FEMISH MAGAZINE FEB 2023

FEMISH

BLACK HISTORY

MONTH: HIGHLIGHTING BLACK AUTHORS

Society's issue with believing women: especally black women

Men's Fashion

How fragile masculinity dissapeared with a skirt

A 501(c)3 nonprofit

Inspiring Person Of the Month

HARRIS REED, FASHION DESIGNER

FOUNDER OF THE FEMISH ORGANIZATION, Samantha Martin

A Letter From The Founder

Welcome!

Thank you for checking out our first e-magazine! FEMISH has so much to share, from research, organizational updates, personal experiences, and more. We want to bring it to you in a fun and interactive way.

FEMISH is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, currently running on volunteer fuel If you would like to assist with the creation of this monthly magazine, we are looking for editors, writers, marketing, you name it!

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

MUA Suzanne Sabat Take Care Photos

Suzanne Sabat

FEMISH Board member and Professional Make-up Artist. Check out her make-up tips in every issue.

Alexa Mittenthal

Compliance Analyst in the asset management industry. Passionate about all aspects of diversity and during her free time, enjoys spreading awareness through her writing

Sadie Dunning

FEMISH intern. Interested in digital design and illustration She is also a intersectional and queer educator

Brieanah Schwartz

Founder of Pink Barn Creative

Through her empathic, persuasive copywriting marketing, and advocacy services, Brieanah is working to empower nonprofit organizations so they can generate meaningful change for our planet.

Samantha Martin

Founder of The FEMISH Organization, attorney who was fed up with gender bias and discrimination.

H A P P Y

B I R T H D A Y

FEMISH was founded in February, 2022 and what a year it has been!

We have been so blessed to have people just as passionate as we are to help, collaborate, volunteer, and join our cause.

Our first and biggest connection was with Dr Rhea Ashley Hoskin, a feminists sociologist and an expert in the field of femininities, what she calls Femme Theory Not only has she helped tremendously with her research, she is on the board of FEMISH

Speaking of our Board, we added Suzanne Sabat, professional make-up artist, abd Bethany White, attorney to our crew

Last year we had

our first event with celebrity hairstylist Alex Brown

Amazing photoshoots for our FEMISH gear where we talked with the models on their personal experiences with gender bias

Successful internship relationships with North Central College and Adler University

An art pop-up focusing on local feminine artists

Had the opportunity to share FEMISH to celebrities like Maggie Baird, Nikki Glaser, and Gretchen Carlson

Collaborate with creators like Marlee Liss and LVL Up Legal

What's Next for 2023

Speaking at the She Who Wins Summit

Attending the international LGBTQ Psychology & Related Social Sciences

Conference: PREACH in Canada

Planning more local events (stay-tuned)!

Debuting our digital magazine (ta-da!)

Continuing our internship relationships

Starting a book club

E M I S H !

E V E N T S

Art Pop-Up

BREWPOINT CRAFT ELMHURST

On Saturday, November 12, FEMISH organized an event highlighting local female artists to showcase pieces and counteract the gender bias still present within the art world. Not only did the artists get to display and sell their artwork, but FEMISH received the most donations to date!

Lauren Ottley, Instagram

Caption

Lauren Ottley, Pieces Of Me Click to view her IG page!

Caption

Want to attend future events?

Follow FEMISH and check out our other events coming soon!

Are you craving some empowerment and good energy? Come check out the She Who Wins Summit at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, April 28-29, 2023! FEMISH Founder, Samantha Martin, will be speaking on a panel about Modern Feminism

FEMISH Board Member, Suzanne Sabat

FEMISH Volunteer, Tyler Herrera

FEMISH Founder, Samantha Martin

BlackHistoryMonth

ChimamandaNgoziAdichie:anaward winningauthor,whoalsoreceiveda MacArthurFellowshi.CheckoutWe ShouldAllBeFeminists,and Americanah.

Omise'ekeNatashaTinsley:a ProfessorofBlackStudiesatUniversity ofCalifornia,SantaBarbara,and authoredTheColorPynkfousingon Blackfemmeswaysofsurvivalinour society.

BellHooks:Anauthor&feminist knownforrecognizinghow intersectionalfeminismisand needstobe..Startwith:Feminismis forEverybody

OctaviaButler:asciencefiction author,shebecamethefirst sciencefictionwritertoreceivea MacArthurFellowship.Checkouther bookKindred(nowaserieson Hulu)andTheParableSeries.

RoxanneGay:Authoramongmany things,andauthoredtheNewYork Time'sbestsellingessaycollection: BadFeminist

MikkiKendall:Anactivist,diversity consultant, writer,andauthorof HoodFeminism,Kendallshareshow feminismleftblackwomenbehind.

THE RESEARCH SHOWS...

BY ALEXA MITTENTHAL

There is still gender bias in the workplace Regardless of the truly admirable activism from feminists around the world, men and

women still aren’t equal Although this is apparent in all aspects of life, it is especially noticeable in the workplace Unfortunately, biases make it very difficult to achieve equality, as well as a positive work environment

A 2020 McKinsey & Company statistic says that only 21% of C-Suite members were women (McKinsey & Company 2020). This could include Chief Executive Officers (CEO), Chief Operating Officers (COO), Chief Marketing Officers (CMO), etc This is despite women accounting for over 50% of the world’s population, 57% of undergraduate degrees, and about 60% of masters degrees (Smallbizgenius, 2022) And this is all a result of biases

The Four Fundamental Biases

According to Forbes, there are four

fundamental biases: the affinity bias, gender bias, out-group bias, and status quo bias (Forbes, 2022) Someone with an affinity bias may favor those who are similar to themselves over those who are different Gender bias occurs when masculinity is valued over femininity A person who holds an out-group bias might feel that someone who is different from themselves is, in blatant terms, worthless. Lastly, someone with a status quo bias is likely to resist change to something they’re used to

Affinity Bias

Men who hold an affinity bias toward women would likely choose to work with other men This isn’t always intentional, but it is always harmful Imagine there’s a pool of applicants for a position, and the pool consists of all women and one man The hiring manager, a man, can see that they all have equal experience aside from a few women who have more If he were to have an affinity bias, he may

ignore all the facts and favor the man for the position simply because he is not a woman He would prefer to work with someone he is similar to This bias could also show up in socialization and collaboration Men with an affinity bias might choose to exclude the women they work with

Watch as Tony Robbins explains how our surroundings easily influence us

"Men who hold an affinity bias toward women would likely choose to work with other men. This isn’t always intentional, but it is always harmful."

Gender Bias

Someone who holds gender bias is also likely to hold gender stereotypes They’re likely to believe that men should be in charge or in a leadership position, while women are the support, the caretakers They would see a man as fit for a CEO, and a woman, his assistant Assume a male

manager with a gender bias has two associates up for a promotion He wouldn’t view the female candidate as capable of taking on leadership positions, and as a result, give his male candidate the promotion

Out-Group Bias

A man with out-group bias may think that the women of the company they work for just aren’t as good as the men. As a result, they might exclude women from work and work-related events Someone with an out-group bias toward women is also more likely to, knowingly or not, harass women or be hostile toward them A man with this bias probably has the traditional masculinity mindset Men are the breadwinners, and women have no place working When it comes to a professional environment, women are worthless and don’t need to be included

Status Quo

Someone with status quo bias is probably uncomfortable with unfamiliarity. If a company is male

dominant, and decides to practice gender equality and hire more women, a man with status quo bias might resist or ignore the practices But overcoming this bias isn’t possible without the men who hold power recognizing this bias and actively working to change it.

The Impact of the Fundamental Biases

Bias can negatively impact the culture, productivity, and the business functionality of a workplace, as well as the emotional and mental well being of women All of the scenarios above are likely to result in women feeling excluded, unequal, and worthless in the workplace Maledominant workplaces hold clear biases toward women, and it can have a negative impact on their culture and their public appearance Today, younger generations look specifically for inclusivity and diversity in the workplace

The inequality in the workplace has led to women either adjust how they present themselves and act at work or

internalize these biases Women in the workplace often “ masc up” in order to be seen as professional, competent, and capable Professional attire leans masculine and the energy across industries and C-suites is masculine, and women have met it to survive. But if women continue to meet the masculine energy, by adjusting themselves at work or believing that a level of masculinity is necessary in business, then women are perpetuating the stereotype that women inherently don’t have what it takes Which results in the devaluation of femininity in the professional world

So, Basically…

Be it on culture, performance, or basic functionality, an unequal workplace can only have a negative impact The four fundamental biases (affinity, gender, out-group, and status quo) can make women feel undervalued, unappreciated, and unwanted It’s so important that our society continue to strive for equality in all aspects of life to make for a better tomorrow

"Women in the workplace often 'masc up' in order to be seen as professional, competent, and capable. "

TRUST ISSUES

WRITTEN BY BRIEANAH SCHWARTZ PINK BARN CREATIVE

Is it difficult for society to trust women simply because they are women? It probably comes as no surprise that history suggests, yes. If we simply stop long enough to analyze our institutions it quickly becomes clear that much of our society functions thanks to the accepted erasure of women and their experiences.

As an example, let’s stop and look at the medical sector, with its long-documented history of failing to take women seriously. No matter how we suffer, women are consistently told we’re just being emotional Every woman I know has a story about a doctor’s visit they’ll never forget. A time they almost died or were traumatized simply because no one listened

What would happen if we took women, and especially black women, seriously when they expressed concerns about their own bodies? To start, the U S would likely have a far lower maternal death rate.

We can’t leave consideration of the lack of trust in women concerning their own bodies without highlighting the experience of trans women. Even today, doubt remains around whether trans women even exist, let alone if they are equipped to manage their own identities and experiences Imagine if society simply started giving space for trans women to be believed How many trans women and girls would still be alive?

Let’s look at three more recent, high-profile examples:

Meghan Markle faced skepticism and criticism because she dared to speak out about the mistreatment she experienced during her time as a senior member of the British Royal Family. Megan Thee Stallion faced similar shock and disbelief when she spoke out about being shot by fellow rapper Tory Lanez.

Rose also faced intense skepticism when she spoke out about her experiences of sexual assault and harassment in Hollywood

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Megan Thee Stallion, rapper and singer Rose McGowan,actress and activist

TRUST ISSUES

The experiences of each of these women illustrate how even well-known women, supposedly held in high regard by society, are met with heightened skepticism and dismissal. Even women society “likes” or popularizes are not trusted when they need it the most. Even fame is not a ticket to simply being believed.

Why?

Perhaps these women simply refuse to fit into society’s need for the “victim aesthetic.” Meghan, Meg, and Rose are each considered strong, independent, and confident women None of them fit the mold of a defenseless “victim,” weak and without the power to fend for themselves.

The need for a woman to appear as a defenseless victim in order to be believed is so ingrained in our society that dismissal and disbelief even find their way past popular culture and armchair experts into our legal system. As Meg fights for justice, she is facing attacks on her character both inside and outside the courtroom In the New York Times, Meg wrote: “Even as a victim, I have been met with skepticism and judgment. The way people have publicly questioned and debated whether I played a role in my own violent assault proves that my fears about discussing what happened were, unfortunately, warranted ”

And as Jemele Hill, writer for The Atlantic, put it, “Black-girl magic sadly doesn’t extend to being believed or treated humanely. That’s why Black women have to fight vehemently and often alone for their own dignity ” Every time society reinforces the need for a victim aesthetic, it perpetuates the patriarchal systems of oppression women have suffered for generations in all of our institutions. Instead of dismissing the experiences of women who are brave enough to speak up for themselves, we need to believe them We need to trust in them Every woman deserves to be heard, trusted, and believed

Author’s Note: No conversation about the erasure of women in our society is complete without mentioning a variety of perspectives and experiences. However, I want to take time to acknowledge that some of the views and experiences I’ve written about in this piece are not my own. As a cis, white woman, I know I will never truly understand what it means to be a black or trans woman. Let me be clear, no trans woman or woman of color needs a cis, white woman to speak for them. Instead, I simply hope to shed light on the breadth and scope of the problematic experiences all women face.

A Note from Samantha Martin, Founder of FEMISH: At FEMISH our entire existence is based in the truth of intersectionality. As a white, cis woman, I will never know the struggles black and/or trans women experience. We feel when we do not have a first experience perspective, it is better to still address the issue while acknowledging our own privilege, instead of not assigning space to these major societal issues. We welcome any insight, criticism, and advice. Always.

INSPIRING

PERSON

HARRIS REED

Fashion has been an avenue of expression across cultures, for centuries. It also comes with rules and expectations decided by society for who should wear what, and when, and how.

Harris Reed leans into how true expression should be: free from rules and expectations, including gender normative ideas.

With beautiful pieces, both timeless and trendy, Reed creates gender fluid art in the form of clothing, to be enjoyed by all. Breaking binary boxes, these pieces are the epitome of freedom of expression.

The History of Femininity in Men’s Fashion

Femininity was recognized in men’s fashion decades and decades ago Think back to the 70’s and onward: David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Brad Pitt, the list goes on These men proudly wore tight pants, skirts, dresses, sparkles, feathers, all of it, and it never made them less of a man They were making statements and showing comfortability in their masculinity If you want to look back even further, men were painting their nails in 3200 BC Ancient Babylon warriors would paint their nails before combat. It doesn’t get more masculine than combat.

All this goes to say that masculinity isn’t defined by what clothes a man wears. Masculinity isn’t erased when femininity is introduced into a wardrobe. Clothing isn’t gendered. And these men, celebrities and warriors alike, only got the movement started

Femininity in Men’s Fashion Today

Femininity in men’s fashion has, in no way, slowed down, but rather the opposite There are so many male celebrities who we view as fashion icons Harry Styles, Post Malone, Jaden Smith, Kid Cudi, etcetera What do they have in common?

BREAKING GENDER NORMS IN FASHION

Alexa Mittenthal

The evolution of fashion is what keeps it relevant and exciting Everything about it is constantly changing; what’s worn, what’s trending, how it’s worn, and even who’s wearing it. However, because of its’ constant relevance, fashion often comes face-to-face with scrutiny. Men who dress outside of the gender norms often have their sexuality questioned, and statements made about their “manliness” But we as a society need to recognize that clothing has no gender, and expressing femininity does not erase masculinity

Model: Thomas Wellington, MUA Suzanne Sabat Photographer: Kinda Arzon Photography

They all express femininity through fashion, and their masculinity was never diminished

In November of 2020, Vogue magazine featured the one-and-only, Harry Styles His photoshoot with the infamous mag caused a whole lot of controversy Pictured on the front was One Direction’s own in a chic, black-andwhite gown. He and Vogue received an outpouring of love and support, but also hefty amounts of hate for breaking the gender norms. Two years later, Harry continues to express femininity through his fashion choices, break gender norms, and yet remains the heart throb he was known to be ten years ago His outfits are bright and colorful, his nails are almost always painted, and feather boas scatter the venues of his concerts He is comfortable enough with his masculinity to realize that feminine fashion choices won’t impact it, and he continues to remain true to his value of spreading love to all

Another fan-favorite, Post Malone, has openly expressed femininity through fashion The face-tatted, Hip-Hop artist has, on multiple occasions, worn skirts, dresses, and painted nails His 2020 Billboard Music Awards outfit consisted of a black skirt, knee-highs, top, and leather jacket Better yet, his stylist actually launched a line of dresses for men after styling him in a floral dress for a Nirvana tribute. Post’s outfits formed a pattern of virality over the years, and it has only seemed

to encourage him to continue (as he should) People questioned his sexuality after these bold looks, and yet, he still remains as masculine as he was when he dressed within the gender norms Iconic

Jaden Smith, son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, is a known activist in the space of breaking gender norms Jaden wears whatever he wants because, to him, it doesn’t matter Who he is and what he wears are separate Clothing is just that, clothing In 2016, Jaden dorned a black skirt in a Louis Vuitton womenswear campaign. He continued to wear dresses and skirts outside of work, and when asked why, he had responded with hopes of lessening bullying in the future.

"Two years later, Harry continues to express femininity through his fashion choices, break gender norms, and yet remains the heart throb he was known to be ten years ago. "

Jaden aspires to normalize viewing clothing as nonbinary, so that one day, a little boy wearing a dress won’t get harassed for doing so The young star doesn’t see his breaking gender norms as erasing his masculinity, but rather helping the future

Kid Cudi has made headlines for not only his music, but for his fashion for over a decade His kilts, crop tops, and dresses were breaking gender norms left and right, and it didn’t go unnoticed Despite the amount of criticism the rapper received, he continues to wear “feminine” clothing to this day. Cudi is the embodiment of “not giving a sh*t”. He wears what he wants and doesn’t care what people say about it. He knows who he is, and what he wears isn’t going to change that. His outfit choices don’t make statements about his masculinity, but rather about his bold ability to break the norms

Clothing Isn’t Gendered Masculinity and fashion choices have no direct correlation Men expressing femininity in their fashion choices does not make them “less manly” or “girly” In fact, some may even say the opposite, as they are comfortable enough in their masculinity to break the gender norms Men who wear dresses, skirts, crop tops, painted nails, etc recognize that clothing isn’t gendered It’s just pieces of material sewn together to fit human bodies. Nothing more, nothing less. Who you are isn’t defined by what you wear. Expressing femininity does not erase masculinity. It strengthens it.

Self Reflection

FEMISH is all about acknowledging that everyone has a feminine and masculine side Valuing both is important for ourselves

What makes you FEMISH? List your feminine and masculine qualities as defined by western society.

Feminine:

and why is it taught that way?

Our thoughts are often influenced by our environment, causing subconscious bias that we don’t even realize we have absorbed.

So let’s play with your feminine side!

If you present as female, society expects regulated femininity from you: wear make-up, but not too much, and only to these places, at these times; otherwise, you look like you are trying too hard.

And if you present as male, society expects zero femininity from you.

Do you care what others think?

Female presenting: Wear lipstick somewhere you normally wouldn’t

Male presenting: Paint your nails

For those who present outside the binary: try on an article of clothing that maybe you would not normally

Go about your day: school drop-off, grocery store, working from home, the gym.

Your paragraph text

How do you feel putting it on? Nervous? Excited?

Annoyed that you are even trying this experiment? How do you feel while in public? Selfconscious? Confident? Are you afraid others will judge you? Would you judge you?

Experiment with Feminity

Model: Katie Shuta, MUA Suzanne Sabat

Photographer: Kinda Arzon Photography

Wewillneverstopsharingresearchandstoriestocreateabonded communityofchangemakers.Femmephobia&Gender-policingare prohibitingtrueequality,andwehavehadenough.

FilloutourContributorformbelowandseehowyoucanaddyour voicetoournonprofitorganization'splatforms.

SUBMITHERE!

Model: Tyler Herrera, MUA Suzanne Sabat, Hari by Katie Shruta,

Photographer: Kinda Arzon Photography