Finding Community: My Experience In an All Women’s Honors Class
By Katherine Noble
Television is a huge part of modern culture that sticks with us, shaping our personalities, humor, and even political views. This past fall, I got to dive into the concepts behind television representation and feminism in an Honors module course titled “Television and the Ideal Woman”, taught by Professor Faye Prichard.
This course examined how depictions of women on television have shifted over time, and how that intersects, informs, and interrelates with feminist movements and cultural ideas of womanhood.
I was excited just from the title, but this class turned out to be more transformative than I had initially imagined. One particular factor made this course an experience that I will always remember– the class was entirely made up of women!
This created a space and avenue for free expression and solidarity that I had never before experienced.
This course examined how depictions of women on television have shifted over time, and how that intersects, informs, and interrelates with feminist movements and cultural ideas of womanhood
As a former Cinema major, I spent a good chunk of my educational career in male-dominated classes. Even outside of that, in my more female-dominant English classes, there was always a good number of men.
In a male-dominated or mixed educational environment, it can be difficult for women to have the courage to speak up and participate. We are taught from young ages that male opinions and voices are more important than ours. Having an all-women space allowed us to bond. We didn’t have to put prefaces in front of statements or focus on assuaging male guilt or comforting male feelings.
We could talk openly and honestly about womanhood, oppression, intersecting identities, and how all of this connected back to the shows we were researching and examining. Although women and girls have made some tremendous strides towards equity in many places around the world, we do still live in a patriarchal society. Feminism and women’s rights movements are extraordinarily crucial right now.
Remember Roe v. Wade getting overturned? What about the horrifying human rights abuses being inflicted on women and girls in Iran? Across the globe, women and girls have shared experiences of life under patriarchy. It feels healing to be in a space with other people who understand the unique struggles of womanhood.
Having an all-women space allowed us to bond. We didn’t have to put prefaces in front of statements or focus on assuaging male guilt or comforting male feelings.
Listening and learning from women of various backgrounds and experiences is an empowering experience. I am so glad that Professor Prichard had the idea to teach this incredible course and that the Honors college supports professors in teaching unique and compelling Honors courses.
I am so thankful to all the women in it who shared their research, perspectives, and hearts with us. I would absolutely encourage students from all backgrounds to explore the diverse educational opportunities offered by the Honors college, particularly through topics courses.
In April, I will be attending the National Council on Undergraduate Research’s national conference and presenting a paper I wrote in Professor Prichard’s class, entitled “That Girl vs. New Girl: The Perils of Choice Feminism.”
I wouldn’t have had the gumption to submit my abstract for this conference without the support of this professor and class. I know several other young women from this class are also attending, and I am so excited to continue learning from them.
Photo courtesy of Katherine Noble