ON OUR MINDS
A Women's Newsletter
for Towson State College
STRATEGIES AGAINST SEXISM
Recently several students have reported
hearing sexist remarks in their classes.
Concerned women from the Women's Center and
Women's Studies Committee met to discuss possible
ways for students to deal with these remarks.
Several suggestions were made though no definite
answer emerged. At the meeting we discussed the
problem students have/feel about confronting
teachers. Ways to help students feel more comfortable
could include: informal discussions
with supportive faculty or other students;
enlisting support of others in the class; an
advocate system whereby a student would not have
to face a potentially intimidating teacher alone.
Although these are geared to alleviating
immediate problems, it was felt that a viable
long term goal would be the establishment of
guidelines to define sexism in the classroom and
ultimately eliminate it. These guidelines
might also suggest preliminary steps a student
might take.*
Do you have any additional suggestions which
might help deal with this problem? If so,
please send them to On Our Minds, c/o Women's
Center, Box 2013. Are you interested in working
with a group of concerned women on this issue?
If so, please call the Women's Center, ext. 826,
10 - 4, M - F.
*See article on Affirmative Action in this
issue.
On Our Minds
HOW TO APPLY FOR A JOB IN A
SEXIST SOCIETY
"In a recent survey in Los Angeles the qualifications
that employers are now seeking in job
candidates were revealed. Personnel managers
were asked to indicate what negative or positive
influences certain appearance attributes would
have on their evaluation of male and female
applicants ...
The two female factors that would have a
negative influence were "wearing a low neckline
and/or miniskirt" (39.3%) and wearing a pantsuit"
(15.1%). Several of the personnel
managers commented that they did not have a
specific dress standard, but that it was extremely
improtant for the applicant to be
appropriately dressed."
(Excerpted from an article in GOAL,
TSC Placement Office Newsletter)
Baltimore Md. 21204
Vol. I, #3, March, 1975
WOMEN'S CENTER NEWS
After the confused experience of moving, the
Women's Center is now established in the second
floor of the Health Center. A new check-out
system is being instituted to expedite the checking
out of books. Also, periodicals and journals
are available for use.
The Center owns a number of tapes from "Radio
Free People", which are available for anyone to
hear. A nice idea would be to bring lunch and a
group of friends to the Center and listen to a
tape. The topics are varied, including poetry
readings, discussions on medical care, politics,
religion and rock music.
There are three remaining Wednesday afternoon
discussions. They are all held at 3:00 p.m.
in the Center lounge. On March 5 the topic will
be an evaluation of Women's Studies led by Jan
Wilkotz from the English Dept., who is co-coordinator
of Women's Studies, Women and Religion wiJl
be discussed on April 9,and speakers from the
Lesbian Speakers Bureau will be discussion leaders
on May 7.
The first Wednesday discussion on Natural
Childbirth was a great success. The Center invites
everyone to come to the remaining three sessions.
At this time of year, the Women's Center
Board starts thinking of events for next semester.
If there is any topic or program you would like
to be included in the schedule, please let the
Center know.
The Center is open 10-4, Mon. - Fri. The
entrance is at the rear of the Health Center,
facing Glen Esk. The phone number is XS26, and
the TSC Box is 2013. Please drop by and sample
our 10¢ coffee and tea.
The Women's Center Staff
CONGRATULATIONS, V.P. SIEGEL
On Our Minds wishes to congratulate Dorothy
Siegel, Towson State's new Vice President of
Student Services. For the Newsletter, the Women's
Studies Committee and the Women's Center Board we
wish her many happy and successful years in her
new job.
