Women's History Month 2010
Either You’re IN or your OUT:
Women, Body Image, and Style
“Either you’re in or you’re out” is the infamous phrase of the popular reality show Project Runway. Not just for those aspiring to fashion careers, the clear message for viewers is that a woman is either in or out depending on her ability to conform to unrealistic and restrictive expectations about the way women should look and act. If you are a woman, have you ever wished you looked more like that supermodel size zero (or, at least, smaller than you are)? Ever tried hair straighteners or extensions or died your hair blond (or thought about it)? Looking forward to a "super-woman" future of juggling the roles of ever-present, always-loving mom with ideal-worker, successful career woman? If so, you are not alone. And you will not be alone in taking a closer look at these impossible, self-defeating and divisive messages about who women should be. While many believe women in the U.S. have nothing but choices and opportunities today, this year’s Women’s History Month events tell the other side of the story--one of continued female objectification; persistent racist, classist and sexist definitions of femininity and worth; and dangerous media images that conflate sex and violence. This programming strives to remind women of the personal values of inner beauty and self worth based on creativity, strength and empowerment. The Women’s History Month committee encourages everyone to take up the larger imperative of collaboration toward justice and inclusion in the community. In sum, let us look beyond the corporate designed in woman to celebrate who women are and what they strive to achieve--on their own terms.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
(1) Submit your event proposal.The planning committee welcomes all proposals from students, staff, and faculty members. We are especially seeking events explicitly related to our 2010 theme, "Either you're in or you're out: Women, Body Image, and Style." Click here to download 2010 Proposal Forms. Please send your completed form by November 6th to LaNita Weisenberger, either via e-mail (lweisenb@umw.edu) or via the James Farmer Multicultural Center (Lee Hall, Room 211, CAS campus).
(2) Offer your "Open Class." For faculty especially, if you have a lecture, class discussion or other event planned for one of your spring courses that you would like included as part of Women's History Month, please let us know.
- If you hope to offer an open class, but haven't finalized your syllabi yet, don't worry--there is plenty of time. A special call for OPEN CLASSES will go out later in the semester, and we will accept submissions as late as the week before classes begin in January. All WHM open classes will be announced via the JFMC website.
- If you have an open class in mind that relates explicitly to our 2010 theme, we encourage you to submit it for inclusion on the WHM printed calendar--the November 6 deadline applies.