Feminism–a lightning rod for Conservatives and Democrats alike. Controversy and discomfort surround it, yet every member of society has something to gain from its teachings. The movement exists within a political context all its own and simultaneously expands into personal, historical, and cultural spheres. The movement, flowing through generations and spanning centuries, has shaped our world by rewriting history and telling stories as they actually happened. Through its teachings and activists’ work, the radical lines of thinking shape the course of our future. Feminism creates a space for challenging the status quo and pushes one, whether a “disciple” or opponent, to see the truth. Feminism dares to imagine what could be, dares to dissect what is. As a unique social movement, feminism demands both activism and organization on behalf of individual rights and liberty. The individual story and experience is validated, but is not the only point of action; the collective culture in which all identities are held upon is addressed as a monumental source of power. Feminists understand the importance of recognizing racist, sexist, and homophobic institutions and how each intersects to limit individual freedoms and equity in opportunity.

While I understand these core tenets of feminism as I write this, I thought much differently as a freshman in college. Like most students seeking higher education, I believed that I could earn a degree, push for positive change, and improve my community. Without feminism, I was not incomplete but rather misled. I put my mental energy into acing prerequisite science courses, but something was not working. I knew biology, statistics, and the like were stepping stones on the way to achieving my dreams of social desirability, yet I did not expect the challenges of self-doubt and unexamined identity. Meanwhile, outside the “important” curriculum of science and mathematic courses, I was taking a course in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies (WGSS).

My foray into WGSS began as a general education course and has since led me down a pathway that pushed me into a community I did not know I needed and knowledge base I was sorely lacking. Initially, I was intrigued by this unique and abstract way of thinking, but wary of disapproval. Women’s studies did not fit into my expectations of myself or my conceptualization of success. People thought feminists were loud, angry, and unlikable and that their protests and pushes for change did not equate to traditional full-time jobs. Despite the pervasive myths surrounding feminism and my own self-doubt that said “no, no, no find something else,” I went in the direction my gut was telling me to chase. The risk was scary and filled with uncertainties but I plunged myself into the community of feminist intellectuals and activists.

What I found was, first and foremost, support in my education as well as my development as a woman of color at Penn State. In typical academia my non-normative and marginalized identity as a child of immigrants and woman of color is deemed “personal issues.” In WGSS, these crucial parts of me were not cast aside as I was used to. My experience was both academic and worth examining and with this profound experience, I found a community and a history of women that changed my view of the world and myself. As a learner, I was no longer an outsider; I was an active participant engaging with knowledge in a newfound way among other students. I now understood the importance of feminism in my work and my personal life; the two are no longer divided so stringently. The misconceptions surrounding the divide between personal and academic, or personal and professional, however, still follow me from my peers and the general public.

The stereotypes of lesbian-only, bra-burning, man-hating feminists take many shapes and forms. In the college setting, this translates to the misconception that feminist studies are not a legitimate area of study. As a fellow friend and women’s studies minor stated, “people think that it’s women complaining in class for 50 minutes, three times a week about how much men suck.” This misconstrued notion of WGSS work is prevalent within the mainstream conversation about feminism. The transition from exclusive protests and angry tumblr rants to academia is impossible for most to understand. The religious Right’s strategically misinformed notion of feminism is integral in the portrayal of feminism. Unless one questions popular belief, harmful at best, and hateful at worst, notions of humanity in all its forms will continue to persist.

My degree in WGSS is both a rejection of my own identity’s erasure as well as broader society’s disdain for critique. Within my own journey of becoming a WGSS major and a radical feminist, I have learned that I am destined to encounter anti-feminist sentiments, even within myself. My internalized misogyny, racism, classism, and homophobia are ingrained from years of growing up in a culture praising White, cis-gender, heterosexual existence and punishing anything “less.” I am not alone in this sentiment, in fact so are my peers. The work of undoing this damaging notion of personhood as well as success is not taken seriously as “work.” Rather, work is considered something difficult that leads to monetary success and critical acclaim. The work is either performed by a man or exists within a male-dominated field–such as business, engineering, or technology. The dividends for completing these assignments and testing well on these exams translates to high monetary compensation. While this may be satisfying for some, the major gap in education is never addressed.

This population of students that consider WGSS nothing but a way to fulfill general education requirements also never examine their place in the world as privileged or disadvantaged folks. Identity is comprised one’s GPA, and work experience rather than one’s position in today’s present political climate or one’s ancestry and familial struggles. Though most students do not realize it, rendering these topics unimportant leads to grave consequences in personal, political, and academic areas of life. The system exists to reinforce the privileged status of White cisgender folks and keep all other identities subservient whether or not one chooses to examine their role in it.

Though WGSS majors cannot act as saviors to us all, I have found a community of committed people who are willing to put their time, effort, and money into finding a better future. As academic outsiders, WGSS majors work towards finding new ways of thinking of ourselves, success, and a more equitable world. Stereotypes exist to prevent the majority from exposure and critical thinking that WGSS insist is essential. As a college freshman ignorant of the dynamic work and community of feminists, I felt lost and unsure of my place within University Park. The feminist community at Penn State has connected me to a global movement of marginal people workings towards a better future.

Kayla Bert & Pamela Rutherford