This is what a [UNC] feminist looks like: Dr. Behrens

1. What does feminism mean to you?
   
   To me, feminism means recognizing the damaging role the patriarchy plays in our daily lives--all the ways, big and little, that it hurts people--and rejecting it. And while I think women are the most direct targets of that harm, I think that same set of social structures, of sexism and heterosexism, limits everyone.
   
   
2. Do you have a role model at UNC?
   
   There are a lot of women at UNC that I'm proud to know, and I learn things from all of them, but I wouldn't identify any one person as a role model.
   
   
3. What do you do to make UNC a more feminist friendly place?
   
   I used to be more active when I was a grad student teaching the intro Women's Studies course and Philosophical Issues in Feminism, both of which were really fun. I participated in some protests, including a big anti-pornography one, wrote a letter to the editor about that, volunteered on a family violence prevention crisis line. Now that I'm working full time, I focus more on creating a good work environment and trying to be supportive to younger women. I also occasionally get to do some work with women students through the McNair Scholars program, and I'm hoping to get connected to the organization for first-generation college students. And I served on the Employee Forum and tried to represent women's interests there.

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