Women of Distinction series brings awareness to gender issues

Topics to be covered in lectures and conferences include leadership, interracial marriage, environmental issues and feminism.

By Isadora Rangel       

Throughout the spring semester the FIU community will have the chance to learn more about women’s issues. The Annual Women of Distinction Series put together by the Women’s Studies Center brings guest speakers to discuss different gender issues around the world.

This year’s series includes lectures about leadership, interracial marriage, environmental issues and feminism.

“[The goal is] to disseminate scholarship in women’s studies to broad audiences,” said Women’s Studies Center Director Laurie Shrage. “We want to recognize the scholarly and creative work and educational leadership of women.” 

The Women of Distinction series is free and open to the public. The spring series ends with a gala event on April 19.     

Schedule:

Friday, Feb. 13

The Vagina Monologues, a V-Day Benefit Production

Reception at 7 p.m., performance at 8 p.m.

Green Library 100, University Park

(Additional performances on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.)

Co-sponsored with the Women’s Studies Students Association and Campus Life         

Friday, Feb. 27

Olivia A. Scriven, Spelman College

“Untold Narratives: The Struggle to Educate African American Women in Science, 1950-1997”

2 p.m.

Location TBA, University Park

Co-sponsored with the History Department

Friday, March 6

Kia Lilly Caldwell, African and Afro-American Studies, University of North Carolina

“Transnational Black Feminism in the 21^st Century: Perspectives from Brazil”

2 p.m.

Graham Center 150, University Park

Co-sponsored with African and African Diaspora Studies

Thursday, March 12

Linnea Pearson, Religious Studies, FIU

“Women as Healers”

7:30 p.m.

Graham Center, University Park

Co-sponsored with the Center for the Study of Spirituality

Thursday, March 26

Tatiana Butovitsch Temm, Temm Communications

“When you Meet the Expectations of Women, You Exceed the Expectations of Men”

7 p.m.

The Wolfsonian-FIU, 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach

Co-sponsored with the Wolfsonian-FIU, FIU’s European Studies Program and FIU/UM’s European Studies Center.

Friday, March 27

Women Who Lead conference

Keynote Speaker Lindsay Hyde, founder and president of Strong Women, Strong Girls

10:45 a.m.

Graham Center Ballrooms, University Park

Tuesday, March 31

Women’s Studies Student Conference 2009

8 a.m.-5 p.m.

MARC Pavilion, University Park

Co-sponsored with Women’s Studies Graduate Student Association (WSGSA).

(For proposal guidelines visit: www.fiu.edu/wstudies/StudConf.html)

Sunday, April 19

Women Studies 2009 Gala Event

1 p.m.

Location TBA