Program encompasses more than just women’s issues

Malcom Smith - Features Beat

In the basement of East Hall, a dingy girdle rests in a solitude corner. It is old and repressive, akin to the thinking faculty members at Appalachian State University had to deal with 25 years ago when the idea to start a Women’s Studies Program at Appalachian was conceptualized.

“In the beginning [the program] did not receive a lot of respect,” said Dr. Allie Funk one of the founding members in 1976. “[Some] did not consider Women’s Studies legitimate studies”.

Like all radical movements, there were obstacles standing in the way of developing a broader understanding of Women’s Studies.

First, there was no staff to help get the program started. Then, there was not even an office for the founding faculty to work out of. But the faculty from various disciplines persisted, and 25 years later, the Women’s Studies Program is the second oldest academic program of its kind in North Carolina.

Appalachian State began offering Women’s Studies as a minor in 1979. It became a major within the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies in 1990.

In the last 25 years, the Women’s Studies program has offered courses, lectures and plays and has helped create an environment that expresses the concerns of women and gender issues as a whole.
“Being aware is key,” said Dr. Funk Education is one of the ways to get people to see change socially and politically.”

Over the last 20 years, Women’s Studies have yielded such courses as “Sex and Gender in Society,” “Womanist Theory and Literature” and “Introduction to Women’s Studies.”

Women’s Studies offers Appalachian State students the resources for term papers and the opportunity to learn about feminist activism. The program also offers novels and research ranging from Maya Angelou to Gloria Steinem.

“There is a renewed commitment to activism,” said Dr. Betsy Bealieu, director of the Women’s Studies Program.

“The goal is to increase awareness of the issues of women and gender.” In doing so, Women’s Studies also challenges equality and promotes diversity among all genders and races.

Although the program was initially developed to benefit women, the program has expanded to include gender issues.

Women’s Studies sponsored lectures from authors and third wave feminists Amy Richards and Jennifer Baumgardner last month, who questioned the usefulness of feminism today. The young women who grew up with the idea of feminism are now defining what it means to some third wave feminist.

“There is continued room for progress,” said Dr. Beaulieu, [the third wave]reinvigorates feminism.”

Throughout the month of October, The Women’s Studies Program has been sponsoring the Queer Film Series in I. G. Greer which focuses on gay/lesbian/ bisexual/transsexual issues as well as homophobia and racism.

In November, Rev. Jimmy Creech, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Soulforce, Inc. will confront the spiritual violence perpetrated against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons by religious institutions.

Creech is a former United Methodist Church pastor whose ordination was withdrawn after he celebrated a union for two men in Chapel Hill.

There will be lectures on ecofeminism, civil disobedience and a student production of “The Vagina Monologues.”

As the Women’s Studies Program continues to embark upon a variety of issues, violence perpetrated against women and abortion remain a popular topic of discussion.

“Violence against women continues to be an important issue, as well pro-choice versus pro-life,” said Interdisciplinary Studies professor Maggie McFadden. “Women’s studies makes one’s education broader.”

Most of the education received at Appalachian State is written from the white male point of view. Usually, accounts from women, minorities and poor men have been excluded from textbooks. But, as Dr. Beaulieu said, “The Women’s Studies Program seeks to rectify the omission of women [and other minorities] in academics”.