Feminist First Friday Planned at Scranton
The Women’s Studies Program and the Jane Kopas Women’s Center will host its inaugural “Feminist First Friday” on Friday, Oct. 1, dedicating a day focused on discussions of gender. The event includes seminars, teach-ins involving numerous women’s studies courses, a concert and even a life-size game of “Patriarchy,” a twist on the classic board game Monopoly.
Eleanor Solo, acting chief to the Coordination and Outreach Unit in the Division for the Advancement of Women at the United Nations, will discuss “UN Millennium Development Goals and Protection of Women’s Rights in the UN” at a 3 p.m. lecture. The keynote address will take place in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center at 3 p.m., immediately followed by a meet and greet reception with women’s studies faculty.
“We’ve organized Feminist First Friday as a fun and informative way of educating the University community and the general public about the importance of gender issues,” said Sharon Meagher, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Latin American Studies and Women’s Studies, “It's also an event that launches our new academic major in Women's Studies. Faculty have generously volunteered their time to allow people to ‘sample’ their courses and learn more about what women's studies actually entails.”
All events, classes and lectures are open to the public, free of charge.
A complete listing of events follows.
The women’s studies major at The University of Scranton provides an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to understanding the social and cultural constructions of gender that shape the experiences of women and men in society. The curriculum offers a solid foundation in women’s studies, facilitating graduate study and careers involving gender justice and preparing students for leadership roles in diverse workplaces and communities
For additional information, contact Dr. Meagher at 941-4075, or Hope Smith, program coordinator for the Jane Kopas Women’s Center, at 941-6194.
Feminist First Friday: Women’s Studies Teach-In, Oct. 1
Displays/posters:
- Life-sized game of Patriarchy (and how NOT to play the game). Display created by students enrolled in Philosophy 218: Feminism: Theory and Practice. McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Dionne Campus Green from 4 to 5 p.m. (rain location is room 405 of the DeNaples Center).
- Recommended women’s studies books display. Weinberg Memorial Library, first floor lobby (during library hours).
Women’s Studies courses, presentations and open classes:
10 a.m. “Women in Christianity” by Mary Anne Foley, C.D.N., Ph.D., associate professor of theology/religious studies. Dionne Campus Green amphitheater (rain location is room 405 of the DeNaples Center).
10:30 a.m. “Women’s Studies Travel courses to Mexico and Rwanda” by Sharon Meagher, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Latin American Studies and Women’s Studies, and Linda Ledford-Miller, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Dionne Campus Green amphitheater (rain location is room 405 of the DeNaples Center).
11 a.m. “Shakespeare and Women” by Michael Friedman, Ph.D., professor of English and theater. Room 405 of the DeNaples Center.
11:30 a.m. “Writing Women” by Stephen Whittaker, Ph.D., professor of English and theater. Dionne Campus Green amphitheater (rain location is room 405 of the DeNaples Center).
Noon. “Women’s Studies Travel courses to Mexico and Rwanda” by Dr. Meagher and Dr. Ledford-Miller. Room 405 of the DeNaples Center.
Noon. “Women, Authority and Power” by Jean Harris, Ph.D., (regular 50-minute class, open to the public). Room 305 of Hyland Hall.
12:30 p.m. “Informational Session on the New Major in Women’s Studies” by Dr. Meagher. Room 405 of the DeNaples Center (light lunch will be served).
1 p.m. “Italian Women in Writing and Film” by Virginia Picchietti, Ph.D., associate professor of World Languages and Cultures. Room 405 of the DeNaples Center.
1 p.m. “Gender and Communication” by Jan Kelly, Ph.D., associate professor of communication (regular 50-minute class, open to the public). Room 463 of St. Thomas Hall.
1:30 p.m. “Feminist Philosophy of Science” by Ileana Szymanski, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy. Room 405 of the DeNaples Center.
2 p.m. “Women in Francophone Literature and Film” by Marzia Caporale, Ph.D., assistant professor of World Languages and Cultures. Room 405 of the DeNaples Center.
2:30 p.m. “Environmental Justice and Women’s Rights” by Megan Borsuk. Room 405 of the DeNaples Center.
Special Keynote Speaker:
3 p.m. Eleanor Solo, acting chief to Coordination and Outreach Unit, Division for the Advancement of Women, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations. “UN Millennium Development Goals and Protection of Women’s Rights in the UN” Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center. Meet and greet reception with Women’s Studies faculty immediately follows lecture at 4 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.
Concert:
10 p.m. Concert featuring Regina Sayles, held in conjunction with the University’s Late Night programming series. DeNaples Center Patio.
