As University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) students grow into their interests and future careers; they seek organizations that not only reflect their ambitions but bring a community of people they can feel represented by.
Referencing to popular social reformer Florence Nightingale’s quote, “Ignite the minds spark to rise the sun in you.” This unique quote relates to the purpose of an organization on campus that provides students with a place to speak their minds and advocate for themselves-UTEP Ignite.
In a place where women are still underrepresented, UTEP Ignite’s focus is to ignite the flame within their members. The non-partisan national organization is a haven for young women at UTEP to understand the realities of women in politics and to build the mindset of “rise the sun” within themselves.
Representation isn’t only hard to find in politics, but women are also often misunderstood or stereotyped. UTEP Ignite vice president and political science major, Chelsea Le Vay describes some of the struggles that are not visible and go unnoticed.
“Some of the obstacles and things that we face go back to not being taken as seriously [and] being underestimated,” Le Vay said. “I like to call them micro-aggressions—that nobody really knows are happening, but they’re just targeted towards women. Those things still exist and we’re fighting to be seen and to eliminate those things in people’s minds.”
The members of UTEP Ignite say some of the assumptions women face include being labeled too emotional, the expectation of balancing “work vs. family” and even pitting women against each other because they are the minority group.
Philosophy major, Elizabeth O’Hara, is also a member of UTEP Ignite and says the biggest misconception is that differences between men and women are natural.
“They want men and women to play these cardboard cutout characters from the last millennia,” O’Hara said.
The members say UTEP Ignite provides their members with various opportunities like live discussions with lawyers and attorneys and collaborations with other Ignite chapters across the nation.
“It opens your eyes to everything that is available to you,” Ignite president, psychology major Carolina Garcia said. “You already have that feeling of support [and] sisterhood. When I came to UTEP, that’s something I looked for.”
In spaces like politics where the environment can be negative and competitive, the Ignite members hope women continue to share and thrive off each other’s successes. And when odds are against them–rather than dividing, women create communities like this organization. Spaces that spark ambition, grow and thrive—rising the sun” in every person it reaches. Because as O’Hara describes, “change and the world we want to see, depends on us.”
Vianah Vasquez is a contributor and may be reached at [email protected].
