GWS: Fall 2013

Thanks to the support and enthusiasm of students and faculty, the Gender and Women’s Studies Program had another great semester!

In September, we hosted $tart $mart, an interactive workshop for college-aged women that educates students on the challenges facing women in the workforce. In October, we held our most successful event, the Fatal Promises film showing. After watching this riveting documentary about human trafficking, students participated in a Q&A session with the film director, Kat Rohrer. Students asked some wonderful questions about human trafficking in America, and learned how individuals--particularly college students--can make a difference. Later that month, Aiden Kosciesza visited Villanova and gave his presentation, "Plastic Boy: Transgender Identity Unpacked." Kosciesza told his own story as a transsexual man, and had an interactive conversation with students about topics relating to sexual orientation, sexuality, and gender identity. In November, sports writer Michael Sokolove came to campus and gave his presentation, "Warrior Girls" The Benefits and Perils of Women's Sports." Following Sokolove's presentation,  there was a panel about women and sports, featuring Dr. Rick Eckstein (Dept. of Sociology) and Stacy Coburn-Carone (Assistant Coach at Villanova). Finally, GWS closed the semester with feminist economist Heidi Hartmann’s presentation, “Women and Men: The Recession and Recovery.” Hartmann provided us with a wealth of information on women and the economy, unemployment, workforce participation, and the gender wage gap.

We were also delighted to offer students a variety of new and innovative courses this semester, including "Sports and Society" taught by Rick Eckstein, "Environmental Ethics" taught by Chaone Mallory, and "Gender and Crime" taught by Katie Farina. Jean Lutes, our Academic Director, taught our introductory course, "Gender and the World," and we were fortunate to have almost full enrollment in classes such as "Women in the Bible" and "Philosophy of Women."

GWS would like to thank you for promoting and supporting our program. Please check out our blog again soon to see more information about upcoming spring programs. We especially hope that you will join us for the annual Elizabeth Cady Stanton conference, held on April 4, 2014.

Have a great holiday!

Call For Papers!

Each spring, Villanova University’s Gender and Women’s Studies program hosts the annual Elizabeth Cady Stanton Conference. This year, in honor of its anniversary, GWS is joining forces with the Greater Philadelphia Women’s Studies Consortium to expand the conference and open it to students at area schools including the University of Delaware, Haverford College, Ursinus College, Temple University, and others. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your work, discuss your interests with fellow students and faculty from the area, and see the broad range of intellectual disciplines that Gender and Women’s Studies encompasses!

Submit your paper to compete for a CASH AWARD in one of the following four categories:

1.      papers or creative works by first year undergraduates (4-10 pages)

2.      papers or creative works by undergraduate students (5-20 pages)

3.      papers by graduate students (12-30 pages)

4.      a fourth award may be given to a paper that demonstrates a commitment to practical applications of feminist theory

Essays and creative work must engage gender, sexuality or feminist theories; a biographical or historical account of women or a woman is not sufficient. For example, a paper might: critically explore actions and reactions caused by gender prejudice or discuss the ways that gender functions in some aspect of society; analyze a text using elements from feminist theory; or report an empirical study that engages gender. All papers must be written during the past calendar year, from Spring or Fall 2013, or written specifically for the conference.

We encourage submission of alternative forms of scholarship, including but not limited to original scripts, poetry or films that engage gender analysis. If the feminist or gender analysis is not overt in the creative work itself, the work should be accompanied by an essay that frames and explains the theory's application.

Submission Guidelines:

·         Essays should be formatted in Word, using 12 pt. Times New Roman font with 1 inch margins, and page numbers

·         Outside sources in a bibliography or reference section are encouraged

·         Include a cover sheet with the following information: student’s name, major and year of graduation, mailing and email addresses, phone number, and the name of the course and professor for which the paper was written (if any)

·         Marks of identification, except for the work’s title, should not appear anywhere else in the paper

·         Please email the paper as a Word document to ecs.villanova@gmail.com by February 14, 2014

All papers will be presented at the conference on April 4, 2014.

Attendance at the conference constitutes an excused absence from classes.

For more information, you can check out our website. Here you can also see the list of past award winners.

Questions? Email us: ecs.villanova@gmail.com or call 610-519-3815

 

Cancelled Event: Richard McCann

Please note: Richard McCann's presentation that was expected to be held Wednesday, November 20th has been cancelled. He is unable to make the trip to Villanova. We are hoping to reschedule his presentation for the spring! We are sorry to disappoint everyone and hope that this does not cause too much of an inconvenience. Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Have a good holiday!

Richard McCann: "Transitions: The Girlhood of a Bio Male"

On Wednesday, November 20th at 4:00 p.m. in the Radnor St. David's Room, Richard McCann will be presenting, "Transitions: The Girlhood of a Bio-Male."

Richard McCann is the author of Mother of My Sorrows, a work of fiction, and Ghost Letters, a collection of poems. He is also the editor of Things Shaped in Passing: More 'Poets for Life' Writing from the AIDS Pandemic. His fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry have appeared in magazines such as The Atlantic, Ms., Esquire, Ploughshares, Tin House, and The Washington Post Magazine. He is also published in numerous anthologies, including The O. Henry Prize Stories 2007 and Best American Essays 2000. He is currently working on a memoir, The Resurrectionist, which explores the experience and meanings of illness and mortality through a narrative exploration of his experience as a liver transplant recipient.

This event is co-sponsored by the Gay Straight Coalition and the English department. It is free and open to the public.

Visiting Scholar: Heidi Hartmann

Please make note of an important upcoming GWS event! On Monday, November 11th at 6:00 p.m. in Bartley 1011, Heidi Hartmann will be giving her talk, "Women and Men: The Recession and Recovery."

Hartmann is a feminist economist and the founder of The Institute for Women's Policy Research, a scientific research organization formed to meet the need for women centered public policy research. She is also the organization's president and a Research professor at The George Washington University in D.C. Her areas of expertise include women and the economy, workforce participation, equity, and Social Security. She lectures internationally on women, economics, and public policy, and frequently testifies before U.S. Congress.

If you are interested in reading some of Hartmann's recent work, you can find a few of her articles posted on the GWS website: http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/gws.html.
Just be sure to click the event link.

Hartmann is currently the scholar in residence for the Greater Philadelphia Women's Studies Consortium. We are very excited that she will be visiting Villanova!

Take A GWS Class!

As you begin to prepare for your spring semester, consider taking a Gender and Women's Studies course! Below is a list of all the courses being offered for the spring 2014 semester. As you can see, our program represents a broad range of disciplines and topics that can enhance any field of study! When you enroll in a GWS course, you will find yourself in the company of passionate teachers and fellow learners who encourage critical thinking and dialogue. Don't miss this great opportunity!

GWS 2050: Gender & The World, David Cregan, TR 10:00-11:15 a.m
AAH 3001: Women in Art, Jeanne Brody, TR 11:30-12:45 p.m.
COM 5300: Dialogue on Gender, Stephen Sheridan, M 6:00-8:00 p.m.
ENG 1975: Soph. Seminar/Gender and Monsters, Megan Quigley, TR 2:30-3:45 p.m.
ENG 2300: Women in Literature, Ellen Bonds, TR 1:00-2:15 p.m.
ENG 3350: Milton, Lauren Shohet, MW. 1:30-2:45 p.m.
ENG 4691: Faulker and Morrison, Jean Lutes and Crystal Lucky, TR 10:00-11:15 a.m.
HIS 3360: Women in the Pre-Modern West, Rebecca Winer, TR 10:00-11:15 a.m.
HIS 3361: Women in Modern Europe, Lynn Hartnett, TR 2:30-3:45 p.m.
HIS 2296: History of American Women, Catherine Kerrison, MWF 11:30-12:20 p.m.
NUR 2200: Healthy Lifestyles, Linda Copel, R 4:00-6:45 p.m.
PHI 2400: Philosophy of Sex and Love, Chaone Mallory, MW 1:30-2:45 p.m.
PH 2420: Philosophy of Women, Sally Scholz, MWF 12:30-1:20 p.m.
PJ 2800: Race, Class, and Gender, Cynthia Nielsen, TR 1:00-2:15 p.m.
PSC 2700: Women in Politics, Robert Langran, MW 4:30-5:45 p.m.
PSY 2430: Psychology of Gender, Katina Sawyer, MW 3:00-4:15 p.m.
THL 2420: Women in the Bible, Judith Hadley, MW 3:00-4:15 p.m.
THL 4250: Global Poverty and Justice, Suzanne Toton, TR 1:00-2:15 p.m.
THL 4250: Global Poverty and Justice, Suzanne Toton, TR 1:00-2:15 p.m.
THL 4490: Themes in Spirituality: Gender, Rachel Smith, MWF 10:30-11:20 a.m.

If you have specific questions about these GWS classes, or the major and minor, please contact our Academic Director, Jean Lutes, at jean.lutes@villanova.edu.

"Warrior Girls: The Benefits and Perils of Women's Sports"

This Wednesday, October 30th at 6:30 p.m., Michael Sokolove will be giving his presentation, "Warrior Girls: The Benefits and Perils of Women's Sports." Michael Sokolove is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine, as we as the author of two previous books, The Ticket Out: Darryl Strawberry and the Boys of Crenshaw, and Hustle: The Myth, Life, and Lies of Pet Rose. He has appeared on numerous national television and radio news shows, including ABC's Good Morning America and ESPN's Outside The Lines. While Sokolove has written about a broad range of topics, his specialty has been the sociology and culture of sports. Sokolove's most recent work explores the 1979 Crenshaw High Cougars basketball team, and the myth that success in sports is a ticket out of the inner city.

Following the talk, there will be a discussion facilitated by Dr. Rick Eckstein (Department of Sociology) and Stacy Coburn-Carone (Assistant Coach at Villanova).

This event is co-sponsored by Honors, Peace and Justice Education, Sociology, and Communication.

Spotlight on Human Trafficking

Director Kat Rohrer talks with students during
the Q&A session following the film.

GWS would like to thank all members of the Villanova community who attended our event yesterday evening. We showed the documentary, Fatal Promises, which examined human trafficking in both the United States and abroad. Through personal stories of victims and interviews with politicians, NGO representatives and activists, Fatal Promises provides a comprehensive look at the realities of human trafficking versus the rhetoric of politicians and pundits who claim to be making significant strides in combating this horrific crime against humanity

 

Following the film, we had a Q&A session with the director, Kat Rohrer. Students asked some wonderful questions about human trafficking in America and how individuals--particularly college students--can make a difference.

Kat recommended that those interested in this issue should get involved with NGOs who daily fight to end human trafficking. To see a list of such NGOS,  click here. Additionally, Kat emphasized that what we purchase and economically support plays a significant role in the persistence of human trafficking. She recommended Slavery Footprints , which investigates popular stores and companies in order to expose which use forced laborers. Lastly, students were encouraged to immediately contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (1-888-373-3888) if they ever think that they have come across a case of human trafficking.

"Plastic Boy: Transgender Identity Unpacked"

Click photo to view larger version of the file.

On Wednesday, October 23rd at 7:00 p.m. Aiden Kosciesza will visit Villanova to give his presentation, "Plastic Boy: Transgender Identity Unpacked."

Aiden is a transgender writer, speaker, and activist who has given presentations about LGBT identity both in the US and abroad. He first spoke out about LGBT civil rights as a graduate student at Villanova's Freedom School, and later focused on transgender issues as he explored his own identity as a transsexual man. He began sharing his personal story of discovery aboard Peace Boat, a Japanese NGO that promotes peace and understanding through sustainable travel.

This event is co-sponsored by Villanova's Gay Straight Coalition and the English department. We hope that you will join us to hear Aiden's personal and thought-provoking story!

ACS Approved Event: "Fatal Promises"

Click to view larger version of the flyer.

UN. Gift reports that an estimated 2.5 million people are in forced labor (including sexual exploitation) as a result of human trafficking. An estimated 1.2 million of those victims are children. In 2008, it was reported that for every 800 people trafficked, only one abuser was convicted.

On Monday, October 21st at 5:30 pm GWS will be showing the documentary Fatal Promises. Through personal stories of victims and interviews with politicians, NGO representatives and activists, Fatal Promises provides a comprehensive look at the  realities of human trafficking versus the rhetoric of politicians and pundits who claim to be making significant strides in combating this horrific crime against humanity. You can find out more at their website.

Following the film, there will be a Q&A session with the film's director, Kat Rohrer.

This is an ACS approved event. Please tell your colleagues, students, and friends about this important event. We hope that you will be able to join us!

Villanova Majors Fair

A big thanks to everyone who stopped by to meet us at the Majors Fair this past Friday afternoon! We were thrilled to talk with you!
 

From L to R: Emily Tifft (GWS Major), Teddi Hermes (GWS Graduate Assistant), and Jean Lutes (GWS Academic Director).

If you are interested in pursuing a major or minor in Gender and Women's Studies, please contact our academic director, Jean Lutes, at jean.lutes@villanova.edu. You can also find out more at our website.

 

"Deaf Jam"

The Gender and Women's Studies program would like to invite you to a film showing of Deaf Jam, held on Saturday, October 5th at 3:00 pm in Connelly Cinema.

Deaf Jam is a 2011 documentary film directed and produced by American filmmaker Judy Lieff. The film centers on the experience of Aneta Brodski, a deaf teenager living in New York, who becomes immersed in the dynamic and three-dimensional form of American Sign Language poetry. When Aneta, an Israel-born, ASL poet, eventually meets Tahani, a Palestinian, spoken word poet, the two begin to collaborate, creating a new form of poetry that gains recognition in Deaf and hearing communities alike. You can read more about the film here.

Following the film, there will be a Q&A session with participants from the film, as well as a slam poetry and ASL workshop.

Click to view larger version of flyer.

We hope to see you there!

$tart $mart Workshop

Click to view larger version of flyer.

Negotiating salaries is a challenge for women at all stages of their careers, since women are significantly less likely than men to ask for what they want and deserve. This week, there will be an interactive workshop that will help female students prepare themselves for the job market. The $tart $mart workshop will take place on Wednesday, September 25th, in Dougherty West Lounge. It is for students who want to increase their negotiating skills and learn more about the challenges facing women in the workforce. Food, drink, and lots of information will be provided!

There is still time to register. You can contact Joyce Harden (joyce.harden@villanova.edu) for more information, or register yourself at http://tinyurl.com/vustartsmart.

The program is sponsored by the Gender and Women's Studies program, along with Student Development, the Society of Women Engineers, Women’s Professional Network, the College of Engineering, and the College of Nursing. The $tart $mart workshop is a campus initiative and collaboration between AAUW and the WAGE Project.

Congratulations, Class of 2013!

  Congratulations to our 2013 GWS Graduates!



GWS Majors and Minors celebrate with Dr. Catherine Kerrison at the
GWS Graduation Luncheon on May 4, 2013.

"My GWS classes broadened my horizons and encouraged me to look at the world in a completely different way. Gender politics play a huge role in society today. If it were not for GWS, I never would have realized just how much of an impact they have on my life and those around me."

-Kelly Dyckman, Psychology major and GWS minor

"My experience in the Gender and Women's Studies program has been overwhelmingly positive. As students, we engaged in a diverse set of topics that related to our personal interests. I believe that my broad education at Villanova University will be an invaluable asset in today's multicultural society."

-Joseph Sarnelle (not shown), Chemistry major and GWS/Theology minor