More than two dozen St. Joseph’s College women during a special common hour exercise in Tuohy Hall last week simultaneously recorded selfie-videos saying “I love myself.”
Stephanie Wright, assistant director of student conduct at Rutgers University, who often travels to give talks about acceptance and hate speech, led the group of students, faculty and staff through the self-esteem building exercise during the March 11 Women’s History Month event, “Am I Lady or What?” The video serves as a reminder that every one of the women in the room are worthy of self-love, Wright said.
“Don’t delete that,” Wright said of the selfie videos taken in Tuohy’s student lounge. “You are going to have days that are so bad, and you’re going to feel like there’s a lot of days when you can’t love yourself. On those days, I want you to go back to your phones and watch this video.”
Wright spoke about stereotypes and what it means to be a lady. The attendees appeared to be in agreement that being a lady means you are strong and independent, you take control of your own life and experience, and you are confident being the person you are.
Kean Hawker, assistant director in the Office of Student Life, said she was proud of the openness and positivity the women of St. Joseph’s brought to the conversation.
“Our speaker was fantastic, and I was very happy with the way the students responded to her,” she said.
