The following is adapted from a speech I gave at Voices of Feminism on March 27, 2025 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Welcome to Voices of Feminism 2025. This event is a long-standing tradition every spring to celebrate Women’s History month in March. I am proud to say that this is the 12th year that we are hosting this evening for our campus and community. 

You are about to hear different voices as volunteers come up here to read feminist poetry. Behind each presenter, you will see slides with art that has been curated by one of our very own students, Reese Rosario. Embedded within each act, you will also hear from a featured presenter, using her own voice to bring context to the specific topics of women in Allen County, in film, and in science. 

Feminism is a socially misunderstood concept that affects everyone. We often politicize the topic, but at its core feminism is about creating a more equitable and just society for all women, men, and marginalized people, acknowledging and celebrating their diverse identities and lived experiences. We are taught to reverence the unique dignity of each person on this campus. With that in mind, feminism is an issue of human dignity. Simple, right? Equality should be simple.

Each year, as I create these opening thoughts, I find that I have too much to say about the state of feminism and why this simple thought becomes more complex in our modern context. It is a challenge to boil down my thoughts and share them with you–especially this year. Because art and poetry have a unique ability to make us feel, I thought I might share my feelings with you, instead of my thoughts:

  1. I feel hopeful… when we ask each other questions about our experiences

  2. I feel angry…. When people think feminism is anti-men or about attacking traditional values

  3. I feel surprised … when I see that my pink razor costs more than a man’s razor, and is less effective

  4. I feel heart-broken… when men suffer just as much as women from unfair gender expectations

  5. I feel pride…when I challenge beauty standards and body image and decide to love myself anyways

  6. I feel energized…when I see younger generations use their voice and pursue activism

  7. I feel frustrated… when I realize that I still have privilege as a straight, white female

  8. I feel afraid…of systemic disadvantages in my political representation.

  9. I feel ashamed.. When I ask my female friend how her kids are but I fail to ask my male friends the same question

  10. I feel shocked.. When I’m reminded that a woman couldn’t open her own bank account until 1974

  11. I feel connected …. When someone uses their voice to protect someone else

  12. I feel disappointed..when I meet new people and they ask my fiance about his career and assume I don’t have one

  13. I feel motivated…when we disagree, but do so in a respectful way

  14. I feel confused…when people tell me equality and equity has already been achieved so my thoughts are unnecessary 

  15. I feel encouraged… when people support men to express their emotions, seek therapy, and challenge the “tough guy” stereotype

Inclusive feminism. It’s the thought I want to leave you with before you enjoy the program. Kimberle’ Crenshaw, a legal scholar, coined the term “intersectionality” in 1989. Intersectionality emphasizes that individuals don’t experience discrimination or privilege based on just one aspect of their identity. Instead, people may face overlapping forms of oppression and marginalization. For example, a Black woman may face both racism and sexism in ways that are different from those experienced by white women or Black men. Racism, ableism, sexism, ageism, economic inequality are all forms of oppression that intersect and should be rejected by inclusive feminism. Social issues don’t exist in isolation. We can’t fix these social problems tonight, but we can all take an evening to highlight our hopes, our pain, and the shared humanity that connects us all.

Please use the QR code behind me or on the back of your programs to access a digital site that has the text of each poem for you to follow along with now or later if you would like. I am truly proud to bring you Voices of Feminism 2025. Your feelings and thoughts are welcome here. Thank you.