Feminist group battles false divides

For Erin Hoppe, a sophomore psychology major and member of the fledgling Feminist Action Group, activism here at UB isn't just about affecting political or administrative change. It's about a change in campus consciousness.

"Just the other day, I had someone come up to me and say she saw our sign in the Student Union and that it made her think," Hoppe said. "For me, that's the real reward."

That sign - "Is it easier to change 3.6 billion women, or a standard of beauty?" - is part of the Feminist Action Group's effort to promote a new way of thinking on campus.

Born in January 2004 out of an Introduction to Feminist Theory class, the Feminist Action Group has grown in the last year and a half to include members from outside the Women's Studies department. According to group members, the expansion has been exciting, but not without its growing pains.

"Like any organization, we're getting bigger, which causes us to change the way we do things slightly," said Jen Geiler, a senior sociology and women's studies major. "Plus, without our fearless leader, Beth Kwiatek, it puts the power into our hands at meetings, which has been an adjustment."

Kwiatek, who taught the feminist theory class, WS 228, in which the group was founded, is on leave this semester, but the students haven't backed away from an educational brand of activism in her stead.

Members have arranged a series of three teaching sessions this semester, the most recent of which was a discussion of the "Virgin/Whore Dichotomy," an issue, according to Geiler, that divides women rather than uniting them.

"In our culture today there are really two extremes of female sexuality, the virgin and the whore, and it seems to be either-or," said Amanda Ellis, a group member and senior women's studies major.

The session, held last Wednesday in the Natural Sciences Complex, focused on the dichotomy during the all-important teenage years, a sexually definitive period in a person's life, according to Geiler.

The group is also trying to change the debate to shatter other dichotomies - including those that isolate feminists.

"We're trying to reclaim the word feminist," Geiler said. "It's not about being a femi-nazi or a man hater. All of that is just another way of controlling women."

The group has also made its presence felt on campus by distributing condoms, presenting display cases between Knox Hall and the Student Union concerning domestic violence and same sex relationships, and distributing to students a multitude of pamphlets, informational packets and cartoons.

"We try to do things that speak to the current political climate, things that are truly feminist in nature," Ellis said.

One of the group's more high profile actions was a protest of Ann Coulter, whose conservative take on feminism seems aimed at ruffling the feathers of modern feminist groups.

"We weren't protesting Ann Coulter being here, but more the things she has said in the past, talking about how weak feminism is, just saying outrageous things," Geiler said.

On a campus that's often considered politically apathetic, the Feminist Action Group stands out as an organization devoted to activism, and, as its name suggests, action.

The emphasis on action is a main reason the group hasn't tried to join other clubs in the Student Association, since red tape and requirements for open membership might impede the group's ability to act, they said.

"Open membership is just not something we wanted," Hoppe said. "We want as many people as possible to be involved and interested, but we want our meetings to be about planning and moving forward rather than constant debate."

Although the group welcomes men as advocates and partners in activism, members are exclusively female.

"This really is a female-only group," Ellis said. "We've found that the presence of men tends to suppress what women want to say."

Boys are encouraged at a young age to be assertive and talkative, while girls are generally encouraged to be more reserved, according to Geiler, meaning an all-female setting is simply more conducive to getting a truly feminine perspective from all members.

According to Geiler, women who are not affiliated with UB have also contacted her about getting involved.

"There's really no definite number of people involved with the group. It's sort of a revolving door," Ellis said. "At an average meeting usually about 10 people show up, but it really depends on what events we are doing and how much work needs to be done."

As far as the future of the group goes, Ellis plans on staying involved past graduation, while Geiler hopes that the success of the Feminist Action Group will inspire others to get involved and even form their own groups.

In the end, Hoppe said she knows she and fellow group members probably won't force the president's hand or correct some prominent injustice, but if the way a few people think can be reexamined, if the accepted societal norms can be thrown into question, Hoppe will be satisfied.

"The 228 course is still being offered, so hopefully that will turn people on to the idea," said Hoppe regarding the future of the group. "We think it's important to show that feminism is not dead, and that the way our culture thinks of and views women can be changed."