A public university in Colorado has formed a “feminist fight club” as a part of the administration’s effort to identify and correct behaviors that may disadvantage women in the classroom and workplace.
Colorado State University has partnered with the author of the book Feminist Fight Club, Jessica Bennett, to form an on-campus chapter of “feminist fight club” that will help to promote gender equity on campus.
In a nod to the popular novel and movie Fight Club, the feminist fight club has created seven rules that are required for members of the club. First, female members must talk about Feminist Fight Club at CSU, in an effort to constantly promote their efforts on campus. Additionally, all members should realize that the club is geared towards fighting one main concept: “PATRIARCHY” (caps in original). Here are the seven rules:
As a part of their efforts, the club has created several exercises that help to show how gender discrimination exists in society. One example of this is a “Penile Service Announcement,” in which women are invited to list several ways in which men can be an ally to women. As a part of the exercise, women are encouraged to photocopy fliers for the PSA and distribute them on male desks in the classroom.
Another exercise the club suggests is the “No Ums, Likes or ‘I feel like’s Allowed -A Drinking Game,” in which participants are instructed to drink every time they use filler words that are considered by feminists to be unnecessary for women. Such filler words include terms such as “umm,” “sorry,” and “does that make sense?”
Finally, the group has also developed an exercise titled “How to Stop a Manterrupter,” in which individuals are encouraged to practice ways in which they can immediately interrupt a man who may interrupt another woman, and where women also take a vow to the rest of the group that they will call out such behavior anytime they witness it in the future.
John Patrick (@john_pat_rick) is a graduate of Canisius College and Georgia Southern University. He interned for Red Alert Politics during the summer of 2012 and has continued to contribute regularly.
