Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day Rayanne Asuncion My grandmother raised five daughters and two sons in a foreign country across the Pacific Ocean. She owned a restaurant, worked multiple jobs at once, and won a battle against breast cancer. This year she celebrated her 83rd birthday in her favorite place: the casino. She loves cooking for her family.Continue reading “Mother’s Day”
Letters from the Heart: When Will My Body Be Mine?
Letters from the Heart: When Will My Body Be Mine? By Suad Abdoun TW: rape, SA, Dear Reader, As I scroll through the news today and digest the Supreme Court’s decision to rip away fundamental reproductive rights I am left wondering if I will ever truly own my body. I know I am lucky, havingContinue reading “Letters from the Heart: When Will My Body Be Mine?”
Letters from the Heart: I Have A Confession
Suad Abdoun // Dear Reader, A few months ago I wrote an article about the racist history of fatphobia, in which I briefly discussed my eating disorder and struggle with body image issues. I ended the article on a positive note, claiming I would do my best to destigmatize the way I think about beautyContinue reading “Letters from the Heart: I Have A Confession “
Recovery Is…
By Kat Brydson// TW: EATING DISORDERS Recovery is… I wish I could give my 11-year-old self a hug. I wish I could tell her that she is enough, that she doesn’t need to change for anyone, including herself. I wish I could tell her that she’s not alone, that she should tell her mom whatContinue reading “Recovery Is…”
Women’s History Month: Women Who Made History
Sydney Milewski // It’s March, which means it’s Women’s History Month! Women have made countless contributions to society since the start of civilization. But, most of us have never been taught about extraordinary women and their roles in making history. I want to highlight women from a variety of backgrounds who have made history notContinue reading “Women’s History Month: Women Who Made History”
A Grain of Salt
By Drue Wigton // I’ve mentioned this in a previous article, but with the little free time I have, I try to branch out and discover more female artists in all realms of entertainment. as well as women-owned business to support. Take my recommendations with a grain of salt, but I’ve come to share someContinue reading “A Grain of Salt“
“Man Eater”
by Leila Kalliel // I am a man eater. I like eating men. Their fear, so sweet on my tongue ~ I am a man eater I like eating men I like it even more when they run ~ Their smell is so heinous Their minds, so dull The least they can do is entertainContinue reading ““Man Eater””
Iris: A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Apple Incorporated
by Luigi A. Rodriguez // TW: suicide, violence, sexual harassment “Things gotta change, yo.” – Iris The sound of music, dancing bright bokeh lights, soft summer breezes; automated homes equipped with black mirrors that reflect sparklets, which shine off the sanguinary freckles: a corpse lies on the ground and a hole the size of halfContinue reading “Iris: A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Apple Incorporated”
Demystifying Queer Love: 4 (HEALTHY!) Sapphic Book Recommendations
Micaela Davis In the age of fanfiction and the rampant hyper-fetishization of female queer relationships both on and off-screen, it can definitely be a challenge to find healthy and interesting representation in works of fiction. As a sapphic enthusiast and bookworm, I’ve definitely experienced some hit-and-misses when it came to finding WLW (woman-loving-woman) books thatContinue reading “Demystifying Queer Love: 4 (HEALTHY!) Sapphic Book Recommendations”
Hysteria and Fan Culture: Destigmatizing the Female Fad
Anna Friedman // Where an artist or piece of media finds itself with a majority female fan base, there is inevitably a number of people out there waiting to call it a craze. When the fans are primarily teenage girls, they’re almost guaranteed to become known as full on hysterical. In any space where womenContinue reading “Hysteria and Fan Culture: Destigmatizing the Female Fad”
A Foot Race to Skip
Sarah White // I’ve felt it all too often–the anxious feeling of starting another foot race with a friend. I can just picture it: the turf is filled with dew drops, and the track surrounding it begins to be illuminated by the rising sun. My friend and I are at the starting line. We start toContinue reading “A Foot Race to Skip”
Pronouns in Drag Culture: Rupaul’s Drag Race and other Crazy Controversies
by Kat Brydson // Welcome to the crazy world of drag culture. I’ll introduce this to you with a scenario: You’re at your local Taco Bell, enjoying your crunch wrap supreme, when a group of male-presenting folks walk in and keep referring to each other as “she”. If you didn’t know that they were dragContinue reading “Pronouns in Drag Culture: Rupaul’s Drag Race and other Crazy Controversies”
True Crime: A Fan Culture Devoid of Empathy
By Emily Kissinger // With a rise in fascination with the true crime genre over the passing decades, there has been this false narrative of an illusive manipulator who can trap any victim he pleases. Stalking under the cover of darkness, he is ‘untouchable’. Ted Bundy, Richard Ramirez, or the Chicago Strangler, to name aContinue reading “True Crime: A Fan Culture Devoid of Empathy”
Coding Taught Me How to Fail
By Emma Eriksen // “Nana korobi ya oki” is a Japanese proverb with an English translation that you’ve probably heard: fall down seven times, get up eight. It speaks to perseverance, a character trait that is highly valued in U.S. culture—almost everyone knows the “bootstraps” and “self-made man” parables. But in a culture that praisesContinue reading “Coding Taught Me How to Fail”
“Daddy Issues”
by Suad Abdoun Every now and then, when I am driving through Isla Vista, blasting a random indie playlist, the song Daddy Issues by the NBHD will play and inevitably get stuck in my head for days. I have been thinking about the concept of “daddy issues” a lot as I examine insecurities I haveContinue reading ““Daddy Issues””
6 Brands Empowering Women’s Bodies on IG
By Rayanne Asuncion // Instagram has quickly become another avenue for commercial brands to advertise their products and broadcast their deals, which pop up when tapping through IG stories or scrolling through your timeline. Brands also utilize an active account that informs followers of sales, new releases, and exciting collaborations with celebrities or influencers. RatherContinue reading “6 Brands Empowering Women’s Bodies on IG“
“Is Self Care Real?”
Alexandra Gray // Two months ago I came across an Instagram post of a tweet thread talking about self care. The tweets by Devon Price, linked below, state that “self care” is not real, and is actually a falsity created by capitalism and corporations to turn survival into luxury. Price argues that this transformation hasContinue reading ““Is Self Care Real?””
“Self-Care Isn’t Just for Women”
Sydney Milewski // Time and time again, self-care is marketed towards women as a way to relax, recharge, and show some love to yourself. Face masks, bubble baths, and disconnecting from your devices are typical ways we are told we can participate in “self-care”. While some people recognize doing a body scrub and drinking teaContinue reading ““Self-Care Isn’t Just for Women””
Sex Ed and Sexism
Leila Kalliel // Sexual Education in K-12 schools is a subject which has long been a struggle to implement. From biological essentialism to pregnancy scares, schools just can’t seem to find an appropriate, helpful, realistic middle ground to base their curriculums around. But while the inefficacy of information distributed through sexual education has been aContinue reading “Sex Ed and Sexism”
Margaret Atwood Was Right
Sarah White // When I was fifteen years old, I stared at myself in the mirror as I prepared myself for my first day of sophomore year. I wore my favorite black off-the-shoulder sweater that showed off my collarbones and accentuated my breasts. I slid on my black corduroy pants that my mother had letContinue reading “Margaret Atwood Was Right”
Sour about Sour: My Struggle with Internalized Misogyny
Alexandra Gray // A few months ago Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album “Sour” was released and took the world by storm. Every single radio station played “Good 4 U” or “drivers license” on repeat for weeks. It was inescapable. And while I didn’t enjoy the album as much as the rest of the world did, IContinue reading “Sour about Sour: My Struggle with Internalized Misogyny”
The “Abnormal” Sex
Maryanne Sheldon // Category: Health Medicine and the science behind it have been inherently biased throughout human history. Women, especially women of color, have been consistently ignored because their bodies were considered the outlier. In religion, government, and society at large, white male bodies have been seen as the norm, the template body plan toContinue reading “The “Abnormal” Sex”
Letter to my Depression
Issabel Pantaleon // I wish I could tell you how much you mean to me. How much I miss you. Where did you go? Why does my life feel so empty without you? It’s like this little piece of me is missing, so small I only notice when it’s really quiet and you would usuallyContinue reading “Letter to my Depression”
Top 4 Destinations for Solo Female Travelers
Victoria Mongiardo // Traveling alone is a perfect opportunity for personal growth. You learn to take the initiative, research destinations, make new friends, and explore beautiful places! But sometimes, as a female traveler, it can be intimidating to plan a trip on your own to an entirely unfamiliar place. As solo travelers, we need to considerContinue reading “Top 4 Destinations for Solo Female Travelers”
Eating Disorders and the Racist History of Fatphobia
Suad Abdoun // TW: Eating Disorder One of the most heartbreaking things about being a woman is growing up and being told that your body in its natural form is not desirable and thus you have to change it. I remember being in middle school, not thinking twice about my weight, stretch marks, or cellulite.Continue reading “Eating Disorders and the Racist History of Fatphobia”
Missing from the media
Drue Wigton // abuse, murder, missing persons case On the date of September 11, 2021, it was reported that 22-year old Gabby Petito was missing after she didn’t return with her boyfriend after a month-long trip in their shared van across the country. It wasn’t long until the case went viral; it was a hot topicContinue reading “Missing from the media “
Weight Class Sports and Body Image
Rayanne Asuncion // This past year, I started pursuing weightlifting as a sport. I’ve been training with a coach four times a week, buying weightlifting gear, and drinking protein shakes every day. I am in the middle of training for my first competition, and will be competing in the 76kg weight class. It’s all veryContinue reading “Weight Class Sports and Body Image”
“You don’t look sick”
Emma Eriksen I’m fourteen, wrapped in a hospital gown and shivering at the antiseptic chill of the room, watching as the doctor chats with my mom like I wasn’t there. After spending an hour collecting my vital signs, asking me questions, asking my mom questions, and palpating my abdomen, all interspersed with long waits, heContinue reading ““You don’t look sick””
The Evolution of Modern Feminist Activism: What We Owe to Women of Color
Joshen Mantai // Everyone knows about the power that ensued because of the hashtag #MeToo that ignited a social media phenomenon, exposing the underbelly of sexism within various industries. A similar movement paralleled with #TimesUp, repeatedly showing how social media can be utilized as a space for women to be heard. Over 10 years beforeContinue reading “The Evolution of Modern Feminist Activism: What We Owe to Women of Color”
A Mile in my Shoes
Drue Wigton // On the night of March 3, 2021, a woman named Sarah Everard was walking home from a friend’s house in South London when she was kidnapped in broad daylight and later discovered on March 10, 2021. In light of this recent event, there’s a public upset (as shown by the multiple vigilsContinue reading “A Mile in my Shoes “
Borderline Personality Disorder in Women
By Victoria Mongiardo // For the final day of Mental Health Awareness month, we found it fitting to discuss a relatively unknown mental illness that most commonly affects women. Borderline personality disorder is a severe mental illness that typically involves feeling unloved, unwanted, and empty. People with borderline personality disorder tend to feel constantly afraid thatContinue reading “Borderline Personality Disorder in Women “
A Love Letter To Our Bodies
Sydney Milewski // Dear Body, I love you. I think that’s hard for a lot of us to say because we don’t feel like we deserve to say it. But I do love you. Even if there are things I may want to change about you or feel insecure about, that doesn’t mean I shouldContinue reading “A Love Letter To Our Bodies”
My complicated relationship with femininity
Swara Tewari // When I was a little girl, I used to excitedly don all the frilly dresses my mom bought for me, and wear matching butterfly hair clips. I used to play with dolls and twirl around the living room, pretending I was a princess. When asked what my favorite color was, I wouldContinue reading “My complicated relationship with femininity”
A Time to (Un)Learn: A Brief History of Sexaul Assault Awareness Month
Alexandra Gray // This past month was Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Ironically, and somewhat fittingly, I was unaware of this until this year. Upon reflection, I realized that there is still a taboo surrounding the discussion of sexual assault and survivor stories. Even with the explosion of the “Me Too” movement, a lot of peopleContinue reading “A Time to (Un)Learn: A Brief History of Sexaul Assault Awareness Month”
Let’s Talk About Acne
Karlie Smith // “Don’t worry–your skin will clear in a few years, pimples fade when you become an adult, anyway.” My mother comforted my acne-ridden self with statements similar to these in my pre-teen and teenage years. Of course, I don’t blame her for her desperate attempts to console me in such an insecure state,Continue reading “Let’s Talk About Acne”
What Is Intersectional Feminism? An Intro.
Emily Kissinger // “If we are not intersectional, some of us, the most vulnerable, are going to fall through the cracks” – Kimberlé Crenshaw With The RevivalZine being an intersectional feminist publication, we felt it was long overdue to define what specifically IS intersectionality in a way that’s accessible. As well as that it’s ourContinue reading “What Is Intersectional Feminism? An Intro.”
A “Promising” Young Woman
Joshen Mantai // It was a rainy day in quarantine when I decided to watch the Oscar-nominated film Promising Young Woman (2020) starring the lovely Carey Mulligan. The idea came from a friend, as she described the film as a tale of a “feminist vigilante.” Those are the only two words I felt I neededContinue reading “A “Promising” Young Woman”
An Unapologetic Siding with Valerie Solanas’s SCUM Manifesto (content warning for sexual assault)
Ladann Kiassat // Often when I start befriending a new acquaintance, they quickly learn that I am a feminist. Usually, with replies or rebuttals saying, “you’re not like that type of feminist, right?” I am always baffled. Is there another definition of a feminist? A feminist is one who believes in the sexes’ social, economic,Continue reading “An Unapologetic Siding with Valerie Solanas’s SCUM Manifesto (content warning for sexual assault)”
The Evolution of me and You: A Personal Perspective on the Male Gaze Backed by Biology
Ladann Kiassat // The human species love putting themself above the wild animals they abuse, torture, and eat. You’ve often heard a rendition of “man looks into nature and finds himself” in one context or another. Well this is quite literal. A lot of the evolutionary behaviors that animals display in the midst of theContinue reading “The Evolution of me and You: A Personal Perspective on the Male Gaze Backed by Biology”
An Informal Apology to Taylor Swift
Katie Caracciolo // I would like to apologize. Not for anything I’ve done to you personally, nor because I think you deserve it, but because I finally see what I was missing. I know little of you, what you stand for, or what you love, but over the past several months, your voice has becomeContinue reading “An Informal Apology to Taylor Swift”
“I Can Watch That Too”
Cathryn Noel-Veatch // The film industry is tricky. There are thousands of different movies and television shows that all are out there to provide some type of entertainment. Many of these programs are designed to fit in a certain genre. Action, romance, fantasy, horror; each of these categories have subgenres upon subgenres for them toContinue reading ““I Can Watch That Too””
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
By Leila Kalliel // 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.Continue reading “A Girl Eat Girl World”
The REVIVAL at UCSB 