The University of Mary Washington will host a series of events in March to celebrate Women’s History Month that include lectures by hip-hop artist and psychologist Roxanne Shanté and women’s activist Jessica Valenti and a photo exhibit at the Simpson Library. All events are free and open to the public.
Roxanne Shanté will present a lecture on Wednesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. in Chandler Hall, Room 102. Shanté enjoyed a successful singing career after recording the 1984 hit single “Roxanne’s Revenge” at age 14. She retired from the recording industry at age 25 and earned a doctorate in psychology from Cornell University, and she has a private practice in New York City.
Jessica Valenti will give the keynote lecture on Wednesday, March 26 at 7 p.m. in Woodard Campus Center, Great Hall. The program is a James Farmer Multicultural Center Cultural Awareness Series event.
Valenti is the founder and executive editor of Feministing.com, a popular Web site blog that provides a platform for women’s issues. Author of “Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Matters,” Valenti’s writing has appeared in Ms. and The Guardian magazines. She also writes a blog for National Abortion Rights Action League’s(NARAL) Pro-Choice America and is a co-founder of the REAL Hot 100 campaign that recognizes young women who are breaking barriers and making a difference in the world. Valenti received a master’s degree in women’s and gender studies from Rutgers University.
The photo exhibit “La Maschera Della Donna: Feminine Masks in the Carnivals of Piedmont, Italy” by Piercarolo Grimaldi of the Università degli Studi de Scienze and Davide Proporato of the Università del Piemonte Orientale will be held Monday, March 10 through Sunday, March 30. The Simpson Library is open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to midnight, Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to midnight.
Also, Sumaiya Hamdani, assistant professor in the history and art history departments at George Mason University, will give a lecture “Women in Islamic Tradition and Society” on Thursday, March 27 at 6 p.m. in Chandler Hall, Room 102.
Open class lectures and discussions given by UMW faculty and guest lecturers include:
- “The Transatlantic Travails of Mary Prince” by Antonio Barrenechea, assistant professor of English, on Monday, March 10 from 6 to 7:15 p.m. in Combs Hall, Room 111.
- “Jane Jacobs: Urban Wisdom” by Megan McDonald, historic preservation instructor, on Tuesday, March 11 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. and 11 to 12:15 p.m. in Combs Hall, Room 112.
- “Female Circumcision in Africa: Pros and Cons” by Margaret Huber, distinguished professor of anthropology, Tuesday, March 11 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in duPont Hall, Room 215.
- “Portraiture and Allegory: Rubens’ Paintings for Marie de’ Medici” by Marjorie Och, associate professor of art history, on Tuesday, March 18 from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. in Melchers Hall, Room 107.
- “Work vs. Family: Challenging the Dichotomy” by Kristin Marsh, associate professor of sociology, on Wednesday, March 19 from 12 to 12:50 p.m. in Monroe Hall, Room 302.
- “The Emergence of the Feminist Movement in Spain and Latin America” presented in Spanish by guest lecturer Elisa Martin-Valdepeña on Wednesday, March 19 from 6 to 8:45 p.m. in Combs Hall, Room 213.
- “Zora Neale Hurston’s ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’” given by Mara Scanlon, associate professor of English, on Thursday, March 20 from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. in Combs Hall, Room 322.
- Poetry reading by Constance Smith, senior lecturer in English, and Jessica Locke, assistant professor of Spanish, given in English and Spanish from the poems of Rosario Castellanos on Thursday, March 20 from 5 to 5:30 p.m. in Combs Hall, Room 139.
- “Bona Dea and Caesar’s Wife: Roman Religion Meets a Political Sex Scandal” by Liane Houghtalin, associate professor of classics, on Tuesday, March 25 from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. in Trinkle Hall, Room B36.
- “Running in High Heels,” a film showing and discussion about the challenges of women running for public office, led by Rosalyn Cooperman, assistant professor of political science and international affairs, on Tuesday, March 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Chandler Hall, Room 102.
The university will host a number of additional events for Women’s History Month including Great Lives Lecture Series talks on “Mary and George Washington,” “Margaret Sanger” and “Betty Friedan,” and “Dance Mosaic,” a faculty-student dance concert.
For more information on Women’s History Month events, contact Helen Housley, assistant professor of theatre, at (540) 654-1983 or visit the Women’s History Month calendar of events online at www.umw.edu/whm.