Not a "feminazi"

"Feminazi," "bra-burner," "man-hater" — these are just a few of the negative and misconceived labels placed on those who delve into a major infused with feminist theory.

And those were names I never wanted to be called.

When I came to UT last fall, I was registered as a law and social thought major. I thought that being a pre-law student was just the right thing to do: make good grades, go to law school and try to land big in a huge firm in New York. To my surprise, after just a day in my pre-law class, I knew that being a lawyer was not for me.

That very same week — the first week of school, to be exact — I decided to switch majors. I had scheduled an Intro to Gender Studies class that semester and something about it caught my interest. I mean, I considered myself to be a politically active girl, and yet I had no knowledge about the struggle women in the first wave of feminism had gone through to gain the basic right to vote, which was something that I had taken for granted.

Long story short, I was so engrossed in the content of my course that I decided to pursue it as my official major.

Women's and gender studies, contrary to popular belief, is not about hating men or burning our bras to unify the sisterhood. Instead, a women's and gender studies major focuses on aspects of sexuality, race and human rights, which are essentially grounded in feminist theory.

Some of the classes offered through the Women's and Gender Studies Department include, Law, Policy and Politics of Sex, Girlhood and Adolescence and  Issues in Women's Studies. These classes are infused with thought-provoking content that can open the eyes of students to the exploitation and injustice of women everywhere.

Graduates of this program have gone into careers with non-profit organizations, law, counseling, education and writing. As a gender studies major, I am able to stand proudly with a department that advocates and defends women's reproductive rights, equal rights for members of the LGBTQ community, and the prevention and awareness concerning women involved in sex trafficking nationally and globally.

UT also offers some great feminist programs and clubs. UT has a Power of Women group that meets on a regular basis. More information on that can be found on Facebook under "UT Feminist Alliance."

For more information on majors or events held in the women's and gender study field, the department of Women's and Gender Studies is located in University Hall, Room 4260.

All in all, I have no regrets about my decision to switch majors. I found something that I love and despite the other labels, my favorite one is "happy."