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CSULB
women's groups beneficial to students
By
Starr T. Balmer
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
Thousands
of women rush to school and study hard for
their classes each day. Many take copious
notes during class, do their time-consuming
assignments and study hard for difficult
exams, while attempting to spend time with
friends. Many volunteer their services in
various student programs across campus,
while working day and night to pay for tuition
and books.
But
some Cal State Long Beach women do more
than just perform their student duties–they
take about an hour of their time each week
to meet in one of the several women's networking
groups on campus: Latinas Unidas, Lesbian
Chat and SisterFriends. Each group gives
women an opportunity to discuss and share
their experiences and issues that arise
in their everyday lives. Whether there are
relationship problems or family issues,
each group meets to discuss their problems,
concerns and experiences.
Latinas
Unidas meets weekly to discuss various issues
occurring in the community of Latina women.
Latinas Unidas, meaning "Latina women
unite," explains the importance of
the group. "The significance of this
name is to demonstrate the unity that is
created when Latinas come together in support
of one another," career counselor and
facilitator Angi Carrillo-Humphreys said.
The
group gives women the time to express their
issues and concerns with other Latina women
who may be experiencing similar circumstances.
"The
purpose of Latinas Unidas is to provide
a safe place for Latinas to discuss their
relationships, culture, academics, identity,
family, stereotypes and other issues that
are meaningful to the Latina experience,"
Carrillo-Humphreys said.
Students
benefit from Latinas Unidas as they begin
to participate in discussion. Carrillo-Humphreys
said it helps students feel less isolated,
form new relationships and succeed academically.
"What
I see as a tremendous benefit is that through
all of the support that the women offer
to each other, they are helping another
woman stay focused on her academics, career
and life pursuits."
Some
students are shy and do not feel comfortable
expressing their experiences with other
women. But the group gives women an atmosphere
where they are at ease when talking about
various issues.
"As
they hear the other group members share
their experiences, they become more comfortable
and seem to develop a sense of confidence
and courage to share their own experiences
with the other women."
Latinas
Unidas meet from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays at
the Women's Resource Center.
While
Latinas Unidas fill the Women's Resource
Center on Tuesdays, Lesbian Chat takes over
from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays as several
lesbians join together to share their own
experiences. Even though the Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center
resides on campus, CSULB student and facilitator
Suzanne Spratt decided to start Lesbian
Chat in October of last year to invite lesbian
women to share their thoughts and experiences
in a private place. Additionally, Spratt
said that lesbians are not represented enough
on campus.
"There
were not any programs for lesbians,"
Spratt said. "We meet so we can have
support for each other and meet other lesbians."
Unlike counseling groups,
she said that they meet together to simply
chat about their experiences as lesbians
and talk about the issues occurring in their
lives.
During
their meetings, Spratt said that they discuss
how they are viewed by society as lesbians.
Furthermore, family relations and images
of lesbians are also discussed in their
meetings, but the group is not afraid to
express their experiences because of their
sexuality.
"We
talk [about] issues such as family life,
what it was like coming out and lesbians
in the media," Spratt said. "But
everybody has at least some sort of opinion.
Everyone seems to feel comfortable, and
people that come to chat are usually comfortable
with their sexuality."
Towards
the end of the week, SisterFriends gather
together for their weekly discussion to
meet with other African-American women on
campus because it is a way for African American
women to come together to express their
experiences with one another.
"SisterFriends
is a community of black women at Cal State
Long Beach," facilitator and staff
psychologist Dr. Pamela Ashe said. "It
provides that place where black women can
get connected with one another."
Ashe
started SisterFriends 10 years ago when
she started working at CSULB. After doing
her dissertation, she became aware that
many African American women felt isolated
and out of place as they attended predominately
white campuses. She also wanted SisterFriends
to give them a place where they could feel
welcomed to share their thoughts and feelings.
"From
the outlook of my research, women were reporting
feelings that they did not belong on campus
and did not connect," she said. As
a result, she said she started SisterFriends
for African American women to be more comfortable
on campus.
"You
come, walk through the door, sit down and
you are a SisterFriend."
When
they meet, they discuss what is on their
minds, whether it is family or relationship
problems or something occurring in the world.
But Ashe said it is hard for some women
to express their experiences.
As
the facilitator, she talks and encourages
women to be active and succeed in life.
"My role is to be there for every need
they have and to help women connect with
one another."
SisterFriends
gather together from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursdays
at the Women's Resource Center.
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