Speaker talks intersecting identities

The Institute for Woman’s Leadership (IWL) hosted historian, author, educator and influencer Blair Imani as the Woman’s History Month keynote speaker on Tuesday.

Imani’s dialogue delved into the intricate dynamics of gender, race and societal expectations, offering a nuanced perspective to those in attendance.

The IWL, in their quest for a keynote speaker for Woman’s History Month, immediately gravitated toward Imani due to her robust social media presence and the accessibility of her content.

“When we reached out to her, she immediately said yes, and we are so grateful for her and her willingness to travel here and come to our school. She’s spoken at schools like Harvard and Oxford, and for her to see us as valuable and spend time to come and share everything she knows was super important,” IWL Student Director Ellie Schmaltz said.

Throughout her discourse, Imani interwove personal anecdotes with scholarly insights, inviting attendees to reflect on their own experiences and societal roles. She navigated the terrain of intersectionality and highlighted the challenges faced by women of color in various professional spheres while also touching on their strategic navigation of societal expectations.

A recurring theme of Imani’s dialogue was the importance of celebrating small victories and embracing one’s journey with gratitude and self-affirmation. She encouraged attendees to cultivate a culture of mutual support and affirmation.

“Affirming and celebrating one another is essential,” Imani said. “It’s about supporting friends and colleagues without criticism—lifting each other up rather than tearing each other down.”

Imani also tackled narratives surrounding women’s support for each other by debunking stereotypes and underscoring the transformative power of sisterhood and solidarity.

“There’s this false narrative, often perpetuated by patriarchal norms, that women don’t support each other,” Imani said. “But let’s debunk that myth. Sisterhood is powerful and essential for our collective empowerment.”

Moreover, Imani delved into the importance of inclusive feminist language, urging attendees to use terminology that embraces diversity and intersectionality.

She cautioned against exclusionary language and emphasized the need for feminism to remain inclusive and intersectional.

“Inclusive feminist language and space is crucial. We must ensure that our activism and advocacy efforts are accessible and welcoming to all individuals, regardless of their identities,” Imani said.

Imani also discussed societal standards imposed on men’s identities and the detrimental effects of rigid gender norms. With her understanding of intersectionality. Imani emphasized the need for inclusive dialogue.

“We know that men are also harmed by the patriarchy when it comes to mental health, rates of self-harm and emotional expression,” Imani said.

She challenged the notion that feminism is solely about woman’ issues and advocates for a broader perspective that acknowledges and addresses the multifaceted impacts of gender expectations on individuals of all genders.

In addition to her insights on gender, race, intersectionality and societal expectations, Imani shared details of her collaboration with Femme Power Beauty, a feminist makeup brand, and her partnership with its founders known throughout the online community as the ‘lipstick lesbians.’

She highlighted the brand’s commitment to challenging harmful beauty standards, noting, “Makeup should be a tool for self-expression, not a weapon of conformity.”

Wrapping up her discourse, Imani reflected on her viral web series, “Smarter in Seconds,” which aims to make complex topics accessible and consumable. She emphasized the importance of advocating for marginalized groups and fostering empathy and allyship, even if one does not personally identify with those identities.

“We all have a role to play in creating a more inclusive and equitable society,” Imani said.

According to Schmaltz, Imani’s message resonated with attendees, offering a refreshing perspective on navigating societal challenges and inspiring positive change.

“Something that Blair brings to the advocacy space is her positivity, which I feel is something the audience definitely picked up on,” Schmaltz said. “A lot of times it can be really debilitating to constantly take in all the bad things that are happening in the world and how oppressed certain groups are. It’s tough, but it’s something that we have to grasp, and she does a fantastic job of sharing how to do that with a sense of positivity because there is always good within it.”

Students who attended the IWL event expressed their delight in the experience, highlighting the value of supporting friends and embracing positivity.

“I love the things that she brought to campus,” CSB senior Odalis Ponce said. “Her relevance and insights on imposter syndrome and being able to relate that to busy Bennie syndrome was impactful.”

In addition to being keynote speaker, Imani spent time around campus, particularly at the Multicultural Center.

“It’s really great to see such a place with robust and amazing resources, especially on a smaller campus,” Imani said.

During Imani’s time in the Multicultural Center, students had the opportunity to meet with Imani in a small group setting to ask her questions. CSB senior Ugbad Abdi expressed gratitude for being able to meet with Imani, especially given their shared Muslim identity.

“As someone who is naturally reserved, it was refreshing to freely ask questions in a more chill and comfortable environment,” Abdi said. “I asked her questions mostly focusing on her Muslim identity as that was something I could relate to. One question specifically was her journey with wearing a hijab. As someone who did grow up in a Muslim household, it was interesting to hear about her journey with it as someone who didn’t grow up in a religion of Islam.”

Imani’s presence provided attendees with new insights into gender dynamics, self-affirmation and the importance of inclusive feminism.

“It all starts with empathy, education and action,” Imani said.