Not shaving one”s legs, being angry all the time or having no concern for men are not the basis for being a feminist, said Bekah MillerMacPhee, assistant director for programming at the Women”s Center.
MillerMacPhee said the goal of F-Word Live, a slam poetry event in which participants share their talents and opinions on feminist topics, is to break down misconceptions associated with feminism as well as to bring people together.
“It”s called the “F Word” because feminism has often got that stigma attached and is seen as kind of a bad word,” MillerMacPhee said.
MillerMacPhee said this year”s event, which was held Thursday in the Bruce Pitman Center, was the fifth F-Word Live at the University of Idaho. MillerMacPhee said the event was originally started by FLAME in 2006.
Although the first two years the slam took place it was relatively small, MillerMacPhee said the event has since grown in popularity and participation.
MillerMacPhee said last year the program was held in the Borah Theater and people were standing. It was held in the International Ballroom this year, she said.
Lee Hall | Argonaut
“It just feels like it”s been gaining momentum,” MillerMacPhee said.
In addition to a larger audience, MillerMacPhee said the performers have also become more diverse, and are now comprised of students, faculty, staff and community members.
MillerMacPhee said this year, there were 15 poems performed mostly by students and community members, although there was one faculty member, women”s studies professor Traci Craig.
“I think it”s popular because it”s a place where people can really come and express themselves and have an audience who”s really receptive to that,” MillerMacPhee said.
Eryn Moore, a student poet who performed Thursday, said she has identified as a feminist since she discovered what the word meant.
“It seemed like common sense “¦ to want equality of the genders,” Moore said.
Moore said when people are younger they think of feminism as a movement of women in the 1920s, but as they grow older they realize there is still a problem. Moore said she wants to be someone who helps fix that.
“I just really want to be able to use knowledge of how culture affects women to be able to go out and change it,” Moore said.
Moore said she is passionate about women”s education throughout the world and wants to make a difference in that as well as improve women”s confidence.
Moore said the poem she presented, “Stories,” even follows the theme about discovering confidence in herself.
“I had some really rough times in high school,” Moore said. “Some bad relationships and an eating disorder, and my poem is about that journey from that place from being around 15 until now.”
Moore said she later realized her situation was not unique, and many women have to go through the same ordeal, including women in college.
Moore said she hopes the people who attended the event are inspired enough to tell their own stories.
“I am passionate about confidence,” Moore said. “I want people to come and watch and decide to participate next year and be brave and step up and tell their stories because it”s important.”
Nina Rydalch can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @ninarobin7