As male and female students nurse their aching sunburns and reminisce over memories of warmer climates, it is undeniable that for the two sexes, a simple spring break trip results in vastly different experiences. While men might have the freedom to act as they please with peace of mind, it is common knowledge that women must be more precautious toward the dangers that apply solely to females – just ask any University of Wisconsin dad with a darling daughter who’s all grown up.
At UW’s Campus Women’s Center, nine student coordinators understand just how different the expectations and struggles really are between men and women. While some may say, “Men are from Mars, women are from Venus,” CWC doesn’t isolate men from their own personal hardships. Rather, it strives to educate and reach out to women, keeping them safe, aware and empowered by their sex.
Offering support groups on a range of issues, such as domestic violence and gender identity, CWC was founded in 1983 in order to address the practices of our society that often hurt a woman’s safety and self-worth. Calia Xiong, CWC’s Family Resources and Publicity Coordinator, emphasizes the importance of the group’s openness and confidentiality in terms of the issues that are raised and discussed.
“We’re considered a safe space,” Xiong said. “So people can come here and feel comfortable talking about everything. They can talk about anything in this space.”
Located on the fourth floor of Memorial Union, CWC not only offers information, supplies, resources and comfort for female students on campus, but hosts events in order to promote awareness. In honor of Women’s History Month, CWC has offered a variety of activities this past March to honor the progress women have made throughout history.
Having constructed a historic timeline along Bascom Hill and performing the always popular “Vagina Monologues” earlier this month, CWC will jump start the month of April by delving into issues of sexuality with its first ever Queer and Trans Movie Series. When discussing the films for the series, the committee members hoped to choose films that would depict a variety of queer and trans identities for the attending audience.
“It is incredibly important to show films made by queer and trans people about queer and trans people because it enables … attendees to see queer and trans’ lives in the ways in which queer and trans people define them,” Support Services Coordinator Ariel Baumwell said. “So much of what you see on television and movies currently of queer characters are stereotyped tokenizations of how straight people view queer lives. So much of what you see in regard to trans characters is horribly trans-phobic, trans-misogynistic, and ciscentric. This film series is in part to show alternatives to what you see on mainstream television.”
Five different films will be presented, tackling topics ranging from sexual promiscuity, cultural defiance, adversity and the struggles that face queer and trans individuals in an often cruel and condemning society. In terms of what the series can offer attendees, Baumwell hopes to present some more unknown trans and queer films to members of the community, including films in a variety of genres.
For the series’ kick-off Friday, CWC will present the story of a competitive mountain biker whose trans identity strengthens and empowers her despite enormous controversy in “100% Woman.” On April 1, the dramedy “Short Bus” will be shown, depicting the many different sexual romances of a group of New York bohemians, while the following week will take a more serious turn with the controversial documentary “A Portrait of Black Transmen” April 8.
The series comes to a close with “Saving Face” April 22, a film that addresses the pressures of exploring sexuality against cultural norms, followed by the musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” April 29.
Not solely for women, CWC hopes to reach out to men as well in its discussion of these timely and controversial topics. As their official manifesta reads, “The Women’s Center [provides] the means for each of us to realize our fullest potential, our own personal power and sense of self worth. This individual and collective growth is achieved through sharing our experiences and participation in collective process for change.”
And while CWC offers females a place of solitude and safety, it is our responsibility as students to participate in a conversation that can promote understanding and acceptance.
For more information on CWC’s “The Queer and Trans Movie Series,” visit the Campus Women’s Center’s official site or the official Facebook page for dates, times and updates.
