A new magazine called Filament came out earlier this year (2009) and in short it's a pron magazine that caters for women. Looking at the Filament website I could see it was going to be unlike any other magazine out there and I ordered the first issue. Here's my review:

The first thing I noticed is that the men featured are clearly not like the over masculine hunks that people seem to think we women like. They are a lot more androgynous than you might expect. I like that very much though for me personally, they could have been a lot more feminine but I know I'm a bit of a freak so I can imagine these type of men appealing to the majority of women out there.

Also they're treated as human beings that can be taken seriously. Every model is also interviewed in an honest way so you actually get to know the person behind the picture. VERY GOOD!!!

However, although it was supposed to be an erotic magazine there are no images with full nudity. I believe the second issue is out now and that apparently contains a lot more nudity, including an aroused man which has got to be a first (I avoided the p-word incase I get 'penilized').  

They say, you can tell a people's character by the media they consume. This magazine offers us all an opportunity to earn more honest respect for women instead of the infantilizing victimizing mass-pity that mainstream feminism has brought us.

Filament magazine clearly sets itself apart from the usual pornographic material aimed at men but just as much, if not more it distances itself from the usual women's magazines. Now I confess that I do read Vogue and co. sometimes but that's mostly to admire the clothes and fashion. Other than that they're boring as hell. The eternal celebrity gossip and repetitive beauty tips just do my head in. You'll be hard pressed to find any woman's magazine that has any content that you'll want to remember just 5 minutes later in your life.

Not so with Filament. Though an erotic magazine, it has some very interesting and serious articles aimed at people who can read AND think. Here are some examples:

1) Motherhood: one atheist's view. (about the difficulties in raising a child without religion)

2) How to love making music. (extensive article that encourages people to learn an instrument with some starting tips and personal experiences)

3) Witchcraft and women's quarrels. (a historical account for much of the motivations behind the witch hunt. A refreshingly new perspective that doesn't buy into the mainstream mysoginy explanation)

There are more and some have a more intimate topic as you'd expect in an erotic magazine but they're all written much how you see articles written in classic men's magazines.

I applaud the editor, Suraya Singh, for this bold step towards TRUE emancipation for women and indirectly also for men.

I would say its still a little rough around the edges but a good start for such a new kind of magazine. I'm looking forward to reading the second issue. I recommend it for anyone - even if you don't like the photos you'll surely like the articles.

size: standard A4 with 74 pages

price: £ 7 in Britain for the first issue but the second seems to be only £ 4.99.