At the age of 20, Women’s Studies junior Sarah Michal Hamid is already an accomplished scholar in the College of Social Sciences. She is the first recipient of the Chesney-Lind Women’s Studies Endowed Scholarship, and was featured by Teen Vogue magazine as one of five outstanding young feminists for her role as co-coordinator of the AF3IRM chapter in Hawai’i, an anti-imperialist transnational feminist organization. Originally from Claremont, California, Hamid moved to Honolulu to attend UH Mānoa, where she has become a high-energy college student driven to excel in her major while making a positive difference in the world.
What motivated you to major in this field?
I became interested in feminist studies at the age of 15 after reading (UH Professor Emerita) Haunani-Kay Trask’s book, Eros and Power: The Promise of Feminist Theory. My parents were supportive of my decision to major in Women’s Studies, which both surprised and relieved me. There’s often an idea surrounding this major that it’s irrelevant or useless in the “real world” but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
How has your major changed you?
This degree program has impacted my life considerably. Women’s Studies is a small but mighty department – everyone always works to ensure that students have the resources that they need. There is a sense of community and care that is empowering me to learn to fight for what’s right.
Congratulations on being featured as one of the youth feminists in Teen Vogue on Women’s Equality Day 2020.
Thank you! I was featured along with four other amazing young feminists who organize and fight for feminist issues in their own communities. I was truly surprised to receive this recognition, because people often forget about the organizing part of being in a group, specifically organizing feminist happenings in Hawai’i. Since receiving this award I have begun to trust myself more, learning that I am capable of bringing about important change.
What did receiving the Chesney-Lind Women’s Endowed Scholarship mean to you?
It impacted me considerably. As the inaugural recipient of this scholarship, I was greatly honored, and it has aided my ability to receive a university education without constant fear of financial issues, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What other accomplishment are you most proud of?
I wrote and published a piece in the UH undergraduate journal, Horizons, titled, “The Power of Puʻuhonua o Puʻuhuluhulu: Intersections of Gender and Justice Work on Mauna Kea.” It examines the oral histories of two amazing women in my life who were at the forefront of the movement to protect the mauna. The publishing process is quite difficult and rigorous, so I am very grateful that I persevered and saw this piece through publication.
What’s next for you?
I am on track to graduate in Spring 2022. My future plans are to continue grounding myself in the community and fighting for the liberated world that we all deserve.
