W2B-014 Student life-1.txt
educate to liberate: women find freedom

women get some degree of equality at university, says maeve quigley, but they need to play an active role in their students'union to ensure they get an equal say

UNIVERSITIES are probably the only places in existence where women have achieved some significant degree of equality.

For years at school, in the home, in the workplace and elsewhere, women encountered some kind of marginalisation, so while they 're at university it's important they make the best of their time.

Most women find that university provides a lot more freedom than school, sometimes too much. You can be left behind by the university whirl unless you make a concerted effort to become involved, not just in your studies and social life, but in the countless clubs and societies that your university and students'union offer.

It is essential that women involve themselves with the politics of their union, as, just like any other political arena, student politics is essentially a male-dominated pastime due more to social conditioning in second-level education rather than to the political structure of the students'union itself.

The problem with this is that if more women do not start attending Union General Meetings (UGMs) and standing for council and sabbatical elections, policies on abortion and women's rights decided by a majority of men who, even though they may be the most PC males on the planet, still can't fully understand what being a woman entails.

Inside your students'union you may well find a women's group, but before you dismiss it as being full of short-haired, bra-burning, men-hating feminists, why not go and see for yourself. You 'll be pleasantly surprised to find a group of people around your own age who just get together to discuss issues relevant to female students, and not a dungaree in sight!

Probably the most important issue for a woman at university is safety. Over the past few years sexual attacks have been becoming more and more prolific in and around the universities, around the halls of residences and on the campuses themselves. As recently as mid-September, the welfare office at Queen's University issued a warning to prevent female students desperate for accommodation leaving their addresses and telephone numbers on notice boards for their own personal safety.
But at Queen's Students' Union, safety for women is high on the agenda, as Welfare Officer Alison Ahern explains: "There is a feeling that the streets are more dangerous for women than before.
"Here we are constantly putting up posters for the Rape Crisis Centre and Nexus to remind victims of sexual attacks that they can find support.

"The Women's officer and myself can be approached at any time for help on matters to do with pregnancy, sexual harassment or any other problems that are causing difficulties for the student."

For their own personal protection, female students are advised to get a personal safety alarm at the beginning of the year. These are readily available from the Queen's Students' Union shop at discount prices.

They have been recommended by the police as from the union, and have the added feature of a panic button. Queen's also runs a women's night-time minibus service seven nights a week.

For your own protection you must always remember these safety rules: 1 Try not to walk anywhere by yourself in the dark. If walking in the dark alone: • make sure you have a personal safety alarm • carry your keys in your hand to defend yourself • stick to well lit areas, and areas where it is likely to be busy • always make sure that someone else knows where you are

These are necessary safety precautions, but there's no point in being too terrified to go outside either. For male and female students alike, socialising will play a very big part in your university career so the best advice that you can get is enjoy it while it lasts!
