Corey Fawcett (The Beacon)
By Corey Fawcett, Guest Commentary
I'll cut to the chase: Navigating this existential bleepstorm we call life is approximately one bajillion times easier with feminism at your side, whatever your sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, race, height, zodiac sign, Hogwarts house or animorph may be. Mine is an owl, but I digress.
Contrary to Rush Limbaugh's recent speculations about feminism's magical link to the nation's decreasing average penis size (perhaps spurred on by thinly-veiled insecurity over his own genitalia, which, AHEM Rush, feminism helps you overcome), feminists are not out to get teh menz. Feminists are not seeking special treatment for women. Feminists are looking for equality in a world that is far from achieving it.
I won't waste all my space trying to prove that inequality exists, because quite frankly it's up to you to educate yourself if you haven't already. But at least consider these 2012 findings from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and collaborators at Yale:
In a randomized double-blind study, male and female academic scientists who were given application materials from a student applying for a lab manager position rated the applicant as more competent and more deserving of a higher salary when a male name was attached to it. Same exact qualifications, different name. A similar phenomenon has also been observed time and time again when the applicant's race is changed from Caucasian to, well, anything else.
But men and women both reap the benefits of feminism. It saves everyone from a lifetime of worrying about adhering to gender roles by putting a stop to stressing about your body, how your peers will receive your new haircut or what people will think of you for dancing to Lady Gaga in a glittery unitard. Feminism plays an integral role in fighting homophobia and transphobia, and leads to discussions of issues like racism and ableism as well. Feminism is basically the best.
Whether or not you consider yourself a feminist, Feminist Discussion Group has its doors open to you. Every year the club holds a Pay Scale Bake Sale, which calls attention to the wage gap. We also host Speak Out, a safe space for sexual assault victims and friends to share their stories. Last year we partnered up with Voice for Life to hold an abortion panel discussion, which had a great turnout and went almost an hour longer than planned. This year we will host a women's issues panel discussion to educate Pilot voters on who they're voting for and how their policies will affect them. In a time where women's health issues are being debated like they're, well, something to be debated about, the time is nigh for feminists to come out of the woodwork. The world needs you!
Most of what Feminist Discussion Group is, however, is a place to talk, mostly about current events relating to issues of sexism and other forms of inequality. From the lack of people of color in Lena Dunham's Girls to Michelle Obama's DNC speech to what Judd Apatow movies say about masculinity to France's treatment of the burqa, we cover it all. And we want to hear your voice. Come to Shiley 124 Tuesdays at 6 and join in the discussion.
Corey Fawcett is a senior english major. She can be reached at fawcett13@up.edu
