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I heard about this new magazine through an article in the Daily Mail’s attempt to communicate with women; Femail. Not my usual reading matter, but somebody put something about it up on twitter and the rest is history. This article slated the magazine for, crime upon crimes, objectifying men, well sort of. It was talking some drivel about how women aren’t stimulated by images of the male form, and that even if we were (which we’re are not remember) we wouldn’t want to look at the skinny, ‘feminine’ looking boys that this publication had on offer. So lets face it, I had to read it right. I take great pride in having a differing opinion from the Daily Mail, and as an admirer of the ‘skinny, feminine male form’, this sounded right up my street.

So Filament bills itself as the ‘thinking woman’s crumpet’, and I am happy to say it delivered. I sat reading through and making appreciative noises, and not just at the pictures of men. Which delivered, as the Daily Mail promised an alternative to the muscle bound, male form we are all apparently so interested in. I have always felt like images of men, are designed for a male audience rather than a female one. I have never been interested into muscles, so you show me some oil slicked chip and dale and frankly I would rather not go anywhere near their carefully manicured, weirdly bulging body. If it’s your bag fair enough, but give me a deliciously slim body, all hip bones and fine lines and I am much happier. So as for images of men check, they are there, artistically shot. Pretty tame, though they promise to deliver some more top shelf material soon. And not just your emaciated pretty boys, they cover quite a range of the male form, quite rightly too.

But in all honesty much better than the men is the articles, I hate Cosmo and all the other bullshit served up as female reading matter, this is mainly because I can stand patronising crap and have no desire to know anything about Paris Hilton’s meaningless existence. So inside Filament I found; a debate around hard and soft core pornography, and one that I actually agreed with. Debating the issue in a considered way, addressing the complexity of it, realising that both men and women are part of porn and so one cannot condemn it, simple by calling it an objectification of women. To be fair, that is enough to get me onside.

But there was also discussions of literature, parenting issues, the pubic hair debate, looking further than suggesting where and how to get a good wax. There was a nod to more traditional types of female erotica, in the form of short stories. As well as the obligatory bit of slash writing. If you don’t know what that is google it, seriously hobbit trysts and alternative Harry Potter endings await.

All in all Filament makes an impressive start. I applaud them for realising that women do like to look at pictures of beautiful men, despite what the surveys say. It needs polishing up, but that will come more issues and the more people that get involved. But with generation after generation of women appearing embracing their sexuality, and being just a shallow as their male counterparts (no offence meant being shallow is much underestimated quality). I am glad that they have something to look at. I think part of the problem surrounding erotica for women, is people can’t deal with the concept that women might get themselves off using said material. And that somehow we shouldn’t have access. Though men look at women’s bodies constantly, so rather than try and prevent this, why not just offer women the same option, that is after all what equality is all about.  It’s been proven that women look at men’s bodies, just as much as men look at women’s, the simple fact is we are much better at getting away with it. So let us look at our pretty boys and read about porn, we are already doing it, it’s just that now we can get hold of it in a handy magazine.

Many thanks to Suraya from Filament for sending us a copy, you can find out more details about how to subscribe at their website. Go on, you know you want to.