This paper includes a narrative intended to allow readers to embody a kind of ‘pregnancy panic’ often overlooked in the politics of reproductive rights. In an issue revolving around the biological anatomy of the person, their own feelings, needs, and experiences are not often weighed in the arguments. Through this narrative’s character, readers can reconnect to the humanity of fear and bridge a better understanding that abortion is not a gleeful murder but a necessity for survival and medical agency.

Our voices provide a sense of individualization for the ‘othered’ women who write their ways out of their binds.

This paper analyzes the way society sexualizes women’s bodies through the education system. I am writing about dress codes because fellow classmates and I have been affected by this. It is important for society to understand that a sexualized view of students perceived as female can affect society as a whole. I hope that readers of this essay will want to change this system and redress the dress codes they have unwittingly followed.

Dissenting Voices Cover Art Background Cover Design by Kalynda Culek ‘19Cover People drawn by Jenna Bygall ‘19 The journal cover portrays an artistic rendition of each author holding a sign that communicates their feminist activism. Their words rise up from their signs to frame the sun. Pause and watch closely for their cues. And listen carefully to their voices. If walking near or around this progressively-minded group, you might hear the adage, “When Pigs Fly,” the “when” in reference to what is seemingly impossible. For the authors here, that impossibility is no longer impossible. Because pigs are flying, offering us hope in the face of despair and belief that we can amend even the most broken systems of inequality (Note from the Editor). Table of Contents All Voices - Our Voices. Mackenzie April, Jenna Bygall, Jasmine Kamal-Mohamed, Christina Karapinar, Allie Knapp, Kelsie Kupiec, Angelica Whitehorne, Kayla Sorenson, p. i. - Note from the Editor (Barbara LeSavoy), p. iii. Opening Voices - The Abortion Fight: Neither Worn nor Won. Angelica Whitehorne, p. 1. - Treatment of Female Politicians and Impact on Voter Perception in the U.S. Jenna Bygall, p. 13. More Voices - Why are there No Great, Female, and Egyptian Scholars? Jasmine Mohamed, p. 27. - The Pretty Pink Box. Allie Knapp, p. 39. - Readying the Rape Rack: Feminism and the Exploitation of Non-Human Reproductive Systems. Mackenzie April, p. 51. - Growing up a Witness. Kayla Sorenson, p. 65. Closing Voices - Missing from Research: Exposing the Deficit in Research and Knowledge of Endometriosis and Women’s Health. Kelsie Kupiec, p. 79. - The Comfort Women’s Activism through the Arts. Christina Karapinar, p. 93. - WMS 421 Spring 2019 Activism Photo Essay, p. 111.

This essay describes my life experiences as a woman veteran who is currently a student at The College at Brockport. My experiences and perspectives although specific to me, are also in general terms, the same for other women veterans. I reviewed the references studying women military service members both past and present, and I have noted the lack of information available. Therefore, I have decided to tell my story with the hope that my story will assist civilian students, staff, and faculty to better understand women veteran students on the college campus.

Dissenting Voices volume seven introduces nine authors who write across a diverse range of topics salient to Women and Gender Studies.

This paper looks at gender segregation in higher education. I am examining why certain majors are perceived as feminine and masculine, and what students experience when they study fields that do not socially align with their gender. I also summarize the impact gender socialization has on men and women choosing their fields of study and the consequences higher education gender segregation has beyond college. Feminine and masculine should not be labels affiliated with majors and they should not be a precursor for determining the value of majors.

I share this story to illustrate an example of psychological sexual coercion and the power dynamics that allow such coercion to exist. We must understand that the root of this problem lies in the nature of power between men and women. I do not think that these dynamics are born to us naturally. The biology of men and women has nothing to do with the nature of the power dynamics that can exist between them. This power dynamic is one that has been ingrained into our society through generations of separating the public and private spheres of work.

In all the world’s cultures, there exists a hierarchy of power maintained through cultural norms and institutions. In every culture, however, these hierarchies exist differently. So when put into a space where our culture and idea of identity-based power hierarchies is different from the ones around us, how do we negotiate our power in that space, and in doing so, how do we diminish the power of others? By looking at cultural “blank-slate” territories such as Antarctica, we may be able to better understand negotiations of identity-based power hierarchy and subsequently be able to tear down the institutions that constitute who is equal and who is not.