Hello!

We’re The University of Brighton Feminist Society. Have you heard of us? We are only one semester old. A little while ago, several students separately stomped to the SU to ask ‘Why is there no FemSoc?’. The solution was for us to start our own. So we banded together to create a society that aims to make Feminism inclusive and accessibile for students at the university. So far we’ve held mixers, a banner making session for Reclaim the Night, dis-cussions on porn and lad culture and a comedy night. Everyone is welcome to attend our events, as long as they have an interest in Feminism.

So, why a zine? International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month are often forgotten about in this country. We wanted to give female students the chance to express themselves in relation to anything to do with their gender identity. Every submission is an unfiltered expression of what the creator wants to say. Zines give us the freedom of individual expression that many other mediums fail to do. So please, pick this up and enjoy it.

For more on FemSoc, you can email us (FeministBrightonSoc@gmail.com), or find us online.

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International Women’s Day

Starting in the early 20th Century, Women’s Day was initially started as a day to mark women’s struggles in the wake of the suffrage movement. Since then it has spread to become an International celebration, as well as a chance to raise awareness on women’s issues, both internationally and locally. Each year the UN gives this day a theme. 2013 it was “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”. This year it’s “Equality for Women is Progress for All”. This day is not just about recognis-ing how far women have come, but recognising the struggles that remain so that we can unite to support the struggles of all women.

Women’s History Month

When we talk about history we often are looking at the actions of men, and often men of the highest social classes. Frequently women’s stories are forgotten completely which is problematic because often their experiences are very different. Women have often been subject to different rules, both legally and socially, which affect their lives. This month seeks to highlight the struggles and achievements of women that are often excluded from mainstream historical discourse.

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How I met my mismatch

I knew I was in trouble when a sailor made it into my head. She marched through my ears with her husky voice, flags waving and her eyes firmly fixed in the distance. She set fire to my bridges, curled up under my hand and stole my dog`s affection. We met at a club (where else?) and exchanged some pointless pick up lines, but there was a mutual understanding that the stories of our life would be told through our skin. I gave her Eileen Myles poems and a cigarette, but she wanted more, ate her way through my veins and mornings. It was beautiful, serene to the point of madness and never sustainable – the kind of fire you need in order to burn old habits and memories away and start fresh.

She was a women of uncertain morals, shaky like a naked tree and beautiful the way only animals can be. I thought of her early in the morning and late in the night, sometimes hours on end. I knew this ship wouldn’t carry me home, but I was bored of my old land, so I entered it anyway to see some new harbours and let the waves soothe my mind. And what did I have to loose or gain? My heart was still elsewhere and my mind was every-where and nowhere, always hoping for a bright idea, for the next big thing, for something that would carry me forward into the beautifully and painfully uncertain future and cut the ties with a past that would never come back. So we slipped in and out of scenes, passed as straight if we wanted to and played with privilege as if it was just another card-board game.

She must be the reason why nights are long and dark and why a misty morning in Octo-ber is more comforting than the bright sun that wakes you on an August day. We played strip poker in a burning house and took comfort in the smoke. It ended only when the flames came too close and we had to jump out of the window into the cold water that is London in February. We might have never lived un-bruised, but we made it into the depths of each others minds and came out on the other side – a little wiser and a little richer in soft memories. I still unfold mine sometimes when I am alone on the wrong side of the bed. They get older and rustier every time, but the pictures of moonburned skin and stolen kisses will still be with me in 50 years time. Self Portrait

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These photos attempt explore the connotations of passivity of lack of eye contact, Women will often go out of their way to avoid eye contact with men in particular situations to avoid harassment. Does this further perpetuate the stereotype women are submissive or is it a necessary method of self protection?

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CreditsCoverElly Palmer

Page 3.POWER / thealicefanclub.tumblr.com

Page 4.Amelia Kidwell / Twitter: @OlwenAK

Page 5.Sarah Magdalena Love / TheMindfulVoyage.com

Page 6.Jemma Blundell / jemmablundellphotography.tumblr.com

Pages 7.Liv Thurley / livthurley.com

Page 8.Anonymous

Page 9. Imogen Woods Photography / imogenwoodsphotography.tumblr.com

Page 10.Holly Macdonald / hollymacdonald.co.uk

Page 11.Maria Sams / mariasams.tumblr.com

Page 12.Vicky Stevenson / vickylikesdrawing.tumblr.com

Back CoverChloe Ahborn / chloedoesthings.tumblr.com

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