(Continued from Dec. 7 post)
In the month of November there were three instances that reminded me of the importance of feminism and challenged me to identify the role I can play as a newly not-so-quiet feminist. Here’s the third one:
This month, I was able to continue mentoring two female high school students that I had worked with during my previous year as a Public Ally. One of my mentees is a senior and looking to go to college to major in computer engineering. A recent conversation of ours went a little like this:
Mentee: “So … I need some help finding scholarships for computer engineering.”
Me: “All right, let’s see what we can find based on being a women in the field of science.”
Mentee: “Oh. OK, I didn’t know that was a big deal.”
This conversation had me thinking in several different directions: “Awesome! We need more women in science careers!” and “You’re right — why is it a big deal?” and “How can I prepare her best to enter a male-dominant field?” And I didn’t have a concrete answer to those last two.
The way I felt after that conversation with my mentee was much of how November felt: overwhelming but optimistic. Through these experiences and others I have unearthed, within me, a whole slew of questions, thoughts, and concerns about women’s rights and equality.
Within the next few months, I hope to figure out how I can best use this enthusiasm in an intentional way to benefit all different kinds of women. Although I am typically a “big-picture” kind of gal, I can’t see myself going at it this one “en masse.” I have a pretty strong sense I will be “grass-roots” in my efforts, because of my passion for one-on-one mentoring, for women’s rights and equality
Until I figure it all out, I will be celebrating the strong women in my life and who push me to do and be better than I was yesterday.
How has a women in your life pushed you to do and be better? Let’s celebrate them together!
Current Ally Conceptia and I "high-fiving" during this year's core training week.
Ally Snapshots 
Lindsay, thanks for encouraging us to think about inspiring women in our own lives. I’m lucky enough to have several to choose from but I’d like to mention one in particular: Dr. Madeline Perez, Professor of Social Work at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT.
Madeline is a dynamic professor, an expert at creating a framework for students to take responsibility for their own learning. Not only is she really accessible (she’s no stuffy academic) but she’s also a fantastic community organizer, having orchestrated a New York City public education reform initiative for her Master’s in Social Work final project. She was also recently featured in Connecticut Magazine’s 40 Under 40: Community Members Making a Difference article! Her most recent accomplishment, however, is earning her PhD in Social Work. I’m so proud to call her a mentor and to be able to highlight her work here!
http://www.sjc.edu/admissions/in_the_spotlight/faculty_spotlights/perez.html
http://www.connecticutmag.com/Connecticut-Magazine/March-2011/40-Under-40/