issue 02
Scorpion
Mag
contents 1. art by @lucyait 2. a letter from the editor @lucyait 3. 'a brief history lesson on feminism' article by llaurÊ braun 7. art by @i.sabelladraws 8. 'do you like me?' poem by emily corwin / @emily.corwin 9. collage by jrose 11. 'marsha p johnson' art by @tartecloud 12. 'if i could see my younger self in the mirror, she would look like such innocence' poem by johanna rawlings / @johanna_writes 13. art by screamaaaaaaa 14. 'when my body asks for acceptance' poem by nanya minda / @nanyawrites 15. photography by @em.linh 17. art by ails o'donnell / @ailisod.artistry 19. words and photo by @marina.bear.asmr 20. poem by @jadenmetivier 21. 'woman' poem by @fine_lined 22. 'from your parallel universe self' and 'voicemail' poems by @lilpoetryyy 23. cecile swim 25. artist profile: franki kaneur interviewed by @lucyait 26.b. poems by insa reblin
45. sources 46. sources, art by @realist.oreal
all @'s mentioned refer to instagram
27. art by @castello.pngs 28. art by @j0lski 29. art by @lucyait of @nyane 30. 'the patria child' poem by @coffeeandtheoracle 31. broke girl goods 33. 'lady of the lake' art by johanna rawlings / @johanna_writes 34. poem by princess alternative 35. art by @lucyait 37. 'woman of light' poem by ijeoma chuku / @idylically.cryptic 38. photography and words by briee pascual / @brieeswor1d 39. photography and words by bella maldo / @sawitcaughtit 41. photography by @damiennbryant, model @johncalebdavis, makeup/styling @victoria.gosselin 43. angel jewels 44. collage by bailey santos / @corpseyes
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a letter from the editor scorpions,
@lucyait
firstly, i want to say a massive thank you to everybody who submitted to this issue - it wouldn't have been possible without you. it's been a pleasure looking through all of your submissions and editing them into this magazine. you are a very talented group of people and you should all be proud! this issue is inspired by and dedicated to WOMEN. scorpion mag interprets the word 'woman' as anyone who identifies as such. we use it a term of inclusivity; this means trans women, queer women, gay women - all women. it is also a display of femininity in all its forms, and of love and support for womankind. part of this initiative was giving free ad space to creative and ambitious women who deserve recognition. we are proud to be featuring accessory brand 'broke girl goods', jewellery brand 'angel jewels', and swimwear brand 'cecile swim' in this issue. we were also lucky enough to interview musician franki kaneur for issue 02. she is a young australian singer / songwriter who i hope you will all listen to after reading her interview piece! feminism comes in many expressions, and here it is in the form of celebration, equality, and uplifting. you are about to see the accounts of a worldwide collective of humans, from germany to the US, australia to scotland, and a lot of places in-between. i hope you enjoy the read and find something you connect with.
sending love, scorpion mag <3
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feminism by llauré braun
“I want to be a men’s rights activist”, quite the shocking statement and yet, an exclamation that has seemingly become increasingly popular. Then again, the idea that feminism is an aggressive, exclusive and man hating movement has been around since its conception. An idea that evidently does not do the movement any favours. The typical stereotypes that all feminists are bra burners, don’t believe in marriage or don’t support stay-at-home-moms, can’t be religious, are radicals or can only be women are false prerequisites that stand in the way of its true goal: equality. These misconceptions even make fellow females resistant to identify as feminists. When (simply said) feminism is typically conceptualised as recognising that the genders are being treated unequally and sharing the goal of achieving gender equality in the social, political and economic arenas.
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I put “simply said” in brackets since the term “feminism” has a deep rooted history that can be dated back to ancient Greece and, therefore, really can’t be simmered down into a one liner definition. Yet, so many people try to. Maybe this is where some of the misconceptions come from? People are so quick to judge centuries of feminism from stereotypes, comments or phrases they hear thrown around, dismissing its roots. So I thought my contribution to this magazine celebrating womanhood and feminism would be a brief history lesson to give “feminism” its rightful context. Feminism is typically split into three waves. First wave (late 19th, early 20th century) dealt with property rights and the right to vote. Second wave (mid 20th century) focused on equality and antidiscrimination. The third (late 20th, early 21st century) is considered a ‘backlash’ to the straight, white privilege seen in the second wave. Since the history of feminism is fairly disjointed (even within each of the waves), the wave construct is a popular method used to break it down. It has been heavily criticised for ignoring what has happened prior to and in between the waves, as well as for its colonist or racist nature.
"feminism really can’t be simmered down into a one liner definition" 4
Racism from within the movement was visible when the 15th Amendment passage in 1870 granted black men the right to vote and white women raised the question ‘Are former slaves seriously allowed to vote before us?’. As you can see, there are also wild debates between those who call themselves feminists. Now let’s talk about ‘pre-wave’ feminism to move away from the commonly discussed topics. I stated before, feminism can be dated back as early as ancient Greece when Plato expressed that women hold “natural capacities” equal to men in his classic ‘Republic’, unsurprisingly, this was met with criticism.
The Renaissance period as well as the Age of Enlightenment were eras in which many of the so-called ‘pioneer feminists’ voiced their hopes and concerns regarding the topic of the sexes and their roles in society. An example is the writer, Christine de Pizan, who was one of the first to denounce misogyny. Defenses of women during the Renaissance period appear in a range of genres across Europe, the central theme being equality. Literature was heavily relied upon as a medium through which women could lead discourses on injustice themes such as those to do with economic property rights and aided the emergence of women as true intellectuals. Literature actually allowed women to build non-hierarchical and independent systems which gave both women and men opportunities.
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Before I ramble on for much longer, I thought we could take a look at one more aspect of the convoluted history of feminism: the educational reform of the 19th century. This was not only a step forward for women, but also for those belonging to lower socioeconomic classes, people of colour and those suffering from illnesses. The value of education for all started to become more clear to those in influential positions and inroads began to form. When I say “become more clear” what I mean is campaigns and calls for an educational reform became too loud to drown out, with many feminists standing in the frontline, Emily Davies included.
"Our common ground is that we want to be treated equally and be presented with the same opportunities"
I hope that by looking at even a fraction of feminism’s history, it is clear that its goal was always equality. When the term is used under false pretences it only gets in the way of reaching this goal. All genders experience inequality, no doubt. Instead of scrutinising each other or wasting time trying to win the competition of who is suffering more, at least recognise that our common ground is that we want to be treated equally and be presented with the same opportunities. Fair enough, right? by llauré braun
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by @i.sabelladraws
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do you like me?
by emily corwin / @emily.corwin
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esorj yb
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esorj yb
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by @tartecloud
if I could see my younger self in the mirror, she would look like such innocence If I could see my younger self in the mirror, she would look like such innocence, for she does not know yet what is to come and she does not know yet that the process of growing won't always be easy.
I wish I could tell her to enjoy every moment she could, because there would be days to come when she won't be able to smile, but she also needs to know it will get better and that the days she can't get out of bed without crying are not the point at which to give up.
If I could see my younger self in the mirror, I wish I could tell her that the gender of your doctor doesn't guarantee they won't be sexist and that people you love will surprise you sometimes with the prejudices they can turn in their mouths.
But you are the one living in your body, you are constantly learning and growing, and you will find better people who will believe you.
Because dwelling on the bad will just pull you down whereas looking up a little more is what will bring you peace.
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sgnilwar annahoj /
I would tell myself the same thing.
setirw_annahoj@ yb
And if I could look in the mirror and see myself today,
by screamaaaaaaa
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when my body asks for acceptance I look at my waist not curving in a way it would please the world. and I don't feel sorry about it. I see dresses fitting me loosely. and don't let it break my heart one bit. I look at all the hair. on the belly. the knuckles. the toes. the thighs. I look at hair in all the upsetting places, and I don't turn away. I look at the dark. in my knees. under the eyes. a little in the elbows. and say - you melanin rich corner of this temple, there's nothing else you'd rather be. I look at the stretch marks, in places where a swimsuit would flaunt them. I don't use the word ugly anymore. I see how skinny is the only adjective that sits on people's tongue. and I apologise to my body. for all of them. I say I'm sorry. and I say, we'll get there. I promise we'll get there. My body asks for acceptance. and I tell her. you can be whatever you want to be. for the hell of it. there is no judgement this time. I'll make a home out of all the corners of you I've left, ignored. denounced. unseen. I will love you in all your brokenness.
setirwanyan@ / adnim anyan yb
I look at all the places my body doesn't have enough of me.
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by @em.linh_
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by @em.linh_
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by ailis o'donnell / @ailisod.artistry
Ailis Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell is a nineteen year old fine artist from Ireland. Having grown up both an artist and musician, creativity was always her main expressive outlet.
Self Portrait in Chalk / Chalk on Sugar Paper / 11.7x16.5inch "I drew this piece in the midst of isolation, which was a very strange but inspiring time for me. Nudity as an art form has existed for centuries, and although itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s widely accepted in the art world, I still find it daunting to
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explore myself in such a way. My favorite part about this piece is the effect of the light from my window."
by ailis o'donnell / @ailisod.artistry "I’ve always loved art, but I think it’s come to mean a lot more to me this past year, it’s definitely a safe space for me"
Up Close and Personal / Oil on Paper / 8.3x11.7inch This is another self portrait I created during lockdown. My experience of lockdown was very confronting and self reflective, which I think is conveyed well in this painting.
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by @marina.bear.asmr
"This is the year I stopped living for others. I am living for me. I will not be ashamed of my body or face. I am learning to love this body that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m learning to be kind to myself. I am not ashamed to be a brown girl anymore. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m learning to love and respect myself."
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by @jadenmetivier
Why is a woman just seen as a vessel? No personality, just tissue, skin, and some muscle. Why isn't there more of a war for this issue? Not even a fight, but just a little wrestle. Suppressed and treated like dogs in a kennel. "You can get out, when you realize where your level is" Supposed to act and look like what society made with a stencil. "Shush girl, I'll change your imperfection with a pencil" Yet, who decided who was special? Aren't all flowers beautiful no matter their petals? Speak only in hushed voices when you make sandwiches and set the kettle. Let the men talk and don't mettle. Then later you'll be rewarded with some earrings and pearls. Just take one thing out of this, girls. Fit into the mold, or you'll be replaced because there's more than one of you in this world.
sticker by screamaaaaaaa
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by @fine_lined
woman
let's crawl out of our warm beds past midnight and paint oranges onto everything, portraits of our mouths on fire for daring to speak every time i kiss you, my bubbling tongue threatens to spill over, i wonder if you like to taste my bittersweet marmalade. i've had enough of this boxed-up world and its neat lines, beauty routines and outdated stereotypes. i'm leaving cherry red lipstick stains on your throat, you're so tall in your armpit hair and lace underwear, i can see the world shut its eyes so it doesn't have to look. if we're the odd ones out, let's commit petty crimes, i'll stare, eyes wide, mouth hungry, and you become the memory of orange pips between my teeth, and they brand us wrong, but our skins are tattooed with love - bruised fruit tastes so sweet. i'm trying to graffiti your smell onto this city, excuse me if i have to pick a few locks on my way to your heart, live in your mind rent-free, bribe the doorman a little. i hear my jailer in the distance, chains rattling, dark rooms without a colour in sight, cruel, i have been imprinted with your taste of oranges, your strawberry mouth, your iced lemon skin.
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i'll come crawling back for this sweetness.
by @lilpoetryyy
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cecile swim www.cecileswim.com
@cecileswim /Â www.cecileswim.com photography by @cecilecreative /Â www.cecilecreative.com models @georgialilly_ @kxsaa @sami_warren
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moc.miwselicec.www / miwselicec@
evitaercelicec@ yb yhpargotohp
moc.evitaercelicec.www /
aasxk@ _yllilaigroeg@ sledom
nerraw_imas@
For you + our Earth
Empowering women through ethical and sustainably handmade swimwear
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artist profile: interviewing
franki kaneur @frankikaneur
Q: franki, what would you describe your music style / genre as? A: I would describe my music style as alternative/dark pop. It’s hard for me to determine, every song I create has it’s own personality and it’s own genre/vibe. But for the music I currently have released I’d say it’s alternative pop. Q: if you could open a show for any artist, who would it be? A: Definitely BROCKHAMPTON. I draw a lot of inspiration from them as musicians, as well as their production. Their music is something else. I love that they don’t conform to any sort of guidelines or what is typically marketable, they create their own music regardless if people will like it or not and I love them for it. Q: how has your life changed since getting into music? A: I can’t imagine my life without it. It brings me so much happiness, being able to create something from your own personal experiences and have that relate to others makes it all worth it. I just love every aspect. I love how every song will be interpreted differently and the first time you hear a song will be completely different to the second and third. Music is such a beautiful art form and has helped me express my feelings in a deeper level and unravel emotions I didn't know I was feeling.
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Q: do you face moments where you feel hesitant, like you're on the wrong path, or afraid of judgement from others because you're pursuing music? how do you deal with these moments? A: I never felt like music was the wrong path for me. I always have known I wanted to pursue it as a career. But I still struggle dealing with the judgement from others to this day. I graduated High School eight months ago and even now when people ask me what my plans are and what I want to do, I reply with ‘I don’t know’. When I do know, I’ve never felt more sure of it, I want to make my music a career. Because of other’s judgement I can completely understand why other’s would not want to. Having a career in the arts is so poorly received by the public, its often deemed as unrealistic. It’s sad because I know of so many people that didn’t pursue music as a career because of it. And I’d definitely say half of my career is me doubting myself and my abilities because I can’t help but compare myself to every other musician out there. But it’s all about growth, no matter what occupation there will always be someone above you, there will always be challenges and you’ll always have to start at the bottom, so why not start at the bottom with something you love. If I end up turning 31 and the outcome from this is that I get to play local gigs to pay rent, I’m happy. I’m not in this to be famous, of course that’d be awesome but i’m here to make music. Because why should I have to spend the next 50 years until retirement doing something I dislike that conveniently pays more money? To me that sounds like the saddest reality. At the end of the day the only person you have to impress in this world, is yourself. If you’re proud of yourself, that should be enough. My advice to anyone who wants to pursue a career that is ‘out of reach.’, do it. You have nothing to lose, you either do it and it works out or you do it and you find a career that is just as perfect and relates to what you were going for in the first place. It’s not worthwhile not pursuing. Ask yourself what’s really stopping you? If it’s judgement then the only person that’s really holding you back is yourself.
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"[music] is extremely therapeutic for me and I have confidence in saying it will always be a part of my life"
You Hate Me and I Love It
howareyouonmymind
Q: lastly, do you have any exciting new projects that we should look forward to? A: I’m currently working on my next single which i’m super excited about, it’s got a different vibe to what I usually create so it’s been a super interesting and fun process! And it will be released within the end of 2020. I’ve also got a live studio session that myself and my band are performing which includes a range of originals and a cover, which will be so fantastic so I can’t wait for everyone to watch that!
LISTEN TO FRANKI KANEUR ON SPOTIFY, APPLE MUSIC, AMAZON MUSIC, DEEZER AND MORE
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@frankikaneur interviewed by @lucyait
by insa reblin
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by @j0lski
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by @castello.pngs
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by @lucyait
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THE PATRIA CHILD by @coffeeandtheoracle
Elizabeth Patria, a powerhouse slum.Sandlewood hair and eyes the shade of plum. They look at me like I devoured their first born on a silver platter. Reeking of baby blood and their staggered last breath.Archy was my father. He raised me right. I wanted to be a mother, he reminded me first, be a wife. This green skin is not rot it is the wallpaper of my youth, it is you, it is me. The colour of apple tea. I wisened dry in the wind of your words; the irony is in your cry. Me, bled sore like a stone. Oh, the joy! You realise how quickly I’ll catch flame. I tell you: hold me. You suffocate me. I tell you: kiss me. You bite me. I’ve leaked my guts on your floor and you’re proud. Crimson roulette. We’re both drenched in ribbons of decay and a dark, dark taste. You’re surprised when I snap back, fistfuls of sharp teeth and a bleeding snake tongue. Hole in the head. Bullet and bone. Reach in. Reach out. Marvel at the flavour of Bitch. The guts of a Witch. I cry pretty rivers for petty things and you pierce fingers in my neck like I’m deserving of death. I hold dogs, nurse babies like newborn birds and curl my hair to Tchaikovsky. You call me a horror. Desdemona comes to me in the night. Sets me right. Capsules me in her pale arms while I weep the eulogies of Witches before me. She puts my head back together and plants a sweet kiss on my dirt mouth. My Queen of Misery eats the men, all but one. She leaves him just for me and then sets me free. When I rise from the moors, a scarlet sword set loose, you dare ponder my beginnings. Idiot boy, I was not cultivated from the ground like a pip. I was spouted from your hatred lips like seas of turpentine. So break the mold and pour. Burn my spells and lick the last of my bones. At the bottom of the trail the stream speaks your truth. Black and blue reflection looking deep in the eyes of the infection. Congratulations. You have swallowed me whole.
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by @johanna_writes / johanna rawlings
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by princess alternative
stickers by screamaaaaaaa
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by @lucyait
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by @lucyait
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by @idyllically.cryptic / ijeoma chuku
woman of light
Like a star glazed lantern, She enters. Bringing in her burning kindle. Igniting our sought out fire Radiating our hearts, With their utmost desire. This is a woman that has lustre written in her eyes. One that can define her soft glow from the beaming moonlight. In a dwelling so dark, Where anguish and sorrow resides. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a woman shining her light.
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by @brieeswor1d / briee pascual
Now in age, the ones who tear us up
the most
is our own self.
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by @sawitcaughtit / bella maldo
"Here are some photos of my mom. She is my best friend and an amazingly strong woman. Her favorite color is purple and she always plays with her hair (but that's kind of a secret). She doesn't need a reason to be featured really, she can be amazingly weak one day, and she will still be as special and deserving as when she is amazingly strong."
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by @sawitcaughtit / bella maldo
"I love her to bits, and appreciate her unconditionally, but I'll never really know what it's like to stand as tall as she does and what it's like to be so good to your kids. love you mama" <3
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nilessog.airotciv@ puekam+tsilyts / sivadbelacnhoj@ ledom / tnayrbnneimad@ yb
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nilessog.airotciv@ puekam+tsilyts / sivadbelacnhoj@ ledom / tnayrbnneimad@ yb
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angel jewels WWW.ANGELJEWELS.CO.UK WWW.ANGELJEWELS.CO.UK
Angel Jewels is a small business started in December 2019 by Alecia. She sells handmade jewellery, from pearls to crystals. She created these pieces in hope someone will find something that truly calls to them. Her aim for her brand is to make people feel confident and beautiful when wearing the jewellery she has created. [worldwide shipping. instagram: @angeljewelss]
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by bailey santos / @corpseyes
From my experience itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s normal in my family to start having kids at a young age and prepare meals for the husband for when he gets home. But, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown to realize that I imagine my life different than most of the women in my family. How they found their happiness might not be how I want to find mine.
Mexican women are creators who embrace everything with passion. From making recipes to flying into space, the possibilities are infinite. But, we face challenges that may distract us from recognizing our unique power. Our journey is to discover and learn to use that unique power unapologetically. Because our dreams are bigger than any border or societal standard.
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SOURCES LlaurĂŠ Braun - A Brief History Lesson on Feminism, page 4 "The History Of Feminism". The Cynical Historian, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK-Qechh_Ec. Accessed 28 July 2020. "Berry College - Myths About Feminism". Berry.Edu, https://www.berry.edu/womens_studies/myths/. Accessed 27 July 2020. Criss, Doug. "Merriam-Webster's Word Of The Year For 2017 Is 'Feminism'". CNN, 2017, https://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/12/world/feminism-merriam-webster-year-trnd/index.h tml#:~:text=Feminism%20is%20defined%20in%20Merriam,word%20of%20the%20ye ar%3A%20complicit. Accessed 27 July 2020. "Education - Western Education In The 19Th Century". Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/education/Western-education-in-the-19th-century. Accessed 27 July 2020. "Elementary Education In The 19Th Century". UK Parliament, https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/livinglearning/sch ool/overview/in19thcentury/. Accessed 27 July 2020. Grady, Constance. "The Waves Of Feminism, And Why People Keep Fighting Over Them, Explained". Vox, 2018, https://www.vox.com/2018/3/20/16955588/feminism-waves-explained-first-second-thir d-fourth. Accessed 28 July 2020. Green, John. "Women's Suffrage: Crash Course US History #31". Crash Course, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGEMscZE5dY. Accessed 28 July 2020. Mark, Joshua. "Christine De Pizan". Ancient History Encyclopedia, 2019, https://www.ancient.eu/Christine_de_Pizan/. Accessed 27 July 2020. Rosen, Andrew. "Emily Davies And The Women's Movement, 1862-1867". 2020, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-british-studies/article/emily-davies -and-the-womens-movement-18621867/FCE059ED69E1CCBBCB759A4A15B3333D. Accessed 28 July 2020. Women From The Renaissance To The Enlightenment. The Saylor Foundation, https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/wpcontent/uploads/2012/08/HIST201-8.2.3-WomenRenaissancetoEnlightenment-FINAL.pdf. Accessed 28 July 2020.
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Bailey Santos / @corpseyes, page 44 In the visual: Frida Kahlo, Yalitza Aparicio, Remedios Varo, Selena Quintanilla, Vanessa Guillean, Adhara Perez, Lorena Borjas, and Ellen Ochoa English translation: "As a Mexican woman I have the responsibility to think outside of the house and in the clouds where dreams live. I feel the power in me to make those dreams my reality. My mission is to discover my unique power and learn to use it without fear."
@coffeeandtheoracle - 'The Patria Child', page 30 "I wrote this inspired heavily by the feminist poetry of Carol Ann Duffy as well as a commentary on the patriarchy and how women are often treated in society."
Johanna Rawlings / @johanna_writes - "if i could see my younger self in the mirror, she would look like such innocence" page 12, "This poem is written in response to Kayla Simon's June prompt "If I could see ___ in the mirror, it would look like ___"
Cecile Swim, page 23,24 @cecileswim www.cecileswim.com Broke Girl Goods, page 31,32 @brokegirlgoods www.brokegirlgoods.com Angel Jewels, page 43 @angeljewelss www.angeljewels.com
by @realist.oreal
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scorpion mag august 2020 issue 02