The Feminist Alliance at Idaho State University works to promote awareness of feminist issues, specifically those that concern gender and sexual equality for all.
According to club Records Officer Jessica Milford, the club offers a safe community that promotes “sex positivity.”
“[The Feminist Alliance] provides a safe environment for people that don’t fit into the norm necessarily, and who want to communicate about things that they’re having heightened awareness about in society,” explained Milford.
“We offer a community that promotes sex positivity and equality for all people,” said Milford. “Our agenda is not to promote just women, it’s for everyone.”
A new club this semester, the Feminist Alliance holds weekly meetings and has sponsored or aided in various events.
The club recently held an event called Kink 101 which, according to Milford, was “an educational workshop, sponsored by [the Feminist Alliance] and put on by Dr. DJ Williams, that discussed safe kink practices and open communication” and taught attendees “about safe and healthy fetishes and how to communicate [those] desires to your partner.”
“Since we’re coming from a sex positive standpoint, our stance on it is you are not defined by the number of people you have or have allegedly, you know, done whatever with,” explained Milford.
Milford said the club touches on and analyzes issues of heightened awareness in society today, such as gender and how it’s portrayed in the media or even how it’s portrayed in Disney movies.
The club has also recently done service projects, workshops on “slut shaming” and its negative affects and aided in funding the Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA)’s drag show in early April.
“We’re an all inclusive club,” said Milford. “Anyone is welcome.”
More Club Information
Officers: Community Outreach Officer, Michon Vanderpoel; Activities Officer, Jocelyn Sparks; Records Officer, Jessica Milford; Education Chair, Rachel Hammes; Finance Officer, Kadyn Ward.
Adviser: Aasa Burlin and Linda Leeuwrik
Members: Approximately 20 members
Category: Special
Meetings: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Bear River Room on the third floor in the Pond Student Union Building
Mission: Our purpose is to increase public knowledge and awareness of the issues concerning gender equality; to break down harmful stereotypes and combat discrimination while building unity, diversity and tolerance; to work with other like-minded individuals and organizations to promote and sponsor gender equality, education, and social change; to develop new ideas and theories about women and gender that challenge assumptions and contribute to social change; and to enhance the experience of the ISU student population.
Contact Info: Email Community Outreach Officer for the 2013-2014 academic year Jessica Milford at ude.usinull@ssejflim or call her at 208-697-3228
