Reflections of Seven OCU Feminist Theory Students

JH: Do you view yourselves as feminists?

Yes, I view myself as a feminist. In the way I live my life, for the most part…I don’t allow myself to be constrained by what society thinks I should do, say, look like. My choices are my own. I don’t feel like I need to subject myself to any sort of patriarchal domination. I’m a complete equal to all males.

No, to me a feminist is committed to the cause and sensitive to the concerns. The feminist perspective is not usually my first consideration in politics or other situations. My thoughts usually center on community activism first.

Yes, I guess I could be considered a feminist. I do put this type of thing predominantly first in my life, but I struggle with need of attaching that label to myself. In my opinion there is no clear definition of what a “feminist” is. I’m still confused about some of it.

I consider myself a feminist because I put myself in a constant state of caring about what is going on in the sense of women’s rights and human rights. I’m in a position to be able to do a little bit for the cause. I try.

I obviously consider myself a feminist. It goes back to Gloria Steinem. You’re either a feminist or a masochist. There’s a lack of options. As a woman I have a need to be a feminist. It is a hard lifestyle to choose, but I don’t feel like I have a choice. I’m a strong woman.

I feel the same way…feminist quote says if a woman has an IQ above her body temperature, she must be a feminist. The more my education has furthered and the more I’ve seen of the world, I feel that if I wasn’t a feminist I would be stupid not to be.

I definitely feel like I’m a feminist. I feel like if I’m going to be concerned with any social issues feminist issues have to be a part of that. For instance, if I say I care about environment or indigenous groups or worker’s rights, some part of any issue always has to have an effect, positive or negative, on women.


JH: How does being a woman affect your experience at the University?

It hasn’t really affected me in any way. I’m in a different category. I don’t interact with males in the same way as others because I’m older. I don’t feel overt sexism from other classmates. I have male and female teachers and my male teachers are egalitarian in the way they teach. They are inclusive of women.

I haven’t experienced any problems. With male and female professors I’ve had there’s always been a conscious effort to include women’s issues in the courses. There was always mention of females excelling or participating in that arena.

Being a feminist has given me an edge while being here. It has made me stick out as a student with my professors, especially in the religion department. It separates me in a good way.

I’ve been picked on and maybe outcast in a way…but in a challenging way, not discouraging.

I‘ve only had one really bad experience. It was in one class. I said I was women’s studies minor….this professor from that day on was condescending of me and my friend, referring to us as “good Sunday school girls.”

I feel like my feminist inclinations have been nurtured here. I’ve avoided places where I’d feel condescension. I’ve put myself in a space, provided by the university faculty and course offerings, where my interests have been encouraged to grow.


JH: In what way does your gender affect your location within the University structure?

We are a minority as women in the world choosing higher education, but a majority in the United States.

We are considered a minority in terms of political power and economics, but we often feel like a majority.

We feel lucky to be around other like-minded people—other students, faculty, etc.

One feels like a minority when her voice seems really soft compared to everyone else’s.

As a feminist we feel like minorities….more so in that way than as women in general.

We feel like OCU is more accepting than other places of feminist thought.

Our feminist perspectives often viewed as “cute.”

Feminism just one of the many causes with which we struggle.

JH: What about gender and race, class, or sexual orientation, in what ways do these characteristics affect one’s location? Who are invisible?

Sometimes we choose to be invisible.

We struggle with feelings of obligation because of our privilege.

Are people invisible or do we make them invisible?

Sexual orientation tends to lump individuals into a location which can tend to make them invisible. At the university if someone is homosexual, they are automatically assumed to be a performance major. It probably makes it hard for them to feel at home if they don’t identify with this location.

People tend to locate themselves where they are comfortable, even if it limits their choices out of fear.

Our school is more liberal than our state. People should be able to feel comfortable here, even more than if they were in some small town college. There is a community here for you. At least there should be.

I feel that this community is better than some others. But we should not just compare ourselves to other communities. What would an ideal community be and how do we compare ourselves to that?

For the most part, the residential part of campus is fairly segregated. The different racial communities keep fairly separate with a few exceptions.

Fraternities and sororities on campus may be helpful in joining different communities. This is a place of transcendence. It usually takes effort on the part of the minority-person, rather than the groups making an effort, to join these, but the space is available.

I think the experience of having an international roommate can be meaningful because I’ve learned what it means to be a woman from her perspective.

JH: What are the values, practices, and norms that make the inclusion of women’s lived experiences in courses an add-on approach?

Traditional knowledge is white, upper middle-class male knowledge. Anything beside that is a deviation. Anything else has less value. We reject this as a group. Women’s place in history should not be marginalized.

We have viewed history from the perspective of dead, white presidents and war.

Women’s experiences are typically added into coursework as a footnote—an extra—added only if there is time in the class and space in the syllabus. Otherwise, it requires its own separate class.

Men and women learn differently. When professors break away from the male-style of pedagogy it is sometimes applauded (considered interesting, unique, etc.) but it is, nevertheless, regarded as a deviation.

JH: One feminist philosopher talks about multi-sites of data – insiders, outsiders, and boundary crossers – with the privileging of no one particular site. What do you think of her notion? What data is normally privileged on campuses?

I think we should listen to sources that are based on experience and that are based on observations. Both perspectives are valuable, even if there is a conflict. If there is a conflict in understanding the oppression, I think that you have to defer to the person who is experiencing oppression or injustice. But the other voices should still be heard. The other voice may be the champion for the person who is voiceless.

I think each perspective is highly relevant and both should be equally heard. If there is a conflict, that is a good place for dialogue.

JH: What do you hear about feminism in other courses?

Feminism is general considered a radical thought. It is typically considered with negative connotations.

Professors who are considered feminists are usually questioned about their sexual orientation.

I appreciate that the idea of being a feminist is a very serious title. If it isn’t something you can commit fully to, you shouldn’t.

Yes, it could be considered a serious title. To me, however, there isn’t a need to make it such a serious title. Shouldn’t every woman be a feminist?

Every class I’ve had has integrated feminist thought at some point. But I wonder if that would that always necessarily be in the content of the course or if it because I often introduce it or bring it up?

Do we feel supported in feminist thought? In academia at OCU…generally yes. Some women have felt otherwise in the business department. Among other students…not always supported.


Many of us feel supported in the philosophy, criminal justice, sociology, and literature departments.