By Rachel Shomer | Co-Editor in Chief
The Triota honor society held its spring 2018 induction on March 28 where keynote speaker Ashley Jacobs, Assistant County Administrator for Aiken County, discussed the importance of women in leadership.Triota is a national collegiate academic and service-based honor society for women’s and gender studies. The Augusta University (AU), Beta Theta chapter, honors achievement in AU's Women’s and Gender Studies Program and its courses. This group maintains values central to women’s and gender studies like activism, a celebration of diversity, and inclusiveness.Ashley Jacobs is also the founder of the South Carolina Chapter of the League of Women in Government and President of the League of Women in Government. The organization supports local and statewide groups that help encourage and increase women in leadership, in addition to educating officials about gender balance.Jacobs’ speech not only centered on women in politics but also women leaders in the workplace. She stressed encouraging these leaders and others to help women in men-dominated fields fight gender-based bias and violence at work.
Concerning the mistreatment of women in workplaces, Ashley Jacobs discussed how this sends the same message gender bias thrives on - the idea “women don’t deserve”. She believes domestic violence, sexual violence and gender discrimination all root from this very thought, perpetuated by false stereotypes that exclude and mistreat women while maintaining men-dominated fields.Having more women in leadership forming alliances with gender balance advocates combats discrimination. It fights to help increase the number of women serving at the most senior and executive levels. Given Triota’s emphasis on social activism and gender inclusion, Ashley Jacobs was a perfect fit as keynote speaker at the induction.
Triota’s newest inductees are students Molly Seay and Christina Joseph (pictured above). Members must earn a 3.0 GPA or higher and have completed at least six hours in women’s and gender studies courses while demonstrating scholarly excellence.