By Sydney Wilmer and Katie DePaola

This project was inspired by the idea tht each person has a distinct story, and it is important to get to know each other in order to make this big world a bit smaller. It is also based on the notion that our differences are what make us unique. Only by facing our own misunderstands can we begin to break down the walls we have created.

Read about Lesley below. But just reading about these individuals isn't enough to understand their struggles, passions and unique stories. To hear Lesley discuss labels in her own words, click here.

Lesley Colon was an unabashed feminist before she even knew the meaning of the word.

“Ever since I was little, and I saw (my dad) hit my mom, I just knew in my gut that that was not OK,” she said.

But the New York City native, who grew up in a “very poor,” Puerto Rican household, quickly clarified exactly what the term “feminist” means to her.

As a woman, “I just want to be seen as equal,” she said.

“In my family, the men are the breadwinners. The women are the ones who stay at home, take care of the kids and make dinner for their husbands.”

The oldest of four, Colon realized after her sisters were born they should not think it was acceptable for her dad to hit her mom simply because “he was the man.”

“My sisters are not going to be taught to be submissive to a man,” she said. “They are just as good as a man. They are going to get that high-rise job. They are going to be the CEO of some company.”

When she got to Vanderbilt, Colon realized that was called feminism.

Bringing ideas into action
But this realization involved more than simply hearing the word.

During her sophomore year, Colon tried out for “The Vagina Monologues” and finally discovered a place where her ideas fit. Being a member of the cast brought everything together.

“I’ve been the shoulder to cry on when someone has been raped, so that just hit it home for me,” she said. “‘Vagina Monologues.’ I guess it was my calling.”

At the same time, Colon enrolled in a women’s and gender studies class, and her identity as a feminist soon crystallized.

Though she does not keep up with a lot of the women she met through the class and the play, she recognizes their unique bond.

“Just walking around campus and knowing that you share that power, where we can change something. That’s the connection I have with those girls.”

Working for a woman’s world
Colon recognizes the reaction to feminism can be negative, but she said those reactions are mostly based on misconceptions.

“I feel like if you say feminist, people think you are this go-getting, women-power (person),” she said. “Automatically, they think you are biased against men and hate men. I appreciate the other half.”

And what frustration she does have is based on workplace sexism, she said.

“I think that overall, people think a lot of feminists are angry. I’m frustrated more than angry. I’m not going to punch a wall,” she said. “(Society) has made progressive steps, but they’ll still look at the man’s resume before they’ll look at mine.”

Until she graduates next year, Colon has committed herself to the creation of a multicultural sorority chapter at Vanderbilt, hoping to embrace women of all cultures “so (they) can all come together and strive for one thing.”

For Colon, feminism is about creating change — not getting mad or getting even.

“Just because my dad hit my mom doesn’t mean I hate men for life,” she said. “It is my dad’s fault for hitting my mom, but it’s society’s fault for making him think it’s OK to hit my mom.

“And that’s what I feel a lot of feminists are trying to change — that whole (attitude that) ‘It’s OK for men to do this; it’s OK for men to be better; it’s OK for men to be treated better’”

And, in part, Colon wants to use her career to help make that change.

“To impact society … you have to get at the kids young. You have to teach to the future,” the special education and child development major said. “I’m going to be like, ‘Sweetheart, you’re just as good as a dude.’”