SAN FERNANDO : Counselor Monitors Sexism at College

Sometimes it is Penny Jarecke’s job to scan college documents for sexist language or to explain to students why a violent term like “deck her” is offensive in describing intercourse with a woman.

Other times, the instructor and counselor at Mission College finds herself encouraging women to enter non-traditional jobs or highlighting the work of accomplished women left out of history books.

Jarecke, who staffs the college’s one-person Office of Gender Equity, says her role as part watchdog and part promoter of women is vital in creating a more inviting atmosphere for women at the 7,400-student campus.

“I think it’s important because women have been discriminated against so long. They need all the assistance they can get,” said Jarecke, who has headed the office for two years.

Jarecke provides that assistance any way she can. If women need to know what constitutes sexual harassment, she will hold a workshop. If women need role models, she will organize displays like the one featured in the Learning Resources Center this month on seven Latina social and civil rights activists.

The display consists of biographies and photographs of notable Latinas like Dolores Huerta, who serves as vice president of United Farm Workers union. “Latinas need to see they can be a lawyer, a doctor, a businesswoman. Role models are incredibly important,” Jarecke said.

Jarecke also scans college documents such as catalogues, class schedules and announcements for masculine pronouns and other sexist language. For example, a class called “Contemporary Man and His Art” was changed to “Contemporary Art” after Jarecke raised objections.

“When I find a masculine term like man or mankind being used to refer to all humans, I ask them to replace it with a gender-neutral term like humans and society,” Jarecke said.

And then there was the flap over the AIDS awareness poster that contained the phrase “deck her” last semester. Jarecke explained to perplexed students that the term was offensive because it is associated with violence.

For Jarecke, it’s all in a day’s work. “Great strides have been made, but the fight for women’s equity is not won yet,” she said.