Jane George’s students aren’t afraid to drop the f-bomb: feminist.
Her students belong to Femtastic, a club at Charles O. Dickerson High School in Trumansburg dedicated to fostering gender equity through feminism. Trumansburg is located in Tompkins County, in the Finger Lakes region.
Over the years, feminism has gotten a bad rap, but George’s students understand that feminism, at its core, is about equality. “This is about human rights,” George said. “We aren’t looking to make men lesser; we’re looking to make women equal, and to ensure they have the same rights as men.”
Having won the right for women to vote and own property, many people may consider the fight for equality played out. I mean, what more could women possibly want?
Plenty, as it turns out.
Despite the strides women have made in the fight for equality over the last few decades, George’s students reported they were still consistently encountering gender-based disparities.
“Most of them were in 11th and 12th grade, and they were starting to notice discrepancies in women’s salaries and the lack of representation in different fields,” said George. “Even here in Ithaca, which tends to be pretty progressive, they thought things could be better.”
The students wanted to raise awareness around these issues, and other so-called “women’s issues” including media representation, sexual violence, and reproductive health, and that’s how Femtastic was born, George said. George, an English teacher and member of the Trumansburg Teachers Association, serves as the club’s advisor.
The after-school club was officially recognized by the school board in 2013, and the students began meeting weekly to discuss their experiences with gender roles and expectations.
“While there are occasionally blatant sexist remarks, the majority of what I encounter are micro-sexist comments that slowly add up over time,” said Grace Olney, a senior and president of Femtastic. Olney said she often finds herself being talked over, and that when she tries to assert herself, she’s told she’s “bossy” or “too controlling.” As a three-season athlete, Olney also noticed that boys’ sports receive consistently more support from sports boosters and more attention from the community. “Overall, as a woman who displays leadership skills, I often feel overlooked and undervalued,” she said.
In Femtastic, Olney has found solidarity. “It’s about showing girls and women that we can move forward, even when the barriers are getting bigger,” she said.
In addition to school-based education campaigns, the students have hosted several fundraisers for Girl Up, a UN Foundation organization that provides education for girls in developing countries.
“The students knew they were benefiting from a great education, and through their work, they wanted to make sure girls in other parts of the world had access to schooling, too,” said George.
From the beginning, Femtastic students were eager to study policy and how it impacts women’s access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity, and that’s what led them to begin lobbying with Planned Parenthood, said George.
“They really wanted to learn more about how to make their voices heard,” she said. Every year, Femtastic students visit the Capitol to advocate for safe and affordable access to healthcare.
During this year’s trip to the Capitol, Femtastic students met with senators and assembly members to share their experiences and argue for continued support for Planned Parenthood.
The students talked about sexual assault, teen pregnancy, the drawbacks of abstinence-only education, and reproductive health, and brought a unique perspective to the discussion of comprehensive sex ed. “When we go, there’s not a lot of youth voices,” said George. “Our legislators want to hear from young people.”
George said the students prepared for the visit for months, brushing up on their research, practicing their persuasive speech and debate skills, and learning how to dress professionally.
“It’s always very special for me to see them there and hear them speak,” said George. “Many of my students go into law and political science and often say that these trips to Albany ignited the spark for them.”
Olney said it was inspiring to advocate for women’s rights at such an influential level. “I found myself becoming an activist in a way that felt meaningful — where all the conversations and research I had done were finally being put to use,” she said. Sitting in the stately Capitol offices, Olney said she initially felt intimidated, but when the legislators took the time to listen to her and her fellow students, she felt like they belonged there. “I felt so small, yet when we spoke, it felt like our voices were being heard for miles.”