Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.
In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians—led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance)—successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women’s History Week.
This page highlights the events being hosted and presented for this year's Women's History Month at Sonoma State University. This year's theme is the "Intersectionality of Womanhood". We hope you will join us as we celebrate those who came before us, those that are here and in action now and with the hope that we can inspire a new generation!
Cáel Keegan “On the Necessity of Bad Trans Objects"
Monday, March 4 | 11:00am - 12:15pm | Salazar 2016
Professor Keegan explores why “good” transgender representation might be an impediment to trans liberation, and why "bad" transgender media objects might preserve a radical trans imaginary. Keegan is an Associate Professor of Fine Arts at Concordia University. He is author of Lana and Lilly Wachowski: Sensing Transgender and serves as Special Editor for Arts and Culture at Transgender Studies Quarterly. For questions or accommodations regarding this event please contact Don Romesburg at romesbur@sonoma.edu.
Women of Color Collective
Wednesday, March 6, 13, and 27 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm | HUB Cultural Center
The Women of Color Collective (WOCC) is a weekly community building and discussion space co-facilitated by a WOC clinician from CAPS and a WOC staff from The HUB. Share and be inspired by our collective stories as WOC SSU students. Connect, support, empower and share resources and kinship as we navigate the joys and challenges of our beautiful, intersectional experiences. This group is for all Cis and Trans women, as well as non-binary SSU students who are comfortable in a space that centers on the experiences of women. For questions or accommodations regarding this event please contact Isa Avila at avilai@sonoma.edu.
A Brief History of Sewing and It's Meaning
Wednesday, March 6 | 1:00pm - 3:00pm | HUB Cultural Center
Join HUB Intern, Austin Nedved as he hosts a community learning session about the vast history of sewing and how to patch holes in your clothes. Feel free to bring items that you want to patch. For questions or accommodations regarding this event please contact Bianca Delgado at delgadobi@sonoma.edu.
Women’s History Month Celebration Luncheon: Give 'Em Their Flowers
Thursday, March 7 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm | HUB Cultural Center
Join us in The HUB for lunch to celebrate Women’s History Month. Come write a note appreciating amazing women on our campus like your professor, advisor, roommate, or any other women in your life! For questions or accommodations regarding this event please contact Bianca Delgado at delgadobi@sonoma.edu.
Ms. Bob Davis, “Have you Met Louise?” and “In Their Own Words: Transgender Autobiography from Casa Susana”
Monday, March 11 | 11:00am - 12:15pm | Salazar 2016
Ms. Bob Davis (she/her/hers), the founder and director of the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive in Vallejo, CA, will introduce us to the archive as a springboard into an exploration of how trans guests of Casa Susanna, the 1960s and 1970s cross-dressing resort. Drawn from each woman’s writing, the talk provides early examples of transgender people examining their lives with candor only possible when writing for a transgender audience. For questions or accommodations regarding this event please contact Don Romesburg at romesbur@sonoma.edu.
Umoja Queens Social: Goal Setting
Monday, March 11 | 6:30pm - 7:30pm | HUB Cultural Center
The Goal Setting Social aims to empower our members by providing them with tools and strategies for setting and achieving personal and academic goals. Porsche Veu "The Poetic Activist" will facilitate the discussion.
Umoja Queens group was inspired by a group of students who identify as Black Women who expressed an interest in engaging with and being mentored by professional black Women who were a part of the Seawolf community. We strive to support, encourage, and empower Black Women as they explore their personal values, beliefs, and ideas during their matriculation at SSU. For questions about the Umoja Queens contact Nigeria Cole at coleni@sonoma.edu.
HUB Café Night: Embracing Femininity Through the Lens of Queer and BIPOC Women
Wednesday, March 13 | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | HUB Cultural Center | Register to participate
Join us in the HUB over coffee and tea to enjoy poetry, socialize, and play games. Students will be showcasing their art centered around the theme "Embracing Femininity Through the Lens of Queer and/or Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Women." Students must register by March 10 to participate in the showcase.For questions or accommodations regarding this event please contact Bianca Delgado at delgadobi@sonoma.edu.
Social Justice In Action: Women & Art
Thursday, March 14 | 12:00pm- 1:00pm | HUB Cultural Center
Embrace the vast history of social justice in art with guest speakers: Trina Robinson & Dolores Gray. Explore an art gallery walk with content created by SSU students and other artists. Enjoy our art room and get inspired to show your own works of art. For questions or accommodations regarding this event please contact Bianca Delgado at delgadobi@sonoma.edu.
Sara Beth Brooks “A History of the Asexual Movement”
Thursday, March 25 | 11:00am - 12:15pm | Salazar 2016
The A in LGBTQIA+ wasn't included just 10 years ago. This lecture will explore the origins of the organized asexual movement. Asexual and bisexual scholar-activist and organizer Sara Beth Brooks (she/they) founded Asexual Awareness Week. For questions or accommodations regarding this event please contact Don Romesburg at romesbur@sonoma.edu.
Resources
- SSU Women's & Gender Studies
- The American Association of University Women (AAUW)
- Commission on the Status of Women in Sonoma County
- 'I helped start Women's History Month over 40 years ago. Here's why it matters.'
- Influencing at the Intersections: Black Sportswomen's Activism in the Era of Muhammad Ali
- Is excellence inclusive? The benefits of fostering Black female college athlete's sense of belonging
- International Women's Day
- National Women's History Alliance
- National Women's History Month started with Sonoma County Women
- National Women's History Museum
- Sonoma County Gazette: "Home Grown in Sonoma County: Women's History Month"
- Special Collections from the SSU Library
- Women's History Month Government