Loud pop music, a variety of free snacks and swag shaped the celebration of Women’s Equality Day outside the Idaho Commons.
Hosted by the University of Idaho Women’s Center, Friday’s FEMfest event included colorful buttons emblazoned with different sayings, such as “smash the patriarchy,” “well-behaved women seldom make history” and “Feminism is not a rulebook, but a discussion, a conversation, a process.”
Near the buttons sat a variety of bookmarks, water bottles and informational pamphlets for any visitors to have.
Hired in May, Jackie Sedano, the Women’s Center program coordinator, was excited to be a part of FEMfest as a welcome back celebration for all students.
She said the event doesn’t target new students specifically, but also new staff and faculty members at the university, as well as anyone who doesn’t have familiarity with the Women’s Center.
“I am privileged to work with colleagues I greatly enjoy and privileged to share our outreach, educational programs and all of the community support we have,” Sedano said. “I would describe FEMfest as a super fun, educational Feminist Fair that hopefully ignites interest in people passing by to learn more about the resources we have to offer.”
The 7th annual event recognized the entire month of August as a celebration of women and their acquired rights.
In the United States, Women’s Equality Day is celebrated on August 26 in honor of the Nineteenth Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in 1920.
FEMfest also recognized the Voting Rights Act of 1965, giving all African Americans the right to vote.
Katrina Arellano, a senior at UI, declared minors in sociology and women’s, gender and sexuality studies because of her interest in understanding people and the idea of equality.
“Even though it is 2018, there is a still a misunderstanding of the word feminism,” Arellano said. “It’s time to abandon the stigma that feminism solely represents white women, because that isn’t true.”
Arellano said she is looking forward to learning more about these topics and sharing her knowledge with others.
She said FEMfest was enjoyable because the center’s staff is easily approachable and always welcoming.
Arellano also manned the women’s, gender and sexuality studies booth during the event.
It is important to embrace our differences among both sexes and each other in general, she said.
“We are not just women, we are people,” Arellano said. “And all people need and deserve to be celebrated.”
Allison Spain can be reached at [email protected]