March is Women’s History Month and despite it being 2023, women are continuing to fight for basic human rights — in this country and around the world. One of the biggest female rights movements right now is taking over Iran. Jejune had the pleasure to photograph and chat with Iranian singer Gola, who is a force to be reckoned with. Born in Iran, she paved her way as a musical artist where there was none. Having been exiled from the place she calls home, Gola turns her pain into music that empowers the women of Iran and her listeners all over the world. Unafraid to show the real beauty and the brutal nature of the current regime, she has been rightfully called the Lioness or Iran. She makes those around her feel inspired, empowered, and wanting to do better. Jejune was excited to speak with Gola further on her personal journeys and the future of Iranian women, please read on to learn more!

Tawana Blassingame - A Pioneer for Body Positivity

Tawana Blassingame is a pioneer for body positivity. As the creator of Queen Size Magazine, she helped pave the way for the underrepresented full-figured community. Tawana also highlights talent across various platforms at the Full Figured Industry Awards, where she is the creator and host. After just celebrating her third annual ceremony this November, Tawana hopes to continue helping people find love for themselves and encourage a more inclusive fashion industry.

I had the pleasure of attending the third annual Full Figured Industry Awards this November and was impressed by the community Tawana fostered together. All the attendees dazzled on stage and I enjoyed seeing them shine. Tawana has a special ability to make people feel seen and appreciated. No good deed went unnoticed. The night was filled with compassion, joy, and beauty from the inside out.

The Importance of Decriminalizing Sex Work in America

By criminalizing voluntary and consensual sex work, the government is providing consenting adults with rules on who they can have sexual relations with along with the circumstances. Criminalization of sex work induces vulnerability towards sex workers regarding violence, rape, assault and murder due to the fact that sex workers are seen as easy targets because of the negative stigma placed upon sex workers.

Articles, zIssue 44Goldie AharonSeptember 13, 2022sex work, decriminalize, law, protest, rights, equality, work, america, freedomComment

How Protests Differ in the Past to the Present

Protesting has been an incredibly effective way of expression in the United States since the first amendment. Although, over the past couple of decades, this method of proclamation has decreased in efficiency and value, why is this?

Abortion Importance in the United States

In 1970, Jane Roe (a false name used for her privacy) challenged a Texas law that had made abortion illegal. Identifying that state laws took away her rights as an American by the fourteenth amendment. The outcome of this event was that the Supreme Court, at the at time, determined that women have the constitutional right to choose to have an abortion, vs the right being determined by individual states.

Throughout history in the United States, most cisgender men in politics have had the final say on what women can do with their own lives, including what they can wear, how they can act, and what they are allowed to do with their own anatomy. So, it isn’t shocking that they are trying to take over the ability for women to decide if they want to get an abortion.

Roe v. Wade was the protective barrier for women in this country, and with it overturned the United States has already criminalized abortion in at least five states so far, Politico, while over eight trigger laws are set to be applied in the oncoming future.

Articles, zIssue 44Goldie AharonJune 30, 2022protest, march, abortion, prochoice, feminism, equality, choice, LGBTQ+, voice, Reproductive Rights, #metooComment

Kamala Lopez Sets Out to Ensure That Equal Truly Means Equal

The Equal Means Equal campaign, founded by actress Kamala Lopez (‘Star Trek: Voyager’, ‘This Is Us’, ‘Mayans MC’), works to raise public awareness of the need for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The Equal Rights Amendment establishes equality under the law in the U.S. Constitution, regardless of sex. Surprisingly, women are currently not equal under federal law. To raise awareness for this disparity, Lopez directed the documentary ‘Equal Means Equal.’ The film utilizes historical precedents and contemporary case studies to show what women in the United States face today, and why it is important to complete the process of ratifying the ERA to give women and girls the legal foundation they need to live on an even playing field. In her interview with Jejune Magazine, Lopez goes over next steps for ratifying the amendment and what readers can do to support the cause. The Biden-Harris administration expressed their support for the cause on the campaign trail, but have since taken no steps in rescinding the memo issued under the previous administration or instructing the Archivist to publish the amendment. Time is of the essence. Read on to learn more.

Liberty Styles: When Times Are Tough, Music Unites Us

While some people have never understood music, for some people music shapes who you are. One of those people is Liberty Styles. She says 'Music has always occupied most of my time/thoughts even if I wasn’t necessarily doing it professionally.' Her second EP Roam Wide, which is set where she grew up, reflects complicated emotions like love, isolation, and coming together during tough times. She is influenced by many styles of music including jazz, funk, flamenco, grunge, alternative. Tap dance is the main thing that shapes her music. Liberty also wanted to honor the strength of working womxn with The Waitress, which is a unique example of solidarity. She shows her activism in different ways and all proceeds from this tape will go directly to G.L.I.T.S., a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. We talked to Liberty Styles about her music, future plans, and voluntaryeer projects. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Liberty Styles.

Warriors Amongst Women

Women have been fighting for the same rights as men for centuries. Brave and fearless leaders like Susan B. Anthony, Mary McLeod Bethune, Simone de Beauvoir, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Angela Davis passionately fought for women's rights and helped shape the movement for gender equality.

COVER - Elisabeth Röhm Is Classically Powerful

Elisabeth Röhm has played a plethora of creative roles, but most recently can be seen in the new film “Bombshell”, which gives a voice to the women who were sexually harassed by CEO Roger Ailes of Fox News. Click here to learn more about Elisabeth’s passionate views on women, and her many philanthropic endeavors.

Praneet Akilla Stands For Equality

Praneet Akilla, known for his work on Netflix original series October Faction has had a steady ascension into the spotlight. Born in Mumbai, India and raised in Calgary, Alberta Canada, Praneet developed his taste for performance art and storytelling. His acting specialization originated in the theatre with his earliest role as Aladdin in his middle school play. During his college years, Praneet participated in community theatre productions including Iceland (Theatre Calgary), Coriolanus (Bard on The Beach), The Orchard (Arts Club), and many more.

Praneet’s ambitions extend to local and international scale social issues. Praneet is an avid supporter of his local food banks and Plan International’s Because I am a Girl program, a campaign designed to remedy the issue of gender discrimination around the world and bring them out of poverty. Please read more to learn about Praneet and his work.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - A Man To Make Proud - By David Pratt

Ninety-one years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. In the course of a too-short life, ended by a gunshot in Memphis 39 years later, Dr. King would spend nearly half of it fighting for the equality of all people. The movement he led was catapulted to national notoriety when he, along with fellow activist E.D. Nixon, organized the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955, an event which eventually led to the end of segregation of Montgomery public buses, an enormous triumph for African Americans at the time. But where are we now?

Model Spotlight: Scott Neslage

As our society is constantly debating between being too politically correct or down right racist, the fashion industry, despite being celebrated for being forward thinking, is shockingly behind the times. There are more white models than any other race, and Asian models are a huge minority, particularly Asian men. When Asian men are represented, they are often showcased as exotic or androgynous, almost never as sexual beings. Well, we here at Jejune feel that Scott Neslage ( @scottneslage), from Soul Management, shot by Harold Mindel (@harold.mindel), will help change how the fashion world looks at Asian men!

Editorials, Reviewed, zIssue1.1Kira BuccaOctober 23, 2017fashion, male fashion, Asian, sexy men, equality, model spotlight, male model