Camille Escovedo

Camille

Today I interviewed my beautiful, lovely, magical friend, Camille. I had know about her views on feminism and I wanted to talk to her about it. Here's our interview:

So, would you consider yourself a feminist?

Hell yea.

What was it that made you become a feminist?

I ask myself that a lot, actually. I remember it was middle school where I really really got into it. I think it came to my mind because my brothers were way into videogames, so I would play with them. And of course, at that age, all I wanted to play was the girl. Tons and tons of hypersexualization and lack of representation and sexism.

What do you think about the sexualization of women in media?

That it's so normalized that we don't think about it much. And the attempts to point this out through replacing the women being sexualized so much by guys doesn't really...help? It does make it obvious that most of what we see through TV is through the cishet male gaze.It trivializes women's experiences like with politicians, focusing on their romantic/sex lives.

Why do you need feminism?

I need feminism because people seem to think that me having the right to vote is all there is to my equality. That there's a list that's been released of colleges with bad records on handling sexual assault cases and that that could affect whether I want to go there - in addition to 1 in 4 women face this there. Learning to live from my own experience.

Has your gender ever stopped you from doing something?

Not in recent years, but yeah. Speaking up more, from my perspective.Um, wearing certain stuff out when it's hot and walking on the other side of the street because groups of guys and men in cars are kind of scary. I don't want to risk somebody giving me a piece of rape culture if I get hollered at or something.

I understand that. Do you think there are any untruthful stereotypes about feminists?

Most of them, yeah. The obvious: feminists don't hate men or think they're stupid, but the truth is sometimes it's easier and relieving to just say that when you've been forced to justify your frustration with the status quo. We like men a lot and think of them as more human than I think society does in general - smart, in control, and capable enough not to commit violence against women, of any form.

Have you ever been discriminated against because of your feminism?

People laugh about it. Last year, I co-founded and co-directed my high school's first feminist club and there were guys who called it the sexism club. Made fun of it and came in once to ask some offensive questions.

What did they ask?

Asking why it's always about men, why not about men being victimized by feminists. Refusing to acknowledge that what creates the reasons for feminism's existence is male-domination.

What did you have to say to that?

I gave them a hard look and tried my best to explain that while sexism hurts us all, it puts men in a position of power and devalues women specifically. The worst insult for cis girls and cis guys are both being compared to being a girl which is why focus is placed on empowering women, specifically.

Have you ever been discriminated against because you were a woman?

I think the prevalence of sexism does not look the same as it used to. For example, I don't measure it by someone face to face telling me I can't do something because I'm a woman. Discrimination isn't always interpersonal like that. Institutional rather. I live in a culture that has a much harsher pay inequity for Latina women than what it's usually announced as - from a white woman's average. Like, if that makes sense. So little consideration for marginalized experiences. That what gets attention is only the most privileged of the unprivileged in that regard. So, interpersonally, not so much, but the way society works is positioned against women's advancement.

What is feminism to you?

Feminism is something I cling to. It's a way to make sense of what is my reality, as a girl. It is where I come from when I realize deeper and deeper that there has to be another way. That what i've learned, institutionally, is not through my lens or necessarily in my best interest.

Alright, thank you so much, Camille. I've enjoyed talking to you and getting your perspective.

Yea of course!