For many, a trip abroad can shape the way they view the world, but living there can make an even more lasting impact.
Lisa Kirchner is bringing her perspectives on living in a different country, and her views on feminism to Ohio University.
“We like to bring speakers for international women’s coffee hour who can talk on a range of issues that focus on the ways that feminism, and women’s issues, may affect women differently in different parts of the world,” said Sarah Jenkins, program coordinator for the women’s center.
Kirchner moved to Qatar in 2004 and lived there for two years. There she took in the experience of the culture that surrounded her. Kirchner wrote a book about her experience in Qatar called, Hello American Lady Creature.
“Lisa spent a lot of time in the Middle East, so I think she’ll have a lot of interesting things to say about what it’s like for women who are living in the there, and hopefully it will spark some interesting discussions,” Jenkins said.
Kirchner will speak about her views on feminism that coincide with her experiences in Qatar.
“I’m going to talk about different notions in feminism,” Kirchner said. “I’m going to talk about my experience in Qatar because I went into that environment thinking ... ‘Wow I’m really going to set an example of what it’s like to be a liberated American women,’ and with my experiences there I realized that I wasn’t as liberated as I thought and I had a lot to learn.”
One of the experiences that Kirchner describes is how people in Qatar viewed her working and her husband staying at home.
“I was taking my husband there as a trailing spouse,” Kirchner said. “I was the one who had the job which is unusual there, mostly it’s the other way around; which created problems. It was all very confusing because on the one hand, I didn’t want a fairytale, but that’s not the same thing as wanting love.”
Kirchner said she enjoys talking to college students to see what is going on in their minds.
“I’m interested in hearing what younger people believe in,” Kirchner said. “I ask audiences all of the time, ‘do you feel that you’re a feminist?’ and I think in this age group I’m going to get a lot of yeses. I also like asking ‘what does feminism mean?’ and that’s always fascinating to see how different people define feminism.”
These programs serve as a way to get people to discuss subjects, such as the different definitions of feminism, in a safe and diverse environment.
“We’re trying to reach out to more international women,” Jenkins said. “We’re trying to create a little more of a community and give them opportunities to meet more people, and just find some more friends in the area.”
This mix of women can foster new relationships and bring different perspectives.
“We have a large number of international students particularly women from Saudi Arabia,” said Winsome Chunnu-Brayda associate director for the multicultural center. “Sometimes I think there are misconceptions about women’s rights, and women’s struggles within that region, and think it would be beneficial for students who are coming.”
If You Go
What Different Notions of Feminism with Lisa Kirchner
When 4-6 p.m., Thursday
Where The Women’s Center
Admission Free
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