What is Feminism to You?

Elizabeth Rodriguez/Photo by Emily Burleson|Cooglife

Elizabeth Rodriguez, psychology sophomore

“It could be anyone. It could be someone really tall or really short, someone who’s more big or more skinny. It could be anyone. It could be a guy, too. Guys believe in equal rights as well. Most people would think of women getting really mad and hating on men, but it’s not really that. It’s being equal. Equal education, equal salary, and all that stuff.”

Kaleb Clark, computer engineering freshman

Kaleb Clark/Photo by Emily Burleson|Cooglife

“I know you don’t have to be a woman to be a feminist, but I feel like it means lot more if you’re a woman and you’re a feminist than being a man and being a feminist.”

Cole Mujadzic /Photo by Emily Burleson|Cooglife

Cole Mujadzic, computer science sophomore

“I think it’s misunderstood…a lot of people — a lot of men — get offended when people bring up feminism because they don’t understand it. When people have to confront some injustice, it’s natural they’ll feel offended or confronted. But it’s a necessary solution to a problem that’s been going on for a long time.”

Gloria Degracia, accounting junior

Gloria Degracia/Photo by Emily Burleson|Cooglife

“I would get really annoyed when men would give me a soft handshake, but then they would give the man next to me a strong, firm handshake. I don’t think that by saying you’re feminist that means you’re anti-men or anything like that. It just means as a woman you want to be treated equally. You don’t want to be judged for something that a man isn’t judged for.”

Haley Colley/Photo by Emily Burleson|Cooglife

Haley Colley, biology senior

“I grew up in a small town in East Texas. It’s kind of like a dirty word in East Texas. Coming to college here, I have very traditional values, and that hasn’t changed. But being exposed to different viewpoints made me realize that feminism and traditionalism don’t necessarily have to be incongruent.”

Siji Akinde, industrial engineering junior

Siji Akinde/Photo by Emily Burleson|Cooglife

“I’m African, and it’s different over there. But you know, I think women need to an equal position compared to men. I think the world’s changing. It’s much better now, compared to what it used to be.”