What Women's Studies Means to Me

With the recent events at Wright State University, and my blog post covering the new decision, I thought it would be more than appropriate to write about what Women's Studies has meant to me personally during my time here.

When I first entered a Women's Studies class, I immediately felt at home. Despite a few sexist comments from men and women around me, the loudest people were those who really felt a commitment to feminism. I remember reading Alice Walker, bell hooks, Baumgardner and Richards. They spoke to me and ignited a passion for me that felt different than anything else in my life. Jessica Valenti describes her own similar experience in college as finally "getting past the bullshit". That's exactly how I felt. I suddenly realized all the pressure I constantly felt to be pretty, excessively thin, smart but not too smart, funny but not too funny, liked by men, etc. was all bullshit. It was the most liberating experience I've ever had.

As I took more classes, my professors taught me how to deconstruct this "bullshit" using feminist theory. I felt empowered, not to mention...happy. You see, while I spoke at my first women's studies conference, wrote kick ass papers, learned to argue effectively, and the definition of heteronormative, I also learned to love myself.

I took great classes because the Women's Studies department at Wright State is so great. Its director made sure we had classes that challenged and taught us so much. It's because of this effort that while I have flourished in the academic context, I have also flourished as a human being.

What's happening right now is so deeply personal to me because of what the program has meant to me. I do not believe that losing its director would do anything positive for women's studies at Wright State. I do believe it will do great harm. I'm graduating soon and I would like to see other students have the opportunity for a similar experience. Without such a well run program, such a personal experience, amazing classes, and great faculty and staff, I wouldn't be who I am today. No matter the outcome, I will never forget that. Because of what Women's Studies means to me, I will fight for these women and this program that has shaped me to greatly.