Gender Studies Celebrates Women's History Month
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02/26/2008
Excerpt: Dr Alice Dreger will speak on "Intersex in Theory, Life, and
Practice" at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25 in the Commons Lecture
Hall. The lecture is co-sponsored by the biology department.
"Intersex," Goi explained is the term referring to persons born with
sex anatomy that doesn't fit the standard for men or women, and
Dreger, an associate professor of Clinical Medical Humanities and
Bioethics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern
University in Chicago, is an acknowledged expert on the subject of
people born with "norm-challenging bodies."
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Gender Studies Celebrates Women's History Month
February 25, 2008
In March and April, the gender studies department at Calvin College
will recognize Women's History Month with a diverse schedule of
activities: everything from a feminist reevaluation of the wedding
ceremony to a discussion of intersexuality.
Calvin's Women's History Month events—which take place March 4 through
April 3, is less a celebration of the milestones of women's history
than an exploration of gender issues, said Simona Goi, the director of
the gender studies minor who is coordinating the events.
"I've sort of made it into 'gender history month' because all of
us—men and women—deal with gender issues throughout our lives, and
this is an opportunity to stop and reflect on these issues," Goi said.
"I also think it's important to celebrate the accomplishments of women
and to acknowledge the challenges that women face."
The events are sponsored by the gender studies department in
conjunction with Calvin academic and non-academic departments. "We're
trying to appeal to a wide audience," said Goi. "We definitely want to
engage students, but we're also hoping to draw the whole Calvin
community—faculty, staff and alumni—and the wider community to talk
about gender and women's accomplishments.
The month kicks off with the lecture "Reading the Scripture with our
Foremothers" by Dr. Marion Taylor at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4 in
the Commons Lecture Hall. The lecture is co-sponsored by the religion
department and the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship. "The idea
is to uncover interpreters of the Bible that people usually wouldn't
think of—women interpreters," said Goi.
The March 4 event will also celebrate the publication of Recovering
Nineteenth-Century Women Interpreters of the Bible, a book co-edited
by Taylor, who teaches the Old Testament at Wycliffe College at the
University of Toronto, and Calvin religion professor Christiana de
Groot. "I think it's exciting for students to see another side of a
professor's work," said Goi. "They see the teaching, but it's
important to know that we also do research."
Michelle Loyd-Paige, the Calvin dean of multicultural affairs, will
speak on "The Faith of Our Mothers: Black Women's Jesus, White Women's
Christ" at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 18 in the Commons Lecture Hall.
"She will talk about an aspect of worship and faith that is often not
considered, the fact that there are different faith traditions tied to
both ethnicity and gender, and that they can be oppressive or
liberating," said Goi.
Dr Alice Dreger will speak on "Intersex in Theory, Life, and Practice"
at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25 in the Commons Lecture Hall. The
lecture is co-sponsored by the biology department. "Intersex," Goi
explained is the term referring to persons born with sex anatomy that
doesn't fit the standard for men or women, and Dreger, an associate
professor of Clinical Medical Humanities and Bioethics at the Feinberg
School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, is an
acknowledged expert on the subject of people born with
"norm-challenging bodies."
"I think her work is so interesting, and it pushes Christians
especially to think about how we respond to a group of people who have
been invisible," said Goi. "This work crosses the borders of these
issues of what is normal and what is acceptable and what is a
disability. We're really fortunate to be able to hear from someone who
has dedicated her life to this."
A soon-to-be-married student inspired the panel "Our Big, Fat,
Feminist Wedding: Traditions, Alternatives and What They Mean for
Marriage," which will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 26 in the
Meeter Center Lecture Hall. "Both she and her fiancée will be on the
panel to talk about what makes a traditional and non-traditional
wedding," said Goi. "I think this will be a big student
draw—especially for women students."
Another panel, this one a sampler of successful Calvin women alumni
from a range of fields, will conclude the Women's History Month
celebration. "How Does She Do It? Women Balancing Careers, Marriages
and Families," will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 3 in the
Commons Lecture Hall. The panel, co-sponsored by Calvin's Student Life
department, will feature a liver transplant surgeon, a business owner,
an attorney, a professor and a minister, and their different
approaches to integrating families with demanding careers. "We want to
say to our women students, 'Here are some interesting options for
combining a family and a career. You can do it too," said Goi.
