6 Feminist Zines That Get Us Pumped To Fight the Patriarchy

by Jasmine Ting

 

There’s no such thing as reading too much. And there’s definitely no such thing as reading too much about women, trans, and nonbinary folks. With millions of strong voices and an infinite number of stories to tell, it only makes sense to have a lot of feminist zines out there. From inspiring conversations to creative collages, these zines give women, trans, and nonbinary folks unique spaces to read about and/or tell their stories.

 

Got A Girl Crush
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Why limit yourself to one #WCW? There are enough woman crushes to motivate us in crushing the patriarchy everyday of the week. Got a Girl Crush makes sure we know about all the fierce, accomplished females out there who have made a difference in the writers’ lives, and have the potential to inspire others (men, women, and everyone else).

The print zine is on its sixth issue and has featured women coming from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, from Barcelona city mayor Ada Colau to award-winning creator of medical cannabis products Maya Elisabeth. Aside from interesting stories, you can always expect badass cover art and design.

ContributeGAGC is currently accepting pitches and submissions for Issue 07. So hurry up and pitch them!

Femme Mâché

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There’s no better way to make a feminist zine than to meet, collaborate, and work with other feminists. Femme Maché welcomes all femme, trans, and non-binary folx to a monthly workshop where the zine magic happens.

The goal every meeting is to put together a “documentary zine” centered around a question asked at the beginning of the gathering. The answers take shape in poetry, prose, rough sketches, digital art, and even experimental collages that make-up this beautifully personal and intimate collage of a zine.

Contribute: Follow Femme Mache’s Instagram for updates.

Cooties Zine

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An art gallery on a printed page. That’s what Cooties is. The zine is “committed to curating feminist creators who display a passion for making a difference in the world.” It features aesthetically on-point — but also meaningful — photography, mixed media, and even GIFs (on its web artist features) that speak to the theme of an issue. But whatever the declared theme for any issue is, the zine always promotes “self-love, empowerment, and equality.”

The very first issue featured work from an array of women artists from New York, while the second will focus on “female-identifying folks who are agents of change.”

ContributeFor the next issue, “Ladies of Change,” you don’t have to be an artist. Contributors can come from any background, so long as they identify as an “agent of change.” If you feel like you are, shoot them an email.

 

Girls I Know

Professor and writer Zandile Blay featured in Girls I Know

God knows it’s hard to find avoid negativity and misogynistic, backward-thinking trolls on the internet. There’s one bound to be lurking in every comments section. Even when women achieve great feats, haters are always there to hate and try to bring them down. And so Girls I Know tries to create a “healthy and positive digital space for an audience interested in women doing great things.” The online zine features polaroid photos, which come with every Q&A where our successful sisters spill the beans. It’s all designed to be a platform for women, by women, “to encourage brilliance and ambition through conversations with talented and provocative individuals.”

ContributeIf you know an amazing girl, let everyone else get to know how amazing she is, too! You can introduce her by pitching them any time.

Fly Trap Zine

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Distance doesn’t matter — in relationships or in feminist zine-making. Fly Trap is a collaboration among Brooklynite and British “writers, painters, graphic designers, photographers, poets, activists, [and] troublemakers.” Inspired by a prompt from its two young, feminist founders, these creatives set out to do work that displays “contemporary feminist work.” Fly Trap also holds events in London and New York—including art and crafts workshops, as well as zine fests.

ContributeJust stay tuned and wait for their prompt for their third issue.

Susie Magazine

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Provocative and powerful in its imagery, Susie is a bi-annual art and literary journal that promotes inclusivity. The magazine features “women, trans, & non-binary folks of all cultural backgrounds and creeds,” and provides a platform to “amplify” voices that aren’t often heard in mainstream media. Aside from the magazine, Susie also hosts art exhibits, shows, and bazaars that celebrate diversity—in race, background, and gender.

Contribute: No word on when they start the presses for the next issue, but best to keep posted on all things Susie-related through their Instagram.

More from BUST

Resist! Trump With This Zine (Yeah, Zine)

This Is What Zine Culture Looks Like In 2017

8 Feminist Zines You Need To Check Out

 

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