The Valley Breeze, May 23. 2024
By Lexie Thompson
I graduated from Rhode Island College with my Bachelor’s degree this past Saturday, May 11th. I double majored in Political Science and Justice Studies with a minor in International Nongovernmental Organizations. I was inducted into the Political Science Honor Society and the International Sociology Honor Society. During my college experience I also worked full-time, completed internships, one of which was unpaid.
After all of this diligence, it appears that I should abandon my goal of getting into a PhD program and assume my true role as a woman; a homemaker and subservient to my man. NFL kicker, Harrison Butker, delivered a disgusting but unsurprising misogynistic commencement speech at Benedictine College, the same day I received my diploma.
Butker discusses how the women in the graduating crowd should “move closer to God’s will in their life” which for him, represents women staying in the home, pumping out babies, and supporting their hyper-masculine man. He also suggests that his wife once had dreams of a career but ultimately made the decision to serve him, and has no regrets.
Let me be clear, there is nothing wrong with claiming the role of a homemaker and embracing that wholeheartedly. Every individual should have the ability to choose their life path. However, it is concerning that Butker’s address attacked women who seek a career, the LGBTQ+ community, abortion and birth control access, and those who grow their families through IVF and surrogacy.
While Kansas, where Benedictine College is located is historically a Republican state, those same ideals are present in Rhode Island institutions as well. Providence College’s administration has been accused of suppressing its LGBTQ+ population, with faculty and students protesting to the college’s president, Kenneth Sicard.
Sicard mentioned that the college is “not a place of total free expression” because of Catholic teachings. Due to these ideals, the former Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion director was harassed, received no workplace support, and was told they could not identify as queer. This eventually led to them vacating the position and filing a discriminatory complaint against the school.
Providence College and the LGBTQ+ community have been at odds for years. The school will claim to be inclusive to the public, but does not hold true behind closed doors. Men such as Harrison Butker and Kenneth Sicard endorse the parts of religion they can weaponize, the parts that support the patriarchy and their control over others. Nevertheless, the notion of love and acceptance that their King Jesus Christ proclaimed, is conveniently forgotten.
Alexis Thompson is Administrative Lead for the Rhode Island Non-Profits The Womxn Project and The Womxn Project Education Fund.
