The Feminist Majority's first two campus units, which encourage feminist students to become leaders, are off to a healthy start, thanks to the hard work and talent of former Feminist Majority interns.
The units, called "FeM," are designed for undergraduate students, both women and men, who want to pursue equality between the sexes. FeM's goal is to inspire feminist college students to become leaders, both on campus and in the larger community after graduation.
"College students are overwhelmingly feminists," commented Feminist Majority President Eleanor Smeal. "FeM is a way to capture that feminist energy and channel it into leadership activities. Young people often don't realize that the best time to enter political leadership is when they are young, and the best place to start is right at their own college or university."
The campus plan was developed by four Feminist Majority interns during the summer of 1994 with the guidance of Smeal. The interns chose the name "FeM," which incorporates the F and M from Feminist Majority, as well as Female and Male. The "e" stands for equality, education, enlightenment, and empowerment.
After the start up manual and constitution were written by Nadya Haider of Duke University, Ursula Kubal of the University of California - Santa Cruz, Valerie Wang of Williams College, and Kerry Clayman of Northwestern University, Haider and Kubal decided to implement the concept at their respective universities. The Feminist Majority provided seed money to both groups. Both Haider and Kubal have been able to attract men as well as women to their groups, and have planned and implemented a number of activities.
"College students are overwhelmingly feminists, FeM is a way to capture that feminist energy and channel it into leadership activities. Young people often don't realize that the best time to enter political leadership is when they are young"
For example, FeM at Duke (led by Haider) has developed a four-week self esteem and role model program for fifth grade girls at local elementary schools. Both units have planned mini "Rock for Choice" concerts to benefit the Feminist Majority Foundation's National Clinic Defense Project, and both have sponsored speakers including Feminist Majority President Smeal. In addition, FeM at Duke supported a slate of feminist women candidates for student government. As a result, the new student government president, as well as four out of six vice-presidents, are women.
The Feminist Majority is currently recruiting interns for the summer of 1995 who would like to start FeM at their colleges or universities. Students should have at least two more years of undergraduate education left. The Feminist Majority will provide a leadership training institute as well as seed money and other support services. For more information please call Dee Martin at (703) 522-2214.