Part of NDB’s mission as an all-girls school is women’s empowerment, and that mission extends far beyond teachers. On campus, students empower themselves in different ways, but the Intersectional Feminism Club, led by Clara Hause Stephenson, Sarah Lee and Kiersten Tang, inspires and supports women directly, creating a space for discussion and friendship. From service drives that collect sanitary and hygiene products to workshops held in partnership with CORA that focus on healthy relationships, this club offers a variety of activities that educate students about women’s experiences and empowerment.
“… We’ve also had presentations on influential figures in feminism and talking about the transition from traditional feminism, which mainly emphasized white women, to intersectional feminism, which emphasizes all different aspects of someone’s identity that could contribute to unique experiences of discrimination, so that could include things like race and class and sexual orientation and how that all plays into experiences of discrimination,” said Stephenson.
To raise awareness of Women’s History Month on campus, the Intersectional Feminism Club created a bulletin board on March 9 during Block Ei8ht, highlighting influential women. The project, completed with support from members of the Coalition for DEIB, aims to highlight the achievements and challenges faced by women across different time periods.
In preparation for the project, the club held a planning meeting on February 27. During the meeting, members discussed the board’s design, how they would gather materials and when they would work together to assemble it.
Stephenson also presented a slideshow featuring historical figures, including Susan B. Anthony, Audre Lorde and Malala Yousafzai. The presentation highlighted facts about their lives and the obstacles they faced as women, as well as additional challenges related to race, gender and sexual identity.
Following the presentation, club members participated in a Kahoot! activity to test their knowledge and further engage with the topic.
Recognizing Women’s History Month is important because many women have played significant roles in shaping society, yet their contributions have often been overlooked due to the time periods in which they lived. Through projects like the bulletin board, the Inter-sectional Feminism Club hopes to raise awareness and encourage the school community to learn about the lasting impact of women throughout history.
“This club is important to have at an all-girls school because I think that a lot of girls, especially during these high school years, go through a lot of things, whether that’s with friendships, with jobs, with work, with thinking about the future and don’t really have an outlet to talk about those things, or connect things that we learn in class, like in US History, about women’s history, to their current lives. And so it’s really important to have a space where girls can talk about issues that they might be having in relationships, in personal life, in professional life, and then connect that to broader ideas of women’s empowerment,” explained Stephenson.
Lee shared the impact this club had on her, stating, “I definitely do feel … empowered as a woman, especially … in our club, we get to talk about … these topics and also … have activities around it, which makes like a safe place and … environment…”
Being a woman often comes with challenges shaped by societal issues such as sexism and discrimination. Because of this, it is important that NDB continues to foster spaces where students can feel represented, heard and supported. Through its events, discussions and initiatives, the Inter-sectional Feminism Club fosters an environment where students can learn from one another, raise awareness and empower community members.
