CLUBCLUB SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT
How did your club start? year, B. Environmental The Pro Choice Club started in 2020 Policy & Management for two main reasons. First, at the time there was a considerable amount of commentary regarding the right to abortion in the international media (something that we’re shamefully seeing once again in the US). Second, the Pro Life club (known as LifeChoice) was gaining more traction on campus. Both these factors demonstrated the need for Pro Choice views to have a voice in What the university community, even if the AUU Clubs Committee kind of continues to disagree with this. While I can’t speak on activities do you run behalf of the club, I know that our community is to support women? constantly inspired by women who aren’t afraid Our club has not been overly active in to speak against injustice, whether that’s the past 12 months, as the combination in a courtroom or family lounge of COVID and not being an affiliated club room. has made things difficult. However, we’ve tried to use our social media platform to Do further amplify the voices of women, you experience and members of our community have resistance when navigating constantly been engaged in gender power structures? equality protests, fundraisers, I think every woman experiences resistance when and other university club navigating power structures. Whether this resistance events. is understated – like inappropriate comments – or overt – like outright refusal to enter positions of power due to their How gender – women are constantly forced to fight for themselves will your in ways that men never have to, and never will. While men club create a have the luxury of being taken seriously by default, women more significant do not. While men have the luxury of being afforded bodily impact for your autonomy, women do not. While men have the luxury cause considering the of representing 75% of all national parliamentarians, unpredictability of social women only make up 25%. This isn’t a coincidence transformation and political – this is the result of historically entrenched maneuvering? inequality that persists in all corners of I think our club needs to be rejuvenated society, all across the world. – we need new members who have the drive to take our club application to How the AUU and demand that we receive do you affiliation, considering the Life Choice encourage the women Club has been affiliated for more around you not to give up? than 3 years. This is especially Personally, I believe the best way to important considering the attack support women when they feel like giving up on women’s right to bodily is to listen and empathise, and then proceed autonomy around the to remind them about how powerful they truly world. What do are. I find that women are quicker to doubt you hope for the themselves than men, and therefore require future of your club? more frequent (and sincere) confidence I’m hoping that the boosters. Remember: empowered club can finally get women empower women. affiliated!!!! 17
Answers by Leah | 5th
