Casperians like to brag, every now and then, about how privileged we are to study in São Paulo’s cultural and economic center. More than that, we’re also able to meet some incredible people from distant realities and learn a lot about them – what they see on their way to college, where they’ve gone through, what they’ve discussed about on the day before. Unfortunately, it is not easy to understand such different perspectives coming from situations we’ve never experienced before, but it’s a good thing that in the classrooms we’re stimulated to rethink some actions and previous concepts.
Today’s group is responsible for brighten up our visions in our prejudicial culture. The soon-to-be 3 year-old, Frente Feminista Casperiana Lisandra, is organized by women who fight against patriarchy that insists on being present in our daily routine, considering every spectre that prevents a woman from conquering her goals – or simply making her own decisions without judgement or impediments.
Engaged in an increasingly more consistent position in college, Lisandra is also responsible for many events, such as the Semana de Mulher e Mídia [Week of Woman and Media], weekly classes about different topics connected to Feminism and sporadic actions concerning the guarantee of any women’s freedom and rights. If you want to share any personal situation, doubts, or just something interesting you’ve just read on the internet, check out their Facebook group clicking here
You can also be part of their weekly Thursday meetings, open to everyone inside or outside Cásper, at 5:30 p.m., or Mondays’ self-organized meetings, which are exclusively dedicated to women and the sharing of more personal experiences and knowledge. Keep up with the week’s theme checking out their events on Facebook. Let’s take a look at some of the members of the Grupo de Ação – or the women that organize the actions and make sure our college days will be fully enjoyed (with less men standing in our paths).
Alessandra Parelho
Age: 19
Major: Radio, TV and Internet
Year: 2018
How did you become interested in participating in Lisandra?
I strongly believe in this project and in the importance of having such group in colleges, so I decided to be actively part of it.
What is the best thing about being part of the meetings?
It’s organizing the events and knowing that I’m part of a huge system of support for any woman who needs it. Participating in the meetings is also knowing that each and every meeting can open your mind to a completely new perspective – or even give you more data to ideas you already had and confuse you even more! [Laughs.]
Do you think Cásper’s environment makes it easier or harder to discuss issues brought up by women?
We can debate without many limitations and we also have the opportunity to organize great events such as the Semana de Mulher e Mídia, but it’s still a private institution so the access to the public is quite hard. It is not impossible, but there are only a few people that come.
What are your major expectations for 2016?
Be able to keep up with the Frente’s ongoing projects and actions, and also come up with some cool new stuff.
Julia Guadagnucci
Age: 19
Major: Journalism
Year: 2017
How did you become interested in participating in Lisandra?
I’ve started participating in Lisandra meetings since I got into Cásper. I’ve never had much contact with feminism while in high school, but I already knew that was a fight that came from strong women who are looking for gender equality – even though I barely knew what that meant.
What is the best thing about being part of the meetings?
There are moments of deconstruction, reflection and questioning. It’s learning to look at society, to your own home and actions with a critical approach. Collectively, our discussions help us find details of everyday oppression so we can fight them, question to try and solve them after. Today, I feel safe in São Paulo because I know there are huge networks of women that will help me face the patriarchal society we’re in.
Do you think Cásper’s environment makes it easier or harder to discuss issues brought up by women?
It makes quite hard for women, especially non-students, to be part of our meetings. Since guests and women from outside our college need to register in advance, there had been some cases of some not being able to get in.
What are your major expectations for 2016?
I expect Lisandra to be a collective with an even bigger meaning than it already has, with even more women being part of our struggles against misogyny. More and more women joining forces and being confident with themselves!
Laís Glaeser
Age: 18
Major: Journalism
Year: 2018
How did you become interested in participating in Lisandra?
My first contact with feminism was through social media while I was still at high school, but only in college I deepened myself in the subject, and the Frente Feminista was very important for me to learn about other feminist agendas, for my empowerment and to share stories with other women. I wanted to be part of it so I could help other girls as much as the Frente has helped me.
What is the best thing about being part of the meetings?
Exchanging experiences and knowledge. Everyone there is different, so we learn a lot from each other. Having such a safe place, in which we’re welcomed and listened, is the best part for me.
Do you think Cásper’s environment makes it easier or harder to discuss issues brought up by women?
I think it depends. The majority of students there are white and middle class, so it’s quite hard for us to do something outside our academic bubble.
What are your major expectations for 2016?
I hope 2016 will have lots of empowerment, questioning and deconstruction for everyone. That I’ll learn more and more, like I did last year – either with the classes, or the older girls or even the younger ones. After all, we’re here to fight all together.
Marina Braga
Age: 23
Major: Journalism
Year: 2016
How did you become interested in participating in Lisandra?
I am part of the Grupo de Ação since its beginnings. I became part of it because I already knew one of the women that took initiative to get together other girls to debate about feminism. Then, we saw the necessity in defining ourselves as Frente Feminista, and in that way it has evolved. I have never even thought about leaving this place.
What is the best thing about being part of the meetings?
For me, they are definitely the best part of Lisandra, no doubts. I learn a lot from other women that will go there to share knowledge and experiences. The debates are always very rewardable and usually they exceed the time of the meetings!
Do you think Cásper’s environment makes it easier or harder to discuss issues brought up by women?
I think our college’s environment usually urges discussions because, unfortunately, many types of issues and violence happen in the Casperian context (trote, parties, JUCA, and others), including classrooms (there are many cases of abuses of professors against female students). The debate that Lisandra brought up to Cásper is important so these things won’t happen anymore or its frequency is decreased for making us reflect, research and think before acting – especially men -, and also for being empowering for the women part of Lisandra.
What are your major expectations for 2016?
My expectations for this year are a mix of anxiety to finish college and to never finish at all so I can be part of Lisandra forever! [Laughs]. I’m looking forward to the fourth edition of the Week of Women and Media, that’ll take place in March, and to meet who is starting their classes this year! I really hope more women will be interested in Lis! As a woman, I expect to be strong enough to get to the end of the year, look back and know that my fight isn’t over, even with all the difficulty and obstacles that insist on getting in the way.
Nathalia Parra
Age: 21
Major: Journalism
Year: 2017
How did you become interested in participating in Lisandra?
I’ve known both the feminist movement and Lisandra even before attending college. In the enrollment day, I got really excited in being part of the meetings, and some time after, I was already more evolved with the girls in Grupo de Ação. Then, I thought it would be extremely important, and gratifying, to participate in the bureaucratic management and organization of the group, so now I’ve been there for an year!
Do you think Cásper’s environment makes it easier or harder to discuss issues brought up by women?
When I got into Cásper, the Frente was already quite articulated, so that’s maybe why I notice certain ease in taking feminist debates to our reality. We have weekly meetings, so we debate a lot!
What are your major expectations for 2016?
Honestly, I was a little disappointed with some things that happened during the trote. Apart from that, many new students were excited about Lisandra and that makes me very happy!
Are also part of the Frente de Ação Amanda Cavalcanti, Helô Barrense, Mariana Capucho and Paula Calçade.