March Monthly Meeting: Immigration as a Feminist Issue
On Wednesday, March 15, Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) hosted our March monthly meeting, “Immigration as a Feminist Issue.” The meeting included a panel discussion and Q&A with student and faculty members. Panelists included: Susan Clampet-Lundquist, Ph.D., Richard Gioioso, Ph.D., Richard Warren, Ph.D., Lesley Reyes Pina ’22, and Jessica Gonzalez ’22.
Throughout the meeting panelists touched upon the structural barriers that many women face in the immigration process. Clampet-Lundquist noted how dependent women are on men in the immigration process, making them incredibly vulnerable during this time. Panelists also discussed issues of domestic violence for immigrant women and how domestic violence is not grounds for asylum, creating immense difficulties for women trying to escape unsafe situations.
Examining immigration policies in the US, Reyes Pina discussed how the framing by US policymakers matters. Policymakers decide who are treated as people and who’s human rights are protected, and stereotypes are powerful tools for lawmakers to create oppressive policies, Reyes Pina said.
The panelists all highlighted the intersections of feminism and immigration, drawing attention to the burdens that immigrants, especially women, face during the immigration process. Thank you to all our panelists for their time and insight! And thank you to everyone who came out to join us for this incredibly important meeting!
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