In an effort to combat stereotypes and small injustices that happen to women in their everyday lives, Grand Valley State University’s Women’s Commission has been advocating for all women on campus by acting on any and all injustices that occur with high hopes of preventing more occurrences in the future.

Approaching its 20th year, the group is committed to keeping the legacy as one of the first groups on campus to have representation from all levels of faculty at GVSU.

The Women’s Commission was started in 1996 as a result of an equity study done for women. This study showed concerns with climate, pay structure and equality among men and women regarding work.

Kristen Evans, chair of the Women’s Commission, organizes and runs numerous events headed by the group.

“We have three major annual events,” Evans said. “We have a welcome in the fall, a mentoring session in November, and a women’s awards ceremony in March.”

The Women’s Commission holds small group sessions called “conscious conversations.” They act as an opportunity for women to enjoy lunch, learn about what the group has to offer, and discuss matters revolving around issues in womanhood.

“Beyond the ‘B’ Word… Bold, Blunt, and Bossy” was the topic of the most recent conscious conversation on Jan. 27.

The meeting focused on the objectivity of the issue of equality. Being tough in the workplace and pushing employees may be seen as strength for a man, but a woman might be told that she is coming on too strong or that she is overstepping her boundaries.

The discussion even touched on the way men and women sit, and what those differences say about a person’s demeanor. Men generally sit with a relaxed, slumped posture, while women are supposed to be sitting straight and have their legs crossed. The women of the event talked about whether or not women are closed off unintentionally.

“The main purposes of these meetings are to give women a safe place to talk about experiences they have been through,” said Suzy Herman, advocacy chair of the commission. “It lets people know what we have to offer.”

The conversations consist of mostly staff. Recently, however, students have been getting more involved. The meetings alternate between Allendale and Pew campuses.

“We are bringing back the advocacy components and finding topics to bring back for our discussions,” Herman said.

A main goal for the Women’s Commission is to empower women and to recognize women who have done work advocating for women, have shared personal struggles, or have experiences relating to women’s inequality. The Women’s Commission hopes to extend to other women around campus, student or staff, to attend a conscious conversation.

The group works closely with other groups, including the Positive Black Women group and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. They have high hopes to create a change for women around campus.

The HerStory series is an event also run by this group that allows women in leadership positions to share stories that led to their success. Both Evans and Herman are actively looking for new candidates for this event.

The Women’s Commission group encourages anyone who has a story to share, enjoys stimulating conversation, or is looking to be part of a change, to attend these events and get involved.