The 20th Century has been a time of profound change in American women's lives. In the big picture -socially, culturally, legally, politically - women's opportunities have increased. The female half of the population got the vote (1920), the right for married women to have financial credit (1970s) and came closer to equal pay for equal work. In large numbers, women moved, first into higher education, then into the workplace, even into space.
Day-to-day, more women are asking for equality in their family relationships. They've brought awareness of problems such as domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and child abuse from silence into the national consciousness.
We have much to celebrate. And at Sonoma State University this March, we're doing just that. Through the leadership of the SSU Women's Resource Center, National Women's History Month will be marked by events such as lectures, films and theater that focus on multicultural women's history and global issues for women. We'll honor one of our own professors, Dr. Kay Trimberger, who led SSU's Women's Studies Program for 20 years. We'll celebrate by dancing to the world beat of the all-women band, Pele JuJu. For more information, call the Women's Resource Center, 707/664-2845 or visit us at: www.sonoma.edu/campuslife/wrc/.
Celebrations of women's accomplishments are a tradition at SSU. In the 1970s, several SSU students realized that they weren't reading about women's lives in their history texts. With the support of the Commission on the Status of Women, they celebrated the first Women's History Week in Sonoma County. In the 1970s, founders successfully lobby Congress for the creation of what is now National Women's History Month. Those students and others went on to found the National Women's History Project, with its mission to Write Women Back Into History. The Windsor non-profit is 20 years old this year.
National Women's History Month
March 2000 Calendar
For more information, call the Sonoma State University
Women's Resource Center, 707/664-2845
or visit the WRC web site: www.sonoma.edu/campuslife/wrc/
(All events are free and open to the public, unless noted)
March 1-31
Honoring Our Foremothers
Second Floor, Ruben Salazar Library. A photo exhibit featuring portraits and information about historical American women of achievement.
Wednesday, March 1
Luncheon Honoring Prof. Kay Trimberger
11:30 am-1:30 pm, Multi-Purpose Room, Student Union. Celebrate Prof. Kay Trimberger's 20 years of leadership in Women's Studies, the Women's Resource Center and other campus women's programs. Reservations required: $14 faculty, staff and alumni, $6 students. Contact the Women's Resource Center, 664-2845.
Friday, March 3
Divorce Iranian Style
7 pm, Darwin Theatre. A documentary film about the marital difficulties of six Iranian women fighting for their rights in a patriarchal judicial system. For tickets, contact the Sonoma Film Institute, 664-2606.
Saturday, March 4
A Place Called Chiapas
7 pm, Darwin Theatre. Nettie Wild traversed southern Mexico filming the battle between the Zapatista National Liberation Army and the Mexican government. For tickets, contact the Sonoma Film Institute, 664-2606.
Friday - Sunday, March 3-5
Women's Backpacking at Big Basin
Amongst the pristine landscape of the Santa Cruz mountains discover your own personal strengths by challenging your body, mind, and soul working within the supportive atmosphere of other women. Co-sponsored by the Women's Resource Center and OutDoor Pursuits. Trip fee: $40, students; $45, faculty/staff; $50 general. Contact OutDoor Pursuits at 664-3951.
Wednesday, March 8, International Women's Day
Who's Counting? Marilyn Waring on Sex, Lies and Global Economies
9-11:40 am, Multi-Purpose Room, Student Union. Video documents how much of women's work, especially in the domestic sphere, is unpaid, unvalued and unrecognized around the world.
Thursday, March 9
Women's Comedy Night
9 pm, The Pub, Student Union. Must see comedy! Come for great laughs with Becky Pedigo and Page Herwitz. Clubs all over the country are delighted to have these performers return week after week. Co-sponsored by Residential Life and Associated Students Productions.
Thursday-Saturday, March 9-11
My Twentieth Century
7 pm, Darwin Theatre. Hungarian director Ildiko Enyedi questions the technological process at the turn of the century through the eyes of twin sisters separated at birth. For ticket information, contact Sonoma Film Institute, 664-2606.
Saturday, March 11
Pele JuJu Dance Concert
9 pm, The Inn of the Beginning, Cotati. Shake it to the wild women of world music! Tickets $10 at the Student Union Front Desk or The Inn. Co-sponsored by Associated Students Productions.
Tuesday, March 14
First They Killed My Father: A Cambodian Survivor Remembers
4 pm and 7 pm, Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall. Campaign for a Landmine Free World spokesperson and author Loang Ung will speak on her escape from the Khmer Rouge's genocide in her home country, and the continuing deaths from landmines. Co-sponsored by the InterCultural Center, Associated Students Productions, and the 17th annual Holocaust Lecture Series.
Friday, March 17
Not for Sale: Feminism and Art in the USA
7 pm, Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall. A video essay by Laura Cottingham highlighting the art and activities of more than 100 artists from the 1970s Feminist Art Movement. SSU Professor Jennifer Shaw will introduce the video. A panel discussion by women artists will follow. Tickets are $3, students; $5 general. Sponsored by The Friends of the Library.
Friday-Sunday, March 17-26
Flight of the Heart: How Amelia Got Her Wings Back
Evert B. Person Theatre. A play about the life of Amelia Earhart based on Euripides' Iphigenia in Tauris. Directed by Roberto G. Varea. Free for SSU students with valid I.D., $8 other students and seniors, $12 fans, $15 general. Contact the SSU Box Office for times and tickets, 664-2353.
Saturday, March 18
Antigone Too: Rites of Love and Defiance
8 pm, Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall. Meet 23 bold women from history who defied the civil laws of their time to respond to a higher moral law. Along with Antigone, the characters include: Anna Mae Aquash, Fannie Lou Hammer, Barbara Deming and "Mother" Jones. Readers theater, directed by Pauline Pfandler of the West County Theatre Arts Guild. Tickets are $3 for students, $5 general.
Monday, March 20
Feminism and Women's Spirituality
7 pm, Stevenson 3072. An interfaith ritual illustrating how feminism has changed the way we worship. Jewish, Christian and Pagan spiritual leaders will facilitate. Audience participation. Come feed yourself with feminist spiritual nourishment.
Saturday, March 25
Expanding Your Horizons Conference
A day of activities to introduce 7th and 8th grade girls to scientific fields and professions. Sponsored by SSU and Santa Rosa Junior College. For information, call 664-2241 or visit the EYH web site: www.eyh-soco.org.
Monday and Wednesday, March 27 & 29
Women's Lives, Women's Voices, Women's Solutions: Shaping a National Agenda for Women in Higher Education
Stevenson 1034. Live teleconference from the University Of Minneapolis, this conference explores the issues affecting women in institutions of higher education and offers ideas for improvement. March 27, 10 am-noon: Keynote speaker Johnnetta Cole, Professor of Anthropology, Women's Studies and African-American Studies, Emory University. March 29, 8-10 am: Panel discussion moderated by Caryn McTighe Musil, American Association of Colleges and Universities. Teleconference co-sponsored by the Women's Resource Center, the Political Science Department and the Women's and Gender Studies Program.
Monday, March 27
Female Beauty and Women's Hair
1-2:30 pm, Ives 24. How are ideals of female beauty, as revealed through values about women's hair, different across cultures? Join us for a showing of Nappy, a film discussing African-American women's attitudes about their hair. Moderator Anah Opincar will lead a panel discussion by women students of various ethnicities.
Tuesday, March 28
Women in Sweatshops in Saipan
7-9 pm, Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall. Carmencita Abad worked for six years in a GAP garment factory in the U.S. territory of Saipan. She'll discuss her attempts to unionize workers and improve working conditions, which meant standing up to retaliation from the factory management.
Wednesday, March 29
Women Student Leaders Award Ceremony
6:30 pm, Multi-Purpose Room, Student Union. An event to honor our own students! The fourth annual celebration of the contributions of SSU's women student leaders. Sponsored by the Women's Resource Center.
Friday, March 31
Women in the Sex Industry
1-2:30 pm, Stevenson 3008. Discussion of student research on the differing ways that women exotic dancers view their lives and work.
