In support of a rape-free campus

Editor’s Note: The author, Tammy Giovannini, is a student in the spring 2011 Women’s Studies Program Feminist Theory course at The University of Akron. Rape is a serious crime. We live in a society where boys from a young age are encouraged to be sexual creatures. They are taught and encouraged to participate in sexual [...]

Female stereotypes: the good, the bad and the ugly

Editor’s Note: The author, Lauren Welsh, is a student in the spring 2011 Women’s Studies Program Feminist Theory course at The University of Akron. Stereotypes are commonly defined as: “a public belief about a certain social group or a type of individual. Stereotypes are often confused with prejudices, because, like prejudices, a stereotype is based on [...]

Why we need comprehensive sex ed

Editor’s Note: The author is a student in the spring 2011Women’s Studies Program Feminist Theory course at The University of Akron. I was a senior in high school the first time I had sex. I remember making the conscious decision that I was ready to move to the next level with my boyfriend of two [...]

Connecting the unconnected through Womanism

Editor’s Note: The author, Kat Bengston, is a graduate student in the spring 2011Women’s Studies Program Feminist Theory course at The University of Akron. Feminism has never been an easy subject. From mythical bra burning to the infamous Betty Friedan-dubbed “Lavender Menace,” feminists have spent as much time combating stereotypes as they have working for social [...]

Why doesn’t the U.S. offer paid maternity leave?

The author, Jennifer Dolly, is a student in the spring 2011Women’s Studies Program Feminist Theory course at The University of Akron. For a working mom-to-be, deciding when to go on maternity leave, for how long, and if she can afford it, can be very challenging. Most employers in the United States do not offer paid [...]

Feminist theory and prostitution

Editor’s Note: The author, Andrea Clark, is a student in the spring 2011 Women’s Studies Program Feminist Theory course at The University of Akron. I decided to write about feminist issues in prostitution. This seems like an interesting issue that people may not necessarily think about when thinking about feminism. However, there are many forms [...]

Screw the media: I am beautiful!

Editor’s Note: The author, Amy Schneider, is a student in the spring 2011 Women’s Studies Program Feminist Theory course at The University of Akron. It seems that media has been portraying women as something that is not realistic forever. Flipping through a magazine can be so hurtful to a girl of any age. The models [...]

There’s nothing wrong with being fat

Editor’s Note: The author, Amy Campbell, is a student in the spring 2011 Women’s Studies Program Feminist Theory course at The University of Akron. Feminism is about a lot more than just fighting sexism. Sexism doesn’t exist by itself; often there are many forms of oppression linked together that work to keep people out of [...]

Rape is more than a statistic

Editor’s Note: The author, Amber Hill, is a student in the spring 2011 Women’s Studies Program Feminist Theory course at The University of Akron. Rape.  The very mention of the word makes a sick, debilitating feeling slither through your whole body. Your blood curdles, and your skin feels like you have a million festering wounds [...]