Vol. 1 (2024): Waves of Perception

The first issue of Plurality is here 'Waves of Perception: The temporal nature of gender conception’ focuses on the nature of progress in society and how progress is felt at different levels throughout time, with the more marginalised of a movement often being unjustly sidelined or forgotten. It is about moments of progress and how our perceptions of gender have changed over time.

Our authors bring to light important discussions and issues, analysing them in connection with intersectionality. Beginning with Lucy Barry’s analysis of the importance of modest dress being incorporated into the feminist project. Elizabeth Hamilton theorises how we can resist with words and the importance of anti-oppression speech. Rounding out our ‘Philosophy and Divinity’ section, we have Lily Roberts who explores whether feminist interpretations of the biblical story of Genesis are possible. For our ‘Art and Literature’ section, Julia Guzikowska explores how women writer’s have subverted patriarchal storytelling norms through the use of metafiction. Focusing on the representation of the female body in 90s pop culture and literature, Julia Owczarek looks at how female protagonists who do not reject their bodies are still unable to liberate themselves. Moving to the ‘Social Sciences’, Lea Kern looks at how Māori women’s experiences have been shaped by colonialism and patriarchy, and how indigenous feminisms such as Mana Wāhine have been important in capturing this positionality. Ellie Robertson gives a linguistic analysis on the possibility of removing gender from language. Using feminist and decolonial theoretical frameworks, Liza Yeroshkina analyses Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine. Focusing on how queerness affects temporal experiences, Izzie Atkinson argues how this could redefine how we think of historical progress. For our ‘History and Classics’ section, Adeline Cheung considers the importance of an intersectional approach for historians of empire. Eliza SInclair Kidd looks at critical inclusion of early feminists in the feminist historiography of geography focusing on Ellen Churchill Semple. Eve Coffey discusses the legal implications of virginity testing within the UK legislative environment in our ‘Law’ section. Finally we have our ‘Miscellaneous Musings’ beginning with Ruby Scott who analyses how TikTok and social media have changed what femininity means via choice feminism. Focusing on the muse in art, Martha Gane uses a gendered lens to analyse the role of musehood and artist. Abigail Nicoll brings important considerations of the importance of intersectionality within psychological research. 

I am infinitely grateful for Plurality’s editors, for helping the author’s develop their voice and writing. Thank you to Maria for helping guide the editors and the development of the sections. This publication would not have been possible without Abby’s and our wonderful copy editors’ attention to detail. We received an incredible number of submissions for our first issue thanks to our talented marketing team. Thank you to Daisy, Marnie and Bessie, our wonderful artists for helping the issue develop into a gorgeous work to flip through with your eye-catching art pieces and cover design. It has been absolutely amazing to see the materialization of this project with the publication of this first issue and I am thrilled to have been a part of it. We are already working on our second issue ‘Witness’ and I am excited to see how this publication develops in the future.