Spring Break
My feminist awakening at OSU
Sara Gwin
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: Forum
With all of the subjects I wanted to study in college, it feels a bit odd to be majoring in the one that wasn't even on my radar screen as a wide-eyed freshman.
To be honest, I was initially weary of women studies as I didn't think I would enjoy a class that predominately had women in it, and I was unsure of what kind of material would be discussed in class.
In the spring of my first year, a friend brought me to a class taught by Amy Leer. I found her to be absolutely fascinating, and I left the class wanting to learn more about her and her feminist beliefs and wondering why I had never given women studies much thought beforehand.
The next fall, I took a couple women studies just in the hopes of fulfilling Bacc Core requirements, but it eventually became my major and radically changed my life for the better.
I'm incredibly thankful for the women studies department. They have assembled a great group of professors from various backgrounds and worldviews.
I have been challenged to think in new ways; and to not only study material, but to relate it to my life and react to it. Being involved with women studies has helped me discover who I am, who I want to be and what it is I want to do with my life.
My professors have consistently been available outside of class to support me whether it was coming to events I put on, mentoring me about classes to take or life decisions.
Along with the graduate teaching assistants, the Women's Center and other feminist students, I have found a great community that continues to educate me in and out of the classroom and empowers me to do more than I would have ever thought possible.
I identify as a feminist, a term that encompasses a number of definitions and can be as diverse as the groups and individuals who identify as such.
On a basic level, feminism is a movement for the equality of all people regardless of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability or religious preference.
To be honest, I was initially weary of women studies as I didn't think I would enjoy a class that predominately had women in it, and I was unsure of what kind of material would be discussed in class.
In the spring of my first year, a friend brought me to a class taught by Amy Leer. I found her to be absolutely fascinating, and I left the class wanting to learn more about her and her feminist beliefs and wondering why I had never given women studies much thought beforehand.
The next fall, I took a couple women studies just in the hopes of fulfilling Bacc Core requirements, but it eventually became my major and radically changed my life for the better.
I'm incredibly thankful for the women studies department. They have assembled a great group of professors from various backgrounds and worldviews.
I have been challenged to think in new ways; and to not only study material, but to relate it to my life and react to it. Being involved with women studies has helped me discover who I am, who I want to be and what it is I want to do with my life.
My professors have consistently been available outside of class to support me whether it was coming to events I put on, mentoring me about classes to take or life decisions.
Along with the graduate teaching assistants, the Women's Center and other feminist students, I have found a great community that continues to educate me in and out of the classroom and empowers me to do more than I would have ever thought possible.
I identify as a feminist, a term that encompasses a number of definitions and can be as diverse as the groups and individuals who identify as such.
On a basic level, feminism is a movement for the equality of all people regardless of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability or religious preference.
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