Otterbein University has made efforts throughout its history to promote feminism. Feminism, by definition, according to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, is “the principle that women should have political, economic and social rights equal to those of men”. Initially founded in 1847, Otterbein promoted feminism by being one of the nation’s first universities to welcome women and people of color.
Mary Katherine Winter, who later changed her name to Kate Hanby, was one of the first women to graduate from Otterbein. Today, there is a modern campus magazine that honors her legacy as a feminist.
Hanby made an impact at Otterbein by pushing through discrimination. In her honor, Otterbein created a feminist magazine (zine) called Kate. The zine is produced yearly and addresses specific issues and emotions that are relevant to feminists both around the world and in the local community. In the most recent edition of Kate, which debuted during Otterbein’s LGBTQIA+ and Feminist Pride Week, the theme is “anger, agitate and activism”. Kate features 38 pages full of anonymous stories, poems and illustrations from Otterbein students that relate to the zine’s theme.
In an attempt to curb the misinterpretations about feminism, Otterbein dedicates a week called LGBTQIA+ and Feminist Pride Week to the celebration and education of students, faculty and staff about feminism. The latest edition of Kate contributed to the week by telling the stories of feminists on our own campus.
During the week, sessions led by Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) faculty and students featured topics like breaking down stereotypes and misconceptions of feminism as well as how Otterbein students can get involved on campus.
“There are some students who are afraid of feminism because they are afraid of what mainstream culture has to say about it,” said Tammy Birk, director of the WGSS program. “It takes time to unlearn what you have been told is true, and I can appreciate that. I am always trying to reach the Otterbein student who is ready to figure things out for themselves.”
Birk also opened up about how feminism has enriched her life, and how it has made her a stronger person over the years. It has allowed her and many others to break out of the box that society has created for them.
“One of the most powerful things that feminism teaches people who identify as female is that there is nothing wrong with you, absolutely nothing wrong with you,” said Birk. “Feminism helped me to believe that I am not on this earth to constantly apologize for myself, my voice or my desire to be treated fairly.”
Some of the sessions during the awareness week spoke on how people that are being oppressed should help each other to combat oppression and how feminism goes deeper than what people think it is on the surface.
“Feminism focuses on injustice as well— injustice on all platforms, social, economic, gender and racial,” said sophomore business administration and management major, Madison Moore.
Kate, along with LGBTQIA+ and Feminist Pride Week, helped lead to the creation of the Women’s and Gender Resource Center (WGRC) in September 2012. The center was created to combat oppression and injustices toward women and the LGBTQIA+ community at Otterbein. The WGRC collaborates with Academic Affairs and Student Affairs to support women, the LGBTQIA+ community and to educate Otterbein’s campus.
The center’s main initiatives are to educate the university and to provide a safe space for women and gender-related issues and support services for students who are experiencing distress. The WGRC has a resource and referral line for women, LGBTQIA+ students and survivors of sexual violence of any gender. Students can call the line for support while remaining anonymous. The number is (614) 823-1028 and is available 24 hours a day. The WGRC is located at 25 W. Home St.
Birk and the students in the WGSS program are constantly thinking of ways to educate Otterbein about feminism alongside Kate and LGBTQIA+ and Feminist Pride Week. Their latest endeavor is a podcast that will be available on Otterbein’s Diversity and Inclusion web page.
“[The]podcast—by millennials, for millennials— helps explain central ideas in feminism, gender politics and sexuality studies,” said Birk. “It also offers listeners practical information, or guides, to help them navigate personal relationships that are complicated or strained by expectations about gender and sexuality.”
From Kate and LGBTQIA+ and Feminist Pride Week, to the WGSS program and resources available on campus, issues regarding feminism and LGBTQIA+ rights remain close to home at Otterbein. Initiatives such as these are aiming to foster an open-minded and educated campus environment where students feel empowered and capable of taking a stand.
