During the third and final presidential debate on Oct. 19, Donald Trump called Hillary Clinton a “nasty woman” while the two were discussing Social Security and Medicare.
During the actual debate, Clinton kept her cool, but you better believe her social media team reacted almost immediately (and hilariously). A tweet was sent from Hillary Clinton’s account that reads: “Donald thinks belittling women makes him a bigger man. It just makes him a bully. #DebateNight.”
One of Clinton’s supporters purchased the domain, nastywomengetshitdone.com, which still leads directly to Clinton’s official website. Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator for Massachusetts, reminded Trump at a rally in New Hampshire, “Nasty women vote!” Women have embraced the “nasty” title because, if being nasty means being powerful, intelligent and presidential, why not be nasty?
Although Donald Trump said during the third debate, “Nobody has more respect for women than I do,” he continues to remind women everyday just how wrong he was in saying so. Trump reduced sexual assault to “locker room talk,” and perfectly demonstrated why approximately 80 percent of women choose not to report their attacks. In addition, he’s rated women’s bodies on a 10-point-scale while claiming flat-chested women are “very hard to be 10s.” When it comes to Trump’s disgusting comments about women, I’m barely scratching the surface.
Women are fighting back and embracing their “nastiness” by writing powerful, post-election poems. As a writer and poet myself, I started searching for online and print publications looking specifically for work written by women. There are plenty of opportunities out there (right now especially) for women looking to express themselves authentically. If you’re a nasty woman interested in submitting work for possible publication, here are a few journals, zines and more ready and waiting for your raw and nasty art.
Nasty Women Zine
A “zine” is usually homemade, produced for purpose rather than profit and covers a specific topic. Nasty Women Zine is currently accepting submissions of single full-page illustrations, one to three page comics, prose and poetry. The project’s theme is “women’s history,” and it reads on their site:
“We’d love to see some serious intersectionality in your ideas! Women of color, queer women, trans women—we want to celebrate them all.”
Nasty Women Zine is a charity zine; although artists won’t receive monetary compensation, the zine will benefit Planned Parenthood. Donald Trump has publicly expressed his commitment to defunding Planned Parenthood numerous times, especially if it “does not stop killing unborn children in abortion.” Trump fails to realize, in addition to abortion services, Planned Parenthood offers breast exams, pap and HIV tests, treatments for sexually transmitted infections and more. By submitting your work to Nasty Women Zine, you’re helping to keep Planned Parenthood’s doors open, which is so important.
Right now they’re looking for pitches, so you don’t need to worry about submitting finished pieces. The deadline is currently set at Dec. 15. You can send any questions to the Nasty Women Zine email, NastyWomenForPP@gmail.com, and follow their newly made Twitter account: @NastyWomenForPP.
Also, while you’re at it, feel free to donate to Planned Parenthood in Mike Pence’s name. In doing so, he’ll receive a thank you note, which is hilarious as well as helpful.
Lost Horse Press
Lost Horse Press is a nonprofit, independent press focused on publishing the works of established and emerging poets. According to their website, now is the time for nasty women poets to “come to the aid of their country,” and I strongly agree. Their submission guidelines begin with: “We are seeking poems from women who proudly celebrate their own nastiness and that of other women who have served as nasty role models. We want poems by and about women defying limitations and lady-like expectations; women refusing to be ‘nice girls.’”
Embrace your inner-bitch, nasty women, and submit your work to Lost Horse Press. Their submission deadline is Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2017. Although most journals and reviews accept email submissions, Lost Horse Press is looking for two hard copies of each poem you send, but don’t send more than three. Important submission information including where your poems should be sent can be found on the Lost Horse Press call for submissions webpage.
Rogue Agent
Rogue Agent is a journal for work that “inhabits the body.” Within the editor’s note it reads: “If our bodies are oppressed by an outside force, we are ‘written over.’ Rogue Agent wants to retaliate. Rogue Agent wants reconciliation.” I’m beyond happy my poem “Red Velvet” lives in Issue 16, published in July 2016.
Issue 20 was published in November 2016 with a special call: “Don’t Erase Us.” Rogue Agent was specifically seeking poetry and artwork that “defy violence against queer and black bodies, that sing for change, that rise up with words and images to replace bullets and choke-holds.”
Issue 20 was published in response to violence, specifically “the chronic violence perpetrated upon the queer and black communities, recently exemplified by the Pulse shootings and the murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile,” according to Rogue Agent’s website.
Nasty women: Don’t let men like Donald Trump destroy your bodies with ignorance.
Fight back and write. I’m positive Rogue Agent editors are excited to receive nasty submissions.
Lavender Review
Lavender Review is an international, biannual (June and December) e-zine dedicated to poetry and art by, about and for lesbians. Submissions are open year-round, and there is no fee to submit. Lavender Review is free for everyone to view, which is definitely great exposure.
Lavender Review fights against the mainstream, and it’s completely devoted to publishing lesbian poetry and art. You can send up to six poems in one file; they accept submissions through their own Submittable account, and you can expect to hear back two months after you submit your work.
Women: Writing about your experiences (especially post-election) is vital. I figure, if you’re going to write incredible (and possibly personal) pieces about hate and injustice, you should know where to send them. There are journals, reviews, zines and presses ready and more than willing to publish and promote your nasty work.
