MOP Vaishnav College for Women in Chennai, India, organized a seminar titled “Drawing Parallels Between Indian Feminism and Western Feminism,” on December 17, 2024.
The event, hosted by the Department of Public Policy at the Meghdoot Auditorium, featured Spokesperson for the U.S. Consulate in Chennai, Samantha Jackson. Jackson led an engaging discussion on global women’s issues and the critical importance of women’s empowerment.
The program commenced with a screening of the award-winning film Hidden Figures. This inspiring movie portrays the lives of three African-American women mathematicians who played pivotal roles during NASA’s Space Race. The screening set the tone for the seminar by highlighting gender inequality and the underrepresentation of women in key sectors of society.
In her address, Jackson stressed the need for collective efforts to address gender-based disparities. Quoting, “Women and girls make up half of the world’s population, yet far too often their voices go unheard,” she encouraged the audience to reflect on the global inequalities women face.
Jackson also discussed various initiatives aimed at empowering women, ranging from NASA’s recent outreach efforts to workplace programs that promote trust and inclusivity. “Feminism starts with us,” she emphasized, adding, “Belief that we can achieve is the first step towards change.”
She highlighted the role of men as allies in fostering equal opportunities and brought attention to several initiatives led by the U.S. Embassy to advance gender equality. These include Women’s History Month campaigns, where works by feminist icons such as Dr. Maya Angelou are translated into regional languages like Tamil to broaden the reach of empowerment messages. Additionally, the Exchange Vision Programs aim to unite young leaders to promote collaboration, inclusivity, and workplace trust, she added.
The students of MOP Vaishnav College were instrumental in organizing the event, demonstrating their dedication to youth engagement and raising awareness of feminist issues. The seminar succeeded in sparking meaningful conversations about feminism and reinforced the idea that challenges can be addressed through collective effort and mutual trust.
As Jackson concluded, “Once we are good at something, gender doesn’t come in between,” leaving the audience inspired to effect change within their own communities.
