Here at Stone Ridge, feminism is not an unfamiliar concept to students. Though we’re more likely to become an activist like Dorothy Day before we learn about her in the senior theology elective Leaders of Faith and Agents of Change, our school community goes to great lengths to promote female empowerment throughout everything we do. There is one word that follows we students around–sisterhood. Whether it’s our traditional Ring Day celebration, our big sister/little sister lunches, or our celebrations of females in the Church, we do plenty to make sure that girls know the importance of supporting other girls.
So what does female empowerment mean at an all-girls school? Some may argue that our single-sex education is oppressive. But at Stone Ridge, we prove the exact opposite. Instead of reinforcing gender stereotypes at our all-girls school, we break them down. There is no pressure to compete with boys at traditionally male-dominated subjects, such as math and science, amongst several other benefits.
For Ariadne Manikas, ’16, single-sex education is all she has ever known. Having attended Stone Ridge since kindergarten, there is nothing she would want to change, she says. “An all-girls environment gave me the confidence to go on and pursue my passions and things I want to accomplish. In co-ed environments, girls can feel insecure because boys tend to speak up louder and more often; they tend to be more eager to answer questions.” A co-ed environment can seemingly allow girls to fade into the background.
Kara Phipps, ‘16, speaks from experience. While attending Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac, Maryland during Middle School, Phipps says she was often afraid of judgement. “I was obviously way less mature than I am now. I did often get distracted, but I was also the person who was afraid to raise her hand,” she says. “I didn’t want to get an answer wrong. [That is] not necessarily because there were boys there; I think I was just scared that the boys would judge more than the girls would.” That mindset completely changed for her when she entered Stone Ridge as a First Academic. “I felt like I was able to just open up more and I wasn’t afraid of who or what I wanted to say or how people would respond,” says Phipps.
Zoe Sheppard, ‘16, however, feels differently about her experience going from a co-ed Middle School to an all-girls High School. “I never felt [self]-conscious about getting an answer wrong,” she says. “I was never that distracted by the boys; I don’t think it really impacted my educational experience at all. But coming to an all-girls school, the most impactful thing for me has been women’s empowerment. They wouldn’t really teach that at a co-ed school–the boys would feel a little left out of the equation,” she argues. “I value my all girl education extremely, but I think I would definitely have the same experience at a co-ed school if it weren’t for the heavy emphasis on female empowerment from Stone Ridge.”
A prominent aspect of our community’s involvement in feminism is our Feminism Club. Led by Colin Barnes, ‘16, Camilla Duke, ‘16, Katherine Hobart, ‘16, Erin Barry, ‘17, and myself, the Club is aimed towards holding important discussions about feminism in today’s world and how those issues relate to our community. With not only students in attendance, but also teachers, such as a large bulk of the English Department and Mr. Rook, the conversations held are thought-provoking, impactful, and energizing. Students do not have to be self-identified feminists to attend club meetings, but they do have to open their eyes and ears to what everyone in the room has to say. With varied opinions all across the table, students are able to engage in thoughtful discussions that they’ll continue to think about days later.
Women’s History Month is a wonderful celebration of girls throughout our community. Though every day at Stone Ridge arguably seems like Women’s History Month, it becomes especially important during this time of the year to reflect on the influential people who helped the Feminist Movement get to where it is today. Women helping other women is what Stone Ridge is all about, and therefore Women’s History Month may as well be the most important month in our community.