Young Adult Novels and the ‘Masculine Heroine’
Leila Kalliel // Young Adult novels are infamous for their overwhelming tendency to rely on well-tested, recurring ‘tropes’ within a narrative to gain audience approval from readers who are often the most impressionable, and are thus most affected by the perpetuation of these literary stereotypes. Some familiar tropes may include: The Chosen One The ParentsContinue reading “Young Adult Novels and the ‘Masculine Heroine’”
“No, I Don’t Think I Will Smile”
Cathryn Noel-Veatch // Every woman has heard it at some point. “You’d be so much prettier if you just smiled”, “Why don’t you smile a bit more”, “Come on just give me a smile” well you know what I don’t want to smile like that anymore. It gets so tiring after a while. Being toldContinue reading ““No, I Don’t Think I Will Smile””
Cinematic Capsize: A Sexual Assault Story in 7 Parts
Rayelyn Mallari // Content Warning: The following poem contains themes of sexual violence, suicide, and PTSD that may be traumatizing or uncomfortable to some readers. Part I – Here Lies My Silence September Sixth grade I’m the girl in the cafeteria plastic gloves and a hair net Wiping down tables I see him As I’mContinue reading “Cinematic Capsize: A Sexual Assault Story in 7 Parts”
There’s nothing like a mad woman
Joshen Mantai // Somewhere in the narrowing hallway of a school, a teenage high school girl is clenching her fists to contain the rage bubbling inside her, enveloping her slowly. She’s developed what feels like a fierce flame inside her, one that almost feels like it will break her if she lets it, her throatContinue reading “There’s nothing like a mad woman”
On Uniformity
Katie Caracciolo // 8/31/2015 On the first day of seventh grade, I confront my reflection in the mirror: the epitome of middle school awkwardness. Barely there blonde hair hangs down over my forehead, pimples freckle my chin, and horrible plastic glasses frame my nearsighted eyes. But my recently-tightened braces shine bright in the mirror, becauseContinue reading “On Uniformity”
“My Eyes Are Up Here”
Alexandra Gray // Ever since fourth grade, I’ve been well developed. I was the first in my class to get a training bra (something I was distinctly not happy about). Even back then, I remember the boys in my class staring at my chest. My discomfort with my body only grew once I reached middleContinue reading ““My Eyes Are Up Here””
Butterflies Below the Breast: Overcoming Tattoo Stereotypes for Women
Karlie Smith // The foundation of my youth was nourished with an appreciation for ink on skin. My mother’s arms were painted with the stories of her life, and I used to trace my fingers across the vibrant graphics that wrapped elegantly around the base of her wrists and the small of her back. HerContinue reading “Butterflies Below the Breast: Overcoming Tattoo Stereotypes for Women”
What is White Feminism?
Leila Kalliel // With an influx of information and a new attention to intersectionality in general education, many people have heard a relatively new term encompassing a phenomenon known as “white feminism”. But what is it, and what does it really mean? Wikipedia defines White Feminism as, “a form of feminism that focuses on the strugglesContinue reading “What is White Feminism?”
February
by Rayanne Asuncion// Part 1: 7 February 2020 I loved him for three years, and I thought I would love him for every year beyond. We braved distance and time together. FaceTimes until we could run into each other’s arms. We were drunk off youth and love. It was eternal summer. Then it ended. OnContinue reading “February”
A Day to Commemorate Our Women in STEM
by Ladann Kiassat // Dating back to third century BCE ancient Egypt, the first recorded woman in medicine was Merit Ptah. Even though some argue that she might not have existed, she is representative of female physicians who were pioneers in medicine and science. Fast forward to the 21st century where technology, medicine, and engineering continueContinue reading “A Day to Commemorate Our Women in STEM”
Period Cups: Eco-guilt Surrounding Menstruation
by Rayanne Asuncion // Menstruation: a natural bodily function that remains a taboo in 2021. From secret tampon exchanges under the table, to hormonal acne, to bringing your entire bag into the bathroom stall just to replace sanitary products, people with periods are socially conditioned to feel ashamed and disgusted at that time of theContinue reading “Period Cups: Eco-guilt Surrounding Menstruation”
The Brazen Woman
By Victoria Mongiardo // As a woman, I am assumed to be altruistic, empathetic, nurturing, and sweet, and while I wouldn’t say that those characteristics are completely inaccurate to who I am, it is problematic to confine women to such demure terms. By defining a proper woman as someone who should embody these docile characteristics, womenContinue reading “The Brazen Woman”
Kamala Harris: My reflection as an Indian-American
by Swara Tewari // On Aug. 11, Joe Biden named Kamala Harris his running mate in the 2020 presidential election. I remember getting the news update on my phone and then immediately running down the hall and bursting into my sister’s room to tell her, as I usually do when something even remotely interesting happens. Continue reading “Kamala Harris: My reflection as an Indian-American”
The Scale
By Karlie Smith // [TRIGGER WARNING: The following content mentions/alludes to eating disorders and mental health] At approximately 7:30 am, my day begins. Barefooted and stripped of heavy clothing–I tiptoe into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. Reaching under the stool, I quietly remove the hidden scale from its current designated location. Thought youContinue reading “The Scale”
Put A Sock In It, Joseph Epstein
By Leila Kalliel Several days ago, the Wall Street Journal released an article titled, “Is There a Doctor in the White House? Not if You Need an M.D,” criticizing first-lady-elect Jill Biden for including the honorific ‘doctor’ in her name because apparently, that title only really applies to medical doctors. In said article, Joseph EpsteinContinue reading “Put A Sock In It, Joseph Epstein”
Being a Feminine Feminist
By Leila Kalliel //I’ve been trying to think of a way to sum up my relationship with femininity. Several titles for this article have come and gone. Among them, “It’s Hard Being a Feminist and Having a Boyfriend,” which was a close second until I realized that my problem isn’t as much about romantic relationshipsContinue reading “Being a Feminine Feminist”
The Most Embarrassing Part About My Spotify Wrapped
By Drue Wigton // As all Spotify, or even Apple music users know, the two platforms’ respective year wrapped features are equally looked forward to and dreaded. In essence, this playlist serves a purpose of showing you the songs and artists you spent the most time listening to over the course of the year. ForContinue reading “The Most Embarrassing Part About My Spotify Wrapped”
The Treasure Chest
By Swara Tewari // My third-grade teacher had a plastic treasure chest stashed under her desk. It was filled to the brim with prizes — Pokemon cards, mini monster trucks, water balloons, stickers and glittery pencil grips. To draw a prize from the treasure chest, you had to earn ten stars, which were given outContinue reading “The Treasure Chest”
Four Feminist Fictions to Read This Fall
By Leila Kalliel// With the end of fall semester about a month away, I’m sure we’re all ready to finish up those final projects and have a little r&r over winter break. Here at the Zine, one of our favorite ways to decompress after an (extremely) draining year is by cuddling up with a goodContinue reading “Four Feminist Fictions to Read This Fall”
The Act of Rape Used Against Women in Horror
By Emily Kissinger// When it comes to horror movies, an audience is under the conscious notion that nothing is off-limits. But within the subconscious part of the mind, there are acts believed to be entirely taboo. They get under your skin and sit there for days after the credits roll. The issue, however, is whenContinue reading “The Act of Rape Used Against Women in Horror”
“Like a girl…” : Microaggressions Used Toward Women
By: Drue Wigton // As a kid, I never took much offence when my male friends would use phrases such as “… like a girl,” or “… for a girl.” I guess I never found these phrases offensive because I couldn’t realize just how offensive they are. Microaggressions such as these are very commonly usedContinue reading ““Like a girl…” : Microaggressions Used Toward Women”
Colorblindness: A Woman’s Experience
By Alex Cadoff // It was a night like any other. I was laying on one couch with my mother laying on the other watching a show we’ve seen many times before. So, like any good tv watcher, I zoned out of the outside world and went inside my mind to reflect what had happened thatContinue reading “Colorblindness: A Woman’s Experience”
What It Means to be a Woman in the Eyes of the 45th President
By Drue Wigton // In 2015, Donald Trump publicly said “I mean, she’s a woman, and I’m not supposed to say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?” about his rival Carly Fiorina. On ABC’s “The View” in 2006, Donald Trump said “… she does have a very nice figure. I’ve saidContinue reading “What It Means to be a Woman in the Eyes of the 45th President”
Pop Culture and Toxic Relationships
By Victoria Mongiardo // Toxic Relationships. Chances are you have had one, seen a friend cry over one, or even watched your family members struggle through them, and for many people…it’s all of the above. Toxic relationships are so prevalent that nearly everyone can recognize the signs. There is the repetitive fighting, lack of trustContinue reading “Pop Culture and Toxic Relationships”
A Girl Eat Girl World
Men have oppressed and victimized women for centuries, forcing them into a domestic role they found to be the most convenient. But what lasting effects did this constant mistreatment have on the way we as women view each other? In my experience, these injustices paved the way for an unprecedented phenomenon. Instead of feeling aContinue reading “A Girl Eat Girl World”
