Erinn Carter ‘05 and Georgia Faye Hirsty ‘07 are the co-founders and co-directors of Frailty Myths, an Oakland-based nonprofit devoted to deconstructing the social myth that women and feminine-identified individuals are weak.
The women-of-color led organization aims to build power among women, trans, and gender non-conforming people by fostering skills traditionally considered the domain of cis men.
Through hands-on workshops in woodworking, sailing, climbing, farming, and other self-reliance skills, Carter and Hirsty aim to cultivate new models of power and create safe spaces for marginalized communities to grow and thrive.
Carter and Hirsty are veteran activists who have been best friends ever since they met at Whittier College more than ten years ago.
“Frailty Myths is the realization of a longtime conversation the two of us have had that started at Whittier College, about shattering myths around what women can do, not just in the garage or at sea, but as leaders of grassroots organizations,” Carter explained.
The enterprising duo are devoted to empowering a diverse population of women and feminine-identified people with their accessible, free self-reliance workshops. Carter is proud to report that 53 percent of Frailty Myths workshop participants identify as people of color, 47 percent identify as LGBT+, and 43 percent make less than $30,000 per year.
Carter said that transferring to Whittier College from a large university was one of the most positive decisions of her life. “It wasn’t until I got to Whittier that I felt valued, and had professors really hear what I had to say. It’s so powerful for people understand the value of their voice,” she said.
The liberal arts education that Carter received at Whittier also gave her a smooth and natural transition into starting a nonprofit like Frailty Myths.
“Running a nonprofit is a liberal arts education in itself. It is having the ability to be flexible, learning how to problem-solve, and asking questions. It’s learning how to think outside the box,” said Carter.
Carter and Hirsty returned to Whittier College last year to talk to current students, and they hope to continue their outreach and maintain a strong connection with the campus. They are also looking for volunteers, and would be thrilled to work with more Whittier students and alumni.
Learn more about the Frailty Myths mission at Frailtymyths.org.
