Let\u27s Talk About Sex

It’s a typical morning: you wake up, stretch, get out of bed, and check your phone; there’s a notification. Another man has been accused of sexual violence. The #MeToo movement has sparked a national and global conversation about sexism in all its forms. Powerful men like Kevin Spacey, Harvey Weinstein, and Matt Lauer, among many others, have been publicly ousted for their predatory behavior. One of the latest men to be called out is Aziz Ansari, a writer, actor, comedian, and self-proclaimed feminist. However, his behavior, unlike these other men, was not universally decried. [excerpt

When You Can\u27t Quite Place Me

I’m relatively used to being asked the question “what are you?” It’s a strange question because it can mean so many different things. I’m a human? I identify as a female. I’m a college student. I’m an American. But I never say those things, because what they’re really asking is this: what race are you? [excerpt

Lifting A Weight Off My Shoulders

It’s a familiar scene for anyone who’s entered the Jaeger Center. You walk past the entrance desk, past the rock wall, the blue mats with some students stretching; there, the cardio machines, some soccer players cycling on the bikes, some girls on the elliptical machines and scattered on the treadmills, a guy on the stairmaster, a teacher jogging. Finally, you reach the end, the huge space filled with free weights, barbells, a leg press machine, and some pull up bars. You pay attention less to the selection of weights then who occupies this space: men, lots of them. At any time of day or night, you can find several male students working out here. What’s much less common, one might even say rare, is to see women in this space. Certainly, there are some of us, particularly in groups or entering with a sports team. But the ratio is uneven, to say the least. [excerpt

Drowning in White Whine

“What are some examples of white privilege?” my professor asked. I felt an audible tension in the class as this was asked. This is a tricky subject, especially when you’re talking to a class full of mostly white, privileged people (myself included). [excerpt

No Justice Given

I’ve spent a considerable amount of time analyzing privilege and looking at how systems in the United States often work to further oppress the vulnerable, while keeping the privileged in power. I have taken note of how my light skin, middle-class background, and young, abled body has given me opportunities and advantages others don’t have. But, I hadn’t thought too deeply about the privileges that come with being a natural born, American citizen. I’ve stood up to salute the flag every day in school, watched fireworks on the fourth of July, and generally felt proud to be an American; but, this doesn’t mean I really understood the advantages I’d been afforded based on where I happened to be born. After going on an immersion trip to the U.S.-Mexican border, I understand these benefits much more deeply. [excerpt

Object to Your Affection

Recently a guy in one of my classes defended objectification of women on the grounds that if he cares for a girl, he will treat her like he treats his most treasured objects; he used his coat as an example. He said that he loved his coat, he wouldn’t let it touch the ground, and he took great care of it; he would do the same for any girl he cared about, for “his girl.” [excerpt

Your Masculinity Does Not Make You My Judge and Jury

For me, Springfest 2016 began with the purchasing of a pack of cigarettes. A bad decision, surely, but not surprising for a weekend that is usually filled with them. Before walking over to a party with my friends that weekend, I tucked the cigarettes securely in the back pocket of my shorts. The scene that unfolded as I walked into my friend’s apartment was a typical one: a rush of people, dim lighting, and loud, pulsing music. I tried to walk through the crowd quickly, waving and shouting a quick “hey” to friends here and there as I passed by. Suddenly, I felt someone take something out of my back pocket. I panicked at first, fearing it was my phone, and then felt a flash of shame as I realized it was actually my pack of cigarettes. [excerpt

Fearless: Gettysburg Breast Cancer Survivors

As we reach the end of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Surge would like to recognize breast cancer survivors. For today’s Fearless Friday, we are honored to highlight four brave and fearless Gettysburgians:Joyce Sprague, Academic Administrative Assistant for Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies; Anne Lane, Associate Dean of Academic Advising; Julie Ramsey, Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students; and Sandy Buhrman, Administrative Services Assistant for the Center for Career Development. These women are truly fearless for persisting in the face of adversity, advocating for other women, sharing their stories and inspiring others. [excerpt

A Targeted Existence

Over the summer, I visited a friend from Gettysburg who was having a party. The party was fun for the first half, and I was having a good time, so I decided to stay the night instead of walk in the dark to the bus. This is what parents and educators and older sisters and women everywhere had taught me: stay with people you know; clutch your keys in your hand; don’t walk alone. I was staying with my friend from school; I was safe. [excerpt

The Space I Own

***TRIGGER WARNING: Eating Disorders*** I don’t care what anyone says—being a woman is hard. Being a young woman has its own set of complications–we experience a lot of pressure to look a certain way, to act a certain way, to have a specific friend group; to act as social butterflies and to live up to a set of socially constructed beauty standards. And there are too many girls—myself included—who have fallen victim to this impossible set of expectations. [excerpt