On Sept. 1, the Student Union of POSTECH announced there would be a student referendum on the abolition of the Female Student Union. Voting booths were set up along paths that students frequently travel. The two-day vote concluded with a 50.7% voter turnout and 88.2% agreement. It was the end of the Female Student Union, which departed under the motto: promoting women’s rights in a male-dominated STEM environment and establishing a platform for women to communicate.
There is no precise way to evaluate how much women’s rights have been advanced, and opinions will vary on whether POSTECH’s STEM environment is male-dominated. Anyway, from the initial announcement to the ballot count, the abolition of the Female Student Union is the hottest topic. Most debates took place in an online anonymous community, “Everytime,” rather than in an open discussion. Some posts aggressively agreed to the abolition of the Female Student Union, and some provided outdated gossip. A few comments disagreed with the abolition.
It is a natural step for the Female Student Union to be abolished. We lost the desperate need for a women-specific group. The head positions remained vacant for a long time, and very few students were willing to step forward. I’m not intending to blame or strongly urge an argument, but want to recall the simple logic that the right belongs where it is sought. If one feels that their rights as a woman are fair while living at POSTECH, there is no reason to claim those rights. Conversely, even if one believes that promoting women’s rights is needed, they might be too intimidated to speak up in a male-dominated and small community. Nevertheless, this simple logic applies to both.
As a female living at POSTECH for four semesters, when asked if I’ve faced misogyny or discrimination, my answer would be no. Most male students were friendly, and there was no discomfort in entering a higher level of research. Some buildings on our campus have two men’s restrooms on each floor, but only one for women. While this could be slightly inconvenient, it seems reasonable since there are twice as many male students as female students. I think it is important to note that my experiences cannot be generalized to all students due to my short time at POSTECH. From a single student’s perspective, it is hard not to question whether the Female Student Union actively carried out its activities. I understand that managing an organization with few members can be challenging; at the same time, it may gently indicate that its chapter is ending.
Unlike in the past, when discriminatory remarks toward female students, such as “girls don’t need to study,” were commonly used, now the very need to join the Female Student Union is gradually fading. Naturally, many discussions occur from the establishment to the abolition. As for the process of modification, open debate should be accompanied regardless of uncomfortable feelings. This would lead us to a deeper understanding of each other. Currently, our university has the Student·Minority Human Rights Council (MODAM). We can potentially be a minority in some form. Depending on the situation or group we are in, we may be minorities as Asians, as women, as men, as exchange students, as patients, or as students. As the human rights movement evolved from advancing women’s rights to diverse minorities, it is now time to move toward a next-generation protest that opposes political, economic, and socio-cultural discrimination. I believe this would be a great chance for Postechians to seek their rights regardless of who they are.
s13ee17@
