On Wednesday, Nov. 16, The Office of University Life hosted a post-election discussion, AWAKENING OUR DEMOCRACY: Feminism, Media and the State of the Union. AWAKENING OUR DEMOCRACY is Columbia's lunchtime conversation series on race, ethnicity, disparities and justice issues.
View a recording of the event here, and panelists' suggested tips for civic engagement here. Additional readings and topical music selections follow.
From MTV News Senior National Correspondent Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith)
From Author-Activist Marianne Schnall (@marianneschnall)
From Barnard College Professor Premilla Nadasen (@premillanadasen)
A sampling of questions from our registered guests:
- Is there a Trump effect on the way we talk about gender issues, or long-term change in gender bias and misogyny? Have you seen any senior male leaders take actions against or address misogyny and discrimination in our society?
- What have been your experiences breaking into your respective industries? What support and inspiration did you find?
- Will it ever be possible to establish minimum qualifications for individuals to be nominated, much less become president?
- What will it take for women to be contenders for the presidency in the future?
- What can we learn from this election where - despite one candidate’s behaviors and the other’s credentials – white, non college-educated women contributed to the result?
- Can you address the intersectional feminism and the dominance of white, straight, cisgender women in the movement for female liberation? How can we better include all races and transgender women in the conversation?
- How can we use this national conversation about inequality to address issues of intersectionality?
- How have some of you engaged in dialogue about these topics? How can females help lead conversations about gender and bias and navigate conversations that become aggressive or include personal attacks?
- What is your top priority for feminism, and why?
