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The Dartmouth
March 29, 2024 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Fighting Sexism an Unnecessary Sacrifice

I am writing in order to support Danielle Moore '95's decision to resign as Student Assembly president, as well as to say something to those who have attacked her for doing so.

Over the past 24 hours what I have heard most about her decision are loud proclamations from men that if Moore was not respected as a leader, it was not because she was a woman, but because she was a bad leader.

I am not a part of the Assembly, nor do I know anyone involved in this organization, but as a woman and a student leader on campus, I have encountered both subtle and overt sexism and complete disrespect since the day I arrived on this campus.

Making the problem worse are the men (most of the male students at Dartmouth I would say) who react violently to such a claim and refuse to listen to anything that Moore, or any woman making a similar complaint, has to say.

Though I know that it will do no good, I demand that each and every man on this campus examine his behavior and ask himself whether he really has treated every woman with whom he has come into contact with the respect she deserves.

For example, have you never made sexist comments, used sexist terms or cracked sexist jokes? Have you never used your deeper voice to your advantage in an argument with a woman? I wish that each man would also ask himself why he has reacted to her statement with such vehemence. I suspect that the major reason that it provokes the anger and defensiveness that it does is that her accusation comes too near the truth for people to handle.

I have experienced exactly the same feelings as Moore on many occasions this term as the WDCR program director. Often I have considered resigning my position and quitting altogether because the atmosphere at the radio station is blatantly sexist and abusive to me and to the other women working there.

Like Moore, I have also been advised by Dean of Student Life Holly Sateia to "stick with it," to provide an example for other women at the station. Such a philosophy has seemed problematic to me all term, and one comment made by Moore stays with me.

In her column Monday, Moore said she resigned because by staying, she was "sending a message to women in the Assembly that they must tolerate disrespect." Those words hit me very hard, as I have been wrestling with this idea for the past eight weeks.

Moore's comment is exactly right and I respect her decision to sacrifice her position in order to make this statement. No woman has to tolerate the kind of disrespect and abuse that is latent on this campus and just saying that is obviously not enough.

Perhaps if every woman resigned from every sexist organization on this campus that would get the message across? Unfortunately, I'm not convinced even a statement that strong would wake people up.