Professor founds education group

One of the most striking social justice issues of today is the discrepancy between what society offers men and what it presents to women. With these differences often kept under the radar, women are at a disadvantage, especially in the university setting.

While female attendance at colleges nationwide is steadily increasing, funding for women's programs has not kept pace.

In 1991, one Boston College professor decided that action needed to be taken to give females more of a voice on college campuses, specifically Catholic ones. Sharlene Hesse-Biber, director and co-founder of the women's studies program, founded the National Association of Women in Catholic Higher Education (NAWCHE).

Beginning as a small grassroots network, NAWCHE has flourished, and today it connects over 3,500 women professors at Catholic colleges throughout the country.

"I really felt that women's studies programs around the country, especially at Catholic universities, were underfunded," says Hesse-Biber. But she was not content just to voice her concerns within the BC community. "There was only so much I could do to promote social justice internally. I knew that I needed to reach out and make connections, and through them gain a sense of power and efficacy."

Armed with a small staff and high aspirations, Hesse-Biber set about the tedious work of establishing an inter-college database of women at Catholic schools.

"We literally ordered every single Catholic course catalog in the country and went through them finding the women. There weren't even lists of female faculty," she said. By the following year, she had brought together over 250 members from 85 different institutions, and BC hosted the first NAWCHE conference, titled "Making Connections I."

Since that time, NAWCHE has held a convention every two years. The location varies - Loyola University Chicago, Trinity College in Washington, Santa Clara University, and Providence College have all taken turns hosting it - as do the specific subjects, but each conference addresses the place of women at universities. Topics have consisted of "Listening to Women: A Challenge to Change," "The Status of Women and Women's Studies," and "Forging New Models for Leadership and Change."

"These are issues a single woman could not take up. NAWCHE can be a voice for women to make valid points in a respectful way," says Hesse-Biber.

At the end of March, NAWCHE brought author Peggy Orenstein to campus to speak about her book, Flux. She talked about combining work and family lives, and the event was such a success that it spurred many students in the audience to volunteer with NAWCHE. "We want to give back to the college that has supported us. We're grateful to BC for sharing our social justice vision," says Hesse-Biber. Although the group works for women's rights, it does not consist exclusively of women. The marketing coordinator, Christian Gilde is a male. He is an integral part of NAWCHE and deeply committed to its cause.

"I know that [it] is an extraordinary place, where great things are being accomplished," says Gilde. "I plan to take the organization's message tirelessly to wherever necessary to grow the NAWCHE and seek justice for women in academia."

In addition, the organization is not simply comprised of faculty. Students, both undergraduate and graduate, are encouraged to get involved, and NAWCHE offers many opportunities.

"We have many internships which provide invaluable organizational skills," says Hesse-Biber. "We also accept volunteers. In fact, after our last event, 30 undergrads volunteered to be a part of NAWCHE."

In addition, students can also attend the conferences.

"We invite students to present papers at our conferences. It's a great experience to present their ideas in a supportive environment, and we're hoping to see more of it," says Hesse-Biber.

Ximena Ramirez, A&S '07, is a research assistant to Hesse-Biber and has recently become involved with NAWCHE.

"I think it is a fantastic organization, especially here at BC. Other schools have entire majors dedicated to the study of gender and women, but here we only have a minor program," says Ramirez.

This is a special point of contention for Hesse-Biber, and it reaffirms her belief that organizations like NAWCHE have a crucial role to play.

"Undergraduate women have closed the gap in higher education - they are now a statistical majority at many Catholic colleges," she says. "But there is a serious lack of resources being given to women's programs and concerns."

Research that she has conducted reveals that many females, even at BC, feel invisible in the classroom and that their voice is muted. Ramirez plans to continue participating in this progressive association.

"I am a member and intend to do whatever I can for the organization in the future," she says. "I may even look to intern there during the school year or work there more."

NAWCHE has many ambitions for the future, both internally at BC and on a larger scale. Many of its plans involve the arts, which Hesse-Biber feels can facilitate productive discussions as well as provide entertainment.

"We hope to sponsor a concert of women composers. The music departments of BC and Providence College will work together on this project," she says.

The group also wants to hold Café Nights on the Heights to bring together women on campus in relaxed coffeehouse environments. Featuring vocalists and music, NAWCHE believes that art will be a key way to transverse differences.

Hesse-Biber stresses that students need a place to discuss pertinent, often divisive issues.

"We need venues to talk about these things and we don't have enough on our campus ... we need spaces for dialogue," she says.

One of the first topics covered would be issues of sexual orientation, a controversial subject that Hesse-Biber says she thinks needs to be addressed.

NAWCHE has grown immensely since its conception 14 years ago, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

A 2006 conference to be held at Georgetown University is in the works, and the organization releases a detailed newsletter every three months.

Hesse-Biber has even edited a book, titled Women in Catholic Higher Education: Border Work, Living Experiences, and Social Justice, which deals with the tensions women faculty face at Catholic institutions. Although the work is demanding, Hesse-Biber knows that she is making a positive difference at universities nationwide.

"It's been like a mission for me; it's a way to feel like I'm giving back to my students and colleagues," she says.