Women’s History Month
Vanderbilt celebrates Women’s History Month each March. Women’s History Month honors and celebrates the struggles and achievements of women of all nations and cultures.
Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” (From the Law Library of Congress’s guide to the legislative history of Women’s History Month.)
For more about the origins of Women’s History Month, visit womenshistorymonth.gov.
Questions? Please contact Sarah Brennan at sarah.a.brennan@vanderbilt.edu.
Want a WHM Zoom background? Check them out here!
Visit linktr.ee/vuwomenscenter to RSVP for all events!
Tuesday, March 1
12:00 p.m. CT – 1:00 p.m. CT
Sarratt Promenade
Women’s History Month Kickoff
This grab-and-go event will feature several giveaways, including cupcakes and a printed events calendar.
Tuesday, March 1
4:00 p.m. CT
Game, Set, Match: A New Era of Equality in Sports
Sports icon and champion of equality Billie Jean King will be in conversation with Candice Lee, vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director at Vanderbilt University.
Register here. >>
Wednesday, March 2
12:00 p.m. CT
Inclusive Book Group: The Vanishing Half
At this meeting, we will discuss Brit Bennett’s best-selling novel The Vanishing Half. The Inclusive Book Group is a collaboration between the Women’s Center, the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries, the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities, and Employee Learning and Engagement.
Thursday, March 3
4:00 p.m. CT
First Woman of Color in Congress: Patsy Takemoto Mink, the Intersectional Feminist Behind Title IX
Patsy Takemoto Mink represented Hawai’i in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965 to 1977 and from 1990 to 2002. Over the course of her long political career, which included leadership in the territorial legislature and Honolulu City Council, Mink advocated for the rights of women, workers, as well as Indigenous and people of color. This talk by Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, professor of Asian American Studies, and conversation with Gwendolyn Mink, political scientist and daughter of Patsy Mink, explores how Mink’s political vision interwove a Pacific ethic with feminist, civil rights, and anti-war solidarities.
Friday, March 4
12:00 p.m. CT – 1:00 p.m. CT
Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center
Free Book Friday
Come to the Women’s Center to pick up a book related to women’s history!
Tuesday, March 8
International Women’s Day
Check out Women’s Center’s social media (Instagram: @vuwomenscenter)
Thursday, March 10
HIV/AIDS Women and Girls Awareness Day
Check out Women’s Center’s social media (Instagram: @vuwomenscenter)
Monday, March 14
12:00 p.m. CT
Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center
Women at Vanderbilt Portrait Project Unveiling and Reception
This project honors the contributions made by six Vanderbilt women throughout the University’s history. Six portraits of these women have been installed at the Women’s Center; the subjects of these portraits are Stella Vaughn, Margaret Cuninggim, Mary Jane Werthan, Sallie McFague, Shirley Collado, and Candice Lee. Check out the portraits here.
Tuesday, March 15
12:15 p.m. CT
Sarratt 189
Lunch and Learn with SCSJI: Supporting Indigenous Women
Information forthcoming.
Wednesday, March 16
12:00 p.m. CT
Work–Life Workshop: Creating an Intentional and Inclusive Wellness Toolkit
Join Ciera Scott, Ph.D., HSP, Assistant Director for Community Engagement and Psychologist at the University Counseling Center, for a discussion of wellness and self-care.
Thursday, March 17
12:15 p.m. CT
Pushed Out: A Panel Discussion about the Perception of “Pink-Collar” Professions
Join Peabody Career Services and the Women’s Center for a candid virtual conversation about the disadvantages women and femme-identified folks (still) face in female-dominated fields such as being undervalued, underappreciated, and underpaid. We will be joined by three alumnae panelists who will discuss their careers in female-dominated fields, society’s views about “women’s work,” and strategies to create a more inclusive and supportive work environment.
Thursday, March 17
7:00 p.m. CT
A Beautiful Work in Progress: An Interactive Conversation with Mirna Valerio
Mirna Valerio is an ultrarunner and the author of the memoir, A Beautiful Work in Progress. Valerio’s work centers her experiences as a larger woman in a world of thinner athletes.
Friday, March 18
12:00 p.m. CT –1:00 p.m. CT
Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center
Free Book Friday
Come to the Women’s Center to pick up a book related to women’s history!
Friday, March 18
6:00 p.m. CT
Multicultural Community Space (200C 25th Ave. S.)
Latin-American and Caribbean Students’ Association Women’s History Month Celebration
Let’s honor the struggles of those women who fought for the rights we enjoy today!
Monday, March 21
5:00 p.m. CT – 7:00 p.m. CT
Black Cultural Center Auditorium
Black Women’s Mixer
Hey Queen! Join us at the Black Cultural Center as we celebrate ourselves! With music, food, and fellowship, this is guaranteed to be the type of affirming evening needed to get you through the week! This event is part of the Black Cultural Center’s Black Women’s Empowerment Week, March 21 – March 25.
Tuesday, March 22
12: 00 p.m. CT – 2:00 p.m. CT
Black Cultural Center
Yaaaasss Queen: A Visual Tribute Honoring Black Queer and Trans Womyn
Come to the Black Cultural Center for an interactive, self-paced tribute that seeks to educate and bring visibility to powerful and inspiring womyn in the Queer and Trans community. Pictures of these womyn will be displayed throughout the Black Cultural Center and participants will be able to name the womyn using a QR code on each picture with facts about their accomplishments. Guess all the names correctly and you could win swag! The display will remain up at the Black Cultural Center throughout the week. This event is part of the Black Cultural Center’s Black Women’s Empowerment Week, March 21 – March 25.
Tuesday, March 22
12:15 p.m. CT
Sarratt 189
Gender Equity on Campus: A History of Title IX
Join us as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX and learn about the legislation’s history and impact on gender equity in all the aspects of campus life. Presented by Cara Tuttle Bell, Director, Project Safe Center for Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response. Lunch provided, must register in advance.
Wednesday, March 23
12:00 p.m. CT
Sarratt 189
Saying Yes to Saying No: Figuring Out Professional Boundaries
Laura Carpenter, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
Nicole Joseph, Associate Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning
Clare McCabe, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Engineering
This session will explore the process of discerning what is essential, what brings joy, and how these things shift over one’s career. Lunch provided to those who register.
Wednesday, March 23
6:00 p.m. CT
Black Cultural Center or Zoom (Hybrid Program)
Get Me Bodied: How Current Media Portrayals of Black Women Affect Societal Perceptions
Since the 1800s, Black women have been unjustly scrutinized and fantasized about their appearance. Come explore the history of Sara Baartman as we dive into how perceptions of Black women have shaped our reality. Learn how society turns this fascination into a multi-million dollar industry. This event is part of the Black Cultural Center’s Black Women’s Empowerment Week, March 21 – March 25.
Thursday, March 24
11:30 a.m. CT
Black Cultural Center Auditorium, Invitation Only Event
Hats Off to Women Awards Luncheon
Help us “tip our hats” to some amazing women of the Vanderbilt and Nashville communities! This year’s honorees are: Dr. Candice Storey Lee, Dr. Tracy Sharpley-Whiting, Dr. Ebony McGee, Dr. Ivana Thompson, Ashley Best, Sandra Uti, Alesha Harmon, Danait Isaac, Chidiogo Nwakoby, and Haley Bishop. This event is part of the Black Cultural Center’s Black Women’s Empowerment Week, March 21 – March 25.
Thursday, March 24
2:45 p.m. CT
Zoom
Reproductive Rights as Human Rights: How Women of Color Le(a)d the Fight for Reproductive Justice
Join the Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies for a lecture by Dr. Zakiya Luna, Dean’s Distinguished Professorial Scholar in the Department of Sociology at Washington University.
For more information, please contact Stacy Simplican, stacy.c.simplican@vanderbilt.edu.
Thursday, March 24
3:15 p.m. CT – 7:30 p.m. CT
Student Life Center Ballroom
Women in STEM Spring Symposium
The symposium will feature interactive panel discussions and workshops, headshot opportunities, and much more!
Thursday, March 24
7:00 p.m. CT
Sarratt 112
Kitchen Table Series: Gender Equity in Sports: The Impact of Title IX
Title IX played a significant role in increasing women’s access to sports at the collegiate level. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, we will explore how this signature legislation has changed college sports over the years.
Friday, March 25
12:00 p.m. CT – 1:00 p.m. CT
Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center
Free Book Friday
Come to the Women’s Center to pick up a book related to women’s history!
Friday, March 25
12:00 p.m. CT
Black Cultural Center Auditorium
Crowns Photo Exhibit
Vanderbilt has some of the most beautiful and intelligent Black womyn on the planet! And the BCC is proud to put their photos on display! Come to the Black Cultural Center for the photo exhibit, Crowns, where the featured models are all from the Vanderbilt community! Light refreshments will be available. Sign up for a slot here, and please note that sign ups will close on Monday, February 28 at 5 p.m. This event is part of the Black Cultural Center’s Black Women’s Empowerment Week, March 21 – March 25.
Monday, March 28
5:00 p.m. CT
LFG Film Discussion
This panel discussion of the documentary about gender inequity in women’s soccer.
Register here. >>
To watch the film before the discussion, access it here.
(The film will be available free of charge from Monday, March 21 to Monday, March 28.)
Tuesday, March 29
4:00 p.m. CT
AAUW Start Smart Salary Negotiation Workshop
Learn how to research your target salary, highlight your accomplishments, and find the right words—and the confidence—to negotiate for better benefits and pay.
Wednesday, March 30
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT
(11:15 – Professor Rebecca Vandiver, 11:30 – How to edit, 11:45 – Group editing)
Cohen Hall 134
ART + FEMINISM Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon
Wondering about Wikipedia? Want to make women artists visible? Come add your favorite woman artist into Wikipedia! We’ll teach you how and give you resources for easy edits. Professor Rebecca Vandiver (History of Art) will discuss her recent research on women artists. DYV credit available. Snacks provided. Contact gallery@vanderbilt.edu with any questions.
Wednesday, March 30
4:00 p.m. CT
Managing Money Confidently
Presented by Jen Hemphill
In this virtual event, Jen Hemphill, the author of Her Money Matters: The Missing Truths from Traditional Money Advice and the host of the Her Dinero Matters podcast, will discuss ways that we all can grow in confidence with our money.
Thursday, March 31
2:00 p.m. CT – 4:00 p.m. CT
Women-Owned Business Showcase
Sarratt Gallery
Stop by Sarratt Gallery to enjoy coffee and treats from local women-owned businesses!