Ogechi-Leah Musa

School & Year: A&S'14

Major: Psychology B.S.

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Born and raised in a small Italian-dominated city, I was always surrounded by a familiar face and pasta in West Haven, Connecticut. I learned how to cook from an early age by watching my playmates mother’s whip up their classic Italian dishes. I also learned how to cook by observing my mother. I am one of five thus there was always a meal being made in my kitchen. From goat-meat stew, sautéed liver, okra flavored tripe to fufu and jollof rice, I was exposed to a wide range of meats and exotic West African dishes which has heavily influenced my passion for all types of food as well as establishing and fostering my nonchalant, open-minded attitude about life. I was always an observant learner due to the awkward first six years of my childhood when I didn’t talk. I was a mute. This fact usually surprises people because of my loquacious disposition and friendly nature they see every day. Through my silence and observation, I found the inspiration to raise my voice. Here at BC I raise my voice through my leadership positions as a coordinator in the Women of Color Caucus of UGBC-ALC as well as the Director of Public Relations in the National Residence Hall Honorary.

2. What are you most passionate about?

I love to act. I’m most passionate about drama, TV, movies, etc. I love it all. It’s an art that I believe we’re all capable of doing; you just need to be comfortable and confident with yourself in order to portray emotions we all naturally exhibit. Another hidden passion that has recently been discovered is writing. From ten-minute plays to short film screenplays, I love creating characters in script based on real-world experiences with people I meet every day. Everyone’s dramatic; we all have our drama, our story. I appreciate everyone’s story and love discovering more every day through conversation. I displayed my passion in the Vagina Monologues during the weekend of February 7th. It’s a fantastic show that I’ve been participating in since freshman year. Through this show, I’ve been exposed to the true meaning of feminism and discovered my inner advocate for social equality.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

I define feminism as common sense. It is an enlightened movement towards equal rights for all. No matter what you believe in, it is a fact that we all are human. We all walk the same path of life, but leave different footprints. Just because you’re born with a certain sized foot, doesn’t mean you can’t walk the walk. I personally have intriguingly small feet and hands, but am still capable of doing exactly what you can do and at certain tasks, probably better. You have no control over the body you’re born in; which is the most aesthetic quality of life. Feminism is appreciating and respecting the rights of the female body; the rights of life itself.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I’m a feminist not only because of my love for my mother, two sisters, millions of female cousins, seven roommates, and the respect for my own body. I am a feminist because if I’m not, then who will be? Who’s going to stand up and defend my own voice, but myself? I am no longer a mute. I’m a feminist because I enjoy life and I feel like everyone should have the same opportunity to wake up and be able to breathe in their own skin. People often are afraid of the word feminist and instantly think of terms revolving around “man-hater”; that’s not the case at all. Men can be feminist as well and I’m personally an ally and love men. I advocate for everyone’s right. It just makes sense.  

5. Who or what inspires you?

If you know who I am, then you know who my mother is. Not only because she is the star of many of my stories, but because every good bone in my body was carved from her. Watching her hands cook, clean, work, and also master any dance move she came across, inspired me to do the same. As mentioned before, my mother is straight off the boat from Nigeria. She made the hopeful journey from her small simple life in her third-world village to the prestigious streets of New Haven to receive the education that was not attainable for the chief’s daughter; her role was to harvest food and cook for the many children of my grandfather. Sound familiar?  My mother sought and fought for the right to shape her own path contrary to the gender role her society bestowed upon her. After graduating and meeting my father, her whole life revolved around the well-being of her family. She reminds me every day that there’s always someone below you and above you and to just point to yourself and love what lies beneath the finger.

Amelia Blanton

School of Theology & Ministry'13

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas and did my undergraduate studies at Saint Louis University (St. Louis, MO) where I majored in Communication and Theological Studies and had interdisciplinary minors in Women’s Studies, Catholic-Jesuit Studies, and Urban Social Analysis. I’m short, but full of spunk and energy. I’m constantly speaking too loud and too fast. I love being involved and helping people to grow and succeed. While it sounds cliché, all I really want to do in life is make a difference in others’ lives (so someone hire me to do that when I graduate in May, please?).  And, I’m engaged to the love of my life, Bill, who I’ve known since the first day of college.

2. What are you most passionate about?

My Jesuit education has taught me that I’m called to be a woman for others, and thus, it makes sense that I’m passionate about service. As a freshman in college I was part of a faith and service learning community where the virtue of service was instilled in me. I learned not only what service really was, but what it required of me, and both those things continue to challenge me daily.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

Feminism, for me, is a verb. It requires action from us. Feminism requires standing in solidarity, not only with other women, but with all those who are marginalized and oppressed. Feminism challenges us to face our own stereotypes and expectations of people. Feminism necessitates that we critically examine the ways in which we are privileged, and how that privilege come at the expense of others. Feminism is a movement that started long before our time and a movement that we have the duty to continue and the ability to shape.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I have a button on my backpack that reads, “Ask me why I’m a feminist,” and I always struggle to articulate the answer to that question when someone takes the time to ask. I’m a feminist because I recognize the power of privilege; because I want my daughters, sons, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren to have the same opportunities and not be judged, criticized or challenged because of their respective dreams. I identify as feminist because it empowers me to take on things I think I can’t.

5. Who or what inspires you?

“You have been told, O mortal, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”  (Micah 6:8)

Nanci Fiore-Chettiar

School & Year: A&S'15

Major: Sociology

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a Sociology major from a small coastal town in Rhode Island, so the beach is my second home. I am the oldest of four and it seems my personality has developed accordingly. My dad was born in India and my mom is Italian, hence my ambiguous complexion and ability to claim that I’ve never had a sunburn. My iTunes library is never-ending and I believe there is a song or fifty for any and every situation. My days are planned down to the minute on my Google calendar - which is both a good and bad thing - but I would never get anywhere on time (and sometimes still don’t) without it. I am obsessed with all of the extra-curriculars I am involved in, including FACES Council, UGBC Cabinet, Arrupe and the Boston College Venture Competition. All of these and more have contributed to an amazing experience so far here at BC. I love meeting new people and even more, learning their stories. Late night life chats are my favorite, and when I say “we should get lunch,” I mean we should really actually get lunch.

2. What are you most passionate about?

I am most passionate about social and political issues related to injustice and inequality. For me, this spans a broad spectrum of interests that include equal access to education and health care, race and racism, LGBTQ rights, and understanding ability and mental illnesses. Maybe it’s the Sociology major in me, but I am fascinated by the way all of these intersect in so many ways, and the way they affect us on institutional, interpersonal and internal levels. One of the best parts of my BC experience has been the opportunity to revolve my extra-curriculars around these passions. My involvement in UGBC, FACES, Arrupe, and BCVC are all outlets for me to explore these issues further outside of my academics. They allow me to learn more, to engage more, and to figure out in what way I can best contribute to reducing injustice and inequality.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

Feminism is a movement rooted in equality, respect and acceptance. It is the understanding that all people, regardless of gender and gender expression, are of equal value. It’s not only acknowledging that things right now are far from equal, but making a conscious effort to move towards a society where men and women are paid the same, both sexes have the freedom to make decisions for themselves, and the typical body image is positive instead of negative. For me, feminism is not devaluing one sex in favor of the other, but empowering both.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

Up until recently, I didn’t. I was one of those girls who was quick to qualify, “I believe in equal rights,” with “... but I wouldn’t say I’m a feminist.” I believed feminism was an extreme movement comprised of overly-aggressive tactics and inflexible ideas of what women should be. I associated feminism with hypocrisy and double-standards. Since coming to BC, however, I’ve learned from many of my peers that my understanding of feminism was completely skewed. As I began to re-learn what feminism was, I realized that the values of the movement aligned with my own. I finally understood that I had been a feminist all along - and it’s about time I acknowledged it.

5. Who or what inspires you?

This is a tough one. I could write about my mother, who I admire more than I could briefly explain in a short paragraph. There are people, dead and alive, who I look up to and strive to emulate, for various reasons. For inspiration, though, I don’t really look to individuals. Instead, I look to moments. I am inspired by moments of honesty, moments of love, moments of vulnerability and moments of shared experiences. I am inspired by random acts of kindness and genuine smiles and the way a person speaks faster when they are talking about something they’re passionate about. Together and individually, each of these moments represent the beauty in our humanity. To me, nothing is more inspiring than that.

Katy Wilson

School & Year: A&S'2013

Major: French, Minor: Hispanic Studies

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I come from San Francisco, California and am an avid skier and trail runner. Shock—I prefer long days on the mountain to long walks on the beach. Deeply influenced by my self-proclaimed tree-hugging environment, one of my favorite things is a summertime farmer’s market and local, fresh foods. I speak Spanish and French and love to learn about new cultures.

2. What are you most passionate about?

I feel most at home surrounded by health and nature. I love to be outdoors and especially love sharing my passion with others, whether it be hiking, paddle boarding, skiing, picnicking, preparing a fresh meal or just having a simple conversation. I’m a huge believer in treating our bodies and the earth with a conscientious, respectful outlook and love to cook for others to prove that this can also be delicious.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

I am very lucky to have grown up in a community that provided me with all of the tools I needed to get to where I am today. I never once considered myself to be disadvantaged due to any intrinsic part of my being. To me, everyone has an equally valued opinion and contribution to make to society. Women, like men—regardless of skin color, height, width or sexual orientation—are all human and all ready to teach and learn from each other. A good friend once told me that feminism isn’t necessarily shouting from the rooftops, but a simple understanding of the equality of all people.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I love my ladies. I’ve been on the council of the Laughing Medusa women’s literary magazine for four years, hoping to inspire and share in the experience of honest, open women’s literature. I also love conversation on breaking down gender lines, especially when it comes to fitness. An athlete my whole life, I want to prove that fitness is a transcendence of the mind and body that is not defined by gender “roles”. I’m seeing more and more men experiencing the calm of yoga and more and more women at the weight rack, and love them all for beginning to break down the traditional gender stereotypes.

5. Who or what inspires you?

An avid reader, I am most touched by words that somehow express an idea I thought to be only felt.

Since the thing perhaps is

to eat flower and not to be afraid.

–E.E. Cummings

Ines Maturana Sendoya

Director of Office of AHANA Student Programs

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I have been working at Boston College for 10 years.   Currently, I am the Director of the Office of AHANA Student Programs.   I am originally from Colombia, South American and have lived in the United States for over 25 years.  I came to the United States as an international student and kept finding excuses to stay. In my spare time I enjoy watching Korean dramas, Indian movies and Colombian soap operas with my husband.  I also love making jewelry, travelling and dancing Latin music.    

2. What are you most passionate about?

I am most passionate about connecting opportunities and people.  I feel that all of us deserve to have the resources to reach our potential.  For that reason I work to remove barriers that have been placed on communities and individuals to prevent them from realizing their dreams.   In particular I love working with college students in their journey, having conversations about their lives and where they want to go.  

3. How do you define “feminism”?

My definition of feminism is rooted on my cultural and personal experience.   As such I define “feminism” as the ideology that women, independently of men, have the inherent right to use their personal resources, talents and capacity to actualize themselves educationally, politically and professionally.  It is the solidarity to stand with other women as we recognize our common interests and experiences.  It is the conscious decision for mothers to raise sons that ready to honor and respect the women in their lives. Although my definition of feminism, accentuates the self-empowerment of women, it includes a role for men to serve as companions or witnesses and advocates of this process for the women in their lives.  

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

When I was about 10 years old, my father said to my sister and me: “we work hard to give you the best education possible so that you have the necessary tools to never have to depend on a man for your subsistence”.   I feel that at that moment, I became a feminist and decided that even though I was growing up in a sexist society, I could accomplish anything in spite of my environment.

5. Who or what inspires you?

I receive inspiration from people who overcome difficult circumstances and persevere in their love for other human beings.  

Michelle Dyer

School & Year: A&S'13

Major: History; Minor: Faith, Peace, & Justice

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a born and raised New Yorker here at BC where I study History and have a minor in Faith, Peace, and Justice. My FPJ concentration is “examining patriarchy through the lenses of Christianity and Judaism.” Outside of the classroom I’m a teaching assistant for Introduction to Feminisms, a council member on FACES, and a member of the Student Admission Program. My roommates can attest to the fact that I also love Star Wars, pie, the beauty of the French language, fashion, and food! I was raised in a household that valued talking about everything, so I tend to talk and talk until I realize that people zoned out about 5 minutes before I ended. I can also quote The West Wing, Gilmore Girls, and 30 Rock in my sleep— try me! I hope to never cease traveling; I feel the calmest when I’m barreling through the sky in a metal tube. 

2. What are you most passionate about?

I’m most passionate about issues revolving around social justice and equality. Taking PULSE changed my career path and the view of the world around me— helping me understand true Jesuit ideals. It has influenced how I tackle issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation and has given me the background to work on these issues outside of college. I want people to realize that privilege is something that can blind us to the true problems we see everywhere and that ignorance is not an excuse to perpetuate systemic abuses.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

I define feminism as a movement that aims to dismantle the consequences, impacts, and actual instrument of patriarchy. All genders (remember, there’s more than 2!) are victims of the negative repercussions of a patriarchal society, but feminism allows women the opportunity to stand and fight the good fight together.  

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

When I was about 8 years old I watched “The Hunt for Red October,” and told my father that I’m going to work on a submarine. He had the unfortunate task of telling me that I wouldn’t be able to join Sean Connery on a submarine because women weren’t allowed on subs (later to change in 2010). That was my first brush with inequality and it continued to follow me everywhere. I never want a girl to feel less than equal. I never want a boy to be bullied for wanting to be a ballerina for Halloween. I am a feminist because I believe that women deserve the same protections, rights, and liberties that society seems to exclusively reserve for white men. I am proud to be a feminist because there is no reason to be ashamed to play like a girl; it’s not an insult.

5. Who or what inspires you?

I can’t list all the things and people that have inspired me because I have a terrible memory— one that loses the names and titles of what has changed my life. Yet, I can call upon my grandmothers who were women that raised families in unfamiliar countries without the support many people would need. The social contract that the Jews signed with God to never forget the oppressed has impacted me in ways I am not sure I truly understand yet. I am inspired by the diary I’ve kept from a young age because nothing can whip you into shape more than the dreams you had as a ten year old. The dream of travel pushes me to look beyond the comfort of the Northeast. Science fiction, Tina Fey, classic rock, and feminist literature all have a multitude of quotes that I’ve left in notebooks and loose papers, but I what I think truly inspires me is my little brother and the women I’ve been lucky enough to live with for the past three years.

Mara Renold

School & Year: CSON'13

Major: Nursing, Minor: Hispanic Studies

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I consider myself an adventurous, independent woman who loves family, friends, and traveling (and my two dogs!).  I came to Boston College from Northbrook, IL having spent little time on the East Coast and knowing no one in the area.  Soon after, I met a group of girls who I consider my BC family and are my stronghold on rainy New England days.  I chose to be a nursing major and it has been the best decision I’ve ever made.  Through nursing school and volunteering, I’ve had the opportunity to be present with others during difficult times in their lives, and I consider this a blessing. 

2. What are you most passionate about?

I don’t have any one specific passion, but I’d say I’m addicted to trying new things.  I’ve tried just about every hobby from horseback riding to dancing to ultimate Frisbee.  The things I keep coming back to are music, travel, and volunteering.  I also just generally like to be friendly and say hello to everyone, maybe because I’m from the Midwest. 

3. How do you define “feminism”?

To me, feminism is acknowledging the strength, compassion, and perseverance that women possess in any given situation.  Last semester I did a clinical rotation on a pediatric oncology unit.  I was expecting the mothers on the floor to fall apart from knowing that their child has cancer and the fear that accompanies this knowledge.  The moms show incredible emotional strength in keeping things together for their son or daughter.  The bond between mother and child is really amazing to see. 

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I grew up in a family of strong women.  My middle name Rosalie is after my great great grandmother who escaped the holocaust with her kids and took them on a boat to Ellis Island.  That’s not to say the men in my family aren’t also strong.  When it comes to men and women deserving equal rights and pay, that’s not a question it’s a fact.

5. Who or what inspires you?

My mom is a nurse and she has always shown compassion and selflessness to everyone around her.  She is the type of mom who loves having guests over and cooks way too much food just incase there isn’t enough for everyone.  There are times when my friends come over at midnight and she insists on “heating up a snack” for us, which always turns into a feast.  I hope to be as compassionate and selfless as she is.  

Charissa Jones

School & Year: Arts & Sciences 2013

Major(s) / Minor(s): Communications

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m originally from New York where I grew up really into sports and theater, playing soccer and piano my whole life and being in drama productions.  My parents are from the Caribbean so I spent a lot of my time between New York and St. Maarten, where my mom’s sisters live.  I can never say no to sunshine!  I am in love with chocolate, and can never have too much.  I always say the best remedy for anything is a smile, and finding a way to laugh at yourself.

At BC I feel that I’ve been a little part of everything!  My favorite moments were definitely being part of an Arrupe immersion trip to Ecuador, leading a Halftime retreat for seniors, and directing Eve Ensler’s two plays, The Good Body and The Vagina Monologues.

2. What are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about social equality and justice, something that I show through the theatrical performances I partake in.  This year I’m directing the tenth anniversary of The Vagina Monologues, a project that is very dear to my heart because it deals directly with a mysterious organ of the woman’s body that I believe is so misconstrued and misunderstood.  The Vagina Monologues has brought me more in touch with my feminine side and understanding who I am as a woman, and I pass that along to the cast through our weekly rehearsals and the audience when they come see and hear these monologues. The Good Body has the same feeling for me, and is directed at women’s self image.  I keep coming back to these projects because I feel they are hugely important to this college campus and beyond; we are not just the superficial physical aspect of our body, but the whole intimate inner awareness of ourselves and our mind and soul.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

Feminism is the want for a social equality in gender, to listen to a woman’s thoughts and ideas without any bias.  I think it’s the want to fight for women’s rights, and it doesn’t have to be in a grand way such as being part of a movement.  It’s for women to have the choice of what they want to do in life and knowing if they work hard they can achieve anything they want to.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I identify myself as a feminist because I believe that women are beautiful, intelligent, amazing people, and given the chance to truly take a stance we can change the world.  I identify as a feminist because I believe that rape should not be used as a tactic of war, that women should have the right to fully express who they are without being downtrodden by society.  I identify as a feminist because I am a woman with goals, dreams, and ideas, and I am not allowing any hierarchal order to tell me who to be and what I can do. 

5. Who or what inspires you?

My mother has definitely been a huge inspiration to me.  I have seen her overcome such great and difficult obstacles that I couldn’t even fathom myself. Her determination is something that I hope I have within myself.  I am also inspired by a very special group of women that I have had the privilege to meet with every week to talk about what is to be a woman.   They inspired me to really look at my life and decide for myself how I want to be defined and how I will let others define me.  There are struggles we go through, seen or unseen, but it takes a certain type of courage to decide to take them head on, and they inspire me try to do so every day. 

Professor Amy Boesky

Department: English

Classes Taught: Advanced Creative Nonfiction; Writing The Body; Early Women Writers; Writing The Self; Literature Core; Stuart Literature and Culture.

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m both a writer and a professor. Over the past several years, I’ve become increasingly interested in narratives about the body and the role of genetics in stories about personal identity. Some of this stems from my family’s experience with BRCA1, the so-called “breast cancer gene.” In some ways, this new interest may seem far from my work in 17^th century literature, but I’ve always been interested in the ways in which women imagine and write about their lives.

2. What are you most passionate about?

Works of imagination (narrative, film, music). Travel. Difficult questions. Humor. Surprising connections. In my personal life, I’m extremely close to both of my daughters (who are college-aged now) and love learning about their friends and their world.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

I define “feminism” as the expansion of boundaries for women from all backgrounds and all places. It’s dynamic; I think we’ve come so far in some ways, but in other ways, our culture has witnessed surprising setbacks. It’s wonderful to think that every participating country sent a female athlete to the Olympics this summer in London, and to witness the victories for runner such as Sarah Attar from Saudi Arabia. But it’s disheartening to hear Hilary Clinton being asked by an interviewer about which “designers” she prefers. It’s sobering to consider how many women are living at or below the poverty line. It’s frustrating to feel we’ve made little progress in many areas, despite huge strides elsewhere.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

When I was in graduate school in the early 1980s, there were only a handful of women professors with tenure. The authors we read were almost all male. Moreover, the questions we considered tended to come from the same perspectives over and over again. I’ve been lucky to work in the academy during an exciting time, when the canon has been opened up and many of our former ideas have been interrogated. Growing up in the late 60s and 70s, I identified with the Woman’s Movement as an intrinsic part of civil rights.

5. Who or what inspires you?

I’m continually inspired by women who overcome profound hardship of various kinds—cultural or socioeconomic setbacks, physical hardship—and still meet the world with humor, resilience, and passion. I’m inspired by women working in areas still largely populated by men (in any field). I’m inspired by my mother-in-law, who still does yoga at 87, reads the Financial Times, and practices piano for hours a day to keep her mind sharp. And I’m inspired by my students. I don’t know how any of them find the time and energy to accomplish all that they do!

Ashley Nguyen

School & Year: College of Arts & Science, 2013

Major(s): Biology B.S. & Philosophy B.A.

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m an only child from Naugatuck, CT—a small town 40 minutes south of Hartford. My parents immigrated to the United States from Vietnam, but I was born in the States and speak Vietnamese fairly well. I’m pursuing medical school with an interest in specializing in pediatrics or OB/GYN. I love babies and small toddlers. I volunteer at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. I have a small addiction to vanilla ice coffees. I appreciate science humor, hugs, sushi, surprises, laughing, making other people laugh, and meaningful conversations. Serving as an Orientation Leader, Emerging Leader Program facilitator, and FACES co-director have absolutely enriched my BC experience. I’m very enthusiastic about life, and sometimes speak too loudly but that’s only because I’m passionate about whatever I’m talking about.

2. What are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about forming meaningful relationships, pursuing medicine, helping others, and staying positive. I am passionate about employing the privileges and opportunities that I have acquired to better allow others to attain the same chances at pursuing their own individual ideas of success and happiness.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

Feminism is empowerment. Feminism is an intersection of various approaches and disciplinary fields culminating to acknowledge that all human beings, regardless of sex or gender, deserve equal rights. Despite anatomical body parts or social influences, all human beings are worthy of support and love. It recognizes that a socially constructed idea should not control or oppress half of the world’s population. Women are intrinsically human, and deserve to be treated as such. The study of feminism cannot be separated from the issues of race or socioeconomic class. They are all too inherently intertwined.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I am a feminist because I believe that all human beings should be treated equally despite differences in sex or gender. After finishing my philosophy major, I have only encountered one female philosopher, Simone de Beauvoir. Despite the fact that the class was about existentialism, I found some way to incorporate her book The Second Sex into my final paper. That book literally changed my entire perspective on how I view and define gender. Sex and gender are two separate entities. This basic clarification exemplified how human beings have socially constructed gender in order for men to have power over women. This issue in itself confuses me because of the human reproductive cycle, and the obvious significance women have over men in that right. It depends on how you are defining what is preferred or better. I love learning and reading about gender and how it intimately influences many different subjects and disciplines. Even in the sciences, issues regarding gender have surfaced. These intersections of my varying passions truly excite me. Regardless of the career or vocation one pursues, one needs to understand what it means to be human from all different perspectives.

5. Who or what inspires you?

My mom provides me with relentless love and support. She inspires me to live with faith, hope, and resilience. I have witnessed her endure countless challenges that I may never even fathom of experiencing, but she still has limitless love for those around her. She is not afraid to speak up and live freely as her full self. As stated before, my parents immigrated to the United States from Vietnam a few months before I was born. My parents came to the United States without any money and without the ability to speak English. My mom earned her high school degree in the United States by attending night school while she worked day shifts in a factory to support my private school education. Hearing my mom’s life experiences never ceases to engage and enrapture me. She sacrificed so much to allow me the opportunities that I have been privileged with throughout my entire life. She never once asked for a thank you, and with a love like that, I am forever inspired.

Peter Folan

Dept: First Year Experience

Assistant Director, Program Management

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I have been married for nearly 10 years to the love of my life and am a proud father of Tommy (5) and Caroline (3). My family is the most important part of my life; spending time with my family brings me the greatest joy in my life. Reading books before bed, building sandcastles, planting a garden, having a catch, baking muffins, and dancing together after dinner are all part of what our family does for fun.

I have been an educator for my entire professional career. I have taught English in grades 7-12. I have also coached football, wrestling, and track. Working at all levels of  our educational system has been an important part of my professional development.  Working in the Division of Mission and Ministry in the Office of First Year Experience has been a remarkable adventure over the past four years.  Leading 48HOURS weekends has been my favorite part of my work here at BC. Listening and learning from the authentic voices of Boston College students has helped me to grow and develop as an administrator.

2. What are you most passionate about?

I am deeply committed to helping young men to have a better understanding of themselves and their place in the world. My doctoral research focused on male gender socialization and conceptions of masculinities.  Helping men to avoid the constraints defined by stereotypical gender roles and hegemonic masculinity is a goal that I pursue personally and professional. Presenting and encouraging broader definitions and understandings of masculinities and femininities are inherent in my life and work.

I am also passionate about helping Boston College students through conversations and reflective listening to pursue their deepest desires and to listen to what God is calling them towards. I believe that it is through the integration of our heart and our mind that we experience and express joy in our lives.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

I believe that the word feminism connects into a large social understanding that is geared toward equality in all senses.  Equal rights for women define my belief. I believe in equality for all people, especially women. Gender should not be seen as a detracting quality, but a strength that we should embraced. I try to strive to be continuously aware of the gender scripts that surround us each day and to transcend preconceived notions.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I am proud to be called a feminist. For many people, they are surprised to hear that a former collegiate wrestler and teacher at an all-boys’ high school is a feminist. I believe that part of what we all struggle with is the narrow lens through which people and ideas are defined. I am proud of the multiple identities that co-exist within me, including that of a feminist.

5. Who or what inspires you?

Karlyn Folan, my wife, inspires me each day. I am amazed by her dedication, patience, and love that are given effortlessly. Her goodness is a gift that I am blessed to share each day. Karlyn inspires me to be a better man. I am truly thankful for her support of me. While much of my research and daily work focuses on the lives of men and masculinities, I know first-hand the immeasurable influence that women, like Karlyn, have on the world. I am also inspired by my wonderful children. When they were born, I learned and relearned the meaning of true love while also finding my life’s calling and that which brings me the greatest joy in my life, being a father.

Ashley Branch

School & Year: A&S, 2014

Major(s): Psychology & Philosophy

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I’m from Atlanta, GA and probably the most unconventional Southern Belle you’ll ever meet. When I’m not planning events with the Black Student Forum or Cape Verdean Student Association, I’m usually just hanging out with my friends. I tend avoid the Plex at all costs; I try and stay active by doing other things when I can. I especially love going to the paintball course with my little sisters!

2. What are you most passionate about?

People. Talking to them, confiding in them, connecting them. There’s just something amazing that happens when people connect on a personal basis. Especially in a world when everything is done via Twitter, Facebook and Text Message.

3. How do you define “feminism”? 

Feminism is a movement that aims to push for equal rights for everyone. At the end of the day, we all belong to the same community; there is no reason why one group of human beings are treated differently from everyone else. We all have the same blood that runs through our veins.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I have a deep-rooted belief that everyone deserves the same opportunities as well as the same respect. My being a woman should not be a factor when I am being considered for a job, or an award. My being a woman does not make me weak or helpless or angry, my being a woman does not make me other.

5. Who or what inspires you?

I am very fortunate to have known my great-grandmother. As the single mother of 7 girls, she was the backbone of my family. She instilled values in me at a young age that continues to shape my character. My mother is also one of my biggest inspirations. She is my best friend and I can count on her to give me her opinion, even when she knows that it isn’t what I want to hear. She pushes me to go further and reminds me to learn from life’s unexpected surprises, instead of strictly looking at them as problems that need to be solved. I owe her everything.

Professor Elizabeth Rhodes

Department: Romance Languages & Literatures (Hispanic Studies)

Clsases Taught: My favorites are Don Quijote and You, Passion at Play, Violence in Hispanic Culture and Borderlines: Films of Immigration. I teach at the graduate and undergraduate levels each semester.

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I'm an early moderninst, meaning my field of specialization is the fifteenth through seventeenth centuries, and my current research project is about how the life of the same saint changes over that period of time in Spanish printed versions of the saints' lives.  In 1490, for example, Mary Magdalen is Jesus's closest companion and after his death, she has a successful career as an apostle and preacher. But by 1599 she's a long-haired former prostitute weeping at his feet. What happened there?

I'm also a single mother of two, a sailor, and an activist on behalf of feminism and environmental issues related to water.  I love to knit and I foster care kittens for the Animal Rescue League.

2. What are you most passionate about?

Professionally and pedagogically, I'm passionate about getting students to think in new ways about who they are and what they can do.  Administratively, I'm passionate about getting BC to invest in reducing the incidence of rape on campus and in supporting student survivors of rape and domestic violence (this is happening, by the way, in large part thanks to Katie Dalton). Personally, I'm passionate about supporting rape survivors on campus, and also young female professionals here as well. BC continues to pose challenges for women, although this too is changing.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

I'm into language, and the Latin root of 'feminism' means simply 'feminine' (at first it referred to grammatical gender only, which is interesting).  So for me, being a feminist means making it easier for women to be what Ignatian spirituality defines as who God wants them each to be, which more broadly means figuring out goals that realize and fulfill each one according to her individual passions and talents.  Collaterally, this means helping men understand how to make room for that to happen without feeling threatened or losing their own grip on life.  My students like to think everything is nifty in this regard, but it's not, so part of my feminism is to prepare them to be strong on their own feet - women and men, of any sexual orientation.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I don't do it on purpose or for any reason; it's part of who I am.  I know 'feminism' has become a dirty word, and its definition has gotten a little squishy (that's a linguistics term).  But this is just backlash against women -  and the men who support them - changing old ways of thinking, and the movement itself making progress.  So now is the time to dig in, not give up. For me, feminism's ultimate objective is not to be necessary any more.

5. Who or what inspires you?

The sea, my mother, my daughter working in Haiti and my son working with kids from the Southie projects.  And at work? My students.

Pooja Shah

School & Year: College of Arts & Sciences, Class of 2013

Major: English & Philosophy

Minor: Chemistry

Questions

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in India, but raised in New York City my entire life- as you can imagine, I’m used to cabs honking, impromptu subway break-dancers, tall skyscrapers, and noise, lots and lots of noise.  I love anything that has to do with Winnie the Pooh (who doesn’t love a cuddly big brown bear?) and am a huge fan of frozen yogurt. I don’t eat chocolate, but could probably add caramel to about 95% of my meals. Oh and I am obsessed with Ryan Gosling, but then again, who isn’t?

2. What are you most passionate about?

About making changes and moving forward. As cliché as it may sound, I believe that we all possess the ability to advance towards improvement as long as we work together.  When it comes to women’s issues, I am very focused on trying to open up novel doors and opportunities that women have not been previously rewarded.  We live in a time where women, especially women of color, have proven themselves to succeed in every field and discipline, and it’s time that they are recognized for these achievements.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

Feminism is an intellectual, political and social movement that advocates for women’s rights and opportunities in each of those grounds. Very often, the ideas behind feminism have been criticized for being “sexist” and “overly-assertive”, but I believe it is more of an initiative towards bringing to surface issues that affect women, with the support and help of every individual. I don’t think feminism is a battle of sexes at all- in fact, I think it’s working together to fight for equality.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

People are scared of the “F” word or being identified as a feminist because of the way media has misconstrued it and paralleled its meaning with negative stereotypes of being anti-male. But for me, it’s not that. I am a feminist because I care to define, establish, and defend rights of women who are inherently humans.  It’s something I’m very passionate about, and therefore a huge part of who I am.

5. Who or what inspires you?

My mother who proved that it doesn’t matter if you’re South Asian, a woman, or from a lower socioeconomic family background because you can make it anywhere in the world if you’re determined and hardworking. Elizabeth (Liz) Murray who followed her dream of going to Harvard University by overcoming obstacles of poverty, homelessness, and lack of support from her HIV- infected parents.  And author Jhumpa Lahiri for expressing in her writings how women too can assimilate into American culture while still maintaining their cultural roots. These examples of empowering women who have unbelievable strength to transform their own lives is what motivates me.

Professor Marina McCoy

Department: Philosophy

Classes Taught: PULSE; Perspectives; Plato’s Republic; Plato’s Dialogues; Rhetoric: Truth, Beauty, Power; Intro to Feminist Philosophies; Love and Friendship in the Ancient World; Women, Nature, and Ecology.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I teach in the philosophy department and have been at Boston College for thirteen years now. I am a mom to two wonderful children, well, teens, and married to a print and web designer who also works at BC.

2. What are you most passionate about?

First and foremost, my family. Might sound like a funny thing for a feminist to say as her first priority, but it’s true. I’d never trade being a mother for anything else I’ve done. But I feel called to my work, too. Teaching students is a true passion and I continually learn from them. The college years are an exciting time in a person’s life to witness, as people discover more and more of who they are and the depth of what they have to offer the world. That’s a beautiful thing to see. I love doing prison ministry with a group of men I’ve visited for about seven years. Working with them has made me passionate about prison reform. I’ve found myself surprised by how much I enjoy writing, too, which is not something I took as much pleasure in while in graduate school. I feel blessed that there are so many things that I care about and that I have the opportunity to do what I love. I’m grateful.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

One of the points I make clear in my Intro to Feminist Philosophies class is that feminism isn’t a single set of ideas but rather a diverse set af approaches to questions of gender, and increasingly also to the ways in which gender intersects with race, class, and global economic inequity. In the public mindset, feminism is often associated with liberal feminism or radical separatist feminism, but there is an incredible range of thinkers who self-identify as feminist. That being said, my favorite definition of feminism is a well-worn one: “a philosophy that advocates the idea that women are fully human.”

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

Women still suffer because they are still not fully acknowledged in the wholeness of their humanity. The message is sometime subtler now than in the past, but I think we still have expectations of women that we don’t hold of men. At least, we still see the masculine as the norm and whatever is female or feminine as a departure from the norm, instead of seeing both as legitimate and important parts of the human experience. I’m also increasingly concerned about race and global inequity. Talking with students over the years has made me much more aware and passionate about racial inequity and the need for healthy and caring discussions about race between everyone.  It’s hard to imagine caring for justice for women but not caring for justice for everyone. Tackling racism has to be a feminist issue for women of all colors and backgrounds.

5. Who or what inspires you?

Jesus is my model of what it means to be fully human, though I don’t claim to live up to it. His compassion and care for everyone, especially those on the margins or who don’t quite fit into social expectations, that inspires me. Also, the natural world of plants, trees, animals, the ocean, probably helps me to have the most perspective on what is long-range. Watching the seasons change or the ocean tides come and go helps me to see the value in change and process over the long haul rather than focusing on short-term successes or failures. The language I would use is that God’s activity working through all things, not just human beings. Knowing that God keeps working, as we “plant the seeds” as parents, educators, friend, is a great comfort in the face of day-to-day challenges.

Claire Geruson

Lynch School of Education, 2013
Majors: Theology and Elementary/Special Education

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in Philadelphia, PA and I live and breathe for all things Philly. I graduated high school first in of my class because we graduated in height order. I have an overabundance of energy, I LOVE to laugh, and hate being told to speak more quietly. I am typically 5 to 1o minutes late for everything. I love running and attending retreats.  I thrive off of real, honest, challenging conversations: talking to people, fighting for people’s rights, listening well and trying to learn how to love. My favorite jobs at BC have been working for Campus Ministry and Campus School. One of the biggest joys and privileges I have had was the chance to study abroad in El Salvador in fall 2012.

2. What are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about teaching in typical and atypical settings. I am passionate about proving that the classroom can exist outside of a building. I am passionate about fighting for justice and equal access to all forms of education. I work to prove there must be an intersection between faith and theology and justice to effect change.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

I would say feminism is the practice of acknowledging that negative gender stereotypes and inequalities based on gender/expression exist. These individuals/institutions then actively choose to rebuke prejudices by fighting for equality of personhood regardless of gender or gender expression.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I am tired of ridiculous double (or any) standards on the basis gender and biological gender vs. gender expression. Also, I identify as a feminist because, as a person who practices a religion, I am really ready for equality on the basis of sex/identity in the Catholic Church. I think that identify, acting, and living as a feminist will begin to deconstruct issues of machismo and discrimination at BC, in my Church, and in our society.

5. Who or what inspires you?

“It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is the Lord’s work. This is what we are about:

We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning,
a step along the way…”

Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero quoting  Bishop Ken Untener

Lizzie Jekanowski

College of Arts & Sciences, 2013
Majors: Political Science & History, Minor: Women's & Gender Studies

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m from a tiny, po-dunk town in Middle of Nowhere, Western Massachusetts, where I grew up on a sheep farm.  As you can imagine, this upbringing led to a bizarre assortment of life skills including animal vaccination, birthing, and artificial insemination.  I live and breathe Harry Potter, I have a strange obsession with unicorns and ugly sweaters (especially when combined), and I believe everything can improved with the addition of glitter.

2. What are you most passionate about?

The right of every person—female, male, or otherwise—for access to comprehensive sexual health education, and to contraceptive resources and procedures.

We live in a time of fear, ignorance, and intolerance of sex and sexuality despite their worldly realities, and this is forcing millions of people into an archaic system that restricts life-saving supplies and information.

Every educated person has the ability to make decisions for oneself and one’s own body, and each individual should be given the respect and freedom to do so.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

It is the mutual respect and strength among the sexes to live in this world without fear of shame and injustice.  This means providing not only the equal opportunity to employment and education, but also to a lifestyle without prejudicial judgments or expectations absurdly based on biological sex.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

It is as natural to me as breathing.  To not be a feminist (a. k. a. sexist) is as if I shouldn’t be a considerate human being.  What nimrod truly wants a world of persecution and disadvantage?

5. Who or what inspires you?

A whole host of people who encompass strength and tolerance in a myriad of different ways: Queen Elizabeth I for making power and intelligence sexy, Britney Spears for her confidence in her unapologetic sexuality, Buffy the Vampire Slayer for teaching me from age 10 that its cool to both be a girl and kick some butt, and my mother who battled nearly twenty years of Lyme’s Disease while raising two bonkers kids and birthing sheep in thunderstorms.

My greatest inspiration however, is seeing like-minded women and men who are determined to, through respect, love, tolerance, and strength, improve the lives of each individual and change the world.

Angela Donkor

College of Arts & Sciences, 2012
Majors: International Studies, Political Science

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Angela Donkor and I was born in a small town called Konongo in southern Ghana. When I was six years old, I moved to another small town just across the world to Bassano Del Grappa, Italy. Moving to Italy was a great experience for me. I made many friends; I learned Italian, Spanish, English and French while I was there. I loved the food, the people and in my town. Then in 2006, after living in Italy for 10 years, I moved to the United States. To say the least, my life has been very global and as a result of that, I have encountered people from all walks of life.

2. What are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about traveling. I like to be a foreigner in other people’s country and discover new cultures. I have a passion for tennis, gymnastics and swimming.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

I define feminism as sisterhood. I know that many people have stereotypes about feminism but for me, being a feminist means that I am in sisterhood with every woman.  Traveling around the globe had made me realize that women all over the world are in search for the same thing. They want their voices heard, they want to matter and they want respect. Together, we can help each other achieve these things.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I define myself as a feminist because I believe that women need to be in solidarity with each other.

5. Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by all those who do not let their circumstances stand in the way of what they can do. I am inspired by the courage of those who speak out against injustice because they understand that they cannot be free unless all are free.

Andrea Chudzik

Lynch School of Education, 2012
Majors: Secondary Education, English

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

II'm a goofy lady with an appreciation for mittens, yoga, and traveling.  I hope to teach internationally as I prepare to become a middle school or high school English teacher.  After a semester abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, I'm looking forward to reuniting with fellow Hello...Shovelhead!ers, mentors and students in the College Bound program, and DJs at BC's very own radio station, WZBC 90.3 FM.  Perhaps I will re-launch my feminist talk show "Girl Power Hour" in the fall, but until then I will be enjoying music I can boogey to and life back in good ol' New England.

2. What are you most passionate about?

My heart beats a little faster when I get my hands on some clay or cello strings, and when I can work with young adults and help them find what they’re passionate about.  I love studying and discussing educational policy and women’s rights, especially as I've become more involved with activism through Crystal Talia's "Creating Social Activist Images" course (it's amazing and highly recommended for those of you interested in social justice/responsibility).  Although I feel it's important to be passionate in many areas, I'm learning how to narrow and deepen my focus to enable positive, lasting change.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

To me, feminism is recognizing that there is still much progress to be made in regards to women rights around the world.  I do not see it as a blame game, but rather a call for all people to work together for equality.  There are certainly many different kinds of feminism, such as radical, liberal, Marxist, etc., but I think all forms are based in the awareness that more must be done.  Until women are encouraged to feel proud of their body images rather than ashamed, are empowered to pursue any field of interest rather than discouraged, are completely protected from atrocities such as human trafficking, and until we all work towards such goals together, feminism remains an important movement. 

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

Advocacy for women's rights does not stop at voting rights - inequalities exist despite our universal freedom, and now more than ever, there need to be men and women who are willing to create change.  I can't choose what pictures go into magazines and what television shows go on the air, but I can spread positive messages to and about women in the spheres available to me.  Through the radio station's airwaves I can interview female artists about their inspirations, I can participate in WRC programs on campus, and I can stimulate conversations about feminism and social justice when the opportunities arise.  If someone doesn't consider him or herself a feminist, I'm confident it's largely to do with a lack of education about these issues.  A feminism course isn't the only way to spread this awareness - open minds and taking the time to explain different points of view are critical as well.

5. Who or what inspires you?

Brave, compassionate people inspire me, and those who take risks to benefit others remind me that all forms of kindness require effort.  Nelson Mandela has become one of my role models since traveling to South Africa, and the peaceful ways in which he has united the country's citizens is beautiful.  On a lighter note, Tina Fey kicks some serious toosh.  Strong, funny women like her fuel who I've become, and I aspire to be a similar influence for the kids and adolescents I work with year-round.

Sergeant Anthony Cadogan

Boston College Police Department
Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Program, Club Drugs

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I have been employed here at BC for the past 22 years where I spent ten years in Dining Services and twelve in the Police Department. I migrated from the island of Barbados 24 years ago.  I was promoted to Sergeant four years ago and I now oversee the R.A.D program. I am also a Sexual Assault Investigator and conduct informative session on the dangers of drugs and effect of alcohol. I am very engaged with the BC community to ensure the safety of the staff, students, faculty, and visitors. I am currently in the woods school completing a degree in Sociology.

2. What are you most passionate about?

I am most passionate of the program in which I oversee, which is the R.A.D (Rape Aggression Defense) program. The Rape Aggression Defense System is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women. The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive, women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. R.A.D. is not a martial arts program. I have been an instructor for ten years now and not only do I teach here at BC, I venture out to other communities that may need assistance. If I can prevent a female from being a victim or sexual assault survivor, that truly makes my day. I have been fortunate, that females who have taken the class have benefitted from it, especially those who have travelled abroad.

I spent several years in Dining Services so I am also passionate about cooking. I believe the most and definitely tops the list of things that I am passionate about is “Life”. Having to wake up every day healthy is a blessing and I strive to make the best of it.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

Everyone seems to have a different idea of what feminism is. Men seem to consider it an effort to depower them and for women to become superior, rather than for women to simply empower themselves and rise up as the equals of men, giving men nothing to lose from the deal.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I identify myself as a feminist because I support and believe in women’s’ rights. I have no problem being label such and I am thankful to be in the field that I am in to help women. Being a sexual assault investigator also solidifies my commitment in defending and promoting women’s’ issues.

5. Who or what inspires you?

I have always pondered the question on who inspires me, but I focus more on what inspires me, which is seeing people develop and grow and make a positive impact on their lives and community. Watching someone overcome the challenges they face also inspires me. Some people may have a dream and to be a part or help them fulfill that dreams is also rewarding. The people who have overcome adversity and have withstood all the challenges that life has put forth for them, and they accomplish what they set out to do.

The person who has most inspired me is my mom. I was an only child for years and watched my mom worked to just to maintain the lifestyle that we had. I have seen people who I grew up with in some bad situations right now but my mom kept on me to do homework, be strong, and her lessons have taught be to be independent, compassionate and caring.

Khloe Scurry            

Arts and Sciences, 2012

Major: Sociology / Minor: African and African Diaspora Studies, Womyn and Gender Studies

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am from Dallas, Texas and a Southern girl that struggles with the idea of chivalry and debutante balls.  I came to Boston College as a Finance major and am leaving a Sociology major, all thanks to one class that I took my sophomore.  Because of this class and the professor, someday I hope to get my Ph.D. and be a professor too.  I love the idea of exposing people to a new way of thinking.  That’s why I am involved in FACES and going to be a teaching assistant for Introduction to Feminisms.

2. What are you most passionate about?

I am most passionate about educating others on things that they have never thought twice about, particularly in the realm of their own privilege.  That is not to say I want people to feel bad about it, but rather I want them to see the benefits that they were born into that others were not.  It is my hope that by learning about their privilege, they will be slower to judge and come to assumptions about others.  Maybe even become more proactive about being an advocate!

3. How do you define “feminism”?

I saw a saying on a sticker once, and for me, it has become my own definition: Feminism is the radical notion that womyn are people.  Too often people get caught up in the progress that womyn have made thus far.  As great as that progress is, there is so much further to go.  The fact that things are still labeled “womyn’s problems” although the population is split nearly 50-50 with men and womyn is a tad counterintuitive.  Womyn’s problems should concern the entire population.

4. Who or what inspires you?

As strange as it sounds, inequality inspire me. Every time that I see it, in any shape or form (whether it’s race, gender, sexuality, ability or whatever), a fire inside of me ignites and I become angry.  However, for me, anger is the biggest motivator.  It motivates me to try as hard as I can to make a change.

Professor Judith Wilt

Department: English
Classes Taught:  Nineteenth Century British Women Writers, Woolf and Hemingway: Manhood and Womanhood

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I came to BC in 1978 and retired in June 2011, though I will still teach an occasional course here (one on the Novels of Dickens in fall 2011 for instance).  I was already very interested in feminism in the 1970’s; one of the first courses I taught here was called “Literature in a Man’s World.”  I discovered BC’s unique Introduction to Feminisms course, which was then meeting in the Women’s Resource Center, and helped to stabilize that long-lasting course.  I was part of a group that founded the Women’s Studies Program in the ‘80’s and served two terms in the ‘90’s as the first female chair of the English Department.

2. What are you most passionate about?

Well, off the top of my head I’d say -- literature itself, and more deeply, the pleasures and values of the reading-experience, the way reading stimulates and integrates curiosity, delight, learning, and self-scrutiny, and stimulates those contradictory/complementary desires both to be alone in a writer’s imagined world and to talk to other people about that world.  Eventually “literature” came to include books, plays, film, TV, and all the more contemporary visually intense forms of storytelling and world building in video games and other media.   I have a passion for traveling as well, and for Renaissance music and early rock, for medieval and nineteenth century painting, and for art deco jewelry.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

I guess I define it in several ways.  Historically feminism is an attitude that begins with the notion that BOTH women and men are endowed with qualities – intelligence, creativity, compassion and endurance, ambition and sexual desire – which are sometimes stereotypically assumed to be stronger in one gender than the other, and that cultural factors are probably more responsible than biological factors for the persistence of such stereotypes.  Academically, feminism is always interested in recovering from history examples of women (and men) whose intelligence or creativity or endurance or compassion has differed from the stereotype, or whose general “humanist” attitude has had a “feminist” aspect to it. And “theoretical” feminism is still engaged in interesting meditations on the linked – but not identical—concepts of “sexuality” and “gender.” The history of feminism during my lifetime has included efforts to better understand how all these factors might take somewhat different shapes in different national or racial cultures, efforts to better enable women (and men) to understand their own genuine individual talents and desires and to make choices of work and family life based more on this and less on culturally ascribed “roles,” and efforts to understand the long history of same-sex relationships whether viewed psychologically, sociologically, or as sexuality.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

Because It is one of the key movements of my time, to which I’ve contributed and from which I’ve benefited, and because the arguments within feminism as well as those around or against feminism continue to provoke fruitful reflections on my life inside myself and with other people and with the world itself.

5. Who or what inspires you?

I’m inspired by the example of other specific people, living and no-longer living, by precious examples of joyous creativity and difficult thinking and heroic action (I include under ‘action’ such things as Virginia Woolf’s long battle to understand life and create fiction, right up to the moment of her suicide), and by the belief, traceable probably to my early delight in the theological writing of Teilhard de Chardin, that I in my way and all of us in our time are part of a human effort that has a spiritual and divine aspect, to which it is good to “witness.”

Katie O'Dair

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Assessment for Student Affairs

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I have been at Boston College for seven years, and currently serve as the Executive Director of the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs office.  I live in Watertown and on any given day I am balancing work, school, relationship, friends, family, and my athletic interests.  I love to write and so I combine my love of writing with my love of swimming in a weekly blog. For my doctoral research, I am investigating how master’s students engage with the university and how the university supports them; they are often a neglected group and there is little to no research on the master’s student experience.  I also love working with and mentoring young women who want to go into the field of student affairs.  I am a voracious reader and enjoy history and non-fiction the most.  I am currently reading Mika Brzezinski’s “Know Your Value” and highly recommend it.  My guilty pleasure is watching Real Housewives.  It’s so abhorrent but I can’t stop watching.

2. What are you most passionate about?

The short answer is that I am passionate about most everything in my life: family, work, athletic interests, and academic pursuits.  If you asked most of my friends and family, they would say that I feel strongly about a lot of things that occur in our world, large and small. If you asked my partner John he would say I get a little too passionate watching the news or reading a newspaper. I do my best to have patience when people act or speak out of ignorance, even with things that seem inconsequential. For example, I can’t tell you how many people believe that Title IX is exclusively about women’s sports replacing men’s sports on college campuses.  Title IX is about civil rights, giving opportunity for women in an academic setting. Many people have used collegiate athletics to attack Title IX, setting up a misguided belief that when women win men lose. It’s not true, but it takes conversation and education to de-bunk that myth.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

I think that feminism is when women believe we can do something without worrying whether we will be limited – in policy, practice, or spirit – by our sex. It’s about confidence and assuming the best of people’s intentions, not the worst.  It’s also about appreciating that women and men are different, that we bring different strengths to this world.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I guess the simple answer is that I don’t know any other way to be.  It is part of how I was raised, it’s part of who I have surrounded myself with in my life, and it’s part of what I have chosen to do with my work and who I work with. But then again, I identified as a feminist back in the eighties when it wasn’t very cool to be a feminist.

5. Who or what inspires you?

My grandmother, mom, and sisters inspire me.  They are all strong, independent women who show how feminism is about bringing your strengths to anything you do.  They are an accomplished group – whether you call them wife, mother, nurse, physician, veterinarian – they made (or make) significant contributions to so many people’s lives.  And not all lived in a time period where that was valued, but still persevered. I give my mom and grandma a lot of credit.

Oddly enough, I am also inspired by men who advocate for women’s issues.  Perhaps this should not surprise or inspire me, but I find myself fascinated by men who go out of their way to break down stereotypes or speak of their own experience with women’s equality. Perhaps this shows my own bias that I don’t think we are quite there yet as a society.

Abby Letak

College of Arts & Sciences, 2012
Major: Sociology / Minor: Italian

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in Minnesota, and am a Midwesterner through and through (it’s “pop,” not “soda”). I’m a sociology major because I love studying why people do the things they do. I’m really artsy and do everything from painting to mosaics. I’m known for being really passionate about things. I’m crazy about TV, and plan on studying it after I graduate. My most recent obsessions are The Good Wife and Arrested Development. Eventually I want to go into academia and hopefully teach about television or gender studies.

2. What are you most passionate about?

Truthfully, television. Ever since high school I’ve been an avid TV watcher. I’m planning on writing my thesis about Lost, actually—people usually think I’m kidding when I tell them that. Most people view television as a waste of time, but I’d argue that certain shows—especially modern-day quality comedies and dramas like Lost, Dexter, The West Wing, Mad Men, and Sex and the City—help us to engage with and think about issues that we wouldn’t otherwise encounter in our daily lives. These shows raise the same issues that a lot of us study in our classes—for one of my sociology courses, I wrote a 15 page paper on how Dexter raises the same questions about authenticity and performance in social situations that Erving Goffman does in his work. I’ve had countless conversations with people about the shows I watch and the issues that they raise. Almost everyone loves seeing movies and watching television, and there’s a reason for that. I think it’s about time we all stop feeling so ashamed about it.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

Feminism for me just means equal economic and social opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender. Feminism gets such a bad rap—I know so many people who either (a) are feminists and afraid to advertise it or (b) think they hate feminism when in reality they believe in what it entails. I would classify a lot of the people I know as feminists, but when I tell them that, they deny it. Limiting feminism to bra-burning and unshaven legs is like limiting Catholicism to Opus Dei. There are always extremes—but we shouldn’t let that distort our viewpoint.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I believe that every individual should have equal social and economic opportunities regardless of the gender to which they ascribe. Yes, I wear make-up and shave my legs—that’s not what it’s about for me. It comes down to equality and respect. Many aspects of modern society foster power imbalances across gender—a prime example is the hook-up culture. Ever notice that there’s no male equivalent for the word “slut”? The hook-up culture is great in many ways but I think it puts girls in a tough spot sometimes—caught between wanting to engage in it and wanting to avoid stigmatization. After three waves of feminism, women are still fighting in their everyday lives for equality and respect. On the societal level, women are still making less than 80 cents on the male dollar—that’s horrifying!

5. Who or what inspires you?

That’s a tough question to answer, because there’s no one person or one thing that I draw inspiration from. What I’ve found really inspiring in my life, though, is when my friends and/or family have been there for me in times of need. There’s nothing more amazing than one person being there for another. Anyone who has ever been through a rough time knows that. I think just watching people try to do their best is really inspiring. In the face of knowing that perfection is unattainable, some people never stop trying to better themselves, and I think that’s truly incredible.

Carolyn McCrosson

College of Arts & Sciences, 2012
Major: English / Minor: French, Photography

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a book reading, rugby playing, French speaking, world travelling, art making whirl wind of adventure. I try to squeeze every minute out of the day because I am involved with a lot of different groups. I’ve recently become a food snob although, somewhat ironically, there isn’t a lot I can eat. I have a little sister who is one of my best confidants. I’m president of the GLC and I can’t wait for senior year to start!

2. What are you most passionate about?

Photography is my passion. My dream job would be as a fashion or travel photographer. I love the human body and I think that it’s a very powerful thing to capture, no matter what the shape.

3. How do you define “feminism”?

Feminism is a state of mind that allows me to be strong and confident about who I am, not only as a woman, but also as a person. Feminism is about being able to speak out when someone says something that doesn’t jive with your beliefs. I don’t like when people say derogatory things about women, so I say something about it. Feminism isn’t necessarily confrontational however; letting people know that you don’t support the language or attitudes that degrade women doesn’t have to be point of argument. When you say what you believe, a lot of times people will respect that.

4. Why do you identify yourself as a feminist?

I’m a feminist because I take care of myself mentally, spiritually, and physically. Feminism isn’t about hating men or any of the stereotypical images with which it’s associated. When I take care of myself, when I respect myself as a person, that is when I’m proclaiming to the world that I love myself as a woman, and no one can take that away from me. Through taking care of and respecting myself, I can show other women that they don’t have to degrade themselves in order to be recognized in the world.

5. Who or what inspires you?

I don’t know if I can specifically pinpoint one person or thing that inspires me. I get a lot of my artistic inspiration from things that I see every day. I really like Marie Antoinette…why? I’m not actually sure; it might just be because I like Kirsten Dunst in the movie. But other than that, I would say I’m very inspired by anyone who gets out in the world and makes a difference no matter what the scale. For example, my fifth grade teacher used to send school supplies to kids in Bolivia and she would have us bring in various items every couple of months. I don’t know how she got involved with it, but I remember being really impressed with her generosity.