The empowered women behind JMU’s feminist blogs | Culture – The Breeze

Writing, editing, advising and encouraging students are all tasks members of the women empowerment blogs ShoutOut! and Her Campus do on a daily basis. Both are available to JMU students to join, and both focus on issues such as sexism, pay disparity and sexual liberation.

Olivia McCoy, the campus correspondent for Her Campus at JMU, said she got involved with the blog during Student Organization Night her freshman year and has been actively participating since. Her Campus stuck out to McCoy because she recognized the name from online articles shed read.

Professor Sarah Taylor teaches the ShoutOut! class at JMU. It's an advocacy blogging class that's been at the university for almost a decade.

As campus correspondent, McCoys essentially the editor-in-chief and president of the JMU chapter. Shes in charge of directing writers to meet deadlines, managing the executive board, scheduling meetings and recruiting new members. Her Campus is an online magazine written by college women for college women.

Im all about female empowerment, lifting other women up so they can be the best versions of themselves, McCoy said. Through Her Campus, Im able to assist other college women with their writing, editing and marketing skills, and all while creating a network of valuable connections.

Her Campus works to be relatable in its content. It covers a wide range of topics from social media tips to keys of a healthy relationship. McCoy said members try to write from the perspective of the students that read the articles.

Similar to Her Campus, all of ShoutOut!s articles are written by and for college students as well. ShoutOut! is an advocacy blogging class SCOM 301 or WGSS 301 thats been at JMU for almost 10 years. Students of any major can join. Writers can blog about their own experiences, as well as issues they feel strongly about, such as racism, sexual assault and gender identity.

Sarah Taylor who teaches the ShoutOut! class, said one of the class main goals is to disprove any falsely preconceived opinions about feminism.

Feminism is not a singular definition thing, Taylor said. I think one of the challenges for us at JMU and on our campus is to change peoples existing perspectives about feminism because, even though we are a liberal arts university, we have a lot of perspectives that are very old school when it comes to what feminism is.

Online editor and teaching assistant Cayla DiGiovanni said ShoutOut! has a mission to provide the JMU community with accurate and constructive information concerning events, legislation, cultural criticism and resources for womens rights and personal health on and off campus.

It also aims to foster a safe space in the JMU community for interactive, informed and constructive dialogue, in hopes of collectively advancing the cause of women and other marginalized groups by means of these conversations. DiGiovanni said that the goal of this blog isnt to convert readers to feminism but instead to raise consciousness of the diverse perspectives toward understanding everyday inequities.

Taylor, McCoy and DiGiovanni said that these blogs at JMU aim to help women grow, to push them to become the best versions of themselves and to give them a voice in a world that frequently tries to silence them.

Women empowerment plays a huge role in my life, DiGiovanni said. I am a firm believer in badass women empowering other badass women. I grew up in a family with badass women, and I hope to continue the trend in my family. In my opinion, every woman should strive to empower other women if they can.

Contact Morgan Vuknic at vuknicma@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts, and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on Twitter @Breeze_Culture.

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The empowered women behind JMU's feminist blogs | Culture - The Breeze