DV Connect Lit: Year of the Girl (Issue # 003)

YEAROFTHE GIRL

Yearofthe Girl

President+Editor-in-Chief

AvaDeJesus

ManagingCopyEditor

SerenaMorris

ArtEditor KomalKhan

VideoEditor

AalimKhan

LayoutDesigner

EmmaMatsumoto

GraphicDesigner

AvaDeJesus

Photographer FaithHusar

ContributingWriters/Artists: GerardAnazia,YuriCabaddu, AmriahleeChea, AvaDeJesus, KomalKhan

Contributors

Club Advisor of DV Connect Lit

AfroLA is a solutions-focused, datadriven and community-centered journalism for Los Angeles, told through the lens of the Black community, and with emphasis on how news may disparately impact L.A.’s most vulnerable groups and communities of color. They also serve as the Mentor for DV Connect Lit.

VP and Event/Fundraising Coordinator of DV Connect Lit

Our mission is to create a thriving community that celebrates AANHPI heritage through cultural events and initiatives, promoting meaningful engagement and attracting a diverse, active membership.

Stock photos via Canva, Google, and Pinterest

Ava DeJesus, President&Editor-In-Chief

Editor’s Note

DearReadersofDVConnectLit,

I’mAvaDeJesus,PresidentandEditor-In-ChiefofDVConnectLit,ourhighschool literaryartmagazine I’mexcitedtointroduceourthirdissue,“YearoftheGirl” Thisyear,we’recelebratinggirlhoodinallitsforms In2023-2024,we’veseen thenextwaveoffemaleempowerment,frominspiringactivismofwomeninour

communitiestotheculturalimpactofmovementsandmediathatadvocatewomen’svoices.Ourtheme,“Yearofthe Girl,”isallabouthonoringthejourneyfromgirlhoodtowomanhood,recognizingtheups,downs,andallthemomentsin between Thisissuecelebratestheresilience,creativity,andstrengththatdefineus

Ourissuebeginswiththepoetryof"PraiseforGirlhood"byAmirahleeChea,whichcapturestheessenceandspiritof girlhood Next,wehave“#GirlLife"whichexploresmoderndaygirlhoodandsocialmedia,celebratinggrowingupinthe digitalage Finally,"YearoftheGirl"takesthereaderthroughtheempoweringstoryofayounggirlwhodefiessocietal pressuresbywritingherownguidetoself-loveandacceptance

Ourartsectionfeaturesthe"YearoftheGirl"collages,showcasingwomeninmusic,business,movies,andactivism Thesecollageshighlightanewwaveoffeminismandthediverserolesofwomentoday The"FeminismVisionBoard" reflectssignificanteventsandculturalmovementsof2023,capturingfeministmilestones.

Lastly,inourwritingsection,wepresentpiecesexploringthechallengesandtriumphsofgirlhoodandwomanhood.The book review of "Moxie" discusses the feminist revolution started by Vivian Carter, an unlikely teenager battling harassment and sexism at her high school "From Pop to Plastic: Barbie and Taylor Swift Redefine Feminism for GenerationZ"examineshowTaylorSwift'sErasTourandtheBarbiemovieareinspiringanewwaveofempowerment andchallengingtraditionalgendernorms The"DragWorkshopbySIPA2024"frommembersoftheDVConnectAANHPI StudentUnion,thatexploresdragasanartformandpoliticalmovement,emphasizinglove,acceptance,community,and highlightstheinclusivityandempowermentofdragculture Thenthereis"TheLifeofGretaThunberg"whichprofilesthe youngactivist'sunwaveringcommitmenttoclimatechange,demonstratingthepowerofyouthactivism

YEAROFTHE GIRL

Each submission in our issue speaks to the exploration of girlhood and womanhood, celebrating the experiences and enduring strength of girls and womeninallforms

Thankyoutoeveryonewhocontributedtothisissue. Yourwordsandartarepowerfulremindersofwhatit meanstobeagirlandawomantoday.Let’scontinue to celebrate and support each other as we navigate thisjourneytogether

Withhopeandsolidarity

A Praise for Girlhood

A message to the girls, Girlhood

A word often used to describe the point in a woman's life when she is not quite a woman but also not completely a child.

She is a girl.

It is similar to childhood but there is something more unique about it, something mysterious and coveted

A diamond in the rough,

A treasure chest full of something unreplicable

Every little girl enjoys that magic pixie dust of illusioned fantasies

Girlhood is more than just the stereotypical pink things, bows, nails and makeup (although those are all great too.)

It’s also something sacred and special that lives within every woman for the rest of her days.

It does not leave when she graduates, or gets married or has kids. It doesn’t leave if she doesn’t do any of those things either.

Girlhood is an indescribable part of her that flows throughout a woman ’ s body.

It is the friendships, the love, the care, the passion and creativity and wittiness that makes up every woman

Some days it gets locked away, and sometimes those days turn to years but it never truly goes away

We may forget about it, or get distracted but it’s a feeling, a moment, a memory or a deep understanding that will always center us back when needed

It’s more than a period in our life when we ’ re not quite children but not quite women

It’s you

It’s something you must never betray, even as the world will try and try to take it away from you Containing your every dream as you slumbered away, your every whisper of hope deep into the night, every tear when you thought no one could hear, every laugh you shared with the people you love, everything.

It’s more than you, less than you and all of you at the same time Hold it close and never feel ashamed of what makes you, you.

By: Amirahlee Chea

#GirlLife

Scrolling through feeds, where #’s define, #GirlPower, #SelfLove, in every # line Instagram filters and Snapchat streaks, Capturing moments, sharing the peaks.

TikTok dances in bedroom mirrors, Viral challenges, laughter and terrors. Heart emojis under each post, Likes and comments matter the most.

Facing the trolls with a warrior’s grace, We clap back, secure in our digital space. #BodyPositive, shining through screens, Celebrating all sizes, breaking old scenes.

Tweeting our thoughts, retweeting truths, Memes for change, the spirit of youth.

We voice our causes with hashtags galore, #TimesUp, #MeToo, ready to soar

YouTube diaries, our lives on display, We control the narrative, we lead the way. #GrowingUpGirl in this digital stream, Empowered, connected, living the meme

By: Anonymous

opening her last gift, a small wrapped object signed by her Aunt She was never particularly close with this Aunt They were truthfully very similar, but their fiery opinionated personalities clashed. She sighed and unwrapped the gift to see a blank book “Strange” she thought, so she decided to open it up and was greeted by a front page that read,

A GUIDEBOOK ON HOW TO BE A GIRL

When you ’ re a girl, you can’t be too loud because that’s annoying, unlikeable, and wrong

2.

It’s crude to be opinionated, for your ideas and opinions should never overpower a man ’ s

3 Don’t be too happy Don’t be too sad

4 Don’t wear makeup, that means you ’ re self-centered

Unless your eyes look tired. That's ugly.

5. If your lashes are short and your nose is large, please make sure you do something about that

But don’t do too much, you’ll look like you’re trying too hard.

6 Unless of course your acne is active, no one wants to see that

7. Don’t wear anything revealing, you ’ re just asking for it at that point

8 Don’t put on sweats! You look homeless and disheveled

9 Brush your hair, tie it up, take it down

10 Curl it, straighten it, cut it, grow it None of it looks right

The girl slammed the book close She had read more than enough She couldn’t believe what she had read More importantly, that her Aunt felt comfortable, or worse, proud that she had given such a disgusting book to her At that moment, she decided she’d write her own book She leaped out of bed and yanked up a few random papers and pens and began her own guidebook

With a huge sharpie, she marked her first page as,

That’s it.

Those are the only two rules

If you stretch, and morph, and rearrange yourself to fit ever you’ll lose yourself.

The millions of personalities you ’ v mix and trade in places, until one day you stand in front of tell who you are

Who is this faceless image who is

A mindless puppet acting out you but you ’ re hardly in control

Your mind is blurry and this figure or rather something you do not kn

All of this was done in the sake of

Of being liked

Of survival

We tear down women and build them up and toss them around as if they are dolls and not humans

We tell them hundreds of different instructions and create endless amounts of expectations and feel no shame degrading them in every aspect

At the end of the day, You are the only one who can truly love every aspect of yourself

Every thought, every word, every way you ’ ve looked throughout life, and every breath that escapes your lips

Life is far too short to care what the billions of people on Earth think about you

Those who care will be there and those who don’t, won’t

The girl put down her pen and smiled. She got up and began to leave before rushing back to add a final rule into her book

joy.

3. Do what brings you

ART

from

My vision board is about what has been going on in the year of 2023, it is classified as the "Year of The Girl". 2023 was a roller coaster for feminists all over the board because of the many community involvements such as (Barbie Movie, Patriarchy visioning, Neo-Feminine ideology, etc)

DV Lit

This is my "Year of the Girl" cover photo collage representing women in music, business, movies, and activism This collage showcases the women of today and how we are reaching a new wave in feminism Women who have not only survived but thrived in their fields.

BOOK REVIEW

Moxie

By: Jennifer Mathieu

This book centers around "an unlikely teenager, Vivian Carter who starts a feminist revolution at a small-town Texas high school in this novel from Jennifer Mathieu"

Vivian Carter is the book's protagonist who battles with her self identity as someone who is struggling to make her way through high school under the radar while finding her own voice in high school. This aims to be rather difficult due to the constant harassing, belittling, sexist behavior that the high school girls endure by the jocks in the small town high school.

Due to this constant behavior by the boys which is never addressed by the school administration "because the school and small town feed into the notion that the football team can do no wrong".

Vivian becomes "fed up with sexist dress codes, hallway harassment, and gross comments from guys during class. But most of all, Viv Carter is fed up with always following the rules."

Through her journey of self discovery Vivian starts getting to know more about her mom who also grew up in the same small town and high school. "Viv's mom was a tough-as-nails, punk rock Riot Grrrl in the '90s, and now Viv takes a page from her mother's past and creates a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She's just blowing off steam, but other girls respond. As Viv forges friendships with other young women across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, she realizes that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution" (Moxie, MacMillan)

"Moxieissweet,funny, andfierce.Readthisand thenjointhefight." AmyPoehler

I really wanted to like this book. It had all the makings of a book that I felt an instantaneous connection with. I identified with the protagonist, Viv but the predictability of the events, outcome, and overtaking the school administration felt too fictionalized and just overplayed.

The "Girl Power" anthem was lost in the book which had a "cheesy" feel as well as losing the message of what a revolution, being "woke" feels like. I felt that this book generated a mass appeal due to the ability to touch on feminism without tearing down an oppressive system or noting how oppressive it can be to grow up as a teenage girl. I feel every now and then you would see subject matter that would interest me, lets delve more into rape culture in high school, but then it would stop and glaze over the subject This annoyed me because if we are going to have a book that explores what it is like to grow up as a feminist in Gen Z we need to explore it more in depth, the good, the bad, the in between So I guess if you are looking for a general read that is more like a starter guide to what feminism could look like in high school this would be the book

2 out of 5 stars

FromPoptoPlastic Taylor Swift and Barbie Redefine Feminism for Generation Z

BY: AVA DEJESUS

Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour has deepened her connection with fans, promoting empathy and sparking a new wave in the feminist movement. Alongside Taylor, Barbie is also challenging traditional gender norms, inspiring Generation Z. This article explores how Taylor Swift and Barbie are redefining feminism for our Gen Z.

As Taylor Swift made the transition from country to pop star, she didn't just gain new listeners she amplified her influence across the music industry, which was made clear by the Eras Tour which has grossed over $4 1 billion

It’s not only her musical talent or fame that draws fans like myself; it's her ability to connect with us through empathy, kindness, and commitment to feminist causes This article aims to explore how Taylor Swift, alongside the iconic doll Barbie, is shaping a new definition of feminism for Generation Z

Last summer, I had the unforgettable experience of attending the Eras Tour Having been a fan since I was six, this concert was a journey through every emotion, as Taylor performed hits from each of her eras, from "Fearless" to "Midnights" Her decision to re-record her earlier albums in response to losing the rights to the original recordings shows her resilience and determination, embodying a powerful message of the importance of advocating for oneself and empowerment

om my seat, the connection between ylor and every fan was clear, each song chapter in her life which resonated with r very own experiences–writing for ery girls’ girl.

s experience highlighted not just her artistic wth, but her personal development into an icon strength, resilience, and resurgence of the minist movement Taylor’s recurring theme of laiming her "throne" is more than a personal tle; it's a universal call to action for her fans d all women to own their stories and fight for ir beliefs.

r album "Lover" really set the stage for the Eras ur, kicking off the night as the first era we explored It highlighted her strong commitment to feminism, with tracks like “The Man'' critiquing the privileges men have by just being a “ man ” over women Followed by "You Need to Calm Down", a Pride Month anthem promoting LGBTQ+ rights and challenging homophobia. Fun fact, the video to this song not only entertains but educates, urging support for the Equality Act and demonstrating Taylor's commitment to advocacy, which includes donating a portion of the song's proceeds to GLAAD

2024 also saw the release of the Barbie movie, which disrupted traditional narratives about women's roles, emphasizing that women's value goes beyond their looks. The movie has struck a chord, particularly a line from the character Gloria about the unrealistic standards women face, resonating deeply with audiences

The cultural impact of both Taylor Swift and the Barbie movie has inspired a wave of empowerment and selfexpression among fans. Activities like crafting friendship bracelets or wearing pink outfits inspired by the movie have become symbols of this new feminist wave, encouraging all genders to challenge norms and pursue their dreams.

Taylor Swift’s music and public actions prove that change is not just necessary it's achievable She inspires everyone to stay true to themselves and confront challenges without fear Looking forward, Taylor Swift and Barbie stand as icons of empowerment and modern feminism, cementing their relevance in “The Year of the Girl”, reminding us of the strength found in standing up for our beliefs and shaping our own futures Through their influence, whether through music or plastic, they are redefining feminism in impactful ways for our Generation Z

DRAG WORKSHOP SIPA 2024

BY:

YURI & SOLEIL

DVCONNECTAANHPISTUDENTUNION

WHATISDRAG?

Art Politicalmovement activism selfexpression encompasseslove,acceptance, andcommunity

Andthemostimportantthingto remember:Drag’sfightforqueerpeople isafightforallpeople+Dragiswelcome toanyone.

HISTORYOFDRAG

Rootsin

Egypt

Theater:Greece -Mendressedaswomen

KabukiTheater

Self-Expression CulturalConnectionstoGender Crossing -Baybaylan–FilipinoGenderCrossers -Fa'afafine–Samoa -Mahu–Hawaii

Fillipino Contestants from RuPaul’s Drag Race

RUPAUL’SDRAGRACE

oneexampleofhowdragis representedinthemodernday

THE ROOTS

:THEATRESINGREECE

AncientGreekscreatedthetheatricaltraditionofmenplayingwomenroles.

Whydidtheydothis???

Theythoughtthatmencouldtakethefemalerolessincetheywere deemedfitfortheartform

Theatre Play

KUBUKITHEATRES

Originated in Japan, the Kabuki theatres are a form of classical theatre that displays dramatic and elaborate costumes. Today Kabuki is known as traditional Japanese Theatre

Since the 17th century, Japanese kabuki has featured male actors performing female roles

HISTORYOFDRAGPT.2

During the late 16th century and the early start of the 17th centuries, Shakespeare incorporated drag in his theater plays by making men wear and dress up as the opposite gender in order to perform in these acts and plays of his. This was also because women at the time couldn’t be actresses due to how society was back then.

In England during the 18th century, Princess Seraphina was actually a gentleman’s servant named John Cooper. Seraphina was known for becoming the country’s very first drag queen. It was later discovered that Seraphina was apart of John’s daily life rather than being just an acting role.

HISTORYOFDRAGPT.3

A major star in the early 20th century was a drag queen named Julian Eltinge. Eltinge had numerous of fans and stated that all of this wasn’t an act, but an actress. She then was known in varieties of theatres in the UK where cross dressing and drag was very popular and well-known. Whenever he was doingperformancesonstages,hewasknown for removing his wig and revealing his gender to the audience. However, in the USA, drag was also known as a crime and this lead to multiple drag queens to have a negative impacttothem.

Opera - In Western Opera, cross gendering was mostly common in opera. Many men would play women roles as women would play themaleroles.Thiswouldbebasedoffoftheir position while singing opera. This also occurs in Chinese Opera where the female impersonators would become stars for their roles.

CREATEYOUROWN DRAGPERSONA

Buildyourowndragpersona

Createadragname/orsuper heroname

Createcharacteristicsthat theywouldwanttoembody asthatdragorsuperhero character

RUNWAYSHOWCASE

Digintothesetofmasks,wigs,fabrics, signs,headpieces,tocreateapersonathat worksforthem

Haveparticipantseitherasasolo,pair,or groupintroducethemselvesastheirdrag characteroneatatimeandwalkdownthe runway

Whilethisishappening,facilitatorwill introducethepersonastheirdrag character.Therestoftheaudiencewillbe cheeringandwelcomingthem.

DISCUSSIONTIME

Question#1: Whatcommunitiesface marginalizationorchallenges currently?Whatarethose challenges?

Question#2: Whyisitimportanttosupportand showsolidaritywiththese communities?

Question#3: Whatcanwedoinoureverydayto support,uplift,cherish,andaccept thesecommunitiessotheymayfeel supported?

THE LIFE OF GRETA THUNBERG

By: Komal Khan

Greta Thunberg is a Swedish activist who addressed climate change circumstances at a young age. She learned about the impacts of global warming when she turned eight. At age 11, Greta recognized that she had Asperger’s syndrome, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), and selective mutism. Her diagnosis allowed her to speak about the problems with climate change. In addition, Thunberg has suffered from depression at the same time as she was diagnosed. As a result, she stopped going to school. Greta became popular once she initiated a campaign “School Strikes for Climate” in 2018.

However, the activist has struggled with the consequences of her hard work. She was arrested with other people when Greta protested against climate change. She violated the policy that the police enforced. On the other hand, she received recognition and awards. Thunberg started a campaign “School Strikes for Climate” because global warming has affected various surroundings on the planet. It includes increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, bringing droughts, impacting sea levels, and alerting health concerns. The reasons could be burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. She is concerned about the emissions in rich countries and how it is affecting the conditions in other countries that are in need of supplies. Greta wants wealthy countries to stop the emissions so that poor countries can live better through schools, hospitals, and other aspects. The extinction rate is going higher once greenhouse gas continues to rise. She shows hope to people by acting on the climate change. crisis. She tells the world to take action and look for different solutions to limit the loss of people One solution would be having the United Kingdom minimize its carbon footprint. Another solution would also be limiting greenhouse gas emissions. Greta Thunberg has established several factors to help improve the environment. One of the factors is becoming vegan, which is to not eat meat and instead consume plant-based foods. One of the factors is also not traveling in airplanes because they can emit gas and help create climate change. Even though she skipped school, she resumed her education and missed out on Fridays to initiate a strike called “Fridays for future strikes.” Those strikes occurred in the United Kingdom, United States, Belgium, Canada, France, Denmark, Netherlands, and Finland.

In September 2019, Greta Thunberg sailed across the oceans to enter the United Nations parliament. She addressed the UN climate action summit in New York. She is alerting world leaders despite their concerns about money, politics and

circumstances of global warming. He agrees that one major aspect that our community is suffering Those campaigns will save many people who struggling with various conditions on planet earth.

While protesting against climate change, arrest Greta and other members on February 2024. Their actions were meant to avoid emissions

economic growth. Thunberg is sacrificing her life at school, so she could inform the audience to speak up about the impacts of global warming. She states “the popular idea of cutting our emissions in half in 10 years only gives us a 50% chance of staying below 1.5 degrees [Celsius], and the risk of setting off irreversible chain reactions beyond human control.” The activist is speaking about the weaknesses of the world and how people could build techniques to solve several issues. Those issues could bring poverty and drought through people. She also claims “the world had 420 gigatons of CO2 left to emit back on Jan. 1st, 2018. Today that figure is already down to less than 350 gigatons.” Thunberg was addressing past events to improve the circumstances that people are suffering and dying with. She even met the President of the United States and encouraged other members to join the action for climate change. Former Vice President Al Gore also stood up to help address the

and waste throughout global industries. The news Public Order Act that includes section 14. She was fighting with the police for abolishing climate change protests. Later, the activist was found guilty by police and court. They had to fine Greta for her actions even though she wanted to help limit the countries’ struggles. She examines a global threat in her community, such as issues with fossil fuels. She was holding Hague climate protests two weeks ago, and she was arrested by Dutch police in the Netherlands. Thunberg was blocking the way while fighting against global warming. Later, she was released. Her actions explain to the audience about certain aspects of Earth. People struggle with electricity and gas. They can’t be able to start an activity without those circumstances in various countries. Other territories are suffering with health conditions and physical activities. Her recognition means more than what people think about her. Even world leaders have negative opinions about Greta Thunberg. Donald Trump trolls her into controlling her anger management. However, she was addressing different areas about the struggle with climate change. She is an important figure in our society.

Greta Thunberg is a climate change activist who left school to establish Fridays for Future movements. She has Aspergers syndrome, in which she is autistic. Greta has worked extremely hard to change the world by avoiding emissions and carbon footprints. She is interested in learning about the causes of global warming and how to limit health issues. She addressed her speech in the United Nations, where world leaders mocked her actions. People are grateful for her, and they continue to improve the planet. Throughout the year, she was apprehended by police officers for breaking the law. She didn’t mean to break the policies, but Thunberg was advocating against climate change. She was also celebrated by various communities for her hard work.

Greta Thunberg

Leadership

AVA DEJESUS: PRESIDENT, EDITOR IN CHIEF, SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR, & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Fun Facts

You can find me Disney bounding on Asynchronous days. During my me, myself and I time I love to crochet projects like hats, purses, and tops

SERENA MORRIS: MANAGING COPY EDITOR

Fun Facts

I am a Jazz Dancer.

ALAUNN WELLS: VICE PRESIDENT + EVENT/FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR

Fun Facts

I love music, my favorite artist is none other than Brent Faiyaz Secondly, in my free time I like to watch shows like The Gilmore Girls or 13 Reasons Why.

KOMAL KHAN: ART EDITOR

Fun Facts

I like to read mystery books Interested in drawing various pictures

EMMA MATSUMOTO: LA

Fun Facts

My hobb piano an I love ca I am goin therapis

FAITH HUSAR: PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER

Fun Facts

I have dyed my hair every color of the rainbow I have 5 pets including my fish

GERARD ANAZIA: WRITER/ARTIST

Fun Facts

I am more conservative

AMIRAHLEE CHEA: WRITER/ARTIST

Fun Facts

I love all forms art, movies, drawings, paintings, etc. I play electric guitar and did karate for 4 years I’m a Writer/Artist

YURI CABBADU: WRITER/ARTIST

Fun Facts

I have an insane sticker collection Loves making little models I love ugly dogs

MR. REYNOLDS: CLUB ADVISOR FOR DV CONNECT LIT

Fun Facts

When Reynolds is not teaching, he rocks drums professionally for the Alt Heavy Rock Band MAL > @malsongs on IG and vocals for the mainstream Pop/Hip Hop group Patio Saturday > @patiosaturday on IG

I have met and hung out with a lot of famous folks, including but not limited to: Former NBA player for the Chicago Bulls, Dennis Rodman, the bassist of the rock band TOOL, Justin Chancellor, and the now deceased original lead singer of the ska/reggae- rock sensation, SUBLIME, Bradley Nowell

MS. DANA AMIHERE: AFROLA + MENTOR FOR DV CONNECT LIT

Fun Facts

I worked at a Starbucks in college, and I didn't drink coffee at the time. (Now, it's a must.)

I love watching Law & Order reruns, to the point I know the dialogue and always know who did it.

As a proud Southerner, it's pee-can, not pehcahn I will fight anyone on this

AboutUs

DV Connect Lit's mission is to showcase and celebrate the creative writing and artwork of our high school students.

Through our e-zine, we aim to provide a platform for students to express themselves, share their stories, and connect with one another. We strive to curate a diverse and inclusive collection of work that reflects the unique perspectives and experiences of our school community.

As a club, we value collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to excellence in all aspects of our work. Our goal is to inspire and empower our students to explore and pursue their artistic passions, both written and beyond the pages of our e-zine.