TEALA KRAPFL STAFF WRITER
Women’s History Month, celebrated during March, focuses on increasing understanding of the feminist movement.
“A feminist is somebody who fights for equal rights for everyone,” Penni Pier, director of women’s studies, said. “Someone with an understanding and an appreciation for our differences.”
Stephanie Evans, a women’s studies minor, sees the feminist movement as a fight for equality.
“It’s not only between men and women,” she said, “but between everyone, whether it’s race, sexual orientation or age.”
Evans and Pier agreed that feminism comes with a largely negative connotation in today’s society. Pier said people need to understand that feminism is not a dirty word.
“It should be a word that people embrace,” she said.
Even men, such as Matt Langston, call themselves feminists.
“I know that ice is cold, fire is hot and women are my equal,” he said.
He thinks celebrating women’s history is important.
“I didn’t decide to be a feminist,” he said. “It was more, ‘Oh! I believe those things. I must be a feminist.’”
Pictures of men and women who understand feminism and support its fight for equality are posted around campus.
“Everyone has women in their lives who are important,” Shannon Arnold, a women’s studies minor, said.
Wartburg is celebrating Women’s History Month to open students’ eyes to the achievements of the women’s rights movement.
“It’s about women and men and living together in a culture that embraces humanity and social justice,” Pier said.
Pier hopes activities will encourage conversations about women’s history, the feminist movement and what it all means.
“I really hope that we just continue the dialogue about what it means to promote equity, fairness and a sense of social justice,” she said.