This Is What Makes Us Girls* Zine

THIS IS WHAT MAKES US GIRLS*

ISSUE 01

@meek.meekier.meekiest @marcia_joy_elizabeth @heidi_timberwolf @sexteenmagazine @alessiadsantos @jesus_of_jozi @urlocalhuman @tazzyasmith @afrah_mayet @boemodiale @jemtherose @whoistayla @iamnompi @_jezzza @diggiest @misariver @danijelacoook @amiraashariff

@daddythedesigner @disorganizedgoat @phoenixfalconer @ginanhendrickse @taliaramkilawan @nina.of.the.rock @rubywheeldon @_wednesday @reaapunzell @kaylas_arm @snackospice @alicedebeer @pronto.papi @amumnisi @its_leal_ @rissae_ @zandi_mgutshini Illustration by @its_leal_ Front cover shot by @ginanhendrickse

@ginanhendrickse

Welcome to:

This Is What Makes Us Girls* An intersectional feminist zine created with the intention of forcibly making room for the creations of young South African womxn by providing them with a platform that is dedicated to showcasing their often underrepresented creative endeavours.

This issue is made up of the contributed art, photography, and writing of young womxn living in South Africa and curated by @sensitive_black_dyke with illustrations by @its_leal_ A huge thank you to our contributors for sharing your vulnerable and honest work with us, we hope to do it justice.

@daddythedesigner

South Asian women don’t get enough representation in most spaces and I feel the need to express this in an organic way.

A lot of representation of South Asian culture, especially in the media, tends to be very one-sided and stereotypical but these views aren’t entirely accurate.

When the media projects stereotypes, essentially they are representing people as a whole. We all then fall into a thin category of what it means to be from a certain ethnic group.

Further, I wanted to capture the isolation of growing up in two different cultures, but belonging to none. To conceptualize and create images around themes and narratives of the South Asian community. I made the series for people who feel distant from their culture, yet feel this unfulfilled connection to it, and if possible to find a balance.

We don’t have to conform to any ideologies of identity, but rather to continually progress in a way that best fits our needs.

@taliaramkilawan

@ginanhendrickse

BOYS

@jemtherose

I have always been interested in human nature - this includes the way people behave, how we react to things, and the way we are living within limitations set by social constructs. As a young queer womxn, I do not fit into some of these constructed 'boxes,' that define what I should be like, and who I should love.

As my models put the items on, I photographed their emotional reactions; I wanted to capture how their gender expression changed in the presence of traditional, hyper-feminine clothing. Some of them were clearly uncomfortable, while others seemed more fluid, and more powerful.

A few felt vulnerable exposing their bodies, and were self-conscious of their ‘flaws.’ For me, this was an experience in which I gained an understanding of how damaging the idealization of masculinity is; as well as the personal importance of an individual’s gender expression.

Weekend Legends Saturday night Aphrodite, This one not born of sea foam and the flowing claret of a legendary battle No instead This one born of frothy lager And dried blood from a simple misunderstanding No harm done All friends here.

Here lies Modern day budget Dionysus 'The god of fertility and ecstasy...of good times' Tonight he is Sending snapchats of his dick To half interested girls he just matched on tinder Fuelled by jagerbombs and a funny feeling in his Tummy Must be From those late night cheesy chips What you into? He asks one match "I just want to be held" She types and doesn't send "Anal...lol...winky face" send.

My favourite goddess now...

Persephone, reluctant queen of the underworld, tonight the painted beauty All Smiles and filters at 8pm But Now she's Crying in the back if an uber As its making it's descent down to Hades it's 4 o clock in the morning and She's Wishing to be back in that other world.

I can't tell you what I really want, Because I haven't got a clue; I've become A feedback loop of abandonment issues and callous knock backs, All born of some insecurity...

That I maturely articulate like I have some sort of deeper understanding of my own neurosis But honestly I am absolutely fucking terrified Until tomorrow, when I write it off Because you make us our favourite breakfast And bring me coffee in bed Then We can Get the sheets all mucky And sleep our troubles away.

@snackospice

@ginanhendrickse

@iamnompi

@urlocalhuman