NSU Horizons Fall 2018

36 NSU HORIZONS On January 20, more than half a million people participated in the second annual Women’s March. Fueled by the “Me Too” movement, many took to the streets donning pink pussyhats and crying out in protest. Feminism flooded the media. At NSU, Kate J. Waites, Ph.D., simply continued doing her part to push the agenda forward. “When the media talks about feminism, oftentimes, they are trading in unfounded myths and assume all feminists are radical. Many people, in fact, have a misunderstanding of feminism. They wrongly see it as an ideology that wants to replace men. It’s much more complicated than that,” said Waites. “The goal of feminism is equality and human rights. It’s not about overturning the hierarchy and placing women on top. It’s about power sharing.” Waites helps students understand the role and history of feminism and gender in the courses she teaches. She and former colleague Suzanne Ferriss, Ph.D., introduced the first gender studies program to NSU. For Waites, gender studies and feminism go hand-in-hand. “When you’re looking at the place of women in society, you have to look at their place in relationship to men and their place in society. And you have to look at the ways in which both women and men are framed and limited by gender. Gender studies incorporates all of that.” In more than 30 years at NSU, Waites has amassed enough books on feminism and gender to fill an entire office wall. She points to it as proof that there’s always more information being added on the subjects. On another wall, newspaper clippings of women’s protest marches and political cartoons are juxtaposed with comical images of nuns. These images are a nod to Waites’ past. Waites joined a missionary order in 1965. She was only 18 years old. Like many young people at the time, she was inspired when John F. Kennedy challenged Americans: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” It echoed the Catholic Church’s message to “serve His people.” For Waites, becoming a nun seemed a worthy way to help others while serving God. In her book Particular Friendships: A Convent Memoir , Waites recounts her experience in the convent while struggling with its rules and the rigidity of religious life. Looking back she said, “I don’t think the church appreciates the women of the church that do the bulk of the work—nuns in particular are not as respected and cared for as priests are in their old age. I have a hard time with that kind of discrimination.” After four years, Waites left the convent. She credits the experience for strengthening her values and commitment to social justice. Despite her rebellious youth, Waites did not consider herself a feminist until she was in graduate school in the ʼ70s. By then, the second wave of feminism had taken hold. Led by women like Gloria Steinem, feminists fought for social equality and reproductive rights. A Ph.D. candidate in English, Waites minored in women’s studies and learned about the long history of gender discrimination. After moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she became involved in social justice groups and advising student groups. Waites has continued to support feminist efforts by taking students to marches, writing letters, signing petitions, and engaging in social media activism. In 2007, she co- founded NSU’s chapter of the American Association of University Women. She is periodically asked to weigh in on women’s history and issues, such as sexual harassment, at community forums and events. Through it all, she continues to teach. Waites believes her courses help students become better citizens who know how to think critically about social issues. At a time when the media has placed feminism back into the spotlight, this might be the most important thing she does. ¨ BY MERLY MESA FACULTY PROFILE Equality Waites for No One