SOMERS, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Parkside will kick off Women’s History Month today with a keynote address by Dr. Brittany M. Williams from St. Cloud State University, who will discuss “Women in Work: Past, Present, and Future.
Women’s History Month, celebrates women’s contributions to history, culture and society, and has been observed annually during March in the United States since 1987. The theme for the nationwide celebration is “Women Providing Healing and Promoting Hope and International Day of Women.”
UW-Parkside’s Women’s History Month celebration is sponsored by the university’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with Parkside’s Bold Leaders: Women Leaders Professional Development Cohort.
Coming on the heels of Black history Month, Women’s History Month helps to highlight the intersectionality of race and gender and “remind us of not only how far we have come, but how much more work still needs to be done,” said Trina Patterson, diversity and inclusion manager for UW-Parkside’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
“At UW-Parkside, we recognize the contributions of women, which are “broad and span a variety of fields, from science and space to the arts and humanities,” Patterson said. “This month, we will be more intentional about showing support and encouragement for each other, whether it is related to our work and inequities that still exist, our binary and/or non-binary gender identities, or our health.”
Chancellor Debbie Ford said Women’s History Month not only is a time to celebrate women of the past, but also is an opportunity, and “our responsibility to engage with women of the present and to prepare the next generation of women leaders.”
“We’re proud of the women of Parkside who include our dedicated faculty, amazing students and inspiring alumni,” she said.
Today’s keynote address will be held virtually from 3 to 4 p.m. In her talk, Williams will examine the working contributions of women in the workforce, the inequities, the wage gap and how women should be positioning themselves to secure a successful future.
The month’s activities also will feature a discussion titled, “Pizza and Pronouns,” by Dr. Dana Oswald, associate professor of Literatures and Languages, and co-Director of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at UW-Parkside. The event will feature pizza and conversation, both in person and virtually, and will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on March 8, in the Student Center Oak room. Dr. Oswald will explore the question, “Why should we care about pronouns?”
In recognition of International Women’s Day, a tabling event, #breakthebias, will be held on the Bridge from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The campus community is encouraged to wear purple, green and white to take photos and share messages of support to help to “break the bias.”
UW-Parkside’s Women’s History Month activities will culminate with a virtual talk, featuring author Desiree’ Young, from 2:30-3:30 p.m., March 29. Young, who holds a BA in psychology from Carthage College, will discuss her book, “Kaleidoscope, A Journey to Hope,” a fiction novel about human trafficking that takes place in Milwaukee. It is told from the perspective of four girls who have been trafficked and are in desperate need of freedom and a new start.
Other highlights of the month include:
Mosaic Workshop: Gender Equity from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., March 2
The Bridge Mosaic Workshop: Gender Equity from 12-1 p.m., March 7, Molinaro Hall, L111
Mosaic Workshop: Body Image from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 16, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) table on the Bridge
To learn more about this month’s events, visit www.uwp.edu/WHM
Due to limited seating for in-person attendance, registration is required for Dr. Oswald’s talk, “Pronouns and Pizza. To register, contact Trina Patterson in the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, patterst@uwp.edu |
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is committed to high-quality educational programs, creative and scholarly activities, and services responsive to its diverse student population, and its local, national, and global communities. We are a dynamic learning community grounded in academic excellence and focused on student success, diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. The campus serves as a premier comprehensive public institution and a destination of choice, serving as a focal point of local, regional, and global progress.
