We are a group of young women (age 11-16) who got the opportunity to create our own magazine to talk about the issues affecting us in our community. We meet each week after school and we get to research, write, edit and design our very own magazine, ‘Eastern Chatter’, which is produced online and in print.
Working on our girl-zine, ‘Eastern Chatter’ helps us to feel we can play an active role in our community, and have a voice to share the things that we and other young women are experiencing, from negative body image and peer pressure to gender equality and leadership.
We have invited a range of women to be interviewed and featured in our magazine, including a journalist and fashion photographer, and participants take part in workshops on themes to include in the magazine, including bullying, body image and relationships.
What do the chatter zine girls think about gender equality?
“We should fight for people to make better decisions. There’s no difference between men and women. But girls don’t think they can be leaders and in charge– most girls just want to do make-up and hair, but it’s a stereotype”
“I feel excited to come to the project. I feel I’ve become more confident, better at English and using computers, and I’ve made friends”
“We feel that gender equality is very important, but it is a subject that isn’t talked about very often”
For inspiring youth-led magazines, take a look at:
• Gal Dem Magazine
• Man Dem Magazine
• Muslim Girl
• Black Girl Dangerous
• Spare Rib
For more information about gender equality, visit:
• Fawcett Society
Find out about Plan International's #becauseIamagirl and #learnwithoutfear campaigns. Read their reports:
– The Unfinished Business of Girls' Rights
– Girls' Rights in the UK
Follow #whatireallyreallywant and take part in action to End Extreme Poverty, Fight Inequality and Injustice and End Climate Change.
In 2015 world leaders promised to put girls and women first when they signed up to the Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, fix climate change and tackle inequalities. Follow their campaign: www.globalgoals.org
Download the case study here:
