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Thursday, March 28, 2024

The president of the Network for enlightened Women discussed the distinction between two prominent feminist groups at a speech Wednesday night.

Karin Agness, a University of Virginia law student who in 2004 founded the group, known as NeW, was invited to speak at Turlington Hall by the NeW UF chapter to increase its awareness on campus, said Holly Hall, chapter president.

Agness spoke about the negative aspects of liberal women's movements, including victim mentality, androgyny and the alliance between the sexual revolution and feminism.

She advocated a more conservative approach to feminism as opposed to the classically liberal mindset, which aims for complete equality with men. It's OK to be different, she said, as long as men and women have the same rights.

"Feminism has gone too far," she said. "And it's time to offer a balance to the women's rights movement and debate."

She said NeW's goal is to provide a resource for conservative women on campus and emphasize that not every woman has to join the workforce.

The nearly 40-member audience, consisting mostly of women, included members of both conservative and liberal feminist groups.

Members of UF's chapter of the liberal National Organization for Women, known as NOW, sat together in the back of the room and challenged Agness' points.

Claire Beach, president of UF's NOW chapter, said Agness has a "fear of the radical feminist," and her lack of understanding fuels the divide.

Beach said Agness and NeW's views on liberal feminism are outdated. NOW appeals to modern women, giving them the opportunity to choose to have a career or stay at home, she said.

"I challenge you to walk the walk and support these liberal organizations that you criticize," Beach said during the question-and-answer segment after the speech. "We are for the same thing."

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