Introduction Letter

      Hi! My name is Emily Helm and I am in my third year at UCF. My major is in Creative Writing and I have two minors in film and Women’s Studies. This is my second women’s studies class.

I sort of fell into women’s studies by accident. Last spring I took Early American Literature class from Dr. Logan. Although I didn’t expect or intend to be very interested in texts like the captivity narrative of Mary Rowlandson or the poems Phillis Wheatley, I was completely captivated by Dr. Logan’s energy and style of teaching. Consequently when it came time to register for classes in the next semester I enrolled in Dr. Logan’s Advanced Feminist Theory, thus fulfilling my linguistics requirement for my English degree. I knew going in that I would enjoy any class instructed by Dr. Logan; what I did not know was that through being introduced to feminism in an academic setting I would discover not only what I truly desire to study in college, but also a way to express myself through activism.

     I considered myself a feminist before I took Feminist Theory, but I’m not sure that I had any kind of working definition for what that meant in general or what feminism meant to me. Now I view feminism as more than just a scholarly discipline, more than an ideology, more than mere activism. To me, feminism is all of these things—feminism must constantly be enacted and practiced. It does not exist simply in the academic institution; theory must transcend the textbook or article and pervade the mind of the scholar. It cannot stop here, however; a feminist must take to the streets. Without activism and community outreach, theory has no place to go.

     I have taken this understanding of the importance of activism and become involved with clubs and organizations on campus. I joined UCF’s chapter of VOX, Voices for Planned Parenthood, which got me involved in numerous projects and other campus-related projects. I got my first glimpse of the nearly unbearable frustration that can occur while participating in activist events while phone banking for Planned Parenthood against a Mississippi bill to illegalize abortion. I spoke to many people who had opposite and infuriating viewpoints of my own, and who were very resistant to hearing what I had to say. In another instance I was accused, over the phone, of being a Jewish lesbian, which hit strangely close to home.

     As upsetting and startling as these experiences were, they taught me some very valuable lessons. I learned that one must be patient and understanding and inoffensive, even in the face of the most trying combatants. I also got my first real glimpse of the ignorance, judgment, and opposition from anti-feminists I would be up against in the world. On top of this, it secured in me the absolute vitality of continuing my investigation into women’s studies, both on an academic, scholarly level and through more activism. Throughout this semester my goal will be to learn as much as I can, from the texts I read, from my peers, and from my own personal experience.

Word Count: 515

I have read and understood the syllabus, and I understand the commitment I have made as a member of this class.