A Powerful Pitch: Sophie Fernandes shares her pitch with Dr. Robbie Hooker to start the Women Studies Club. The pitch explains why the club is significant, what students will accomplish in the club, who will be the sponsor and when the club will meet. Photo by: Sophie Fernandes.
By SOPHIE FERNANDES – Print Photography Editor
Junior Sophie Fernandes speaks about her idea to begin a Women Studies club at Clarke Central and why she feels it is important.
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, feminism is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities, but defining feminism in 12 words is difficult because there are several types of feminists. There are equity feminists, who believe that there are congenital differences between the genders and want to challenge unequal opportunities, gender feminists, those who want to break down any boundaries and gender dissimilarities, and third-wave feminists who follow 1960’s radical dogma.
However, because of the stereotypes placed on the word feminism, many associate it with those who have a more extremist or radical perception on the word, i.e. man haters.
I used to share this viewpoint.
Because I had never experienced sexism growing up, I was oblivious to what feminism is actually fighting for. I thought of it more as women trying to overthrow men rather than become equal to them.
As I grew older, I began to notice all of the social boundaries that women face. I realized why I had misunderstood what feminism is for all of those years, I had not been properly educated on it.
In my entire high school career, I have never read a book by a female author in class. Recently, I started questioning why.
Was it harder in the past for women to get published? Or, has no one really notice the intelligent works created by women because of the stigma placed on them?
Whatever the reason, I felt the need to tackle this issue.
Even in all of my history classes–Advanced Government, AP World History and AP U.S. History– I had been taught that women did not have equal rights, but nothing further than that.
Isn’t the feminist movement an important step to gender equality?
I asked myself this question over and over again. If we were taught about powerful women more and their accomplishments, not just those of men, wouldn’t that empower my female peers to believe they too can accomplish great things?
I proposed my club idea to Clarke Central Principal Dr. Robbie Hooker about two weeks ago and received positive feedback. Women Studies will have their first meeting on Oct. 19.
I feel that this club is extremely important to educate the student body at Clarke Central. For young girls who grow up surrounded by the sounds of misogynist rap and advertised as an accessory for men, the club will be a safe haven for them to learn that the emphasis on female appearance has overshadowed our intellects, our spirits, and our potential.
For young boys, who think that making sexist jokes are funny, the club will be an outlet to broaden their minds on the great strides we can make to have equal gender relations in our society.
I have high hopes and goals for the Women Studies club. Of course, educating my peers and myself on female texts and feminist documentaries is my main priority; however, I have other aspirations, as well.
I am planning to bring in Assistant Director of the Women Studies Department at the University of Georgia, Cecilia Herles, to speak with our club. Herles is also going to help us start a fundraiser and figure out what exactly we want to donate the money to.
At the moment, I want to give the funds towards female education in underdeveloped countries. I feel excited to bring attention back to women’s rights, it is a problem that is long overdue to speak on. The students of CCHS should be aware of all that women have gone through in history. Although women’s rights have progressed exceptionally, sexism still exists all over the world and it is time to change that.
