Despite its unorthodox name, a new feminist group on campus called the Vagina Warriors is taking aim at a serious issue of attaining complete equality between the genders.
The program, led by professors Jocelyn Boryczka and Rose Rodrigues, was designed to raise awareness on campus of gender inequality problems affecting the country today.
“The group’s plan is to engage students around campus,” said Boryczka. “We intend to hold different events, including open mic night, in order to communicate our message to the campus community.”
The idea for the Vagina Warriors was originally created by Cristina Banahan ’11. Her search for advisers and faculty members who saw things the same way she did ended with Boryczka and Rodrigues.
“I talked to a few professors from the women’s studies department,” said Banahan, an Italian major who came to Fairfield from San Juan, Puerto Rico. “I sent an e-mail to Boryczka, and I really felt that we were on the same page.”
Boryczka, a politics professor and self-declared feminist, said she takes a very “hands-off” approach with the club, but shares with them a common goal.
“Feminism is equality between men and women,” she said. “This group has a commitment to collective action in order to achieve that equality.”
Banahan said she got the name of the group from “The Vagina Monologues,” a traveling theater troop that performed at Fairfield three years ago.
With regards to the group’s name, Banahan said the reaction has been mixed.
“I have heard the good, the bad and the ugly comments on our name,” said Banahan. “Some people love it, some people hate it and some people are just happy that we are an organization.”
Banahan said the group is about 15-20 members strong and is working hard to organize meetings, events and activities to promote their message of awareness.
“Today there is still both mental and physical discrimination and violence against women,” she said. “Our aim is to inform students it [inequality between the genders] is still a large problem facing us today.”
In general, many Fairfield students seem to hold the opinion that gender inequality on campus isn’t a significant issue, but agree with the idea of a student-based feminist organization.
“I think Fairfield does a pretty good job of doing equal things for men and women,” said Zach Tesoriero ’11. “I attended a couple of Project Peg events and believe it is a good cause.”
“I think this club will be about as effective as any other club on campus,” said Jason Meneses ’11. “I think they might find a student following, but I don’t know how effective they will be.”
Banahan said that she has not come across any extra difficulties while starting the group because of the nature of the organization; she said it is important to finally have a student-based feminist voice on campus.
“People have so many preconceived notions of the word ‘feminism’ that aren’t true,” she said. “We’re not bra burners trying to start a lesbian frenzy. We are women who are striving to achieve gender equality.”
“People will always find something bad about any institution,” said Boris Romanovsky ’10. “Being an athlete, I think the school does a good job giving equal attention to women in that department and everywhere else on campus.”
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