spare rib review
“there is no central theme to Spare Rib – just like its homonym that was founded exactly four decades ago (Spare Rib magazine that fought for women’s rights in the 1970s), it is a collective, a collective of our generation, and of the unique colours of the edinburgh university students.” (image: eclosion by shawn nayar (image credit: phoebe janes)
my pandemic body-how Covid-related anxiety, social isolation and restrictions have redefined my relationship with food and my body.
Issy Stephenson discusses the unexpected effects the Covid-19 pandemic has had upon her self-image and her attitude to food, from the perspective of someone who had not struggled with negative body image prior to the first lockdown. She writes how social isolation and disordered eating are interrelated, and argues that it is crucial we open up a dialogue about the ways in which our mental health has been impacted by the pandemic. (image: Josie Devine)
in conversation with fat life drawing
fat life drawing was created by two sisters, emily and isobel. they came up with fat life drawing’s concept after taking part in online life drawing classes, as a creative outlet during lockdown. soon after, they discovered the extent to which those spaces are lacking in diversity and inclusion. their initial goal was - and continues to be - creating a comfortable, safe, judgement-free space for like-minded creatives to come together.
the cultural reset - an interview with nick lee & shannon ervin
the Cultural Reset (TCR) is an organization that seeks to uplift the voices, artistic expression, and industry experiences of poc and lgbtq+ artists navigating the music industry. mxogyny sat down with the organisation to discover more about TCR and what they hope will be the platform’s impact on the music industry in the near future.
identifying as transgender in Zimbabwe: a conversation with Jordan chanetsa
jordan chanetsa is a trans-rights activist, content creator, and host based in harare, zimbabwe. she focuses her work on equality, diversity, and inclusivity. jordan considers herself a colourful individual, who is not afraid to speak her mind and to fight for what she believes in. mxogyny sits down with her to talk about life as a trans-woman in zimbabwe and how she navigates her identity in society.
from a fine art student to a Tamil - British photographer
in this piece, 'From a fine art student to a Tamil-British photographer', Mathushaa Sagthidas reflects on her creative journey as an artist but also as a young woman, trying to navigate her position in and outside of the creative industry as an Eelam Tamil. she reflects on unexpected hurdles she had to overcome to discover where her creative passions lie.
creating a community space of solidarity and empowerment for East and Southeast Asians: an interview with racismunmasked
RacismUnmasked is a platform for raising awareness about racism against East And Southeast Asians (ESEA) in Edinburgh, offering a valuable space for the community to share their experiences, and find comfort, solidarity and empowerment in doing so. deputy editor-in-chief Michelle Moira Mei Ling Firth talks to members Feiya and Can about their work in the movement - about the importance of creating a community space for ESEA people in the UK; finding catharsis in shared experience and solidarity; as well as the challenges associated with activism.
the erasure of brown women from the body hair movement is nothing new, but this time we’ve had enough
writer and activist Henna Amin explores the erasure of brown women from the body hair movement, the aestheticisation and appropriation of BIPOC features by the beauty industry and the intersects of race and gender in regards to beauty standards. the piece is accompanied by a series of graphics by Sahar Ghorishi.
catharsis and, or as, art: how grief changed my relationship to art
deputy editor-in-chief Michelle Moira Mei Ling Firth reflects on her struggle to reconnect with art after painting her way through the initial months following her dad’s death. within, she discusses the tension between art as catharsis from trauma, and art becoming trauma, and how this changed her relationship to art. the piece was edited under the kind guidance of editor-in-chief Rachel Baker.
to my fifteen-year-old self - a letter by Ellie Jeans for eating disorder awareness week
in this letter to her fifteen-year-old self, twenty-one-year-old Ellie Jeans reflects on her gradual recovery from bulimia: on the micro-victories and the failures in-between; to let her know that recovery, though a long and tumultuous process, is worth the wait. the article is accompanied by an illustration by Alex Skyrme.
hope ebbs and flows through american elections
Marina Martinez explores her lived experience of U.S. presidential elections. she reflects on what pivotal political moments she has gone through, and what is next for her country. the article is accompanied by artwork from Julia Winokur.
scotland paves the way to end period poverty
Saffron Roberts, the founder of Period Poverty at Edinburgh University, answers a few questions on Scotland’s monumental move to becoming the first country in history to make period products free by law. the article is accompanied by a graphic by Hermione Read.
maca, marina and martín’s mum, su: accounts from the world’s longest lockdown
after spending her year abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rachel Flynn reflects on an Argentine lockdown, what it meant for the country and for three different women she grew to know during her time there. the piece is accompanied by a photograph taken by Rodrigo Vergara.
to see or not to see: death, race and the hunger games
“The odds are seldom in their favour”; Alex Barnes reflects on the cinematic treatment of black people in The Hunger Games series and how this resonates in era of Black Lives Matter.
the curse of respectability politics in reality tv
respectability politics works to force women into socially acceptable boxes, Ronita Awoonor-Gordon explores the role of respectability politics for black women in reality TV.
starting a career in the creative industry - post pandemic
through the lessons she has learned in her own experiences, Lisa Levytska gives a realistic, but ultimately hopeful, guide to approaching a creative career in the daunting, post-pandemic world.
michaela coel’s i may destroy you: traumatic, powerful, brilliant
in this review of Michaela Coel’s brilliant new series, I May Destroy You, our regular contributor Annie speaks of the show’s power to educate its viewers about consent and sexual assault, and its ability to take the audience down a path of introspection and healing alongside the show’s main characters. well-made, perfectly cast, and funny and light-hearted in parts, Annie argues the show is well worth watching if you can get past its many triggers.
engage and preserve - a simple guide to absorbing information online while maintaining wellbeing
social media, at its best, is a tool for education, community and support. however, it can also be a damaging and overwhelming source of information, particularly during tumultuous times for world events. Laura White, a confidence and wholeness coach, runs us through simple ways that we can learn to manage our mental wellbeing online, ensuring that we are engaging with the world while prioritising our health and happiness.
de-bunking jk rowling's transphobia
Ellie Kilbride takes us through exploration and debunking of J.K Rowling’s transphobia in light of black lives matter, pride month, and the history of feminist discourse.
'the madness issue' - fashion's problem with fetishising mental illness
Vogue Portugal have caused controversy this summer over their recent cover image, which portrays a mental health patient cowering in a bath tub, titled - ‘The Madness Issue’. Amy Houghton discusses the issue, addressing the wider problem of the industry’s history of aestheticising mental illness for the sake ‘fashion’.