"There are very few women of color in leadership and faculty positions on this campus. There needs to be more attention given to women of color."
Dr. Gonzales-Berry's Faculty Page
"The Contested Homeland: A Chicano History of New Mexico"
2001 Women of Achievement Award Recipient
Dr. Erlinda Gonzales-Berry has changed women's lives. During her academic career, she has come into contact with students from several campuses. As the Department Chair of Ethnic Studies at OSU her work puts her in touch with many students. Gonzales-Berry describes her role as "Educating all students and advocating on behalf of all students."
Her unique position offers insight into how women's struggles have both evolved and remained the same. While there are more women on campus then ever before, we are still struggling with inclusion and parity. "Some of the women that I work with still have the same issues that we had ... women growing up in a society that sends conflicting messages and double standards ... it's hard for them to find their identity," notes Gonzales-Berry.
Gonzales-Berry cites difficulties women face today that earlier generations did not. "As an old feminist, I think that young women don't have as much direction or focused attention on issues that women face as we had in my generation. It's hard for them to figure out what path they should take and confusion about what feminism really is," she explains. Gonzales-Berry reflects on the climate for women on college campuses today. She sees "confusion about what it means to be a woman in society." Fortunately, there are "more opportunities for women to come together to discuss issues - sort of the old consciousness raising approach."
The problem at OSU is systemic. "This institution developed as a very male centered institution and you get a sense of that ... in terms of positions that are open for women." Minority women face additional challenges. "There are very few women of color on this campus in leadership and faculty positions. We are stretched so thin that it is hard for us to offer that special kind of direction for other minority women. There really does need to be more attention given to women of color."
Not all of Gonzales-Berry's suggestions require major administrative policy changes. Plenty of work can be done at a personal level. "I think that there are a lot of individual women professors and professional faculty who mentor women on this campus." Dr. Erlinda Gonzales-Berry is definitely one of those women.
