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Let's Talk Human Rights

Human Rights Week 2023: Wrap Up

By Allie O'Gorman '24

Human Rights Week at the University of Dayton is an annual event that creates week-long student led programming around a human rights theme. It is an opportunity for students to open up conversations about pressing human rights issues with their peers. This year focused on the theme of gender equality, emerging from Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Through this article, gender equality was made a part of international human rights norms and created a space to fight against gender identity discrimination of all kinds. 

Article 2 states, “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” 

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Human Rights Week is organized by students in the Human Rights Advocacy Group, a student-run organization that aims to create spaces which cultivate a deeper knowledge and understanding of human rights and inequities that we and our neighbors face. Through programming at the University of Dayton Human Rights Center, along with other engagement opportunities in our club, we seek to create opportunities for all students to engage on human rights topics. As a member of HRAG’s executive board, our main goal for this week was for students to dive deeper into the topic of gender identity and see the issue of inequality from a variety of angles and perspectives. While these issues are becoming increasingly less taboo, there is so much to be discussed and to learn about gender. I am so grateful that myself and so many others got to be a part of this year’s Human Rights Week! 

Human Rights Week 2023 opened on Monday, February 6th, with a presentation from Richelle Frabotta about gender identity and sexuality. Richelle is a professional sex educator with years of experience in sex-positive teaching and prevention education. She currently works as the LGBTQ+ Health Initiatives Project Manager for Dayton and Montgomery County. Her presentation challenged students to rethink their education on gender identity and sex education in order to open their minds to new ideas. She discussed the differences between sex and gender, as well as the high rate of mental health issues amongst members of the LGBTQ+ community. Richelle created an open environment to discuss sex and gender without the awkwardness, educating attendees about elements of sex education that are often missed in formal education. 

Tuesday, February 7th, featured a presentation from Jet Lex on Navigating Society As A Transgender Person. Jet is a first-year student at the University of Dayton studying photography. Jet harnessed his personal experiences and identity as a transgender nonbinary person to educate the audience on history, terminology, flags, and media representation. 

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On Wednesday, Dr. Kristen Keen and two student panelists facilitated a pronoun workshop to educate the student body about pronoun usage in society. Dr. Keen serves as Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the Brook Center, which houses sexual violence prevention education, LGBTQ+ student services, and health education and wellbeing. She and the panelists shared LGBTQ+ resources and initiatives for UD students, as well as opened up discussion on pronoun usage and some common misconceptions. The students learned about the flexibility of pronouns, normalizing changing one’s pronouns or trying out new ones. Dr. Keen explained that the usage of preferred pronouns displays respect and acceptance. The student panelists opened up about their experiences on campus, and the Marianist message to show love to all. I took away so many more resources for students to engage with other LGBTQ+ people and find a community at UD. 

Programming continued later Wednesday night, with a presentation on Educational Discrimination Here and Abroad.Guest speakers: Dr. Satang Nabaneh, Dr. Novea Mcintosh, and Sierra Kochersperger discussed educational challenges that women face on a national and global level, the meaning behind empowerment, and resources for the student body to get involved in the Dayton community. 

On Thursday, HRAG hosted an event on Period Equity and accessibility to menstrual products. Jen Glayzer led discussions on what period equity is and how it affects thousands of menstruators across the United States. Jen is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago and the creator of Flee Flo Box, a free period product pantry located in South Park Dayton, that provides free tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and period underwear to those in need. In the last year, the Free Flo Box with Period Kits Ohio has provided over 10,000 products to menstruators in Dayton. 

A Gender In The Workplace Panel took place later Thursday night, which explored   common discriminatory practices in the workplace for different gender identities, including parental leave, and more. This event opened the conversation about gender identities in the professional world and how starting this conversation does much more than ignoring gender all together. Students learned that gender diversity within the workplace creates a stronger environment for all people, and opens up many opportunities for the workplace. I was especially interested in the panelists that work at the University, sharing their experiences and perspectives at a place that is familiar to so many in the audience. 

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The final event of the week was a dialogue facilitation workshop on Gender-Based Violence From a Human Rights Perspective to encourage respectful dialogue among small groups of students about the reality of gender-based violence and what it can mean in different societies. Megan Garrison, a professional prevention educator, Ahmi Moore, a student intern for Abolition Ohio, and Dr. Jen Frietag, a UD professor in communication discussed reactions to gender-based violence and how to navigate situations. Students then dialogued about their own reactions and experiences with gender-based violence within groups. 

Human Rights Week 2023 provided an opportunity for students and staff to learn, discuss, and open their minds to complex and difficult topics that are quickly changing in our world. We are looking forward to continuing the conversation in the future and for Human Rights Week 2024!

 


Allie is a junior human rights studies and criminal justice major from Chicago, Illinois. She is involved in the Dayton Civic Scholars cohort, Club Water Polo, and Human Rights Advocacy Group, and serves on the executive board of her women's fraternity. As a Human Rights Center student intern, she works to motivate the student body at UD to learn about and get involved in essential human rights issues. Her interests lie in criminal justice reform, women's rights, community outreach, and so much more!

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