I am a feminist because. . .

On the first day of my first women's studies course my professor confronted the class with a question, "How many of you consider yourself a feminist?" I did not give it a second thought and raised my hand immediately. I figured that since this was a women's studies course the majority of people sitting around me would too claim their feminist title.

I could not have been more wrong. In a class of nearly 45, I was one of only seven or eight people who fully raised their hands. There were a couple maybes but the majority of the class seemed to be afraid of being associated as a feminist. When questioned on why they were so afraid of the F-word, they responded with the same old feminist stereotypes, "I'm not angry," "I don't hate men," and "I'm not a woman/lesbian."

Hearing these people combat the word only made me think about why I was a feminist (and proud of it I may add.) Although that was one of the first times I had claimed the name, I had always been a feminist. From a young age I often questioned why I was treated differently then the boys I knew and I wondered why I had to take responsibilities for my actions when boys were protected by simply stating, "Boys will be Boys."

After taking more women's studies courses and educating myself on feminist issues, I fully embraced my feminism. After leaving FMLA meetings or WS classes, I feel a deep sense of empowerment. I am inspired to take action and introduce more people to the idea that we should all be equal no matter what race, gender, sexual orientation, weight etc. We are all humans and we deserve an equal chance. For me, feminism is far beyond what my classmates thought. We are not about hating men or being unjustly angry (and I'm sure you know this) So here I am, once again Claiming the Name for Ms. Magazine, for myself and for all the people around me that I hope will soon be proud to Claim the Name.

I am a Feminist because. . .

I don't want my younger (female) cousins to have to defend their decisions

because of their sex.

I am a Feminist because. . .

I believe that women can be strong, independent and powerful

I am a Feminist because. . .

There are still women who do not have a voice

I am a Feminist because. . .

Being a female of mexican decent means I will make 59cents to every male's dollar

I am a Feminist because. . .

Thinking of all the Feminist who came before me inspires me to strive harder and remain active.

I am a Feminist because. . .

As a woman I should have rights over my body

I am a Feminist because. . .

Feminism is Awesome

Again, share your stories with us by submitting your video to msreclaimthename@gmail.com (read the guidelines here)

You can watch more videos at Ms.Magazine's YouTube page

Cross posted with permission from Ms. Magazine blog.

It's Good to be an Intern

Hello, my name is Victoria Nichols and this is my second day as an intern for Choices Campus Leadership Program at the Feminist Majority Foundation. I am extremely excited to learn more about the issues facing women and I am looking forward to working with the Feminist Campus Team in effort to advance women’s equality.

I am a recent high school graduate and I will be attending Claremont McKenna College in the fall. I am thinking of majoring in International Relations and will definitely make sure to enroll in some women’s studies classes. I can’t wait to get involved on my college campus as a feminist and work with other students to help make an impact on local and eventually international level.

With this internship I am taking my first steps towards getting more involved in political issues that affect my community. I want to participate and be knowledgeable about world events and I am glad to have the opportunity to be a part of an organization like Feminist Majority which has the power to evoke change in the world.

It is only the second day of my internship and I have already learned so much about feminism. There are so many people out there who are simply unaware of the issues that women face on a daily basis. My goal is to not only make myself more aware but provide others with more information so that more people will join the fight for women’s equality. Looking forward to making an impact this summer!

Women's Studies is Not "Easy"

Some things really tick me off. Any time I hear the phrase "no homo" I experience a semi-blinding fury. Overtly sexist TV commercials (thank you Super Bowl) provide me with endless anger issues. Spiders, both terrify and anger me.

But one thing that will always send me into a (righteous) fury - people who major in Women's Studies because it is "easy."

To the unknowing eye, Women's Studies may seem to be an easy major. People tend to think of biology, physics, math, or other physical sciences when they are asked which fields are difficult to major in. While each of those is difficult in its own way, so are the social sciences. Most social sciences require a great deal of abstract thinking and theorizing, which can be very difficult to comprehend (hence while people dismiss it as "over-thinking"). Women's Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Queer Studies can be exceptionally challenging because they require questioning every aspect of society that a person has experienced in their life. When you take a Women's Studies (or Ethnic or Queer) class, you are challenged to rethink the history you grew up with, the cartoons you watched, your family dynamics, what your parents told you about the world. You can't read books or watch TV the same way. Once you've begun to unlearn the status quo, you can't go back to accepting it.

Majors and classes specifically focused on oppressed groups such as ethnic minorities, women, and the LGBTQ community also serve as a call to action against institutional discrimination. Classes and majors devoted to women, race, and sexual orientation give you the tools to fight what at times can seem like a never-ending battle against discrimination, hate, bigotry, and violence. You’re supposed to get mad. Mad enough to change things. Whether that’s escorting at your closest clinic or calling out a friend on a racist joke, you start trying to change the world you live in. These majors don’t track the changes in a chemical reaction, they track and create change in society.

Because Women’s Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Queer Studies are subversive in their very nature and prepare their students to be as well, a person can also experience negative ramifications from friends and family for their work. I’ve lost friends over my beliefs and what I’ve learned in my Women’s Studies classes, and I have to maintain a tongue-in-cheek attitude around extended family because they aren’t used to my political nature. While my immediate family is supportive, they are concerned about my well being and possible career stability. They also have a spectrum of differing views on political issues, which leads to heated arguments and sometimes tense feelings around the dinner table. And I know others at my school and in my field who have also stood up for what they believe in, only to have it impact them negatively in their personal life.

So in reality, Women’s Studies and other subversive majors are anything but easy. They require immense personal dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance on behalf of their students in order to work for the improvement of society. These aren’t “just get your degree and graduate” fields; they are responsible for preparing a new wave of social change. When people approach the field with the idea that a Women’s Studies major is just an easy way to graduate, they can potentially hurt the field more than they contribute. Those of us who are dedicated, sacrificing, and persevering have to work twice as hard to pick up the slack left behind by those who just want a degree. Women’s Studies is NOT an easy major.

Photo Credit: sidewalk flying on flickr.com

20 years and still going strong

As most of you probably do not know, 2010 marks the 20th year of Gender, Women (and now Sexuality) Studies at Grinnell College. We are having a celebration of sorts with speakers and student presentations (including one by yours truly), and I'm just feeling a little sentimental about the whole thing.

I know that our schools are all in various stages of GWS programs, but in the spirit of my own celebration, I'd just like to suggest that we all take a little time to reflect on how lucky we are that studying what we are passionate about is something that we can do. There are places in the world where we, as women, would be denied education, and here we are in a place where we can not only pursue what we choose, but we can study contentious topics like gender construction and sexuality that challenge the very structure of our society.

Separation of Church and...Internships? Not at Loyola

The Cardinal Newman Society, a self-appointed organization dedicated to “maintaining a catholic identity” in Catholic institutes of higher education, has declared that Loyola and nine other colleges and universities have wrongfully given credit to students completing internships with organizations whose missions “directly contradict the views of the Catholic Church” (Loyola Phoenix). The majority of internships impacted by this are those that are available to students in the Women and Gender Studies Department.

The President of Cardinal Newman Society, Patrick J. Reilly, asked “under what definition of ‘Catholic education’ do students receive academic credit to work for leading pro-abortion organizations?”

Although I can not speak for all “in question” organizations, the Feminist Majority is by no means a pro-abortion organization; we are a pro-women’s rights organization. To quote our mission statement (which apparently is in opposition to Catholic views), the Feminist Majority aims to develop “bold, new strategies and programs to advance women's equality, non-violence, economic development, and, most importantly, empowerment of women and girls in all sectors of society.”

At no point does FMF advocate, pressure, or lobby with “pro-abortion” attitudes or initiatives. We support a woman’s right to choose what is best for her body and her future, whatever that may be. Just as the Catholic Church is not defined by one aspect of their belief system or their mission, neither are we or other organizations like us.

It is important to recognize, as junior Liz Kelliher-Paz noted, these organizations “uphold a lot of other ideals that are important, and students should get to decide what they think... It’s important to allow students to make up their minds about what they believe rather than being indoctrinated.” Not all students who attend Catholic Universities are Catholic, or Christian, and for their options to be limited because of the indoctrinating actions and beliefs of their University is inappropriate and inhibits their education; the same holds true for students who are catholic, and perusing these types of opportunities.

Students at Loyola are there, first and for most “for an education,” said Senior Chris Balmaceda. A career is the final goal, yes, and an internship is the path to that. However, a catholic education does not mean a catholic career. In denying students credit for such internships, Loyola is essentially denying them opportunities to pursue the career of their choice and complete the education they seek. It is important for educational institutions to offer the most comprehensive internship and career services so as best to serve the students and their personal goals, not the goals of the university or of the church.


photo credit : David Reber http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidreber/2997213236/

Intro to Feminist Theory on HBO?

Women and Hollywood reported today that playwright Theresa Rebeck and former The Daily Show executive producer Ben Karlin are developing a show for HBO called Women's Studies. The series would follow the adventures of a former feminist "it girl" (Julie White) who takes a teaching position at a small liberal arts college in New England.

I feel like this could be amazing or could die a quick but painful death. I'm hoping for the former, given the quality of HBO's past shows, TONY winner Julie White's starring role, and the fact that Theresa Rebeck (pictured) has written

"As a writer, I have always considered it my job to describe the world as I know it; to struggle toward whatever portion of the truth is available to me. I am a feminist in that I believe that women are as fully human as men and that their experiences are as worthy of representation, as universally significant, as men’s. I believe that the hero’s journey is both male and female. I believe that, as a rule, women are as deeply flawed as men are. I’m interested in writing about the way both genders make mistakes and the ways we grow, or don’t grow."

See the full piece here; it's a great commentary on the struggles of female artists.

I am so excited that a blatantly feminist perspective might make it to tv.

Not a Feminist?

During the last week of our grand adventure through 4 states, Tania and I had the privilege of visiting Eastern Kentucky University. While meeting with the Director of the Women's Studies Program there, we saw these fantastic posters and wanted to share.

Many groups we work with tell us that they spend a good portion of their energy DEFINING feminism so as to keep expanding their membership and gaining more of a reputation on campus. This is so common, and so critical, I thought I'd share these gems!

The posters that the WS program at EKU came up with are brilliant in their simplicity - a mere checklist of feminist issues that most people would be hard-pressed to say no to.





While there are lots of events you could do around the subject of "What is Feminism?" (panel discussions, film screenings, social events, and more), flyers like these could help you to advertise such an event or stand alone as a constant reminder for folks walking by.

Do you all find yourselves having to "debunk feminism?" What strategies do you use? We'd love to hear what you have to say in the comments below. :)