Culture

24 A5 Pages
Available at Blackstar Books

If only there were some kind of space dedicated to celebrating the creative and diverse voices of young feminist women in New Zealand ... that’s What She Said.

What She Said is essentially the literary embodiment of a new intersectional feminist society operating at the University of Canterbury – UC FemSoc. The first edition of the zine, published in early February and subtitled “A Room of One’s Own,” collages together articles, artwork, poetry, and resource reviews in order to demonstrate the continued relevance of a critical feminist perspective, albeit revamped and appropriately self-aware, and to challenge the devaluation of gender studies within universities across the country. Working under the banner of fourth-wave feminism, What She Said aims to democratise and apply academic feminism in a way that is relevant to the real-world experiences of women, non-binary individuals, and men.

Showcasing a range of contributions as diverse as its members, the first issue features an illustrated guide to feminists past and present, musings on the power dynamics inherent in the English language, an historical exploration of the first women-led union in NZ, articles on LGBQT actualisation, ally-ism, and masculinity, and showcases local performance artists and poets. As a means of organising activism, and for engaging with issues of gender identity and representation as they present themselves outside of the university, What She Said is ultimately designed to act as a positive statement about the capabilities of young people, especially women, whist challenging the dominant discourses of masculinity and femininity and all that they entail. Available in print and on the web, the next issue of What She Said is due to be released in the first week of May, and promises to deliver more of its multivocal glory.

Zines of the week are chosen by volunteers at Blackstar Books, Dunedin’s own anarchist-inspired community library and social space since 2003, located on Moray Place near the Octagon. Come by sometime – details and directions are available at cargocollective.com/zinefest