Women’s Studies Dept

Berkeley High is celebrated for its wide variety of academic opportunities and diversity in course offerings, including a successful and popular African American Studies department. However, the school is lacking in a different kind of equality. Berkeley High has been without any women’s studies courses or department since 2006, when the course was offered in Academic choice. This year, Life Academy English teacher Sherene Randle is starting a movement to resurrect a Women’s Studies course by the 2011-2012 school year. The response so far by the female population at Berkeley High has been huge, according to Randle, who is proceeding with these efforts without applying for a grant.

Possibilities for class content range from women’s literature to female sexuality, with an overall focus on what it means to be a woman in today’s society. Topics covered would include things that aren’t usually covered in sex education, such as the emotional components of both sexuality and the birthing process, as well as the science behind each. The class would be offered in Academic Choice, but available as an elective for anyone to take. Regardless of course content, Randle hopes to offer information and community-building in each class.

Currently, Randle has collaborated with midwives, teachers and nurses to potentially offer a wide variety of perspectives if and when the class is added to the course catalog. So far, two teachers have expressed interest in team teaching, including Amy Crawford, the co-lead teacher in CAS, and Amanda Salzman. Randle is currently organizing ideas but has yet to bring them to the administration.

“I feel that there’s a disconnect in the information young women are getting,” Randle said.“Women’s sexuality is a complicated subject and, as a result, a lot of information is left out of lessons.” For example, the fact that one in four young females or two in four African-American or Latin-American females has a sexually transmitted infection. “That sounds like an epidemic to me,” said Randle.

The classes are not going to be segregated by sex, though an application process may be employed to ensure that the students enrolled in the class are ready to be there. Randle accepts that this class will be controversial to some in its content, but feels that “the need is so great it is irresponsible of us not to equip young women with the information and support they need.” Some have already voiced their concerns about males on campus feeling uncomfortable around the subject. Randle is aware that the subject is seen as traumatic, taboo, or even ‘too much information’ for some, but feels that women’s studies is basic, essential knowledge for any young woman. She also believes that it is an important course for boys to take as well, in order to increase understanding of a misrepresented gender and help break down the stigmas surrounding women and female sexuality today.

This year, she says, is mainly for “gaging interest and need,” for a women’s studies course at BHS. “People are trained to have an aversion to sexuality, especially female sexuality. I feel it’s my responsibility as an educator to teach students what they need to know,” said Randle.