POWER
issue 005
‘Here’s to strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.’ ~ Unknown
Editorial
Feminist. The F-word.
I have always considered myself a feminist and always will. I'm fortunate enough to have rarely experienced moments where I've been 'less than' my male counterparts and for that I'm very grateful. But I'm no stranger to the subtler forms of inequality that plague all of us.
Yeah, we can vote and we can work and we can own property and we can divorce and we can do all sorts of things thank to the feminists of yesteryear, but we're the lucky ones. And now we need to turn our attention to the women around the world needing the F-word in their lives.
I hope this edition will reaffirm your commitment to women everywhere and that the stories resonate with you.
Let Georgia Tendall's examination of feminism through the ages explain where we are today; let Lourdes Gonzalez inspire with her tales of the wonder women of Mexico; discover the businesses supporting women in crisis; and get ready to roar.
In a world where women are starved for models of female influence, authenticity and dignity, we all need to step up to the plate.
Power to the people!
To our contributors, thank you. To our readers, enjoy. ■
Jade Sterling
Features
Modern feminism: background to backlash
History shows that feminism as a social and political force is flawed. It is essential, now more than ever, to view feminism as a continually evolving and blossoming movement that thrives only when we take time to wholeheartedly listen and accommodate all experiences.
#metoo needs some compassion
For the #MeToo movement to continue beyond 2019, it needs some compassion—and quickly.
my experience with a weinstein-type
by Helen Mackenzie
It's not quite #metoo in that I wasn't personally abused, but I was targeted for standing up for those who were.
special feature
Meet shondtel walker
Shondtel lived for many years hiding behind her invisible scars until she decided that it was time to step out of her own shadow and breathe new life into her soul.
You can meet Shondtel Walker in Dubai, 22-28 October 2019.
this is why women want safe spaces
There are creeps everywhere and we just want somewhere without them for once.
explaining mansplaining
‘Mansplaining’ is an important portmanteau in a world beginning to wake up to the pervasiveness of gender inequality.
Special feature
it was a man’s world
by Lourdes Gonzalez
Over the last few years, Mexico and other Latin American countries have seen a rise in female led businesses; from the male dominated agricultural and farming industry to science and technology industries, women’s ascent to the top of the leadership hill has been constant and implacable, although not without its struggles.
the paradox of women’s happiness
As movements around the world erode the gaps between the genders, one unexpected gap is no different: while women in the 1970s typically reported higher subjective wellbeing than men, female happiness is on the decline.
let’s all worry about problems that don’t exist
The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics went to Dr Donna Strickland, a Canadian scientist. Did mainstream media hear about that? No—we were all focusing on what one man said.
i’m no token woman
by Gemma Mills
Recently, I was approached by a company who were keen to speak with me about a role. They’d seen my experience and they were really looking for a woman to join their team—red flag, red flag!
speaking up at work
Speaking as a woman in a professional setting involves tightrope walking—which is easier said than done
want to write for us?
If you’ve got a story, we want to hear it.
I’m standing alone in my underwear…
imagine how vulnerable I’d be if I didn’t own a pair.
by Hayley Besheer Santell
I stood in my underwear in a crowded public plaza to symbolise vulnerability.
in defence of your makeup routine
Painting women as blind narcissists instead of self-aware pragmatists is just plain dumb.
the januhairy diaries
Ahhh Januhairy—the perfect opportunity for the lazy feminist to reassess her feelings about body hair while also saving precious time and money.
coming soon
Issue 006 - Money
Emma watson’s our shared shelf
She's taken a lot of flack since stepping into the role of 'relatable feminist' but that's her superpower: she's on this journey with us.
the feminist books you need to read
Take inspiration from Our Shared Shelf and get your hands on these books.
the right to be a woman
by Katia Kutsenko
A girl still in high-school might find it easier to watch a TV drama or a reality show than read a newspaper. That’s why we need smart, focused programs able to impact the majority of young, still inexperienced women.
how to empower the women in your life
Empowering women has never been more important. From raising your voice to charitable donations, there are myriad small ways you can support the women around you.
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