Feminism with Girl*Up Edinburgh
The current President of Girl*Up Edinburgh looks back on how she entered feminist circles at the University of Edinburgh in this personal essay for our dossier on undergraduate feminist activism!
Image: Tulsa on a sunny day
When I was a first-year coming to Edinburgh, I wanted to find familiarity in an unfamiliar environment. Joining Girl* Up after meeting the Society’s incredible President Sharessa Naidoo was how I was able to do so. Fighting against gender inequality is, and has continuously been, at the forefront of my life. When I was just 11 years old, I remember being unable to wrap my head around the fact that we live in a world where people are discriminated against because of their identities. I was frustrated for continuously being characterised as less capable, and disempowered, simply because of my gender. I couldn’t comprehend why as a female, I was automatically put in the backseat position of a world driven by men. Since then, I have continued to dedicate my time to the cause of equality and it has been a process. In Girl* Up specifically, I have grown, learned, and been exposed to more dimensions of inequality.
In my former role as Vice President, my one goal was to create a family. A family that promotes a safe, collective, inclusive, and open-minded environment. Reflecting on this, I believe Girl* Up successfully embodies these aspects, but it has been a journey. Everyone comes into our spaces, particularly our weekly meetings, with their perspectives influenced by their unique identities and values. On the one hand, this allows for our spaces to be filled with incredibly diverse discussions. Whereas alternatively, controversial topics may fuel meaningful debates where the opinions shared may not resonate with everyone. This made me realise that the key consideration to take into account is balance. People should feel like they can share their perspectives, whilst also feeling respected and practicing mindfulness. It is in creating this balance that we can achieve the most fruitful conversations, that effectively address the multidimensional nature of gender inequality.
I think two of my personal favorite contributions to Girl* Up in my early journey has been through the weekly meetings, and the welfare activities I encouraged my committee to do. In terms of weekly meetings, I had the chance to work alongside our wonderful former Education Officer Emily, to hold weekly presentations and discussion sessions on various gender inequality-related issues, how they affect women disproportionately across communities and what we can do to mitigate its consequences. Some of the topics I presented on included ‘International Day of Zero Toleration for Female Genital Mutilation’, the ‘Elimination of Violence Against Women’, ‘Reclaiming the Narrative’ (alluding to colonial/stereotypical depictions of women such as Pocahontas), and ‘Female Journalists in the Middle East’. In doing so, I was able to uplift the voices of women who are often marginalised and underrepresented, especially in the Western parts of the world, and enjoyed learning and helping others learn about their stories. I feel as though the welfare activities, such as gratitude and reflection circles, have been a special part of my Girl* Up experience with the committee. While being involved in such a Society, keeping in mind mental health and building strong supportive connections with one another is just as valuable as and contributes to our ability to continue with the advocacy we do. This has helped to create this family that is Girl* Up, extending beyond our committee, to the wider community membership.
Overall, I am so proud of the amazing community Girl* Up has become, from the various events, fundraising, socials, and initiatives we have achieved, and the diversity of people we have collaborated with and been able to attract to be a part of this greater cause. Girl* Up this year, through its success and collectivity has truly reflected the beauty of what it means to be a solidarity movement.
Author Bio
Tulsa is a third-year International Relations and International Law student, as well as Girl* Up Edinburgh’s President! She is very passionate about advocating for humanitarian issues and gender equality. Reflecting on her experiences as a Maldivian woman of color has motivated her to promote greater awareness on the diverse experiences of oppression across global communities.