The WRC is pleased to present Andrea Chudzik as our latest Featured Feminist.
Name: Andrea Chudzik
School & Year: LSOE, Class of ‘12
Major(s) / Minor(s): Majoring in Secondary Education and English
April 10th, 2012
An Actor Speaks Out Against Patriarchy
In response to articles of commenting on a change in her appearance, Ashley Judd responded with an article in the Daily Beast that attacks patriarchy and calls attention to the way that women are just as responsible for the perpetuation of patriarchy as men. This is not usually an intentional or pointed effort on part of women, but rather an internalization of patriarchy that comes from a variety of sources such as the media and the society in which one grew up. Check out what Judd had to say and think about the ways that you can be more careful about not injecting patriarchy into your own life and relationships!
http://feministing.com/2012/04/09/ashley-judd-nails-patriarchy/
March 12th, 2012
Featured Feminist: Angela Donkor
Profile
Name: Angela Donkor
School & Year: A&S ’12
Major(s) / Minor(s): International Studies and Political Science
Questions
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Angela Donkor and I was born in a small town called Konongo in southern Ghana. When I was six years old, I moved to another small town just across the world to Bassano Del Grappa, Italy. Moving to Italy was a great experience for me. I made many friends; I learned Italian, Spanish, English and French while I was there. I loved the food, the people and in my town. Then in 2006, after living in Italy for 10 years, I moved to the United States. To say the least, my life has been very global and as a result of that, I have encountered people from all walks of life.
2. What are you most passionate about?
I am passionate about traveling. I like to be a foreigner in other people’s country and discover new cultures. I have a passion for tennis, gymnastics and swimming.
3. How do you define “feminism”?
I define feminism as sisterhood. I know that many people have stereotypes about feminism but for me, being a feminist means that I am in sisterhood with every woman. Traveling around the globe had made me realize that women all over the world are in search for the same thing. They want their voices heard, they want to matter and they want respect. Together, we can help each other achieve these things.
4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?
I define myself as a feminist because I believe that women need to be in solidarity with each other.
5. Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by all those who do not let their circumstances stand in the way of what they can do. I am inspired by the courage of those who speak out against injustice because they understand that they cannot be free unless all are freeFebruary 21st, 2012
Featured Feminist: Andrea Chudzik
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
II’m a goofy lady with an appreciation for mittens, yoga, and traveling. I hope to teach internationally as I prepare to become a middle school or high school English teacher. After a semester abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, I’m looking forward to reuniting with fellow Hello…Shovelhead!ers, mentors and students in the College Bound program, and DJs at BC’s very own radio station, WZBC 90.3 FM. Perhaps I will re-launch my feminist talk show “Girl Power Hour” in the fall, but until then I will be enjoying music I can boogey to and life back in good ol’ New England.
2. What are you most passionate about?
My heart beats a little faster when I get my hands on some clay or cello strings, and when I can work with young adults and help them find what they’re passionate about. I love studying and discussing educational policy and women’s rights, especially as I’ve become more involved with activism through Crystal Talia’s “Creating Social Activist Images” course (it’s amazing and highly recommended for those of you interested in social justice/responsibility). Although I feel it’s important to be passionate in many areas, I’m learning how to narrow and deepen my focus to enable positive, lasting change.
3. How do you define “feminism”?
To me, feminism is recognizing that there is still much progress to be made in regards to women rights around the world. I do not see it as a blame game, but rather a call for all people to work together for equality. There are certainly many different kinds of feminism, such as radical, liberal, Marxist, etc., but I think all forms are based in the awareness that more must be done. Until women are encouraged to feel proud of their body images rather than ashamed, are empowered to pursue any field of interest rather than discouraged, are completely protected from atrocities such as human trafficking, and until we all work towards such goals together, feminism remains an important movement.
4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?
Advocacy for women’s rights does not stop at voting rights - inequalities exist despite our universal freedom, and now more than ever, there need to be men and women who are willing to create change. I can’t choose what pictures go into magazines and what television shows go on the air, but I can spread positive messages to and about women in the spheres available to me. Through the radio station’s airwaves I can interview female artists about their inspirations, I can participate in WRC programs on campus, and I can stimulate conversations about feminism and social justice when the opportunities arise. If someone doesn’t consider him or herself a feminist, I’m confident it’s largely to do with a lack of education about these issues. A feminism course isn’t the only way to spread this awareness - open minds and taking the time to explain different points of view are critical as well.
5. Who or what inspires you?
Brave, compassionate people inspire me, and those who take risks to benefit others remind me that all forms of kindness require effort. Nelson Mandela has become one of my role models since traveling to South Africa, and the peaceful ways in which he has united the country’s citizens is beautiful. On a lighter note, Tina Fey kicks some serious toosh. Strong, funny women like her fuel who I’ve become, and I aspire to be a similar influence for the kids and adolescents I work with year-round.
February 17th, 2012
Featured Feminist: Abby Letak
Profile
Name: Abby Letak
School & Year: A&S 2012
Major(s) / Minor(s): Sociology Major, Italian Minor
Questions
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in Minnesota, and am a Midwesterner through and through (it’s “pop,” not “soda”). I’m a sociology major because I love studying why people do the things they do. I’m really artsy and do everything from painting to mosaics. I’m known for being really passionate about things. I’m crazy about TV, and plan on studying it after I graduate. My most recent obsessions are The Good Wife and Arrested Development. Eventually I want to go into academia and hopefully teach about television or gender studies.
2. What are you most passionate about?
Truthfully, television. Ever since high school I’ve been an avid TV watcher. I’m planning on writing my thesis about Lost, actually—people usually think I’m kidding when I tell them that. Most people view television as a waste of time, but I’d argue that certain shows—especially modern-day quality comedies and dramas like Lost, Dexter, The West Wing, Mad Men, and Sex and the City—help us to engage with and think about issues that we wouldn’t otherwise encounter in our daily lives. These shows raise the same issues that a lot of us study in our classes—for one of my sociology courses, I wrote a 15 page paper on how Dexter raises the same questions about authenticity and performance in social situations that Erving Goffman does in his work. I’ve had countless conversations with people about the shows I watch and the issues that they raise. Almost everyone loves seeing movies and watching television, and there’s a reason for that. I think it’s about time we all stop feeling so ashamed about it.
3. How do you define “feminism”?
Feminism for me just means equal economic and social opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender. Feminism gets such a bad rap—I know so many people who either (a) are feminists and afraid to advertise it or (b) think they hate feminism when in reality they believe in what it entails. I would classify a lot of the people I know as feminists, but when I tell them that, they deny it. Limiting feminism to bra-burning and unshaven legs is like limiting Catholicism to Opus Dei. There are always extremes—but we shouldn’t let that distort our viewpoint.
4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?
I believe that every individual should have equal social and economic opportunities regardless of the gender to which they ascribe. Yes, I wear make-up and shave my legs—that’s not what it’s about for me. It comes down to equality and respect. Many aspects of modern society foster power imbalances across gender—a prime example is the hook-up culture. Ever notice that there’s no male equivalent for the word “slut”? The hook-up culture is great in many ways but I think it puts girls in a tough spot sometimes—caught between wanting to engage in it and wanting to avoid stigmatization. After three waves of feminism, women are still fighting in their everyday lives for equality and respect. On the societal level, women are still making less than 80 cents on the male dollar—that’s horrifying!
5. Who or what inspires you?
That’s a tough question to answer, because there’s no one person or one thing that I draw inspiration from. What I’ve found really inspiring in my life, though, is when my friends and/or family have been there for me in times of need. There’s nothing more amazing than one person being there for another. Anyone who has ever been through a rough time knows that. I think just watching people try to do their best is really inspiring. In the face of knowing that perfection is unattainable, some people never stop trying to better themselves, and I think that’s truly incredible.
February 13th, 2012
WRC and Involved Students in the Press
Recently, our campus has been abuzz with discussion about the concurrence of Take Back the Night with the BC Barstool Blackout Party. Both events are taking place on Wednesday, March 28th in the middle of C.A.R.E. (Concerned About Rape Education) Week. Staff members of the WRC have started a petition to raise awareness about the rape culture that is perpetuated by comments that are frequently made on the Barstool blog site. Below, I’ve included the article that started it all and the responses to what the students supporting the movement have been up to and if you support the cause, sign our petition!!
Articles from the Heights
http://www.bcheights.com/2.5479/another-look-at-bc-blackout-1.2761162#.TzlP8VHNl1o
http://www.bcheights.com/news/wrc-sponsors-petition-1.2772332#.TzlP11HNl1o
http://www.bcheights.com/opinions/the-bifurcation-of-bc-1.2776652#.TzlQI1HNl1o
Boston Globe Article
http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-12/opinion/31050120_1_jokes-sexual-assault-night-rally
Her Campus Article
BC Gavel Article
http://bcgavel.com/2012/02/09/wrc-guilty-of-moral-pretentiousness/
Sign the petition here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dHlpN2hFY1NUOThvaU1WZk51TEFfRkE6MQ#gid=0
February 6th, 2012
Primetime Rape Humor: A response
While sorting through posts on Jezebel.com, I stumbled upon a post titled “The Sitcom Season in Rape Jokes” and with the office feverishly planning C.A.R.E. Week for March I thought it would be interesting to see just how prevalent rape jokes are in the shows we watch on a weekly basis. In this montage of clips from popular shows such as Modern Family, 2 Broke Girls, Workaholics, Glee and others, characters make problematic rape jokes that are not unlike the ones overheard on Boston College’s campus in dorm rooms and in line at Eagle’s Nest.
The fact that so many shows are relying on this humor is not only lazy, but extremely insensitive and detrimental to the progress that organizations like ours are trying to make against the normalizing of rape in our culture. Nothing is worse than seeing some of your favorite characters on some of your regular shows resort to humor that undermines the immense psychological, physical, emotional stress that survivors of sexual assault and rape must overcome. Many of the jokes play off the very ambiguous issue of consent. The men in Workaholics designating sex between two partners when one was asleep as “sleep assault”, while acknowledging that something is amiss with the use of “assault”, clearly find nothing wrong with the idea of a man sleeping with a woman while she is asleep. Implicit in this joke -and the other scenario in the clip from Whitney in which her live-in boyfriend has sex with her after she takes Tylenol PM – is that it is somehow okay for someone to have sex with someone without their consent, but THIS IS RAPE. Any type of sexual activity without the consent of one party, whether knocked out from a long day at work or alcohol/medicine ingestion, is defined as sexual assault under Massachusetts state law.
The gendered presentations in the clips are also disturbing. A majority of the clips are from 2 Broke Girls which stars two twenty-something women working to get out of their dead-end jobs. It is alarming that female characters would make jokes about sexual assault or lightly reference rape when women are the majority of rape and sexual assault survivors as 1 in every four college-age women will experience sexual assault.
I’m not saying that we should demonize these shows, their producers or casts, but I do think that it is our job as consumers of these cultural products to see the dangerous implications of the some of the humor, not perpetuate it ourselves and consider watching something that has a higher standard for its writers like Parks and Rec with the self-proclaimed feminist lead Leslie Knope, for example.
http://jezebel.com/5877994/there-sure-are-a-lot-of-rape-jokes-in-sitcoms-lately
January 26th, 2012
Featured Feminist: Sgt. Anthony Cadogan
The WRC is pleased to present Sgt. Anthony Cadogan as our latest Featured Feminist.
Name: Anthony Cadogan
Department: Police
(Classes Taught): R.A.D, Club Drugs
BC Profile: http://www.bc.edu/offices/bcpd/about/staff/cadogan.html
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I have been employed here at BC for the past 22 years where I spent ten years in Dining Services and twelve in the Police Department. I migrated from the island of Barbados 24 years ago. I was promoted to Sergeant four years ago and I now oversee the R.A.D program. I am also a Sexual Assault Investigator and conduct informative session on the dangers of drugs and effect of alcohol. I am very engaged with the BC community to ensure the safety of the staff, students, faculty, and visitors. I am currently in the Woods School completing a degree in Sociology.
2. What are you most passionate about?
I am most passionate of the program in which I oversee, which is the R.A.D (Rape Aggression Defense) program. The Rape Aggression Defense System is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women. The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive, women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. R.A.D. is not a martial arts program. I have been an instructor for ten years now and not only do I teach here at BC, I venture out to other communities that may need assistance. If I can prevent a female from being a victim or sexual assault survivor, that truly makes my day. I have been fortunate, that females who have taken the class have benefitted from it, especially those who have travelled abroad.
I spent several years in Dining Services so I am also passionate about cooking. I believe the most and definitely tops the list of things that I am passionate about is “Life”. Having to wake up every day healthy is a blessing and I strive to make the best of it.
3. How do you define “feminism”?
Everyone seems to have a different idea of what feminism is. Men seem to consider it an effort to depower them and for women to become superior, rather than for women to simply empower themselves and rise up as the equals of men, giving men nothing to lose from the deal.
4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?
I identify myself as a feminist because I support and believe in women’s’ rights. I have no problem being label such and I am thankful to be in the field that I am in to help women. Being a sexual assault investigator also solidifies my commitment in defending and promoting women’s’ issues.
5. Who or what inspires you?
I have always pondered the question on who inspires me, but I focus more on what inspires me, which is seeing people develop and grow and make a positive impact on their lives and community. Watching someone overcome the challenges they face also inspires me. Some people may have a dream and to be a part or help them fulfill that dreams is also rewarding. The people who have overcome adversity and have withstood all the challenges that life has put forth for them, and they accomplish what they set out to do.
The person who has most inspired me is my mom. I was an only child for years and watched my mom work just to maintain the lifestyle that we had. I have seen people who I grew up with in some bad situations right now, but my mom kept on me to do homework, be strong, and her lessons have taught be to be independent, compassionate and caring.
December 6th, 2011
Featured Feminist: Pooja Shah
The WRC is pleased to present Pooja Shah as our latest Featured Feminist. Name: Pooja Shah School & Year: College of Arts & Sciences, Class of 2013 Major(s) / Minor(s): Chemistry and English 1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. I was born in India, but raised in New York City for my entire life, so naturally a die-hard Knicks fan! I am a Chemistry/English double major, and possibly pre-law. I enjoy frozen yogurt and am allergic to chocolate. I love dancing, reading thriller novels, and watching romantic comedies. I am hoping to learn to cook this year to make use of my Edmond’s kitchen! Excited for an eventful junior year! 2. What are you most passionate about? I am really passionate about making changes and moving forward. As cliché as it may sound, I do believe that we all possess the ability to advance towards improvement as long as we work together. When it comes to women’s issues, I am very focused on trying to open up novel doors and opportunities that women have not been previously rewarded. 3. How do you define “feminism”? In my opinion, feminism is an intellectual, political, social, and economic movement that advocates for women’s rights and opportunities in each of those grounds. Very often, the ideas behind feminism have been criticized for being “sexist” and “overly-assertive”, but I believe it is more of an initiative towards bringing to surface issues that affect women that are not discussed or given enough attention. 4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist? I identify myself as a feminist because I work with others with similar interests in defining, establishing, and defending women’s rights in many aspects. Media has misconstrued the term “feminist” with negative stereotypes about being anti- male, but I believe that being a feminist requires cooperating with males to create a better, more equal society. 5. Who or what inspires you? I am inspired by Elizabeth (Liz) Murray, who is this phenomenal young woman who attended Harvard University despite being homeless and living with HIV-infected parents. Her tale of overcoming the obstacles of poverty and disease and being admitted to one of the world’s most prestigious universities is truly inspirational. It is people like her who have gusty strength to transform their own lives that serve as motivation for others.
Featured Fem
December 1st, 2011
Gia Carangi, America’s first true supermodel, was probably the first female celebrity to die of AIDS related causes. And as the saying goes, it didn’t make a sound. Like so many other famous AIDS-related deaths of the 80s and early 90s, Carangi’s was no exception in that she died quietly with little to no press attention. However, even after the initial period of humiliation associated with a public AIDS-related death, prominent women with AIDS have not come to the spotlight, especially those that contracted the virus via sexual transmission.
“The Body,” an online HIV/AIDS resource recently published a slide show of “10 of histories Biggest HIV-positive celebrities” – all men, most of them gay. (They later amended the list to 15, adding two women – Gia Carangi and Elizabeth Glaser.) It is important to note that both Carangi and Glaser contracted the virus from non-sexual transmissions – Carangi from sharing an infected needle and Glaser from an infected blood transfusion.
Today, however, infected blood transfusions are virtually a thing of the past and sharing heroin needles is mostly revived only in remakes of 80s movies. Sexual transmission is now the largest cause for infection in many large countries, including China which is experiencing a growing rate of infections.
Prominent straight men have spoken publicly about contracting the disease sexually. Prominent gay men have spoken publicly about contracting the disease sexually. Prominent African American men have spoken publicly about contracting the disease sexually. But where are the women? Are women simply less likely to be infected than men?
The answer is still yes, but by decreasingly smaller margins. Once thought to be the “disease of white, gay men,” AIDS now affects many more women than it once did. In fact, 30 percent of all new AIDS infections are either women or girls. AIDS is the number one killer of African American women ages 25-34.
Yet, nobody has stepped up to the plate to denounce the disease from a position of power and claim it as a virus that affects women too. Sure, Elizabeth Taylor did her best to promote AIDS-related charities. But keep in mind, Taylor was not herself infected with the virus.
It’s interesting to note that women have not taken a prominent role in addressing this issue, despite the increasing rate of infection for women. With Taylor, Carangi and Glaser dead, and in honor of World AIDS Day today, it’s time for powerful women to step up and make an effort to stop the increasing spread of AIDS.
November 28th, 2011
Featured Feminist: Lt. Fred Winslow
Name: Lieutenant Fred Winslow Department: Police Classes Taught: Sexual Assault Investigation, SANet training course and updates. Domestic Violence Investigation. Rape Aggression and Defense - 17 years. http://www.bc.edu/offices/bcpd/about/staff/winslow.html
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Born and Raised in Boston by a single Mother and Grandmother, Married 32 years ( July 2011 ) to a strong , beautiful woman. Three children, two boys and one girl. 2. What are you most passionate about? Crimes against women and children. 3. How do you define “feminism”? I define feminism as believing that we as humans should celebrate the differences in the sexes while keeping in mind that we are the same in many ways and should be treated with equal respect for the person that we are. 4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist? I never set out to be known as a feminist, that was a happy accident. I set out to be a fair person. Incidents in my life lead me down the path of caring for the health and welfare of women. Seeing how they can be looked at as less than is maddening to me as a human being. Without women there would be no humanity. As men we should praise what women can do, how they can teach us and honor what they have given us, this country and the world. 5. Who or what inspires you? Being raised by a single mother and grandmother gave me great insight in to how strong a woman can be on her own. Neither of the women who molded me in to the person I am ever complained that they needed help from anyone to make it in this world. When I moved out and married my wife she taught me that men and women who are partners can depend on each other and share a life that is rewarding as long as they are equal in that partnership. Without being guided by these three women I would not have been prepared to have a strong female supervisor during my 25 year career in Law Enforcement without the guidance of my mother, grandmother and wife I may have rejected the career mentoring that I received from my female boss and not been able to be the Law Enforcement Professional that I am today. Thirteen years ago my daughter came in to this world and on that day I knew that I had to do all in my power to make her a strong independent female and to teach her what I had learned about what it takes to be a woman in society today from a man’s point of view. These five women guide me every day to be a better man, person, police officer, husband, father and friend. Thank you for this honor, words could never express how honored I am to be seen as a feminist, the work that I have done to assist women in reaching their goals in life is so rewarding in and of itself but to have other see it is awesome. Be strong and stay safe. Check out the Featured Feminist Archive for past Featured Fems! 
