With lectures on some of history's most prominent women, special art exhibits, plays, and panel discussions, National Women's History Month comes alive at Sonoma State University this March.
The spark for the creation of National Women's History Month was first struck at SSU in the 1970s. The movement began when several female students realized the achievements and contributions of women were missing from their history texts and lectures.
The students went on to form the non-profit National Women's History Project. In the late 1970s, the group led other women,s organizations in successfully lobbying the US Congress to designate March as National Women's History Month.
Events for Nation Women's History Month 2005 are as follows. All events are free unless otherwise noted.
"VENUS" ENVY - Artwork by local illustrator Molly Eckler explores contemporary women's roles using an ancient female image. February 28-April 8; ICC Gallery, Student Union.
HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WOMEN'S HISTORY LUNCH - "Queen Ealdgyth: A Reflection on 10th Century Politics," Judith Abbott; "Come Vote Ye for the Ladies: Woman Suffrage in California," Danielle Alexander. March 1, Noon, Salazar 2016.
FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER: A DAUGHTER OF CAMBODIA REMEMBERS - Lecture-video program by Luong Ung, a survivor of the Cambodian genocide; recipient of the 2001 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature. SSU students free, $10 SSU faculty & staff, $15 general admission. Sponsored by the SSU InterCultural Center. March 1, 4 p.m., Person Theater.
QUEER LECTURE SERIES - "Transforming the Nation: Black History, Queer Politics and Movement Building," A talk by N'Tanya Lee, Director of Youth Policy, Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth, San Francisco. March 3, Noon, Carson 68.
HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WOMEN'S HISTORY LUNCH - "In and Out of Vigilante Headquarters: Crime and Politics in Early San Francisco," Michelle Jolly; "19th Century Feminine Transcendentalism: (Re) Visioning Liberty and Justice in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 'Herland,'" Kim Hester-Williams. March 8, Noon, Salazar 2016.
WOMEN AND THE PEACE CORPS - Discussion of host country nationals on how the Peace Corps women have affected skills in education, health, business and human development. March 9, 7:30 p.m., Salazar 1061
WOMEN IN NON-TRADITIONAL JOBS - Panel discussion of women employed in what were once considered exclusively male fields. March 11, 10:30 a.m., Carson 20.
RACHEL CARSON - Lilith Rodger's one-woman show depicting the life of author and environmental activist Rachel Carson. March 11, 1 p.m., Stevenson 1002.
HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WOMEN'S HISTORY LUNCH - "Lost in Translation," William Poe; "Criollo Chickens, Living Fences, and the Five Daughters of Dona Natividad: Land Tenure and the Gendered Use of Space in Pacific Coastal Guatemala," Margaret Purser. March 15, Noon, Salazar 2016.
QUEER LECTURE SERIES - "The History of the Intersexed Movement," a talk by Cheryl Chase, Executive Director of the Intersexed Society of North America. Noon, March 17, Carson 68.
THE DOUBLE X TOUR: WOMEN'S WORK-Tour of sculpture, painting and photographs by Bay Area women artists at the di Rosa Art and Nature Preserve, guided by WRC Coordinator Kris Montgomery. Call (707) 226-5991 for reservations. $15 per person. March 19, 10 a.m., Di Rosa Art & Nature Preserve, Napa.
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES - Theater performance about a girl dealing with her Chicana mother's expectations of women, as she weighs her life choices after high school. SSU students--$5; SSU faculty/staff, non-SSU students, under 18--$10; general admission--$25. March 19, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Warren Auditorium.
HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WOMEN'S HISTORY LUNCH - "The New Chinese Entrepreneurial Woman: What Would Confucius Say? Or Mao?" Prof. Randall Dodgen; "June Cleaver at a Protest? Unexpected Women Rebels in the 1950s," Margaret Miller. March 22, Noon, Salazar 2016.
QUEER LECTURE SERIES - "Ask and Tell: Gay Veterans, Identity and Oral History on a Civil Rights Frontier" Steve Estes, SSU History Professor, discusses lesbians in the military. March 24, Noon, Carson 68.
9TH ANNUAL WOMAN STUDENT LEADER OF THE YEAR CEREMONY - Reception and ceremony honors women students who have shown campus leadership and their mentors. The Woman Student Leader of the Year will be named. April 6, 7 p.m., The Cooperage.
National Women's History Month at Sonoma State University is sponsored by The Women's Resource Center and Associated Students, Inc.
Visit the SSU Women's Resource Center's web page http://www.sonoma.edu/campuslife/wrc/ for calendar updates. For more information on any Women's History Month event, contact the WRC at (707) 664-2845.
