'You're a Feminist?' panel defines terms, beliefs

Eight panelists of different backgrounds told stories of discovering their feminism.

By Jimmy Hibsch

Published Nov. 5, 2010

The Women’s Center’s Twitter page was lighting up throughout Thursday evening, live-updating followers on its “You’re a Feminist?” panel in Stotler Lounge.

Eight panelists, all of whom identify as a different type of feminist, responded to questions from the audience on topics ranging from their preferred feminist literature to how they embody feminism.

“I would say I live out my feminism every day by being a college student,” said Megan Roberts, a junior and Maneater staff member. “I work. I’m self-sufficient. I do whatever I want to do, and I’m a woman.”

All panelists have had instances they accredit as solidifying their feminism. Some discovered their feminism in college whereas others were aware from a young age. For instance, department of women’s and gender studies assistant professor Becky Martínez said she grew up in a traditional household where women did the dishes and cooked the food and the men enjoyed the work’s benefits.

“I realized at some point that I really didn’t like that very much,” Martínez said. “As I went into college, I wasn’t really interested in feminist issues, but then I started to learn more.”

The majority of the panelists said they discovered their feminism in college through outlets such as the Women’s Center and the Feminist Student Union. Despite this, the panelists agreed on the prevalence of stigma attached to modern feminists.

“A lot of times the ideal of a feminist is bra-burning, not shaving your legs and all of those things,” Greek Life coordinator Julie Drury said. “We don’t teach children about the difference between being a boy and a girl and how to make that equal and showing them equal. Those kinds of things exacerbate those sexist beliefs over time.”

Intersectionality, or the intermingling of race and gender oppression, was heavily covered by the panel.

“We have to remember that I’m not just sitting up here as a woman,” said Kim Scates, Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center co-coordinator. “I’m also a woman of color. To put one thing that you’re facing that’s not a part of the majority above everything else is problematic. I don’t understand how we can get rid of sexism without getting rid of racism as well.”

Women’s Center Adviser Suzy Day moderated the dialogue and said there are a number of ways for anyone interested in pursuing feminism to get involved at MU, from the center’s new feminist ‘zine to the Feminist Book Club.

Day wrapped up the evening by asking the audience if the panel had converted any of them to feminism, and a number of hands shot up. She invited anyone with questions to e-mail them to her so she could post answers from panelists on the center's website.

“I know this is a kind of oversimplified view of feminism, but it’s one that I really hold dear: We’re trying to make the world a little better,” Women’s Center staff member Struby Struble said. “We just want everybody to be happy. In my feminist world, everyone would be skipping, holding hands and throwing glitter. The end goal of feminism is for everybody to have a better life. That’s what we’re working for.”