Out and about on campus this week, it came to the attention of our Features Editor, Holly Chaplain, that one of our HC Bristol posters has been subject to vandalism.
“How about THEIR campus??! (I thought feminism was about equality!),” our friendly neighbourhood sensationalist writes. I say friendly because they also included a charming smiley face.
¡VANDALS!
A good question…
As you can imagine, my initial reaction to this was disappointment, not least over the time and effort I put into the baked goods that helped to fundraise that poster. Then came surprise that this is the first case of such vandalism we’ve experienced – despite having been active on campus for two years now. We’ve certainly had queries over whether or not the men of campus can get involved with HC, the answer to which is always yes, but our promotional objects have so far remained unscathed.
Having just completed my English degree by studying Modernism, I’ve had manifestos on the brain. You might think that a manifesto is only necessary in the context of a radical change of thought, a turn of the century revolution such as Marxism, such as the move for women’s rights. I think all causes require constant reinvigoration through manifesto, and Alex and I did our best to make ours at the beginning of this year. Yet, the above made me wonder if we had outlined our aims at Her Campus Bristol well enough.
Her Campus Bristol seeks to provide a platform for women students of the University of Bristol to assert their views, provoke discussion and gain skills in all areas of the magazine sector. We offer a reinterpretation of the women’s magazine, seeking to celebrate, engage and mobilise women on campus through writing and events. However, this does not mean HC Bristol exists exclusively for women. We address the problems we encounter as women but we cover issues that are relevant to the whole of society – just this week writers have covered sexism in the junior doctor’s contract, Siri’s new response to sexual assault, and victim shaming. The interests of the HC Bristol team are diverse and far-reaching; so much so that I believe we have created an online space that is relevant to the whole student body. In the current climate in which students face criticism for a culture of no-platforming and apparently too-safe spaces, how is it that such a platform is, in turn, subject to criticism?
My disappointment also arose in the fact that our friend does raise an issue that is close to our hearts, for feminism is about equality, so it is a shame that they couldn’t address this problem through writing for our website. In order to achieve equality we must continue to question what it means to be equal in our society. Offering marginalised sectors the opportunity to be heard enables this. By challenging the presence of “Her” in “Her Campus” in this way, our anonymous writer chooses to find the negatives within our entirely positive discrimination. As our Fashion Features Editor Abbie noted, “Giving women a voice in no way robs men of theirs.” Marking this poster with a comment that questions our values is a feeble attempt to silence our voices and silence new voices with that – it’s Piers Morgan disregarding the work of Beyoncé for having played the “race card” (Daily Mail – feel free not to click this link).
Instead of challenging the identity of HC Bristol, why not accept that we exist as a branch of media, one which is inherently feminist and engaged with equality because it is one which represents the Bristol woman student. If this anonymous writer is so concerned for the equal rights of men and women, it would be more informed to support the values of Her Campus Bristol and, therefore, recognise the women student body as an equal part of the whole. Of course, should you disagree then we welcome all contributions.
We’ll take this scribble as an attempted article pitch – for future reference, articles are best claimed by emailing bristol@hercampus.com.
– Ella XO