Vol. 7, Issue 4 March/April 2017
WILKES UNIVERSITY
2017 Annual WGS Conference Capstone Presentations:
Creating a More Just World Through Activism
WGS minors enrolled in WS301 are busily preparing to present their capstone
projects at this year’s WGS conference, which will take place Monday, April
10th and Tuesday, April 11th at King’s College in the Sheehy-Farmer Campus
Center. Students will examine a variety of topics including rape culture, masculine
stereotypes, drug addiction, reproductive rights, and the misconceptions about
Planned Parenthood – and will discuss how activist organizations are currently
working to combat gender inequality. These projects fulfill a requirement for the
WGS minor and are closely tied to the goals of the WS301 course.
WS301 is designed to heighten students’ awareness and understanding for how
systems of privilege, oppression, and discrimination are perpetuated, maintained,
and shape and constrain the lives of women and men. One way this is accomplished
is by having students intensively research an area of inequality and social injustice
such as rape or sex trafficking. While it is often disheartening to examine such subject
matters, WS301 is also meant to empower students to take meaningful steps to end
gender inequality and to help create a more just and equitable world. Thus, students’
WGS capstone presentations will focus on solutions to these areas of inequality by
discussing activist organizations.
Through developing these projects, students will learn how to be proactive. This is
especially important because many of us tend to be reactive instead of proactive. In
other words, once a problem is exposed we jump into action, instead of anticipating
the problem and working to prevent it. Another common reaction to learning about
injustice is to become overwhelmed and paralyzed – issues of social justice are so
complex and multifaceted – how can one person make a difference? By participating
in this project, students learn more about activism. By sharing information about
activist organizations with others, they develop a sense of agency and a belief that
they and others can make meaningful contributions toward the achievement of social
justice.
Please support our WGS minors by attending one or more of their conference
sessions! You won’t be disappointed! Not only will you learn more about a current
issue in Women’s Studies, you will also discover what activism is and how to make
meaningful contributions to affect social change. Who knows, you may even develop
a new passion in the process!
continued on pg. 2
2017 WGS Conference
Capstones
continued on pg. 2
Faculty Research on
Activism
pg. 3
The Affordable Care Act
pg. 4
Women’s Rights National
Historical Park
pg. 6
2017 Fall WGS Courses
pg. 8
WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES | MARCH/APRIL 2017
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2017 WGS Conference Capstones, cont.
Information for Wilkes University WGS minors’ WS 301
capstone presentations is as follows:
Monday, April 10th
11:00am-12:15pm
Amanda Boyer and Madeline Powell, “Family Planning in the
United States”
Derek Jolley and Courtney McMonagle, “Past v. Present: The
Battle of Reproductive Rights”
Susan Gerencser and Emelie Meinheart, “Women in
Workplace Leadership”
2:00pm-3:15pm
Amanda Thompson and Scott Vandine, “Walking in Her
Shoes: Men and Feminism”
Lauren Brunner and John Carroll, “Gendered Language”
3:30pm-4:40pm
Garrett Armstrong, Ryan Bowman, and Madison Scarfaro,
“Recognizing Rape Culture”
Grace Fazzi and Shana Noon, “Identity Politics in Nursing
Professions: Observing Gender, Class, and Race”
Lanai Galarza and Nicole Nyce, “The Misconceptions of
Planned Parenthood”
Lauren Spak and Kenna Gately, “It Doesn’t Have to be this
Painful: Discrimination in Healthcare”
Tuesday, April 11th
11:00am-12:15pm
Courtney Moyer and Gabrielle Gardner, “Heroin Addiction as
Oppression”
Table of Contents:
Elliot DeMesa and Selena Diaz, “The Evolution of Women’s
Portrayal in Film”
Kimberly Hein and Taylor Ryan, “Gender Inequality Portrayed
in Sports Media”
12:30pm-1:45pm
Brian Buckman and Nicole Duden, “Masculine Stereotypes in
Media”
Brianna Baumunk and Esperanza Torres, “Women and
Leadership Roles in Male-Dominated Fields”
Santana Velez, “We’re Still Rising”
Sara Bedford and Rachel Leandri, “Content Analysis of First
Ladies”
2:00pm-3:15pm
Gavrielle Mele and Samantha Reed, “Chemicals Don’t
Discriminate”
Valerie Woods and Alyssa Schuler, “Gender Representation in
the Media”
For more information, please visit: http://www.wilkes.
edu/academics/colleges/arts-humanities-social-sciences/
behavioral-social-sciences/womens-and-gender-studies/
conference/
“Sometimes, the people, they feel they just
want to do too much, and they do nothing.
Sometimes they feel like I can’t help you, I
cannot. Everyone can help. Everyone can
do one thing. Start by your heart, what it
wants.” - Somaly Mam, activist
Contact WGS
Faculty Research.......................................... pg.3
Affordable Care Act................................pgs.4+5
Dr. Jennifer Thomas
Director of Women’s and Gender Studies
[email protected]
Women’s Rights at Seneca Falls....................pg.6
Women in Art.............................................pg. 6
Recap: Reproductive Health Panel.............pg.7
Fall 2017 WGS Courses..............................pg.8
Rachel Kubicki
Women’s and Gender Studies Intern
[email protected]
WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES | MARCH/APRIL 2017
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A Recipe for Social Change
WGS Faculty Members and Students Investigate Factors Associated with Students’ Participation in Activism
By Dr. Jennifer Thomas
Have you ever wondered why some people rise up in the face
of injustice and try to make the world a better place, while other
people observe the same events and do nothing? This is a question
that has fascinated me for years. The answers are important,
as activism provides a voice for those who are marginalized
and oppressed and serves as a vehicle of change for unjust and
oppressive social conditions. In the current social and political
climate, those who are willing to fight for human rights are needed
now more than ever.
One of the things I love most about being a psychologist is that
when I have a question, I can use science to help answer it. To
develop a better understand of what inspires activism, Dr. Ellen
Newell, assistant professor of psychology and WGS faculty member,
and I decided to collaborate on a research project to investigate
factors associated with college students’ participation in genderbased and political activism. Psychology students Faith Banca,
Caitlin Barat, Samantha Gnall, Laura Kessler, and Noah Solomon,
also helped us with this project. We utilized the development of
critical consciousness (CC) as a framework for our study (Diemer,
Rapa, Voight, & McWhirter, 2016). CC postulates that critical
reflection (CR) will lead to critical action (CA). CR refers to the
process of learning that social inequalities exist and constrain
opportunities. For this study, CR was conceptualized as recognition
of sexism and whether one had perceived him or herself to be
the target of discrimination as a result of his or her gender. CA is
defined as participation in activities that are designed to reduce
perceived injustice. Gender-based activism and political activism
were examined as measures of CA. We hypothesized was that those
who perceived greater personal discrimination based on gender
would also engage in more CA. In other words, students who are
educated about gender-based discrimination recognize it when it
occurs, and those who have experienced it will also be more likely
to participate in activism.
Not everyone who is aware of oppression decides to take action
to help create a more just and equitable world. Identification as a
feminist may account for why individuals engage in certain forms
of CA. For instance, feminists endorse beliefs and goals that are in
line with ending sexist oppression. Furthermore, being a feminist is
a collective or social identity. Individuals with social identities that
are central to how they view or define themselves are more likely
to participate in activities that are consistent with the identity. Our
second hypothesis followed that those who more strongly identified
as a feminist would also participate in more CA.
To evaluate our hypotheses, we surveyed 266 college students
about their awareness of and experiences with gender-based
discrimination, their involvement in a number of gender-based
activist activities, their political activism, and their feminist identity.
As expected, those who reported greater discrimination based
on gender also participated in more gender-based and political
activism. Furthermore, those who identified more strongly as a
feminist also engaged in more activism. Finally, feminism helped
explain the relationship between CR and CA.
What motivates individuals to work toward social change? Our
findings suggest that at least for gender-based and political activism,
Dr. Ellen Newell, Dr. Jennifer Thomas, and their research assistants
during the Eastern Psychological Association’s 2017 Meeting
photo courtesy of Dr. Jennifer Thomas
critical reflection or education is necessary. Thinking critically
about one’s social conditions represents an important pathway to
empowering individuals to make social change. Educating youth
about various forms of oppression may be necessary for activism. In
this sense, taking WGS classes may motivate students to engage in
activism as WGS courses are meant expose students to systems of
societal privilege, oppression, and discrimination.
However, education may not be enough to spark individuals
to work toward social justice. Other factors, such as identifying as
a feminist, may be necessary for action. Feminism is embedded
within a socio-political context that promotes individuals to be
agents of change and desire a world where people work together
for a more equitable society. It may be that identifying as a feminist
provides the motivation or allows one to develop a sense that they
have the ability or skills necessary to make change. This in turn
leads to critical action.
What other factors do you think are necessary to spark social
change? Why do you think some people take action in the face of
injustice while others do nothing? If you have ideas, comments, or
suggestions, let Dr. Newell and Dr. Thomas know. Their research is
on-going. Want to learn more? They and their research assistants
will be presenting their work at the annual WGS conference. Hope
to see you there.
WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES | MARCH/APRIL 2017
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Obamacare vs. Trumpcare - What Do We Have to Lose?
The Affordable Care Act, what it has done for women, and what you can do about it
By Rachel Kubicki
March is Women’s History Month: A celebration of the diverse, vital, and
incredible accomplishments of women throughout history. It is a month in
which we are reminded to celebrate the freedoms that the women before us
have fought for and a reminder that our fight is far from over. There is still
much inequality in our world between sexes and genders, and one place in
which this inequality is painfully clear is in healthcare.
The battle for women’s reproductive rights began during the second wave
of feminism in the early 1960s. When people talk about the second wave of
feminism, what usually comes to mind are visions of women burning their
bras in protest and fighting for the right to safe and legal abortions. While
the idea of liberation and the right to control your own body was an integral
part of the second wave of feminism (and continues to be something
fought for to this very day), second wave feminism was so much more.
What is often overlooked is the fight to receive education about sex and
sexually transmitted diseases, the right to birth control without coercion
of sterilization or other forced methods of contraception, and—something
still extremely relevant today—the right to have access to good-quality
reproductive healthcare.
Over the years, access to reproductive healthcare has become easier to
obtain due to providers such as Planned Parenthood. Sadly, we are still
seeing inequalityies, stigmas, and discrimination surrounding healthcare
when it comes to women’s access to care compared as opposed to men’s
access. For example, 38 states still tax feminine hygiene products while
Viagra is exempt from taxation in every state except Illinois. But more
importantly, major discrepancies have been longstanding in insurance
coverage between men and women.
For many years, women have been paying close to $1 billion more than
men annually for identical health care plans in the market. In 2009, all of
that changed due to the passageing of the Affordable Care Act. It’s goal?
To make affordable health insurance available to more people, to expand
Medicaid, and to lower the costs of medical care delivery by supporting
innovative methods (among other things). Something the Affordable Care
Act also accomplished? Bridging the well-established gap between women’s
and men’s healthcare.
Before the ACA, approximately 12% of health insurance plans offered
maternity coverage. Now, thanks to the ACA, 47 million women have access
to guaranteed preventive women’s health services. No longer will women
pay close to $1 billion more than men to receive, essentially, the exact same
health care plans. What do those (necessary) preventive services include?
Among many other things, this includes: Well-woman visits, domestic and
interpersonal violence screening and counseling, access to FDA-approved
contraceptives, HIV and STI screening and counseling, and HPV screening
during routine cervical exams. These are all services that women should not
only have access to, but have included in their healthcare plans. It was only
under the Affordable Care Act that this became a reality. But wait, there is
more! The additional benefits? These services are offered at no copay cost.
It has been reported that, before the Affordable Care Act, over 50%
of women delayed seeking medical care due to its affordability and 1/3
of women reported that they had sacrificed basic necessities to pay for
healthcare sought. Women were also required to get a referral from their
primary care physician to see an OBGYN, which meant they not only had
to pay for an additional doctor’s visit but also had to find the time to see yet
another doctor before even receiving treatment! Since preventive services
Clinical Preventive Services Covered Under the Affordable Care Act - photo courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES | MARCH/APRIL 2017
are now included in insurance plans, this means that women are able to
access these basic services at no extra cost, and no longer have to sacrifice
things like paying their water bill or buying food for the week on top of
finding time to get a referral.
The Affordable Care Act has given women more freedom over their care,
but that is not the only thing this act has done for women. It has also made
it a priority to get rid of the discrimination women have seen infaced in
terms of their healthcare throughout the years. For example, women are
more likely than men to suffer from certain chronic conditions. Because
of this, oftentimes women reach the coverage cap on their insurance and
are left with mounting medical bills for necessary treatment. Now, under
the ACA, caps have been completely eliminated and, as of May 2012, it was
estimated that 39.5 million women benefitted from banning lifetime caps.
Before the ACA, women could get denied health insurance for “preexisting conditions” specifically related to gender such as having had a bad
C-section or being the victim of sexual assault or domestic violence. We
also gain better access to affordable insurance. In 2014, women became
eligible to receive tax credits to put towards purchasing health insurance on
an income-based sliding scale. This is great news, considering marginalized
communities (women of color and LGBT+, especiallyin particular)
have been disproportionately discriminated against in health insurance
markets. Because of this discrimination, many individuals in these already
marginalized (and often low income) communities were subjected to
increased premium rates, leading to an increased rate of uninsured
individuals. Thanks to the ACA, discrimination based not only upon preexisting conditions and socio-economic status, but gender-related reasons is
no longer an issue.
Why is this important? We currently have an administration lined
with privileged white men who believe they know more about women’s
reproductive health than women. These men also pride themselves in being
Republicans, which oftentimes translates into directly opposing anything
that former president Obama stood for: such as “Obamacare.” The funny
thing? A study conducted by Reuters/Ipsos in 2013 found that Republicans
were actually in favor of provisions in the Affordable Care Act when they
were not labeled as being a part of Obamacare. But when it was labeled?
Absolutely not! This study is a perfect example of how individuals will align
their vote with their political affiliation, regardless of their actual opinions.
Not that Trump and his administration have not showed exactly how they
feel about women and our healthcare. During the presidential primaries,
Trump went on record saying “I cherish women. I want to help women. I’m
going to be able to do things for women that no other candidate would be
able to do, and it’s very important to me.” So what has Donald Trump and
his administration done for us so far? Let’s take a look.
Donald Trump has said in the past that there, “has to be some form of
punishment,” for women who seek “illegal abortions,” and then changed
his tune to punishing the doctors who performed them, all the while
ignoring an integral part of the situation: The role that men play in these
situations. Birth control is not just a woman’s responsibility. Condoms exist
for a reason, and it should not fall on the burden of the woman to engage
in safe sex! Yet much of Donald Trump’s opinions surrounding unintended
pregnancy and abortions serve to punish only women.
He declared his pro-life stance during the presidential debates,
and voiced his belief that overturning Roe v. Wade would “happen
automatically” if he were elected as president and therefore given the ability
to appoint Supreme Court justices. Trump has also gone as far as to vow
that he will defund Planned Parenthood, leaving the 2.5 million people
who seek medical care from Planned Parenthood with nowhere to turn.
In fact, the GOP bill he introduced will not only drastically change the day
to day functions at Planned Parenthood, but also all of the great things the
Affordable Care Act has provided to women.
The Freedom Caucus, a congressional caucus that consists of
conservative Republican members who are a part of the House of
Representatives, presented a list containing last-minute changes for the
bill that would eliminate essential health benefits. Among these items were
pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care along with preventive and wellness
|5
services and chronic disease management. Furthermore, the “manager’s
amendment” that provided states with the power to cancel a woman’s
Medicare aid if she was unemployed 60 days post-birth.
The House Republicans failed to pass their bill to replace the Affordable
Care Act, but it is important for us to think about the kind of message our
government is sending to women across the country when a room full of
men feel it is their place to vote on a healthcare bill that disproportionately
targets women’s healthcare, especially those who are of low socioeconomic
status. We are being told (and now shown through this legislation) that our
bodies are not the norm and therefore cost “extra” for care that is entirely
necessary. But how could this come as a surprise when this administration,
and Donald Trump in particular, have a long-standing record of sexism,
misogyny, and sexual harassment against women?
It should come as no surprise to the American people that Trump has
disregarded the importance of women’s healthcare and the benefits we
have gained through the Affordable Care Act given his history of sexist,
misogynistic, and harassing treatment towards women. So how can we
expect a man who does not appreciate the women who work for him,
women he works around, and his very own wife, to not only appreciate and
respect the rest of the women in the United States, to ensure we have access
to the care we need and deserve with no extra difficulties or costs?
Despite the fact that in just 70 days the Trump administration has
attempted to enact numerous laws that are xenophobic, sexist, and classist, I
suppose we do have one thing to thank Donald Trump for: A massive spike
in women interested in running for office. The organization Emily’s List,
which helps fund women’s campaigns, reported that over 10,000 women
had contacted them with questions about how to get involved in running
for office. This past election cycle and current administration has motivated
scores of women to become more engaged in politics and to work to enact
change that will be more inclusive.
Speaking of policy that has been more inclusive, the Affordable Care Act
has done a great deal for women and individuals who might not have been
able to afford sufficient healthcare in the past. Not only do we deserve to
have autonomy over our bodies, we deserve to have a say in the legislation
that is going to directly affect us. It is presumptuous and misogynistic for
a group of white, privileged men to decide and vote on what is medically
necessary for women’s health care. There would be an uproar if a group of
women decided the fate of men’s health care!
All bodies are normal: Whether you are a man or woman, binary or not,
able-bodied or otherwise, you are normal. And everyone should be entitled
to accessible, affordable healthcare. This is a basic human right that should
not be up for debate. And it is thanks to the Affordable Care Act, we are one
step closer to achieving this goal.
As you read this, you might be wondering what you can do to get
involved and help to bring about the change you want to see in the world.
There are plenty of things you, yes you, can do to get involved! First and
foremost, you should find your representatives. If you do not know who
your representatives are, I urge you to go to a website like http://www.house.
gov/representatives/find/ or http://www.whoismyrepresentative.com, enter
your zip code, and find their information. Educate yourself on things you
are passionate about, whatever that may be. Utilize social media to follow
other activists or organizations that you may be interested in, or set up
Google alerts for certain bills or issues you are trying to follow. Lastly, get
involved with your community! Activities such volunteering and attending
events will not only make you feel good, but will connect you with likeminded people.
Activism truly does start at home. The failure to pass the GOP bill that
was to replace the Affordable Care Act was, without a doubt, due in part
to the numerous voices who called, wrote, visited, and protested outside of
their representatives’ offices in their communities. This is truly a testament
to the notion that every voice counts and everyone can instill change. Now,
go out into the world and add your voice into the mix!
WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES | MARCH/APRIL 2017
Seneca Falls
On Saturday, March 25th, students from Wilkes, King’s, Misericordia, and the University
of Scranton came together to take a trip in celebration of Women’s History Month to visit the
Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls. This historical site is the place where
the first Women’s Rights Convention was held on July 19th and 20th in 1848 at the Wesleyan
Chapel, which still stands today. The National Parks Service cites this church as a “local haven
for antislavery activity, political rallies, and free speech events.”
This convention was the place where the Declaration of Sentiments was written, a document
based off of the Declaration of Independence that demanded the same equality men were
treated with for women: Before the law, in education, and in employment. This National
Historic Park memorializes the women who organized and participated in the first Women’s
Rights Convention and the Suffrage movement, and celebrates the progress women have made
in the 169 years since then.
On the first floor of the Visitor Center you can find bronze statues of the five women who
organized the Women’s Rights Convention: Martha Wright, Mary Ann M’Clintock, Jane Hunt,
Lucretia Mott, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. On the second floor their permanent exhibits
displayed items from the suffrage movement such as postcards declaring “votes for women,”
and more sexist propaganda, such as cards depicting a woman kissing a man titled, “Suffragette
Vote Getting - The Easiest Way.”
One of their exhibits displayed toys specifically for girls and toys specifically for boys,
with an accompanying art piece titled, “A Stereotype is Born.” Perhaps most importantly, the
memorabilia, photographs, and flags decrying that, “Women Vote in our Native Lands,” serve
as important reminders. They remind us of where women’s rights began, how the movement
has changed, the important freedoms women have won, and how much work still needs to be
done.
The first three months of 2017 have brought many challenges to those who marginalized and
oppressed including trans individuals, Muslims, African Americans, the LGBT community,
Native Americans, and women. In the face of much negativity and discrimination, for me, this
trip to celebrate Women’s History Month provided a reminder that I desperately needed. One
of my favorite quotes sums it up perfectly: “Respect my existence or expect my resistance.”
|6
photo courtesy of Rachel Kubicki
Women in Art
Registration season is upon us, which can only
mean that the Fall 2017 semester is just around
the corner. We are excited to announce that
Heather Sincavage, Assistant Professor of Art,
*Also a
Director of the University’s Sordoni Art Gallery,
Women and Gender Studies Elective*
and WGS faculty member will offer a new WGSFall 2017
eligible course, Art 298: Women in Art.
Tuesday/ Thursday
1 - 2:15PM
According to Professor Sincavage, “This course
Professor Heather Sincavage
will explore the contributions of women artists
Questions: [email protected]
to the western art tradition from prehistory
to present day, with special emphasis on those
from 20th and 21st Century. It begins with the
examination of the socio-cultural condition in
which women artists have often been excluded or
marginalized in art history and later emphasizes
how issues of gender have been encoded in art
photo courtesy of Heather Sincavage
practices, exhibition and collection. Students will
read across various fields to interpret and critique Texas to Spain. If you are looking for an interesting WGS course for
images in art and media to explore women’s role the fall semester, consider enrolling in Art 298: Women in Art.
and perception, women as audience and the
For more information, please contact Professor Heather Sincavage
importance of women as art makers.”
directly
at [email protected]
Professor Sincavage is also a visual artist. Her
art has been exhibited all over the world from
Art 298: Special Topics
Women in Art
WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES | MARCH/APRIL 2017
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Updates: Women’s Reproductive Health Panel and the Planned
Parenthood Meetup
By Rachel Kubicki
It should come as no surprise to anyone living in this day and age
that we, as a society, are uncomfortable with women’s sexuality. Women are
viewed negatively for engaging in casual sex while men are praised and affirm
their masculinity for the exact same behaviors.This “sexual double standard”
can also be seen in the variety of negative labels we use to describe women
who are sexually active such as “being easy,” or being labeled as a “slut,” while
men are called a “stud” or a “player.”
This kind of environment certainly does not leave much room for
women to feel empowered: That they are in control of their sexuality and
that their sexual feelings and pleasure are normal. The goal of the Women’s
Reproductive Health Panel on February 28th was to discuss women’s
reproductive health and their sexuality in a body-positive, sex-positive way.
Let’s face it: Being sexual is natural and normal. We should all be aware of the
risks associated with sexual activity so we can take charge of our sexuality and
our reproductive health. We also wanted to provide students with information
about how to access affordable reproductive health care, ways in which to
advocate that this type of health care is important, and a basic human right.
Furthermore, students had the opportunity to take action through a Planned
Parenthood Meetup, students could write their representatives about the
current administration’s threats to defund Planned Parenthood.
The Women’s and Gender Studies department partnered with the Passan
School of Nursing to hold the event. The Dean of Passan School of Nursing,
Dr. Deborah Zbegner, opened the event with a discussion surrounding the
importance of annual wellness exams for women which include a breast and a
pelvic exam which screens for breast and cervical cancer.
This was followed by an important discussion led by Sharon
Whitebread, the Community Education Services Manager of Caring
Communities. Caring Communities is a non-profit, community-based
organization that provides services to prevent, test, and treat HIV, STDs, and
other public health disparities while educating the community. Did you know
that the most prevalent STD impacting our community is chlamydia? HIV,
gonorrhea, hepatitis C, and syphilis are also concerns in our community. How
about the startling fact that, for those between the ages 15 of 24-years-old, the
rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia are through the roof. This is largely due to
the fact that people are not accessing testing. If you are sexually active and not
accessing testing, you will not know you are infected and, unknowingly, will
pass this on to your partner(s).
Another important thing you can do to care for your body is pay attention
to any changes and know the symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases,
which is what Assistant Professor of Nursing and WGS faculty member, Dr.
Maria Grandinetti focused on during her talk. It is important to note that
one reason many people, women in particular, do not get tested for STDs/
STIs is because often times they are asymptomatic. This means that there are
no outward signs of symptoms of the disease or infection. And for women,
untreated STDs/STIs can lead to infertility. There is a stigma that surrounds
testing, that by accessing STD/STI testing you are “dirty.” In reality, this is
another important form of self-care! Many of these infections can be easily
treated with an antibiotic. Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases can
be different for men and women, and they also impact us in different ways,
which is why it is important to get tested!
Caring Communities, located on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, is a great
place where you can receive free STD/STI testing, but Caring Communities
is not the only place! Luckily for us, right down the street from campus on
South Franklin Street, we have Planned Parenthood to turn to.
As you may be aware, Planned Parenthood often offers its services on a
sliding scale that is based on income. This means that you can still get tested
and take advantage of many of the great services Planned Parenthood offers!
However, Planned Parenthood has recently come under attack by Donald
Trump and his administration, who have planned to “defund” Planned
Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood receives Title X funding (Family Planning Program)
which allows the provider to offset the cost of medical care so that millions of
low-income individuals have access health care each year. Donald Trump and
his administration plan to take Title X funding about from PP. This means
that they would no longer be able to offer well-woman exams, cervical and
breast cancer screenings, birth control, and testing and treatment for STDs/
STIs (including HIV). So, what can you do about it? Well, you can take a page
out of Maddie Powell’s book and write to your representatives about why
Planned Parenthood matters to you!
Maddie, a senior who majors in English with minors in Creative Writing,
Workplace Writing, and WGS, organized a Planned Parenthood Meetup in
the SUB. Students were provided colorful postcards that proclaimed “Wilkes
Stands with Planned Parenthood.” They were then able to write messages to
their state representatives about why Planned Parenthood matters to them.
By the end of the day, Maddie had over one hundred postcards to mail out,
allowing Wilkes students’ voices to be heard.
If you would like to write to your representatives about Planned
Parenthood or another matter close to your heart, I urge you to do so. If you
are not sure who your representatives are, here is an easy solution: Go to
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ or www.whoismyrepresentative.
com (this includes Representatives and ongress), enter your zip code, and get
their information. Unsure of what to say? Here are a few suggestions.
When writing to your Representative, make sure you are clear about the
legislation you are writing in regards to. Once you clarify, it is always helpful
to add why it is important to you. Sharing a story of how Planned Parenthood
has helped and supported you is a perfect example to representatives who are
threatening to cut their funding as to why they should reconsider their stance.
Tell your representative how defunding Planned Parenthood would negatively
impact you and your community. And it never hurts to express to your
representative that, while you realize they might not agree with you, you look
forward to hearing back from them about their opinions and their current
stance on the issue. I always like to close by reiterating what I would like to
see happen to the legislation in question (pass/fail/amended), and include my
contact information in my signature.
It is important that we all realize, now more than ever, that our voice
matters! Our representatives and those in congress should be the voice for
their constituents. That will only ever be possible if we are aware of what is
happening around us in our government and we take action by expressing
our opinions to those who have been given that task. A true democracy
cannot be achieved if only a small percentage of people represented are heard.
Every voice should matter. Now is the time in which the voices that have been
continually silenced are rising up and demanding to be heard. If you have not
already, I certainly hope you will consider using yours.
postcard created by Jason Klus
WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES | MARCH/APRIL 2017
Women’s
-andGender Studies
Fall 2017 Eligible Courses
Anthropology
ANT 101 IN/A: Introduction to
Anthropology
ANT 102 A: Cultural Anthropology
ANT 211 A: Anthropology Through
Film
Art
ART 298 A: Women in Art
Communications
COM 305 A: Studies in Public Address
English
ENG 101 D/J: Composition
ENG 120 B: Introduction to Literature
& Culture
ENG 120 J: Reading American
Experience
ENG 282 A: American Literature II
History
HST 125 A: American History I
HST 398A: Native American History
Management
MGT 358 A/B: International Business
Marketing
MKT 221 A/B: Marketing
MKT 328 A/B: Consumer Behavior
Philosophy
PHL 110 A: Introduction to Ethical
Problems
PHL 216 A: Violence and Nonviolence
Political Science
PS 232 A: Criminal Law
PS 251: European Politics
Psychology
PSY 221 A/B: Developmental
Psychology
PSY 242 A: Personality Psychology
Sociology
SOC 121A/B/C/D/INA/INB:
Introduction to Sociology
SOC 214 A: Sex Roles
SOC 215 A: Family Violence
SOC 251 A: Sociology of Minorities
SOC 298 A: Race, Class, Gender &
Crime
Women’s & Gender
Studies
WS 301 A/E: Introduction to Women’s
Studies
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