Zonta, the Definition of Feminism
It’s insane to have to mold yourself into a standard of physical and social attributes, even more so for women. The past created impossible standards for them to fulfill, like to never outshine a man’s success. The double-standard for men and women is still very evident in today’s society, and it needs to be not only addressed but dealt with. To dive deeper into this topic, Anika Lacson and Angelica “Jeckay” Peralta, two women who made it their duty to speak up about problems like these, educate others, and be there for those who have dealt with similar situations share their stories. Anika is taking the BSBA- Sustainability Management Course, while Jeckay is taking the BS- Entrepreneurship Course in Enderun Colleges. They will be graduating this upcoming 2024. While they are still working and learning, they also took the responsibility to be part of the Executive Committee of Zonta, an Enderun Colleges RSO, with Anika, as the President, and Angelica, as the Vice President. They have experienced the ups and downs in sustaining Zonta’s name through the years.
When Anika was handed the Presidential position in Zonta, she accepted the challenge of educating people about feminism without any hesitation. Despite the many challenges she faced, she looked at the bigger picture and persevered because Zonta was the perfect platform for people to fight for inequality.
On the other hand, Jeckay was part of Zonta way before Anika. She joined in 2017 back when the community was barely active. After Anika and the new Executive Committee joined the picture, they revived Zonta. In the small little ways they supported each other, it also served as the biggest acts of love. With that being said, if you are looking to join an organization that will provide a safe space to talk about your struggles and thoughts with social standards, Zonta is waiting for your application. Please keep in mind that you can only apply next semester of this school year, but you may save the link.
Zonta is a free, no judgment community, by initiating events to keep in touch with each other’s lives and to vent about anything without any filter. This gives them the chance to expand their knowledge on the many issues different people face from their day-to-day lives while giving everyone the motivation to keep fighting for equality. This bond allows them to pursue open communication with everyone in the team and prioritise their mental health. They will make you feel at least a little bit safer in this world. Not only do they create true friendships but they also contribute a huge part of deconstructing gender stereotypes in every conversation and event they plan. Every action – big or small – reminds others how empowering it is to aid in the awareness of feminism– all to be one step closer to equality.
One of the most memorable endeavors they went through was when they had to take over an event about equality and diversity because the organizers backed out. Even if Zonta took over only two hours before the event, this helped them grow and show their true leadership potential. They also realized that they had to keep persevering to remind people about the important issues their organisation believed in as equality and diversity are still some of the main societal issues today. People needed to hear this important message from credible influencers, and that’s why Zonta knew it would be a mistake if they did not help with that event.
Just like in the movies; they were limitless. Joining this organization will make a person realize how much potential they have, and challenging oneself every day gives the person the chance to accept who he or she is. Encouragement, motivation, and true friendship are what lead their members to grow and eventually gain the courage to fight against social standards to be one step closer to fixing gender inequality.
Zonta is full of limitless characteristics and capabilities, but they were all challenged when education moved to the online setup. Despite the struggles, they still managed to keep their bonds close-knit. Every initiative they took was for the fight for feminism. They would not have daily meetings and events if they did not care for the mentality of their members, and lastly, Anika and the Execomm team would not have tried so hard to bring the organization back to life if what Zonta stood for did not mean anything. When you make the decision to apply to Zonta, not only will you experience excellence in your work, but you will realize that what led you to do so was because of the authentic friendship and love you get from the team is truly like no other.
Now that you have read about the wonderful experiences Zonta had gone through to be the united team they are now, here is how you can support the organization. They post awareness media and donation drives on both their Facebook and Instagram accounts. Know that you are supporting them for a greater cause, so you may share their posts or even participate in other programs that relate to fighting for the rights of women, genders, and people of color. If you believe in the wonders of activism or simply being an empathetic person to those victims of societal injustice, Zonta is welcoming you with open arms, ready to listen and bounce off of your ideas and thoughts. Don’t doubt your instinct to make the world better than you found it. Join their organization now so you don’t miss out on life-changing experiences.
Who runs the world? Girls.
