“A women’s studies class at the University of Alabama (UA),” 1819 News recently reported, “dedicated a significant portion of its reading assignments to teach students that gender is subjective and not a matter of biological fact.”
According to reporter Will Blakely, “The coursework … includes a plethora of left-wing material ranging from pro-abortion op-eds to third-wave feminist ‘manifesta’ to an article suggesting that gender is a ‘social institution’ and advocating for raising ‘androgynous children’ free of ‘gendered norms.’”
Nonsense, isn’t it? But if your child is in college, or considering it, they could be stuck in a Women’s Studies class like this.
Women’s Studies got its start in the 1970s at San Diego State, and is defined as “an academic field that draws on feminist and interdisciplinary methods in order to place women's lives and experiences at the centre of study.” It examines the constructs of gender, the systems of privilege, and their connection with racial and sexual orientation, among other things.
Today there are more than 900 Women’s Studies programs in the U.S., featuring an extensive course selection and enrollment, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, a Women’s Studies Professor from Spelman College, notes.
That is what your hard-earned cash is paying for: Marxism. And it’s teaching college kids to do what Marxism always does, namely, pit one group against another, and then divide, devour, and destroy.
Will we ever learn? Because our kids certainly are — from the worst sorts of examples. As the 1819 New article explains, they are learning that gender is subjective, and that drag queens which make people accept gender ideology should be praised. To borrow a phrase from a friend, it’s “Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.”
Even Richard Dawkins, the esteemed biologist and well-known atheist, recognizes the problems with the new gender ideology. During a recent interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, Dawkins declared, "As a biologist, there are two sexes, and that’s all there is to it,” adding that “LGBTQ activists looking to discredit the reality of two biological sexes are pushing ‘utter nonsense.’"
But these Women’s Studies courses don’t just push gender-bending ideology. They also offer pro-abortion reading assignments, pushing the narrative that women have a right to abortion.
Do these Women’s Studies professors include articles discussing the other side (i.e. the truth)? That abortion isn’t a panacea, or that many women harbor deep regret long after having one? And after all this time, do feminists still NOT know how to prevent pregnancy? Asking for a friend.
Finally, consider the 13-point agenda offered in the Manifesta of these Women’s Studies courses. Number 5 on the list states that this group wants “to tap into and raise awareness of our revolutionary history, and the fact that all movements began as youth movements.”
As 1819 News reported, there wasn’t a single piece of opposing literature to be found in this class. Not a single piece. Only one-sided Marxist debris.
Does that bother you?
If so, take heed to the following message written on the New Discourses website by former woke professor Samantha Jones (a pseudonym):
“I now understand that Critical Social Justice professors are evangelists for their faith and the university is their mission field. Their goal is to take young students—inexperienced, eager to succeed—unmoor them from any faith tradition they might have, even if it’s just American civics, and replace that with Critical Social Justice ideology. And, for the most part, these professors succeed.”
And we wonder why our kids are so sad, disconnected, and struggling with mental health issues! There isn’t good news in this class. Only more of what they’ve heard or seen for years, a distorted reality that they’re forced to accept as truth.
So what can parents do?
The first thing is to let AU know what you think about this Women’s Studies class and others like it.
But the most important thing is to equip our students and teach them how to think, so that when they’re in a Women’s Studies class, they’re not blindsided or too afraid to speak up. Summit Ministries is an excellent resource for this, as they equip and support rising generations to embrace God’s truth and champion a biblical worldview.
Red Penned Logic with Mr. B on YouTube is another incredibly helpful resource. Through engaging and shareable educational graphics and videos, Mr. B helps people — especially young people — assess bad thinking by using good thinking.
That’s how to fight such errant nonsense assaulting our kids, in this case, Marxism that’s parading as a Women’s Studies class. We teach good thinking in the face of bad.
So teach them now while you still can.
Amie Beth Shaver is a speaker, writer and media commentator. Her column appears every Wednesday in 1819 News. Shaver served on the Alabama GOP State Executive Committee, was a candidate for State House District 43 and spokeswoman for Allied Women.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
