Chick Flick Club promotes community among women

Chick flicks are usually associated with sleepovers or movie nights–and for the last two years, the Vermillion Cultural Association (VCA) has held Chick Flick Club in the downtown Vermillion Theater. The Chick Flick Club has been a place for Vermillion community members to watch a female-centered movie together.

“What makes it the ‘Chick Flick Club’ is that it’s movies about women,” Shannon Cole, executive director of the VCA, said. “That’s the defining characteristic. It’s a way to get women’s stories on-screen because, especially for a few decades there, we were inundated with a lot of male stories. You’re not going to see a Marvel action movie at Chick Flick Club.”

Since the club’s start, Cole has tried to reach out more to the USD community, she said. The crowd can be anywhere from ten to 60 people, depending on the movie and weather.

“It tends to be an older club, but we’re trying to change that,” Cole said. “We’re always trying to look for ways to involve campus and to bring students downtown. Anyone who is interested in a story that is maybe a little bit older but also features women is welcome to come.”

Bekki Engquist-Schroeder became a part of the Chick Flick Club as a sponsor. She said she wanted to be a part of it because it’s a way to bring together women.

“When I was asked to join it, the benefit of sponsoring it is promoting an event that specifically picks out pre-run films in a way that gets a group of ladies excited about being in community with one another,” Engquist-Schroder said.

Engquist-Schroeder said that the Chick Flick Club is open to anyone who is interested, not just limited to only women in the community.

“It’s geared more towards women but everyone is truly welcome so you don’t have to go with a big group of people,” Engquist-Schroeder said. “If you don’t know anybody you can go by yourself and meet people. That’s the whole point of it.”

The Chick Flick’s April movie was “On the Basis of Sex” and their May movie is yet to be announced. In the future, Cole said she hopes to see people continue to come to Chick Flick Club because it’s important to the local community. 

“I think it’s two-fold,” Cole said. “It’s a way for long-established members of the community to do a thing together. I think it’s also a way to bring new community members in and help them feel included.”