Women’s History Month Activities Take Center Stage
by Jerilyn Fisher, Professor and Women’s and Gender Studies Coordinator
English Deparmtent
How did Women’s History Month come about? Its origin can be traced to the 1911 declaration of March 8th as International Women’s Day. Then, more than six decades later, in 1978, California librarians and teachers established a state-wide week of educational activity to recognize the little-known accomplishments of women throughout time. Finally, in 1987, building on the growing popularity of Women’s History Week celebrations, the U.S. Congress officially proclaimed March as Women’s History Month, now recognized across the nation. At Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, with nearly 70% of our students women, and with increasing numbers of men who openly support women’s equality, we sponsor dynamic celebrations each year that garner robust attendance.
As we all know, learning takes place not only in the texts we study, but also outside the classroom. With this in mind, we’re delighted to present the 2016 Women’s History Month calendar, which provides a full banquet of opportunity collaboratively designed by faculty, programs that will enlarge our historical and contemporary perspectives on women, gender and sexuality. With culturally diverse programs that teach as well as entertain, WHM at Hostos features: five artistic performances, three talks by experts and activists, three film screenings, and our annual Women’s History Month Essay Contest culminating in the Awards Ceremony at which students from all levels of writing instruction read from their winning essays about women, gender and sexuality to an audience of faculty, peers, family and friends.
Join the celebrations this month, one and all ! Enrich your minds, let your hearts be stirred.
