Written by: Celeste Brooks
Southern’s History and Political Science department sponsored four students to attend the statewide annual womens’ policy conference on February 3, 2022. The policy conference brought experts from both inside and outside of Tennessee to analyze and inform on issues within the state.
“They were invited to talk about what’s going on, like analysis of where women in Tennessee are economically, things that have to do with finances and debts, and things that have to do with crime,” said Lisa Diller, chair of the History and Political Studies Department.
Diller said she believes it is important for students to be involved with the community around them, which is why the department decided to pay the $100 ticket for each student to join.
“I was on the Mayor’s Council of Women when it existed under Mayor Berke [former mayor of Chattanooga], and so I knew about it,” Diller said. “And, I started paying for students to go so that they can hear how they’re processing policy changes … and what are the laws or framework.”
According to Olivia Fisher, sophomore international development major who attended the conference, no policies are passed or put into place at the event. It is a conference to inform women of what is happening for them in the state and higher levels of legislation.
According to Golda Ruckle, a junior history major who was in attendance, the conference covers a variety of topics, but this year’s focus was sexual harrasment and domestic violence in Tennessee. According to the Women’s Council’s website, the presenters, all women, are made up of lawyers, teachers and experts in health, social issues and many other fields.
“One person that came was doing research on blunt head trauma in domestic abuse and domestic abuse victims,” Ruckle said. “That’s not really a thing that doctors or first responders think of immediately.”
Fisher said there was another session where the presenter spoke about legislation.
“There was a session where the [speaker] was talking about the policies and how she’s trying to get them through legislation, but also trying to encourage us as voters,” Fisher said.
According to Diller, some of the policies discussed at the conference are issues that young or college-age women should be aware of.
“Things that I imagine impact young women in college have to do with access to contraceptives,” Diller said. “Policy that regulates sex ed in high schools and in our state, where you’re not allowed to talk about sex ed, which deeply affects people. And when we think about laws that have to do with child care and child maternity leave policy.”
Ruckle mentioned another policy dealing with sexual harassment.
“Sexual harassment policy is obviously crucial, especially in our age group,” Ruckle said. “If you see something, say something.”
In addition, Ruckle encouraged anyone interested in policies to reach out to legislation and to improve awareness of current situations.
“If you feel passionately about policy relating to human trafficking or domestic violence or anything like that, you can reach out to your legislators to make sure they know that you care about this stuff,” Ruckle said. “I mean, awareness is always important, especially when it’s dealing with real people around you. Anybody at this university could be a victim and suffer from the policies around that.”