Project description

IHRSINN , a feminist lesbian journal from Germany and in German only, was founded in 1989 in Bochum (West Germany) by 8 lesbians out of a political debate circle. The first issue came out in January 1990 and includes articles from the editors and from one East German lesbian. The first edition of 1000 copies was sold in four weeks, a 2nd edition of another 1000 copies followed soon. Alas, meanwhile the circulation is reduced and around 800. There seemed to be a hunger for political analysis and reflection from a feminist lesbian perspective. One of our main intentions was - and still is - to build bridges, a hinge between daily politics/political activities, different realities and theoretical debates. This has become a more difficult objective over the thirteen years of IHRSINN's existence. Theory - maybe in particular as feminist and lesbian theory is going queer - has become more academic and concentrated in universities. In general there seems to be less time for and interest in (unpaid) political commitment.
With IHRSINN we want to present a forum for diverse political discussions amongst lesbians and feminists. We welcome all women as readers, in individual cases we accept texts with an anti-heterosexist perspective from women who don't understand themselves as lesbians. We (still) call IHRSINN "a radical feminist lesbian journal" and are often asked "What does radical feminist mean?" A reduced slogan-like answer: We are not so much interested in reforming and assimilation politics but in basic changes of patriarchal, capitalist, racist conditions. Radical feminism for us doesn't mean culturalism or separatism, we just are not satisfied with anti-discriminatory lobby or minority politics.

Meanwhile IHRSINN is the oldest lesbian magazine in Germany. The editorial collective has changed again and again - at present there are four of us (all founding members, all in our late fourties): Ulrike runs the women's bookstore Amazonas in Bochum, supported by Gitta (who gets out her first book of short stories these days), Rita is the founder of ausZeiten (a feminist archive, where she works, unpaid) and I am momentarily busy with politics and gardening and can't definitely decide how crazy I am about finding a paid job.
So far around 230 authors and artists have supported and contributed to IHRSINN - all of them without payment, often on request, some from Austria, Switzerland and other countries.
We decide upon the publication of the entries at a final editorial meeting, after long and sometimes difficult discussions. Any suggested change is discussed with the authoress.

Additionally to the texts and graphics there are regular genres: gloss, digged out (old texts), current events, contributors' notes, preview for the next topic. The total number of pages is around 100-120.
Each issue has a special topic. I will try to translate them, although it's next to impossible for me to transmit the play on words.