ELLEFEMINISM

FEMINISTS we love
Smashing the patriarchy one tweet at a time a playful yet powerful new feminism is lling the web. Robyn Wilder proles the voices we think you need to follow
Julieanne Smolinski
twitter.com/BoobsRadley Manifesto: I just want collarbone hollows that I can ll alluringly with M&Ms. Tell me more: Sometimes the best feminist role model is the one living the values rather than banging a drum, shouting vagina. Of course, it helps if theyre hilarious. In turns droll, dorky, wise, and extolling the virtues of condiments, searingly funny US writer Julieanne Smolinski is worth gold for her Twitter one-liners alone. After all, 135,000 followers cant be wrong. Dont miss: Her gloriously unimpressed review of a sex kit on xojane.com. She says: Im on a new diet where I have fruit at breakfast, salad at lunch, then a guy I slept with tells me how important my friendship is to him.

ONLINE

bathroomgratifeminists.tumblr.com Manifesto: [Wo]mynz in stallz with something to say. Tell me more: What do you want most when using a public loo, except loo roll? Grati telling you to love your labia, of course. This Tumblr curates messages of sisterhood in toilets by feminists with a disregard for antivandalism laws, and opinions on, yknow, your labia. Dont miss: The message where the mirror would usually be, which simply reads: you look ne. She says: Whatever you think is wrong with your body, its not.

Bathroom Graffiti Feminists

Tomorrows Girls

Who Needs Feminism?

whoneedsfeminism.tumblr.com Manifesto: To challenge stereotypes surrounding feminists and assert the importance of feminism. Tell me more: Students from North Carolinas Duke University set up this Tumblr to dispel misconceptions about feminism being extreme. Dont miss: Feminist statement seles, especially: I need feminism because I was told Id distract boys at school because I was wearing shorts. I was 10. She says: Until the denigration around feminism is alleviated, it will be hard to achieve total gender equality, both statistically and socially.

tomorrowsgirls.co.uk Manifesto: Feminism for people who consider turning o their computers when they see the word feminism on the internet. Tell me more: National UK Blog Awards nominee Lucy McDonald used to buy into negative feminist stereotypes but then she began studying feminism, and realised its importance. She blogs about topics such as seles and Page 3 to help people who wouldnt usually align themselves with feminism to link their lives to the movement. Dont miss: The misconceptions series, where Lucy addresses questions and criticisms about feminism and its place in the world. She says: The best messages I get are from people who say I turned them feminist but, to me, feminism is common sense. We all stand to gain from a society where men and women enjoy equality, and the more people I help reach the same conclusion, the better.

Photography: Twitter/BoobsRadley.

ELLEUK.COM

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youtube.com/marinashutup Manifesto: Women are superior to men. Its science. Tell me more: Student and aspiring stand-up comic Marina Watanabe has more than 16,000 people subscribed to watch her deadpan updates on YouTube. Poetry and unexplained chickens, its all here and its witty and thought-provoking. Dont miss: Her brilliant Myths About Feminism video. She says: Feminists hate women who wear make-up: false. We have a deep respect for women who can apply eyeliner evenly to both eyes.

Marina Shut Up

Girl Talk HQ

girltalkhq.com

Black Feminists

blackfeminists.org Manifesto: A group for women who identify as black, and as women. Tell me more: This community, which exists both online and oine, is a safe space for black, Asian and other nonwhite feminists to address social and political injustice. Threads tend to be lively and debate heated, but the entire site is endlessly eye-opening. Dont miss: Their take on Beyoncs new album, and whether its good or bad for black feminism. She says: Last time I checked, black women (even those who shake their asses for whatever reason) have brains and mouths, and are perfectly able to speak for ourselves.

Manifesto: Empowering and inspiring a generation of women with positive, informative media content. Tell me more: Dreamt up by British-born, Australianraised, ethnically Indian LA resident Asha K, Girl Talk HQ is an online magazine that specialises in feminist-friendly news, with a pleasant aftertaste. It explores everything from the birth of the disabled cheerleading movement to the careers of female Afghani rappers. Dont miss: The role model interviews. She says: We want to break down stereotypes created by mass media: who you are is who youre meant to be.

hate Feminists dont hate make-up. We have a s demay have spect for women ep re who can apply eyeliner evenly to both eyes.
MARINA SHUT UP

Feminism Belongs In Schools

feminismbelongs.tumblr.com Manifesto: Equality belongs in education! Tell me more: In 2013, boys at Manchesters Altrincham Grammar School subjected its feminist society to such extreme abuse, the school closed the group but didnt address male pupils actions. This blog was set up in response, and encourages UK schools to tackle sexism at source, instead of by censorship. Dont miss: The link to Feministas Schools against sexism campaign. She says: When we fail to support girls voices, we turn our backs on boys who need a hand in becoming informed men.

The Self-Rescuing Princess Society

pinterest.com/srps Manifesto: No knight in shining armour is going to save us. So we straighten our tiaras and get down to kicking ass. Tell me more: This erce Pinterest account throws the platforms abundance of weddings into welcome relief. The pins skewer media that objecties women and provide a dose of visual inspiration for the upwardly mobile feminist. Dont miss: The wall of shame. Oending adverts include a poster of a woman trying to escape a man holding her arms, with the line, Unlike some people, Belvedere Vodka always goes down easily. She says: No damsels in distress here.

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Photography: Alamy, Francois Dischinger.

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We want to break down stereotypes created by words here edia: who you mass m are is who you are meant to be.
G I R L TA L K H Q

Hollaback
ihollaback.org

Manifesto: You have the power to end street harassment. Tell me more: If youve ever been catcalled, this is the site for you. Hollaback encourages victims of street harassment to share their stories to bring the issue to light. It also works with communities to educate people to be better bystanders. With over 10,000 Twitter followers and centres in 25 countries, including the UK, an end to street harassment might actually be in sight. Dont miss: The eight UK Hollaback centres. She says: Responding to street harassment can reduce the impact of the trauma. Even a knowing look to the person being harassed can reduce their experience of isolation.

Taylor Adele Smith

youtube.com/tadelesmith Manifesto: She is one of those VIDEO feminists. On the YouTube. Tell me more: With her gentle delivery, you could mistake Taylors videos (like Feminist Make-up Tutorial) as ironyfree. Then shell say: well use foundation. Make sure you give every bit of your face fair representation, and youll be on the same page. She is whimsical and articulate, and her satirical videos are consistently on point. Dont miss: Her 8 beauty trends men hate video (346,000 views, and counting), including the theory that men dont like short hair on women because they assume the woman is their own reection and are confused when their movements arent mirrored. She says: If you guilt or shame women based on their appearance, you ought to be dropped in a river by a hawk.

Is This Feminist? Clarissa explains F*ck all

isthisfeminist.tumblr.com Manifesto: Because being a marginally acceptable feminist is a full-time job. Tell me more: Navigating feminism can be tricky, especially when dealing with concepts like the matrix of oppression. This Tumblr lampoons the fact that, however you do it, someone will say youre wrong, and satirises this, labelling the most innocuous things (napping, coee, Michelle Obama) as PROBLEMATIC. Dont miss: On the thumbs up: The most phallocentric gesture imaginable. You are literally telling someone that a good job is the equivalent of growing a penis. She says: Real feminists come out of the womb with a force eld that keeps them from absorbing negative cultural ideas.

clarissaexplainsfuckall.com Manifesto: To celebrate TV from trashy reality shows to life-changing box sets from a feminist perspective. Tell me more: Straddling the divide between vapid soap opera magazines and impenetrably nerdy TV forums, this TVobsessed blog is thoughtful and very funny. Topics include the way that overachieving female main characters can bomb your self-esteem, and the f *ckability of Walter White from Breaking Bad. You wont read that in TV Choice. Dont miss: The brutally honest (and spoiler-heavy) Dexter series nale review, F*ck You, Dexter Morgan. She says: Where are all the loser women? Sometimes all I want to see is Lena Dunham sticking a cotton bud in her ear.

READ IT

To find out more about the ELLE feminism campaign, go to elleuk.com

Five funny femin

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sarabenincasa.com

Sara Benincasa

Irreverent and not for everyone, Sara drunkenly reviews TV shows. Sample quote: I post a lot of selfies because its difficult to be this hot in private.

@HannahSimone

Hannah Simone

New Girls Cece invited Reddit users to ask her anything. Her replies were witty: Would you consider cage fighting? I dont like to revisit my past.

Feminist Taylor Swift

@feministswift

This parody Twitter puts a feminist spin on Taylors lyrics. Youve got a smile that can light up this whole town/I havent seen it in a while/ Since the glass ceiling kept you down.

youtu.be/tC1XtnLRLPM

Defined Lines: a Robin Thicke parody

A trio of Auckland students made this response to Blurred Lines, singing about misogyny and cake while half-naked men danced around.

Alida Nugents blog is like a sassy best friend. Dating advice? Fall madly in love, but dont ever forget you are capable of being single and happy.

the-frenemy.com

The Frenemy

Photography: YouTube/tadelesmith.