Feminism Union
n the wake of a turbulent election cycle that ended with Hillary Clinton’s loss to Donald Trump, and after a year-long series of revelations surrounding sexual misconduct at the Academy, Exeter’s Feminist Union, also known as “Fem Club” held an influential role on campus, hosting multiple advocacy events on and off campus, inviting guest speakers and briefing weekly discussions in the Academy Center on Wednesday nights.
One of Fem Club’s largest initiatives this year was the congregation and transportation of 45 students to attend the Women’s March in Boston, Massachusetts this past January.
Exonians donned pink sweatshirts emblazoned with the black, block-lettered word “Feminist” across their chests and held up homemade posters as they marched in solidarity and resilience in the face of Trump’s inauguration.
Lower and co-head Isadora Kron noted the club’s shift towards more tangible and politicized advocacy amidst the 2016 presidential election, and hoped to continue that progressive activism in the coming years. “This year because of the election we took a more action-based approach, doing more events and trying to make more concrete change versus just doing discussion,” she said.
A few weeks ago, Fem Club members welcomed New York Times best-selling author, journalist and sex educator Peggy Orenstein to speak at a panel-style assembly and evening dinner, exploring the pressing and often inequitable sexual landscape that girls face during their high school and college years.
According to lower and co-head Reina Matsumoto, members watched a video of Orenstein’s TED talk in preparation for her visit to the Academy, analyzing her stance on the objectification of girls’ bodies and how they are exploited in a culture that many would argue benefits males, both in terms of the sexual encounters themselves and the consequences of those encounters.
Matsumoto believes that the club’s onset of hookup culture conversation should broaden to the rest of the student body for a safer sexual atmosphere on campus. “There are so many women in the world who have to overcome injustices just because they identify as female, and I believe we should all do what we can to create a culture of mutual respect regardless of sex,” she said.
This year, the club also partnered with Exeter’s science publication MATTER Magazine to present a panel featuring the stories of female faculty, alumni, community members, and students on their passions for science and mathematics—two subjects traditionally dominated by male peers. The panelists acknowledged the gender disparity in higher-level STEM courses at Exeter and discussed ways of challenging such disproportions with encouragement and mentorship.
Members also printed and placed consent posters on bulletin boards to remind students to foster a respectful environment at school dances like Dunbar Hall’s Back in Black, and wrote letters to Congress members.
Along with participating in the aforementioned feminist activities, students gather every Wednesday night to discuss topics including abortion, intersectionality, pornography, misogynistic beauty standards, intimacy and female sexuality, and gender stereotypes.
Kron appreciated the diversity of perspectives at Fem Club’s weekly gatherings. “My favorite thing about fem club is getting to know and learn a lot from different feminists because everyone has come from different walks of life and has experienced feminism in different ways,” she said. “It’s been really amazing to learn about everyone’s points of view of feminism and it’s really kind of influenced and helped me form my own opinions on feminism.”
Lower Ingrid Bergill values the sense of community that the club harbors. “I like the community that fem club creates and having a space where people understand and want to grow and learn more about feminism,” she said. “I remember after the election one night, a lot of us were feeling unsure of what it was going to be like in Trump’s America. I just hope Exeter knows that you don’t have to be a girl, or even a feminist, to come and talk. We are always there for each other.”
Kron agreed, encouraging Exonians to join the feminist dialogue. “Fem club does really good job of welcoming all different types of opinions. If you have different views about feminism we are always excited to hear new perspectives and have a good discussion,” she assured. “We welcome people of all beliefs and backgrounds who are welcome to talk.”