Understanding the Mentality of Collegiate Age Students in Rural North Carolina, In Regard to Discussing Issues Predominately Affecting Women and Gender Minorities

Abstract

In my brief time working at the Women and Gender Office (WGO) here at East Carolina, I have noticed two things; I always see the same faces when I enter the office and I very rarely see any different faces when I enter the office. While it is wonderful to see many familiar faces, it can be rather disheartening to see the office reach a stagnant point where we cannot seem to pull in new faces to the office. In speaking to the students of ECU while tabling outside the office, the nature of why this seems to be the case becomes clear. Everyone is on board for the free snacks and coffee and workspace we offer. It is only when we begin to describe the mission of the office that there seems to be some disconnect. In my desire to analyze my two programming events, which I will explain in further detail later, I wish to seek some answers to this apathetic mindset students seem to have regarding issues that affect over one half of our population. These issues that affect people’s safety, ability to live comfortably, get jobs, etc. Issues that are altogether not something to be apathetic about. So why then are members of one of the most tolerant and rebellious generations not doing more? Why is settling for tolerance enough? And more importantly, only as a first step, what can be done to engage these students so as to see that their attitude is just as detrimental to these movements as blatant pushback?