Westfield State University to celebrate Women’s History Month

Westfield State University will host a slate of events throughout March in honor of its “Month Celebrating Women.” This year’s theme—“I Dissent”—will be a tribute to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Organized by the University’s Office of Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership (SAIL), the month-long observance will include guest speakers and lectures, film screenings, poetry readings, and a dinner sponsored by Westfield State Dining Services that honors the favorite meals of famous women in history.

Westfield State University’s Month Celebrating Women Events:

Documentary screening of And She Could Be Next
Wednesday, March 3, 3 p.m.
This documentary covers the stories of women of color running for elected office and fighting to transform politics across the United States. Following the screening will be a discussion about Vice President Kamala Harris and her hopes for the current challenges faced across the nation. A Westfield State faculty panel will moderate further conversations and will host a question-and-answer session. American Documentary Inc.’s Point of View and Independent Television Service (ITVS) co-produced the film.
Sponsored by: Westfield State’s Department of Ethnic and Gender Studies

Women of Color History Museum Lecture
Monday, March 8, 6–7 p.m.
This exhibit will profile several dynamic African-American women who have made significant contributions to society. Original artifacts, signed documents, and photos of individuals such as Mary McLeod Bethune, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Angela Davis, Dr. Mae Jemison, Shirley Chisholm, Coretta Scott King, Oprah Winfrey, Condoleezza Rice, and other notable African-American women will be present, showcasing the impact they have made on the history of Black women around the world.
Sponsored by: Westfield State’s Office of Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership

International Women’s Day Celebration
Monday, March 8
A challenged world is an alert world, and from challenge comes change. Make the choice to challenge. Discover ways to help forge a gender-equal world by joining this celebration of women’s achievements, raising awareness against bias, taking action for equality, and helping to make every voice heard. Westfield State’s social media channels will share details on how to participate in the International Women’s Day social media campaign.
Sponsored by: Westfield State’s Office of Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership

“Think Like a Feminist”
Wednesday, March 24, 3-4 p.m.
What can birdcages, knapsacks, model prisons, and traffic intersections tell us about sexist oppression? How is sexism connected to racism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of oppression? Is it nature or nurture that’s responsible for our gender roles and identities? Who counts as a woman and who gets to decide? Tackling these questions and more, Professor Carol Hay presents the philosophy behind the feminist movement. Hay is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and author of Think Like a Feminist: The Philosophy Behind the Revolution (W.W. Norton, 2020).
Sponsored by: Westfield State’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Department of Philosophy

Poetry Reading and Conversation
Thursday, March 25, 4–5 p.m.
Listen to the poems of women of color Patricia Smith and Lynne Thompson, and student/emerging poet Amina Jordan-Mendez. A question-and-answer session with each poet will follow the readings.
Sponsored by: Westfield State’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Departments of English and Ethnic and Gender Studies, and Office of Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership

Film Series Discussion: Hidden Figures
Wednesday, March 31, 7 – 8 p.m.
An open discussion will be held in honor of the student-selected, culturally and historically significant film of the month, Hidden Figures, which is the story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.
Sponsored by: Westfield State’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Celebration of Women Game Show
Wednesday, March 31, 8 p.m.
A test of knowledge about famous women and their achievements for a chance to win some big prizes.
Sponsored by: Westfield State’s Office of Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership

For 30 years, Westfield State has observed Women’s History Month. For more information about or access to the March events, call the SAIL Center at 413-572-5619 or email sail@westfield.ma.edu.