It’s Women’s History Month and I can’t help but recall Maya
Angelou’s famous quotation: “How important it is for us to recognize and
celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”
Oftentimes, our she-roes are from bygone generations—trailblazers that
came before and changed how we perceive and relate to the word around us. Sometimes, however, she-roes emerge who are
younger, and yet possess an expansive vision that can shift the cultural,
social, or political dialogue in ways as of yet unseen. Tavi Gevinson, the wunderkind fashion blogger
and founder of Rookie Magazine is a She-ro certainly worth
celebrating.
At the tender age of 17, Gevinson has achieved international
notoriety for ingeniously synchronizing fashion and feminism in her online
publication. With contributions from
icons across the pop stratosphere (Judy Blume, Lorde, Ira Glass, Jean Grae, and
Joss Whedon to name a few) Tavi and her team fulfill the critical role of
providing sharp, worldly, and approachable content focused on issues impacting
teenage girls and women. Written in
large part by young women, Rookie unpacks
the adolescent experience in ways that don’t require near-impenetrable jargon
(think “intersectionality”) to comprehend.
For example, each month’s “issue” has a theme; February 2014’s theme was
“Escape” and featured articles on topics such as eating disorders, shame, and
dying. “Self-loathing is easy, once you
get the hang of it,” wrote one contributor. “I was convinced that I was ugly and
gross and that nobody would ever love, because I didn’t look like I’d just
stepped out of a magazine.” The author
then shares several techniques that worked for her in processing her feelings
of self-loathing, such as reframing her thoughts.
Have no fear—not everything is heavy in Rookieland. Readers
(insiders call themselves ROOKIES) can enjoy more lighthearted fare (“DIY Pizza
nail polish”) relish in inspiring stories of overcoming adversity (“I was a
High School Dropout: A Non-Horror Story”) and maybe pick up some unconventional
wisdom from the popular “Ask a Grown Man/Woman” column. Perhaps it is because its diversity of
content, seamlessly woven together, that Rookie
has struck such an impressive chord.
Just as likely, Rookie’s
surprising success maybe founded on its proffered sense of ownership. “Hey ROOKIES!,” a sidebar reads, “Next
month’s theme is LOST AND FOUND. We’re looking
for writing, illustration, photography, video, collage, etc., on things we have
lost and times we’ve been found; on being independent vs. asking for help; on
solitude, pros and cons; shyness and the conquering of same; misanthropy and
empathy and love and how they can coexist. On everything that makes us feel
less alone in this world.” A link to the
submissions email address follows, allowing readers to shape the magazine’s
thrice-a-day content updates (labeled “after school, before dinner, and before
bed”).
Naturally, Tavi Gevinson and Rookie have drawn their fair share of criticism. Detractors complain of the magazine’s
pronounced nostalgia, its fixation on image, and its sponsorships from
oft-questionable corps such as Urban Outfitters. Yet, despite these shortcomings, Tavi has
created a platform that undeniably counteracts some of the degrading and
objectifying elements of pop culture while still embracing its more positive,
expressive qualities. Her vision,
inclusivity, and courage to shed light on the experience of growing up female
are, in the words of Dr. Angelou, cause for recognition and celebration.
Written by Rachel L. Brosamle, M.A.
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