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Feminist Club at Bellaire High School

By Zoe Kass, Bellaire High School, School Buzz Editor | October 8, 2021

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Members of Feminist Club pose with a poster made for the “Reclaiming Our Freedoms” march. (Photo: Ria Nanjundan)

It can be challenging to stand out at a school boasting over 100 student clubs and organizations, but the Feminist Club has managed to do just that. Meetings have attracted a sizeable crowd, and they are a time for meaningful discussion among feminists in the Bellaire High School community.

During these lunchtime gatherings, club officers teach members about topics spanning from feminist history to the issues women face today and engage them in opportunities for politcal activism. Their discussion meetings almost always conclude with an open conversation for everyone.

Club president and senior Phoebe Hulen, who became involved in the Feminist Club last year, hopes to grow the group's positive community impact, which already includes a tradition of donating annual t-shirt sales to the Houston Area Women’s Center and engagement in peaceful protests like the Reclaiming Our Freedoms march, which members prepared for by making posters at a recent meeting.

“I think one of our main goals, especially coming out of the pandemic, is to create… more of a community," says Hulen. "One of our upcoming projects is going to be a period [product] drive, and we’re going to partner up with other clubs at Bellaire.” With a club ethos founded on empowerment and outreach, the group's aims for growth, collaboration, and socio-political change will undoubtedly be reached.

In bolstering Feminist Club’s reputation as a force for positive change and collaboration, Hulen and her fellow officers have created a unique environment- one that serves dually as a forum for discussion and a place for Bellaire students to be themselves.

Hulen recognizes the value that the group has for her fellow students and emphasizes, “A lot of people… may not be able to share their views on feminism at their house… or maybe they just don’t know a lot about it. They come to Feminist Club, and they really find a space to find who they are [and] what they believe.” In keeping with the spirit of the contemporary feminist movement, Hulen encourages all students to join at any point in the year and seek out the plethora of resources shared on their Instagram page.

If you are a Bellaire High School student interested in getting involved in Feminist Club, follow them on Instagram @bhs.femclub and attend their bimonthly meetings on Fridays in room 3714 or 3730.