FEM Newsmagazine: Power

UCLA’S FEMINIST NEWSMAGAZINE

POWER ISSUE FEM 2015 ANNUAL PUBLICATION

SINCE 1973

contents editor’s note pg. 3-4

Fem staff 2015 pg. 5-6

Exploring Identity pg. 7-14

Finding power in activism p. 15-18

Life After codependency pg. 19-24

Healing from abuse pg. 25-28

In Defense of Self-Defense pg. 29-32

don’t deplore the whore pg. 33-38

Staff art page pg. 39-48

Eco over eGo pg. 49-52

Redefining punk pg. 53-60

Wave to the Future of Feminism pg. 61-66

When ‘HerStory’ Lost Her Voice pg. 67-72

The First-Generation Identity Crisis pg. 73-80

To our daughters pg. 81-84

FEM STAFF 2015 Adella Gorgen

Daniela Attia

Ali Brailey

Eidah Hilo

Alma Maldonado

Emily Brennan

Alyssa Plourde

Gauri Ganesh

Anakaren Andrade

Giselle Persak

Angelina Murphy

Grace Haynes

Antoinette Georgy

Hannah Diaz

Bonnie Lam

Haysol Chung

Breanna Khorrami

Ihomira L贸pez-Galindo

Bridget McLaughlin

Iman Hussain

Brittany Hewitt

Izabella Tufenkjian

Camila Gelmini

Jade Bates

Ceejay Lee

Jasmine Don

Cori Bratby-Rudd

Kanyin Ajayi

Dana Yu

Katherene Quiteno

Managing Editor/Staff Writer/Social media

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Editor-in-Chief

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Designer

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Katie Farro

Sara Haas

Katie Myers

Sara Haenny

Kayla Karimi

Sarah Allarakhia

Laura Yau

Sarah Greenwald

Leyla Farzaneh

Shannon Richards

Mary Kate (Katie) Morrow

Shirley Kawafuchi

Merima Tricic

Srijoni Banerjee

Mrinaalika Sivakumar

Syeda Jafari

Noopur Goel

Tanya Chowdhury

Rachael Frank

Tiffany Guo

Rachel Maples

Tina Lawson

Rana Ayazi

Tulika Varma

Rebeca Flores

Vivian Giang

Rebecka Serpa

Yesenia Rodriguez

Sabrina Estrella

Yewande Sanusi

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Art + Design Director

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Editor’s Note I think it is all too fitting that this year’s theme is “Power” because I believe this word encompasses so much of what our magazine sets out to do.

We are powerful. We exude strength and brilliance, dedication and perseverance, beauty and radiance.

Two years ago, I would not have used the above words to describe my affiliations or myself. Not because we weren’t those things, but because we have been taught to think otherwise.

I am powerful. You are powerful.

Exploring Identity— What Does It Mean to Be a Woman?

By: Sabrina Estrella Women have been criticized for their behavior since the time they could formulate thoughts, but what really defines a woman?

If someone Googled “What Does

interchangeable with lady, woman, etc.,

It Mean to Be a Woman,” they’ll find

but nonetheless, it is insulting to alienate

about 507,000,000 results; 507,000,000

girls for not being “girl” enough. If I passed

results encompassing more than the

by anyone on the street and asked their

misconceptions of linking gender with

opinion on what it means to be a woman,

human anatomy and Merriam-Webster’s

I am positive they would look at me as if it

definitions of a woman. If everyone were to

were self-explanatory. Because when the

follow Merriam-Webster’s definitions,

majority of society views gender, they are

I suppose all we need to do to be

looking through a binary lens and only see

a woman is 1) be an adult female person,

man and woman defined by whatever

2) be a woman belonging to a particular

biological parts they are supposed to

category, have 3) distinctively feminine

have, thus associating them with their

nature, be 4) a servant or personal

given stereotypes and gender roles.

attendant, or be 5) wife, mistress,

or girlfriend.

elementary school girl, I would become

a woman during my coming of age.

But being a woman is not as simple

From my understanding as an

as that.

I thought I would be considered a woman

once I started working and tending to

Girls have been told to act and be

“more like a girl,” as if there was a guide

a family of my own. Back then, that like too

explaining how to achieve the female

much to handle and too far in time.

title. Girl in this “suggestion” can be

I immediately rejected the idea. The 8

worries of being a girl were hard enough.

anything about that. People put more

emphasis on being feminine rather than

Adults would tell me to cross my

legs because they said that’s what girls

emphasizing to girls to be themselves. It

are supposed to do and I never really

seemed that our only purpose was to look

understood why. I also

pretty, but I knew girls,

liked playing outside,

ladies, women were

so I had a lot of scrapes and bruises on my legs and arms. I remember

My environment taught me about what being a girl is like

beyond simply just aesthetic. Subsequently, I rejected these ideas.

grown-ups telling me to be more cautious

“You should act more like a lady.”

because I wouldn’t want my legs to look

I heard this as a teen. I felt awkward

ugly. I didn’t know why that mattered—

in my body and wondered if other females

why I had to worry about my body looking

felt the same way. I didn’t feel like I lived

pretty. I still played outside and I still fell

up to being a “lady.” With being a lady

a lot. I wanted to show everyone that

came being that much closer to being

I wasn’t a fragile being and I could handle

a woman. That scared me, but I didn’t

anything I set myself up for.

feel inclined to prove and achieve the

“You should be more like a girl.”

ideals of how a woman should be. I was

I heard this when I was younger.

much more concerned over other things,

When I reached middle school, I felt more

like academics or what I was going to eat

pressure to wear make-up on

for lunch, than validating myself to other

a daily-basis and constantly watch how

people. This has been a mindset I carried

I presented myself. Image became more

with me throughout the years. I didn’t care

important in a sense, so I deviated away

whether people believed I was lady-like.

from the expectations others associated

I knew I was a girl slowly transitioning into

with girls. I strongly disliked wearing skirts,

a woman and I didn’t need people to

dresses, doing anything feminine-like. This

tell me who I should be because of my

is what my environment taught me about

gender. I realized around this time that my

what being a girl is like and I did not like

idea of a woman as an elementary school 9

girl was wrong, and that all girls were

feminist Asian American female. Katie,

different and I— was just different.

a junior transfer studying Gender and

Public Policy, also identifies as a woman.

“I think you should be more like

a woman.”

They both were courteous to share a part

of their past and part of their present

I heard this once in college and this

was probably one of the most insulting

with us.

comments I’ve ever received, especially coming from a guy who could not possibly

Shirley

understand what being a woman entails.

Question 1

Has anyone ever told you to “be more

To get more of an understanding

how others’ opinions affect our identities

like a girl,” to “act more like a lady,” or

as women, I interviewed some other FEM

to behave “more like a woman?” If so,

staff members, Shirley Kawafuchi and Katie

what was your understanding of their

Farro, about their experiences and opinions

implications? Did their opinions influence

on being women. Shirley Kawafuchi, a third

you in any way to change yourself?

year political science undergraduate at

UCLA, identifies as a cisgender, bisexual,

enough to escape those phrases.

Growing up, I think I was lucky

I don’t remember hearing “act more ladylike” from my close friends and family.

Interestingly enough, it is only recently that I was advised to “shave, in case you might offend someone.”

I remember in pre-school I wanted to

be a firefighter, (and still do; albeit a reserve firefighter.) It didn’t occur to me that not many girls were firefighters.

However, I was an avid consumer of all gossip magazines, from People to Us Weekly, to Ok Magazine, and those were 10

full of “how to be feminine,” and how to

you feel like you constantly have to look

act, what to wear, how to style your hair,

your best, present your best face forward,

and so I built my expectations of women

and not cry because crying means you’re

based on this. I wore cheap, dollar-store

weak. The worst thing about being

makeup as soon as I was able to, and

a woman is not feeling safe. I don’t feel

ached to be pretty. So, I definitely realized

safe even when I’m riding in an elevator

that to be a woman, meant being pretty

alone, because I fear someone with bad

first, and smart second.

intentions walking in from another floor.

Question 2

How would you define a woman as?

being a woman is yet, and maybe this

What do you believe being

is because I haven’t fully grown into my

a woman encompasses?

identity as a woman yet.

I don’t know what the best part of

Ooh this is a hard one. This is very

difficult because I believe there is no such

Katie

thing as the “ideal woman,” contrary to

Question 1

what we are led to believe. Women can

When you were growing up, do you

be hurricanes, with force and rage and

remember any particular moment/criticism

lightning and spark and calm in the center,

that governed the way you presented

if we just teach them from the beginning

yourself then on?

to love themselves first and speak their

truth when they’re wronged. I believe

a tomboy so that I wouldn’t be like one of

women are an untapped population

those girlie-girls, but still wanting to be

mainly because of the challenges of

pretty so boys would like me. As I got older

motherhood in the workforce. Being

I continually got messages from my family

a woman encompasses a wide variety

that it was a good idea to put effort into

of things, some good, some bad. The negative part of being a woman is that

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When I was little I wanted to be

looking nice, but not too much. It was all

that were in our small town high school with

pretty confusing.

us. Looking back I see it as rebelling against

Question 2

the expectations of hegemonic femininity

Did you go through a lot of different styles/

that were all around us. Now I also identify

behaviors from elementary to college?

a lot more with the girls that I was trying

(What were the reasons behind this and

to be different from as well, because they

did others’ opinions of you influence these

also get treated badly and mocked. Later

experimental styles?)

in high school I adopted a hyper-feminine

look with lots of dresses and winged

Eighth grade through sophomore

year of high school I went through

eyeliner. It was like a pendulum

a rebellious phase featuring self-cut short

swinging back.

hair (that turned into a mullet somehow?

Question 3

Oops), refusing to shave my legs (which

Looking back, did you ever feel like you

I still don’t do that often but at the time it

were going against or following any of the

was a big change), wearing my brother’s

stereotypes/gender roles of a woman?

tshirts, and generally trying to look indie/

punk/a little butch. It looked pretty hilarious

and changes that I underwent in how

paired with braces and a 14 year old’s

I dressed in high school had to do with

awkwardness. At the time my friends and

the tension I felt between wanting to be

I just saw it as wanting to be different from

attractive and wanting to reject

the victoria’s-secret-sweatsuit-wearing girls

people’s expectations.

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I think that a lot of my awkwardness

Women constantly have to live up

experiments as we were growing up

to what is expected of them.

because we tried to both accept and

Even through this Q&A, I still can’t

reject the ideas that were fed to us, and

find a definite answer on the entirety of

accordingly, we continuously organized

being a woman. Maybe that’s the point.

ourselves based on those ideas.

There are many women who are

But forget those ideas.

gender non-conforming, in which they

There are women who have

do not practice gender roles, such as

children, women who can’t conceive,

shaving, wearing “feminine” clothing, and/

trans women, cis-women, feminine

or attempting to do their hair and make-

women and masculine women, all sorts

up on a regular basis.

Though they do not fall into stereotypes, this does not make them any less of

of women and we are

It’s important to realize that a guide on how to be a woman doesn’t exist

a woman than

all so different from each other. Behavior, periods, childbirth, marriage and owning a vagina do not define

another woman who does all of

a woman. A woman does not need others’

the above.

opinions, man’s opinion and definitions to

understand herself. It is in our experiences,

It’s important to realize that a guide

on how to be a woman doesn’t exist. There

our culture, strength and soul where we

are no specific rules to “be more like

find our understanding.

a woman.” Not only are these statements

offensive, they are marginalizing and can

I have met, including the amazing women

be harmful to our personal character. If we

on FEM staff, and those who I hope to

identify as women, are we not women?

meet, who show me being a woman is

People shouldn’t tell us how we should

much greater than what humanity limits us

behave as women. We are aware of

to be.

our behavior.

There is a grand spectrum of women

If anything at all, I learned that a woman

We all went through phases and

is powerful and she defines herself.

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Finding Power in Activism By: Shannon Richards We understand that finding a group passionate about changing perceptions can provide support. This article will cover the steps that have to be taken in order to form your own activist group in your area!

So you want to start an activist group! There

group will focus on. If your idea is similar to an

is great emotional and physical power in finding

already established group, reach out to them! They

a group of people that are passionate about the

may be able to help you create your idea in a way

same things you are and want to work to change

that will make both groups succeed on

the world. In order to make your group successful

a larger scale.

STEP 2

in a school setting or outside of one, I’ve created a guide to help smooth out a process that can

sometimes be difficult. This is in no way a perfect

set up a student group, talk to your school to see

guide, and should be edited to fit your area

where you can put up flyers advertising your idea.

and needs.

It is also helpful to talk to departments in college

STEP 1

Find like-minded people. If your goal is to

because they can send out emails to people on

Figure out what you are truly passionate

their lists. If you are not at school, look into your

about. Do you want to focus on changing women’s

city’s laws on posting flyers on light poles and talk to

involvement in politics or education? How about

local businesses that have community boards.

STEP 3

focusing your power on bringing attention to struggling groups that are ignored by mainstream

Getting approval from your school.

media? You could even do something similar to

Unfortunately, even if you have a group of people

FEM: a group of people who write about feminist

together, it can be difficult to officially start the club

issues in order to bring attention to them. It’s

depending on your school. It is important to make

important to find one (or more!) things that your

sure your club is a registered part of your school.

16

This allows you more assistance if needed and

and do not be afraid to send a reminder email after

will allow you to even advertise your presence in

a few weeks has passed. FEM is always here to help

places like the yearbook. High schools are more

and we will try to respond as quickly as possible.

lenient with the formation of student groups; usually

you just need a teacher with an empty classroom

very important to understand triggers and how

to sign the school’s paperwork. College can take

people can be affected by the different topics of

a lot more work, so it may be a month or so before

conversation. At the beginning of each meeting,

you can officially begin your journey.

it is a great idea to let people know what type of

step 4

Remember to create safe spaces. It is

triggering topics may be discussed (ex: rape/rape culture, abuse, etc). Safe spaces also extend to

Create a plan. Every week, or however

often you choose to meet, there should always be

gender and sexuality. While it is very easy to slip into

a list of things to talk about. If you are producing

cissexist points of view, you must remember that

content for a newspaper, zine, or online source,

the individuals you are working with may not fit into

these meetings are a great place for people to

the gender binary. For help on this topic, check out

talk to each other about their ideas and ask for

these great resources: [1] and [2]. Safe spaces also

help. Discuss cohesiveness and set a deadline for

extend to race, class, and sexuality. Intersectionality

articles or art if you creating work during meetings.

is a great way to look at how our world operates

For all meetings, the leaders of the group should

and negatively affects some more than others.

step 5

understand (to the best of their abilities) the topics covered, which requires some research.

Fortunately, there are lots of online resources and

Now that you have your group and have decided

activists to talk to when it concerns feminism and

on what your focus is, it is time to organize your first

activism. There are plenty of tumblr blogs about

event! Advertising in your area is important to make

feminism with links to research and personal

sure that your group succeeds even after you move

narratives, along with TED Talks and other youtube

on. Create flyers with your group’s information and

videos that will inform and entertain your entire

logo on it and post these at the locations you found

group! Just be aware that many people are busy,

your members at.

especially if activism is not their only job, so replies

may take days to weeks to receive so be patient

resources for survivors of assault, information on

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Organize an event. Here is the fun part!

At these events, you can have flyers with

a particular topic (ex: LGBT communities and

popular, especially if you are talking about sensitive

biphobia, sexual assaults and undocumented

subjects. Check out 7000 in Solidarity’s campaigns

students, etc.). Signs and posters also bring

that have been reposted on sites like Buzzfeed.

attention to your booth, especially if they are

These photo series can include members of your

colorful and attractive to the eye. Great places to

group and volunteers. Photo campaigns are the

find printing include Staples, VistaPrint, and small

easiest to do because you do not need to have

local stores.

vast knowledge or skills with art or design. If you do

have designers that want to start a visual art series,

Remember, hosting these events may

involve strangers coming up and talking to your

these go over well on sites like Instagram

members about their own personal struggles.

and Twitter.

step 6

Therefore it is important to focus on your own mental health, so if a conversation is making you

feel uncomfortable or triggered, hand the person a

be stressful, so make sure you can step back every

resource flyer with the numbers of people they can

once and a while to appreciate what you have

talk to or have a counselor talk to them. If possible,

accomplished! Even if group cannot organize huge

you can also see if your school or a local health

events or print advertisements, you still have found

center has a representative that would be willing to

people that have the same passionate outlook

sit with you to offer support to anyone who needs it.

on life that you do. Love yourself, love others, and

continue to change the world!

Social media campaigns are extremely

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Have fun! Setting up an organization can

Life After Codependence By: Mary Kate (Katie) Morrow My healing process from an emotionally abusive relationship, gradually converting my feelings of powerlessness to empowerment as I move forward.

Not a day goes by that I don’t

sneak to the restroom and call him or find

think about the man who emotionally

a way to contact him. Every day

abused me. I have never been known

was and still is a struggle. I have

for making wise romantic choices, but

never felt so addicted, nor felt such

in this relationship the signs were clear

powerful withdrawals.

to everyone but me: his overwhelming

jealousy, guilt-inducing comments, and

concerns, it was not noticeable until my

purposeful isolation from my family and

friends Sammie and Amber confronted

friends. Even while writing this, I feel

me. Amber, a radically amazing feminist

overwhelmingly unsure of my own voice,

whom I had known almost a decade,

even though I haven’t spoken with him in

and Sammie, the most compassionate

well over a year. This is the power I seek to

bookworm and fashionista I’ve ever met.

regain every day, the power he still holds

Both women always lent me a place

over me.

to stay and a shoulder to cry on. These

women who had seen me at my lowest

Every few weeks throughout our

After many people expressed their

relationship, I would feel empowered

lows- ladies that would gladly have me

enough to break free. On my request, my

over the night after a regretful hookup with

friends would confiscate my phone, and

no slut-shaming comments or come pick

spend 24-hour blocks of time with me.

me up at a moment’s notice without an

When they would drift off to sleep, I would

explanation- suddenly refused to talk 20

to me.

details of our lives unfolded and we

I use the word “suddenly,” even though

constantly considered the prospects of

I didn’t realize at the time how gradually

our future together. I had never felt so

and subtly they had been trying to help

close and vulnerable with anyone, never

me see the seriousness of my situation. How

felt so raw. I craved security, I craved

many hours they listened to me rant about

consuming devotion, and overall I craved

his treatment towards me? How many

an unrealistic “true love.”

nights they laid beside me? Instead of analyzing their

Couldn’t see the blatant abuse in my own life

The fantasy and idealization I had made him into did not resemble

thoughtful concerns, I felt an overwhelming

him at all, and everyone in my life could

sense of betrayal.

see that but me. I watched good, close

I assumed they were bad friends who

friends get distant whilst toxic people filled

didn’t “understand” the love I found.

up my life.

I assumed they didn’t want me to be

I looked to him

happy, that they were “jealous,” without

for answers,

realizing these were all critiques he was

which only

whispering in my ear. He had made them

made

feel uncomfortable and unsafe enough

everything

that they couldn’t watch me be with him

worse. The

any longer.

most terrible

thing in my

I was interning for a feminist

newsmagazine at the time, writing

experience

about the social ills that plague human

with abusive

relationships, yet I couldn’t see the blatant

relationships

abuse in my own life. All that time, I felt

has been that,

I was in the ideal relationship. We could

no matter

ask each other anything, the most intimate

how much

21

you lose in the process, he is the only

debilitating panic attacks in

thing that matters. Every relationship I had

his bedroom.

before and after never held that same

desperation. Perhaps this is why even now,

with PTSD and Generalized Anxiety for

I will still sometimes catch myself dwelling

a plethora of proposed causes. Mental

my past relationship. Although I now realize

health professionals are quick to assume

the costs of this illusion,

these originate solely from the sudden

I cannot help but be influenced by it. But neither can I ignore the physical sickness

Today, I am still in therapy,diagnosed

No matter how much you lose in the process, he is the only thing that matters

death of my mother and both grandparents a year prior to my

our relationship induced and the cycle

diagnosis. However, I cannot assume this

of depression and anxiety that occurred

intense emotional onset had nothing to

with every

do with him. Not even a month into our

interaction

relationship, I began becoming physically

between us.

sick. He would feed upon this, encouraging

His outrageous

me to stay in the house with him.

mood swings,

horrible temper,

I generally believed at the time, but now

and degrading

I cannot help but feel it might have been

comments

a way to control my actions. He loved to

broke my spirit.

be my caretaker, so much so that he only

I spent my

watched me get worse.

days leaning

over his toilet

experienced intense emotional abuse

vomiting while

in relationships understand the guilt and

he watched,

misunderstandings produced by the toxic

and having

relationship. I am no exception.

22

Perhaps this was all out of love, as

Many people who have

I feel that it informs and guides my

kept the relationship going whenever I felt

healing process that I am now able to

there was a strain between us. Overall,

understand I was not a passive agent in

we constructed a codependent and

that relationship.I sought him out.

unhealthy relationship together.

I pursued the relationship. I did not resist

contact. I prioritized our relationship over my friendships. I would call

To this day, he has respected my

I feel myself slowly healing everyday

request that we do not have any contact with one another. I am grateful

or respond to his texts repeatedly. The

for that, as I hope he is as well.

most powerful but destabilizing thing I did

I do not believe he is a purely evil individual

was I learned to echo and internalize his

without feelings, but our relationship was

unhealthy behavior. At times, I feel I even

one that emotionally scarred me. It is

23

a struggle to talk about but one of the

inside my head. My personal journey,

feelings that kept me in the relationship

guided by friends and family, has led me

was my loneliness and fear to reach out.

to a place where my ex is not absent but

I felt no one in my life could understand

where I can finally see him for what he

how I felt about my ex, and sometimes it

was. Now I look to my close friends and,

takes an outsider’s perspective to see what

most importantly, myself. Throughout this

your relationship has become. I hope I can

process, I have lost myself. I have been

be that for someone and this is why I am

broken down and become emotionally

writing. If one person reads this and sees

defeated, but I am reborn. I have been

the signs in their own relationship then this

given the chance to start over, one people

was not in vain.

seldom have, and every day that I stay

away from him helps me grow into the

Today, I am in a new relationship

and have been for over a year with

healthy and happy person I seek to be.

a supportive, trustworthy and amazing

partner. He has listened to me throughout my healing process and shown me compassion and patience that I have never known before.

I cannot deny that I find myself constantly comparing my current relationship to my abusive relationship no matter how logically I try not to. As I attempt to sustain a new love through all the emotional scars that are still so fresh from my ex, I feel myself slowly healing every day.

I have found hope, not just through my current healthy relationship, but through the hell I have been through 24

Healing From Abuse By: Yesenia Rodriguez and Katelyn Farro Statistics and personal reflections on healing from physical and psychological abuse from relationships..

Many may not be aware, but

live with a mental illness have experienced

psychological abuse is a form of domestic

trauma such as domestic abuse.

violence. The World Health Organization

If you find it hard to trust others,

defines domestic violence as “any

remember to trust yourself. If you feel that

behavior within an intimate relationship

you see signs of emotional and/or physical

that causes physical, psychological or

abuse, you’re probably right. Signs of an

sexual harm.” Most cases of domestic

abusive relationship include possessiveness,

violence, whether they be verbal abuse

jealousy, put-downs, blame, and threats.

or physical abuse, are not reported.

ReachOut shares:

This can mean that women and men

who experience emotional or physical

is hard to do, but it can be particularly

abuse from their partner do not feel it

difficult to leave a violent relationship.

necessary to report the incident and seek

When you’re frightened and your self-

help. Victims can be discouraged due

esteem is low, it can be hard to find the

to emotional trauma and also because

strength to leave or break-up. Sometimes

psychological abuse is not usually

it’s easier to hope that things will change

discussed in popular discourse. However,

for the better, but too often they don’t.”

abusive relationships can cause distress;

they can take an emotional and physical

understand that what’s been happening

toll on a victim’s psyche and can lead to

to you is wrong. Even if your boyfriend or

other mental disorders such as PTSD and

girlfriend says they care about you, it’s not

depression. More than 50% of women who

OK to be treated like this.

26

“Ending any kind of relationship

The first step in changing things is to

Healing from an abusive situation is ongoing. Starting it can feel overwhelming. You’re left with a huge lump of twisted emotions that flare up out of nowhere or lay flat for weeks on end. No one has taught you the skills to deal with the enormous mess. You only look at it out of the corner of your eye.

Maybe, some days, you even let it’s heavy presence sit next to you on your couch. To be secretly recovering is to feel invisible. You walk in the world and you

walk home, you hear jokes about it. Even

hear people discussing your experiences in

while you struggle with the emotional toll of

the abstract. Coercion, abuse, and assault

the abuse, as well as the dehumanization

are all statistics for analysis and topics

around you, there is immense pressure

for debate. In class, you hear your peers

to keep it together. Even your gag reflex

minimize and misunderstand it as they

keeps your rage down. There is immense

make excuses for famous abusers. On your

social pressure to stay quiet about your

27

experiences. You don’t want to make

Yes, yes, yes. Opening yourself up to

other people uncomfortable or

all of your emotions will radically

seem “crazy.” It seems as if there is

change you. Giving yourself the

no positive outcome to voluntarily

space to be upset, as terrifying

experiencing the stigma of being

as that is, begins the healing

known as someone who has

process. Let it transform your

been abused.

relations to others in your life. Let

What if you embodied your

it motivate your self-care. Let it

pain, felt it, and let some others

lead you to seek help in learning

feel it too? What would that

how to heal. You are not alone.

truth change? The way you

There are resources available

conceptualize yourself? Your

to help cope with the healing

relationship to the perpetrator?

process. You do not have to live

The way your friends, classmates,

in fear.

coworkers, and family members see you?

28

In Defense of Self Defense By: Cori Bratby-Rudd It is possible to advocate for political nonviolence while also using self defense as a technique to save yourself.

The first man I punched would not

“When violence is tolerated even as

stop when I said no. I remember feeling

a means of self-defense there is a grave

proud; I acted in a moment where

danger.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

everything I had learned told me to

be silent.

myself and also when I did not.

The second man I hit, once again,

I began to feel guilty when I saved

I’m concerned because when

touched me without my permission. Some

I walk at night, I carry not only a vagina but

of my friends cheered for my strength, but

also pepper spray. I’m trapped between

others questioned it. I couldn’t seem to sort

worrying for my safety and also worrying for

out who to side with.

the person I have had to become in order

to survive. The truth is, I do not know how to

By day I preached nonviolence,

a political strategy and theory which

respond when language can no longer be

suggests that harming others is not

my weapon. How do I fight violence when

necessary to create change, and by night

it is not theoretical or off in the distance,

I defended myself. Quotes by some of my

but when war is right in front of me? What

favorite thinkers and activists began to

happens when someone runs at me,

haunt me.

armed with cruel intentions? Do

I contradict myself by saving myself? Are

“Until we stop harming all others as

human beings, we are still savages.”

the oppressed violating their desire for

- Thomas Edison

peace by responding with violence? Or is

violence necessary in certain situations?

“Nonviolence is the weapon of the

strong.” -Mohandas Gandhi

30

I do not want to hurt anyone. I only

want the right to live.

There is a difference between supporting

nonviolent movements and advocating

I’m concerned because violence

plus violence could never equal peace.

for the right to self defense. It is the

However, my pepper spray is the closest thing to peace that I will ever have. The

difference between

I began to feel guilty when I saved myself and also when I did not

only thing I know for

power dynamics. It is the difference between a group and an individual. It is the

sure is that the ones who

difference between changing

I did not harm haunt me

our world and surviving in it.

more than a quote

ever could.

response to assault is not as

harmful as my attackers’

So I have to disagree

I want to feel like my

with some of those whose

actions. I know that this type

opinions I both admire

of defense is not a tangible

and respect. I think that

way to create change.

it absolutely matters who

Most of my friends who work

threw the first punch. It is

to combat rape culture

the difference between

are against discussions on

defense and attack. It is the

self defense because it

difference between disarm

does nothing to protect

and harm.

a community, only an

individual. Advocating for self

I do not advocate

hurting others. I simply think

defense is like saying I want

that asking for people to be

them to attack someone

completely complacent in

else. The dialogue on self

their responses to harm is

defense and its relation to

different than asking those

sexual assault has operated

in power to stop harming.

to both shame and blame the 31

person who was not guilty of a crime. I do

I believe in language and changing minds

not mean to support the narrative that self

with logic, but if I have to, I will also use my

defense is the way to combat rape.

body as a weapon.

I am merely arguing that self defense can

be an individualistic tool used to help

not respond in the same way I sometimes

people like me feel in control again.

have. In fact, my main point is that, no

matter the response, the violence itself is

I want to motivate people to pay

I am not critiquing those who do

attention violence against women and

the outrage–not the way the we chose to

sexual assault with my voice, but in the

respond to it.

past, the way I have had to motivate people to change was with my fists.

32

Don’t Deplore the Whore By: Camila Gelmini and Hannah Diaz Prostitution is illegal in most of the U.S. however decriminalization would improve the lives of sex workers, other marginalized groups, and the rest of society.

Throughout most of history, society

interchangeably, it’s not actually accurate

has looked down upon prostitution,

to equate the two. Although prostitutes

believing the job sullied and degraded

can be sex trafficked, there are immense

workers. But in fact, sex work can be highly

numbers of prostitutes, both men, women,

empowering. Although some prostitutes

and otherwise identifying individuals that

recount their experiences as being overall

aren’t sex trafficked. In fact, many of them

negative, the job itself isn’t inherently

are consenting individuals that voluntarily

demeaning. Some disagree and have

chose to participate free of coercion.

kept prostitution illegal with the arguments

A good example would be the difference

that it’s degrading to women (wrongly

between a voluntary paid farm worker

assuming all sex workers are women) even

as opposed to a slave on a plantation.

if they believe otherwise. This argument is

This lack of distinction between the two

deeply flawed because it is based on the

situations takes personal choice away from

sexist assumption that women don’t like

sex workers.

sex unless it’s with a romantic partner, and

serves mostly to keep women from making

work, or are at least satisfied with their

money as independent contractors in one

career choice for a variety of reasons. In

of the only jobs where women can use

my own experiences as an exotic dancer,

their gender to their economic advantage.

I met a few women who had positive

experiences selling more than just lap

While many people use the terms

“human trafficking” and “prostitution”

Many people that sell sex enjoy their

dances. One that stuck out to me, Gitsie*, 34

did porn, pole dancing, and had sex for

conventional jobs and that she doesn’t

money. It was frowned upon in our club

appreciate backhanded compliments

to be a prostitute, but I found out that she

calling her intelligent and then on that

would charge men $1,000 for sex in the

basis questioning why she has to be a sex

VIP room and only had to give $300 of it to

worker. Having dabbled in sex work myself,

management. She loved being

I never engaged in intercourse but I did sell

a sex worker, loved sex, and she felt good

sexual services in a variety of other ways.

about how much she got paid for it.

I can say without any doubt that being

I was happy to know Gitsie as a coworker

a sex worker was one of the most

because she was always articulate, and her self-respect and pride in her job was contagious.

empowering jobs I’ve

She loved being a sex worker, loved sex, and she felt good about how much she got paid for it

Unfortunately most

ever had because I was allowed to build my own schedule, name my price for services,

people’s stories aren’t like Gitsie’s because

meet interesting and sometimes lovely

sex workers usually end up giving a large

people, and never had to do anything

portion, sometimes even more than half,

I didn’t want to do. The idea that sex

of their earnings to management and

work is always degrading to women is

third parties. This power dynamic is only

so backwards because, unless consent

exacerbated when someone is doing

is absent, it is usually quite the opposite.

a type of sex work that is illegal, because

There have been a lot of bored and lonely

the third party usually protects them from

men whose nights I have made better and

law enforcement.

feel no regret or shame for it.

Another good example of

Opponents of decriminalizing sex

empowerment through sex work is

work claim that if prostitution were legal it

“TheHappyhooker83” on YouTube. In

would allow human trafficking to flourish,

her video “I Like Being A Prostitute”

unregulated and undetected. Actually,

she says that she doesn’t like working

making prostitution illegal makes people 35

the profession voluntarily may even turn to third parties, such as abusive pimps, to seek out protection from law enforcement. Law enforcement in turn, is often abusive to sex workers, because often instead of arresting them, officers might rape them since prostitutes can’t denounce cops because the prostitutes themselves are committing a “crime.”

The illegality of sex work also

disproportionately affects women generally, but women of color and trans women especially. When cops arrest hookers on the street it has a lot to do with profiling and who “looks like a prostitute” to them. Male prostitutes might that are being trafficked afraid to come

be glossed over because no one sees

to law enforcement or other people that

them as tempting mistresses of the night.

can assist them escape sexual slavery.

White women are less likely to be profiled

Prosecuting prostitutes for selling their

because racist assumptions dictate that

services in the open (e.g., on their own

white women are pure, and women of

website, on street corners in designated

color are welfare queens addicted to

areas, advertised establishments) also

drugs desperate to make a buck. There

makes their work even more dangerous

have also been many cases of trans

by forcing them into riskier situations to

women being arrested for not even

maintain anonymity. They end up in

engaging in sex work but being profiled as

peripheral neighborhoods where if they

a prostitute for simply walking outside.

are harassed or assaulted there is no one

there to help them. Prostitutes that entered

and sometimes even stamps of “sex 36

The legal records, prison sentences,

offender” on their IDs serve to keep these

work seemingly unpopular? The truth is that

women that are already marginalized

it really isn’t that unpopular. In fact, 38% of

by society and employers, completely

respondents said that prostitution should

unemployable in the “normal” job sector.

be legal in a YouGov poll in America. While

Soon thereafter they may be forced to go

the majority (48%) said that prostitution

back to sex work whether they want to

should remain illegal and 13% were unsure,

or not, since they can’t find another job,

the fact that so many people are open

and the next time they get arrested, the

to the idea of legalization with little to

legalpenalties will be increased.

no mainstream media attention on the

subject is encouraging. One of the main

And if the benefits that the sex

worker would receive

problems advocates

from the legalization

for the legalization for

of prostitution are not enough to sway opinions, then what

These women are already marginalized by society and employers

about the benefits

sex work in the future will have, though, is that those that believe prostitution

to society as a whole? Thanks to Rhode

should remain illegal are firmly entrenched

Island inadvertently making prostitution

in their opinions at this point (31%), while

legal, we have evidence that backs up the

only 12% believe that prostitution should

claim that prostitution actually can help

definitely be legalized.

the public. For example, after Rhode Island

introduced a legal loophole for indoor

the most negatively affected by the

prostitution, cases of gonorrhea and rape

criminalization of sex work, also make up

plunged. Another study drew on similar

the majority of opponents to legalization

data from Vancouver and found that the

(77% for women; 40% for men). Many

legalization of sex work greatly decreases

innocent women, such as registered nurse

the number of HIV occurrences in women,

Yvonne Dotson, are arrested for prostitution

and therefore helps stop the spread.

merely because of an officer’s suspicion.

When they are brought in, they are

So why is the idea of legalizing sex 37

Unfortunately, women, who are

subjected to harsh and demeaning

between customers. Rape is just as much

treatment that can cause anxiety and

a violation of bodily autonomy for sex

PTSD. This brings us to another question

workers as it is foranyone else.

regarding the ethics of the criminalization

of prostitution: not only are women who

needs to be done. The answer lies not in

are uninvolved in sex work get caught in

simply legalizing prostitution but in forming

the crossfire, but the fact that these arrests

appropriate regulations and working to

can cause this level of psychological

remove the stigma attached to sex work

damage on recipients makes one wonder

and sex workers. Legalizing prostitution

about how we’re treating those “guilty”

makes the world a more tolerant place,

of prostitution. We can’t claim to be

with more sexual outlets for people of

protecting sex workers while subjugating

different needs, and more economic

them to this treatment. We can, however,

outlets and less jail time for

find better ways to improve the lives of sex

marginalized groups.

workers and the well-being of society by 1) erasing the stigma attached to sex work and 2) legalizing sex work.

Like any other kind of industry, if

prostitution were legalized it would have to be regulated to a degree. Measures should be put into place to limit the power of third parties taking sex workers’ money, like pimps, and laws should be put into place that protect prostitutes from harassment and assault while on the job.

Rape is not taken seriously when done to a sex worker because the popular notion is that she must have wanted it, or it was her fault, or sex workers don’t differentiate 38

Overall, there is a lot of work that still

Staff Art

Hair History: Noopur Goel Human Hair pressed on Paper, Acrylic Paint

Exploring the relationship of hair and identity and it’s reflection of culture, gender, and personal values.

dry Your hands have scars They prickle and bite They think you tear until you’re white But No. Your skin is so beautiful and bright With power that can win a fight You can pierce anyone not worth your time You have gone through so much And can see through those who Call themselves right I’m proud of you sis, You are my light.

- noopur goel

Identity to Altar Series: Katherene Quiteno Manipulated Photography, Photoshop

Photo Series: Laura Yau Manipulated Photography

Apoptosis: Sara Haas Cinema 4D

Eco Over Ego By: Kayla Karimi Oppression begets oppression. In order to stop this cycle, we need to stop the oppression of all beings, including the environment, which affects all of our lives.

When you think about the cycle

individuals across the world. The average

of oppression, you typically think about

use of resources worldwide necessitates 1.5

the roots of stereotypes and prejudice,

earths, while the typical American lifestyle

creating discrimination and even

takes about 3 to 5 earths to sustain.

systematic oppression.

and the results are catastrophic for many

There are those with white privilege,

These are astronomical numbers,

especially heterosexual white men, who

plants and animals. Due to these facts,

are typically at the top of our society,

most people do not necessarily know or

being born with certain benefits. In this

are concerned with their aftermath since it

unequal world, people of different races,

does not affect them, i.e. people, directly.

genders, and sexualities face unfair

discrimination and obstacles in society.

or realize is that this oppression of the

And most importantly, almost all people

environment does in fact circle back and

contribute to the oppression of

hurt our own livelihoods. The environment

the environment.

is affecting millions of people across the

world, devastating people’s resources

Entire ecologies have been

However, what many do not know

destroyed, species have been wiped

of food, water, and shelter. And it comes

clean, and the world’s climate has been

as no surprise that those more deeply

forever altered by the quantitative acts of

affected by environmental degradation

50

are women.

women face the burdens of many

pollutants every day, first hand.

How this happens is simple,

especially in terms of our world’s oppressive

cycle. The richest countries take more

of poverty and gender that women

resources than their population warrants,

are made the largest victims of this

and then dispose of their waste unto

environmental oppression.

poorer areas or countries who do not have

enough power to argue otherwise.

of women and the oppression of the

environment are inexplicably linked

For example, there is a giant island

It is through this intersection

This argument that the oppression

of plastic in debris in the Pacific Ocean, known as the Pacific Gyre,

is known as

Women are made the largest victims of this environmental oppression

that is twice the

ecofeminism.

From this, we

can see how not only is the oppression of

size of Texas. This little known ecological

women and nature linked, but also that

devastation has affected many of the

all oppressions are linked, that oppression

poorest people, creating many health

begets oppression. We live in a world

problems as they eat fish littered with

in which there are different statuses of

plastic particles.

privilege, created by race, class, gender,

etc. Therefore, in this system, it is almost

Therefore, the poorest people bear

the brunt of this environmental crisis, and

inherent that people will oppress those

women so happen to make up 70% of the

“below” them.

world’s poor population.

levels of domestic violence are much

In addition, historically, women

For example, in areas of poverty,

have been known to be the delegated

higher. Statistically, people of these areas

gatherers of fuel, shelter, and food.

are of black or Latino/a descent, meaning

This gender role still remains in many

they do not have race privilege or class

underdeveloped countries, and thus

privilege due to their poverty. Therefore,

51

society and world.

We are all earthlings, and we must

all take from the earth. However, as it is our home, we cannot take more than our share. We cannot use our status as a rich or powerful individual - or even country - to take more, because when we do, we are essentially taking what is not ours. We cannot take healthy food and safe shelter from someone, who is invisible to us.

Because they are very real; they are the underdeveloped, they are the they cling to their male privilege by

impoverished, and they are women,

asserting their dominance and oppressing

and their oppression cannot be ignored

the women in their lives, most often

any longer.

through domestic abuse.

It is this kind of cycle of oppression

that prevents justice and creates this unequal, unsettled world.

Therefore, it is necessary for all types

of oppressions to end for true justice and equality to exist. This is a very vague and broad goal, that, of course, includes many complex issues of society and law.

However, I believe that this issue can sprout from a very simple level. I believe that finding ecological equality will be a stepping stone towards a more equal

52

Redefining Punk By: Daniela Attia Punk is a destination for acceptance and inclusivity, but has it remained true to those ethos?

The punk world was designated as

Ramones and Sex Pistols.

a haven for those who didn’t exactly fit

One woman who lead the punk

into the mainstream- the outcasts, free

scene came out of 1970’s New York. Patti

thinkers, and nonconformists.

Smith was a well-known poet,

Although the ethos of punk

musician, and performance

were never clear cut and

artist among her peers. She

drawn out, it is safe to say that

eventually blended all of these

punk was created as a forum

elements into her music and

to call out the bullshit that

formed a band that played

was widespread in society.

rough and aggressive tempos

To be punk meant to think for

that backed her defiant and

yourself. To be punk meant to

outspoken lyrics. In one of her

question authority. To be punk

earliest released songs, “Piss

meant taking a stand against

Factory,” she spoke out against

societal oppression.

the blue-collar work sphere

The punk movement was ignited

singing,

largely by “women, people of color, and

“Sixteen and time to pay off / I get this

gays.” Yet this notion is still overlooked

job in a piss factory inspecting pipe/ Forty

today and is instead accredited to bands

hours, thirty-six dollars a week / But it’s a

made up of white males like The

paycheck, Jack” 54

Her poignant lyrics were a form of

and their race, it became simply too

social commentary, which then became

difficult to gain the help of any record

the defining characteristic of punk music.

labels and consequently a large fandom

Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore writes, “The

never developed. Thus, Death became

strongest and most original force in the

overlooked and widely forgotten within the

music’s history had been a woman. And

punk sphere even though they were one of

this fact alone exacted upon the (punk)

the firsts to create a sound that soon after

culture a situation in which women were

became identifiable to the punk masses.

empowered and encouraged.”

Up until their recent documentary release, the allblack band Death was rarely recognized as another pioneer of punk culture. In

LGBT musicians were also influential

to the contribution of creating the punk

The punk movement was ignited largely by ‘women, people of color, and gays,’ yet today this notion is still overlooked

genre. Out.com points out, “There was a gay element to early punk, such as the Los Angeles group The Germs

the 1970’s, three brothers formed a band

-- whose singer was the closeted Darby

that defied their time by playing music

Crash—as well as Seattle transplants The

that was influenced by arena rock bands

Screamers, The Apostles in the U.K., and,

like The Who, but also expressed a raw

in Texas, The Dicks.” Each of these bands

intensity that was unlike any other band in

had members who identified as LGBT while

their time. Chris Barsanti explains, “Scrappy,

some only did so in their personal lives;

snarly, epic in scope, and burnt with

their place in the early punk scene helped

intensity, Death sounded like nothing else

define what punk remains as today.

on the planet in 1973 and ‘74.”

The documentary “A Band Called

Because many contend to hold

white males as the initiators of punk

Death” points out that because Death

music, the scene has been widely

were faced with a number of barriers,

dominated by the white, middle class,

such as the unfamiliar sound of their music

heteronormative male bands, ultimately 55

making this community an overwhelmingly

your face. / I don’t care if you’re dead.”

non-inclusive “boys club.” In Girls Make

Media, author Mary Celeste Kearney

of male dominance in punk lyrics, it

explains, “Although punk’s patriarchy was

bled through to other practices of the

demonstrated in the male domination of

scene. Moshing was birthed out of punk

virtually all its forms of cultural production,

shows where individuals at the pit of the

sexism and misogyny were perhaps most

audience would violently slam-dance into

evident in male musicians’ song lyrics and

one another where anything from pushing,

delegitimization of female performers.”

shoving, or getting punched is likely to

occur. However, it is necessary to note

For instance, the cult-followed 1970s

Although this is a singular example

band Fear sings in “Fresh Flesh”:

that it is not intended to be an expression

of violence, but rather a positive reaction

“I wanna fuck you to death. /

I wanna smell your breath. / Piss on your

to the music being played by the bands.

warm embrace. / I just wanna come in

Although some would argue that in most

56

instances, women were never verbally

the Pacific Northwest, like Bratmobile

excluded from the practice, it is still

and Heavens, came together to address

representative of how this is a gendered

these issues with the formation of the

practice that excludes those who are not

Riot Grrrl movement. Bikini Kill’s Kathleen

at the same physical level of defending

Hanna still remains as the face of this punk

themselves against other young men. Thus,

feminist movement because she was and

women are being prevented from being at

continues to be one of the most vocal

the front of shows, keeping a hierarchical

individuals about the prominence of sexism

barrier between genders within punk.

in the punk sphere.

In the 1990’s, women had become

Through political activism, meetings,

collectively fed up with these non-inclusive

zine creations, and shows, Riot Grrrl

dynamics that had become widespread

promoted for young women “to be

in the punk community. Bands made up

sexually free and simultaneously open

of predominantly female members from

about harassment and sexual assault, that

57

encouraged them in pursuits traditionally

of the punk sphere that are not entirely

thought of as male, like dancing in the

inclusive of all individuals due to the

mosh pit or thrashing on guitar, without

overwhelming white presence within

having to give up their spirited girly-ness.”

the community. With that, a number of

movements have sprouted from punk

Although the Riot Grrrl movement

is still hailed as a savior for women in

and continue to emerge worldwide.

punk, it is also largely criticized about

not being entirely inclusive of WOC. Riot

the most well known in recent years. In

Grrrl addressed sexism on a public scale;

2003, AFROPUNK: The Movie highlighted

however, they rarely ever spoke out

African Americans’ experiences within the

against the particular challenges unique

current-day punk world and addressed

to WOC in the punk scene. For instance, in “Why I Was Never a Riot Grrrl,” Laina

Afropunk has become one of

The scene has been widely dominated by the white, middle class, heteronormative male

issues that were unique to their intersection of racial and punk identities. Specifically,

Dawes writes, “I realized why I had never

the Afropunk media channel describes the

been that psyched on the Riot Grrrl scene.

movement as “an influential community

It wasn’t for me. It was for white women.”

of young, gifted people of all backgrounds

She additionally notes, “I also remembered

who speak through music, art, film,

being more fearful of being assaulted

comedy, fashion and more… Remaining

because I was black than because I was

at the core of its mission are the punk

a young woman. I would have almost

principles of DIY aesthetics, radical thought

begged to be seen as a woman back

and social non-conformity.”

then, but my ethnicity trumped my

gender.” Riot Grrrl predominantly catered

setbacks, there is hope that it continues

to the middle-class white young females so

to become a more inclusive space for all

it was not as revolutionary a concept as it

genders, races, and sexualities because of

has often been contended.

punk’s underlying mission for individuality

and nonconformity. Today, there are an

There undoubtedly are elements 58

While punk has had both strides and

abundance of individuals leading the punk world that are not representative of the white male punk trope. Pussy Riot’s Meredith Graves, White Lung’s Mish Way, and the Crutchfield sisters are all especially vocal about their individual experiences as women in the punk scene. Laura Jane Grace remains especially vocal about her experience as a transgender woman in punk in which she was especially candid within her recent AOL show “True Trans.”

It is necessary to remember that

punk is not a hetero-white patriarchal movement, but because we live a society that promotes those ideals, punk is not immune to the societal pressures and has tended to reflect those standards, just like any other movement has arguably done so. Punk is supposed to be a movement that calls out non-inclusive ideals, so we should work towards supporting musicians, artists, and poets who are embodying the ethos of punk in some form or another.

59

Wave to the Future of Feminism By: Tina Lawson and Brittany Hewitt From the Biblical Eve to the less-than-Biblical Miley, the world has been captivated by ‘the (in)famous woman’.

The female celebrity has always

of influence on the public, particularly

been a fascination in the public eye:

women (and attitudes toward women).

encapsulating the mystique of

a woman with the power of influence

to patriarchy and its popular fascination

that traditionally has been attributed to

with objectifying women has slowly

a man. Entertainment plays a part in this

constructed itself throughout the ages.

fascination because as women have been

Feminism has evolved as our cultures and

reduced to a servile position of performing

societies have changed. Now that a large

like a puppet, the female celebrity has

part of modern life is funnelled through

a way of yanking the strings into her own

the internet, celebrities are more relevant

hands and using them for her own devices.

now than ever. Pop culture dictates our

unconscious decisions, seeping in through

Extraordinary turn of the century

Western civilization’s long marriage

American entertainer Mae West once said,

our pores - and sometimes, our very souls.

“Personality is the most important thing to

Pop culture is definitely ruled by women,

an actress’s success.” This message has

if Kim Kardashian and the reaction to her

been taken to heart by the “young female

now infamous Paper magazine cover is

celebrity” who has cultivated her brand

anything to go by. ‘Breaking the Internet’

carefully (or, carelessly) on social media

had many people frothing at the mouth

platforms and through public interactions

because of the provocative subject matter

with society. If a public persona is

(her body and its marketed exposure);

cultivated in the right way, this becomes

fame, however, she says when asked if she

a venture that inspires a heavy hand

was bothered by it: “You just have to not 62

care. You just have to say, ‘This is our life,

interview with Rookie magazine, “I’m just

and it is what it is… There’s nothing we

about equality, period. It’s not like, I’m

can do that’s not documented, so why

a woman, women should be in charge!

not look your best, and amazing?” Kim

I just want there to be equality for

Kardashian, for better or worse, chooses to

everybody.” This is essential to keep in

embrace a lifestyle of the 24/7 news-cycle

mind because society’s perception of

and exploiting the limitless possibilities of social technology to her

feminism is at

Female celebrities are now directing the flow of conversation about women

advantage. In

a crucial point of evolution itself - whether to keep the movement

fact, she herself doubts if her brand would

focused on solely female rights or to

exist without these tools and without the

promote a more egalitarian agenda.

notoriety of the publicity.

culture by integrating forward thinking

Female celebrities are directing the

Women are pioneers that push pop

flow of conversation about women, for

feminist practices: like Cher and her

better or for worse. From one point of view,

ventures into plastic surgery; like Murphy

their presence is more relevant to social

Brown in her foray into single motherhood

conversations than political figures. The

while maintaining a journalism career; like

changing idea of feminism, and its present

Ellen Degeneres coming out as a lesbian

relevance, can be traced throughout

in the 90s on her show Ellen. These women

popular culture. The backlash on Beyonce,

have to endure the massive protests

Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift for adopting

surrounding their movements and its

the “feminist” label shows that it isn’t simple

subsequent harassment.

to be famous and be a part of

the cause.

providing a chief source of influence on

pop culture and social interactions. The

Miley, for instance, has evolved from

The music industry can be seen as

being a self-proclaimed feminist to an

emergence of Jack Halberstam’s idea of

egalitarian spearhead, as she states in her

Gaga Feminism, founded by 63

self-proclaimed “non-feminist” Lady Gaga,

gallavants the public sphere, preaching

entails inclusivity of heterosexual as well

that women can unconditionally fill

as queer parties in the conversation, and

the same shoes men can, and affirms

involves progressive practices by way of

existing feminist foundations. “We need

using mass media to address Lady Gaga’s

to reshape our own perception of how

audience. It represents what Miley paid

we view ourselves. We have to step up

homage to earlier: a withering away of

as women and take the lead,” Beyonce

previous expectations regarding gender

told Marie Claire. Yet despite her cavalier

roles, societal norms, and even the idea

championing the feminist cause, there is

of gender itself. This idea represents the

barely anything that has materialized in

experimentation of alternative modes

the form of actual support in her actions

of normality.

as a female superstar - just words that

are contradicted by more words. While

This is a refreshing change from the

current feminist scene, where hegemonic

Beyonce has participated in two

feminism is stealing the show. Beyonce

women-oriented charities, Chime for

64

Change and Women’s Fund for Scotland,

nature - but to be only concerned with one

there is no doubt that she has prospered

gender at the expense of the other is only

by using tactics that highlight her fairness

perpetuating a problem that exists under

and alter her natural attributes: her body

patriarchy, rather than the all-inclusive

slimming while promoting curves and being

message of “Gaga Feminism.” “Feminism,”

“bootylicious”; her hair relaxed, dyed, and

as the Hoover Institution aptly puts it,

as fixed as a Barbie doll’s; her appeal to

“makes a new feminist identity for women,

men and her use of her body to market

replacing the old feminine mystique … The

her sexuality. This type of feminism, while

new one is to have the same freedom as

recalling the struggles of past women and

men. This is what is meant by “having it all”:

embracing the landmark socio-cultural

not to live like a god with no limitations but

freedoms enjoyed now, is still rooted in the

merely like a male without the hesitations

past because of the perspective it faces.

and inhibitions … and like a woman as

well. A woman can become independent

Still, it is exciting: the potency of the

revival of the feminist movement is playing

of men by learning how to imitate them,

out before our generation. The wave’s

thus making actual men dispensable while

reverberations are from our mothers and

retaining the use of all their qualities.”

our grandmothers who have helped shape

how it echoes into the future. All feminism

school of feminism to uphold another is

that empowers a woman is good in its

counterintuitive to the philosophy of 65

To put down one aspect or

feminism, which believes in equality of both

sexes. The most important thing that is an

catches the public’s attention. Miley Cyrus

outcome of this is the widespread public

can be looked towards for her rejection

(and private) dialogue that spurs change

of the patriarchal approach to feminism.

in opinion, and Beyonce and others are

Perhaps in an anachronistic fashion, Cyrus

responsible for that.

has rejected the mold of a pretty, young,

long haired, polite, well-mannered girl. This

Within these realms, one must

The breaking down of one’s image

also consider the extent to which each

offers the perspective that anyone can

female celebrity can invoke a reaction in

champion women’s rights.

their prospective sphere of influence. For

example, P!NK’s actions will not garner as

making statements in the media, we will

much attention as Britney Spears, like when

keep our ears open, as female celebrities

Out magazine published in their December

are now directing the flow of conversation

2003 interview asking P!nk:

over women.

“Hey, didn’t you kiss Christina

Aguilera way before Madonna [in 2000]?”

“Just for fun,” she responded, relating it to schoolgirl antics of spin the bottle, avoiding the curious question of why the reaction was so strong for Madonna’s kiss and not hers.

Perhaps this can be attributed to

characters in the public eye: Britney as the good girl “playing” the bad girl, while P!NK had birthed herself as the “bad girl” by that time, bucking off good girl conventions in favor of spiky locks. An act Miley Cyrus echoed years later when she chopped off her long tresses in favor of a punkier styling.

66

With the omnipresence of females

When ‘HerStory’ Lost Her Voice By: Merima Tricic Feminism and female power through movement has long been prevalent in indigenous worldviews prior to the European feminist movements for equality.

Search “Dance” and “Islam” on

Arabian elitists who claimed puritanical

Google, and I guarantee the first ten

Islamic views. This also included a sect of

sources will be debates of whether or not

wahabism (literal interpretations of Islam).

Muslims can permissibly dance and

/or listen to music. Youtube channels,

producers that speak against “dance” and

prominent Imams such as Dr. Zakir Naik,

“music” in favor of puritanical “Islamic”

and websites in faulty English flood the

thought are blatantly South-East Asian

pages with discussions and public forum

(more specifically Pakistani or Indian) and

debates of whether or not Muslims commit

Arab. This piece of information, rather

“haram” or “sin” by engaging in behaviors

brilliantly hidden, can only be found after

linked to dance. This may be with actions

deep research: where are the voices of

such as a simple slant of the head in

indigenous and even older Muslim groups

response to a note to what may or may

amongst the seeming mainstream

not be considered as “indecency” by God

Muslim races?

or Allah. However, through the examination

of such articles and pages, it is key that

indigenous Muslim dance groups in early

anti-dance movements sprouted in the

Islam, feminist movements and critical

1980s with the increased presence of Saudi

thought of Islamic “puritanism” show 68

The majority of speakers and website

Through the examination of Kurdish

pre-European theologies of approaching

significance in acknowledging the Kurdish

sexism within cultural contexts of gender

indigenous identity and its contributions to

expectations. It shows the ways in which

feminist movements.

alternative cultures, through time and their

own cultural progression, have addressed

freedom of expression and indigenous

patriarchy. These have been in ways that

worldview of women, which is especially

have not been highlighted in the history of

important with the current Turkish

feminist movement due to the Eurocentric

government denial of Kurdish language.

focus on Western white suffrage

movements. Critical thought on dance

travel to “foreign lands” in the 1400’s,

serves to examine the ways in which the

there has long been an attempt to record

non-written approach was deemed

the history of indigenous groups in efforts

“un-quantifiable” and therefore not “valid”

to preserve facts and stories told over

as academic record. This examination

time in paper form. However, only until

demonstrates the importance and

recent developments in translation from

These movements have encouraged

Since the beginning of trade and

indigenous languages and examination of dances passed down family lineages have academic studies been approaching dance and oral history-telling as methods to be used as “legitimate” sources of history.

While recent developments in

dance have been further critically examined in the fields of ethnography and dance studies, the academic conversation in which feminism and female power have been depicted in pre-European indigenous dance has been minimal.

69

Through the examination of popular

texts and dance,feminist progression of power is shown specifically in the area in which Kurdish dance, through inter-gender discourse, place of women at the front of battle as drummers and dancers, and expression of storytelling customarily dance at weddings, has been prevalent since before and after the 7th century introduction to Islam.

When examining popular texts

detailing the origins and epistemology of feminism, it is clear that Western ideals and democracies are often attributed to theoretical discourses of social

and “infidels.”

gender roles- whether it be through The

Feminine Mystique or Feminist Inquiry: From

are often pushed aside in hierarchies of

Political Conviction to Methodological

feminism that, through courses depicted

Innovation. Courses taught at UCLA

in college, are usually either attributed

often depict alternative feminism (in this

to Christian Biblical feminism of Astell or

case, Islamic feminism) as a modern or

through first-wave feminist movements that

contemporary feminist subject that only

place Western states as the harbingers

recently developed as a post-colonial

to women’s rights through sexual rights

feminist theory in this century. However,

campaigns, suffrage protests, and

texts such as Dance and Islam: The Bojnurdi

series of treatises through writers such

Kurds of Northeastern Iran provide quick

as Wollstonecraft. However, accounts

shock in the clear statement that feminist

of feminism are in this way attributed to

movements in the form of dance was long

actions prescribed by Western states as the

formed in the 9th century Middle East,

“appropriate” venues of social movement:

a place often attributed to “barbarism”

writing and public display of protest.

70

The earliest feminist movements

While these may be effective, the process

side-by-side, but genders mixed freely and

of Western academia in linking hands

performed publicly at religious festivals that

with Saudi-based Wahabi conservative

combined both Islamic and

movements have only served to silence

Christian groups.

the stories of indigenous Muslim groups

who used dance as possible means of

male-prescribed rituals, such as

expression, storytelling, oral history, and

circumcision, in addition to festivals,

combating sexism.

weddings, and storytelling events.

Women were present in

Kurds are one

of the oldest ethnic groups in the Middle Eastern region, and

Hand-in-hand with

Genders mixed freely and performed publicly at religious festivals

although ‘Kurdistan’

Sufism since the 9th century, The Alevi Kurdish established collaborative artistic

has only recently been established as

pieces between genders not only for

a political state, Kurdish individuals have

entertainment purposes, but also religious

long been reported to be spread out within

ones. Since the establishment of Sufi orders

Turkey, Iraq, and Syria.

and tasawuuf, or Islamic practices of

worship including chant and repetition of

As methods of keeping oral history

within social movement between states,

holy names, women took part as dervishes

forms of music and dance combined with

within indigenous groups as religious

“sung narratives” were used within the

leaders. However, it is interesting to note

Alevi Kurdish indigenous group as means of

that such practices and dances are not

retelling family lineages. While the dance

readily available or discussed in the Muslim

that accompanied sung narratives varied

communities I have partaken in and only

greatly according to family lineage, there

recently have academic studies begun to

was a key similarity: women and men

examine them.

were positioned side-by-side with arms held close and shoulders touching. Not only were women and men positioned 71

The First-Generation Identity Crisis By: Syeda Jafari A personal narrative about the struggles of forging an identity between two diametrically opposed cultures, the East and the West.

I’m a first generation “Muslim”

My absolute adoration for our

Pakistani woman living in the United States.

foods and dress aside, I love my culture

I put “Muslim” in quotations because I

in terms of its emphasis on building strong

don’t consider myself a practicing Muslim.

personal relationships with family, friends,

I don’t know much about my religion’s

and community. For those of us who have

history; I don’t pray 5 times a day; I don’t

grown up in Eastern cultures, we recognize

wear hijab; I don’t fast during Ramadan;

that the emphasis is on the individual

and I know only 3 duas (prayers) that my

working as a part of that community while

father taught me as a child. I don’t know

also maintaining a sense of self.

the rituals, the practices, or the traditions

of being a Muslim. I barely know the

in a mutual unconditional love between

difference between being a Shi’a and a

ourselves and our parents. However, the

Sunni. (Not to say that these are the only

love that is reciprocated by our parents

things that make someone a Muslim; the

is something we’ll never be able to fully

definition differs depending on the person.

understand because it is a pairing of

But because these are common practices

passion with unfathomable sacrifice.

associated with Muslims, I mention them

above.) I do, however, hold a very strong

gave up their homes, their families, and

emotional attachment to my Pakistani

their entire lives to move across the globe

culture, which has Islamic roots.

to a country that is completely foreign to 74

This deep communal bond results

Our immigrant mothers and fathers

them. They suffer through various social and economic struggles, just so we can have better lives with all the opportunities that they weren’t given themselves.

As Ijeoma Umebinyuo so beautifully articulates, “Here’s to the security guards who maybe had a degree in another land.

Here’s to the manicurist who had to leave her family to come here, painting the nails, scrubbing the feet of strangers. Here’s to the janitors who don’t even fucking understand English yet work hard despite it all. Here’s to the fast food workers who work hard to see their family smile … Here is to them waking up at 4am, calling home to hear the voices of their loved ones … ”

Thousands of miles away from their

homelands, our parents carry their heritage proudly on their shoulders. They pass down customs and instill the values that they were taught to us and mold our lives in the only way they know how to.

I was raised with Eastern values such

as the importance of family, modesty, respect, and honesty along with being taught the dance, dress, language, and arts of my heritage - all which have become a pivotal part of how I define myself.

75

Alongside my Pakistani heritage,

establish and reinforce my sense of self

I grew up with Western ideals that

and make me happy.

surrounded me in school and social groups

and permeated the media and literature.

young people and their parents; the

These values of hard work, dedication, and

generation gap and clash exists for many

independence all place a strong emphasis

of us. But I want to narrow in the focus

on the individual; we make the rules, we

onto being a Pakistani-American female

question, we do not conform, and we are

because my actions that deviate the

free to be whoever and do whatever

taught values of my Eastern heritage place

we want.

my reputation at risk. It results in disbelief,

disappointment, and in the worst case,

Hence, arises the culture clash. What

happens when an individual is placed within a world where two cultures are intertwined, yet inherently in contradiction with

This isn’t uncommon among most

heartbreak. ‘Reputation’ is an idea that is

What happens when an individual is placed within a world where two cultures are intertwined?

only given value when the question “what will the community think?” is asked in response to our choices. Unfortunately,

each other?

it’s not only the community that potentially

becomes alienated, but also our

The problem arises when you ask a

female to decipher a balance and forge

parents. The ‘unconditional’ parent-child

an identity between the two.

relationship risks being caught in the duality

between guilt and forgiveness, shame and

I place an emphasis on “female”

because, as a Pakistani Muslim female

respect, love and hate.

growing up in a Western culture, I struggle

differently than a male of my background.

two parts of who you are, finding a

The difference is that my expectations

balance between the parts of you that

are about the sanctity of my reputation.

are so emotionally interwoven into the

Unfortunately, the activities that could

substance that sustains the soul of your

damage my reputation are those that

being and personal identity.

76

It comes down to choosing between

I’m not allowed to go out at night.

in fear of negative repercussions, out of

I’m not allowed to talk to boys or to be in

fear of the quintessential “mother was right

a relationship. I’m not allowed to dance,

all along.”

unless it’s in front of family or close friends.

I’m not allowed to wear certain types of

response, and flee my restrictions and my

clothes. I sure as hell am not allowed to

expectations. Or, I could stay at home and

engage in sexual activities or drink alcohol.

conform to expectations of how I conduct

Of course, these restrictions and rules are

myself as a woman.

not limited to Eastern cultures and can

exist among most parents, religious and

People have constantly broken it down to

non-religious alike.

those two options. And the truth is, it’s not

that simple.

But the reason I can’t do these

things? Sure, you can throw health, safety, security, stability at me, the usual reasons for not doing those things. But it really

I could run away, which is my initial

However, there lies the problem.

If I run away and do whatever my

We should be free to do whatever we want, without fear of judgment

headstrong free loving heart desires, I’m doing two things.

First, I’m

comes down to my reputation. It’s about

abandoning my culture. Oh, but why

how I will be perceived in those situations

would you want to stay in a culture that

by others. And that’s all the matters.

oppresses you? There’s more to my culture

Perception. It dictates our culture,

than the oppression I’m objected to. Its

our interactions, our conversations, and

language, dances, stories, foods, dress,

our relationships.

morals, and values are embedded in who

I am. Oh, but you don’t really lose that,

But it’s bigger than that - it comes

down to choosing to conform to

you take it with you! It’s about being able

expectations of who I’m wanted to be

to share those cultural artifacts and values

and who I actually am. Do I limit myself to

with family and community.

what’s accepted by my community and

parents, or do I do what I want while living

Oh, they’ll come around, they love you, 77

Second, I’m abandoning my family.

they’ll accept it. It’s not about that. Of

about, simply don’t understand. They don’t

course they will. Will they? And say even

understand the power of culture. They

if they do, I will still have destroyed and

believe that it is an outside phenomenon

broken their hearts in a way that I will never

that governs itself outside of you, only

be able to fix, because they have been

controls your actions and behaviors. There

conditioned to believe a reality of right

lies the discrepancy. Culture is not outside

and wrong that I cannot control.

of you, it is within you. It is who you are

and it is in everything you do.

And I cannot be angry with them

for that. They grew up surrounded by a

I grew up with two cultures and have

constant truth, without any opportunity to

managed to find a balance between most

question it because the environment didn’t allow for different views to take place.

In the West, we have

things like food and

Culture is not outside of you, it is within you. It is who you are and it is in everything you do

a mesh of cultures.

language. But when it comes to major decisions about who I want to be and who I’m expected to be, I

We’re able to see them in practice all

find myself at a loss.

around us and because of that, are

able to question wour own.

of who I really am.

If I stay and abide by their

Still, I hesitate to publish statements

Still, I feel guilty for the things that

expectations, then I am no longer able

make me happy.

to be the person I want to be. And where

is the justice in that? We should be free

realizing my parents will never know me as

to do whatever we want, without fear

I do. But still, I keep on.

of judgment, without fear of negative consequences - hell, without fear of being abandoned by our community and our parents.

Many people who I’ve talked to this 79

Still, I fight the pain that comes with

To Our Daughters By: Tulika Varma and Jade Bates

to our daughters

will tell you you’re gorgeous

when you come into this world covered

to our daughters,

with your mother’s love,

swallow the dust when the boy you like

the doctor will say, “it’s a girl,”

pushes you in the playground,

girl, girl, girl,

because your teachers tell you, “boys will

and the word will sound like frilly blankets

be boys,”

and softness,

and your mother tells you, “he only hits you

they will teach you to wear pink like it is

because he loves you,”

your name

and you wonder if maybe her bruises are

the world is not black and white, they tell

just your father’s love

you, no

to our daughters,

it’s pink and blue

you read about myths of ancient women

to our daughters,

who were so beautiful they could kill men,

your dolls have the breasts and the waist-

stories of venus and cleopatra,

to-hip ratio that

but you don’t feel beautiful and you

your mother complains about over her

wonder if maybe you should be.

bowl of special k, the only thing she eats

your skin feels itchy and tight and your

all day,

jeans never quite fit,

and your father kisses her on the cheek

and if you can’t be beautiful, really,

and tells her she’s gorgeous

what else can you be?

to our daughters,

To our daughters

the one thing you will want is a man who

The first time,his mattress will be too soft for 82

you to lie,

force your eyes open,

mattress sunken in by the others before you

you will see,

the down blankets will swallow you whole

you need not obey those who mistake

muffle your thoughts, as feathers fill your

your free will for their own

lungs

you need not “behave as a woman”

the only thing you will be able to mutter is,

you behave as a woman, because you

yes

are woman

you say yes because his bed tells you to,

living and breathing with palms open and

it is all you can say under such weight

eyes wide

To our daughters, tell me your sorrows

one day you will be great

whisper your secrets on maternal tongues

you were born the rebel among men and

after, your lungs will hurt:

angels

his bed took you in too deep

you were not made to swallow the

and as he lies sleeping beside you,

playground dust in silence

you will stay trapped beneath the sheets

you were not made to watch him breathe

a new kind of loneliness

at 2 am beside you while you disappear

to our daughters

you were not made to be a doll, a toy, a

one day, you will face the world

pretty thing,

your fists forced closed by those around

you were not made to be just daughters,

you

or sisters, or girlfriends, or wives,

each finger pushed to palm by each

you were made to just be,

persons demands

not a girl,

you must obey;

not his babe,

index-down, you must behave;

not sugar, honey, sweetplum, darling,

pinky-curled

princess, sweetcakes,

you must be wife, and keep house;

but instead

ring-bent, clench your fists tight

a woman.

it’s you against the world And when you gather the strength to 83

ART DESIGN FEM CREDITS ART|DESIGN DIRECTOR

CREDITS PAGE

DESIGNERS

NOOPUR GOEL

Noopur Goel

Noopur Goel Sara Haas Katherene Quiteno Laura Yau

FRONT AND BACK COVER

Design: Noopur Goel Photography: Sara Haas

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Design: Laura Yau

Eco Over Ego

SARA HAAS

Finding Power in Activism Redefining Punk The First-Generation Identity Crisis To Our Daughters

KATHERENE QUITENO

Design: Sara Haas

Life After Codependency Healing From Abuse In Defense of Self-Defense

EDITOR’S NOTE

LAURA YAU

Design: Noopur Goel Photography: Sara Haas

STAFF PAGE Design: Sara Haas

STAFF ART

Design: Noopur Goel

Don’t Deplore the Whore When ‘HerStory’ Lost Her Voice Exploring Identity Wave to the Future of Feminism