As the second half of a feminist debate sponsored by the Kennedy Political Union, feminist Patricia Ireland spoke about the current state of feminism to an audience of about 70. Ireland stressed the importance of student involvement in an always-changing movement that is about "choices."
"Today's students play a key role because they are on the cusp of adulthood, they will set the pace of things," Ireland said in a reception following her speech. "Baby-boomers aging is the opportunity for young people. You have to figure out what is on the agenda in all of our movements."
Ireland briefly went over the history of feminism and how it has evolved over the years. She touched on the main points including the 1848 Seneca Falls conference and women's right to vote.
"I don't want to hear anyone say that women were given the right to vote," Ireland said. "We won it fair and square."
When speaking of pushing for a change and the prices that result from that push, Ireland said, "[It] reminds us that today's radical notion will be tomorrow's of course. ... I have seen tremendous progress. ... We didn't even have the words 'sexual harassment.'"
While progress has been made, Ireland said that there is still more the feminist movement can accomplish.
"For a great deal of our country's 60-plus years we have not lived up to our great vision. ... Today we are still striving for it. We have to keep in mind that progress is not the same as equality.
"We have the no-problem problem," Ireland said. "We've come so far; surely we're there. No."
Ireland said it is unfortunate abortion is seen in "such a narrow way." It is not a single issue but a wide range of issues including women's autonomy and liberation, economic status, involvement in higher education, religious viewpoints and the response to children that are already born, she said.
"In a male-dominated society, men are setting the standard for what makes women valuable and what women should be to be accepted," said Elaina Houser, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs. "If women have more control they would be setting different standards."
Even though Mandi Heart, a freshman in the School of International Service, said she generally agrees with more conservative viewpoints, she went to last night's speech with an open mind and found that Ireland had interesting things to say.
"She was ambiguous on where she stood on women as housewives," Heart said.
Ireland advised students to become active in any of a number of ways as long as they become active.
"There is always work to be done," she said. "Eighty to 90 percent of sound bytes on network news are from men. So go into that - media reform or run a campaign or work on lobbying. There is so much you can do."
She petitioned students to run for office and change policy from the inside, as well as espousing other simpler measures.
"I'm asking you to take the next step," Ireland said. "Step outside your circle of comfort. Think about who you are and how you're going to make a change. ... Progress is not inevitable. It only happens when strong individuals take a stand ... and are backed up by a strong movement."
"You don't have to call yourself a feminist," she said. "I don't care if you call yourself a little green apple. But I want you to step out of yourself ... and do what you can for equality"
