Innovative games, appetizing food and enlightening information mixed in the Diag yesterday during the annual Feminist Fair, a colorful and educational event that aimed to debunk the myths surrounding feminism while raising awareness about women’s issues.
- Paul Wong
- POWER member Juanie Angel, an LSA junior, helps LSA freshman Millicent Scott make a bead necklace at FemFair yesterday afternoon on the Diag. (PATRICK JONES/Daily)
LSA junior Vered Jona, one of the fair’s core organizers, said the term “feminism” holds many unfair connotations.
“The idea is that there’s a lot of negative press that goes along with the word ‘feminism.’ Today we’re trying to break the stereotype that feminism is an angry girls movement,” she said.
LSA junior Mari Poulos said she was pleased with the message she received from the fair, which was sponsored by the Feminist Leadership Alliance.
“I do consider myself a feminist but not a stereotypical feminist. I’m not a man-hater like people think feminists are, I just believe in equal pay for equal work,” she said.
Jona added that “feminism means empowering women to take control of their lives and make decisions for themselves. Every woman, regardless of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation can be empowered and lead a life that’s stronger.”
One factor that set this year’s FemFair apart from past years was the sheer variety of student group co-sponsors.
The list included Violence Against Women, Planned Parenthood, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Office of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Affairs.
“We tried to incorporate as many different interests as we could to show people the feminist movement is something all people can attach themselves to and get involved in,” Jona said.
Event organizer Emily Akar, a SNRE sophomore, said the fair allowed the many different groups to unite under the banner of womanhood.
“The FemFair was an opportunity for feminist organizations to come together to show women are involved in everything, and they’re important in everything, from the environment to voting,” she said. “Despite the fact that we’re all different, we’re all women, and we can all come together.”
LSA junior Ben Schner said he was impressed with the fair’s large turnout.
“I think it’s great to see everyone come out in the warm weather. It’s also great that there’s a day dedicated to all the women’s rights clubs. I never would have know that there were so many,” he said.