From Motivation Monday to Throwback Thursday, Loyola students are adding a new themed day to the mix: Feminist Friday.
Every Friday, people of all different genders and ages come together with the goal of achieving gender equality. Meetings are normally held the Women Resource Center living room in Marquette 315.
Sian Hairston, psychology junior, and Lauren Poiroux, sociology senior both help put the event together.
“This discussion topic can be anything from hygiene myths to “problematic favorites” in popular culture,” Hairston said, “So far, we’ve had four meetings and most have had excellent turnouts with well-discussed topics.”
Caroline Kendrick, graphic design sophomore, said she loves hearing opinions from the diverse group of students that attend.
“When I was learning these things in high school with a group of friends, we all had pretty much the same opinions. Breaking out of that here has–as a person, as a feminist, and as someone who hopes to be culturally aware/sensitive–caused me to learn and grow exponentially,” Kendrick said.
Feminist Friday, although being mainly a place to talk about issues relevant in today’s society, is involved in more than just meeting and having discussions. Kendrick also described how a lot of Feminist Friday members facilitate “Take Back the Night” and host screenings of different films.
Dr. Patricia Boyett, director of the Women’s Resource Center, said that she believes Feminist Friday is an important way for the Loyola community to come together in achieving the goal of gender equity.
“I consider it a vital part of Loyola’s mission of social justice because it is devoted to uplifting historically oppressed groups,” Boyett said.
To get involved, Hairston said, all one has to do is show up.
“If I could tell anyone interested in coming to a meeting, Feminist Fridays is a completely safe space where anyone can discuss a concern and chat about current issues,” Hairston said.