Feminist Conversations is a weekly series at Feminists For Choice.  We spotlight activists from across the interwebs to find out what feminism means to them.  Alison Turkos is a recent college graduate majoring in English writing and minoring in Women’s Studies. She is a Development & Events intern with NARAL Pro Choice NY, she volunteers as a clinic escort, and she is currently attempting to enjoy all the feminist fun that New York City has to offer.  We met up last month at the Feminists for Choice Tweetup.  Here’s what she had to say about feminism and choice.

1.  How did you get involved with NOW?
I became involved with NOW completely by chance. While attending the “Women and Power” conference at the OMEGA Institute I met a few young women who were/are involved with the NOW NY State Young Feminist Task Force. After sharing stories, goals, and ideas they invited me to attend a gathering back in the city that the task force was holding after the conference. It was completely unplanned and all due to fabulous networking.

2.  NOW has sometimes gotten a reputation for being irrelevant to younger women, but what has your experience been like?
I have been involved with the organization for a VERY short amount of time, but so far, my experience has been amazing. The Task Force is a fantastic group of diverse individuals who all lead amazingly interesting lives, and come together for one common purpose: FEMINISM!

3.  When did you first decide to call yourself a feminist?  And what contributed to that decision?
I grew up in a very Feminist household, but my parents never used the term “Feminist.” Gender roles have never existed in my house. I have two working parents, a mom who mowed the lawn, and a dad who is a master in the kitchen. My parents’ marriage is an entirely equal partnership, so I grew up surrounded by Feminism and Feminist values, but there was never the “Feminist” label attached.

Like many other Feminists, I experienced my “click” moment when I was in college. I took a classes titled “Women in Contemporary American Culture,” and on the first day of class the professor asked “who here is a Feminist?” I didn’t raise my hand because I hadn’t had much exposure to the word and it’s meaning, but after she explained what she believed Feminism to be, I raised and my hand and declared to the entire class “hell yeah, I’m a Feminist,” and ever since that day I’ve identified as a Feminist.

4.  What does feminism mean to you? [Read more...]