Voices for those underrepresented

Can we all share a comfortable space in talking about diversity? Gal-Dem might be the answer.

Image by Gal-dem

“To show that our perspectives aren’t all the same and that we don’t spend all day obsessed with race, even though it makes up a part of our life. Our interests are wide-reaching and varied.” - Leyla Reynolds

Gal-Dem is not afraid to speak for what they belief in. From Arts to Music, to even Politics. It has created spaces which are frown upon when associated with women of colour.

Art director of Gal-Dem magazine, Leyla Reynolds, helps put the vision into illustrated content, giving Gal-Dem its own voice.

Leyla Reynolds

Tell us what is your name and what do you do at Gal-Dem.

My name is Leyla Reynolds and I am the art director at Gal-Dem magazine. My role consists of leading on illustrated content, making sure that we have high standard of beautiful illustrated content online and at events.

What is the aim of the magazine?

To make space for women and non-binary people of colour who are currently underrepresented in the media. To show that our perspectives aren’t all the same and that we don’t spend all day obsessed with race, even though it makes up a part of our life. Our interests are wide-reaching and varied.

How has the team come together?

It’s been a mixture. Quite a few of us remain from when we met at uni and Liv and I were in our second year, and Antonia (former music editor) was in her third year. Social media has been extremely helpful at building a network and making it possible to reach out beyond our bubble. I think it’s quite common to go to University and find yourself the only person of colour in your friendship group and so having a group like Gal-Dem to reach out to as well as to work with, provided me and I know many others with a support network of people who had experienced similar things.

What does Gal-Dem stand for and who is Gal-Dem speaking to?

Gal-dem was set up by the founding editor in chief whilst we were still at University. We were all very frustrated by the lack of diversity on our course and it seemed to be something that carried through to the media circles a lot of us were becoming aware of at the time. What Gal-Dem means to me is that people of colour can best represent ourselves. We’re not a monolith but we are the best people to speak on our own lived experiences, and that content can be consumed by anybody.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, what did you do before Gal-Dem and what exactly got you to be a part of Gal-Dem?

I was studying for a Politics degree when I got involved in Gal-Dem. I wanted a creative outlet. I was interested in media and the arts and had begun exploring this. Liv posted on the university’s newly formed Women of Colour society, and me, going through my active phase, jumped on it immediately.

“I think that if organisations want to diversify their workforce they need to be thinking about what they’re programming, what kind of events their putting on, where they’re reaching out to advertise positions as well as what kind of work they are offering.” - Leyla Reynolds

I particularly like the Opinion and Politics sections of the magazine. Those topics are not commonly seen in a female magazine. Could you talk to us more about these two sections in the magazine and what part do they play in Gal-Dem?

That’s a really interesting point, because they host some of our most engaged with pieces. It’s limiting that we don’t get those from typical ‘women’s’ magazine but I do think the rise in online media is diversifying the content that we are expected to consume.

Image by Gal-Dem

As a magazine that came out with a strong stand about women of colour and non binary people, what were your expectations towards the reaction from the media?

I don’t think I had any expectations in particular from the media as I was very unaware of the media landscape. I think more generally I hadn’t seen such an unapologetically radicalised, politicised space for a little while, but as you can see with our recent Guardian takeover, the media have been incredibly receptive.

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For a magazine that talks about our generation, for our generation, what do we actually think about the diversity in the society today?

Meet Ayasha, a twenty year old, woman of colour, tell us what she thinks about the representation of women of colour in our generation today.

Hi what is your name, your ethnicity and where are you from?

My name is Ayasha, I’m British Bangladeshi and I’m from the small country of Bangladesh.

Do you think that women and non-binary people of colour have somewhat of a disadvantage when in the creative or political sector?

Perhaps before they were but that is slowly changing as we are seeing more women being represented in global media and in the political sector. However, though those numbers are still small; change is happening and attitudes are changing. But I do believe that more people of colour need to be able to help each other instead of viewing others as competition. This isn’t always apparent but it does exist.

Do you think more voices from women and non-binary people of colour should be heard?

Of course! There isn’t just any one women who would represent for all Asians, black or white people and their isn’t just anyone one person that can represent a whole community. We need more and various women being able to stand up and be heard.

“Gal-Dem is a current platform that will help those individual get their stories out there to cause a movement in the waves so that people understand change needs to happen.” - Ayasha

Have you heard about Gal-Dem magazine? What are your thoughts on it?

No I haven’t heard of it but from what I’ve seem it looks like a really modern styled magazine that’s tackling current topics revolving around the community.

What are your thoughts on a magazine that is focus on women and non-binary people of colour?

I think its fantastic idea and is a wonderful opportunity for creators to express their work and opinions. I know many who would benefit from this representation and validation. But I do think that more well-known magazine need to step up and increase the opportunity for such minorities to work amongst them.

As a woman of colour, how do you think Gal-Dem magazine could have help you or the society in opening up about women and non-binary people of colour?

It’s a great way to spread awareness about the different struggles that we go through that sometimes seem quite singular but actually are felt by a lot of individuals.

A lot of women change themselves when faced with these issues but don’t realise that this isn’t theirs to face alone. That actually society as a whole is at wrong. That stigma within communities is what needs to be tackled and changed. Gal-Dem is a current platform that will help those individual get their stories out there to cause a movement in the waves so that people understand change needs to happen.

Eline

“Having these open conversations are important and necessary in my opinion. We do not have to agree but at least to have that understanding and respect of each others viewpoint is a step in the right direction for our society.”

Hi what is your name, your ethnicity and where are you from?

My name is Eline, I’m a black African from Seychelles.

Do you think that women and non-binary people of colour have somewhat of a disadvantage when in the creative or political sector?

I do not know much about non-binary so I cannot speak for them but I would definitely say women of colour are at some disadvantage, particularly in the political sector.

Do you think more voices from women and non-binary people of colour should be heard?

I do think more of their voices should be heard, the fact that I didn’t really know what non-binary is, let alone that there are people of colour who are non-binary says a lot.

What are your thoughts on a magazine that is focus on women and non-binary people of colour?

I’m confused as to why a magazine would put the two together (women and non-binary). But magazines focused on the two different types of people here is a great start to raising awareness and giving women and non-binary people of colour a platform.

Have you heard about Gal-Dem magazine? What are your thoughts on it?

I have not heard about Gal-Dem magazine. My thoughts are, really nice page, love the layout and everything. There are one or two things that conflict with my religious views but that is to be expected. In light of that, I liked that such posts are put under “opinion”. Having these open conversations are important and necessary in my opinion. We do not have to agree but at least to have that understanding and respect of each others viewpoint is a step in the right direction for our society. The different headings are very great, overall interesting page at first glance.

As a woman of colour, how do you think Gal-Dem magazine could have help you or the society in opening up about women and non-binary people of colour?

Again I can only speak for myself as a women of colour. By the looks of it, the website is already doing a good job at it. However, I think it would be good if the website actually explained what non-binary is. Without a doubt I know I’m not the only women of colour who did not know what non-binary is. Also, if it was inclusive for all types of women of colour? Unless that was not the aim. Not every women of colour supports the movements like the Gender Recognition stuff, what about their voices? What about the women of colour who belong to a faith and have conflicting views? That is all I would say really but then again, if that was not the aim of Gal-Dem in being inclusive in that area then that’s fine I guess.