2008 Woodie Awards
A Feminist View
Jackie Conley
Issue date: 10/26/05 Section: Valley Life
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"People think the women in this group wear combat boots and smoke cigars, and to be a feminist is not feminine," said Women's Studies major Jessica Waugh. "There is such a negative connotation with the word feminist and it shies [scares] people away."
Waugh made her first meeting last week and said she joined the group to help make awareness and to educate herself on some of the issues affecting women today.
Women's Study major Felicia Parazaider, started the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance on campus. Parazaider, who also serves as the club's president, said she was inspired to start the club after taking Women's Studies with Professor Pat Allen, who is one of the club's sponsors with Rebecca Stein.
"I thought it was necessary to do this," Parazaider said. "Yes, we've come along way, but things can still be different."
The Feminist Majority Foundation, a national organization dedicated to women's equality, helps to organize a national network of feminist clubs on college campuses. Jesse Raeder, Senior Campus Organizer for FMLA said the club is one of 180 FMF-affiliated campus groups across the nation.
"We thought there was a lack of feminist clubs on campus," Raeder said.
During the second meeting on Oct. 13, the alliance discussed California's Proposition 73, which would require parental notification 48 hours before a minor may terminate her pregnancy. The proposition will be voted on in the Nov. 8 special election. Raider said the FMLA goal is to find supporters of legal abortion and encourage them to vote on Prop. 73.
