How Identities Impact the College Experience: The Female Experience

While Elmhurst University consists of a female majority, gender inequality creates a unique experience for different women both on and off campus. Issues such as gender-based violence, wage gaps, and lack of political representation and participation create challenges for women. 

Despite gender inequality, EU continues to create an inclusive environment for people despite their gender identity. The female experience presented below consists of those highly involved on campus who, personally and organizationally, create an environment filled with female empowerment. 

Was safety important to you when choosing a college? Do you feel safe on campus? 

Rachael Dickenson: “Safety was of huge importance when I was deciding on where to go to college. When I lived on campus my freshman and sophomore year I would constantly walk to and from my friends’ door rooms at night or even downtown Elmhurst with my roommate if we wanted to go to dinner!” 

Doodly Garcia: “Safety was a consideration for me when choosing a college. Growing up near Elmhurst I knew that the community was a safe place. Whenever I am on campus I do feel like it is a safe place to be.” 

Yusra Omer: “Sort of, it was not something I consciously thought of. I think it was more important when I got to the school. I kind of looked if the neighborhood was safe, but I assumed any school I went to would be safe. When I first got here I felt out of place a little bit. With everything going on in schools, I am more fearful of something happening.” 

How important do you think gender is to your identity?

Dickenson: “Being a cisgender female I feel like this past year more than ever it has affected more identity. I felt true support and love from friends, teachers, and coaches on campus whenever the overturn of Roe v. Wade took place.” 

Garcia: “I think that gender is very important to my identity. I think that it has some influence on a lot of aspects of my life.” 

Omer: “Pretty important. I have a lot of eye opening moments because of my gender. I can not think of my gender without thinking of my religion at the same time. Being a muslim woman in America, studying at a small liberal arts college, we are not the majority. 

It has made me hone in on things that I did not pay attention to previously. Coming from my high school, it was a very homogeneous setting, everyone was like me and looked like me so coming here I have thought about gender and religion more.” 

Do you think your gender identity impacts your college experience? 

Garcia: “I do think that gender identity has some impact on my college experience. I think that it has influenced some of the relationships that I have built here, the organizations I have become a part of, and in general it has some influence on my personal decisions.” 

Omer: “I do not feel as if I am ever discriminated against. I think I get the same opportunities from the gender perspective.” 

How can the school better your experience as a female student? 

Dickenson: “I have had the pleasure of having such amazing male coaches on the Elmhurst track team, I have never been made to feel uncomfortable by having all male authority figures. I always feel heard, appreciated and supported. 

Unfortunately I know a large amount of women on campus who do not feel that support from male authority figures, whether that is a teacher, a coach, or staff on campus. I would encourage Elmhurst to make sure all women have a mentor that they feel comfortable going to, where they will never feel judged or like their voice isn’t heard.” 

Garcia: “My experience here on campus has not been negatively impacted because I am a female, but I think it would be nice to see more female professors in the business classes.” 

Omer: “I know the Wellness Center has feminine hygiene products and one other place on campus that has stuff like that for free. Hammerschmidt is the only place that has free feminine hygiene products and it is further away from common places. 

I would like to see feminine hygiene products more accessible around campus. I have had several situations where my friends had to find these products easily. I would also like to see more prayer spots on campus and more halal options.” 

Do you feel that women empower each other here at Elmhurst? Any examples? 

Dickenson: “I think Elmhurst women support each other in many ways inside and outside of school. Being in a sorority I have seen what it truly means to have a supportive group of females standing behind you. I am also on the Elmhurst track team where I have watched my teammates not only grow as athletes but as women. 

Being a female athlete on campus it is easy to be overshadowed by male dominant sports, so we have to support each other as much as possible on and off the track. 

A large number of my female teammates are underrepresented for their accomplishments, it is something we all continuously fight for in regards to equality and have been told that “male sports will always be more popular, and there is nothing you can do about that.” 

Popularity was never the issue, equality in regards to facilities, representation and support was all that was wanted. I believe we are getting closer to that goal every year, and it has been amazing to see how much closer we have all got because of it. The initiative to resolve these problems over my four years here has been amazing and makes me very proud.” 

Garcia: “I do feel like women on campus have been both empowering and celebrating each other’s successes. On campus we have an organization called Girl Up that celebrates women.

Additionally, there is even a women’s luncheon that is meant to empower women here on campus.” 

Omer: “Most of the classes I have taken were mostly female. No matter what you are doing, there is so much support. Even if you start talking to someone they will answer and keep conversations. In our Psychology Club executive board, we are always hyping each other up.” 

Are your classes mostly female or male? 

Dickenson: “Being in the nursing program a majority of my classmates are female including all of our professors. Although this creates a supportive environment for women in STEM, there is also a lack of perspective.” 

Garcia: “My classes have been predominantly male. I think that as an Accounting and Finance major those are two careers that are male dominated and I think that is reflected in my classes.” 

Omer: “My classes are mostly female. I think I see more males in my biology classes, but my psychology classes are mostly women.” 

What clubs and activities are you involved in? How do they empower women on campus? 

Dickenson: “I am lucky enough to be a part of a sorority where I feel constant love and support. One of the members, Lucia Gaviria started an organization called “Girl Up” on campus, which focuses on equity for women in spaces they are unheard or underrepresented. 

Lucia is just one of our amazing members that constantly makes everyone feel so loved and appreciated and I am very fortunate to feel that way by all the members in my chapter. In the nursing program as a woman I feel as if there is someone I can go to always if I ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable in clinical or during class. 

The program really prepares us for the harsh reality that comes with being appropriated as a nurse taking care of men. We have been given resources that we can use during college and after if we ever feel uncomfortable.

 One important thing my professors have taught me is that I never need to “take” what is said to me because someone is my patient, they have taught me that I am also a human with rights and need to be treated with respect from everyone despite their relation to me.” 

Garcia: “On campus I am involved in a few different organizations. Currently I am President of Union Board, Treasurer of Delta Mu Delta, Marketing Chair for AFE Club, Senator for Alumni Affairs in SGA, and I am also a member of MBSU, Craft Club, and Hope for Gold. I feel like these organizations help to give women an opportunity to take leadership roles on campus. I also think they provide different events that women can attend to help them feel empowered. For example, in SGA we are planning a whole week of women’s empowerment events that are meant to celebrate women.” 

Omer: “I am part of superhero club, I am the public relations coordinator for the club. We are a newer group, but I think we create a safe environment for everyone, regardless of gender or background. 

I am also the treasurer of Psychology Club, we try to encourage people to come and discuss mental health and stigmas around it. I recently became one of the literary staff for the MiddleWestern Voice so I get to empower everyone to be creative and highlight different issues. I am also a tutor at the Learning Center. 

This job has given me different perspectives on education. We get to help students and promote a positive learning environment. It is a great space, even if you are not there for tutoring.”