By Hannah McCauley
Reporter
Pacific Lutheran University students participated in the Womxn’s March for social equality, women’s rights, and representation of intersectional identities on March 8 on campus.
Speakers Mary Sarpong, Barbara Gilchrist, Tolu Taiwo, Mei-Yun Loya, and Saiyare Refaei shared their voices with students in Red Square before beginning the march around campus.
PLU’s Womxn’s March is an event that empowers women and is inclusive of diverse cultures and communities. The x in the title represents and promotes intersectionality.
“This march is really important, because it’s supporting women. Socially, we’re disadvantaged. So, it’s important that we acknowledge that and we are here to support and gain equality and equity,” stated Kerry Dolan, PLU sophomore.
The event was coordinated by Mark Hernandez and Aziza Ahmed, students heavily involved in social activism and upholding PLU’s mission statement.
During the march, students raised awareness for the event by participating in chants while marching around campus.
“Marching through campus was really fun, because everybody was like ‘What’s going on?’ and we were able to spread the word,” said Alexandra Schrader, PLU sophomore.
“Women and femmes of color rarely get to tell their stories,” said Assistant Director of the Center for Gender Equity Tolu Taiwo. “It was really cool just to carve space to have folks hear what we’re thinking about and what we know other folks of color are going through.”
According to Taiwo, the purpose of the march was to hear the stories of the speakers and to also “get ready and do some work to continue to carve out space for women and for femme identified folks” in the political and social sphere.
During Women’s History Month and throughout the rest of the year, it is important to read and remember the works of those who have come before us and shaped our path said Taiwo.
Uniting on campus to celebrate gender equality and intersectionality of identities is a powerful experience for students.
The goal of the Womxn’s March is to create a space to both hear women’s stories and inspire people to act.
“I felt really inspired… It made me think, “what are the actions I can take an an individual to spread awareness and support women’s rights?” stated Schrader.
