The newly formed club Republican Women at AU offers an alternative to "radical feminism," according to Anna Loerch, the club's president and a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences.
"We wanted to expand the conservative voice on campus," Loerch said. "We decided that this would be a route to go."
The group, which formed this semester, held its first meeting Oct. 16. Carrie Lukas, vice president for policy and economics for the Independent Women's Forum, was the guest speaker at the meeting, according to Loerch.
The Independent Women's Forum is a nonpartisan educational institution that emphasizes advancing economic liberty, personal responsibility and political freedom, according to the group's Web site.
Lukas discussed the differences between "radical feminism" and "regular feminism" and how the life choices women make affect the wage gap between men and women, Loerch said.
Many women today identify with feminism, and creating separate groups only divides the movement, said Hanna Grene, a sophomore in the School of International Service who is not a member of Republican Women at AU.
"As women, and as feminists, we should work together," Grene said. "Why do we have to ally with any political party?"
Many people hold a stereotype that women's issues are liberal issues, said AU College Republicans President Will Haun. Many conservative women are often frustrated because they feel many people see their views on women's issues as being out of the mainstream, he said.
AU Democratic Women and Friends of AU, formerly a campus group for democratic women, is no longer active, according to College Democrats President John Cipriani. The College Democrats would rather unite under one front, he said.
AU College Republicans started Republican Women at AU to get more funding for conservative causes on campus, according to Cipriani.
"I believe it's a way to get money, but I'm not sure that it's positive in the end because they're taking money from smaller clubs," he said.
Republican Women at AU and AU College Republicans are two separate organizations, according to Haun, who called Cipriani's accusation "ridiculous."
The College Republicans have enough money, Haun said.
Republican Women at AU aims to empower women to make their own decisions, Loerch said.
"I know a Radical Feminist and Gender Club just started up, too, and it's a good chance to offer an alternative to that kind of feminism," Loerch said.
The Radical Feminist and Gender Club provides a place to discuss the frustrations men and women have with patriarchy. However, the club does not discourage women from choosing more traditional roles, according to Natalie Harris, the club's president.
"Our goal as a club is to say that people have choices, not to say that they're choice is wrong - just to say that there are these choices," she said.
The Radical Feminist and Gender Club plans to hold "body positive workshops" throughout the year and create a space for people who want to operate outside traditional gender roles, according to Harris.
Haun said he is glad Republican Women at AU is on campus and that the club's presence is a "breath of fresh air."
George Washington University also has a conservative women's club. The GWU Republican Women Club, founded in 2006, provides a voice for conservative women on that campus, according to the club's Web site.
Republican Women at AU's next event will bring Georgette Forney, co-founder of the Silent No More, to speak on campus. AU Students for Life co-sponsors the event, Loerch said.
The Silent No More campaign aims "to make the public aware of the devastation abortion brings to women, men and their families," according to the group's Web site.
Republican Women at AU also plans to hold workshops on professional development and balancing a family and a career, Loerch said.