The below piece is the winning collegiate essay in the Network of Enlightened Women’s 2024 essay contest.
Every human possesses an innate desire to feel heard, seen, and understood, but the unfortunate truth is that genuine community can be hard to come by. College life, in particular, presents a huge challenge to conservative young women in search of acceptance. Where non-conservative women are finding community and sanctuary, conservative women are finding a battlefield.
As the president of a NeW chapter at Washington State University, Vancouver, I’ve experienced firsthand the stress and challenges of openly holding conservative viewpoints. When I raise my hand in class to speak out against abortion, my classmates tease me remorselessly. Even professors have called me ignorant and sheltered for simply expressing disagreement with their views.
These experiences have, at times, posed obstacles to my education. Even the school administration has attempted to revoke basic student rights, such as hosting on-campus club events. The simple process of getting our chapter registered on campus faced months of resistance. However, there remains a silver lining in that these challenges have revealed successful strategies to transform obstacles into opportunities for growth.
First and foremost, maintaining a respectful and open dialogue with professors and classmates, even when differences exist, can help to foster a healthy learning environment. One of the main challenges that conservative young women face on campus is the classic hostile liberal professor. Despite their claims of being “inclusive,” and “tolerant,” these professors can be some of the most discouraging people with whom a young conservative will interact.
It is incredibly tiring to feel as though staying true to your conservative values may cause you to fail a class as a result. Many women resort to self-imposed silence, thinking that if they hide their conservative values, they can pass their classes and find community elsewhere. This is the first thing I want to discourage.
What I’ve found is that in almost every classroom, there will be a few quiet conservatives. The solution, then, is not to hide your values but rather to express them politely and openly. This creates an environment that attracts other conservatives and allows them to band together under the idea that they aren’t alone. It always starts with one shaky voice but soon turns into a chorus of voices proclaiming in unison that they will not be silenced.
Professors aren’t the only source of hardship for conservative women; their fellow classmates can also contribute to an unwelcoming environment, causing women, in particular, to feel out of place and even concerned for their safety. The strategy here is for conservative women to unite and form a community that offers support and protection. Reporting uncomfortable incidents to school administration, engaging in dialogue, and seeking external assistance when necessary are proactive steps toward creating a safe campus environment.
Universities should make more concerted efforts to encourage civil discourse and intellectual diversity on their end as well. The true essence of education lies in exposure to a variety of perspectives, which cultivates critical thinking skills.
Conservative women can also play a role in building relationships across the political aisle. Initiatives such as joint events and collaborative projects can bridge the gap between conservative and liberal students.
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As it turns out, the strategy to fighting the liberal mainstream on campus is creating a strong community of like-minded conservative women. This empowers these women by reassuring them that they aren’t alone and enabling them to navigate the challenges of academic and social life with greater resilience.
There is strength in numbers and even greater strength in a community of women who have found their voice. As a conservative woman, you will receive pushback throughout your time at college. It is important to be prepared for that but never be afraid of it. Bear in mind also that as a student, you have the unique opportunity to be a voice for change. What happens on college campuses across the country truly is seen, and it affects the trajectory of the future.
Adelaide Bradley is the president of a Network of Enlightened Women chapter at Washington State University, Vancouver.