Focus EMU Online: Feature Story

Cutting through red tape. Blasting through the glass ceiling. Moving a mountain. "Defying Boundaries," this year's theme for Women's History Month at Eastern Michigan University, is meant to inspire women to not just think outside the box, but to actually get out of the box.

"The theme was chosen because the events are about women who've broken through a boundary or challenged traditional roles or walls in their lives," said Linda Schott, director of Women's Studies.

Highlighted by the appearance of former National Organization for Women (NOW) president and political activist Patricia Ireland, The Women's Center and the Women's Studies department have planned a variety of events during March.

Ireland

Ireland will culminate the month-long celebration with her motivational speech, "Are We There Yet? Women and Political Leadership," about women, equality and how feminism comes into play. The event, presented by the Olga Madar Endowed Lectureship, is scheduled March 31, 7 p.m., in Pray-Harrold. This marks Ireland's second appearance at EMU, as she spoke at the University's Women's History Month celebration in 2001.

"As a national political leader, Patricia Ireland is anticipated to draw the largest crowd with her presentation on women in political leadership," Schott said.

As the longest serving president of NOW (1991-2001), Ireland directed nationwide programs on equal opportunity, including initiating the Women-Friendly Workplace Campaign, a national, pro-active project aimed at stopping sexual harassment and other workplace abuses through public education and public pressure. Widely recognized as a key player in improving social and economic conditions for women in the United States and around the world, Ireland is adept at helping people recognize the connections among women's rights, civil rights, disability rights, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

Women's History Month

The public celebration of women's history in the U.S. began in 1978 as "Women's History Week" in Sonoma County, California. In 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) co-sponsored a joint congressional resolution proclaiming a national Women's History Week. In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month, and March was declared Women's History Month.

Ireland has had a continuous presence in media outlets that shape public opinion. She has discussed childcare on ABC's "Nightline;" Supreme Court nominees on PBS's "Jim Lehrer News Hour;" the impact of the women's vote on NBC's "Meet the Press" and women as policy makers on CNN's "Larry King Live." She frequently appears in the nation's most widely read newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today. She has been the subject of numerous feature stories, in publications ranging from The New York Times Sunday Magazine to "People."

Ireland's 1996 book, "What Women Want," has had critical and popular success, and is used in history and women's studies courses. Her other publications include "Is Privatizing Social Security Good for Women?" in "Controversial Issues in Social Policy," (second edition, Allyn and Bacon 2003); "Progress Versus Equality: Are We There Yet?" in "The Difference 'Difference' Makes: Women and Leadership," (Stanford University Press 2003); as well as numerous opinion pieces in newspapers and magazines.

The following is a schedule of some events planned for Women's History Month. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.

"Social Justice, Love, and the Power of Women's Music" features musician Margie Adam performing inspirational songs March 10, 7 p.m., in the Alexander Recital Hall. Adam's music has been recorded by artists such as Holly Near and Peter, Paul, and Mary, and has been featured on National Public Radio (NPR).

Melanie Buffington, an EMU assistant professor of art, presents, "Women in Art," Friday, March 11, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., in Room 320 of Halle Library. Buffington will present a slide lecture and discussion related to women artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. A variety of artists and art forms will be emphasized with the inclusion of artists of color.

"Feminist Biography: Case Studies of Scholar Activities at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century" is scheduled Monday, March 14, noon-1 p.m., in Room 302 of Halle Library. Panelists Barb Bilge, Karen Schaumann-Beltran, Barb Richardson and Edna Ewell will discuss how feminine scholarship leads investigators to analyze women's lives in ways that are different from those of traditional biographers.

"The Cookie Project: One Woman's Transformation" is a documentary about a straight family man who undergoes hormone therapy and sex-change surgery to become a happy lesbian woman. The film will be shown March 15, 6 p.m., in Roosevelt Auditorium.

"The Chosen One: She's Still the One" features a presentation on the popular 20th century masterpiece "The Rite of Spring." The Chosen One, a virgin selected to dance herself to death, unexpectedly manifests herself into the dancing, pixilated personas of rock stars, such as Madonna and Britney Spears. The presentation is scheduled March 17, 9:30 p.m., in Alexander Recital Hall.

The Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom sponsors "We Must Have Peace NOW: Women and Men Speak Out about the War in Iraq." Local peace activists Lee Booth, Bob Krzewinski and Karen Deslierres will discuss the war in Iraq and efforts to bring peace to the area March 17, 6:30-8 p.m., in the Halle Library Auditorium.

Elizabeth Daumer, Margaret Crouch, Abby Coykendall and Karen Sinclair will engage in a panel discussion,"The Impact of Tourism on the Lives of Women," March 21, 3 p.m. Excerpts of the movie "Life and Debt," based on Jamaica Kincaid's "A Small Place," will be shown. For location information, contact the Women's Studies Department at 487-1177.

Students will be given an opportunity to express their feelings, on a T-shirt, about violence against women at the Clothesline Project March 21 and 23, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., in McKenny Union.

Officer Candace Dorsey will present a workshop, "Safe Dating," and discuss how to make good decisions with good judgment while dating, March 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in the Multicultural Lounge, King Hall.

Straight Ahead, an all-female jazz group, performs their eclectic brand of jazz March 22, 7:30 p.m., in the McKenny Union Ballroom. Their music includes mainstream jazz, R&B ballads and Brazilian funk.

Take Back the Night Rally and March will start next to Chavez Fountain and end at Walton Lounge for pizza and a discussion March 23, 6:30 p.m.

The Life and Legacy of Ms. Ruth Ellis explores the life experiences of a prominent metro Detroit, African-American lesbian woman March 24, 5:30-7 p.m., in Room 302 of Halle Library. Emphasis will be placed on her legacy, the Ruth Ellis Center, a service that provides shelter and social services to SGL and transgendered youth.

Gender and Technology Mini Film Series - Part I: "Female" (1934). The film turns the tables in the early 1930s, when a woman owns and operates a major automobile company and treats all of her male employees just like men treat women. The film will be shown March 28, 6 p.m., in the Multicultural Lounge at King Hall.

Gender and Technology Mini Film Series - Part II: "Desk Set" (1957). Comic relief accompanies the arrival of the computer in the female clerical workforce in this film, showing March 29, 6 p.m., in the Multicultural Lounge at King Hall.

"Participation in Women's History Month events is beneficial because it is a good place to get a lot of subject matter without having to commit to a 16-week class," Schott said. "It's like a wine tasting, where you can sample a little of the bottle and, if you like it, you can take a whole bottle. Students learn about a topic for an hour or so during Women's History Month and, based on the topics they were drawn to, can take a class based on that."

For more information on Women's History Month, call the Women's Studies department at 487-1177.