Unit works with 10 countries in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia, supporting publications on queer topics, connecting journalists and activists, and following the great work they do. Once monthly, we put together a selection of queer stories, opportunities, analysis and art to help you stay up-to-date with the ever-developing queer spaces without relying on social media algorithms. Check out this issue from July 2023 and subscribe below to get the next one right into your inbox.
Hi everyone,
Since 2018, we have been keeping our eyes on media projects that work with LGBTIQ+ topics. Recently, we were also curious to see who is covering feminist topics.
Following the tradition of “country-focused” newsletters and after the special edition about Belarus, we look at media projects on women’s and feminist issues in Ukraine. To make the task more feasible, we decided to narrow the focus and chose the following as criteria for getting into our selection:
- journalistic (or with a strong journalistic component) media projects
- this list does not include purely social, activist, academic or artistic projects
- do not necessarily describe themselves as feminist, but operate using a feminist lens
- have updated their content at least once in the last year
To us, the “man” / “woman” binary feels as reductive as to you. Hopefully, the creators of the media in our selection share this view. By “female” we mean here all those who have experienced female socialisation, not just cis-women. Just to make it clear! 🙂
Wonder Ukraine says the following about itself: “(…) a magazine for women. Our topics are gender equality, career, relationships, sex, health, style, culture, awareness”. The project team explains that Wonder Ukraine is an independent brand, not a franchise. Their founding members are exclusively Ukrainian citizens.
Divoche.Media identifies itself as a “Ukrainian independent women’s magazine”. The project team provides a platform for a variety of voices that talk about real life, real women’s problems, their needs, fears, hopes, their experiences, success and achievements. One of the central projects of Divoche.Media is called “Pidmoha“, which literally means “Help”, and is about foundations and civic organisations that help women.
Povaha is both a campaign against sexism and a media project that explores this topic in the journalistic form of longreads, columns and articles. In addition to the journalistic component, the site offers a database of female experts from Ukraine – use it to your heart’s content!
Nothing beats good old email
For our monthly newsletter, we pick the most important news and analysis,
and add selected content and art from queer creators.
Ebaut is a YouTube show about “vital but taboo topics”. It has female and male hosts – you can watch the whole show, or you can choose those whose opinion you trust more. The latest episodes of the show deal with topics such as men’s (un)ability to show emotions, jealousy and the experience of breakups.
The “11-A” podcast covers topics we didn’t talk about enough in school and fill in the gaps in sex education. With its help, you’ll be able to permanently find for yourself answers on such questions as whether it’s okay to masturbate if you’re in a romantic relationship, if penis enlargement is possible, and which lubricant is best to use when. Damn useful information!
We know for sure that we missed someone, and you could say we did it almost on purpose. Of course, to get a comment or email from you. Write to us, darlings!
Still wishing death to the empire and victory to Ukraine.
Until next virtual time,
Vika from the Unit team