The TCU Women’s Book Club offers students a new way to look at issues that impact women. Through books, students explore and discuss gender-related topics.  

The Women’s Book Club chooses one book per semester and hosts monthly meetings to discuss that book, Cyndi Walsh, assistant dean of Student Development Services, said.

The club selects books based on current events and interesting topics, Walsh said.

This month the club is reading “The Dirty Girls Social Club”, written by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The story is about six Latina women from very different backgrounds.

Emely Torres, a film-television-digital media major and member of the book club, said she thinks that the book is amazing. 

The book brings to light the fact that just because individuals are of a certain ethnicity, it does not mean that they are alike, Torres said.

“Latinos often get clumped into this big cluster, and the book shows that they are just as different as everyone else,” Torres said.

By having discussions about this book,students will be able to gain a deeper knowledge about Latin culture, Torres said. The discussions take place in a small group setting so group members have a chance to share their thoughts and opinions.

One of the best parts about being in the club is getting to know different people at the meetings, Torres said.

“The questions make the conversations more meaningful, and everyone really gets to know each other better,” Walsh said.

The club was started by the TCU Women’s and Men’s Programs, which is part of Student Development Services, Walsh said. This semester, the Women’s Book Club teamed up with Inclusiveness and Intercultural Services and Human Resources in reading and discussing “The Dirty Girls Social Club.”

All students and faculty, both men and women, are welcome to join the book club, Walsh said. There is no registration required.

There are fliers around campus with the book selections and meeting times for the club, Walsh said. Students can also find all of the information about the club at womenandmen.tcu.edu.

The club schedules four meeting times per month to try to accommodate everyone’s schedule, Walsh said. The groups get together in a conference room at the library, and discussions usually last for about one hour.

Next semester, the club is considering reading “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” by Sophia A. Nelson in honor of Black History Month, Walsh said.