Presenter(s): Maya Feldman-Dragich — Political Science
Co-Presenter(s): Kye Martin, Emily Kavanagh
Faculty Mentor(s): Judith Raiskin
Session: (In-Person) Poster Presentation
Beginning in the 1970s second wave feminism, largely facilitated by lesbian activists, swept through the United States and world at large. A large part of their reach came from their printed media. This era broke away from the grip of mainstream publishers and a network of magazines, newspapers, and newsletters for lesbian feminists was created worldwide. Within these pages were passionate political writings and ideas. The periodicals continued through the AIDs crisis and into the 1990s and were a continuous place for lesbians to share a range of visual and written media, both creative writing and nonfiction. Without this crucial turning point of direct action, the community and visibility lesbians attained in that era would not be possible. Through the Feminist and Lesbian Periodical collection in the Special Collections and University Archives in Knight Library, we each researched a facet of the how the periodicals affected society. Many of the ideas expressed within those pages were still strikingly relevant, though few people are aware of their very existence. For the LGBTQ community and beyond, raising awareness about their impact is essential.