more, capable as males. “It shouldn’t be a surprise that women succeed at their instruments”, says Scarlett. She is such a down to earth and intelligent girl who, from personal experience, can put on a great show. Scarlett is never afraid to speak her mind, encouraging girls to not let anyone talk down to them and expressing why females are an important part of the music industry. “Don’t be afraid to have an opinion, let your voice be heard and don’t let anyone talk down to you because you’re a girl.” (Galore Magazine.) Lady Gaga In her interview with Britain's The Times, Gaga said, “I’m certainly a feminist. A feminist to me is somebody that wishes to protect the integrity of women who re ambitious. A feminist in my opinion is somebody that regards that women have strong intelligence and wisdom. That we are just as great as men – and some of us can be even better. I want to fight for the female performer, the female artist, the female musician. This is the type of feminist that I am: that women can be tremendous artists.” Lady Gaga is never afraid to stand up for what she believes in and make herself known. She promotes a good message of self-love and self-acceptance and makes killer music. Fifth Harmony The Fifth Harmony girls are hard not to love. Fifth Harmony are like the big sisters some people have never had to their fans and are all about educating their fans on feminism and relevant issues. Fifth Harmony promote girl power and loving yourself and those around you. Their latest album Reflection is ever so catchy and with popular singles of “Worth It” and “Boss”, these girls are all about female empowerment. Lorde, CHVRCHES, Melanie Martinez, Haim, Rihanna, Grimes, the list goes on. There are
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many influential female artists in the music industry and slowly, ever so slowly, they are gaining the recognition they deserve and are being viewed and treated more like equals. If you are a girl interested in making music don’t let anyone stop you. Remember that girls can do anything because girls rock (and roll)!
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“Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.” – Liz Taylor local riot magazine //31
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My Grandma tried to give me a nose job? Ki’i Besides teaching me to make rice at two years old (maybe a cliché, but true), one of my earliest memories of my grandma is of her pinching my nose. Yes, you read that correctly. For as long as I can remember, she would take two fingers and pinch the bridge of my nose and slide them down to its end. Over and over she would do this. “Pointy,” she would say in her heavy Vietnamese accent, “Na lie grandma.” Not like grandma. “Pointy!” I’d repeat. Even when I grew older, and my nose was clearly beyond malleable, she kept doing it. Grandma Phi pinching my nose while bothering me to eat more food. Grandma Phi pinching my nose while cleaning my face with a wet paper towel. Grandma Phi pinching my nose instead of hugging me goodbye. It became a normal gesture of endearment, like my grandma’s way of saying “I love you.” She did it to all of my siblings and talked about how she did it to my dad. Once, I commented, “His IS pretty pointy.” She laughed and said, “Oh dea!? Des why!” Oh yeah? That’s why! In some ways, I knew she was joking, but then again, but there was a twinkle of pride in her eyes when I pointed that out (pun intended). It wasn’t really until I was around eight years old that I realized what Grandma really wanted me to have: a white nose. She didn’t want me to be stuck with a flat, Vietnamese nose like she had. She wanted me to have the slender, pointed nose that my dad inherited from my grandpa.
My paternal grandparents. Note the nose contrast.
It wasn’t until recently that I realized my grandma’s ritual, as harmless as it seemed at the time, is probably the reason that I’ve always hated my nose. I hate the short bridge that emerges smack-dab in the middle of my eyes, when it should be higher. I hate the rounded end because it should be thin and angular. I hate that my nostrils are far apart. I hate that when I smile, the bridge scrunches up like a spring, so that there’s almost none at all. I’m always conscious to stare cameras directly into the lens; for fear that a slight angle will expose my horrendous profile. I use to look up nose job pictures a lot. I’ve never told anyone, but I would obsess over them for hours. Last year I discovered contouring and that was a godsend because I could use makeup to reshape the bridge of my nose!? Finally. For most of my teenage life, I viewed photos of myself using my pinky
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finger to cover the centre of my face. I
something I can unlearn quickly. It takes
imagined what I would look like with a
more than a “fuck society!” kind of
pointier nose, or none at all. Sometimes
attitude to harbour self-love. Every single
that was better.
day I have to wake up, look in the mirror, and remind myself that I am my best self.
I’m 18 now, and I know that white, feminine
There is no nose job that will make me
beauty standards are a social construct. As
more beautiful or more feminine. I have to
women, we are often told that it’s our
have hope that one day, in the future, I
responsibility to be beautiful. Majority of
will really believe that.
ads for makeup, diet plans, hair dying kits, hair removal procedures, and even plastic
If my grandma was still alive, I’m sure that
surgery are targeted at women. While my
her hair would still be dyed brown, as it
dad could care less about what his nose
always was, hiding any sign of grey roots.
looks like, my grandma and I, along with
I’m also sure that she would still take over
most women today, are taught to hate
an hour in her bathroom to carefully style
ourselves because we don’t fit into the
that hair. She would draw on the same
mould of typical feminine beauty. Not all
eyebrows every morning, wear the same
women have slender, pointy noses. We
dresses, and of course, she would have
don’t all have straight hair either. Some of
the same flat, Vietnamese nose. And she
us have curly hair, kinky hair, or frizzy hair!
would be beautiful. I hope that my
We have muscular arms or big hands. Some
grandma knew that every day of her life.
of us are tall- really tall! God forbid we have
Yes, she was Vietnamese, and, yes, she
tummies. Some of us have short eyelashes,
was beautiful.
thick eyebrows, a short neck, a big forehead, acne, or big thighs (Not “thick” or whatever the new trend is. BIG! Just BIG thighs!). Not all of us have tiny waists. Not all of us look typically “girly.” Not all of us have light skin. Not all of us are ablebodied. Who said that these features couldn’t beautiful too? Despite having this knowledge now, it’s still really hard for me to undo what I was taught to strive for since I was a little girl. I hated my nose for 18 years; that’s not
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“Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.” – Amelia Earhart
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Unrealistic Expectations Annie Dow nhour
It’s difficult not to feel somewhat victimized when you see the happy, beautiful, shining faces of the women that are plastered onto billboards and television screens. Tall, thin, and pretty, they seem to float through life without a care in the world, while you are plagued by worries and insecurities. Over time, you begin to wonder, ‘What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I achieve that level of perfection?’. However, this issue stretches far beyond the doubts of one individual and is a deeply rooted cultural problem. Every woman has had some experience with the unrealistic expectations set upon the female gender, which can be humiliating, degrading, and downright infuriating. Many people believe that femininity should always fit within certain parameters, regardless of the woman’s personal preferences, culture, or personality. These problems are only heightened by the ways that women are portrayed in the media, and there is a great lack of diversity in different body types, races, and sexualities. Although women have experienced great leaps in the last century in defeating gender norms and establishing themselves as important members of society, many still expect women to be docile, obedient people who are content to live as housewives and mothers. While becoming a mother is an extremely important role, women are now also pursuing an education and considering other career options. Unfortunately, girls are often discouraged from pursuing careers in math and science, fields that have long been dominated by men. When it comes to sexuality, the most unrealistic and harmful expectations set upon girls become apparent. In western culture, women's body hair is seen as dirty and shameful, and those who choose not to shave are often scorned. Western culture also glorifies thinness at the expense of millions of young girls who develop eating disorders in order to confirm to a certain aesthetic. Women are expected to be thin but also curvy, experienced but innocent, strong-willed but soft-spoken. It’s concerning and disturbing that society views a “sexy” woman to be one who looks like a prepubescent girl. It’s unfair to expect the standard portrayal of femininity to apply to all girls. In many cases, the perpetuation of the stereotypical girl that is commonly seen in the media leads to the erasure of transgender girls, girls of colour, and girls with different appearances and body types. The stereotypes surrounding women are not only harmful in that they destroy selfconfidence; they kill individuality and creativity. Many women are so concerned about fitting into a certain expectation that they sacrifice their own unique talents and traits.
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It’s the responsibility of the girls and women of today to dispel these stereotypes in order to create a better future for the females of tomorrow. We need to encourage girls to push themselves in school, encourage them to look into careers that are traditionally held by men, and tell them that their differences are important and valued. Women are more than their appearances. Women are smart, strong, powerful, and capable. These are the things that make them truly beautiful.
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Diversity and Advantage: The round up of a memorable victory Ioana Florescu
If you live in the United States, headlines like ”Davis made history” should be no stranger to you. Now, if you're an outsider that doesn't read the news or browse Tumblr - the tumblr community tends to make a big deal out of everything - I'm sure you're asking yourself: 'How is Tumblr relevant?' 'Why should that be important to me?' September 20 marked the 67th edition of the Emmy Awards. The Emmy's are, basically, television's version of the Oscars. All award shows follow a pattern: the glamour filled red carpet, a warm up for the upcoming festivity. Usually, during the show the hosts crack a joke here and there to ease up the atmosphere. Winners come forward, a mix of self-pride and emotions are present in the way they carry themselves. The statues - a material validation of the actor's work - are handed out. As they take a stand and begin to utter their speeches, thank you’s and tears are flowing like a coursing river between hiccups and shaky breaths. What made this year's ceremony worth mentioning, you might think? The 'domination' of women of colour on the victors's list: -‐ Uzo Aduba - “Outstanding Supporting Actress” for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in the dramedy Orange Is The New Black” -‐ Regina King - “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie'' for the anthology series ''American Crime” But, by far the most surprising victory and the pinnacle of the entire ceremony belonged to Viola Davis. Best known for her lead role as Professor Annalise Keating in the legal drama show “How To Get Away With Murder”, directed by Peter Nowalk and produced by Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy and Scandal). The fifty year old managed to receive the distinction of “Outstanding Lead Actress in A Drama Series”, the first category ever won by an African American woman. This title is a milestone for both the actress and the television award show. After collecting the award, Davis held an empowering speech, reminiscent of the Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. However, she began her speech by quoting Harriet Tubman: “In my mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields, and lovely flowers, and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line, but I can’t seem to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over that line.” The introduction describes how black women have attempted to cross an invisible border, as old as time, in order to be seen as important and equal. We live in a century where
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fortunately that is possible, where women of colour are no longer oppressed by the standards that society has set. Why? Davis's following statement highlights just that: “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. “ Racism is still a global issue in 2015. If you're anything but white, you don't get that many opportunities, especially if you are a female. You aren't allowed to raise your voice, simply because what you say doesn't matter. Not because someone wouldn't listen, you were taught to keep it to yourself. However, there are certain women that have dared to speak up without offending anyone: Shonda Rhimes, Kerry Washington, Taraji P.Henson, to whom Viola decided to thank publicly during her speech. What do all of these women have in common besides race and their poor upbringing? They dreamed of setting an example, of proving that a woman is more than a pretty face. And they did it with class, attitude and talent, which are by definition qualities possessed by leading ladies. Someone once said that when a door closes, another one opens. Viola's victory is so much more than a golden statue; it is the first step an African American woman has dared to take towards the open door of opportunity. This is not the end. This is a beautifully written beginning for future generations of black actresses. A story was told, as an example for all the African American women out there. The world is grateful that this example is set in stone for eternity. We are grateful for Viola Davis.
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