I first met Jennifer Garvey in undergrad at Pace University and she immediately made a strong impression on me for many reasons. She is one of a kind who is not afraid to speak her mind (hah! that rhymes...) This girl oozes passion for feminism and social change. As a women's studies and sociology/anthropology double major, she certainly made the most of her time at Pace and now she applies those skills to her work outside of the academy. When I found out that Jenn was interested in being part of this project I was excited because I'd get to engage with her in the fifteen questions below. I know you'll find her as fascinating and inspiring as I do.
Who Are You?
Jennifer Garvey, Dog lover, Feminist Activist, 22 year old college graduate student living in Brooklyn with no money.
What do you believe in?
Equality.
What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?
I want to see lots of change, but the change I am most passionate about is to achieve equality between women and men. I hope to help achieve this by supporting and taking part in early education for children. We need to stop gendering children at a young age. We need to teach boys and girls to treat one another with respect. To go further, I want to change college rape culture. I have worked hard to help my college, Pace University, adopt a better sexual assault policy, but I feel activists need to go into colleges across the nation to educate students how to fight against sexual assualt. To go back to early education, I feel that we need to teach young boys not to sexually harass, assault, or rape women. I feel that many times adults don't just say, "don't rape women," so there is this blurry line of what is acceptable and that line needs to be clarified for adolescents so that we can lower (and hopefully stop) the occurences of rape and sexual assault.
If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?
Billie Holiday, Neko Case, Langhorne Slim, Pablo Casals, Sufjan Stevens, Tenacious D, Bon Iver, Imogen Heap/Frou Frou, and Rufus Wainwright.
Billie Holiday, Neko Case, Langhorne Slim, Pablo Casals, Sufjan Stevens, Tenacious D, Bon Iver, Imogen Heap/Frou Frou, and Rufus Wainwright.
If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?
I would love to be going to graduate school for a master's in Women's Studies (I will be in fall 2010!), as well as own and run an animal rescue. Feminism is my passion, but my heart goes out to all the homeless, unwanted, and battered animals across the country. I foster animals as much as I can, but wish I could run one on my own.
I would love to be going to graduate school for a master's in Women's Studies (I will be in fall 2010!), as well as own and run an animal rescue. Feminism is my passion, but my heart goes out to all the homeless, unwanted, and battered animals across the country. I foster animals as much as I can, but wish I could run one on my own.
I Can't Live Without...
Sunshine, French Fries, Baking, My French Bulldog, Scout, and my fabulous and supportive partner, Matt.
Sunshine, French Fries, Baking, My French Bulldog, Scout, and my fabulous and supportive partner, Matt.
What are you craving right now?
Well, because I just said french fries, I want some from Pommes Frites in Astor Place with mango sauce, please.
Well, because I just said french fries, I want some from Pommes Frites in Astor Place with mango sauce, please.
Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...
The, Global Feminisms, exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum changed my life because it helped inspire me to do my own feminist art in my painting and sculpture class at Pace. I made a video that I was very proud of where I took an exacto knife and red food coloring and wrote words that people told me they think of when they hear "feminist." I wrote words such as "bitch," "bra-burner," "slut," "radical," "man-hater," and more. Then after I write all over my stomach, I wiped it off and wrote with a sharpie "FEMINIST" across my red stained stomach, and this all went along to the song "That's Not My Name" by the Ting Tings.
The, Global Feminisms, exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum changed my life because it helped inspire me to do my own feminist art in my painting and sculpture class at Pace. I made a video that I was very proud of where I took an exacto knife and red food coloring and wrote words that people told me they think of when they hear "feminist." I wrote words such as "bitch," "bra-burner," "slut," "radical," "man-hater," and more. Then after I write all over my stomach, I wiped it off and wrote with a sharpie "FEMINIST" across my red stained stomach, and this all went along to the song "That's Not My Name" by the Ting Tings.
What motivates you to do what you do?
The reactions I get when I go into classrooms to teach younger students about sexual assault and rape. Sometimes the classes would not be very active in the conversation, but then other times the students would almost take the presentation from me and start teaching each other. To know that what I am teaching is making a difference in just one student's college career makes me invigorated to continue to give presentations. I always go in nervous, but when the students are excited, I get excited!
The reactions I get when I go into classrooms to teach younger students about sexual assault and rape. Sometimes the classes would not be very active in the conversation, but then other times the students would almost take the presentation from me and start teaching each other. To know that what I am teaching is making a difference in just one student's college career makes me invigorated to continue to give presentations. I always go in nervous, but when the students are excited, I get excited!
If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?
This is really hard. So I have to choose more than one.
Helen Keller- would love to see her strength in person.
Simone de Beauvoir- so that we could talk feminism.
Sojourner Truth- so I could witness her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech.
Jessica Valenti- because she. is. awesome.
If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?
I would totally be in The Goonies. I would just be myself when I was that age, because I was a total tomboy and come from a working class family as well. To be honest it's an awesome movie, and I have just always wanted to ride the water slide in that friggin movie.
This is really hard. So I have to choose more than one.
Helen Keller- would love to see her strength in person.
Simone de Beauvoir- so that we could talk feminism.
Sojourner Truth- so I could witness her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech.
Jessica Valenti- because she. is. awesome.
If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?
I would totally be in The Goonies. I would just be myself when I was that age, because I was a total tomboy and come from a working class family as well. To be honest it's an awesome movie, and I have just always wanted to ride the water slide in that friggin movie.
Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?
This is kind of a depressing moment but when I was 15 I finally came out about sexual abuse I endured when I was around 10 years old. Once I came out about it, I felt as if air was being blown into my lungs for the first time in a long time. I didn't have to hide behind the shame anymore because with therapy I realized it wasn't my fault. It also fueled my passion to help fight against sexual assault and rape.
This is kind of a depressing moment but when I was 15 I finally came out about sexual abuse I endured when I was around 10 years old. Once I came out about it, I felt as if air was being blown into my lungs for the first time in a long time. I didn't have to hide behind the shame anymore because with therapy I realized it wasn't my fault. It also fueled my passion to help fight against sexual assault and rape.
Talk about the best day ever.
Oh my. I'm not sure if it is the best day ever that has happened, or make up the best day ever. I'm going to make it up because that is more fun for me. I would wake up, take my dog to the park and then go with my partner, Matt, to a coffee shop for some breakfast. I would get a text saying a woman won the race for President of the United States. Then, I'd go to the farmers market for some fresh fruits, vegetables, and a bouquet of flowers. All the dogs and cats in shelters everywhere would find their forever homes. Matt would tell me he is not allergic to cats, and we would adopt one (my dog Scout would be very happy about this). I'd teach a women's studies class. Meet up with my best friend at Pommes Frites for lunch. Go to the beach. I would learn how to surf, knit, and horseback ride. Get a massage, take a nap in the park, book a trip to travel around Europe with Matt. Go home, make dinner, bake cookies and fall asleep to the TV show, The Office.
Oh my. I'm not sure if it is the best day ever that has happened, or make up the best day ever. I'm going to make it up because that is more fun for me. I would wake up, take my dog to the park and then go with my partner, Matt, to a coffee shop for some breakfast. I would get a text saying a woman won the race for President of the United States. Then, I'd go to the farmers market for some fresh fruits, vegetables, and a bouquet of flowers. All the dogs and cats in shelters everywhere would find their forever homes. Matt would tell me he is not allergic to cats, and we would adopt one (my dog Scout would be very happy about this). I'd teach a women's studies class. Meet up with my best friend at Pommes Frites for lunch. Go to the beach. I would learn how to surf, knit, and horseback ride. Get a massage, take a nap in the park, book a trip to travel around Europe with Matt. Go home, make dinner, bake cookies and fall asleep to the TV show, The Office.
Create a Mandatory Reading List for the World...
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Who Is/Are Your Hero(es)?
My Mother.
Check out more of Jenn Garvey's pictures at: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/06/
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