This week, I’m thinking not of Anna Nicole Smith or Britney Spears, not even of Helen Mirren, but of a different set of heroes – Kate Holloway, Joanna Kieschnick and four other young women who quit their sorority in DePauw University to protest the eviction of 23 other members.The Delta Zeta sorority in DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, evicted members who were overweight, black, Korean and Vietnamese. The mass eviction battered the self-esteem of many of the former sorority members, and some withdrew from classes in depression, reports the New York Times.
Holloway and Kieschnick were among the 12 members who were asked to stay, reportedly because they fit the slender and pretty archetype that the sorority wished for its image.
But they didn’t. That’s rare these days, isn’t it? But, that’s exactly what the word “sorority” implies.
You go, girls!
This piece of news comes close on the heels of the report that sexualized images of women in the media do serious damage to young girls’ self-esteem.
Why has it become so un-cool to talk about these things? In teaching my class on media literacy, students find it challenging to connect these images and the things they read about young girls’ behavior with their own. The discussions are uneasy, stalled, and always about “those other silly girls who lack self-esteem.”
Yet, every quarter I teach the class, at least a fourth of my female students choose the topic of media impact on girls’ self-esteem/body image for their research papers for class. In these papers, they sometimes address their own experiences in battling the issue.
Through this cloud of depression and silence and falling in a skinny line, six “pretty” girls put their foot down.
Why is it so hard to talk about when a whole generation of girls is growing up feeling like they don’t want to live in their own bodies?
Probably because we women who have gone before them haven’t served as the best role models. Do we have it all figured out? Are we easy in our own bodies? Or have we given up the feminist (gasp, that word!) fight because we’re too busy fighting off fine lines and wrinkles?
Thank you, Kate Holloway. Thank you, Joanna Kieschnick. And the four other girls whose names I would love to know so I can say them out loud.
7 comments:
I applaud your blog on the DePauw University sorority and the good women discussed in your article. Far too often political correctness is shoved down the throats of ordinary Americans, which limits dialogue and ultimately limits understanding. Your praise of the young women who chose to quit in protest is the correct way to handle immature and shortsighted behavior, as opposed to a call for more pc legislation or public and self-righteous bellyaching. I think you got it right this time, Dr. Jha.
Thank you for the pos recognition! Just to clarify, though, I was not one of the six asked to stay who chose not to. I actually resigned officially three days before the eviction letters were received at DePauw. I resigned right after I pulled the wig-and-glasses prank. So, basically, I didn't even care to wait and hear what those women thought of me.
Best,
Kate Holloway
Kate,
Thanks so much for the clarification. Double congratulations for wig-and-glasses prank and for knowing a rotten situation before it became official. Please pass on my admiration to your sisters.
Sonora.
Thank you, anonymous.
I must add that although I am all for dialogue and understanding, sometimes "pc legislation" is the only thing that will get idiots to behave and move over. After all, women's suffrage and civil rights were once considered "pc legislation,"right? Also, I don't think the sorority's act of evicting overweight women and women of color was mere "immature and short-sighted behavior." Let's call a spade a spade. Or, let's call "lookism" lookism. Racism racism. Long live self-righteous bellyaching!
One of the 6 who quit is named Kristy Skowronski, a friend of mine.
I think Dove is thinking along the same lines with its campaign - www.campaignforrealbeauty.com
I am a DePauw University and Delta Zeta alumna. I do not think that Delta Zeta Nationals did anything wrong. My stance is based on inside information. These girls are wrong. These girls did not appeal their alumnni status recommendation. These girls went straight to the national media without thinking for one second what impact it would have on other Delta Chapter alumni. They also didn't think how we'd feel when they voted to close the chapter in August '06! What selfish people...only thinking of how they feel...not thinking how their actions and words affect thousands of other Delta Chapter members. DePauw University and these women owe me, other Delta Chapter alumni, and Delta Zeta Sorority an apology.
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