Feminism. Regardless of who you are and what you believe, this word holds an immense connotation. With the rise of advocacy movements in society, comes a just as persistent wave of resistance. While it may be easy to acknowledge the blatant fact that our society values tradition, what we fail to recognize is that revolutionary movements have constantly served as a gateway to innovation and prosperity. By providing college students with a healthy and stimulating outlet in order to acquire information about feminism and all of its components, universities can pave a way to utilize creative thought that tests the boundaries of tradition. Defining feminism and what it entails is vital to this.
Feminism, by definition, is the desire for equality between genders. With radicalism comes a shift in these definitions which directly results in opposition from those that are skeptical to change. It is pivotal that universities offer a safe space where information on feminism is shared and allowed to manifest.
Before getting to school, I was told that college would be one of the most liberal places that I would ever be. As a result, I came in with a plurality of expectations progressive and innovative thought harbored and nurtured in the minds of the educated. However, upon arrival, I discovered that these discussions are somewhat limited to those that have a passion for the movement. Understandably, people spend time studying and researching what they have an interest in. On the other hand, I believe that an understanding of the theorems and intersectionality of feminism should be an essential part of the college experience.
So how do we go about instituting a variety of methods to increase awareness? First, it begins with a place. We need a place to be able to share our thoughts. Fortunately, many schools have institutions or organizations where communication can take place. Next, we need education. There should be a multitude of academic environments centered around the feminist thought and how it affects the mediums in which we exist. It also should be required that one of these classes be a general requirement, not for the purpose of changing opinions but to acquire an environment of tolerance and acceptance. Through these conventional methods, we as students, can institutionalize awareness and establish a climate of advocacy.