Women’s and Gender Studies Hosts Sixth Annual ‘Yes! I’m a Feminist’ Event

The Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) program at the College of Charleston will present the sixth annual “Yes! I’m a Feminist” fundraiser on Sept. 7, 2018.

“This is our signature event to celebrate students, faculty, staff, friends of the program and, of course, feminism,” says Kris De Welde, director of the WGS program.

Kris De Welde

“Yes! I’m a Feminist” raises funds to support WGS students through scholarships, travel grants for conferences, and expanded research and study abroad opportunities. The event is also a fundraiser for the Alison Piepmeier Scholarship, awarded annually to a full-time Women’s and Gender Studies major or minor at the College of Charleston who is a campus-community activist and leader. The scholarship, now endowed, has been awarded to three students to date and is in honor of the late Piepmeier, who founded “Yes! I’m a Feminist” during her tenure as director of the WGS program.

“I’m delighted to be working with our community advisory board to host this party and declare collectively, ‘we ARE feminists!’” says De Welde. “The fundraising aspect is critical, but so are the relationships created and rekindled year after year, within the canopy of those majestic oaks. I can’t wait to be part of it all.”

Margaret Pilarski ’07, director of brand strategy and content at Charleston-based marketing agency Outline, has helped to plan all six of the previous events as a member of the WGS Community Advisory Board.

“The Yes! I’m a Feminist party is the only one of its kind – uniting campus and community in an effort to shine a spotlight on Women’s and Gender Studies students and elevate conversations in the community,” says Pilarski. “In the sixth year, the Community Advisory Board is thrilled at our ongoing support and the growth ahead of us, made possible by donations large and small. As an alum of the program, I have seen firsthand the ways this education is dynamic, impactful and necessary.”

This year, the fundraiser will also kick off the College’s “Year of Women,” which honors the 100th anniversary of the first women to enroll at the College of Charleston.

“The Women’s and Gender Studies program is developing programming for the year that will focus on how the experiences of women students, faculty, staff and alumni have been influenced not only by gender, but also race and other social categories,” says De Welde. “For example, women of color were admitted nearly 50 years after white women. This shapes the history and present-day realities for all women on our campus and in our community. Exploring these themes is explicitly feminist.”

“Yes! I’m a Feminist” will feature food, refreshments, live music from feminist DJ Lanatron and vibrant conversations, as always. The event will take place in Cistern Yard from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Pre-registration to attend is requested.