Hannah Forsdike

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // Illustration by Loreta Isac // When my mum picked me up she asked how the class was, and I lied and say it was good. And later, when I was alone in my room, a den of girly, ballet themed memorabilia that I just didn’t resonate with anymore, I practiced telling my parents that I wanted to quit in my head.

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // illustration by Jenny Pereira // So, should we commend pseudo girl power moments in media for spiraling us towards more diverse female roles and story lines, or condemn them for giving us the illusion of feminist story telling?

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // And as the girls started flowing in all my nerves about the day disappeared. I cannot express how amazing it was to spend the day talking about menstruation with an amazing group of inspiring and engaging young women. 

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // In general I think we are too quick to write off feminism in modern pop culture. We are in a social transitional period right now, and this is reflected in our media.

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // Illustrations by Meybis Ruiz // Feminine strength is a prevalent topic in the series, and could not be better demonstrated than through Arya and Sansa Stark. 

Review by Zadie McCracken // Photographs by Hannah Forsdike // Art by Freya Bennett // Walking away from Period Witches, I felt a sense of joy and renewal. The day had passed quickly, but without rush. I had a bag full of sweet treats, a head full of new knowledge, and a sweet feeling settled in my chest. 

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // illustration by Freya Bennett // Asides from shutting down sexist norms left and right, female strength and fear is demonstrated through Carol and the other women in this film.

Interview of Mhari Grace by Hannah Forsdike

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // Friends, Foes & Fireworks deals with many issues women face that are not often represented in film, such as exploration of female sexuality, women’s health, loss of a loved one, unwanted pregnancy, career pressure, and toxic relationships.

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // Illustration by Karla Drama // At first I couldn’t imagine how I would make the time to bake bread and do all this extra work, but it really comes down to forming good habits, and breaking away from our cultural need for convenience.

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // photograph by Francesca Ciavarella // When women are misrepresented in movies and TV shows it’s not only insulting, but it’s also difficult to identify with on screen characters. Successful fiction should allow the consumer to make a connection to the narrative; it should be comparable to real life in some way for us to be able to make sense of the story and the characters.

Review of Lavender and Other Field Flowers by Mhari Grace by Hannah Forsdike // Her poetry is rich with nature themed metaphors and floral imagery, like the delicate petals of a flower and the life giving sunlight.

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // Illustration by Sofie Birkin // My hope here is to encourage you to rethink about your relationship with fashion to help save this beautiful planet we are lucky enough to call home.

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // Illustration by Ayelen Lujan // An interesting comparison between masculinity and femininity can be made when comparing Jessica Jones to her male Netflix/Marvel counterpart Daredevil. While Jessica Jones emulates a feminine fear of being controlled, Daredevil portrays a much more stereotypically masculine fear of a physically debilitating injury or disability.

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // Illustration by Franz Lang // Girls in this community are always accused of ‘faking it for attention’. Women who show an interest in ‘geeky’ content are quizzed relentlessly, forced to prove our knowledge for the right to call ourselves a fan.

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // Photograph by MISKA // Thank you to Judge Aquilina for offering these survivors a voice. Thank you to the 150+ women who made statements. And thank you to the survivors who continue fighting to hold everyone involved in enabling Nassar accountable. The strength of these survivors will empower others.

Review of Wen Hsiao by Hannah Forsdike // I found Hsiao’s writing mature and insightful, and what I read certainly provoked self-examination. I can’t say I have ever read such a thorough exploration of love written by someone so young, I feel like this is the kind of writing I looked for as a teenager.

Book review by Hannah Forsdike // Many may not consider this novel a feminist text, because at face value it does not promote gender equality. However, in a way it suggests that men and women are equal in their capability for violence, and that violence is the direct result of power.

Interview of Meredith White by Hannah Forsdike // My love for illustrating vaginas started as a personal rebellion. Vaginas and vulvas as a subject matter are often considered highly taboo and offensive, for no legitimate reason.

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // Photograph by Marta Braggio // Our names are tied to our identity. It’s the first thing we learn to write, and the last thing left behind when we die. It connects us to our family and cultural heritage. So why does heterosexual marriage have to mean completely uprooting a woman’s identity?

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // Illustration by Ayelen Lujan // The world isn’t perfect; modern day women are often encouraged to publish under gender ambiguous names or initials to appeal to a more diverse audience, like J.K Rowling, for example.

Interview of Hannah Birkett by Hannah Fordsike // Photographs by Holly Edwards // Every person deserves to be treated equally, regardless of their gender. Simple

Interview of Bek Snelling by Hannah Forsdike //  I’m so thankful for feminists and equal rights activists throughout history, without whom I would not have access to an education, have a promising career ahead of me or be able to properly share my opinions.

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // More and more female characters in leading roles have been gracing our screens. Last year on Halloween it made my heart sing to see little girls trading in tiaras for lightsabers because on my street, Rae from Star Wars was by far the most popular costume choice.