Gender Issues and Feminism 

Gender Issues and Feminism (GIF) is a student-led campus organization dedicated to understanding the “multiplicity of lived experiences of womanhood” and involving the campus in an ongoing discussion about important issues relating to sex and gender, the GIF cabinet explained. 

GIF is an organization which seeks to go beyond discussion – GIF is an opportunity for members to join a collective that can push for important changes on campus, such as increasing access to contraceptives and menstrual products. 

GIF has three main goals: “to critically and intersectionally examine gender issues through a feminist lens, to provide a safe and dedicated space for discussions of sex and gender-related issues” and to develop projects with the aim of bringing awareness to sex and gender-related issues, empowering marginalized voices and creating a culture on campus wherein these issues are openly and safely discussed. 

“[It] is important to us to guide our examinations of feminism and gender issues through an intersectional lens… Feminist issues, and other gender issues, are inextricably linked with the experiences of other marginalized groups. Too often feminism presumes a white, middle to upper class, straight, cis experience and strives for gender justice based on that assumption… GIF recognizes that we cannot push for change without requiring intersectionality of ourselves, of Jewell, and of our community,” the GIF cabinet said.

“[We’re] looking to see open, honest, and critical conversation about anything related to sex, gender, and feminism,” the cabinet continued. “This includes critiquing feminist ideology itself and also analyzing how we as individuals and we as a community perceive and address gender issues and sexual relationships. Our ultimate goal is to offer a positive, judgment-free, and open community where issues that can often be considered taboo or difficult to talk about can be freely discussed.”

GIF is an inclusive club that seeks to “address gender injustices on campus.” Joining this club will ensure that you are well-prepared to apply a critical feminist and intersectional approach to solve real world problems related to issues of sex and gender.

Cabinet: Catherine Dema, Engagement Chair; Madison Carroll-Porth, Events Chair; Lydia Enge, Communication Chair; and Christina Kirk, Project Management Chair. GIF is seeking a Finance Chair. 

Students for Liberty 

Students for Liberty (SFL) is a global non-profit libertarian organization dedicated to its mission to “educate, develop, and empower the next generation of leaders of liberty.” Sophomore Samuel Slaughter, history and secondary education major, revived Jewell’s SFL club. Slaughter wanted to create a neutral space where people could come together and start a conversation without having to take a side on an issue and “without feeling the need to always be right.”

SFL existed previously under the leadership of Parker Jenkins, ’20. Slaughter consulted with Jenkins about the potential to revive the club. SFL provides a platform on which to foster neutral, civil discourse in the political realm at Jewell. 

“[We] will aim to be the voice of reason, love, and acceptance on campus. We will do everything in our power to make real change happen at Jewell in the coming years…,” states SFL’s Instagram page. “Liberty is fit FOR ALL.” 

SFL will hold different kinds of meetings in order to meet their mission including Tablings – where an issue will be thoroughly explored in a student-led discussion – and Circle Seminars – where one person leads the conversation on a topic and people sitting around a circle share what they think about the topic. Slaughter says if you want to join in on a “judgment free political conversation and make a real difference at Jewell” through practical action, then SFL is the club for you. 

Cabinet: Samuel Slaughter, President; Erin Watts, Vice President; Angelica Stiles, Secretary; Morgan Tuttle, Treasurer; and Paige Wright, Social Media Manager. 

Seki Anderson, Vice President of Feminist Club and junior biochemistry major, described how the organization donated 50 percent of the funds raised through the shirt sales to an organization of the club’s choosing, Planned Parenthood. The shirts were printed with the phrase “Feminist with a to-do list,” with an intersectional symbol in the place of one of the letters in the word “feminist.” Anderson stated that Feminist Club sold more than twice the number of shirts during this year’s Feminist Week than last year. The shirts were sold through a table in Yates-Gill College Union which showcased a different feminist topic each day. Ayana Curran-Howes, President of Feminist Club and senior biology major, said this was to educate students about issues relating to feminism, such as the use of feminism to combat rape culture on college campuses and ecofeminism.

The other event that contributed to Feminist Week was the showing of “Trapped,” a documentary investigating ongoing legislation on abortion and birth control in the United States of America. The film addressed how these laws impact doctors, patients and women’s health clinics.

“We wanted to show this documentary because it was one of the most updated documentaries, and we believe it’s important for a college campus to know where our country currently stands on this subject,” Anderson said.

The importance of feminism on Jewell’s campus is just as relevant today as it was when the organization was founded, stated Sam Buhlig, secretary of Feminist Club and senior english and philosophy major. Both Anderson and Buhlig agree that the presence of feminism at WJC allows inclusive messages to be enforced and that the club creates a space for students’ voices to be heard. Intersectionality has also been a main influence within Feminist Club. The concept of intersectional feminism involves addressing the ways in which various types of oppression are interconnected. For Anderson, intersectional feminism, as a focus of Feminist Club, allows WJC students to recognize the issues within different communities on and off campus.

In the process of becoming more involved with Feminist Club, Anderson was surprised to discover that many college campuses do not have equivalent organizations. Becoming aware that her high school was beginning its own feminist organization inspired her more to make the Feminist Club a lasting presence on the WJC campus.

“It’s important to know we don’t know the answer of how to ‘do away’ with oppression; it’s ingrained in our society from the very beginning,” Anderson said. “We’ve had leaps and jumps of improvement throughout history, so it’s our obligation to continue that momentum.”

The Feminist Club was created in 2014 and is currently working with Student Life to aid in improving inclusion initiatives at WJC. Anderson, along with Hannah Payne, senior psychology and religion and culture major, and Luce-Virlynn Apollon, junior nursing major, worked with Student Life to redesign the Diversity and Inclusion segment of First-Year Orientation. The group focused this part of Orientation on the multicultural organizations of WJC, including the Black Student Association (BSA) and QUILTBAG. Anderson and her peers in Feminist Club, BSA and QUILTBAG are now communicating with Student Life about improved Title IX training.

Looking at this past semester, Buhlig has seen many of the issues discussed within Feminist Club intersect with discussions within BSA and QUILTBAG. He stated that intersectionality of issues relating to multicultural organizations can be the foundation for group discussions among these groups.

Anderson envisions Feminist Club becoming more action-driven in the future. She hopes that a continuation of meaningful dialogue and more time spent volunteering will work as a pathway to increased awareness and improved diversity inclusion. Anderson also stated that engaging with those who don’t promote an inclusionary environment is another integral step to take to promote more acceptance on the WJC campus.