Why Zines?
At Girls To The Front, we believe in the power of self-publishing. In a world where girls are often spoken about rather than listened to, zines provide a way to take back the narrative.
What is a zine?
A zine (pronounced "zeen") is a self-published, small-circulation work of original or appropriated texts and images. They are rooted in DIY culture and have a long history as a tool for marginalised voices to rewrite the rules society has written for them.​There are no right or wrong answers in a zine. There are no gatekeepers, no grading, and no requirement for approval. Whether it’s a single sheet of paper folded into a booklet or a digital collage, a zine is a piece of everyday activism.
Why we make them...
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No Permission Needed: You don’t need an institution, a publisher, or a social media algorithm to validate your ideas. If you have a pen and a piece of paper, you have a platform.
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Work in Progress Attitude: We value lived experience and authenticity over polished content. Zines are a space to celebrate your imperfect and weird glory.
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Tackling the Tough Stuff: Zines allow us to talk about everything that matters in an open in a way that is relatable and grounded in real life.
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Community Benefit: When you self-publish, you contribute a new narrative to your community. Your zine might be the very thing someone else needs to see to feel less alone.
Want to get started?
You don't need to be an artist to make a zine or have any experience. Collaging (using existing images to create something new) is a core part of the aesthetic. Here are some of places to find high-quality, free-to-use images for your zines:
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