Kathleen Quinn, president of the Philosophy Club, held an open conference in the Teleconference Room to help students get a better understanding on what a feminist is on March 24.

Three males were on the panel and a room of about 30 students with 30 different overviews on the subject.

The question was can a man be a feminist or how about a woman being masculine?

In the early 1900s, there was no such thing as a woman playing a male role or a man sharing similar characteristics as a woman. There would have been multiple punishments for either sex.

Vice President of the Philosophy Club Jorge Alvarado spoke out for the gay men.

He wasn’t able to decide if he was a male feminist or not, due to his understanding on what a feminist is.

The society judges others and box them with large labels tagged onto them.

Alvarado said, “Feminism has negative connotations that turn me off.”

Many students in the audience would agree but others are just the ones that label you to make you.

Students were able to ask the panel questions.

One woman began to get really aggressive and was interrupted by James Roscoe, another philosophy major, that was on the panel.

He said, “Men that get manicures and pedicures at the salon are feminists to me.”

Hands flew up and comments were blurted from all over.

“Washing your own clothes and cleaning is something everyone needs to do, male or female,” he added to his statement.

Eyebrows raised and confused expressions filled the room due to the fact at the beginning of the conference, Roscoe was asked what his definition of a feminist was and he wasn’t able to give a clear statement on what his idea of a feminist was.

To close out the conference Tracy Garcia, who is associated with the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, added her closing remarks, “Women are strong and should be able to be empowered to be leaders, not just passive followers.”

Students agreed with her statement. A few also rebutted and felt that this conference isn’t going to stop the labeling and stereotyping of men that have feminine ways.

They’re going to be tagged with the label of being a feminist.

Men can be feminists just as well as women can be masculine.

Hilary Clinton is an example of a female feminist with masculine empowerment.

Garcia said, “Pop that bubble filled with negativity and let everyone be their own person regardless of gender.”

The labeling of a male feminist won’t go away but there will be an understanding of it and with that comes experience and education.