At the end of two years at the BCRW as a research assistant, I am sad to leave such an incredible organization. As I reflect on my time here, I’ve realized that what has been the most exciting and formative part of working at the BCRW has been having the experience to work in a truly feminist space. The BCRW is a feminist space not just because of its initiatives and events, or the way feminism informs every discussion, formal and informal, in 101 Barnard Hall. To me, the BCRW enacts feminism most profoundly in the way it fosters a place where every voice is valued, heard, and appreciated.
I have always remembered that during one of my first days working at the BCRW, my hours happened to overlap with the weekly staff meeting. I was immediately invited to join the discussion, and my opinion was sought at every turn and by every member of the team, despite what a new addition I was. More than this, I was impressed by how quickly other research assistants jumped in to offer their own opinion, confident of how genuinely their voice was valued. New to the research assistant position, and hesitant in my own contributions, this meeting was a first and powerful indication of how deeply the BCRW cultivates a rare and special feminist work environment, a commitment to horizontal organization, and leadership that nurtures rather than demands.
Adair at the Scholar & Feminist Conference 2014, with past BCRW Research Assistant Shilpa Guha ’12
This has only continued and deepened during my time at the BCRW. My projects have almost always been ones that, first and foremost, support my own edification. My first responsibility was to archive ephemeral materials from the women’s movement. I was excited as I discovered a magazine from the 1970s describing a female sexuality discussion group like the one I was part of on campus. Were the questions and struggles discussed then really so similar to those that I planned our curriculum around at Barnard now?