FEMISH M A G A Z I N E
THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE FEMISH CELEBRATES 1 YR OF FEMISH MAG & 2 YRS OF FEMISH ORG!
Honoring Black Women & Their Fight Against Femmephobia
ERIN GALLAGHER
Check-out What We’ve Been Up To & What We Have Planned
Founder of the #HYPEWOMEN Movement
What’s Your FEMME Style? Take Our Quiz
Download our Femmephobia 101 Pocketbook! A 501(c)3 nonprofit
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
COMMUNITY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEMISH Letter from the Founder
04
Contributors
05
FEMISH Re-Introduction
06
FEMISH Highlights
07
FEMISH 2024 Update
08
Research: Femininity As A Target
10
Honoring Black Women
Download the Femmephobia Pocketbook
21
Whats Up With FEMISH
24
Watch, Read, Listen
25
11
Buck the Bias
12
Femme Fashion Archetype Quiz Inspiring Person: Erin Gallagher
13 15
About Erin
16
Interview with Erin
18
Be A Contributor!
Visit FEMISH.ORG/MAGAZINE
to download this current issue
DONT FORGET! THIS ENTIRE MAGAZINE IS INTERACTIVE, THERE ARE LINKS EVERYWHERE!
A Letter From The Founder Welcome!
Thank you for checking out our e-magazine! This is our 6th Issue, and it’s the one-year anniversary of FEMISH MAG *and* the two-year anniversary of The FEMISH Org! FEMISH has accomplished so much these past two years and this Issue will share what we’ve been up to and what’s to come! None of it is possible without the support from our amazing community, THANK YOU for caring and giving air to this important conversation! As a reminder, FEMISH is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, currently running on volunteer & intern fuel. If you would like to assist with the creation of this monthly magazine, we are looking for editors, writers, marketing, you name it!
FOUNDER OF THE FEMISH ORGANIZATION,
Samantha Martin
Have a story to share? Found a relevant news article we should talk about? Know someone we should interview? Let us know by reaching out to info@femish.org and check out our Contributor Form linked on the last page. Don’t forget to subscribe to our website and follow our social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok. Thank you for all your support! Together we can create a welcoming and inclusive world.
04 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
Our next issue will be out in April 2024!
Erin Gallagher
Samantha Martin
Artificial Intelligence
Erin is the CEO of Ella, a network that unlocks women's access to capital. She created #HypeWomen, hosts the Hype Women Podcast, and founded The Fairway for inclusive business spaces. With 20 years of experience, she's a leader in diversity and inclusion, driving change for women globally.
FEMISH MAG | CONTRIBUTORS
Alicia Mendoza
FEMISH Intern Alicia Mendoza is a first-year master's student. She is working toward her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Adler University. She aims to become a mental health counselor and work with LGBTQ+ individuals, athletes, and women. Alicia is a social justice advocate and strongly values women's empowerment. She also loves to box, spray-paint, and listen to music!
Founder of The FEMISH Organization, Femme Equity Activist, and attorney who was fed up with gender bias and discrimination. She stumbled upon the term "femmephobia" and saw the need for this loop-hole in society to be closed. @femmeesq
With AI at our side, our digital magazine was expertly curated, leveraging its organizational prowess to streamline content and its writing assistance to refine our message, ensuring a compelling and cohesive reader experience.
05 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
Hey, we are The FEMISH Organization, the *only* 501(c)3 nonprofit sharing research and education on femmephobia. Let us reintroduce ourselves:
Background Founded in February of 2022, FEMISH was started by Samantha Martin, a lawyer who was told to dress less feminine in order to be taken more seriously. After researching and discovering the word “femmephobia” she realized this is a serious yet ignored societal issue. The FEMISH Organization, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of femmephobia, was born.
Values FEMISH values self-expression, inclusivity, safety, empowerment, education, and empathy. We combat the issue of femmephobia from the perspective that it affects all people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation and in an intersectional way.
Goals Society devalues and regulates feminine expressions and feminine people, which perpetuates patriarchal ideas and limits feminism. Our goal is to address this issue so that society can actually move forward in a sustainable and genuine way. Let’s go, Barbie, we’re changing the world.
06 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
The Battle Against Prejudice: FEMISH HIGHLIGHTS These past 2 years have resulted in amazing collaborations, connections, opportunities, and experiences. Here are just SOME of our favorite highlights. When many people listened to the experience of a nonbinary person for the first time at our “Go Femme Yourself” event, which fostered empathy and understanding When an intern switched her major to Gender Studies after working with us When we were asked to speak at two Fortune 500 companies and a Summit in our 2nd year of operation, 2023, in addition to many podcasts When we launched our digital magazine in Feb of 2023, and every magazine after that. When our Board Member, Dr. Rhea Ashley Hoskin and her wife and colleague, Dr. Karen Blair, created the first ever Scientific Journal of Femininities.
07 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
2024 FEMISH
What we do and how we are doing it
Education Education is one of the most important forms of activism. We synthesize decades of research on this issue and turn it into consumable educational content in the form of social media posts, blogs, speaking engagements, and our digital magazine, FEMISH Magazine. By educating others on this topic, they can spot it and start conversations with others and with themselves; self reflection is key to societal change. You can find this content on our Instagram Page, Facebook Page, and TikTok @Thefemishorg, in addition to our Blog and this magazine!
Feminine Equity Activism Society is operating in a hierarchy with masculine traits and people on top. We feminize men in power to offend them, we’ve let male dominated industries keep their 100-yr-old rules, while we keep womandominated industries underpaid and undervalued. Femmephobia is linked to homophobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, classism, fatphobia, and genderbased violence (to name a few). By creating campaigns, events, and empowering others to speak up, we can pull at the thread of femmephobia that is woven tightly into society. To quote Taylor Swift, we’re having a marvelous time ruining everything.
08 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
2024 FEMISH
What we do and how we are doing it
Internships FEMISH has great relationships with undergraduate and graduate programs that have allowed us the honor of hosting amazing students who develop skills in communication, leadership, social media, research, writing, content creation, activism, and more! Interns assist with research, creating social media content, planning events, and brainstorming new ideas! Interested in learning more? Reach out to info@femish.org
Research Our first in-house research study was just completed! It showed how toy marketing reinforces gender-normative ideas. We found that “boy” toys are more likely to have genderdiverse marketing than “girl” toys, sending the message that “boy” toys are fun and for everyone, while “girl” toys are just for girls. This starts normalizing femmephobia in childhood.
09 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
The Feminine Target: Gender expression in same-sex relationships as a predictor of experiences with public displays of affection. Matheson, L., Ortiz, D. L., Hoskin, R. A., Holmberg, D., & Blair, K. L. (2021) This research suggests that in same-sex relationships, people who express themselves in a more feminine way tend to be more alert or cautious. This could be because they have experienced discrimination or prejudice. For women, the study indicates that being somewhat masculine can offer some protection, but only when combined with an appropriate level of femininity. This shows that there's a complicated relationship between how people express their gender and how safe or vulnerable they feel in same-sex relationships. The research also highlights the importance of not only fighting against sexual prejudice but also accepting gender diversity and fluidity, especially when it comes to femininity. It suggests that society should be more inclusive of different ways people express their gender, regardless of whether it fits traditional norms. In summary, the research underscores the need to not only combat sexual prejudice but also to accept gender diversity, particularly in terms of femininity, to make environments safer and more inclusive for people in same-sex relationships.
10 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
HONORING BLACK WOMEN'S RESISTANCE AGAINST FEMMEPHOBIA: A TRIBUTE FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH As we celebrate Black History Month, it is crucial to recognize the often-overlooked role of Black women in the fight against femmephobia. Femmephobia, the discrimination and prejudice against individuals who exhibit stereotypically feminine traits, disproportionately affects Black women who face intersectional challenges. One stark example of how Black women experience femmephobia is the "angry Black woman" stereotype. This harmful stereotype portrays Black women as aggressive, loud, and confrontational, simply for expressing valid emotions or advocating for themselves. This stereotype not only undermines the authenticity of Black women's feelings but also perpetuates the idea that they are less deserving of respect and understanding. Throughout history, Black women have demonstrated remarkable resilience and strength in challenging societal norms that seek to diminish their worth based on their gender expression. From civil rights activists like Rosa Parks and Fannie Lou Hamer to contemporary leaders like Alicia Garza and Tarana Burke, Black women have been at the forefront of advocating for gender equality and challenging femmephobia. Despite facing systemic barriers, Black women continue to pave the way for change, inspiring future generations to stand up against all forms of discrimination. This Black History Month, let us honor and celebrate the contributions of Black women in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice for all. 11 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
BUCK BIAS BUCK BIAS
Society Needs You
12 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
Creating sustainable change takes: learning, community, educational materials, and people deducated to the cause. Help us BUCK BIAS with a small donation today! Your donations help us fund events and create educational content to promote self-awareness and debias society so that we have a world where everyone is seen and valued for who they are.
DONATE HERE
Femme Fashion Archetypes Quiz Question 1: What's your go-to statement accessory? A) Bold statement earrings or a chunky necklace. B) Classic pearls or a delicate bracelet. C) Layered boho-inspired jewelry or a statement belt. D) Vintage brooch or a statement hat. Question 2: Which color palette speaks to you the most? A) Dark and moody tones like deep reds, blacks, and purples. B) Neutral tones like whites, blacks, and creams. C) Earthy tones like browns, greens, and muted pastels. D) Rich, jewel tones like emerald green, sapphire blue, and burgundy. Question 3: What's your preferred footwear for a casual day out? A) Edgy combat boots or platform shoes. B) Classic ballet flats or elegant pumps. C) Comfortable yet stylish sneakers or ankle boots. D) Vintage-inspired heels or comfortable loafers. Question 4: What's your signature outerwear piece? A) A dramatic faux fur coat or a leather jacket. B) A tailored blazer or a trench coat. C) A flowy kimono or a cozy cardigan. D) A vintage-inspired coat with unique detailing. Question 5: How do you like to style your hair on a regular day? A) Bold and dramatic hairstyles with vibrant colors or unique cuts. B) Classic and polished styles like a sleek bun or soft waves. C) Effortless and natural styles with loose waves or braids. D) Vintage-inspired updos or waves with a retro flair.
13 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
Femme Fashion Archetypes Quiz Question 6: Which fashion era do you find most inspiring? A) 1980s with its bold, unconventional styles. B) 1950s with its classic, elegant silhouettes. C) 1970s with its bohemian, free-spirited vibe. D) 1940s with its timeless, tailored looks.
Question 7: What's your favorite way to incorporate patterns into your outfits? A) Bold and graphic patterns like leopard print or plaid. B) Subtle and classic patterns like stripes or polka dots. C) Boho-inspired patterns like florals or paisleys. D) Vintage-inspired patterns like houndstooth or pinstripes.
Results: Count the number of A's, B's, C's, and D's you selected. Mostly A's: You resonate with the Punk Femme style, embracing bold and edgy fashion choices. Mostly B's: You embody the Classic Femme style, favoring timeless and elegant pieces. Mostly C's: Your style leans towards Boho Femme, embracing a free-spirited and bohemian aesthetic. Mostly D's: You align with the Retro Femme style, incorporating vintage-inspired elements into your look. Remember, your style is a unique expression of who you are, and you can draw inspiration from multiple archetypes! 14 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
INSPIRING PERSON
ERIN GALLAGHER
Lena Jackson Photography
Hype Women
@erin.gallag.her
Erin Gallagher 15 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
Inspiring Person
Erin is the CEO + Founder of Ella: an inclusive network unlocking women's access to human, social and financial capital. Through connection, consulting and coaching, Ella recognizes women's value and increases their valuation. She is the creator of the #HypeWomen Movement and launched the Hype Women Podcast on Women’s Equality Day. Erin created The Fairway (Dinners, Membership and App) to provide inclusive, intersectional, intimate spaces where every woman has a seat to give and get business. 16 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
She is a LinkedIn Top 100 Influencer, Top 10 DEI Voice (#5) and wrote one of the 100 Most Influential LinkedIn Posts of the Decade. Erin brings her 20 years experience leading global marketing, business development, branding and communications — and her counsel of The White House, Fortune 100 C-suite and senior leaders at some of the world’s biggest and best brands and companies (from LinkedIn to United Airlines to Carhartt to McDonald’s) — to the work she's doing to build generational wealth for women and accelerate them into positions of power and influence.
Inspiring Person
She grew the previous company she founded from becoming global holding company Interpublic Group’s first equity investment in a majority women-owned business (ever...in its 93-year history) to earning the recognition from Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2022. She is also a PRNews 2019 ‘Top Women in PR’ Honoree. Through her work forging relationships with change makers and leaders who believe in the power of diversity, equity, inclusion and access,
Erin has become (as one Global CMO so succinctly put it) “the notso-secret weapon so many leaders count on to drive real change...she knows everyone.” She began her career at Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a non-profit, legal services, watchdog dedicated to ending discrimination / harassment of military personnel affected by the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. (Which they ultimately achieved.) Erin lives outside of Chicago in Arlington Heights with her husband, Brian, two boys, Will (7) and Charlie (5), and golden retriever Lincoln. She’s determined to realize her vision for a different way of working...not only for herself but for courageous women everywhere.
17 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
INTERVIEW WITH
ERIN
GALLAGHER Erin, as we know, where we came from and
#HypeWomen, the iconic moment Jamie
our experiences play a role in not only what
Lee Curtis fiercely celebrated Michelle Yeoh,
we do but how we do it. What experiences
that turned into a viral post by you and a
did you have that led you to the
movement and a podcast for all to follow:
empowering trailblazer you are today?
What about this moment do you think connected with so many people?
My mom was in The U.S. Coast Guard for 24 years and retired as a Captain. So much of her
We saw a woman *fiercely* celebrating
work was centered on equity, specifically for
another woman’s success. We don’t see that
women. So, I grew up watching her fight for
often. We don’t see that enough.
women and all historically excluded groups. Discussions about justice and active allyship wasn’t a fair weather activity for us. It has always been a way of life.Playing sports was hugely important to my development, confidence building and leadership skills. Working with other women collectively towards a common goal — a mission — has always been at the core of my being.
Speaking of that moment, when you saw Jamie Lee Curtis hype Michelle Yeoh, what were you feeling and thinking that led to your viral post? It lit a fire in me to call out what I know to be the conditioning that society has forced on women: women are our competition, threats to our success, that a spotlight on them casts us into a dark corner. I wanted women to see this image and channel Jamie’s energy. And women wanted permission to unlearn the toxic behavior that has always kept us keeping each other down. So, I started out a LinkedIn post: “Ladies, this is your vibe for 2023: Unabashed Hype Woman.” The rest is history.
18 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
INTERVIEW WITH
The Issues Women Still Face
ERIN By Samantha Martin
GALLAGHER FEMISH was founded by an attorney who was told to dress less feminine in order to be taken more seriously. In your experience dealing with finding women capital, opportunity, and support, can you tell us what obstacles you have seen that relate to femmephobia? We don’t have enough time to list every obstacle relating to femmephobia. It’s everywhere. In everything. But what I can say is this: societal conditioning that creates a binary experience and competition between what the world deems as opposing forces will always result in conflict, othering and a hierarchical system. We need to start viewing feminine and masculine not as opposing forces in conflict but rather, expressions along a continuum. It has been shown that bias and gender-normative behavior starts when we are young. As a mother of two boys, how do you instill values of empowerment, equity and support in your own family? It is my responsibility as a parent to not only de-condition the environment in which I raise my children from gendered stereotypes, but to also unlearn what I've been taught that is deeply ingrained within me. My boys wear every color of the rainbow; play with all toys -- from trucks to dolls to Legos to tutus; read books that celebrate all genders, races, religions, sexual orientations and more; watch movies and shows with strong female characters; and listen to music that is diverse and inclusive. The more that children are surrounded by diversity, the more they learn to embrace others' differences.
19 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
INTERVIEW WITH
The Issues Women Still Face
ERIN By Samantha Martin
GALLAGHER What advice would you give to aspiring female
We are so excited to have you on the cover
leaders who aim to make a positive impact on
of FEMISH Magazine! What do you love
people's lives and challenge societal norms?
about FEMISH?
Take care of yourself first. Deal with your own
I love everything that Samantha Martin has
issues, past traumas and triggers that impact you
created with FEMISH. Her mission and work
in the here and now. You will not be able to help
are critically important to our collective goal
anyone else until you prioritize your own self care,
of achieving true intersectional gender
self love and self preservation.
equity. FEMISH's dedication to dismantling bias against femininity is the way forward for
Can you speak to the overarching theme or
all people -- regardless of gender. I am so
common thread that ties together your body of
grateful and honored to be featured on this
work, from Ella to Fairway and #HypeWomen?
month's cover, celebrating its two-year
How do these different projects collectively
anniversary. Here's to 200 more!
contribute to a broader narrative or understanding of cultural production, and disrupting conventional norms? While my work across all of these areas centers on building generational wealth for women everywhere and accelerating women into positions of power and influence, the true overarching theme -- and my purpose in life -- is to hype women to remember who the f*ck they are. If every woman remembers that, no one can tell us who we are, no one can make us smaller than we are meant to be and no one can stop us.
20 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
D O W N L O A D
Your 101
Short Takeaways
Easy Read
Femmephobia
We’ve broken down some basic
5 pages of bulleted points, an
info on femmephobia
easy and quick read
Guide 21 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
What's up with femish The Journal of Feminini.es is the first academic journal devoted to the study of Feminini;es and uniquely offers an outlet for scholarship on femininity. The Journal of Feminini.es cul;vates and unifies the field of Feminini;es by publishing content that advances theories and methods in the study of femininity. The journal seeks to challenge and re-examine the taken-for-granted norms and associa;ons of femininity and to treat Feminini;es as an academic discipline similar to others that focus on par;cular social dimensions. Ar;cles that appear in the Journal of Feminini.es contribute to deeper and more complex understandings of femininity.
SPRING INTERNS Need a passion project to fill your credits or your soul? FEMISH has remote interns and tons to work on from writing & editing, photography, social media content, research, event planning, and community organization. Join the interns already on our team for fall! Apply Here!
22| FEMISH MAGAZINE
What's up with femish Join companies like U.S. Foods and CDW and have FEMSIH present about Femmephobia to your employees to encourage a culture of self-reflection and inclusivity. Available in-person or virtual. Interested? Send us an e-mail at info@femish.org
DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW US ON IG FOR ALL OF OUR EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
23 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
Watch, Read, Listen YOUR FAVORITE SERIES
THIS ISSUE, WE’D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH ONE OF YOUR FAVES, AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU CAN SPOT FEMMEPHOBIA. SHARE YOUR FINDINGS WITH US AT INFO@FEMISH.ORG
TREAD LOUDLY
KRISTINE CHEREK SHARES HER EXPERIENCES AS AN ATTORNEY AND WHAT SHE EXPERIENCED IN A MALE DOMINATED FIELD. CALL OUT THE B.S. IN THE WORKPLACE, FIGHT FOR EQUALITY. THE TIME IS NOW.
HYPE WOMEN
HOSTED BY THIS MONTHS INSPIRING PERSON, ERIN GALLAGHER, THE HYPE WOMEN PODCAST SHARES STORIES OF WOMEN CREATING MEANINGFUL AND IMPACTFUL CHANGE IN SOCIETY. FROM STACY LONDON TO SOLEDAD O’BRIEN TO SHANNON WATTS, THE LINE-UP IS EPIC.
DONT FORGET! THIS ENTIRE MAGAZINE IS INTERACTIVE, THERE ARE LINKS EVERYWHERE! 24 | FEMISH MAGAZINE
Be A Contributor
We will never stop sharing research and stories to create a bonded community of change makers. Femmephobia & Gender-policing are prohibiting true equality, and we have had enough. Fill out our Contributor form below and see how you can add your voice to our nonprofit organization's platforms.
Issue No. 6
FEB 2024
Sources Throughout this magazine you will find links in articles and descriptions to the sources of that information. In addition, we will list sources and credits here.
The Feminine Target Matheson, L., Ortiz, D. L., Hoskin, R. A., Holmberg, D., & Blair, K. L. (2021). The feminine target: Gender expression in same-sex relationships as a predictor of experiences with public displays of affection. Journal Name, Volume 30 (Issue 2), pls 205-218 The Journal of Femininities Dr. Rhea Ashley Hoskin Dr. Karen Blair
WWW.FEMSISH.ORG