This is what a UNC feminist looks like: Diana

1. What does feminism mean to you?

Whenever I'm asked about feminism, the first thing that comes into my mind is a quote by Cheris Kramarae that reads, "Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings." It's a little bit snippy, but I think it pretty clearly addresses the point of feminism. Feminism is the belief in equality, a belief that there is a fundamental, patriarchal, sexist problem in a society (like ours) which pays men more than women for doing equal work, which blames a messy house on the wife instead of the husband, which tolerates victim blaming in situations of sexual assault, which has no problem when the media talks about what male politicians are saying but what women are wearing, where words like "guys" and "freshmen" are expected to apply to everyone, where men and things masculine are fundamentally valued over women and things feminine. I believe that these things are absolutely a problem, and I believe the feminist movement is seeking to enact change and rectify these inequalities and the multitudes of other problems I haven't mentioned. Feminism, to me, is the hope that when I have a daughter she will see that half of all senators are women, half of all business owners are women, half of all presidential candidates are women, half of all scientists and doctors are women, just as half of our country is comprised of women, and then maybe she can actually begin to believe the lie that we tell our children that they can be anything they want to be.

2. Do you feel like you have a female role model in college?
   
   I absolutely have found several female role models here on campus; they have come in the form of a few fantastic professors who are truly dedicated to teaching and mentoring their students. Most specifically I would mention Sherryl Kleinman (take her class!!! SOCI 124). I would say that Professor Kleinman has been the number one most influential person on helping me develop my understanding of feminism and my ability to analyze social situations for equality and social justice. I also have amazing friends, male and female, who challenge my perceptions of the world and help me work through current social and political issues to gain a good understanding of the relevant issues.

3. What do you do to make UNC (or your college or workplace) a more feminist-friendly place?

 

I will readily admit to being somewhat obsessive about gender-neutral language. There is nothing that annoys me more than being referred to as a "guy." While this can be a sensitive subject, it can also be a great way to delve into deeper issues of sexism in our society today. So many people don't see any problems with using the term "man", "men", etc. as a collective for all of humankind. I, on the other hand, think this symbolic erasure of womankind is troubling and blatantly sexist, so I love to bring it up at any available opportunity!

Interested in contributing to this blog? email your responses to these three questions and an image to represent you to samn216@gmail.com