Sh*t Girls Say**...

In celebration of International Women's Day 2012 a week of profiles of wonderful Women of the USU…

From the Cellar to the meeting rooms of Holme, right back down to the basement level, across the lawns to the lecture halls, over to the walls of Verge and the workshops of PNR and far beyond, the Women of the USU are a multi talented bunch and you're damn right they have some sh*t to say...

Standing at the helm of the USU, President Sibella Matthews can manage commercial operations, student programs, strategic thinking and orders a mean take away.

My name is Sibella, but my friends call me "hey guuuurl". When I grow up I want to travel, but at the moment I'm also dabbling in being a professional student.  A wise woman once told me stop focusing on what women want, and start celebrating what women can give. Celebrate the different perspective women can bring to leadership teams. What makes your blood boil? Bullying and intimidation. I first worked out I was a woman when my parents gave me a Minnie Mouse denim jacket for my fourth birthday which I refused to wear because it was covered in pink bows. If someone told me to "get back in the kitchen" I would be very confused because I have no experience or expertise in cooking. I will be spending international women's day at the USU International Women's Day Celebration and listening to Destiny's Child. My year ahead holds law classes, four more months on the USU Board, and then exchange to The Netherlands!  Betty Draper, Joan 'Red' Harris or Peggy Olson? Haven't watched Mad Men, but my all time favourite female TV hero is Veronica Mars. Anything else of note...? www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lPQZni7I18

Bernice Zandona sings a fine tune and packs a pretty punch over at The Con.

My name is Bernice Zandona, but my friends call me Bernizzle. When I grow up I want to be  an opera singer, but at the moment I'm also dabbling in procrastination, shopping, library shelving. A wise woman once told me to challenge why things are the way they are rather than blindly accepting societal conventions. What makes your blood boil? Close-mindedness. I first worked out I was a woman when - I was asked to fill this out. If someone told me to "get back in the kitchen" I would probably get in there and poison their food. I will be spending international women's day at class, Hermanns and the opera. My year ahead holds lots of hard work. Betty Draper, Joan 'Red' Harris or Peggy Olson? Joan.


Heading up the amazing Women in Engineering Society Rachel Herman is proving that when it comes to biomedical engineering biology ain't nothing but a thang.


My name is Rachel Herman. But my friends call me Rach. When I grow up I want to be a part of something that makes me happy. But at the moment I'm also dabbling in Biomedical Engineering. A wise woman once told me "Confidence is the most attractive quality in a person". What makes your blood boil - People expecting things without giving back. I first worked out I was a woman when I realised I could do everything and anything, just like my mother. If someone told me to "get back in the kitchen" I would tell them to make their own damn sandwich, they would probably cook better than me anyway. I will be spending international women's day at the USU International Women's Day event at Hermanns, and the engineering Slip 'n' Slide. My year ahead holds organising fantastic events for the members of SUWIE. Betty Draper, Joan 'Red' Harris or Peggy Olson? Peggy Olson, I know what it can be like studying in a male dominated industry. Anything else of note I would encourage everyone to get involved in their university life, there are so many opportunities to make your time so much more enjoyable.

Bec O’Brien, PhD Student, Koori Centre Contributor, seriously fierce lady.

My name is Rebecca , but my friends call me Bec. When I grow up I want to be a sociologist focusing upon issues of knowledge and education, but at the moment I'm also dabbling in (still sociology), native title and Indigenous knowledge systems. A wise woman once told me "if you see the need for change in the world, you're the only one who will make it. So stop complaining, get off your backside and do something about it"- thanks mum. What makes your blood boil? Andrew Bolt- without fail. Every time he opens his mouth. That man could order a coffee and it'd make me hate him a little more than I already do (though one questions how 'black' he would need his coffee to be for it to be considered a real 'coffee'). If someone told me to "get back in the kitchen" I would probably follow directions and find a rolling pin to beat them with. I will be spending International Women's Day revisiting Aileen Moreton-Robinson's 'Talkin' up the white woman', a complete must on the feminist reading list. Betty Draper, Joan 'Red' Harris or Peggy Olson? I wish I could say Joan, I really do- but I'm on team Peggy. This is a woman who figured out what she wanted, went for it in the face of so many obstacles and without possibly even hearing the word 'feminism' demonstrated that her lady parts in no way diminished her as a person or worker (shock horror!). Anything else of note...? Again... can't say it enough, if you haven't come across 'Talkin' up the white woman' pick up a copy!

Standing up, sitting down and dancing across your twitter feed, Gen Fricker is one funny lady.

My name is Genevieve Fricker, but my friends call me J Frick (my friends are jerks). When I grow up I want to be a fabulously rich old maid like Joan Rivers, but at the moment I'm dabbling in stand up comedy. A wise woman once told me that 'we need darkness to appreciate light'. In life and in comedy, I think this is true. What makes your blood boil? When people say women aren't funny. As Tina Fey says, "It is an impressively arrogant move to conclude that because you don't like something, it is empirically not good. I don't like Chinese food, but I don't [try] to prove it doesn't exist." I first worked out I was a woman when other people became interested in what was going on with my chest. Other than that, I'm still working it out. If someone told me to "get back in the kitchen", I'd get back in The Kitchen (The Kitchen is the name of my fabulously appointed 18th century villa overlooking Lake Como). I will be spending International Women's Day in a van somewhere on the road between Byron Bay and Sydney, as I'm currently touring the east coast of Australia. My year ahead holds working on a second solo comedy show, gigging and travelling overseas. Betty Draper, Joan 'Red' Harris or Peggy Olson (Mad Men characters)? None of them. I'm the demure secretary in the background who by night is busy being a secret agent fighting the Cold War, dating Batman, and inventing the internet.

** This is a parody of the video phenomenon... I am in no way saying that the stuff these girls say is sh*t at all! (Although I bet they have muttered "Could you pass me the blanket?")