Women's History Through Zines: Read This

Zines are self-published, do-it-yourself booklets that have a long history as tools for activism in social movements. While archival studies has already explored the collection and preservation of zines as cultural artefacts, this article explores the capacity for zines to act as a form of community archive.

Body-related issues such as body image, menstruation (mental) illness, race, sexuality, violence, and (trans)gender are commonly discussed in contemporary zines. Based on interviews with zine makers, I argue that zines not only offer an accessible platform to raise awareness about these issues but also serve as a tool for self-care and constitute a supportive community where feminist ideas and experiences can be safely expressed. As such, zines can be of use for feminist activists resisting body norms.

What is made clear through an examination of the history of zines is that zines are not simply the antithesis of magazines, but are closely related to independent publishing ventures such as pamphlets, newsletters, and fanzines.