A society that began with a humble dream to create a safe space for women is now hoping to make radical change.
York St John Feminist Society was formed in 2025 as a response to the influx of women on campus feeling small, vulnerable, and targeted.
Throughout her time at university, president Amy Cutler felt a pressing need for a safe space for women that was curated by women.
Amy said: “When I was 18 and had just moved to York for my studies, I experienced much more concentrated rape culture”.
She noted that at every party she attended, at least one of her friends would report being “spiked, harassed or even assaulted.”
Amy no longer wanted women to feel threatened in “an institution that our ancestors have worked so hard for us to attend and prosper.“
She had a vision of an empowering safe space on campus for women to express concerns.
This movement has branched out from being just a community to a vessel for activism. Misogyny is the only bigotry that is not categorised as hate crime in the UK, something the society aims to change.
They have recently been invited to Parliament to collaborate with an ongoing campaign ‘Make Misogyny a Hate Crime.’
The initiative was founded by Citizens UK, an organisation that brings together diverse communities to find shared solutions to hate. Their campaign aims to list misogyny as a hate crime alongside racism, homophobia and transphobia.
This movement started back in 2015, and has since spread nationwide. It is due to be presented in the House of Commons.
YSJ Feminist Society aims to combat the culturally embedded misogyny that goes under the radar, such as employment discrimination, and a lack of education preventing young boys from entering extremist online spaces.
“I believe the campaign is important because many politicians believe that there are one of two extremes, nice non-violent men and rapists and wife beaters, and totally neglect the grey area in-between which is the most important to tackle before it becomes too late.”
The society hosts networking events with local charities, and Amy says they have big future ambitions of putting an end to the injustice women face.
“However the government progresses, I hope that our feminist society adapts and never stops fighting for what is pressing at a given time.”
