Clubs encourage conversation about feminism

As part of an ongoing series called “_____ is a Feminist Issue,” Advocates for Inclusive Mentoring (AIM) and the Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL) partnered to present “Feminist, Womanist, Mujerista” on Tuesday night in the Multicultural Center.

The event, attended by roughly 20 students, providing a safe and open environment for students to discuss challenging issues surrounding feminism and race. Amanda Martinez, assistant director for AIM, led the hour-long event and stressed the importance of education.

“If you aren’t able to understand other perspectives, who are you to judge?” Martinez said.

The presentation began with a brief overview on the history of feminism, noting the different waves of feminism and the accomplishments and focus of each wave. This history provided a framework to discuss later prompts with peers, as it highlighted how feminism has evolved as a movement for white women into a more inclusive movement that is working to create space for women of color as well as queer and non-binary individuals and communities.

Students were then tasked with discussing the first of many prompts provided in the presentation. As the event progressed, students became more comfortable talking with one another both in small groups and to the entire group as Martinez asked attendees to share.

As the event progressed, so too did the complexity of the questions. Martinez introduced mujerismo and womanism, two modern movements that have branched out of feminism as a necessity for marginalized groups to have a space that is truly created for them. While most students were familiar with feminism and its basic tenets, mujerismo and womanism were newer movements to many.

Martinez provided a bit of history on these movements, which were created for Latina women and Black women respectively whose traditional and cultural experiences differ from that of white women and who continue to be excluded from some aspects of feminism. Many questions centered around who can be a part of what group and how we can break stereotypes surrounding these movements. Students made a distinction between inclusion in and support of these movements, noting that claiming identity in these movements is largely predicated on lived experiences. Thus, while white women can and should support mujeristas and womanists, and men should support all these groups, lived experiences as women and women of color can only be understood by these groups. Students engaged in respectful discourse and importantly stated that none of their answers to the question were the only or right answer.

Another theme of the discussions was the importance of education for breaking stereotypes surrounding feminism, womanism and mujerismo. Students listed common stereotypes, such as feminists being angry and wanting power over men, and beliefs that discount the importance of womanism and mujerismo, saying there is space within feminism for these marginalized groups. The best way to break these stereotypes, they said, is education.

Many advocated for education of children in schools. There are many misconceptions around these movements, and indeed many perspectives, but education can open us up to the history and experiences that have informed modern feminism and subsequent branching movements. There is no shortage of education in feminism and gender oppression at CSB+SJU. Many attendees commented on classes they had taken that discussed some of the prompts and issues raised in the discussion. The event series itself “___ is a Feminist Issue” provides a platform for students to learn in an intimate and welcoming environment.

Morgan Stout, a first year student, was excited to finally have a clear schedule to attend an event. Attending events like this one, she said, “allows me to continue educating myself and sharing it with others.”

CSB sophomore Ava Schultz agreed, adding that the event inspired her to continue educating herself.

“I want to learn if there are other marginalized groups trying to create movements,” Schultz said.