UC Shares Stories of Women, Past and Present, for Women's History Month

Over the course of nearly 200 years, there have been many amazing stories of pioneering women woven into the fabric of the University of Cincinnati's history.

There's

Louise Shropshire

, composer of the music that would become the Civil Rights Movement anthem "We Shall Overcome";

Winona Lee Hawthorne

, the first woman to graduate from UC (1878); and countless more.

This March, UC will share the stories of many other outstanding women, past and present, as the university recognizes Women's History Month and celebrates its theme of "Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives."

The National Women's History Project, a nonprofit educational group focused on celebrating the historical accomplishments of women, selects a theme for Women's History Month each year. Special programming from the UC Women's Center supports the NWHP's theme for 2015, and UC will host many other special activities in tribute to the vital role of women in American history.

What

began as Women's History Week in 1982

, according to the U.S. Library of Congress, was expanded to a month in 1987. In addition to the annual American custom,

International Women's Day

(IWD) is celebrated March 8, a tradition began by the United Nations in 1975 and inspired by early 20th century labor movements in North America and Europe. This year's IWD theme is "Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture It!" in honor of the UN Women's Beijing+20 campaign.

The essence of Women's History Month aligns with UC's

commitment to diversity and inclusion

, core values that empower individuals to transform their lives and achieve their highest potential.

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH EVENTS AT UC

Here is a comprehensive list of planned Women's History Month events at UC in chronological order:

UCBA Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf

11:30 a.m., March 2, UC Blue Ash College, location confirmed upon registration

UC Blue Ash College Multicultural Affairs will offer the program as a way to connect women of various cultures, backgrounds and religions. Women participate in the monthlong event that ends with a luncheon for all participants. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate. Online registration is available.

Contact: Corrine Witherspoon, UC Blue Ash Multicultural Affairs, 513-745-5691 or witherce@uc.edu

Faculty Against Rape: Research on and Political Organizing Against Campus Sexual Assault

4 p.m., March 3, Swift Hall, Room 500

Guest speaker will be Simona Sharoni, a feminist scholar, researcher, activist and professor of gender and women's studies at the State University of New York-Plattsburgh. Sharoni’s research and writing emphasizes the interplay between political violence and gender-based violence. She is the author of "Gender and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Politics of Women's Resistance" and more than 50 refereed articles and book chapters. She is also one of the founders and leaders of the new national organization, Faculty Against Rape. The event is sponsored by the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center; the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Taft Global Studies Research Group; Taft Human Rights Group; and the UC Women’s Center

Contact: UC Women's Center, 513-556-4401

Gender, War, and Accountability: Palestinian Resistance and Feminist Solidarity

7 p.m., March 3, College of Law, Room 118

Guest speakers will be Rabab Abdulhadi, associate professor of ethnic studies/race and resistance studies and senior scholar of the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Initiative at San Francisco State University, and Simona Sharoni, a feminist scholar, researcher, activist and professor of gender and women's studies at the State University of New York-Plattsburgh. Abdulhadi is a co-founder and editorial board member of Islamophobia Studies Journal. She co-authored "Mobilizing Democracy: Changing U.S. Policy in the Middle East," and served as co-editor of "Arab and Arab American Feminisms: Gender, Violence and Belonging," winner of the 2012 Evelyn Shakir National Arab American Nonfiction Book Award. Sharoni’s research and writing emphasizes the interplay between political violence and gender-based violence. She is the author of "Gender and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Politics of Women's Resistance" and more than 50 refereed articles and book chapters. She is also one of the founders and leaders of the new national organization, Faculty Against Rape.  

Contact: Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, womens.studies@uc.edu

Women’s History Month Open House

2-4 p.m., March 4, UC Women’s Center, Steger Student Life Center, Suite 571

The UC Women’s Center will host a casual open house celebrating Women’s History Month. Student and staff work will be showcased. Upcoming events for Women’s History Month will be previewed, including the release of the findings from the center's yearlong Program Review. Refreshments will be served.

Contact: UC Women's Center, 513-556-4401

"Identity Collisions: Gender and Sexual Diversity Organizing in Africa,” Graduate Recruitment Weekend event

3 p.m., March 6, Braunstein Hall, Room 301

Speaker will be Ashley Currier, associate professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. The event is sponsored by the Department of Sociology and the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Contact: Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, womens.studies@uc.edu

International Women's Day Celebration

6 p.m. March 9 in 400B Tangeman University Center

Women in Technology will host guest speaker Wendy Lea, CEO of Cintrifuse and a mentor at the Brandery. Lea will discuss her journey in business and with startups.

Contact: Michelle Blauman, blaumamm@mail.uc.edu

Second Annual Women of the World Conference

8 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 11, UC Blue Ash College, Walters Hall, Room 100

The conference will have sessions and interactive opportunities designed to “Find your inner FIRE.” Sessions include: yoga and dance classes; holistic balance; women in leadership; Sisters in the Spirit; and more. For more information, go to

www.ucblueash.edu/mca

.

Contact: Corrine Witherspoon, UC Blue Ash Multicultural Affairs, 513-745-5691 or witherce@uc.edu

Soul Café: International Women’s Day Panel Discussion 

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., March 11, MainStreet Cinema, Tangeman University Center

Hear from a panel of UC community members as they discuss issues impacting international women’s experience and representation today at this special International Women’s Day-focused Soul Café experience. Bring your lunch. Hosted in conjunction with Worldfest: A UC Cultural Celebration.

Contact: UC Women's Center, 513-556-4401

$tart $mart Salary Negotiation Workshop

March 26, time and location TBD

$tart $mart prepares college women who are approaching the job market with the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to negotiate salaries and benefits. According to American Association of University Women research, one year after graduation, women earn 82 percent of what their male counterparts earn one year after graduation, and the gender wage gap widens the next 10 years. $tart $mart campus workshop participants will learn: how the gender wage gap affects their lives; how to develop a personal budget to determine salary needs; how to benchmark salary and benefits; and how to negotiate for their first salary out of college. This workshop is a collaboration between AAUW and the Women Are Getting Even Project, and it is offered by the UC Women's Center in partnership with the Graduate School. For more information, go to

www.uc.edu/ucwc/we/startsmart

.

Contact: Amy Howton, Amy.Howton@uc.edu

Black Women Revealed Showcase

5:30 p.m., March 27, African American Cultural and Resource Center

Sisters Impacting Sisters will host its fourth annual Black Women Revealed Showcase, which displays the beauty, talent and depth black women uphold in this community and beyond. This year's showcase theme is "Beauty is S.H.E." There will be a reception at 5:30 p.m. before the program at 6 p.m.

Contact: Tamar Kinebrew, 513-556-1177 or kinebrte@ucmail.uc.edu

The Tolerance Trap: How God, Genes, and Good Intentions are Sabotaging Gay Equality

4 p.m., March 30, Charles Phelps Taft Research Center

Guest speaker will be Suzanna Danuta Walters, professor of sociology and director of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Northeastern University. Walters’ work centers on questions of gender, sexuality, family and popular culture. Her most recent book, "The Tolerance Trap: How God, Genes, and Good Intentions are Sabotaging Gay Equality," explores how notions of tolerance limit the possibilities for real liberation and deep social belonging. Her other works include books on the explosion of gay visibility in culture and politics over the past 15 years; feminist cultural theory; mothers and daughters in popular culture; and numerous articles and book chapters on feminist theory, queer theory and LGBT studies, and popular culture. The event is sponsored by the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center and the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Contact: Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, womens.studies@uc.edu  

Women’s Center Program Review Open Forum

1:45-3 p.m., March 31, African American Cultural and Resource Center, Harambee Room

This public release of the Women’s Center Program Review findings and recommendations will serve as a chance for students to respond to the findings. Members of campus leadership are encouraged to attend.

Contact: Amy Howton, Amy.Howton@uc.edu

Transgender Day of Visibility: "Transamerica" film screening and dialogue 

7-10 p.m., March 31, MainStreet Cinema, Tangeman University Center

"Transamerica" tells the story of a pre-operative male-to-female transsexual who takes an unexpected journey when she learns that she fathered a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York. Speakers will be staff from the UC LGBTQ Center and UC Women's Center. The event is co-sponsored by the UC LGBTQ Center, UC Women's Center, GenderBloc and MainStreet Cinema.

Contact: UC Women's Center, 513-556-4401