Feminist Freshman: Julie Zeilinger

Name: Julie Zeilinger 
Major: Undeclared (but probably Women’s Studies and Human Rights)
Year: 2015

Tell us a little bit about your site and your book: The FBomb is a blog and community for teenage feminists. High school and college students from all over the world write about their feminist beliefs, current events and the issues they feel are most relevant to our generation. I started it in high school because as a feminist, I really craved a community of people my own age who either identified as feminist or aligned themselves with feminist beliefs. The book is an extension of the blog — in it, I try to demystify feminism and talk about how I feel the movement is different for our generation. 

 
What, in your words, is a teenage feminist? I think the definition of feminism is the same for our generation as it’s always been – the pursuit of equality on all levels and the ability to live our lives free from discrimination. However, I think that feminism is different for our generation in that the battles we’re currently fighting are more subtle than they have been in the past. While the second wave of feminism (feminism in the 1970s) dealt with more concrete issues like equal pay and the ERA, our generation is dealing with things like unhealthy body image and street harassment that may not be as obviously sexist and are hard for many young women to really identify as problematic. Of course, issues like equal pay have not gone away, but I think the subtlety of the issues young women face makes our fight a very different one from years past. 
 
What are some of the challenges you think women our age face these days?
The FBomb probably receives more submissions about body image and the negative portrayal in the media than any other topic. I think having issues with our bodies is (unfortunately and disturbingly) the common experience of women our age. However, I think sexual harassment is also a huge issue as well as double standards (for example, girls can either be sluts or prudes). In the future, I think it’s also going to be up to our generation to really work on figuring out work-life balance. Basically, we face a lot of challenges, which is why feminism is still so necessary for our generation. 
 
What are some plans for your time here at Barnard?
I’m really just enjoying being a student here right now. I currently work at the Barnard Center for Research on Women and I’m a new member of Alpha Chi Omega and I plan to be involved with both of those things for the rest of my time here. I think one thing I’m interested in working on in the future, though (especially in light of recent campus-related events) is working on some solutions surrounding the relationship between Barnard and Columbia. 
 
What makes you happiest? Most disappointed?
I am happiest when I’m able to engage my peers in really thoughtful discussions – whether it’s about politics, feminism or pop-culture, I really love trying to learn more from others about the things I’m most interested in, and I feel very lucky that I’m able to do that all the time here at Barnard. I’m most disappointed when other people judge things they don’t understand or don’t make an effort to learn more about those things. On a personal level, I’m usually most disappointed when I feel like I didn’t give something my all (like probably many, many other Barnard students).
 
What is your favorite thing about living in New York City?
I love exploring coffee shops and bookstores in the city, especially downtown. I love that I can just get on the subway and after only a few stops in any direction it can feel like a completely different city. Although, honestly, I pretty much love everything about living in NYC. 
 
If you could change one thing about Barnard, what would it be?
I would change the fact that not very many people seem to know what it is. I’m from Ohio, and literally nobody at my school or in my town had heard of Barnard before I decided to go there. It’s really unfortunate because I love Barnard so much and think that so many other people, especially potential applicants, would love it too if it were better known.