By Andrew Schuman ’19 & Katie Simpson ’20
News Editor & Editor-in-chief
Bathshebas is an all women’s feminist club, new to campus this semester, striving to empower women, promote equality, and foster love in self confidence.
The club was officially chartered in GCSA forum on October 5th. When asked what Bathshebas’ meetings might look like, another club leader, Christie Clause said, “we like to describe it as a fun and empowering girl gang.”
They look to empower women in several ways. Jenna Kuykendall, one of the club’s leader said, “We want to empower women in love and friendship. A lot of the things we do is to promote a sense of family, a sense of love and safety in the group.”
The group will hold events in the future, including business workshops teaching women how to negotiate in business.
Aside from workshops and events, the group wishes to educate women on issues surrounding inequality. Kuykendall said, “We want to promote the truths behind the inequalities, and specifically address the inequalities that exist in Christian environments like Gordon. We will be addressing issues, like modesty, sexual assault, women in ministry, abortion.”
“We want to provide a space for you to be boldly confident, and be accepted that way. We want to be a place where a girl can love herself loudly, and it not be called arrogance.” She continued.
The intention for the club’s name is to get people to ask questions, and create dialogue. Keykendall, who came up with the name for the club, said, “We wanted a name that would link us to the faith that we all hold dearly as leaders, and we wanted it to be female. We wanted a name that would tell a story about sexual assault, and make people ask questions around that respect.”
After much deliberation, Bathsheba’s budget was passed. Nearly half of the budget will be used to pay women on campus for work such as photography or music for events. Noting the campus culture in which students often work for free, Kuykendall said, “we understand that [female students] might do something for free, but that’s your career and we want to support you in your career, and in your life, and in your education.”
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