Why a Women's Center? II

Abstract

Control of space, particularly at the University of Illinois, influences the movement of the human body and the resources the University provides for the student body. The current Office of Women’s Programs provides a large variety of services to the UIUC student body. However, in order to address all components of women’s needs as well as issues of gender inequity, a Women’s Center is necessary on campus. This study attempts to determine the overall student body awareness of the services provided by the Office of Women’s Programs and the limitations that affect the expansion of the OWP to a Women’s Center. Three interviews with OWP personnel, an observation of the OWP setting, an observation of an OWP event, two campus surveys, and archival research were conducted to obtain the results. An analysis of the data yielded that a lack of physical space, personnel, programming, and resources exists at the OWP. The funding and promotional work for a Women’s Center is deficient on campus. The student body awareness of the OWP is minimal. One of thirty-three undergraduate students had knowledge of the OWP. The expansion of the OWP into a Women’s Center is a powerful step towards offering the UIUC student body a confidential and controlled physical space in an environment where sex as a cultural marker is expanding. This study provides preliminary information on the status quo of the OWP and reasons for expansion, which will contribute to future research on similar topics.