We're Sorry.

Dear glorious readers,

We are sorry. Whether you are a Coven die-hard and read us daily, or you’ve come across us several times randomly, or you’ve never come across us until reading this piece, we’re sorry.

The year 2018 is a year for women. We’ve raised hell, broken glass ceilings and patriarchal barriers, and made ourselves a force to be reckoned with. We are feminists and we champion each other.

But feminism isn’t just a hobby or a cool movement that we like to be part of and use as an excuse to put cheeky pins on our backpacks. Feminism is absolutely and unquestionably necessary for everyone, not just women. It pains us that we at Coven have not done our best at representing all sides of feminism.

We apologize to all the women who felt that we didn’t care about your experiences and struggles. We apologize to all the women who visited our Instagram and website and felt unrepresented. We apologize to all the women who have felt excluded because of this lack of representation of someone like themselves.

Women of color. Because women of color have unique struggles that can only be accurately understood by women who have experienced them personally.

Women who are queer, including women who are queer and of color. Because it is difficult enough to simply “be” as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, but it’s even harder to be both.

Women from lower-income backgrounds. Because our society denies you access to certain opportunities and services that others don’t even think about.

Women who do not fit society’s standard of beauty. Because not looking certain way does not mean society can deem you as less worthy of love or adoring attention.

Women who have physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Because you can live a glamorous, active and wonderful life without being perfectly “able bodied.”

Women who are all of the above. Because that’s many of you, and you all deserve to acknowledged and your experiences and voices, heard.

As a feminist digital magazine that is grateful to carry clout across campuses, we need to be truly and intersectionally feminist. Because feminism that is not intersectional is not true feminism. We have not fulfilled this responsibility to the highest degree, and we sincerely apologize.

There needs to be real promises of change. But in this world, let’s be honest. Promises don’t mean shit. However, this isn’t just a promise, business to consumer. This is a fire burning in our hearts and simmering beneath society. The time for women is now. The time for women, all women, is now. True diversity, of both identity and experiences, is woven into Coven’s DNA -- it’s who we are.

So finally, with that being said, we want to thank you. Thank you to all the women who have been with us from the beginning, and thank you to the women who are giving us a chance to be an empowering space for you, too. We hope to continue to be part of your wild journey that we call womanhood.

With the deepest respect and unbounding love,

Your  Coven

In The coven crystal ball...