JULY 2018
ACTIVIST MAGAZINE
ISSUE NO. 2
Ralph's Angst
FEMININITY CREATING OUR OWN DEFINITIONS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A WOMAN
Illustration by Lamiaa Ameen
issue 02
contents July 2018 EDITORS NOTE Ralph’s Angst’s second issue focusses on “FEMININITY”, but instead of letting a dictionary define what it means to be a woman, we thought we’d ask you.
FANNYING ABOUT Natalie Leong explores the female gaze, questioning the definition of femininity through her vivid photography
WHEN I WAS BORN Fizza Mumtaz takes us on a journey into the dark life of a woman abused by the patriarchy.
F IS FOR FEMINIST. Who said acrostic poems were only for kids... especially when they mean something like this.
DEAR SOCIETY Hashtags help us navigate the internet to find the definition of things that are somewhat vague, but Katrina reveals this isn't how we define gender roles.
THE PROCESSION OF GOLD Set in ancient Greece in the world of an aristocratic woman, Phyllis contemplates her sexuality and the way she is trained to appear as a woman.
PAIN AND HOPE A scathing response detailing one girls confrontation with men's expectations of women.
@afrique_
Ralph's Angst 02
THANKYOU TO THOSE DEAREST A photographers reflection of important feminine figures and role models of her life.
EMPTY HEARTS AND SLEEPLESS NIGHTS - A YOUNG AUTHOR WITH OLD TRUTHS
WARRIOR In this battlefield gifted to us at birth, the one we didn’t ask for, when one woman wins, we all win.
Yasmine Berkani has written her new novel
POLLY SAID
detailing the difficulties she has learnt to embrace as part of her adolescence
PRETTY IN PLASTIC
An illustration symbolic of nirvana's popular
An exploration of female consumerist
song 'polly said' accompanied by the true
culture in conjunction with society’s
meaning of the lyrics.
GIRLS CAN BE KNIGHTS
expectations of beauty.
Trista writes a think-piece addressing the
SISTERLY BONDS
overwhelming power of gender stereotypes and how they shape an individuals ideals.
A photography and word series exploring
Evie Lee writes a powerful message about
the importance of Female connections both physical and mental that sisters and close friends share.
ATHENA
TRANSIENT
the power we hold as woman, and have always held as women despite oppression.
A poem exploring sex and the pleasure of discovering it for the first time.
UPSIDE DOWN A personal think-piece where Aisha Khan
VOL. 27
details her life experience living as a
I've never been the kind of girl to learn
Muslim coupled with the pressures of being
lessons from your textbook.
female.
TO BE A WOMAN To be a woman. When I say woman I do not mean a gender. For me, being a woman in
Perfection. What is it? Just one word but for modern people a very important one. Perfect moms, perfect wives, perfect
GIRLS LIKE ME A poetry piece exploring a woman's need to assert herself in this patriarchal world.
Nor forced.
And a word will never define their worth.
TRIBUTE TO MY LOVER There is a lot of passion behind our artistic
REBEL FLOWER, LIGHT UP THE WORLD; AN INTERVIEW WITH CENNA INK
business women. Where do we draw the
who are you? What is identity? How do we
line?
attribute value to each section of our identity? We interview artist Cenna Ink on
MUD
Femininity must never be suppressed,
Women are as free as the wildest sea,
this world is something more
THE PERFECT ILLUSION
FEMININITY: A CURSE OR A VIRTUE?
works which often make them in depth pieces. So why not merge, art, emotion and poetic prose into one.
DAMSEL IN DISTRESS A poem written by passioninink, describing the archetype of women being helpless and how this is misleading.
how she engages in work and her identity
Poetry was never so fierce. What woman hasn't grappled with the question, " Am I Good Enough?"
AIR HEAD
IM WARNING YOU, IM NOT ASKING FOR IT Crimes against women. When is consent
FUCK YOUR IDEA OF ME Feminism isn’t a trend that wears off with the passing of the seasons.
going to be taken seriously as an action on
We were born with hair, but to be a Modern
society rather than an action on what
Venus we must pluck and tuck. Why? Lizzy
women can do to prevent assault. Change
SPARE CUTLERY
Yarwood's poem helps us think about it.
the world not the victim!
A poem written by Laura Hackshaw
INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISM
GROW
FEMALE Lets talk about sex / gender baby.
Photographer 'Genesis' showcases her intersectional photography on women of all
we are constantly growing and it’s okay to be stuck within the bad parts of your mental health for a while
races, shapes, sizes and personalities
Ralph's Angst 03
@_allnightleong
editor's note
People once told me that I was a classic 'white girl', always venting how she felt and so anxious about everything going on in life. A friend once joked "you're so angsty", and with that Ralph's Angst was born. I think we should all be a little more 'Angsty' if that means being concerned and alert to the happenings of this world. This issue had a special place in my heart, not only because I am a woman, but because i am part of a collective of women who have been tested with life's adversities. By starting this venture I have realized the overwhelming universality in female-oriented experiences that seek to marginalize us. It is my hope through Ralph's Angst we can change this stigma of isolation and share all of our experiences, trials, joys, and successes. Through hearing other peoples stories it has become increasingly apparent that I am not alone. While
Femininity (also called girlishness, womanliness or womanhood) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with girls and women. Femininity a social construct, but made up of both . socially-defined and biologically-created factors. Ralph’s Angst’s second issue will be themed by this idea of “FEMININITY”, but instead of letting a dictionary define what it means to be female, we thought we’d ask you, the public, on what you think it really means. This issue explores the confines of gender, biology, physical and mental transformations, sexual orientation, and the power or perceived weaknesses that come with being female. We want to know about your personal triumphs or periods of hardship that have been defined by your sex. Feminist thoughts and support is the backbone of our magazine and we want to represent that through this issue.
comforting, this notion also scares me. What scares me is the fact that women aren't always as celebrated as they should be. We revel in the gossip that tears down others so we feel better about ourselves. It ends here. With a discussion of FEMININITY
EDITOR IN CHIEF Lauren Hunt Ralph's Angst 04
Caitlin Victoria Klara Brown @cvklara
Ralph's Angst 05
Fannying About About Fannying with Natalie Leong
WOMEN ARE ALREADY STRONG. ITS JUST CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD PERCEIVES THAT STRENGTH G.D ANDERSON
Natalie is a Fashion Concepts and Communication graduate from Manchester, focussed on exploring the definition of femininity and working with ideas to redefine femininity.
This series of images are an exploration into the female gaze, questioning the definition of femininity using nonconventional ideas of beauty. Aiming to challenge current expectations of womanhood, and seeking to offer an alternative way of looking at women beyond what is expected. Encouraging a female empowered version of beauty. underrated kind of beauty. My intentions were to explore boundaries away from the male gaze, eliminating the need to be desired as a sexual being in the eyes of a man. I have named my practice ‘fannying about’ as I seek to bring a playful and humorous representation of femininity to attention.
Ralph's Angst 06
As an image-maker, I use a range of photography formats including film, digital and Polaroid. As an image-maker I am in complete creative control, that includes styling, directing and capturing. As a female photographer with a keen interest in the representation of beauty, I found it important to represent women wholly; offering a subversive representation of women. I choose to photograph women I know and find inspiring, it is important that intimacy and admiration is received and reciprocal when viewing these images as it has come from a personal place. I managed to photograph 10+ diverse girls, from different ethnic backgrounds and different shaped and sizes. I found it very rewarding that they were able to share their most intimate parts of their bodies with me, this wasn't necessarily their tits and arse.
Seeing their confidence gradually grow is what motivated me to continue photographing women. It's kind of strange to think that a lot of our insecurities come from the way women are represented in the media, but the most effective way to empower women is to use the media to show more representations of women; what can kill us could also save us. It is important to show that there is no hierarchy within my compositions and that we are all diverse but equal to the next. I use nudity within my photography to communicate a utopian world where the male gaze doesn’t exist. The way society measures self-worth has been judged from a male perspective, it has been embedded within the system, these images are a protest to this idea. Women should feel worthy of themselves. Using nudity within my photography was necessary as I’m seeking to desexualize the female form. The women in these images are doing nothing out of the ordinary, they're eating, lounging, chatting, laughing and on their phones. It is a familiar practice; we've all been there.
Ralph's Angst 07
Ralph's Angst 08
N. E M O G W M. N O E R H T T S W O . O T M N E S ' K H E . E T R M E W E E H B Y H E A T W M E S Y I A RA M E W Y MA
Photographing women in the comforts of their own home is the preferred location. I think it is important for the women I photograph to feel comfortable. That way they can truly be free from the eyes of others, people tend to behave differently when they're aware of 'the gaze'. This series of images have been arranged and carefully considered to unprovoke any sexual deviation. The arrangements of the women within the shoots show a mundane lifestyle but there is something compelling about their expressions and their attitudes towards the camera.
Natalie Leong @_allnightleong https://www.natalieleong.com/
Ralph's Angst 09
WHEN
i WAS B O R N Fizza Mumtaz @izzaagram
I came out of the womb, crying Into a land where I didn't know I'd bawl Where people talked in hushed whispers And pointed fingers from out of the shadows I was speculated with lustful eyes I didn't know being a woman In a land wholly ruled by men Was an undeclared crime Where sitting, standing or going out alone Meant I was asking for a night in bed Where bearded men would rub their faces In my shoulder blades and it felt like spikes splitting my skin open Where I would get called out for simply having a vagina And having it meant sharing it with strangers In lonely, cold nights In wet beds and rusting sheets And being abandoned Never knowing what love really meant Never learning what home really was I was told to not speak For these men did not like it My mother laughed at me 'Do you think anyone believes you?' But speak I did, followed by a ruthless beating A broken rib A broken heart I was born in a sad land Of hushed whispers Creaking beds Bloodstains Loud voices All of the violence Begins and ends here alone
Visual by@judit.illustration
Ralph's Angst 10
F F O F F F F is for Feminist F F F F F F is a fairly female letter air, flirting folie.
f frocks, and fat.
eelings and fainting.
lesh and frypans
abrics and facials and fucking.
for feminine.
or faithful.
earful
allowed allen
orgotten
Written by Sheree. A . Veysey Auckland , NZ Ralph's Angst 11
Dear Society,
Words by Katrina Roles Visual by Maria Karambatsakis
I'm not the woman you want me to be... Monday, March 18th, 1996, Katrina Sophie Zajac Roles entered the world. She brought with her big dreams and lots of ambition. She was carefree and didn’t bother about the judgment of others. Now I’m 21, I’m no longer the carefree little girl; I’m a fully-grown woman. The problem is, I’m not the woman society wants me to be. Societal norms are something we base our everyday decisions on; from the way we dress to whether we drink tea or coffee (I myself am a victim of the students love coffee trend). But as a woman in the ever-changing and demanding world of 2017, what does society want from me? In this age dictated by social media, I argue that we are all victims of criticism. One Instagram post can determine whether we are living our ‘best’ life or not. Based on our obsession with social media, what makes me a woman? In my endless endeavor to discover what it means to be a woman these days, I turned to the most reliable source. Instagram. Typing ‘Woman’ into Instagram search led me to a beautiful array of ribcages. Images of skinny scantly clad women, shoes, make up, and relationship quotes flooded my phone screen. From this I guess my aim in life is to become skinny, make sure my make up is on fleek, always wear matching underwear, and find the perfect man. I’m sorry to disappoint you society, but the only thing in my life that is skinny is the pumpkin spice latte I just ordered and I don’t think I even own a pair of matching underwear, shameful I know!
I didn’t let my initial search dampen my spirits; surely stereotypes have not overtaken womanhood just yet? I then searched ‘feminine’ in the hope of a more inspirational outlook of being a woman. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Let's just say I was hit with another round of models, and if you don’t like pink then are you even a woman? Looking at my own Instagram (@girlproblog if you fancy dropping me a cheeky follow), I don’t think I fall into the #feminine category. Scrolling through my feed, there are a few pics of my face , and various outfits, but I can reassure you I am fully clothed in all. So if I don’t fit into what social media identifies as a woman, then how do I define myself as feminine? Society emphasises that as a woman I’m an object of lust, a child bearer and I’m vain, as for most women (according to society) appearance is a priority. I don’t see myself as sexy, and I’ve not even considered having kids yet, what makes me a woman then? I’m a daughter, a sister, a student, a best friend, and a feminist. All the labels I have listed are nowhere to be seen in a #feminine post on instagram, they are insignificant to society as a factor of femininity, but from where I stand all those things make me me. Therefore, they contribute to my feminine identity. The care and love I express to my mother, father, and sister, the passion I put into my work, and the loyalty I show to my best friend, all add up to create a perception of Katrina that other people see.
Continued... Ralph's Angst 12
Maria Karambatsakis mariakay.com
Ralph's Angst 13
I'm not the woman you want me to be... This perception isn’t internal; I don’t create the ideal qualities of being a female. I have created this ideal from the strong, passionate women that I look up to. From my mum, Gillian, who is amazing (I mean seriously she’s the best because who’s mum isn’t the best?), she has taught me to do what I want instead of letting other people decide for me. My sister, Gemma, who basically showed me you don’t have to know what you want to do in your life right now, you will find something you enjoy along the way (she started off studying media and journalism and now she’s a children’s nurse!), she is a living reminder to not worry about finding a job and sticking to it infinitely. My best friend, Carly (she’s basically a second sister) who has taught me to love myself for who I am, be strong and know that there are always good things just around the corner. She also lets me wear my stripy tights with pride and doesn’t judge me, which is always a good quality to have in a best friend. Role models that are further afield, for me, are people like Alex Bronswell, the founder of Bleach London. At 16 she walked into hair salons hoping someone would take her under their wing. She was a girl with dreams just like me. Now she owns a string of salons and an amazing variety of vegan and cruelty-free hair products and makeup.
Similarly, Lottie Tomlinson, at 16 she didn’t get the best results in her GCSE’s, she didn’t fret, she shadowed Lou Teasdale and worked her arse off. Now look at her, she’s a successful MUA and has just released a book.
Dear society, I apologize, I am not the woman you want me to be. I don’t want to follow trends. I’m not a big fan of the color pink, and to be honest my underwear is rarely seen by other parties. I am feminine, because I am determined; I am passionate in everything I do. Yes, I do care how people perceive me, but it doesn’t always have to be covered in a veil of makeup. I am feminine, because I am different and I am unique. Society, you should embrace that, instead of letting silly hashtags dictate what it means to be a woman.
Written by Katrina Roles Katrina Roles Lives in a town called Bury, in the vibrant city of Manchester. She is currently studying an MA in Religious Studies and Theology at The University of Manchester. Katrina has a passion for drama, an obsession with Harry Styles, and is never afraid to speak her mind.
Ralph's Angst 14
Words by Malika Khan Visual by Kaila Newton
dloG fo noissecorP ehT
@gamegaladvance
Ralph's Angst 15
Ralph's Angst 16
the Procession of Gold Written by Malika Khan
In the crisp marble halls, linen chitons glided over the floor as soft as feathers as the wearers of those garments were swept along with the usual traffic in the palace. The palace was thick with people, but there was no pushing or struggle as the summer was a hot one and the courtiers walked slowly as if in a daze, not wanting to break a sweat. Though sweat did break, it hung in the air with the lavender oil and the honeyed soap like a musk. It was rather quiet, no one raised their voices in weather like this, 'too much effort', 'save your energy', were the common phrases heard all day. In the Gynaecium, the women’s private chambers where no men were permitted, the ladies fanned themselves with leaves or feathers. Some risked lying on the balcony bare-chested, relishing the private freedom with the sun's heat like warm hands over the body. Phyllis was walking leisurely through the Gynaecium, the lazy days being her favorite, when she came upon the women bathing in the sun on the balcony. With a tray of figs and wine in her hands, which she was going to take to her aunt, she stepped out onto the balcony startling some of the women. It's only me!' she quickly reassured as some started to get up at the sound of her feet. Agape shielded her eyes as she looked up to Phyllis. 'Are those for us my dear?' she said in mock flirtation, her voice as silky as the finest Thracian wine. It seemed all of Thrace would succumb to Agape's charms, and so did Phyllis every time, so she played along. 'Oh Agape, they're for aunt Cymone, she's been nurturing that fig tree all year now' 'Pah! Cymone could do without a few figs if you ask me, it doesn't become an old lady to eat such fertile fruit' '
' She's not so old' Phyllis said as if to reason on her aunt's behalf as she knelt and let Agape take a fig. 'Bless your generous heart' Agape said lazily as she lent her head back to the ground. Was she referring to her defending her aunt or to her letting her have a fig? Phyllis smiled to herself, with Agape she would never know. Phyllis watched her and wondered at her grace, her confidence, 'she is a goddess on earth' she thought. Pale pink fig juice rolled down her cheek and Phyllis reached down to wipe it away, and her skin was almost as warm as the marble floor outside. 'When will you come inside Agape, you shall make yourself ill in this heat' Phyllis moved her hand from Agape's scorching cheek to her forehead, and like a miracle, it was cool. She must be a goddess, Phyllis decided. Agape took Phyllis' hand in hers and put it on her chest. 'As long as my heart beats, I will live. It is you who should lie out here, you feel much too cool!' Phyllis took her hand back, it lay warm now from where it had rested on Agape's chest. 'You know aunt Cymone and the rest don't want me getting dark, they want me as white as that marble floor' she said, almost letting the sulky whine escape, because she did want to lay in the sun with the other women and know what it felt like to feel the sun's pulses of heat on her naked body. Indeed her skin was porcelain white, and not tanned like those of the women who worked outside, as her mother would say. 'That kind of talk is the echo of their ancient rules, but women are beautiful whatever way they look' said Agape taking another fig. 'And no amount of fairness or darkness can change that.' Agape always said wise things, thought Phyllis, and her mind wandered. The artists loved the beautiful female body, it was their life's work. And Agape was right, it was beautiful. Phyllis' eyes fell upon the smooth curve of Agape's hips lined with parallel pale marks from growing and her cosy waist, Phyllis wished she could hold it, to hold true beauty. Yet, that privilege was allowed only to the artists and men, who Phyllis thought could never appreciate Agape truly.Â
Ralph's Angst 17
'The artist stonemason who used Agape as a muse for his bronze statue only to alter the likeness completely by changing her form proved this. He tried to create a beautiful woman, not knowing that the woman who posed before him was already a picture of beauty, that is how she appeared to Phyllis, though she would never tell Agape or anyone about this. The sound of people talking louder all of a sudden and a clatter pulled Phyllis out if her daydream. Her face was just as hot as Agape's now, but she didn't know whether it was because of the sun's heat or the smile Agape gave her when the sound brought her out of her daydream and Agape caught her eyes. Phyllis stood up too fast and her head rushed. 'I wonder what all the noise could be on a day like this' yawned Crysanthe from the other side of the balcony. The women started to stir. 'I'll go and see' Phyllis said as she walked to the balcony edge and sat on top to see the courtyard and inner city. She had to shield her eyes. 'What is it?' Called Agape as the crowd got louder and hoofs could be heard. 'I can't really see...' Phyllis strained her eyes to see what was happening now in the courtyard.
'
Then they emerged. Phyllis saw a procession of men on horseback entering the courtyard. They were warriors in armor whose breastplates caught the sun, lighting up the faces of the men as if in some divine light. It looked as if the sun had sent its army. They held a banner but Phyllis couldn't see whose it was as both the sun and armor were blinding. 'Oh, Phyllis what is it then?' Crysanthe called without much patience.It looks like a procession of gold' said Phyllis turning back to the women. The sight made her laugh, the incredulity of it was almost impossible to her. Even in the Gynaecium, Phyllis was faced with a legion of women, taking the power of the sun onto their breasts, its rays illuminating them, as if they too were surrounded by the light of Olympus, blinding the onlooker. To sit back would now be cowardice when she was so surrounded by a golden army. She too could be a goddess on earth, so in less than a breath, Phyllis lay beside Agape and bore her breast to the sun.
Ralph's Angst 18
Dear body,
I'm sorry for being skeptical We are our own worst critics
Ralph's Angst 19
RALPH'S ANGST• 20
Pain and Hope
Written by Kathleen Shumack
I bet a lot of women including myself hate being told to smile. Especially when your exhausted because you hardly got any sleep last night, had to face a hard day’s work that requires you to fake enthusiasm to please the company you work for, and just wanting to look out the train window and be undisturbed. Being told to smile by men who aren’t happy with the expression on your face. “Resting Bitch-face” they call it.
"I refuse to meet the requirements of degrading standards which are enforced by men" Because they weren’t happy with the fact that women weren’t smiling literally all the time. It’s hard enough to be a woman let alone tiring when YOU tell me to smile. I am sorry Sir that I refuse to meet the requirements of your degrading male standards. I am sorry the expression on my face doesn’t please you. Most of I am sorry I wasn’t put on this earth to please you. One of the managers at work that constantly makes fun of me because I’ve slipped and fallen on my ass several times because I’ve had to serve food located near when rain has gotten to.
RALPH'S ANGST • 21
Yeah it will be funny I suddenly slip and end up injured and the company you manage is held liable for any injures that occur in the workplace to employees. The men who gawk freely at my breasts when I chose not to wear a bra. I am so sorry I got tired and sick of wearing a bra.
Just because I have a pair of tits does not make me any less human, what makes me feel less human is the look you give me and determine the clothing I wear as a level of consent. Which makes me terrified of being a woman when I should not be, but how can I walk around in public listening to music freely when I feel as though I have to lower the volume every minute to make sure I am not being followed. How can I not be in fear especially at night to be aware of my surroundings because I am in constant survival mode. How can I not be afraid and tired of it all? Just because I am a feminist does not immediately mean I hate men I just hate the men who’d rather me be a 1950’s house wife with no voice, who assume the clothes I wear as a level of consent, refer to my tired expression as “Resting Bitch-face”, and just in general threatened by the success of women.
Feminism by definition means equality but equal opportunity of the sexes. It is time we stop being afraid of the word and start liberating it. We are all human no matter the race, gender, socioeconomic status, class, religious affiliations, or sexual orientation. We are human. It is time we stop hating and start nurturing the world with love. As Martin Luther King Jr said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” The world can be a dark and cruel one indeed the best we can do is keep fighting for what we believe in. Change is possible if you have the passion, strength, and perseverance. It is possible if you above all believe. You may be reading this and may be thinking I am just another “Crazy Bitch” but I am just a woman who’s done with Male Entitlement.
Written by Kathleen Shumack Visual by @jackofalltrxdes
THANK YOU TO THOSE DEAREST Sacha Brisdion's photography showcase accompanied by their meaning to her as a woman.
RALPH'S ANGST
22
Words & Visual by Sacha Brisdion Femininity to me was taught by those closest, my family. Growing up in the late 90’s/ early 00’s saw the rise of the ‘skinny’ supermodel, social media and female role models, like the Spice Girls, Pink, Avril Lavigne and Britney Spears. In the spotlight and having a voice, but being scrutinized for the way they looked, watching their every move, the media more interested in their lovers than their minds or talent. So, this is a Thank You to the women in my life. To my Nan, thank you for teaching me to love my body, not only through words, but by actions. Growing up with you regularly walking around naked, seeing how comfortable you are in your growing and aging body allowed me to do the same. I’m not saying that my body is perfect, of course, I have my insecurities, but this is my body, my flesh and my blood. I did not ask to be born with this body and I will not apologize for the imperfect and perfect bits.
Thank you to my mum who taught me my mouth and wit could get me far, to use it against the bullies and always stand up for myself. To never be afraid to be an opinionated woman, that I am smart enough to know what I am talking about. And finally, to never lie because I will always look silly in the end. And Thank you to my Auntie Mo, who although our relationship didn’t Flourish till I was 19, you have taught me patience and the meaning of time. We have both learned to look after each other, to be patient with one another as I also now know where my stubbornness comes from. Your declining health has taught me that time can’t be brought, that the day will come when you won’t be there and a piece of home will be gone. I’m 22 now, I’m still learning and growing into my femininity. But I have younger cousins who I hope am the same kind of role model, I hope I’m teaching them the right things so that they can be incredibly amazing women. Their femininity isn’t defined by who’s the girliest girl or has the pinkest things.
Visual by Maria Karambatsakis
RALPH'S ANGST
24
[Verse 1] Polly wants a cracker I think I should get off her first I think she wants some water To put out the blow torch [Chorus] Isn't me, have a seed Let me clip your dirty wings Let me take a ride, cut yourself Want some help, please myself Got some rope, you have been told Promise you, I have been true Let me take a ride, cut yourself Want some help, please myself [Verse 2] Polly wants a cracker Maybe she would like more food She asked me to untie her A chase would be nice for a few [Chorus] Isn't me, have a seed Let me clip your dirty wings Let me take a ride, cut yourself Want some help, please myself Got some rope, you have been told Promise you, I have been true Let me take a ride, cut yourself Want some help, please myself [Verse 3] Polly said Polly says her back hurts She's just as bored as me She caught me off my guard Amazes me the will of instinct [Chorus] Isn't me, have a seed Let me clip your dirty wings Let me take a ride, cut yourself Want some help, please myself Got some rope, you have been told Promise you, I have been true Let me take a ride, cut yourself Want some help, please myself
Polly. Kurt Cobain wrote Nirvana's popular song 'Polly' in response to something he read in the newspaper in June 1987.
A 14-year-old girl went missing after going to a rock concert. She had accepted a ride home from a 49-yearold man called Gerald Friend. He took her back to his mobile home and raped her. The girl, whose name was not released, was tortured with a whip, a razor, and a blowtorch. She managed to escape when Friend took her for a ride and stopped for gas. Gerald Friend was stopped by the police a couple of days later for a traffic violation. The deputies recognized him and Friend was arrested. In August 1987, about 30 years ago, Gerald Friend was convicted of first-degree kidnapping and rape. Many deputies still can't believe why Gerald Friend was a free man at the time. He had been convicted of rape and torture in 1960 and was sentenced to 75 years in prison. However, after serving 20 years and escaping twice, he got out on parole.
INTERVIEW WITH ELSIE GARNER "SISTERLY BONDS." Whether she writes about female empowerment or LGBTIQ rights Elsie Garner is a woman of immense photography skills, someone who wishes to change the world through a few intimate pictures. When asked what FEMININITY means to her, Elsie proves that she is a humanist at heart, "Femininity as a theme has such a broad spectrum of subjects to focus on, however I wanted to think more about personal femininity and the strength we can draw from that as Women when photographing my piece 'Sisterly bonds.' As women we should all respect and support one-other, because we are individually beautiful and powerful. "
RALPH'S ANGST • 27
RALPH'S ANGST • 28 R: Hi Elsie, thanks for agreeing to this interview, let's start with you telling us a bit about yourself. E: My name is Elsie Garner, I'm 19years old, I live in Norfolk which is a county on the East side of England and I'm currently studying Photography. Most of my work surround themes of Feminism, LGBTQ+ Issues, and Self Love. I also write for The Bold Mag and a few local newsletters. R: What are your first impressions of the word femininity? What does it mean to you? E: Femininity to me is a very powerful word that I think aids every self-identifying female in this world. Femininity can come in many different forms, for me, it comes in the confidence and ability to express myself however I like and also to support other amazing females. Femininity is something that comes from within yourself through self-love and learning, but it can also be expressed externally as a vessel for expression. R: What are some words you would associate with being a woman? E: Words I associate with being a woman include: Power, Resilience + Confidence. R: Now, you have mentioned in this interview that you’re a keen photographer, tell us a bit more about that. When did you start photography? E: I only started studying photography about 4 years ago, when I decided to take the subject as an A-level, I'd never done anything remotely art’s related in the past and thought it would be an interesting subjectwhich then led to finding a passion! I instantly knew that I didn't want to just create standard images, I always chose slightly more conceptual concepts and wanted my photographs to make you think or raise a conversation. Since discovering this passion I've been inspired by many artists, including Nobuyoshi Araki, Ryan McGinley, and Harley Weir, who all push the contemporary boundaries throughout heir own unique style.
I used to be quite a nervous photographer and mostly focus on the research and concept aspects however I have grown into my style after discovering film photography, I favor shooting on Medium Format and often shoot with my friends. A project I completed at the start of 2017 was about LGBTQ+ Youth Identities in Norfolk, where I traveled around meeting Queer Teens, learning their stories and photographing them, this was an amazing and eye-opening experience and helped the community gain some exposure in my local area. R: What does photography mean to you as a way of expressing yourself? E: Photography is a great medium to allow selfexpression and both personal and creative growth, it allows me to physically express how I view the world along with subjects I am passionate about. I mostly aspire to make work that is thought evoking and will hopefully create a safe space for people to express themselves freely. R: Tell us more about Sisterly Bonds, your body positivity, and self-love series- what motivated you to choose this topic? E: At the start of summer I decided that I wanted to push my creative ability and tackle another hard-hitting subject that many people can relate to, which is why I chose to focus on Body Positivity and Self love. I wanted to explore different paths to self-love and chose models and locations which also relate to their personal stories. Personally, I have struggled with self-love in the past due to anxiety and have recently started to overcome this as I've matured and found my own motivations, however, I know that it is still something many Women struggle with every day. I wanted to create imagery that tells different stories that people will hopefully relate too, or will help them find different paths to their own self-love.
R: You mentioned that you have strong positive female connections in your life – who in your life has been these strong role models and why? What should we as women strive for to become better role models from your point of view? E: The images I have submitted for the theme of Femininity specifically show my strong female connections. I chose to focus on this path because I personally have a very loving relationship with my Mother and Sister who are incredibly supportive and inspiring, and I know that they have helped me on my path to self-love as I have also tried to help them. And having supportive female connections is invaluable to me as a Feminist. As women have so much knowledge and wisdom which we can pass down generations to help girls realize their worth and potential. To put into a phrase how important female role models are, I would use “The Future is Female” because it truly is our time to conquer the world and empower every self-identifying female. R: Why is it important for the themes of ‘body positivity’ and self-love’ to be more openly discussed? What do you believe is happening in society that needs to change? E: I personally think that Body Positivity + Self Love should have a more positive open discussion in both schools and the media because it affects so many people both Male and Female and is often joked about, even though it is a serious topic. I believe that society and the fashion/ art industry are becoming more inclusive of people who differ from the norm which is helpful, however, the situation needs to be extended further. Because often if you judge others appearances you will not be happy or loving of yourself. So open-mindedness is key! R: What does it mean to you, when I say the phrase ‘family is forever’? What initially are your first thoughts? E: ‘Family is Forever’ - I do relate to this phrase because my family is very important to me and I spend lots of time with them. I feel very lucky to have a supportive and loving family and think this has helped me a lot in my life.
-----R: What would you like to see changed in the world? How does this link to your photography? E: I have lots of things that I would like to see change in the world, one of my main concerns at the minute is the future of younger kids and the opportunities they will have when they grow up, I always support positive educational change as education is extremely important! I've also been campaigning for girls who suffer from Menstrual Poverty in the UK, which is a serious 21st Century issue that girls should not suffer from!- I will link a great petition which you can sign. https://www.change.org/p/provide-free-sanitaryproducts-in-uk-schools-periodpotential . I always try and link current themes and issues into my photography work, but I also protest and write about these issues to help raise awareness, and hopefully make a positive change. R: Thanks so much for sharing your photography and story with us. It's been a privilege.
------
@juecollard
@juecollard
RALPH'S ANGST ACCEPTS MANY SUBMISSIONS SOME OF WHICH PRESENT ONE PERSONS EXPERIENCE OF THEIR LIFESTYLE DICTATED BY CULTURES, STIGMAS AND EXTERNAL FACTORS. AS A DISCLAIMER - THE FOLLOWING ARE INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES AND IN NO WAY CONTRIBUTE TO RACIST BIAS OR COLLECTIVISM
EXPERIENCE
Visual by @judit.illustration
EXPERIENCE
down
upside
Being a brown girl and brought up in a Muslim family, with parents being born in the most backward state of literacy was hard. We sure do have to face a lot of issues every single day. Sexism is so casual here that people won’t even mind being insulted, disrespected, or shamed because of that's what it means to be a woman. And if a woman has the courage to speak against it, this bold behavior will definitely be judged as being disobedient and wrong. Also, she will be looked down upon in the face of elders and the people around her. One such example was way back in 2013 when my brother was getting married. There are some obvious rules that you have to follow to marry someone, and it always has to be arranged. My parents, like many other enforcers of arranged marriage, don’t believe in love. I had this curiosity in my mind as to why we have to marry a girl or boy whose parents were born in the same state as my parents. I was supporting my brother, asking him to marry a woman of his choice, when suddenly mom started yelling at the top of her voice saying, girls shouldn’t engage in these talks and that it’s disrespectful. Basically what she meant was girls shouldn’t have a voice. Because way back in her age we didn’t get to voice our opinions. This is just one such little example. We women don’t just live but fight for our place in this world. There are numerous such real-life examples that I have to share.
- Aisha Khan
To Be A Woman. Written by Kseniia Osadcha Visual by @brookgossen
WHEN I SAY 'WOMAN', I DO NOT MEAN ONLY A GENDER. For me, being a woman in this world is something more. It is a mission, a real job which is sometimes not very easy but at the same time it is the most amazing job one can ever imagine A woman is the most majestic creature in the world. I must say that, of course, women and men are different in all senses. We can not compare these two genders. Men and women are like different planets but every woman must remember that she is special and that without a woman near him man would not be a man at all. Beside every great man is a great woman
"We cannot compare two genders" Our big hearts can warm and support in bad times, we can make the coldest place the warmest one. Every woman is like the sun and there are lots of planets spinning around her. And of course, don`t forget about this unbelievable sense of love which every woman brings to this world
Our big hearts can warm and support in bad times. Every woman is like the sun, giving life to everything around her. Furthermore, all woman are absolutely different. We all have different goals. But one thing which unites us is that we all want to find happiness. What is it? Only you can answer. For some it is a happy family, for others it can be a breath-taking career and professional success. And some women can answer that their happiness is by combining these different spheres of life. That`s the magic of being a woman in this world. Some people like to talk about the “traditional” stereotypic role of women in the society which is cooking, cleaning the house, and looking after the children but our world changes. It`s time to change some traditions. Tradition should be anything that makes one happy. Nowadays a woman can be an excellent wife, a proud mother, she can have different hobbies and that does not mean that she can`t have a successful career. What is the secret of it? There is no secret. It is our nature. Women are unique.
I like the phrase 'self-made woman'. A woman who believes in herself and a woman who works to achieve her aim. Just remember that we do not have to be strong at all times.In some cases, women want so much to be strong and independent that they forget about themselves. Yes, we are independent but it is very important not to become machines in societies endless cycle of work, eat, sleep. Personally, I think that a really strong woman can achieve so much but then know when to relax and be human. We should understand that it is not a crime to ask for help and it does not make you weaker. it makes you even stronger than you think you are. It does not matter what your choice is and what your formula for happiness is, the most important thing is not to be afraid. Do not be afraid that you will not find your dream job. If you have a passion to do something you will definitely find a job. Times have changed and it is not a problem for a woman to find herself in jobs that are not stereotypical traditional roles for the female gender. If you want to do something, try. Some women, for example, think that they are bad mothers in a society just because they do not dedicate 24 hours a day to their children. It is not right. You must not sacrifice your private life because you are a mother. AÂ child is happy when a mother is happy too. You will be an amazing example to your children of a woman who is powerful enough to have both aspirations and motherhood. Do not be afraid of society and be free. Free of fears and any prejudices. You deserve happiness. Yes, woman are all different but each woman is wonderful and brilliant in her own way
Be Yourself
@brookgossen
Stay Passionate
@ericaavilaart
@ericaavilaart
THE PERFECT
ILLUSION Perfection. What is it? Just one word but for modern people a very important one. Personally, I know many people who are always talking about doing everything perfectly and they do not give themselves a chance for mistake. For instance, some women think that they need to be perfect moms or perfect wives, to be perfect at work, or to have a talent and to do it perfectly. There are some difficult cases when a woman thinks that to be perfect means to do all of these things right and at the same time. And when she does not achieves this, she becomes disappointed, loses self-confidence and it causes depression. I can't speak for men but I am sure they face the same thing. For example, some men think that it is important to have a successful job with financial women to have a loyal girlfriend or wife. But it is absurd. What makes people believe this? PRESSURE! And this pressure is caused by people in society. People like to judge, to give suggestions even if nobody asks them their opinion. We hear it everyday behind our backs: “Kelly has already got married; Kate is waiting for her second child; Anna just opened a new office and at the same time is a chairman of the parents` committee in her son`s school.” And you hear these rumours and you try to compare it to your life. You try to be better than somebody else. In other words, you try to be “ PERFECT” But what is the correct meaning of this word. If I ask this question I am sure that everyone will answer differently because the thing is, perfect is an illusion. But now I will tell you a secret. Perfection does not exist. Every person in the world is already perfect. We are all perfect by the fact of our birth. Do not try to compete with somebody. It is not the point of life. The point is to compete just with yourself, to be better than you were yesterday and it does not matter what other people think about your life. Let them talk. You should not get married just because your parents think that the right time has come. You have to want it. You should have children when you want, not when the society thinks that you need to. We deserve happiness as we see it. All other opinions are subjective. We should live only by our own rules and not to allow other people to rule our lives. They have no right to do it. Accept failure, move forward. It is your life, and remember, only you have the right to decide how to live it and what to do even if sometimes your decisions do not answer the opinion of the society. And if you still ask yourself the question: How to be perfect? Just be yourself because you are perfect by your nature in all translations of the word.
Written by Kseniia Osadcha
@alexbowman
@alexbowman
@ericaavillaart
||. Mud .|| Riley Mintz I thread the echoing way of your words into The soft part of my thighs I skim over the loud thump As my heart limps forward Who would want me Overgrown Tangled with too much Tainted with time How easy it must be To have sunshine grow from the top of your head To wear denim like a suit To play child Baby Girl Curse the Mediterranean for making me olive I am tainted And muddy I can spell dirty on one hand An old childish ray of gold breaks through the clouds Like an eager hand raising Cutting through like a fan that won't shut off I sleep with goosebumps
Air Head Lizzy Yarwood
An anklet of brown threads kiss my socks it rocks curls dot my calves cos I’m lazilocks and I forgot or didn’t give a fuck to pluck my legs up to my knocking knees, don’t woz if it’s a disease it’s just one wiry weed poking out of my aureole filling me with awe, hey-lo grows surely slowly like a begonia be not gone I browse drowsily I pull it the strays I’ll play but stay with me please when I tweeze I sneeze forehead creasing close my eyes a lash a laugh I’m actually aghast I gasp hair but not there nor there nor there that’s not fair
FEMALE
From the day I was born they covered me up in clothes. My naked body may excite someone. Who cares if I am a baby? It does not matter.
Don’t sit with your legs wide apart. Change, your clothes are slightly transparent. Be on a lookout for anyone who stares too long.
Don’t you read about 2-year-olds getting raped? I was treated with caution before I could even cry. My parents worried about my virginity before I turned one.
Do not hang out with boys alone. Learn to shut yourself down And close your buds forever. Don’t bloom. For they have the power to pluck you.
My virginity was made to define me before I could utter a word. Silenced since birth. Even as I grew old enough to speak My questions went unanswered.
A girl alone on the streets is a dangerous thing. Or in the school, or the park, or even a crowded mall. Your fault. You know it is not a safe world.
“Why can’t I swim like the boys who don’t have to cover their bodies up like I do?” Because you’re a girl. “Why can’t I go for a sleepover at my friend's place?” We don’t know their family and they have a teenage son. “So? Why can’t I go?” Because you’re a girl. Made to be constantly alert Everyone is a predator, be careful, be careful.
Why did you go alone? You wore the wrong clothes. You wore red lipstick. You asked for it. You are at fault. Always. Shame. Shame. Guilt. Shame. Ingredients in the family’s secret recipe called Rape. Oh wait; it’s a universally known dish. Lessen your independence. Only then can you enjoy the freedom of life. The sense of irony was a constant pang.
Learn to become invisible. If you’re seen You will have to suffer and endure.
Female:
Keep yourself in check. Boys will be boys, men will be men.
(1.) Empty of any identity barring that of being owned by any male.
You are a female, with a vagina and breasts. Wrap yourself up. (Someone will get to unwrap you.)
(2.) Taken advantage of and blamed for the same if any complaint is made. (3.) Condemned to fight for every basic human right.
Enslaved. That is what it all boils down to. You are enslaved to your body, the one you never asked for. Your spirit, your mind, your heart don’t matter. Not when your sex is female. You are stripped down, even when fully clothed To your single identity. Female. Any ownership that you try to exert on your own self Will be seen as an act of male violation. Do not bother signing the terms and conditions. They were already signed for you. Written by @crazyboutreading_ Visual by @judit.illustration
Marlene Juliane @marlenejuliane
Young Author, Old Truths Yasmine Berkani, a 17-year-old established author from the Netherlands has released her new book 'Empty hearts and sleepless nights' and we love it. It is our great pleasure to have read the insights this young author has. You can purchase a copy of her book online: boekscout
A expert on relationships, falling out of love and being insecure, does not sound like we are describing a 17-year-old teen; more a psychologist. With every hurtful word However, Yasmine Berkani proves young people do that spills from your mouth have an impact on the conversation, which in turn I try to catch them with my bare hands has been supporting her young audiences through And make them into something relatability. Less filled with poison Teenagers and adolescents in today's climate are combating a whole lot more than just their hormones and puberty. Technology and the world of cyber technics are adding to the already intense pressure of belonging and relationship development. Based on her experiences, Yasmine Berkani has written a book detailing this difficult transition period including the emotions felt by friends and family members. It is a therapeutic journal that aims to help audiences find the same comfort in reading, as she did writing her work.
But with every twist and turn It still didn't work The edges were razor sharp, just like your words
And maybe it looks like the movies where the pretty girls with the long hair run to their prince charming and kiss them with so much passion you have to look away. Based on true stories, Yasmine details that her But then findings revealed how afraid both teens and adults how can I love someone are about discussing their insecurities, and she when I can't even hopes these testimonials will recognize themselves love myself in her work and be able to process these insecurities.
Girls can be knights Written by Trista Greeno Art by @stayawayfromblackhole
I never liked dresses. I never liked skirts. I never enjoyed colors like pinks, purples, and easter egg blue.
The oldest pictures of me as a child show me wearing jeans, a white shirt, and a backwards baseball cap.This had been part of me since before I was in preschool. I never played with dolls or had tea parties with the other girls my age. I wanted to be a knight in my first-grade class, but I was made to fall in with the rest of the girls and be deemed a princess while wearing a stupid, pointed hat.It was pink, too. I always wanted to be the hero. Even though the other kids shied away from me and I was left to my own imagination for the majority of my childhood. I never felt happier than when I was allowed to wear a red cape and pretend I was Superman’s equal.
I never saw anything wrong with girls doing what boys do. I had more admiration for the heroines taking punches than the heroes saving the day without a scratch.
I think most of it was probably because I felt this growing up. I remember being disappointed in middle school because I wanted to play baseball with the boys but was cast into softball instead because “boys throw hard.�
I never dressed in girls clothing because I was never comfortable with it. I kept my hair short as I got older. I dressed in everything from the mens’ department and would receive comments like “You’re a girl, so you can’t wear that” and “Why do you dress like that? Do you want to be a boy?” No. I don’t want to be a boy. I want to be comfortable. I want to be myself. Being a girl doesn’t make me delicate. It’s okay for a guy to show a feminine side but it’s almost taboo for a girl to exhibit any masculinity.
There isn’t anything wrong with girls having a masculine side, wanting to lift weights, or opening a jar of pickles on her own. Society over the course of history has depicted women as the weaker, softer sex sent out to weave baskets and pick berries. Why? To what reasoning?
Being a girl doesn’t mean we’re weak, delicate flowers. We’re not damsels who need saving from every pickle jar. Girls can be knights, too.
A Poem Series Alyssa Simone Willmont
Transient Just one more I can feel my cheeks go flush And I wonder if I have given myself away Because now your hand is on my knee Nylon covered An attempt to provoke winter in a skirt False bravado is wreaking havoc So here we sit Toes dipped in fascination Tell me, what comes next
@brookgossen
By the eve My skin turns from Vinyl to crystal
“wrong way, go back” but I have never been the kind of girl to learn lessons from your textbooks oh no, you'll find me with diamonds in my eyes standing under neon lights a harmony in one hand and an invitation in the other
Vol. 27
Ill follow the signs And they will say
Girls LikeÂ
Me
Girls like me Don’t have the luxury Of tripping over bottles I walk on glass every single day I am proud of this life I made it for myself, you cant take that from me My owners did not install the gift of kindness I learned that the hard way My scabs were picked until scars formed And then some I wear them like stripes On my back Lashings still aching for the touch Of a tender stranger
Rebel Flower, Light up the World: An Interview with Cenna Ink
BY LAUREN HUNT
“No matter where you come from, it is the rebellious individuals who spark the birth of counter culture” – Kym Ellery
I am many things, and to try to put one label on anyone to try to define them as a person, I know would be an injustice to the being they are. I am an artist by trade; I am of Bengali heritage; I am of Islamic faith.
I am less than one year off becoming a speech pathologist; i have struggled with mental illness for many years, and my battles with this make me stronger. I am a sales assistant. I am part of a support system for, and with, the people who love
me. I am a proud female who is learning the need to love herself. The question is, which of these is the most important? I’m learning that its all of them.
Art by Grace Batista GraceBatista.com
R: Thanks for telling us a bit about yourself Cenna, Now can you tell us what did being a female/feminism mean to you growing up, and how do you choose to interpret it now? C: Coming from a multicultural background, I was brought up with many instilled ideas and ways of doing things that I often struggled to take in and nurture properly. In conjunction with societies views on feminism and the way we behave with anyone who identifies as female, my process of identification became a complex area for me in many ways (to put it in simple terms, people candidly can say Islam oppresses females, but how about that glass ceiling we’re still working on in the Western world?).
R: When did you realize you needed to find your own path to follow to empower yourself? C: I think the desire to find my own path has always been inside me, but it was not until I found purpose, a reason for strength, that I was able to embrace it.
"I wanted to be just as valued as “the next guy” and many societal and cultural bindings held me back."
C: I learnt that not everyone is going to agree with your The idea of gender roles in the historical context is decisions, whether they be good or bad. We are a something that has always irked me. While I do believe there world afraid of change, of questioning the individual. are some things to make exceptions for when it comes to People don’t like questions, so often we relent and stay expectations of different genders, I do not believe it is the same, even when we don’t like it. I am learning now something that should at all be used to govern a person’s to question my own behaviors and change them position, opportunities, or belief of their abilities.This concept regardless of what other people think. is something that I have always held close to my heart. My desire in life is to find balance and equilibrium, within myself, Within my religion, I choose the parts that make me as well as with those around me. strong, help me be a better person, and feel like I have hope. My culture gives my life so much color, and a There are certain elements that pop up in society that I sense of love through community; with the richness of believe impact the position of females. In many situations it the traditions people have held onto that make you see is the “expected aspirations” of us as females that can be its meaning always shine through. These are the our downfall. We are almost born into being told what our life elements I use in my art, my work, and my day to day should look like and how it should be built. We are often told to factor in children as soon as we can stand on our own two life. I combine these with my Australian culture to make something beautiful, and to share this gifted feet (Baby Born, anyone?). But what about all the other multicultural aspect with those who want to take part in things you might want to center your life around first? it. My religion and culture have always been factors that have helped me with my sense of identity. While More so, let’s talk about all the options females close the clash of cultures has been hard to deal with, the themselves off from before they are even aware of those end result has been more than worth it. I chose to wear options. How many stay at home mums could have been my hijab; it was never dictated to me. It brings me a CEOs if only they had been given that option? sense of power and identity every single day that I wear it. But admittedly there were elements of the self I For me now, feminism means empowerment. It means wanted to be that wasn’t always cohesive with my having the same belief in yourself as a female, as you would background. in someone whose gender you are unaware of. It means to able to choose with no societally influenced boundaries. Due to this belief and desire, I have indeed had to find my own path to stability, and it has been riddled with undeniable mistakes, that have only strengthened my path further.
I wanted to pursue my art; those closest to me believed I should focus my energy on an education and career, so I can set up a life of comfort for a family I do not yet have.
I wanted to see new things and dabble in things that are abstract in life. Some people look at these examples as wasted time; to me, these are the things that build a soul. My art helps me to communicate, and contribute to the world in a way that brings me endless happiness, and I am thankful to my heritage for giving me the cultural elements that inspire the way I create. It is a vice and it is a way of life. Every piece I create has a part of my soul in it. When I look at the world, everything is an inspiration, my mind is constantly ticking to see how it could be turned into an artwork.
You need to be able to love yourself to feel whole and look after yourself more than the effort you exert on everything around you. Putting yourself first is probably one piece of advice that really went a long way for me, but learning to get to the place where you know and are okay with putting yourself first can in itself be a difficult journey Where I am now in life is a place that I feel blessed to be in. I have days that feel impossible, but I also have moments where I feel like I am finding my inner peace, and I know I am where I need to be.
I am inherently someone who needs to know why something is a certain way. If an idea or a situation doesn’t make sense The way in which I have been able to reach this point is by coming to the realization that I am allowed to to me, I will turn it over in my head until it does, otherwise, it just won’t sit well with me. While some may just move on, my choose who I want to be. I am allowed to take the best parts of my heritage, culture, and religion, the parts that mind stews in that sense of unease, needing answers. resonate with me, and incorporate those with the world I live in, in order to create something new and novel for I feel deeply unsatisfied when I know I am believing in me to nurture and share. I don’t have to fit into a box; I something blindly. Due to the way I think, I don’t align with don’t even have to be the same person I was an hour the mindsets of many people from different areas of my life. ago if I don’t feel like it. We are allowed to be everMy choice to try to be independent of many constructs in my changing, and we need to embrace that. life has meant losing people or having distance grow as I find my own path. My path is built on my own experiences, I want to be someone girls can look at and see that and what I learn from them, taking the good with the bad, they do have their own choices, that they are allowed with a grain of salt. to think outside the box even if they have been warded off following certain paths. It is quite daunting and even It may seem like I’m taking a lot longer to get to where I need terrifying at times, but even that feeling is a huge part to be, but recently I realized there isn’t a need to rush this. I of the journey. I want people to see that it isn’t a may be taking longer to finish my bachelor’s degree, but in mistake to try something different, and if it doesn’t work the time I thought I had spent wasting, in fact, was a time I out, at least now you know a little bit more about what spent learning so much more about the world to better you don’t want or need. We all have the power within prepare me as a person, and namely a female, who is ourselves that we need, activating it can just be a empowered within themselves. struggle sometimes. R: What would you say is your main message? And at the end of the day I always say one thing: C: The message I want to communicate is one that I try to At least I’ll have some great stories to tell when I’m convey through my art every single day. It is the idea of older. being free in every sense, including in your mind; and it is also the idea of finding strength in yourself. This concept can help build you as a person, and only for the better if you have ambition and drive. For a lot of females in this day and Zarin Cenna age, to see this and realize it, can be a life-changing Illustrator and Creator of Cenna Ink realization, as lame as it might sound.
@cennaink
Maria Karambatsakis mariakay.com
@susha_illustration
Forced Facade
@cakesthemaniac
Kinga @kinga.jpg
Kinga @kinga.jpg
David RodrĂguez 'Fresh' series @davidofficialclub
@ARTTAPE
I'MÂ WARNING YOU, I'M NOT ASKING FOR IT I'm warning you, I'm not asking for it! Every day, during the occurrence of a crime against women, mainly harassment, abusers give the excuse that "she asked for it". I'm sure she did not ask. No one asks to be humiliated, no one asks to be disrespected, no one asks to be raped. No one here thinks it's legal to be beaten because a guy is in trouble or could not stand jealousy. The only thing we are asking for is our right to equality, and do not confuse equality with wanting a woman to tow the wall of her house since man does it. Your thinking is too small. Equality has to do with being able to walk on the street no matter the time or place and not feel scared just for being a woman.
intersectional feminism is the understanding of how women's overlapping identities — including race, class, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation — impact the way they experience oppression and discrimination.
Intersectional Feminism "We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back."
19
My name is Genesis and I am extremely interested in showcasing my photography. I love the topic of feminism. It's something that many people and the youth have been fighting for and to actually see everyone's perspective of the word other than a dictionary's definition is amazing. Thank you so much for choosing my photography. I always want my photography to show my perspective and stories behind every picture. instagram: @sub7ime
Photographer: @jackofalltrxdes Model:@natalieclaro
WARRIOR My mother says women cannot be warriors, even though she is always fighting it out at the workplace; even though she wears her veil like an armour because even at forty, she has to protect herself from the lecherous gaze of boys half her age; even though her voice is like a war cry as she tries to assert herself in a household having more females, but greater patriarchy; even though her legacy is a seventeen year old daughter, who proudly believes in feminism, and isn’t afraid to say it.
My mother says women cannot be warriors, even though her friend stands tall among men and doesn’t surrender in spite of the misogyny she has to face; even though her maid’s daughter marches to school everyday, despite a brother who wants to take her prisoner in her own home; even though her niece uses an axe to break her chains and is learning to fly, regardless of a society that constantly tries to shun her; even though her sister emerged victor from an abusive relationship while her husband looked on in amazement, because in thirty two years, he had never seen that happen before.
WRITTEN BY ARSHIA ZEHRA ART BY @sleepydolphin_ .
"Every time a woman triumphs, she smiles secretly because in this battlefield gifted to us at birth, the one we didn’t ask for, when one woman wins, we all win"
My mother says women cannot be warriors, even though she knows of the Kurdish fighters standing armed at a border they chose themselves, e v e n w h e n t h e y d i d n ’t r e a l l y h a v e t o ; even though she knows of the women who are the reason she can go out and vote today; even though she knows of the activists and philosophers living in crowded streets of underdeveloped countries, reclaiming this world from their dominant male counterparts.
My mother says women cannot be warriors, but I know she doesn’t believe a word of it and every time a woman triumphs, she smiles secretly because in this battlefield gifted to us at birth, the one we didn’t ask for, when one woman wins, we all win.
@sleepydolphin_
Photography by Olivia Upton
Photography by Olivia Upton
Photographic Series By Kristina Wagner
Instagram: @krist__ina www.kristina-wagner.com
Pretty in plastic Photographs by Kristina Wagner
Titled Pretty In Plastic, this project is an exploration of female consumerist culture in conjunction with society’s expectations of beauty. Each object in the photographs represents a routine activity that many women perform daily. This temporary vision of what beauty should look like always fades, mirroring the disposability of the products themselves. Beauty standards shift as time goes by, leaving the plastic to be the only thing in this cycle that will forever remain constant.
Jacinta Chong @erxinta
We are continually looked at, gazed upon, seen. Penetrating eyes visualizing a thing. The thing is beauty, love. But I am so fucking tired of being seen. - Erica Avila
Marie-France Lavoie @poemsbyair
ATHENA EVIE LEE
Art by Kaila Newton @gamegaladvance
They tell us to deny it as if it never came, to ignore it as if it never happens. As if the incarnadine stains on our white dresses aren’t spreading through the fabric, as if wild roses never grow on the soft cotton of our underwear as if we don’t hold rubies in our bodies, as if we don't have bodies at all.
We swallow air until we choke, eyes wide with the realization that our bodies are battlefields and this blood holds all the bloodshed of past wars, of all the battles that will ever encompass this earth, dripping calmly down our skin. We know this ground is soaked in our remains, our
But we do. We have bodies that align with colliding galaxies and dance to the deaths of supernovas, uteruses that have learned to wane and wax like the tides in rhythm with the gravitational pull of the moon. Our
skeletons, our blood. We kneel upon the wars of Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet
bodies are the embodiments of goddesses that have walked this land
Tubman, and Benazir Bhutto like we kneel upon an altar,
for thousands of years and, oh, are they angry, wanting to spill this
discovering that if there is a god, she must only be the one
earth scarlet with the remembrance of their names long since forgotten on our tongues. Like us, like the blood between our legs, we are told to
staring back at us in the mirror.
be secrets, to hold its name on a tree of knowledge we are not allowed to eat fruit from. Still, we pick the apple and run the roseate skin
So for all the girl’s whose first blood has come, dress in red
through our teeth. We still swallow the power down and hold it
and dance till your face flushes rosy and your lips leap in
beneath our skin. Waiting. Remembering. We know we are such dangerous things, nuclear weapons painted up as
carmine colors. Don’t you dare for a second believe you are anything less than capable, beautiful and resilient because,
roses. We know that's why we were kicked out of this garden of eden, a
know, it’s not just roses spilling from you sweetie, it’s
punishment for sins we are entitled to.
gunpowder. So girl, paint this world red till it burns.
Julie Audouard @j.audz
@stayawayfromblackhole
Summary of discussion had at the Womb-Room
Submitted by Hazel Mead
18
FEMININITY; A CURSE OR A VIRTUE? WRITTEN BY MAIA R. BECERRA PHOTO BY LOGAN CHARLES JENKIN
What makes a woman a woman? What qualifies her to simply “be”? Femininity is defined as being a real woman. Filling the desires and expectations That were put upon our shoulders, like a burdensome weight that gets heavier with every sunrise. This fiction never ceases, it keeps coming back every time a girl sees the world for the first time. This simple word holds so much power, That can either be used in favor or against us The voices are never content; We are either too feminine, or not feminine enough. “fake”, “weak”, “manly”, “tomboy”. Hence, is femininity good or bad? Is a feminine woman greater or lesser than a woman that isn’t? The answer to these questions has been with us since the beginning of time. Trapped in a cage, ignored as if it was something insignificant.
Women blossom like extraordinary flowers, Each one of them does it uniquely. Yet, that does not mean that one is better than the other. That does not mean that one is more worthy than the other. That does not mean that one can hurt or pain the other. The stereotypes and lies have made us feel ambivalent. But we shall never stop wrestling against them. This is not the war against a concept. This is not the war against a gender. This is not the war against feminine women or not feminine women. This is the war against misunderstanding, prejudice and hate. This is a never-ending fight. Femininity must never be suppressed, Nor forced. Women are as free as the wildest sea, And a word will never define their worth.
Photographer: @jackofalltrxdes Model:@savanarose41
Tribute to my Lover Banien Hasan For as long as I can remember, I have carried in my heart and soul; a desire so fierce to pay tribute to my lover, and I have tried numerous water colors. Should I paint you a shade of prussian blue? or cadmium red? What can I say, water colors wash off; water colors do not do justice to you. I want to keep you alive in the strokes my leaky ink pen on the musty, yellowing pages but sadly, words escape me when it comes to you. You cannot be trapped in between words; you're beyond them. You're the rosegold light I chase in the meadows of my dream; I get a hold of you for a moment but you slip away in the next. You're the wind on my face. I close my eyes shut for the love of God. You cannot touch me for a moment And not in the next. My dreams of you can wait, My sleep can wait, I have to finish this papered tribute! I will stay up till the sky is shared between dark and dawn; my unapologetic love in one hand, some colors in the other Art by Wing Ng @emptypotandstuff
and these raw materials of magic will speak of you for a moment; they will sing of you in the next.
no, i am not a damsel in distress WORDS BY
@passioninink
ART BY
@anastasija_pudane
I am not a damsel in distress I do not need you to fight off the fire-breathing dragon. I have a tongue of bitter poison My words are as sharp as daggers I choose them carefully, I can play you a sweet melody of words you've never heard But I will stay silent unless there is something worth saying. This is worth saying. I do not need you to save me. I may not look like the hero you imagined I may be too petite and too feminine for your story book So good thing I'm the writer of this one I can wield the sword and shield just as well. I will choose not to fight. And no,It's not because I'm afraid of getting blood on my nails. And no, It's not because I'm waiting to be saved.
It's because the person in this story that I'm fighting is actually you, I do not want to hurt you I simply just wish to crush the image you have in your head of me. I am a girl. I do not deserve to have to be the princess I don't live to wait in a castle for you, I don't sit at home and raise the children. I am not dreaming of riding into the sunset. I am sure as hell not waiting for you. You are not the light at the end of my tunnel The light has always been me. I am the sun, And I am damn tired of you trying to dim my light. I am a girl. The boobs on my chest weren't made for you to comment on, I am not on display for you, So you don't get to say I'm not doing something right like you bought me and are trying to get a refund. I don't have to wear dresses or look pretty for you. I don't deserve to be given a certain set of rules. I am loud, I am messy, I am whatever and whoever I want to be. I am not a damsel in distress. I am a girl.
And proud to be one.
Estefania. www.niaenbitacora.com
Fuck your idea of Me. WRITTEN BY FRANCESCA PAN - THE FRANZINE ART BY
Fuck the idea that being feminist is growing
Fuck that to feel pretty in front of the mirror you
your pussy hair long, bite your nails and spit on
have to hold your breath, paint your cheeks and
all chivalry.
be girly but not too much, be chilled but not too
Fuck the idea that we all want a bubble of
much, be friendly but not too much.
sentimentalism and pillow talks, that a life
Fuck all the fake freedoms were given just to
without kids is empty and that girls can’t swear,
calm our fires, our hormones, and our ideas.
wee in public or down a beer.
Because fuck yes I’m a feminist, but this doesn’t
Fuck that before wearing a miniskirt you have
make me any less of a woman. I still like my
to think two, three or a hundred times of all the
dose of orgasms, my candlelight dinners and
reckless eyes you’ll be a magnet for, fishing for
those who know how to make me blush.
compliments and all other meow meow
Feminism isn’t a trend that wears off with the
sentences on the street.
passing of the seasons.
Spare cutlery Written by Laura Hackshaw
Art byLuisa Jung @luisa.jung.works
Laughs echo where empty seats sit Spaces in between conversations The silence says all the things we wish we could Say but can’t bare to Loads are carried on backs that once lay Stiff or agile, or open and moving willing ; always adjusting Generations of women who were once girls too And they all say
“We thought we could love a wrong man right” And they smirk and say ‘yes’ like a choir of ‘Amens’ Because they do not need to finish each other’s sentences We maybe young but we all see where the empty place mats are Names of the lovers, husbands, fathers When romantic love no longer lives here, neither papa’s nor patriarchs.
KELLY MAY ILLUSTRATIONS
GROW Artist's Presentation These illustrations are part of a zine called ‘Grow’ that will be released early next year. The title represents that we are constantly growing and it’s okay to be stuck within the bad parts of your mental health for a while but to also remember you will grow away from these bad moments through selfcare and reaching out to others. The zine is inspired by my own personal struggles with mental health. I kept a journal which I would draw in whenever I felt at my lowest points. I would pour everything I felt through drawing and try to find a way to communicate those exact feelings at that moment. The second half of the zine communicates the positives of mental health and how self-care is an extremely important part of our growth and mind. Each illustration is titled in the beginning but not throughout the zine as that is what they represent for me and my mental health but not necessarily for others. I hope others will be able to relate to an image and strike up conversations with friends and family who might not understand what they’re going through but this zine will help them communicate their struggles. I'm hoping this zine will show a lighter side to mental health and the positivity that can come from learning to like yourself again and that there is more to you and your life than your past/mental health. @kellymayillustration
Paige Heffler @wildr0sebud
Nick Moncy @feminelogram
Nick Moncy @feminelogram
Carolyn Gerk @velvethanddesign
Grace Batista GraceBatista.com
Instagram: @ralphsangst Email: ralphsangst@outlook.com Editor: Lauren Hunt Social Media: Katrina Roles