BAH WMNS/ENGL 1995; BEd 1996
鈥淲hen I learned that I was the first cis-male to graduate with a concentration in Women鈥檚 Studies, I immediately thought of what I had in common with trailblazers like Annie Fowler and Eliza Fitzgerald, the first women to earn degrees at Queen鈥檚 -- which is, of course, nothing.
These women were met with ridicule and hostility from outside and within Queen鈥檚. They had obstacles to their graduation that no man ever had to face.
The general reaction to my being in Women鈥檚 Studies was no reaction at all. I didn鈥檛 so much 鈥渂laze a trail鈥 as walk down a comfortable, well-signed, path. Never did anyone suggest to me that I had no right to be there or treat me with the slightest hostility.
The most compelling evidence for the insignificance of my 鈥渇irst,鈥 though, is that I didn鈥檛 even know about it until a few weeks ago when I was asked to write a few words about my experience in Women鈥檚 Studies. But while I鈥檓 not sure I鈥檝e earned this platform, that won鈥檛 keep me from using it!
After a few years of pursuing a Math degree, I knew my university education was missing something. I took Women鈥檚 Studies 100 out of curiosity and because it was so different than my other courses. By the end of the first class, I was hooked and I left Math for Women鈥檚 Studies that year.
Women鈥檚 Studies changed me forever. It helped me see power: who had it, who benefited from it, who suffered at its hand, and how those who had it, ensured they kept it. Women鈥檚 Studies taught me to listen to voices I鈥檇 never heard before. Women鈥檚 Studies helped me to see what was 鈥渨rong鈥 and what I could do to help.
Today I work as the Principal of an adult education centre located in a federal women鈥檚 correctional facility. It鈥檚 certainly not where most Women鈥檚 Studies students see themselves working (I certainly didn鈥檛). But in this job, I use what I learned in Women鈥檚 Studies every single day.
I can鈥檛 overstate how much Women鈥檚 Studies at Queen鈥檚 gave me, including this platform to say, 'Thank you.'鈥