Pointlife
Members of GEA work together with students at the Women’s Resource Center.
Organization re-forms itself to connect with student body
The Pointer
jmath438@uwsp.edu
Suffering from dwindling numbers in their organization, the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point College Feminists became the Gender Equality Advocates, a group set out to encompass all gender issues and present an equal view.
“It’s not about women are better than men, or men are horrible, or men suck,” said Emily Lindahl. “It’s more of an equal view of things.
Lindahl, GEA’s executive officer, proclaims that the group evolved from the College Feminists so it could cover issues and offer support for students not yet taken on by other similar student organizations. Since the change of focus, the GEA has grown from three to 10 members.
One way of doing this is “inappropriate question hour,” a social session where students can discuss subjects that may be seen as taboo in normal conversation. Some topics covered are homosexuality in religion and masturbation.
The GEA also works with the UW-SP Women’s Resource Center, teaming up to perform “The Vagina Monologues” and “Take Back the Night,” an event for the prevention of violence against women.
“We create a safe space in here so anyone can come in and talk openly about issues,” said Lindahl. “We can argue, we can debate but it all kind of comes back to why are men and women treated differently?”
Along with campus involvement, the GEA is working for more activism for gender related issues.
“To get people together to work on those issues is another thing. That’s our goal for the future,” said Lindahl. “Do something about it; come talk about it and then do something to improve the situation.”
GEA is currently spending a large portion of its time lobbying for the Responsible Education About Life Act. The REAL Act would provide funding for a comprehensive sex education program in schools, rather than only having the abstinence only education. GEA is petitioning for signatures to push the REAL Act forward. A letter to Congressman Dave Obey is also being written in support of the act.
