From gaining the right to vote to fighting for abortion rights, women have battled inequality throughout history.
For this reason, Women’s History Week was designated to begin on March 7, 1982, coinciding with International Women’s Day on March 8. The celebration was expanded to the entire month of March in 1987. Since then, presidents of the United States have signed annual proclamations declaring the month Women’s History Month.
Today, Women’s History Month is celebrated by many organizations hosting events for their communities.
West KY NOW
The West Kentucky chapter of the National Organization for Women is hosting events that are free for the public to attend. They are accepting donations of travel-sized personal hygiene products and period products.
West Kentucky NOW is hosting their chapter meeting Thursday, March 5, at 6 p.m. Christine Lindner, West KY NOW president, said all are welcome.
“It’s a good opportunity for feminists of all genders to learn about who we are and work to create a feminist future for Kentucky,” Lindner said.
The chapter is hosting more events over the weekend. Saturday, they’re partnering with MSU’s Cinema International for a screening of “Fight Like Hell: The Testimony of Mother Jones” at 7 p.m. in 208 Faculty Hall. Sunday, Lindner will be giving a lecture at the Calloway County Public Library titled “The History of the National Organization for Women: 60 years of Feminist Activism” at 2 p.m.
The goal of the events is to celebrate women’s history and build connections within the community, Lindner said.
“Challenges can be overwhelming, so while we encourage action, we encourage education and awareness, we also celebrate joy,” Lindner said. “It’s important to keep a balance.”
Thursday, March 26, the West Kentucky chapter and the campus chapter of NOW are partnering with the Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (KRCR) and the First Presbyterian Church of Murray to present a panel discussion titled “Faith and Reproductive Health.”
Cameren White, vice president of MSU NOW, spoke on what to expect at the event.
“It’s about faith and abortion and merging those two together,” White said. “Being pro-choice and having autonomy in your body while also being a person of faith.”
To learn more about events being hosted by West Kentucky NOW, visit their Instagram or website.
MSU NOW
MSU NOW is also hosting events of their own, including a social media campaign called Feminist Forward.
Every day in March, they’ll be posting a snapshot of important women in history and their accomplishments on their Instagram page.
“We are making campaigns on women in history who you may not have been educated about in the same way that you were men throughout history,” White said. “Anyone can reflect on the historical education that they’ve been given and realize that there are very few women who are highlighted, especially to the same degree that men are.”
NOW has six tenants that they promote through their events: reproductive rights and justice, economic justice, ending violence against women, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights and constitutional equality.
“We are a feminist organization,” said Lindner. “We believe women deserve to be fully integrated into societies.”
White echoed Lindner’s sentiment.
“It is just very important to our organization and to me as an individual — I believe to a lot of people as an individual — that we highlight those activists and those people as we work for a better future, especially in light of the current administration,” White said.
For more on events and meetings for MSU NOW, visit their Instagram.
Gender Equity Caucus of Murray State
Murray State’s Gender Equity Caucus, a membership group for faculty and staff, celebrates International Women’s Day and its 10th anniversary this Women’s History Month from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 11, in the Waterfield Library Gallery.
The organization, originally named the Women’s Faculty Caucus, marks their anniversary by their first celebration of International Women’s Day in 2016 when Marjorie Hilton, a history professor at Murray State, served as the Caucus’s first president.
Julie Cyzewski, an English professor and GEC secretary, said the GEC advocates for women and other underrepresented groups on campus to improve the professional environment and community.
“The GEC has done yearly events since 2016, so it’s something we’re always thinking about and planning,” Cyzewski said. “Some years we’ve brought in speakers … and others we’ve focused more on community building, creative projects. Everything is very hands-on and interactive. It’s meant for people to come and take part.”
This year’s event will feature a zine making activity to “express anything you want to say about the value women and femmes add to the world and your life,” according to an infographic shared on the GEC Instagram page.
Murray State’s “Disappearing Acts” community art project will be available at the event for attendees to make contributions as well as an art display made by former students of Alexandra Hendley, a sociology professor at Murray State.
For more information about the International Women’s Day event or the GEC, email [email protected].
Murray State department of history
Olga Koulisis, a history professor and vice president of the GEC, said the history department has two programs lined up for Women’s History Month.
Junior students in the HIS 361 “Teaching History” and ENG 480 “Effective Pedagogy” courses have created “She Built this Nation: 250 Years of Herstory,” a Women’s History Month bulletin board to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The department will also host Aimee Loiselle, an author and history professor at Central Connecticut State, to discuss her latest book “Beyond Norma Rae: How Puerto Rican and South White Women Fought for a Place in the American Working Class.” The lecture will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 25, in Faculty Hall 208.
