Club Spotlight

How did your club start? The Pro Choice Club started in 2020 for two main reasons. First, at the time there was a considerable amount of commentary regarding the right to abortion in the international media (something that we’re shamefully seeing once again in the US). Second, the Pro Life club (known as LifeChoice) was gaining more traction on campus. Both these factors demonstrated the need for Pro Choice views to have a voice in the university community, even if the AUU Clubs Committee continues to disagree with this. While I can’t speak on behalf of the club, I know that our community is constantly inspired by women who aren’t afraid to speak against injustice, whether that’s in a courtroom or family lounge room. What kind of activities do you run to support women? Our club has not been overly active in the past 12 months, as the combination of COVID and not being an affiliated club has made things difficult. However, we’ve tried to use our social media platform to further amplify the voices of women, and members of our community have constantly been engaged in gender equality protests, fundraisers, and other university club events. How will your club create a more significant impact for your cause considering the unpredictability of social transformation and political maneuvering? I think our club needs to be rejuvenated – we need new members who have the drive to take our club application to the AUU and demand that we receive affiliation, considering the Life Choice

Club has been affiliated for more than 3 years. This is especially important considering the attack on women’s right to bodily autonomy around the world. Do you experience resistance when navigating power structures? I think every woman experiences resistance when navigating power structures. Whether this resistance is understated – like inappropriate comments – or overt – like outright refusal to enter positions of power due to their gender – women are constantly forced to fight for themselves in ways that men never have to, and never will. While men have the luxury of being taken seriously by default, women do not. While men have the luxury of being afforded bodily autonomy, women do not. While men have the luxury of representing 75% of all national parliamentarians, women only make up 25%. This isn’t a coincidence – this is the result of historically entrenched inequality that persists in all corners of society, all across the world. What do you hope for the future of your club? I’m hoping that the club can finally get affiliated!!!!

Answers by Leah | 5th year, B. Environmental Policy & Management How do you encourage the women around you not to give up? Personally, I believe the best way to support women when they feel like giving up is to listen and empathise, and then proceed to remind them about how powerful they truly are. I find that women are quicker to doubt themselves than men, and therefore require more frequent (and sincere) confidence boosters. Remember: empowered women empower women.

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