On Tuesdays and Thursdays in Langdale Hall, students engage in critical discussions regarding various social issues with Professor Angie Luvara, an artist, photographer and feminist.
With half of her hair black (the other half blonde), and the words ‘Hug Life’ tattooed on her knuckles, she’s far from the stereotypical image of a Georgia State professor. Professor Luv is a feminist, an anti-racist, and she is all about love.
While some feminists shun Valentine’s Day because of its “sexist” and “commercial” evolution, Professor Luv believes the holiday is more than boxes of chocolate and fancy dinners.
“Redefine Valentine’s Day,” Luvara said. “Whether you have a significant other or not, just tell all the people in your life that you love them. It doesn’t have to be so much pressure. Make it be about what actually makes you happy.”
Righteous beginnings
Luvara grew up in a small town in West Virginia where her dad was the coach of a football team. Early on, she recognized gendered differences in treatment between her and her brother that conflicted with her parents telling her nothing could stop her from doing anything she wanted.
As a young girl, Luvara was a tomboy because she associated femininity with weakness due to what she was taught. She knew she was strong, and the women in her family were strong.
“I didn’t want to be weak,” Luvara said. “My mom is super independent and also takes on a lot of leadership roles within our family, so I always say she was my first feminist role model.”
Luvara moved on to do humanitarian work as a young adult, and she says she put that above feminism. After she had worked at both a Youth Development Center and a Day Treatment Center for children with mental and emotional health problems, she realized she would fight for racism without addressing sexism.
“We served boys and girls, but every single girl that ever attended our program the whole time I worked there had experienced sexual assault at some point in her life. And these are kids between five and 18,” Luvara said. “These little experiences just showed me over and over how much privilege I have to have not gone through these things.”
Luvara has been an active feminist for four years, and she says there is no particular kind of feminism. Her feminism comes from wanting everyone’s freedom.
“I think it’s all-encompassing for me just wanting to eliminate all aspects of oppression,” Luvara said. “My feminism is recognizing that yeah I’m a woman and I have limitations on my life but then I’m also a white woman. So I have privileges that other people that I consider sisters don’t have.”
Luvara does not claim to be a perfect feminist, and she is still growing. She wants to act constantly and react to others from a place of love, but it can be challenging because the world is broken.
“We are all hurting and when we’re hurting it makes it really easy to fire back and hurt others,” Luvara said. “And I have a totally smart mouth so I can do it. But who I am when you strip away everything all of the impact the world has had on me is loving.”
The ‘hypocritical’ holiday
The holiday of love is often a point of interest due to the social dynamics of American culture. Luvara describes Valentine’s Day as heteropatriarchal because it’s geared toward straight couples, and she says the holiday has a reputation for telling women their value comes from being connected to a man.
“Lots of women choose to be single, but general society doesn’t see it like that especially on Valentine’s Day,” Luvara said. “If you’re a woman and you’re single you must be deficient in some way or you must be sad about it and want a man. Whereas men can be single, and it’s not the same pressure on Valentine’s Day.”
Despite Luvara’s strong views on the holiday, she still celebrates Valentine’s Day every year by making it her own.
“I try to show love to as many people as possible every day, but I try to make that day full of loving everyone that I care about,” Luvara said. “I have ‘Hug Life’ tattooed on my knuckles. I’m all about love.”
Guiding the next generation
Being enlightened by friends, writers and scholars allowed Luvara to grow in feminism. So she offered words of advice for those who want to know how to grow in feminism beginning with introspection.
“You define what your own version of feminism is,” Luvara said. “It comes down to figuring out your truth and what that means for you after you strip away everything society has taught us about what it means to be a man or what it means to be a woman. There’s a lot of outside work to be done, but it starts inside.”
Reading and teaching helps her continue to grow every day, so she advises eager feminist to read from feminists who have inspired her.
“In terms of growing in feminism I read a lot of Patricia Hill Collins and Belle Hooks. Teaching helps me because it keeps me on my toes.” Luvara said.
Students and friends who are actively resisting the standards of femininity continue to inspire Luvara. They give her insight on topics she has never lived.
“From cutting off all your hair despite your family and friends telling you not to because it’s beautiful, to taking leadership roles in things that people don’t expect you to do, I see tons of women in Atlanta doing their own things and resisting standards of femininity,” Luvara said.
Furthermore, Luvara also offered advice to those who want to resist the culture of Valentine’s Day and to those who feel oppressed by it.
“You don’t have to wear all black to resist Valentine’s Day because we need more love,” Luvara said. “Having a day about love is cool. We just have to let everyone know it’s not about chocolate and roses and expensive dinners. You can make them handmade cards or throw glitter on everyone. Just love on people, that’s free.“
Luvara believes the stereotypical view of Valentine’s Day is that if you aren’t in a relationship, you are not whole or complete as a person.
“Society says if you’re single, you’re not complete or if you’re in college and you haven’t made it into your career you’re not complete but that’s stupid. You’re complete now. Now go celebrate and love on people.”
