Caroline, a self-identified queer femme, is a feminist activist with a passion for social justice that motivates her in both her studies and activism. Interested in making large impacts, she is currently studying for the LSAT as she thinks that law might be a way for her to achieve her goals. If going in that direction, she hopes to focus on human rights/social justice or labour law.
The kind of person who exudes an air of ‘changing the world’, Caroline is a truly amazing and inspiring part of our SFU community and I am so glad to be getting the chance to share her with the world. I hope that she inspires our readership as much as she has inspired me.
Name: Caroline Doerksen
Year: Fourth year
Program: Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Major and Labour Studies Minor
Hometown: Burnaby, BC
Social media: Twitter: @carolinederksen, Instagram: @carolinedoerksen
What kind of things are you involved in outside your degree? What are you doing with that and how did you get involved? Where do you hope these efforts will lead?
My activism began during my first semester at SFU. I was in a first year Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences program ‘Explorations’ that was based out of the SFU Surrey Campus. I asked one of my professors where I could find LGBTQ+ resources and she informed me that SFU [had] an LGBTQ+ resource centre, but it was run out of the central SFU Burnaby campus. With the help of my professor, I got in touch with Out On Campus and became the first and only person to ever host Out On Campus educational and social events at the SFU Surrey Campus. I am also a member of Youth For A Change, an LGBTQ+ youth activist and advocacy group based in Surrey. We create and present workshops on gender identity, healthy teen relationships, teen homelessness, homophobia and transphobia to high school classes, school boards and youth workers. We attend city hall meetings and have conversations with our local politicians to ensure that LGBTQ+ issues are being addressed. We work closely with other community groups, such as the Vancouver based group Quirk-e (Queer Imaging and Riting Kollective for Elders). I have been enriched through intergenerational activism. My favourite part is getting to hear stories from the feminists and LGBTQ+ elders who have come before me. Many queer youth do not have queer role models in their daily lives, so getting to make these relationships through Quirk-e has allowed us to find role models, friends and family. Our two groups received a publishing contract from Peter Lang Publishing and we are writing a textbook called ‘Basically Queer’, that will be used in high schools. I have a variety of stories, poems and artwork that will be featured in the textbook. Our two groups worked on a project together where we exchanged writing prompts back and forth for six months, the elders got to ask the youth questions and the youth got to ask the elders questions. At the end of the six months we took the writing pieces and transformed them into a spoken word performance called ‘Call and Response: An Intergen(d)erational Experience’ which we presented in Surrey, New Westminster and Vancouver.
Another big project I am a part of is the SFU Gerontology’s ‘Queer Elder Abuse Prevention Project’. We are the first to produce materials on this content in all of Canada. Youth For A Change and Quirk-e are both community partners in the project. I am on the creative committee and we created 3 video PSAs and 5 posters. We have traveled to the 5 health districts of British Columbia and presented our project. I was the president of the Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Student Union for two years and I am now the Department Representative. Our student union has been working extremely hard to develop a sexual assault policy and a sexual assault centre at SFU.
I like to use a variety of platforms for my activism. One of those platforms is community radio. I am the Intravenus Women and Femme Collective Team Leader at CJSF 90.1fm. CJSF is a social justice and community based radio station, located on the SFU Burnaby campus. My goal is to introduce and inspire women and femmes to come together to produce and participate in community radio. The wonderful thing about the radio station is that there is no experience required. We also ensure that your skills are utilized and interests are celebrated through the different departments that we have at the station.
What is the most rewarding thing about this work? You are obviously involved in a lot, how do you manage volunteering, study, work, and thinking about the future all at once?
The most rewarding thing about my activism is the sense of belonging and the community I have found. My goal is always to advocate and fight for marginalized groups. This type of work is very rewarding, but it is far from easy. Burn out is a very real thing and it can be difficult to learn when to say “no”. As an activist who is involved in a lot, I find myself constantly being presented with new and exciting opportunities, but I cannot say yes to everything. I think it is important to pick a few things that are most important to you and do them really well, rather than take on too much and only give a little bit. It is necessary to take care of yourself and allow yourself time to process, recover and heal. Make sure you have time to socialize and have fun, because this work can be high stress and overwhelming and taking time for yourself is necessary. I think that studying what you are interested in or joining activities, clubs and/or sports that you are interested in make managing it all a lot easier.
Do you have any tips for students looking to get involved at SFU? Any ways that SFU students can make a difference specifically in the movements your LGBTQ+ and radio station work are a part of?
Go for it! I was an extremely shy person, but becoming involved helped me break out of my shell. I am now full of confidence and passion. Whatever you are interested in, there is probably a club/group for it. Be sure to check out SFU’s Clubs Days that are held every semester. This is a great way to find out about the different initiatives to get involved with, but it is also a great opportunity to talk to the people who are involved in them already.
I think the way that students can make a difference is to reach out if you are interested. All of the groups and projects I am a part of always encourage new members and are more than happy to answer questions you may have. I personally strive to be an inclusive person and welcome people to get in touch with me about how to get involved.
Would you have any words of advice (on any topic) for the women studying at SFU? Any advice for younger students?
My advice is to try out a lot of different courses in various departments. Study something you feel passionate about, you will get more out of your education if you do this.
I understand you create feminist and queer related art. Could you tell us a little bit about that? Do you have a favourite piece that you have done?
Art and activism go hand in hand for me. I create collages and I paint. I like art because it gives me the freedom to be risqué and provoke reactions. My art has the ability to make people be reflective, feel uncomfortable, be excited and be curious. I like leaving the audience with questions and have them think about what they’ve just seen.
My favourite piece is a collage and photo transfer piece that was almost the same height as myself. I transferred photos from the Women’s Liberation Movement onto a canvas with special glue and then did collaging for the rest to contrast the modern feminist movement. I have sold feminist collages at art fairs. I also had 8 art pieces featured in this past summer’s New West Arts Council Art Show called ‘It’s a Queer Age’. My favourite pieces from the art show were the ones that I created based on my experience with non-normative sexualities and reclaiming the term ‘slut’.
Is there anyone that you admire or that inspires you in either LGBTQ+ activism, feminism, or art?
This is a difficult, but fantastic question. I have so many people that inspire me. Jen Marchbank, the professor who introduced me to Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies and helped me begin my journey of activism. My mom for being an example of a strong, brave and independent woman for me to model myself after. I would not be where I am today without her love and support. She is my favourite person in the world. Amber Dawn, a queer femme award winning writer from Vancouver. She writes about queer identities, sex work and trauma. She is my favourite writer!
Where is your go to spot on campus to study, hang out, or take a nap?
The Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies lounge is my favourite spot on campus. My favourite part about the space is that professors and students use the space and it is a great way to interact with students and faculty. I have spent many late nights in the Women’s Centre, writing papers on the couches.
If you could only use one colour in your art for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Lavender, in homage to the Lavender Menaces (a lesbian feminist group who fought to be included in the women’s movement).
Go to jam for any occasion?
Flame by Sundara Karma, HiyHiy by Lostcrowboy, Into the Wild by LP. (so hard to pick haha).
Images provided by the interviewee