At Nat. Brut, we try to be mindful and inclusive in everything we do. We work hard to draw attention to voices that advance intersectional feminist perspectives, and we celebrate others who do the same. In hopes of taking this a step further, our staff decided to ask a handful of well known feminists who inspire us to share other inclusive feminists who inspire them. Spend some time with these incredible women’s work, and feel free to share others who inspire you!
12 Emerging Feminist Game-Changers
in Media, Journalism, & the Arts
Ashley Ford
Ashley’s modus operandi is raw honesty. In her writing, she confronts taboo topics like rape culture, bends the traditional narrative on body image, and unfolds the nuances of the queer experience. Her stories are refreshing, thought-provoking, immaculately structured, and exactly what an audience should encounter inside Elle, The Guardian, and Slate.
@iSmashFizzle / ashleycford.net
Ping Zhu
The media’s representation of race and gender informs our perception of identity from a very young age. In this light, Ping Zhu’s illustrations are impressive beyond their artistic merit. Printed in major publications, her artwork regularly depicts people of all genders, races, and identities performing non-stereotypical activities, setting the bar high for representational inclusivity.
Ijeoma Oluo
Ijeoma Oluo is the genius behind “The Badass Feminist Coloring Book,” which blends crayon fun and feminist strength to teach both children and adults about intersectional feminism. Beyond her coloring book, Ijeoma writes about gender and race for the likes of Jezebel and xojane.
Jazmine Hughes
Jazmine Hughes is a powerhouse of humor and insight. She has a knack for combining jokes with social commentary and flipping over pop culture to examine its less obvious dimensions. As the Associate Digital Editor of NYTimes Magazine, she’s also an inspiration for young writers — especially those who rarely see their identities reflected in editorial mastheads.
Hye Yun Park
Hye Yun Park is an actor, filmmaker, and writer whose web series Hey Yun, branded as “a comedy about an angry, whimsical Korean woman,” tackles issues surrounding racist and classist microaggressions. She keeps the lens on the harsh insensitivities her character withstands, while sprinkling in moments of silliness, loyalty, and fierce friendship.
Marisa Williamson
Marisa Williamson’s art explores the hidden historical figure Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson’s slave and mistress. In Sally’s character, Marisa converses with Monica Lewinsky, walks through Paris asking strangers for life advice, and reflects in a modern voice about being a woman — compelling us to rethink the impact of historical stereotype on our present moment.
@Mahreesa / marisawilliamson.com
Sophia Wallace
Sophia Wallace is the founder of Cliteracy, an artistic campaign created to expel the stigma that surrounds the clitoris. By drawing the clitoris in full and explaining of the organ’s underrecognized anatomy, Sophia is helping the world understand female sexual pleasure. An interactive feature on Cliteracy recently aired in The Huffington Post.
@sophiawallace / sophiawallace.com
Bim Adewunmi
As a columnist at The Guardian and BuzzfeedUK’s Culture Editor, Bim provides sharp commentary on the biases that manifest in all forms of media. From the lack of onscreen romance involving black women to the Internet’s insistence that “all-white is for everyone, but all-black is for black people,” Bim’s writing hits the nail on the head again and again.
@bimadew / yorubagirldancing.com
Zahra Noorbakhsh
Zahra Noorbakhshs’s comedy speaks to the experience of being Muslim, first-generation American, and feminist. In her podcast, #GoodMuslimBadMuslim, co-hosted with Taz Ahmed, she explores the intersection of religious identity and contemporary life through current events, political commentary, and a whole lot of laughs.
@ZahraComedy / zahracomedy.com
Kat Lazo
Kat Lazo is a feminist vlogger whose YouTube series, TheeKatsMeoww, takes bold strides to lift the veil on issues like LGBTQ street harassment and the media’s misrepresentation of menstruation. She also helps folks answer identity questions they might never ask but should know how to answer, like the difference between Hispanic, Latin@, and Spanish.
Rebecca Cohen
Rebecca Cohen is the creator of GynoStar, a feminist comic superhero who fights sexism and other forms of evil. With Gynostar and other cartoon characters, Rebecca reveals the ironies of anti-feminist tropes, depicts the regular discrimination women face, and rallies behind political and social equality.
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh
You likely heard the buzz last year around the street art campaign, “Stop Telling Women to Smile.” Tatyana Fazlalizadeh is the force behind this anti-catcalling movement. An illustrator and oil painter, she is a prolific artist whose portraiture and murals chip away at preconceptions of what constitutes racial and sexual discrimination.
Special thanks to our recommenders: Roxane Gay, Jessica Valenti, Jennifer Pozner, Irin Carmon, Lori Adelman, Jen Sorensen and the Feministing team.
Infographic designed by Kayla E. and written by Stephanie Newman.
Nat. Brut is a biannual journal of art and literature that aims to advance equality and inclusivity in all creative fields. To learn more about us, or to order a copy of our latest issue, visit us online!
