Spare Rib

''Spare Rib'' was a second-wave feminist magazine, founded in 1972 in the United Kingdom, that emerged from the counterculture of the late 1960s as a consequence of meetings involving, among others, Rosie Boycott and Marsha Rowe. ''Spare Rib'' is now recognised as having shaped debates about feminism in the UK, and as such it was digitised by the British Library in 2015. The magazine contained new writing and creative contributions that challenged stereotypes and supported collective solutions that related to feminist issues. It was published between 1972 and 1993. The title derives from the Biblical reference to Eve, the first woman, created from Adam's rib.

History

The first issue of ''Spare Rib'' was published in London in June 1972. It was distributed by Seymour Press to big chains including W. H. Smith & Son and Menzies — although the former refused to stock issue 13, due to the use of an expletive on the issue's back cover. Selling at first around 20,000 copies a month, it was circulated more widely through women's groups and networks. From 1976, ''Spare Rib'' was distributed by Publications Distribution Cooperative to a network of radical and alternative bookshops.

The magazine's purpose, as described in its editorial, was to investigate and present alternatives to the traditional gendered roles of virgin, wife, or mother.

The name ''Spare Rib'' started as a joke referring to biblical Eve being fashioned out of Adam's rib, implying that a woman had no independence from the beginning of time.

The ''Spare Rib'' manifesto stated:

Early articles were linked closely with left-leaning political theories of the time, especially anti-capitalism and the exploitation of women as consumers through fashion.

As the women's movement evolved during the 1970s, the magazine became a forum for debate among members of the different streams that emerged within the movement, such as socialist feminism, radical feminism, lesbian feminism, liberal feminism, and black feminism. ''Spare Rib'' included contributions from well-known international feminist writers, activists, and theorists, as well as stories about ordinary women in their own words. Subjects included the "liberating orgasm", "kitchen sink racism", anorexia, and female genital mutilation. The magazine reflected debates about how best to tackle issues such as sexuality and racism.

Due to falling subscriptions and low advertising revenue, ''Spare Rib'' ceased publication in 1993.

Editors

''Spare Rib'' became a collective by the end of 1973. The collective editorial policy was to "collectively decide on articles that they publish, and work closely with the contributors. Accept articles from men only when there is no other resource available." Drew Howie was a consultant from 1990 to 1993.

Design

According to Marsha Rowe, one of the original magazine designers, the "look" of ''Spare Rib'' was born out of necessity: it had to look like a women's magazine, yet with contents that did not reflect conformist stereotyping of women. ''Spare Rib'' covers were often controversial. The design had to be both stable and flexible to allow for future change while retaining the basic identity. Integral to every decision was cost.

Finding non-sexist advertising in accordance with the values of the magazine was another challenge.

Legacy

Scholar Laurel Foster wrote in 2022 for the 50th anniversary of ''Spare Rib''s first issue: "The self-expression and persuasive writing of the pioneering magazine have their legacy in feminist media today. ..Because of its standing in feminist history, Spare Rib has become a touchstone for later feminist magazines." In their 2017 book ''Re-reading Spare Rib'', Angela Smith and Sheila Quaid wrote that ''Spare Rib'' played a key role in the development of second-wave feminist thought and its spread into the collective consciousness.

It was reported by ''The Guardian'' in April 2013 that the magazine was due to be relaunched, with journalist Charlotte Raven at the helm. It was subsequently announced that while a magazine and website were to be launched, they would have a different name.

In May 2015, the British Library put its complete archive of ''Spare Rib'' online. The project was led by Polly Russell, the curator behind an oral history of the women's liberation movement. The archive was presented with new views on the subject matter and themes, curated by expert commentators. The British Library website describes the value of ''Spare Rib'' for current readers and researchers:

In February 2019, the British Library announced a possible suspension of access to the archive in the event of a no-deal Brexit, due to problems relating to copyright. It was announced in December 2020 that access would be withdrawn at the end of the transition period.

References

Sources

''Spare Rib'' collection at the LSE Women's Library
* ttp://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2008/01/marsha_rowe Interview with Marsha Rowe 31 January 2008. Retrieved June 2008.
*
''Spare Rib''
by Hazel K. Bell. The National Housewives Register's ''Newsletter'' no. 19, Autumn 1975, pp. 10–11. Retrieved June 2008.
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Further reading

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External links

British Library archiveThe ''Spare Rib'' Manifesto
at the British Library archive
Full, free-to-access, online archive hosted by the JISC Journal Archive''The Reunion''
Marsha Rowe, Rosie Boycott, Angela Phillips, Marion Fudger and Anna Raeburn with Sue MacGregor. BBC Radio 4, September 2013.
Photo of Marsha Rowe and Rosie Boycott
at the magazine's offices, 19 June 1972.

{{Second-wave feminism

1972 establishments in the United Kingdom
1993 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
Anti-capitalism
British design
Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom
Defunct political magazines published in the United Kingdom
Defunct feminist magazines published in the United Kingdom
Design magazines
Magazines established in 1972
Magazines disestablished in 1993
Magazines published in London
Second-wave feminism