Giggles and cheers echo out of Room 1012 while Girlhood Club members share what changes they want to see in the world. As Assistant Principal Dessard Norris watches their first meeting carefully, the ominous shadow of Senate Bill 12 follows the officers as they lead their first meeting.
As a result of the legislation, all school organizations based on gender are restricted. Girlhood Club officers proactively sought approval through Norris, learning how to balance the club’s mission and bill’s guidelines.
“We are limited to being a student-led club with a teacher sponsor, but not organizing the club,” Co-president junior Elizabeth Hui said. “Because of the law, we must be completely student-led.”
Junior Isabella Walters said she remains optimistic, finding positive viewpoints even as she faces the challenges.
“Due to the new state law not being able to have clubs based on sex or gender, we advocate for overall equality for everyone and we can’t center just on women,” Walters said. “We can still reach our goals, even with the new law, by allowing anyone that wants to help advocate for women’s rights and know more about it to join the club.”
The club’s leaders persevered by focusing on the club’s community impact, as a way to address discrimination and sexist treatment young girls often experience through their academic journey. The organization focuses on providing a place where all students are welcome to express their passion for feminism in a judgement free space, facing conflicts in becoming an official school organization.
“My goals for the club are to create a safe and uplifting community at LHS.I plan on reflecting that goal by trying to be a positive and welcoming face for the club,” Treasurer Junior Caidyn Gonzales said. “This club is necessary because it provides a place for people to be true to themselves in a world where that may not be as widely celebrated.”
The officers said they had two priorities: to prioritize equality for both men and women and to help people unlearn societal pressures. The officers came up with attainable solutions to positively impact girls around the school.
“We plan to do this through different types of drives, [like] donating period products which [will] be in the school bathrooms,” Community Service Manager (Junior) Jackie King said. “I’m continuously trying to work with the club to figure out a way to make this happen in all schools, not just LHS.”
The process of becoming an official club also gave officers a chance to practice creative problem solving. The officers did not let anything deter them from why they started the Girlhood Club.
“Everyone deserves to have a place where they feel like they ‘fit,’” Vice President (Junior) Geetika Joshi said. “A place where judgement isn’t welcome, gossip isn’t spread, and where new ideas and opinions are [celebrated]. The Girlhood is a space for everyone at LHS who’s passionate about feminism to collaborate and be themselves, to be a representation of what it looks like to stand up against stereotypes and societal standards.”
