Grad FemCom
Graduate Feminist Community, or Grad FemCom, is a feminist community geared toward graduate students whose members represent a wide variety of academics. Inspired by the work of the undergraduate Feminist Community (FemCom), Grad FemCom focuses on the ways we can grow as feminists personally AND professionally. Grad FemCom combines two elements: education and professional development as well as support and community building.
For the education/professional development part, Maria Helena, as graduate representative, prepares information to disseminate about feminism or women’s issues in the workplace. Proposed topics for the 2021-22 year included: salary negotiations, emotional vulnerability, and balancing career and family goals.
Support includes the opportunity to share experiences and be validated by the group, as well as getting to know each other and informally networking. Additionally, meetings end with members sharing articles, books, and other media related to the topics discussed that other members may enjoy. Meeting summaries and suggested media are then shared to members who could not attend through the listserv.
Grad FemCom meetings are open to all interested graduate students at the University of St. Thomas. Due to member’s busy and changing schedules, a poll is sent out monthly to determine what date/time will work best for the upcoming month. If you are interested in being added to the Grad FemCom list serv, or want to learn more, please email Maria Helena at buit1395@stthomas.edu.
Resources
Throughout 2021-2022, Grad FemCom created a pool of resources through presentations and members sharing at the end of each meeting. Check out what was collected throughout the year:
Salary Negotiations_Quick Reference Guide
Articles:
"Feminism In The Workplace Supports Everyone," Forbes
"Feminism at Work," JSTOR
Retraction: Men's Musical Ability and Attractiveness to Women
Books:
The Male Factor by Shaunti Feldhahn
Anarchism and Other Essays by Emma Goldman
More than a Body by Lexie Kite and Lindsay Kite
The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis
Websites: