Today, the discussion of feminism and women’s equality is a common topic, especially among college aged students. However, even with this open dialogue, there is still a lot of push back against facilities that help women further themselves politically, economically, and socially.
One example of this would be a women’s center. Many people associate negative feelings towards these centers as they believe them to be exclusive. Despite popular belief however, a college campus’ women’s center is open to all students, staff and faculty, not just the female population.
The purpose of a women’s center is to break down cultural boundaries secluding women from political, economic and social barriers in society. A women’s center advocates for societal change for the betterment of everyone’s lives not just the female population.
Campuses also need a women’s center because gender identity is not exclusive gender itself but instead may also be linked with race, class and sexuality.
Men historically have not been oppressed in the workforce and in politics which allows them a head start in life that is not awarded to women.
However, a women’s center can also benefit men. Should they need to report a case of sexual assault or if they would like to get involved with finding resolutions to issues facing their female peers at their university, a women’s center is where they can go to do so.
If a campus doesn’t provide their collegiate’s female population with a women’s center, these women may be hindered when it comes to politics, economics and societal equality.
The major benefits of having a women’s center includes a safe place for women to go to to bring up issues relating to their gender as well as report sexual assaults and crime. Even in today’s college culture, women are still underrepresented in positions of power such as in student government, faculty positions and high-powered careers.
Since women are more prone to experience sexual harassment and assault, a women’s center is essential to college campuses so that we as a society can push to create a future consisting of gender equality and lower statistics of women that are victimized of assault.
Those campuses that do not provide a center for women are more likely to have a culture consisting of male dominance and higher rates of unreported discrimination of the female gender.
Women’s centers have been sprouting on college campuses since the 1970’s. The first women’s center was constructed at Tufts University in Massachusetts.
University of Pittsburgh women’s center is dedicated to promoting feminist and LGBTQIA activism, pedagogy and scholarship that engage with larger local, national and global communities. In comparison, California University of Pennsylvania’s women center focuses more on the needs and empowerment of women, but rightfully so; the center is for all students.