Associate professor of psychology Tammy Jechura has been working at Albion College since 2004. “Being a woman in STEM is really important because I want to try and guide other young women,” Jechura said. “It’s really exciting to give opportunities to other young women” (Photo illustration by Bella Bakeman).
Albion College is made up of a diverse body of students, staff and faculty. A body that includes powerful women, nonbinary people, transgender people, people of color and disabled people. As Women’s History Month comes to its end, let us recognize and celebrate the intersectionality of womanhood.
According to Womankind Worldwide, intersectionality is the “acknowledgment that everyone has their own unique experiences of discrimination and oppression and we must consider everything and anything that can marginalize people – gender, race, class, sexual orientation, physical ability, etc.”
Associate Director of the Office of Belonging Rivkah Gamble said that it’s a great thing to have a Women’s History Month. “Even though I don’t always identify as a woman, the body I Iive in, people will see it that way,” Gamble said. “In any space I’m in, the woman is there with me” (Photo illustration by Bella Bakeman).Albion senior Kyndall Lewis said she shaved her head in November because she’s always wanted to. “It’s just a thing that grows on my body,” Lewis said. “I’ve never valued my hair as much as everyone around me has” (Photo illustration by Bella Bakeman).Springfield, Ohio sophomore Maddie Crosby said that since starting testosterone, she has felt more like herself. “I think my gender identity is largely in conjunction with my identity as a lesbian,” Crosby said. “I think I’ve tried to stop looking for acceptance or validation. I feel like, I know I’m part of Women’s History Month because I know it, you know” (Photo illustration by Gabriella Popa).Sarah Kozal Kansas City, Mich., sophomore loves being a woman in sports and when she’s writing. “I want to try to become a screenwriter if I can, especially because it’s such a male-dominated field and I want to show them I’m ‘that girl,’” Kozal said (Photo illustration by Bella Bakeman).Haileystar Castaneda and Houston sophomore said it’s “wonderful” to be surrounded by so many powerful women in her family and at Albion College. “Seeing how far women have been able to go and get their doctorates, especially seeing so many women of color here on campus, it’s just like ‘ugh! We can do it! There’s hope!’” (Photo illustration by Bella Bakeman).First-year Nadia Burke from Mount Pleasant grew up knowing her dad was a transgender woman, which she said shaped her understanding of gender and being “powerful” in your identity. “I always knew, nobody else in my family did, I don’t know how they didn’t catch on,” Burke said. “I wasn’t aware not everyone was okay with that” (Photo illustration by Bella Bakeman).Vanessa Rigney Albany, N.Y., junior has known she was a transgender woman since she was young. “It’s meant the world for me to be able to express myself more freely and be more true to myself,” Rigney said. “This campus has been amazing when it comes to that” (Photo illustration by Bella Bakeman).Nomin Bilegdemderel Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, senior said she thinks being a woman means being “very kind and supportive” to others. “I think especially within the STEM field, girls, you know, stick together because they’re so rare,” Bilegdemderel said. “I think that’s one of the things I really love” (Photo illustration by Bella Bakeman).
Bella Bakeman is a senior from Berkley, Michigan. She is majoring in English with a Secondary Education Concentration and minoring in Political Science. Bella seeks to bring both joy and justice to her readers. She can be found with a camera around her neck, notebook in hand and pen in her pocket. Contact Bella via email at [email protected].
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