Panel discusses feminism issues
By Megan Helgeson, writer
April 22, 2008 | 9 p.m.
The feminist movement did not end with women’s suffrage but is still a prominent issue today. As a result, a panel of men and women discussed the issues involving feminism as part of Take Back the Night Week.
Led by Ohio University senior Lee Robbins, the discussion took place Wednesday, April 16 in the Women’s Center, whose mission is to “act as a catalyst to promote awareness, education and advocacy about women, gender and diversity among faculty, staff and students at Ohio University and surrounding communities,” according to the Center’s brochure.
The discussion embraced this mission by including panelists from the community, faculty and OU students. However, spectators were encouraged to contribute as well.
The panelists included Lydia Gerthoffer, an OU Student Trustee; Tara Ball, a local employee of Planned Parenthood; Alyssa Thomas, an OU graduate student; Tim Vonville, the OU Student Senate President; and India Pierce, an OU student.
Panelists introduced themselves by explaining how they are associated with feminism. Some mentioned a strong female influence in their families, including sisters, mothers and grandmothers, while others explained that being a woman guided them to feminism.
The group questioned what pressing issues there are today. Everyone agreed that the word "feminism" has a negative connotation and that there must be an acceptance of being a feminist before any real change can occur.
This acceptance, however, also must include women who have not identified themselves as feminists. Ball noted that it is often thought that only single, childless women can be feminists. Changing this view to include women such as stay-at-home mothers will help to increase understanding of feminism among women.
Support for the feminist movement from men is also critical to success. “It is not about working against men,” Robbins said. “It is about making alliances.” That is why Robbins felt it was necessary to include men in the discussion. “It was extremely important having someone on the panel that was not only a male but a student leader,” Robbins said, referring to Vonville.
Vonville mentioned men not taking feminism seriously, or joking about it, as a problem among males, although among the majority of men he knows, there is respect for women, Vonville said.
Equal opportunity is what Vonville said the feminist movement should strive for. “I think anyone, regardless of who you are, should have the same opportunities,” he said.
The panel also realized that these opportunities involve more than just American women’s interests. “Feminism is not just an American issue,” Pierce said. “Until women all over the world are equal, we can’t say there isn’t a need for feminism.”
Overall, the panelist discussion went well. “I thought it went really well,” Robbins said, “It was very thought provoking.”
With issues of feminism still present in today’s society, discussions like these and open-minded people are what it takes to conquer any inequalities.
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