In June 1974, a group of Latter-day Saint housewives, graduate students, and young professionals produced the first issue of Exponent II, a ?humble yet sincere? newspaper ?poised on the dual platforms of Mormonism and Feminism.? They declared it the spiritual descendent of the Utah-based periodical the Woman?s Exponent (1872-1914), wherein their ancestors had wrestled with issues of women?s rights and faith.
50 years later, Exponent II now arrives in mailboxes as a beautiful art-filled magazine and in inboxes and RSS feeds through its blog. Through its platforms, Exponent II transforms contributors and readers by offering a space where individuals can bravely articulate their lived experiences, and have those experiences witnessed in a spirit of trust and belonging. In all that we do, we seek to prioritize community over ideological purity and provide opportunities for deep listening.
While this work continues to rely primarily on volunteer labor, Exponent II is working hard to live up to our feminist ideals by adequately compensating women for their skilled labor. We know that to truly support women, we need to pay women.
So, at the end of our 50th anniversary, we?re asking for your support to help us continue to nurture a vibrant creative community where women and gender minorities along the Mormon spectrum can witness and be witnessed. There are so many more stories to tell. Help us to tell them.