The Relevance of Feminism Today

As students in 2013, it’s often easy to forget the importance of feminism. Indeed, the very term often brings with it the caricatured image of angry hippies burning bras and chanting vengeful slogans against their perceived male oppressors. Yet, far from the vibrant, radical groups of the sixties and seventies, campus feminism today seems to be better associated with issues surrounding well-being, student support and welfare.

Does this change indicate a victory for the feminist movement? If you take Universities Minister’s word for it, the insurgency of feminism is so profound that it has become “the single biggest factor for the lack of social mobility in Britain” – on account those women once predestined to be housewives have had the audacity to attend university. In 2010, 16 per cent more girls gained A*-C grades in their GCSEs than boys, while over 50 per cent of females gained university places.
Looking at these statistics, you could be forgiven in thinking ‘feminism’ is an outdated term. But if that’s the case, why are we hearing so much about it these days? As an opposition speaker in the ‘Remove The Sun’ debate this term said: If women are numerically more represented, then why are such minor issues being resurrected by feminist groups on campus?

Beyond the superficial statistics, almost 50 per cent of women across British universities will attest to some degree of abuse, intimidation or discrimination on the grounds of their gender. Just this week, a male candidate for Women’s Officer at UCL has been accused of sexism, after releasing a manifesto which included ; “a desire to attend all Women’s forums to talk about Important Woman Issues such as hair dressing, shopping and walking sassily away from confrontations with your exes”.
In fact, even in the most intellectual of arenas the vitriol of sexist abuse can reign supreme. Two female speakers who reached the final round of a debating competition at Glasgow University, faced a tirade of sexual and misogynistic taunts from the gallery- including from several senior members of the society. In an attempt to intervene, the female chair was referred to as a “frigid bitch”.
The greatest injustice however, are the female students who often remain in the shadows. A report conducted by the National Union of Students noted that one in four females had encountered unwanted sexual attention in their university experience, while over two thirds had received some kind of verbal or non-verbal harassment.

York is certainly no exception. One girl frequently received unwanted physical contact with a college resident in her first year, culminating in inappropriately touching her breasts. Two years on, she still feels embarrassed and humiliated at what happened. Another spoke of sexual harassment while living in her college dorm, which often occurred at the hands of her inebriated flatmate after nights out. She said that both the feeling of humiliation, and the fear that the complaint wouldn’t be taken seriously prevented her from speaking to either YUSU, or to her course colleagues. One of the most shocking stories included someone who was sexually harassed by two male students on a night out to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

More haunting, were the reactions that some of these women received when they spoke out about their experiences. One student was called a liar by her flatmates, while another was accused of ‘over exaggerating’, suggesting instead that she should be grateful for the male attention. Indeed, even in an attempt to confide in another colleague, she was told to “suck it up and get used to it.”
In my mind, it’s these personal stories that truly illustrate the importance of feminism today. While the greater presence of women in higher education should certainly be welcomed, feminism remains vital in removing the fear and humiliation from students who have been unjustly abused. So, while International Women’s Day should celebrate the achievements of females across the world, we should also acknowledge that even in the most intellectual and embracing environments like a university, plenty of work is still required to achieve true gender equality.