Tag Archives | college of charleston

What IFF?: Transgender Healthcare and Contraceptive Care

By thomaspr on December 19, 2024 in

In this episode of WHAT IFF?: Exploring Intersectional Feminist Futures, we are joined by Kit Fischer, a dedicated advocate for transgender health, to shed light on the critical gaps in reproductive healthcare for trans individuals. Together, we delve into common misconceptions, such as the mistaken belief that trans men cannot get pregnant while on testosterone, and how these myths impact access to essential contraceptive care.

Kit shares his personal experiences and expertise, offering valuable insights into navigating healthcare as a trans person, including how to advocate for yourself in medical settings. We discuss practical resources like inclusive healthcare resources, support networks, and educational tools for both patients and providers to bridge gaps in understanding and improve outcomes.

This episode also explores actionable strategies for healthcare providers to create affirming environments, from using inclusive language to recognizing the diverse needs of trans patients. With a focus on dismantling stigma and empowering individuals, we envision a future where reproductive healthcare is accessible, compassionate, and affirming for all.

Join us for an essential conversation that challenges misconceptions, amplifies trans voices, and offers a roadmap for building more inclusive systems of care.

Resources Mentioned in Episode

“Standards of Care 8 | WPATH,” n.d. https://wpath.org/publications/soc8/.

Call for WGS Community Leader in Residence

By thomaspr on December 16, 2024 in Announcements, Community Leader in Residence

Call for WGS Community Leader in Residence

The College of Charleston’s Women and Gender Studies (WGS) is pleased to announce that our Community Leader in Residence (CLR) application is now available. This will be the second CLR we have the opportunity to engage with.

About

The CLR bridges the College of Charleston and the greater Charleston community in a knowledge-based partnership. We aim for this initiative to reflect sustainable, reciprocal partnerships, rippling out into the Charleston and campus communities, strengthening the College’s role as a vital source of ideas and partnerships in Charleston and across the South. Through rotating one-year appointments, CLRs representing and/or serving marginalized and minoritized populations will help students apply the keystone concepts of the WGS discipline: intersectionality, power, resistance, equity, justice, and advocacy.

Responsibilities

The CLR is encouraged to build relationships in WGS and across campus, and to challenge and inspire members of the campus community toward deeper understandings in and engagement with pressing issues in Charleston. The duties of the CLR will be determined collaboratively to maximize the expertise and assets of the CLR. Responsibilities associated with the one-year commitment may include:

Organizing a minimum of one CLR-led workshop for student leaders in WGS based on the skills and knowledge of the CLR
Delivering an on-campus public lecture or performance on a topic of relevance to their work in the Charleston community
Providing individual or group mentoring to select WGS students with an interest in leadership and advocacy
Hosting one or more “community forums” on pressing local issues that may feature other community leaders and activists (these may be intentionally held off campus, in the community)

Application/Nomination process and timeline

Application should include a statement of intent (500-750 words), which should offer evidence of a commitment to social issues relevant to Charleston, ideas for working with students, and provisional suggestions for workshops, community forums, and other activities. Please also include a list of three references (minimum) and a resume or C.V.

Please fill out this form to apply https://form.jotform.com/242876796592175. To see the questions before you submit you can review the application as a PDF file, which is attached.

Applications are due January 31st at 11:59pm and expect a response back by March 1st .

Benefits

Stipend: $8,000, and an additional budget for programming and professional development

If individuals have questions or concerns, they can email Aaisha Haykal, Manager of Archival Services at the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture and Associate Director of WGS, at haykalan@cofc.edu.

OUT TO LEAD

By thomaspr on November 18, 2024 in Uncategorized

OUT TO LEAD

WGS FUNDS LGBTQ+ Leaders FOR SOCIAL CHANGE PROGRAM AT COFC PRIDE CENTER

WRITTEN BY WGS ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR, PRISCILLA THOMAS ‘07 (she/her)

Building safe spaces and cultivating inclusivity for the College’s LGBTQ+ students is an ongoing process. Having recently completed her second year as Director of the Gender and Sexuality Equity Center (GSEC), Dr. Naomi Simmons (she/her) has launched several initiatives in her short time at the helm. One of the first changes was an on-campus rebrand to make this campus resource more easily identifiable to students. Intent on making the center’s name instantly recognizable and relatable, it is now the PRIDE Center.

WGS majors Mo Spragins (Out to Lead intern) and Laney Johnson ’24 (PRIDE Center intern). Photo credit: Reese Moore

This was just the start. As its website outlines, the PRIDE Center’s programs and services are designed to build, advocate for, empower, and nurture the LGBTQ+ campus community. Highlights include working with other CofC divisions to revise student housing forms and students’ capability to change pronouns across various operating systems, launching leadership programs, Honors Engaged, and winning a WGS-Mellon Impact Grant to fund “Out to Lead (OTL): LGBTQ+ Leaders for Social Change.”

Out to Lead is a newly launched program that provides a unique opportunity for LGBTQ+ students at CofC. Simmons noted the need for this kind of program, stating in her grant proposal that, “There currently exists a lack of opportunities for students in the LGBTQ+ community and students committed to the work of queer justice to pursue leadership development opportunities intentionally grounded in Humanities and Social Sciences.” The goal of Out to Lead being, “a multi-year, developmental partnership/internship with a community or campus partner that allows a student to gain hands-on learning and collaboration with cohort peers, WGS instructors and community leaders.”

This partnership between WGS and GSEC will enrich the leadership development of the Out to Lead cohort. Simmons outlines the program’s skills-building approach, “Each cohort of students selected for this program will take select courses in the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, receive guided mentorship in leadership skill development, engage in cohort learning sessions, and complete a Capstone project in WGS that demonstrates their ability to integrate critical reflection about gender and sexuality with actionable project development and implementation that puts their knowledge into action and expands their professional skills set.”

Embodying the core principles of the WGS program, Simmons was awarded a $9,000 WGS-Mellon Impact Grant to establish the Out to Lead: LGBTQ+ Leaders for Social Change program. One member of the program’s first cohort is Mo Spragins (she/they). Reflecting on being a part of the inaugural cohort, Spragins says, “For me, being able to be a part of creating OTL is very exciting. I love the idea of being a part of something bigger than myself that can help pave the way for other LGBTQ+ students at CofC. As a queer student on campus, I know how important it is to have a safe place that acknowledges and holds space for students like me. OTL is one of those safe places.”

In addition to fostering a new safe space for LGBTQ+ students, Spragins acknowledges the benefits of participating in this kind of innovative student program: “Throughout this program — which would be a four-year experience — leadership skills will be developed, and students will be presented with the opportunity of internships that can give them real experience and certifications. This way, queer students have an edge in the workforce and have a welcoming environment to support them since all of our partners would be queer-friendly organizations.“

Launching OTL from the ground up has been a collective effort. The spring 2024 WGS Intern for the PRIDE Center, Laney Johnson (she/her), was crucial in helping the program during its first semester. Remarking on the significance of this internship, Johnson says, “Working as the Women’s and Gender Studies intern at the PRIDE Center was the highlight of my semester and possibly even my time at the College of Charleston.” She elaborates, “As a transfer student from Pennsylvania, I was slightly nervous about finding my place on campus. The PRIDE Center has provided me with an amazing group of friends and coworkers whom I get to share parts of my identity with.” Johnson concludes, “I have found joy in assisting in event planning and spreading people’s awareness of the center! From Drag Bingo to our Ace Aro Archery event, I have had so much fun working to bring more visibility to the campus of CofC so that all students feel they have a place to be themselves. I will miss the PRIDE Center so much and will be forever grateful for the home it provided me!”

Johnson’s accomplishments go beyond event planning. Spragins notes, “Laney Johnson and I were allowed to organize OTL and bring it to fruition.” Having two WGS majors help create the foundation of a four-year LGBTQ+ leadership program at the college is monumental. WGS internships nurture professional skills, foster community connections, and prepare students to become active changemakers in society.

WGS STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES FUND: Katie Morand

By thomaspr on November 18, 2024 in Feminism in Motion, Scholarships & Awards

WGS STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES FUND

HELPING TURN STUDENT ASPIRATIONS INTO REALITY

WRITTEN BY WGS ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR, PRISCILLA THOMAS ‘07 (she/her)

In Spring 2019, our program launched the WGS Student Opportunities Fund so that students may apply for grants to support engagement in study abroad, internships, community-based learning projects, research, and other scholarly activities. Our generous donors in the community and on campus make funding for these opportunities possible.

Katie Morand presenting at the 6th annual Feminism in Motion symposium, April 2024. Photo credit: Reese Moore

During her time at the college, Katie Morand ‘24 (she/her) has continuously pursued studies where the intersectionality of Public Health and Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) are at the forefront. In her junior year, she conducted research to analyze survey data gathered by the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Her conclusions were presented in Spring 2023 at Feminism in Motion, titled “Analysis of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey on Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents.” In addition to general data summation, Katie critically examined the survey’s methodology and sample.

She noted problematic elements, such as the survey’s heteronormative language and limited data for STD and HIV testing. In addition, once the survey responses were broken down by age, race, and ethnicity, there was scarce data for marginalized groups. Katie found these inferences troubling as the YRBSS informs public health policy and sexual education curriculum. She called for inclusive research methodologies and shifting to comprehensive-based sexual education.

Katie’s knack for identifying negligent areas of research was just beginning. For her Honors College Bachelor’s Essay, Katie wanted to research contraceptive knowledge, an unsurprising topic for a Public Health and WGS double major, but with an unexpected data sample: college-aged men. She had to argue the significance of surveying this particular demographic. Katie supported her research project methodology, saying, “It employs qualitative methods to provide a more comprehensive understanding of contraception among college students. Despite overwhelming evidence that males exhibit less contraceptive knowledge than females, there are no current studies with an all-male sample. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and practices among male undergraduate and graduate students at a mid-sized liberal arts institution.” Once she received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, all Katie needed was project funding.

As a WGS major, Katie can apply for the WGS Student Opportunities Fund. She did so and received funding for this research project in fall 2023 and Spring 2024. In the fall, funding went towards her Bachelor’s Essay research to provide interview participants with gift cards. In spring 2024, she received another round of funding for travel expenses to present her research findings at the SC Public Health Association 2024 Annual Conference, held in March in Myrtle Beach, SC. She also presented at WGS’s annual symposium, Feminism in Motion (FeMo), in April.

In her presentation at FeMo, Katie reflected on the limits of her study. Due to sampling challenges, all participants in her study were white. While she refers to men and women (male and female) throughout the presentation, she also took care to acknowledge cis-heteronormativity. She specified that future research must include a more inclusive and representative sample.

Katie went on to highlight key findings and implications from her in-depth interviews. A notable theme from interviewees is that women are their primary source of knowledge and comfort. One participant said, “I do not have a problem talking about it with women. I feel like women are more knowledgeable about it.” Another interviewee explained, “I have a long-term girlfriend, and she’s taught me a lot about how it works.” A third participant stated, “I feel a little bit more comfortable talking to another woman about it because most of my life, that’s who I’ve talked to about these things.”

This sentiment from multiple participants yielded this conclusion from Katie: “Understanding men’s perceptions and knowledge allows us to re-evaluate their role in sexual and reproductive health and design sex education programs accordingly.” For this reason, she argues that “Studies investigating contraception cannot continue to be focused only on women” and that these results confirm what previous research findings determined, “that women carry the burden of contraceptive knowledge and responsibility for contraceptive use.” Therefore, there is value in future research in this area that could go on to potentially inform and influence policy reform.

Fortunately, Katie was not alone in navigating this extensive research project. Dr. Christy Kollath-Cattano, Program Director and Associate Professor of Public Health and WGS affiliate faculty, was her faculty mentor. Reflecting on mentoring students like Katie on research projects, Kollath-Cattano says, “I came into this line of work because I love teaching AND research, so it is rewarding to be able to mentor students in pursuing their own research-oriented goals and passions.” She encourages students interested in researching to reach out to faculty, advising, “Even if you are unsure of where to begin, there are often opportunities to start small and assist professors with their ongoing projects, even informally. This may ignite a spark for taking on more or developing an individual project- the first step is coming to talk to us!”

Indeed, getting involved is always the first step that can lead to endless possibilities. For Katie, research has become one of several health and WGS-centric ventures. In addition to conducting research, Katie served as a peer facilitator and was a member of the College’s Student Health Research Team and Women’s Health Research Team. She also volunteered at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in the Labor and Delivery, NICU, and Emergency Departments and for the non-profit Feed My Starving Children.

Katie received a WGS Engaged Student Award and was one of WGS’s Humanities and Social Science Scholars for 2024’s graduating class. Since commencement in May, she has been studying for the MCAT. Katie’s goal is to attend medical school to pursue a career in obstetrics and gynecology. Her intersectional scholarship and the unique research opportunities she conducted during her undergraduate studies will serve her well in these future pursuits.

WGS SOUTH

By thomaspr on November 18, 2024 in

WGS SOUTH

REGIONAL ACADEMIC CONFERENCE INSPIRES STUDENTS

WRITTEN BY MORGAN ALLEN (she/they), WGS MAJOR, PSYCHOLOGY MINOR, AND LAUREN RAVALICO (she/her), WGS DIRECTOR

The 2024 WGS South Conference took place March 28-30 at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, SC, and was organized around the theme “Care Feminisms, Crip Futures.” Key topics included ableism in academia, the fight to protect reproductive healthcare, the application of ‘care’ in women’s and gender studies, and the intersections of ableism, racism, sexism, and homophobia.

With nine undergraduates and five faculty excitedly in attendance, WGS @ the College of Charleston proudly holds the record for bringing the largest contingent of undergraduate students and faculty to this year’s conference! WGS major Kennedy Nova (she/they) said this about her experience: “I was immersed in the feeling of care and community with new and old friends. I loved seeing the minds, spirits, and work represented by those I admire and who are teaching and training my peers to be better people.”

Left to right, front row: Bek Meyers, Kristen Graham ‘24, Dr. Kris De Welde, WGS Director Dr. Lauren Ravalico, Morgan Allen. Back row: brin nesryn, Kennedy Nova, Mo Spragins, Reagan Williams ’23, Molly Dickerson.

Seven WGS students, including Nova, were recipients of WGS Student Opportunities grants to support their travel and participation. Undergraduates brin nesryn (they/them) and Molly Dickerson (she/her) gave their first formal academic conference presentations at a special student caucus. brin reflects: “Presenting at an academic conference outside of the College of Charleston was both anxiety-inducing and inspiring. Collaborating with graduate and doctoral students as an undergraduate was initially intimidating, but I soon recognized that my research proposal was more ambitious and substantial than I had previously perceived. I’m grateful for the opportunity to embrace more vulnerability, messiness, and co-creation in the writing process. Participating in WGS South has deepened my appreciation for the exceptional faculty and mentors in the WGS Program, particularly Dr. Dominguez, who guided me through numerous project drafts and ultimately encouraged me to apply.”

Assistant Professor of Teacher Education, WGS faculty affiliate, and WGS Executive Committee member, Dr. Tiffany Harris (she/her), presented with her graduate student, Ashleigh Werth (she/her), on “Women Redefining Education: Caregiving/taking, Invisible Disabilities, and Pedagogical Practices.” WGS Director Dr. Lauren Ravalico attended their session: “The mentorship dynamic between Dr. Harris and her student during their talk epitomized the theory that grounds their shared research. Dr. Harris integrated her autobiographical poetry into the conceptual framework, which was canny, effective, and moving.” Dr. Harris used the conference location to her advantage, traveling to Cherokee, NC, afterward to work on her WGS-Mellon Impact Starter Grant project, “The South Still Got Something to Say: Black and Indigenous Perspectives on Speculative Worldmaking.”

Dr. Kathy Béres Rogers (she/her), Professor of English, Director of Medical Humanities, WGS faculty affiliate, and another WGS-Mellon Impact Grant awardee, is a passionate proponent of teaching intersectionality through disability studies. She presented a chapter from her second book manuscript, currently in progress, on representations of intellectual disabilities in British Romantic literature.

WGS major Morgan Allen showing off their new conference-inspired tattoo (stack of books, “Liberation”). Photo credit: Lauren Ravalico

Dr. Cristina Dominguez (they/them), Assistant Professor of WGS, presented research-in-progress with their co-author, Ph.D. candidate (NC State), Meghan Watts (they/them): “We Will Save Our Children from “The Family”: Building Liberatory (Queer) Kinships against the State.” The talk featured a case study the pair are completing on “Mothers for Ceasefire,” a community organization in Durham, NC.

Ravalico organized, moderated, and presented on a panel with three other current and former WGS directors: “Caring for WGSS in the South: Perspectives from South Carolina.” The panel interventions and the discussion it generated with the audience ranged from practical advice (especially fundraising!) to the application of theory to everyday praxis in higher education. Former WGS Director and current WGS Professor Dr. Kris De Welde (she/ella) shared her research on academic justice to drive home this point. Ravalico examined how her background in French feminism and multilingualism informs her leadership in the U.S. scene of women’s and gender studies.

The conference also featured some feminist superstars, including keynote speaker Dr. Sara Ahmed, author of The Feminist Killjoy Handbook (2023). Ahmed’s “Killing Joy as a Queer Project” included “sharing truths” from her book: “Just because they want you doesn’t mean they’ll expect you to turn up,” and “get a ‘no’ out so that others can follow suit.”

Several students in attendance cited the BIPOC Caucus Panel as especially poignant and inspirational: “Black Mothering as a Site of BIPOC Revolutionary Ethics of Care.” Dr. Felecia Harris discussed the historical exploitation and stigmatization of the Black female body and its correlation with medical bias today. Dr. Julia S. Jordan-Zachery, Professor and Chair of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (Wake Forest University), moved nearly the entire room to tears with her essay, “Where does Black Feminine Grief Reside? An Exploratory Essay on the Death of My Mother and My Mourning as a Communal Care Practice,” in which she urges Black women to reject the toxic notion of repressing their emotions.

Overall, the WGS South Conference was an enlightening and enriching experience that provided deep insights and fostered a strong sense of community. The conference’s impactful sessions and inspiring speakers made it a truly memorable experiential learning opportunity.

WHAT IFF? Podcast, Season 3

By thomaspr on November 18, 2024 in Uncategorized

WHAT IFF? PODCAST

AMPLIFYING VOICES AND SPARKING DISCUSSION

WRITTEN BY SEASON 3 PRODUCERS, EMILY CURREY (she/her) AND MOLLY DICKERSON (she/her)

WHAT IFF? is a podcast in which we explore intersectional feminist futures (“IFF”) and discuss social activism’s role in our everyday lives. In spring 2024, we produced and released two episodes.

Season 3 Producers, (L to R) Emily Currey and Molly Dickerson, of the student-run podcast What IFF? Exploring Intersectional Feminist Futures with Women’s and Gender Studies at CofC. Photo Credit: Reese Moore

Our podcasting process aims to educate not only others but also ourselves. We begin work on an episode by researching our topic to understand better what we’re discussing and to give us ideas for questions to ask our interviewees. One of our favorite parts of creating this podcast is facilitating interviews with specialists on the subject matter we’re talking about. Both of the interviews we’ve done have been extraordinary experiences. Our interviewees have been informative, exciting, and enjoyable to speak with.

Our first episode of the season is a conversation about chronic pain, the myth of the wandering womb, and hysteria through an intersectional feminist lens. We interviewed Dr. Sandy Slater (History) and asked her about the historical background of the intersections among ableism, sexism, and racism.

The most unexpected part of the podcasting has been how much we learn in post-production. While editing our first episode, we became aware of how we were using the word “women” to refer to primarily cis-gendered women’s experiences; thus, we made sure to acknowledge our mistakes in the language we used throughout the interview and clarify that cis-sexism is an additional system of oppression that affects patients’ treatment.

Be sure to tune into our latest episode! In partnership with the 1967 Legacy Scholars program, we interviewed Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch, Dean of Liberal Arts and Communication at Arkansas State University, “binya”Charlestonian, and College of Charleston alumna. A professor of History, Jones-Branch specializes in uncovering Black women’s activism in the rural South. She is an outstanding role model, not to mention a funny and irreverent interviewee!

We have loved getting to do this experiential learning work in WGS and would like to thank our site supervisors, Dr. Cristina Dominguez and Priscilla Thomas, for their guidance and support throughout the process.

WGS podcast, magazine, and editorial content producer interns are recipients of WGS student awards thanks to the generosity of donors.

WGS Associate Director Aaisha Haykal Receives ASALH President’s Service Award

By thomaspr on October 21, 2024 in WGS Faculty & Affiliated Faculty

This article is featured on The College Today website. Written by Vincent Fraley.

Aaisha Haykal received the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s 2024 President’s Service Award.

Aaisha Haykal’s work is transforming how we connect with history – and now, she’s being honored for it.

Haykal, the meticulous and soft-spoken manager of archival services at the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, was presented with the President’s Service Award by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). The recognition, which was presented at the organization’s 2024 national conference on Sept. 25, 2024, celebrates not just Haykal’s work, but the delicate balance she maintains between preservation and advocacy – a dual responsibility often assumed but rarely mastered.

^{Above (l–r): Camesha Scruggs, ASALH Awards Committee co-chair; Aaisha Haykal; Marvin Dulaney, ASALH president; and Sylvia Cyrus, ASALH executive director, at the ASALH national conference. (Photo by Oliver McNair)}

The President’s Service Award is not given lightly; it seeks out those who embody ASALH’s mission of community service and the advancement of Black history. In Haykal, they found a scholar whose commitment is written into the DNA of her work. As the vice president for programs and chair of both the Woodson House and the Program Planning/Annual Theme committees, she has become a linchpin within the organization, steering its vision toward a deeper, more nuanced engagement with history.

Haykal’s influence at the College extends across campus. In her role as manager of archival services, she oversees the preservation and stewardship of Black history collections found nowhere else in the world – from the personal papers of civil rights activists and local church records to photographs, artwork, artifacts and oral histories. By making these materials and stories accessible in person and digitally, Haykal’s work connects students, faculty and researchers to the rich tapestry of Black history in Charleston and the Lowcountry.

Her role, however, is not confined to archival boxes and preservation protocols. Haykal also serves as associate director of the College’s Women’s and Gender Studies Program and as a principal investigator for “Liberatory Literacies,” a $2 million Mellon Foundation grant that promises to reshape how the Avery Research Center engages with the public.

“Avery, ASALH and the Charleston community continue to be transformed by the way that Aaisha serves and leads as a scholar,” says Tamara Butler, executive director of the Avery Research Center. “We are truly grateful to have her here as a colleague and exemplar of servant-leadership.”

Haykal’s leadership extends beyond the College and the region. Her roles within the Society of American Archivists and her previous service on the boards of the Black Metropolis Research Consortium and the Illinois State Historical Records speak to a career built not merely on expertise, but on a commitment to the stewardship of Black history. Her tenure as university archivist at Chicago State University laid the groundwork for her intellectual interests in censorship, community archiving and the ever-evolving field of digital preservation.

“It is no surprise that her efforts have been recognized by ASALH with the President’s Service Award,” says John White ’99, dean of the College Libraries. “Her work not only preserves our past but also inspires our students, faculty and community members to engage with history in new and meaningful ways.”

FEMINISM IN MOTION 2024

By thomaspr on October 3, 2024 in Feminism in Motion

FEMINISM IN MOTION:

ANNUAL WGS EVENT SPOTLIGHTS Original Research and Critical DISCUSSIONS

WRITTEN BY MADELYN BYRD (she/her), WGS MAJOR, SPANISH MINOR

Intersectional feminism is among the ideals that have and continue to shape how we function as a society and how different marginalized communities can grow and thrive. Feminism in Motion is an annual representation of the countless aspects explored in feminist studies, ranging from political concerns and autonomy for women and AFAB individuals to the uplifting and amplification of BIPOC voices, LGBTQ+ rights and wellbeing, chosen family and kinship, and so much more.

As a Women’s and Gender Studies major and a longtime activist for LGBTQ+ rights (not to mention a member of the community myself), the current political uncertainty we as LGBTQ+ individuals must navigate was an issue of considerable concern when considering where to begin my approach to my research.

After taking a class titled “Honors Queer Civil Rights” and having in-depth discussions about new anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed in the South Carolina State House weekly with my peers, I knew that this type of proposed legislation and rhetoric would open the door for severe harm for LGBTQ+ South Carolinians. Hence, my research titled “The Effect of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation on Queer Mental Health in South Carolina” came to fruition in the Fall of 2023 with the help, mentorship, and kindness extended to me by Dr. Christy Kollath-Cattano.

Madelyn Byrd at Feminism in Motion. Byrd is the 2023-24 recipient of the Alison Piepmeier Endowed Scholarship and the 2024-25 recipient of the Ketner-Crunelle LGBTQ+ Endowed Scholarship. Photo credit: Reese Moore

I was honored to present my findings, which I derived from 5 qualitative interviews with local LGBTQ+ activists, mental health professionals, and educators, as well as a 45-question anonymous virtual survey with LGBTQ+-identified participants. A central question on this survey was whether or not the 25+ anti-LGBTQ+ legislation proposals in the State House in 2023 alone had an impact on whether or not LGBTQ+ individuals feel safe living in this state. 66.67% of respondents reported YES, and another 22.22% reported NO–only because they already felt largely unsafe and unprotected.

I opted to present this research at the 2024 FeMo event and the 2024 EXPO alongside countless scholars whose work significantly impacted my perspective and, in some cases, my heart. I opened my presentation at FeMo with a quote by bell hooks, but not before seeing Emily Currey and Abby Sidwell’s presentation, titled “All About Friendship: Reflecting on bell hooks’ All About Love: New Visions, and the Importance of Platonic Love.” Having learned about, and having found through the community in the WGS program, chosen family, this presentation moved me quite a bit. Emily and Abbey’s perspective on their platonic love for one another being something as substantial as any romantic relationship was moving to me. Friendship and one’s chosen family can be foundational for a life of true companionship, community, and love.

I was also moved and fascinated while observing the work presented by Sofia Wilkinson, titled “Unveiling the Purity Myth.” Though many believe the contrary, purity culture is something that goes hand in hand with the sexual abuse and exploitation of women and girls. Telling young girls that they must pledge, commonly to their fathers in a ceremonial fashion, to wait to have sexual relations until they are married is not only sexualizing women and girls but also telling us that our bodies are not our own. Sofia approached this problematic concept with a great deal of passion and care.

Feminism in Motion is a radically beautiful aspect of the Women’s and Gender Studies program at the College of Charleston for numerous reasons. Creating a safe space to uplift and celebrate marginalized communities’ voices and our creative and academic endeavors and come together as a community accurately represents what WGS stands for. Women and the LGBTQ+ community have long found comfort within the arms of their loved ones, a stronger understructure on the path to justice, and togetherness as a whole, and FeMo is just one example.

WGS Connect Summer 2024 Magazine

By thomaspr on October 3, 2024 in Announcements, Feminism in Motion, Land Body History Series, Student Spotlights, WGS Faculty & Affiliated Faculty, WGS in the Community

WGS is excited to share the Summer 2024 issue of WGS Connect magazine! The first ever magazine edition of our newsletter offers highlights from the Land, Body, History series, student research and art/poetry, and updates from alums.

We hope you enjoy this issue! WGS is already outlining the next magazine, and we cannot wait to share the next iteration of WGS Connect! In the meantime, be sure to check this blog site and our social media to keep up-to-date on Women’s and Gender Studies’ current events and spotlights.

WGS would also love to hear from you! Always feel free to reach out with ideas for the blog or magazine. We embrace all things collaboratively produced and will continue to embody that philosophy in all that we do.

Use the button below to view this special digital PDF, complete with embedded links and lots of great info on WGS students, faculty, events, and more.

WGS Connect Summer 2024

Student Spotlight: Mo Spragins

By thomaspr on February 22, 2024 in Student Spotlights

What is your hometown, your pronouns, and your major(s)/minor(s)?

I was born and raised in Raleigh, NC. Both of my parents met at NC State University and settled in Raleigh. My pronouns are She/They. Currently I am a double major! Women’s and Gender Studies (BA) is one of them and the other is Biology (BA).

What areas/aspects of women’s and gender studies (WGS) do you find most engaging/interesting/what are you most passionate about?

I find everything under the Women’s and Gender Studies program here fascinating. If I had to pick one topic, it would be Black feminism. I am currently reading “This Bridge Called My Back” and I feel that I have learned so much about the history of the feminist movement, which has not always supported or upheld all women, specifically Black women and people of color. The feminist movement historically has focused on a lot of white women’s wants and needs without acknowledging their innate privilege of being white — without taking a step back for Black women to take the stage.

Tell us about any extracurricular work that you’re doing (ex. volunteering/local activism), or any involvement you have on campus with clubs/organizations.

Currently on campus, I am pursuing conducting research with Dr. Arroyo over the summer and possibly another opportunity with my mentor on campus.

I am also a student worker at the Pride Center on 9 1/2 Glebe Street. At the Pride Center, I am the Q’rdinator of the Honors Engaged program that is partnered with the center and Honors College. I supervise student tasks, their volunteer hours, and events that the Pride Center hosts for the Queer community (although not exclusively if any others want to participate!). Along with that, I help Dr. Simmons with the Out To Lead program.

Outside of campus, I am a volunteer at MUSC’s Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and recently reached my goal of 100 volunteer hours. I am continuing my volunteer work there until I can secure a position as a patient care technician.

What impact have WGS courses had on you? and/or: Why should every CofC student take a WGS class before they graduate?

The WGST courses on campus have had such a huge impact on my life. My first class was Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies taught by Dr. Dominguez. The least I can say about that course was how eye-opening things became for me during and afterward. When I came to campus my first year, I was strictly a Biology BS major and was headed on a narrow pre-health tract. I attended a majors/minors fair that was held by the Honors College, which is when Dr. Dominguez and I first met. Dr. Dominguez understood that I want to be the kind of physician who listens to others and their needs; not excluding their past experiences and story. I want to look at things through an intersectional lens, and the field of Women’s and Gender Studies helps me to do so. I have met so many wonderful people along the way who have been so supportive of me. Lastly, Dr. Dominguez helped foster such a safe community in the classroom in which we could make mistakes and learn from one another. This gave me the confidence to come out as Queer, and I couldn’t be any more grateful. Truly. Thank you Dr. D.

What are your plans and goals after graduation?

Even though graduation is still a ways away from me, I have always had a passion for working with children, and I hope to do so as a pediatrician. More specifically as a physician assistant (PA) specializing in pediatrics.

I plan to apply to a few graduate PA programs, one at MUSC and one at UNC Chapel Hill.

Ultimately I hope to find calm in all of the chaos that is life and keep my center — my core values and defining memories — tightly against me. Hopefully, somewhere in there I get married and have a few kids of my own, but I can wait on that bit for now.

Older posts