As she graced the stage after the announcement of the best album of the year, Taylor Swift made history as the first artist to win the award four times. With her current tour, the Eras Tour, grossing roughly 1 billion dollars in revenue already, a new album coming out on April 19th, and her sweeping of the award season, Taylor Swift’s dominance over the music industry remains unparalleled. However, the ways in which she has utilized her influence and spanned past the boundaries of her current industry cement her role as a women’s history icon. The Eras tour did not simply bring immense joy to every viewer, it also boosted the economy of every city visited through hotels, food venues, and tourism. Moreover, her ability to use her prominence in the media to speak out for her beliefs, whether social justice reform or politics, illuminates her understanding of both her impact and the good she can bring into the world. With her 2019 album, Lover, encompassing many themes of LGBTQ+ rights and speaking out against Trump in the 2020 election, Taylor Swift used her undeniable influence to make real change in the world.
Mariya Oktyabrskaya and the ‘Fighting Girlfriend’
by Carter Kelly
Maria Oktyabrskaya was one of the many Russian women during the Second World War who was forced to say goodbye to her husband as he was drafted into the Russian army. As the German Army advanced into Russian land, she was required to leave her home and live in the city of Tomsk. The Germans’ attack on Russia killed her husband leaving her feeling alone and powerless. She, however, would not allow this feeling to control her. She first sold all her possessions to donate towards the Russian war effort, but she would not accept being sidelined from the war any longer only because of her gender. Mariya wrote to the Russian State Defense Committee, requesting a tank, for it to be named ‘Fighting Girlfriend,’ and to allow her to drive it. She wrote that she wanted to take revenge for the people the Germans had hurt. Likely sensing an opportunity for much-needed propaganda, the State Defense Committee agreed to all of Mariya’s requests. Like most crews, she and her three fellow tankmen were quickly rushed to the frontline, in their T-34, a common tank used by the Russian army. However, many of those around her doubted her abilities, claiming she was only there for the publicity.
While her statistical impact on various cities’ economies, her influence in the political sphere, and her master lyricism already grant her the prominent female icon of our age, her understanding of influence over young girls, in my opinion, proves to be a much more significant impact. Through her unapologetic confidence in her music and greatness, her conviction to stand by her beliefs, and her tenacity and poise through backlash, Taylor Swift is the icon so many young girls lack. She models pride and rejects girls hiding in the background, as she is assured of her own success. By speaking out about her body image and experience with disordered eating, she creates a welcoming environment for discussions of how women are told they should look and act and rejects those same claims. Simply put, Taylor Swift highlights the ways in which a 21st-century woman can embody their confidence and ability unabashedly. Even if when a Taylor Swift song comes on the radio you release a groan or turn the music to the highest volume, her leadership across various industries and her symbolism of women’s confidence and ability prove her a worthy icon for women of all ages.
Despite the fact the environment around her was extraordinarily hostile towards her, she was determined to prove her abilities and persisted. She got her first opportunity on October 21st, 1943, when German gunfire damaged the Fighting Girlfriend. Being the mechanic of her crew—and despite orders to remain in the tank—she refused to shy away from her role. Leaping out of the tank while still under fire, Mariya made the necessary repairs allowing the Fighting Girlfriend to continue on.
These actions earned her a promotion and the respect of her fellow tankers. While numbers around her success were likely inflated for the much-needed moral boost of the other crews, she never let this different treatment discourage her. Two more times she would carry out repairs while still under fire to get her tank back in the fight—refusing just to sit idle and not prove her value at every turn. In her final battle, on January 17th, 1944, the situation became dire. The Russian tankers were low on ammunition, yet the German attack raged on. The Fighting Girlfriend was struck once again damaging the track and immobilizing it. Once again, Mariya began field repairs on the damaged track, tragically, although not before she completed the repair, she was struck by a second German shell leaving her badly injured. Her crew and tank, however, would remain in the fight promising to make it to Berlin referring to her endearingly as their mother. On March 15th, 1944, she succumbed to her injuries, but her legacy highlighted her determination despite others doubting her because she was a woman.
A Look into the Lives of Women from Afghanistan in Charlottesville
by Henry Dozier
Imagine a successful, professional woman working at the highest level of government. Thanks to the overthrow of the Taliban and the installation of a new, democratic government in Afghanistan, she is helping to build a country in which young women will have access to education, careers, and independence. Not just her future, but the future of all women will be bright thanks to her and the other men and women who share her vision for a modern and equal Afghanistan.
Several towns away lives a young woman who decides it is her chance to escape, the arranged marriage to a middle-aged man into which she was forced when she was 14, taking with her the children she had as a teenager. After suffering years of emotional and physical abuse, she thinks the chaos of the Taliban fighting the American military gives her an opportunity to escape Afghanistan and travel to another country where a relative is willing to help.
Though their situations were different, with the fall of the American-backed government in Afghanistan, both these real-life women were forced to flee everything they knew to stay alive. For the professional, the risk of being killed by the Taliban for working in support of the Democratic government was enough to put not just her, but her whole extended family at risk. For the young woman in an arranged marriage, daily abuse and knowing her baby daughter would be subjected to the same was enough to risk being caught and murdered, just as she had seen happen to other women in public.
While these two women came from different towns and life experiences, after fleeing Afghanistan, both spent years in refugee camps, appealing to anyone around the world who would give them humanitarian asylum. Through different organizations, both women found sponsorship in Charlottesville, Virginia, a place neither had heard of or could imagine. For the past year, as part of my Independent Study research, I have been speaking with these women and other Afghan refugees about their experiences living in a small town where few people speak their language, share their traditions, or practice their faith.
Book Talk: Important Female Authors
by Lovissa Price and Kate Cheng
Mary Shelley (1797-1851)
Born the daughter of influential women’s rights advocate, Mary Wollstonecraft, and intellectual writer, William Godwin, Mary Shelley grew up surrounded by cultured and informed people of the time. Despite the wishes of her father, she eloped with and eventually married famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. She wrote her most famous novel, Frankenstein, in 1816 when she was only 19 years old. In it she explored themes of humanity, morality, and the pursuit of science against the natural world. It remains one of the greatest masterpieces of gothic and science fiction ever written and cements Shelley as one of the most gifted writers in her age.
Being an important modern philosopher, bell hooks profoundly shaped feminist discourse with her critique of patriarchal structures and advocacy for intersectionality. Renowned for works like Ain’t I a Woman? and Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center, hooks challenged mainstream feminism’s failure to address the experiences of marginalized groups, particularly black women. Her intersectional approach emphasized the interconnectedness of systems of oppression and the importance of solidarity across diverse identities. Through her writing of 40+ books as well as long-lasting activism, hooks continues to influence feminism, inspiring a more inclusive movement that acknowledges and addresses the complexities of gender, race, class, and other intersecting axes of power.
bell hooks (1952-2021)
Unlike refugees who are relocated to major cities, refugees in Charlottesville must navigate a community in which people are not used to their traditional dress, cultural traditions, or the fact that many women from Afghanistan may not have been permitted to seek higher education or learn how to drive a car. Because of their experiences under Taliban rule, in arranged marriages, or in refugee camps, many of these women are survivors of abuse. During Women’s History Month, it’s important to remember that around the world, many women are mistreated, abused, denied education, and have had their freedom limited just because they are women. Some of these women have endured terrible hardship to make their way to America,
“We’re All Born with Curiosity”: An Interview with Scott Shigeoka
With Izzy Sanok and Sebastian Laza
In the midst of mid-module tests and the closure of winter, the St. Anne’s Belfield Upper School had the opportunity to experience a compelling and engaging discussion between students and the internationally recognized author Scott Shigeoka. He explored and formed insights on his practical manifesto SEEK: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World, enlightening us on the trials and tribulations he faced while creating his guide to curiosity and spoke on the ways in which curiosity can be applied in our lives today. We had the marvelous opportunity to further explore his journey in a post-discussion interview:
Sanok: How has the creation of SEEK inspired curiosity in your day-to-day life?
Shigeoka: I see my relationships getting stronger, both with those that I love and those I don’t fully know when I’m out in the world. I also have a better understanding of who I am and am more willing to be more courageously firm about that. I definitely used to be more timid and this is something cultural too. In Japanese culture there’s this idea of “Gaman”, meaning strength in silence and importance of assimilating. But now I’m like “No!” because there’s so much beauty in every individual and we have to represent that part of ourselves!
Laza: Could you elaborate on what spirituality means to you and how does it play a role in your life?
Shigeoka: For me, it is about “what is our meaning?” and “how do we stay centered on our interconnection?” We’re all in this life consciously seeing God, not necessarily this omnipresent being but rather a wonder of life and it’s just incredible that we’re all here.
Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855)
Using her personal misfortunes to relate with and represent the women’s perspective of the 19th century, Charlotte Brontë emerges as one of the most important early feminist authors. In her books Jane Eyre and Villette, Brontë applies her life experiences in abusive boarding schools as well the loss of family members to shape the narratives of her heroines through their society-inflicted struggles. As well as representing women in literature, Brontë used her influence with her pseudonym Currer Bell to shine a light on the perspective of the underrepresented girls and women of her era.
Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986)
As one of, in my opinion, the least appreciated philosophers in the existentialist era, Simone de Beauvoir’s work still held immense gravity in reframing the societal values of women with the turn of the century. De Beauvoir formed her views around the philosophical views of existentialism in which life has no pre-established “purpose,” but that every person’s most important ethical imperative is to create this purpose for themself. In her works The Second Sex and The Ethics of Ambiguity, she argues that if every person must establish this for themselves, it is illogical that she as a woman was r estricted from attaining the same resources that a man would have to find their meaning in life.
In addition to writing a 1,000 page feminist essay, de Beauvoir also composed a number of intriguing novels which also convey her message.
Maya Angelou (1928-2014)
Growing up in a small Arkansas town in the 1930s and 40s, Marguerite Ann Johnson, or Maya Angelou, came to redefine the ideals of black women in America.
In her most noted book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou depicts her life story in a raw form that persuades readers to look beyond the façade women were supposed to maintain during her time. Her emphasis on her life stories through her seven autobiographies have given an inside perspective of her life as well as shift gender boundaries according to what women achieve rather than what they are perceived to be able to achieve. Throughout her life, Angelou created many influential novels that would lead her to earn the Presidential Medal of Arts as well as the Mother Teresa Award, particularly And Still I Rise, Letter to My Daughter, and All God’s Children Need Travelling Shoes.
It’s important that we learn how to remind ourselves to be grateful for that and be curious about what practices we can do to remain connected. For example, before eating a meal, taking breaths to honor the food I’m about to eat. When I’m with family, like I am here in Charlottesville, really soaking in and being present with them. Really just honoring life!
Laza: What are the key messages you hope readers take away from SEEK?
Shigeoka: I think that we don’t have to choose fear, in particular, like fear of the unknown or the judgment that we place on others if we disagree with them. Instead, we can come from a place of curiosity and be open and explore the things that we are fearful and anxious of and turn towards people who have different perspectives from us and actually learn from them and be inspired by them. We’re all born with curiosity, so it’s how we tap into the superpower we’re all born with and move through the world where we’re not paralyzed by our fear and judgment.
Sanok: What are some suggestions, tips and recommendations you have for young creatives?
Women’s History Month Playlist
Shigeoka: Reach out to people who have done what you are hoping to do because people want to help! Value your own wisdom and your own perspectives and ask questions and ask for connections and in ternships. The second thing I’d say is be daring! Don’t write what other people want you to write. Write with your own voice and your own perspective because that is so juicy and interesting and that’s what people really want. So what is it that you’re really passionate about and how do you write about the things you care about. I think earlier in your creative life, I think it’s really important for you to experiment and explore! Don’t lock yourself into one thing and explore differ ent avenues for creation cause you’ll find what you love. And you’ll learn from all those different crafts and can apply the skills to your favorite art.
Sanok: Do you have any advice for young creatives on receiving criticism and how to utilize it as a tool?
Shigeoka: It’s hurtful and I think that’s normal! I remind myself that it hurts and it’s a part of my humanity, this is a human condition. Having compassion for myself and reframing it as an oppor tunity is important. The other piece is leaning into it and reframing it, like “tell me more!” You can really transform relationships rather than pushing it all away or avoiding it and apply curiosity and bridge those gaps.
Sanok and Laza: Thank you so much for your time and thoughtful words!
“right where you left me” by Taylor Swift
“Purple Hat” by Sofi Tukker
“You Don’t Know My Name” by Alicia Keys
“God is a Woman” by Ariana Grande
“Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill
“She’s Got Her Ticket” by Tracy Chapman
“Sunday” by The Cranberries
“Supercut” by Lorde
“Only the Young” by Taylor Swift
“I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” by Whitney Houston
Editor’s Note
by Lyra Stewart
Happy April! I’m thrilled to present to you all our fifth issue of The Belfield Banter of the school year!
As March comes to a close, we wanted to highlight women’s history with an issue in review of some hardworking, persistence, and powerful women in our community, world history, pop culture, and literature. In this issue, we have articles on Taylor Swift’s impact through her Eras tour and to modern day feminism by Cadigan Perriello, a book talk on important female author throughout history with Lovissa Price and Kate Cheng, a interview with our guest speaker Scott Shigeoka on finding curiosity and compassion by Izzy Sanok and Sebastian Laza, a story about Mariya Oktyabrskaya and the ‘Fighting Girlfriend’ during WWII by Carter Kelly, and a look into the lives of two women from Afghanistan taking refuge in Charlottesville by Henry Dozier In this issue, we have also included a playlist from our Belfield Banter staff of songs by our favorite female artists.
Our goal with this issue was to highlight women and their stories, who inspired us and we hope inspire our readers as well. We drew inspiration from many areas, but we missed many fields where women persist such as athletics, science and mathematics, politics, and medicine. I hope this issue leads you to finding inspiration and grows your curiosity to learn more about the stories of the people around you.
We are less than 2 months till graduation, I hope everyone takes time to appreciate the people around us in school and outside of school. Very soon, our St. Anne’s Belfield community members will change and will never be the same as this year. While I, like many, am very excited for the summer and the next steps, especially us seniors, we must not lose our last bit of time here by focusing on what comes next. I love this time of year, with the sun setting later and the flowers blooming, and I hope everyone spends some time outside because before we know it, we will be in the full heat of the summer. With finals and capstone presentations approaching, I encourage you all to stay focused but still find time to do things you love.
Reading this issue, we hope you find time to reflect on women in your life who inspire you and as always, we are always accepting articles via email, so if you have something you want to write about and share, reach out. Please email lstewart24@students.stab.org and isanok24@students.stab.org with questions!
Best wishes and happy spring, Lyra Stewart and The Belfield Banter Editorial Board
