On Wednesday, September 20th, the Femme Forward Coalition hosted a “Period Party” to support students who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) through the creation of period care packs and a viewing of “Turning Red”.
The Femme Forward Coalition has launched as a group initiative under the Gender and Sexuality Umbrella, its main purpose, as explained by Gender and Sexuality Program Coordinator Ara Phoenixx, is to “clearly and intentionally emphasize the feminist values of the GSC”.
By beginning an organization to support FLINTA people (an acronym encompassing women, lesbians, intersex, nonbinary, trans, and agender folks), the GSC can continue to “highlight the shared fight across gendered experiences and its intersectionality with sexuality,” Phoenixx shares. The Femme Forward Coalition began their transformational presence on campus through a first event to many, the “Period Party.”
The “Period Party” was sparked as the first event hosted by the Femme Forward Coalition, students and members were invited to gather and watch the movie “Turning Red” while creating period care packages that include menstrual pads, liners, tampons, and homemade reusable heat packs that will be distributed in MCLA’s Food and Basic Needs pantry. For more information on MCLA’s Food and Basic Needs Pantry, students should contact Spencer Moser at [email protected], Casey Young at [email protected], or the Food Pantry team at [email protected].
But why “Turning Red?” Turning Red was chosen by the Femme Forward Coalition as it focuses on a lot of pivotal experiences AFAB people go through in their teenage years. “We see Mei go through a transformation much akin to getting her first period, as well as learn to navigate crushes, friendships, and family relationships, through multiple lenses” Phoenixx notes. These aspects contributed to the choice, as a viewing of this movie is a comfortable and honest way to spread education on the experienced AFAB people go through. By combining the activity of making period care packages and watching an animated movie, a comfortable environment was developed, allowing for important discussions on shared experiences to blossom.
