Feminism: the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.
Feminism is gender equality.
Although it is often lost in translation, intersectional feminism is the idea that everyone is equal, not that women are superior.
The notion that all genders should have equal rights is a relevant and pressing issue in today’s society.
In order to address this issue, ASB’s Human Relations Commission is working with the Feminist Club to throw an awareness campaign: Gender Equality Week.
With a different theme each day, students hope to raise awareness of the prominence of social inequalities in the community and the world.
Human Relations supervisor Jade Sebti, said, “My commission is working so that the impact of this campaign will be to raise awareness to the inequalities that are present especially through gender roles in our present-day society.”
The week will involve many activities to promote positivity towards all genders.
Monday is a pledge day, with the signing of a pledge to support gender equality chain and the handing out of ribbons.
Tuesday’s theme is “Jobs Have No Gender,” where there will be a dress-up photo booth with costumes of professions that anyone can have.
Wednesday is International Women’s Day. There will be whiteboard signing and pictures at lunch, and a large banner people can sign on stating why they are proud to be women.
Thursday is called “Erase the Negative.” Throughout the day, balloons with stereotypical sexist phrases on them will be set up around school for students to pop in an attempt to “erase” those sayings. During lunch there will be a finger painting activity to resemble getting rid of hateful sayings.
On Friday, hot chocolate will be given out in the morning and “Cookies for Equality” will be sold to be decorated during lunch, the proceeds being used to buy feminine products to contribute to Feminist Club’s menstrual product drive.
To include clubs in more of their activities, ASB is working with Feminist Club to improve the campaign and spread awareness.
Sebti said, “Increased club involvement gets greater populations in the Carlmont community involved, thus increasing participation.”
Pon said, “I want gender equality week to give more visibility to feminism, not as a dirty word, but as a movement for equality of the sexes.”
I want gender equality week to give more visibility to feminism, not as a dirty word, but as a movement for equality of the sexes.
— Sydney Pon
The Feminist Club meets every second and fourth Friday of each month in room D21.
Feminist Club co-president Sydney Pon, said, “Our mission is to educate and expose the Carlmont community to intersectional feminism.”
Last year the club started the Feminine Product Drive in which they donated menstrual products to Freedom House which benefits victims of human trafficking, and Samaritan House which benefits low-income women.
“The drive has been very successful. We tried it out last year for the first time and we collected over 2,000 tampons, pads, and panty liners,” said Pon.
This year will be their second annual drive, taking place from Mar. 6 to 17, in accordance with Gender Equality Week which will run from Mar. 6 to 10.
Divya Menon, a member of both the club and commission, is helping to fuel collaboration between the two.
Menon said, “I feel like clubs can add new ideas because they’ve had a different experience than people in ASB, and they can bring a different audience and more help, obviously.”
The goal of Gender Equality Week is to promote equality within the Carlmont community, even those who don’t associate themselves with feminism.
“I think people are bothered by feminists who call them out or try to give them an opposing viewpoint. People have a stereotype of what feminists are, and don’t want to change their ways,” said Pon.
The campaign is designed to spread happiness, positivity, and equality throughout the week. The Menstrual Product Drive is just one way the students at Carlmont are helping to give back to the community.
