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The UA's Women Herstory Month events get kicked off on Tuesday and will include film screenings, panel discussions, workshops and a talent show.

By University Communications
March 2, 2009

For the month of March, various units throughout The University of Arizona will explore topics associated with womanhood and feminism.

Women's Herstory Month kicks off next week with a series of events that include film screenings, panel discussions, workshops, talent shows, exhibits and conferences.

"As women, we are a group of different individuals with different personalities," said Malia Uhatafe, co-director of the Women's Resource Center.

"Whether it's through storytelling or another form of expression, this provides a new perspective," Uhatafe said. "We don't want to give women just one way of what they should be so by sharing stories, we show that we have a unique culture of different women."

The month's kickoff event will be held March 3 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Women's Plaza of Honor. Free coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be served as people share their stories about womanhood.

Uhatafe noted that the center will screen "Bi The Way," a film that takes a look at bisexual identity in the United States.

"The center has never really touched on the topic of bisexuality," she said. "We've talked about heterosexual, lesbian and gay couples, but the talk about bisexuality is something new to us that we were interested in addressing. It is also a feminist issue."

The center, which is part of the Associated Students of The University of Arizona, is screening three films and is also helping to host the National Organization for Women's Arizona State Conference in Tucson.

"It's exciting," said Uhatafe, who added that Women's Resource Center members have been helping the local chapter with planning since August.

The month's events include:

March 3

LUNAFEST will be held at 7 p.m. at The Loft Cinema, 3323 E. Speedway Blvd. The cost is $5 for students and $10 for the general public. The national film festival is a showcase of short films for and about women. The films include documentaries, animated shorts and narratives that focus on issues related to women's health, body image, sexuality, spirituality, diversity, envrionment and relationships, among other things. The festival also raises money for the Breast Cancer Fund. For more information, e-mail UofALunaLeader@gmail.com or call 520-621-5656.

March 4

The Women's Resource Center will screen "No Secret Anymore." The film will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Gallagher Theater, which is located in the UA Student Union Memorial Center, 1303 E. University Blvd. The film is about longtime partners and prominent lesbian activists Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, who created coalitions to disprove the prevailing belief that lesbians were illegal, immoral and sick.

March 7

"The Audacity of Feminism" conference will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Women's Studies building, 925 N. Tyndall Ave. The Women's Resource Center and Tucson NOW will host the National Organization for Women's Arizona State Conference in Tucson. The conference will address a variety of contemporary feminist concerns including border issues, poverty and homelessness, disabilty and lesbian rights, campus activism and other topics. Lunch will be held at the Arizona Historical Society, 949 E. Second St., with a keynote address by Kim Gandy, NOW president. The deadline to register is March 2. For information, contact bachmanwms@gmail.com or call 520-247-7377. The cost is $25 for students and low-income individuals and $50 for community members.

March 9

The International Women's Day Celebration will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the UA Mall. Everyone is invited to celebrate women in Tucson and around the world. The event will include music, art, dance and storytelling.

March 10

Pima County Health Department practioners will offer free HIV testing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 404 of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, which is located in the Student Union. Appointments are required by e-mailing Jai Smith at jais@email.arizona.edu.

Jewels in Our Hair will be held at 6 p.m. at the Kachina Lounge, which is located on the third floor of the Student Union. The event is open to on and off campus community members and will serve as an interactive evening of reflection and storytelling about women of any color. Participants are encouraged to use story, spoken word, poetry, pictures and art to explain the impact of a mentor, family member, friend or other woman who helped shape their personal growth and identity.

March 11

"Bi The Way" will be screened as part of the Women's Resource Center's film series. The film will be shown at 7 p.m. at the UA Gallagher Theater. The documentary is one of few films produced about bisexuality in the United States.

March 12

"The Politics, History and Science of Birth Control" will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Women's Studies conference room. The Women's Resource Center and Women in Science and Engineering panel discussion will talk about issues related to birth control.

The Women's Resource Center will host its "Breast Party" from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Union Gallery, located on the third floor of the Student Union. The event is intended for women-identified individuals only. Attendees must register by sending an e-mail to Malia Uhatafe at Maliau@email.arizona.edu or by calling 520-621-3919.

March 20

The Western Reproductive Justice Leadership Institute will be held for three days beginning March 20. The institute will be held at the UA Women's Studies Building. Choice USA and the Women's Resource Center are hosting the institute, which is open to high school, undergraduate and community college students who would like to learn about sexual and reproductive health. To learn more, visit Choice USA's Web site.

March 25

The Women's Resource Center is screening "Playing Unfair" as part of its film series. The event will be held at 7 p.m. at the Gallagher Theater. The film is about the history of Title IX legislation, which granted women equal playing time in sports. The film takes a look at how the male-dominated world of sports journalism has not yet caught up with the law.

March 26
The Women's Herstory Month Talent Show will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Cellar Bistro, which is located in the basement of the Student Union. All types of performers are welcome to participate, but talents should either be written by women or performed by women. To register, send an e-mail to jrisco@email.arizona.edu.

March 27

The V-DAY Benefit Production of "Anyone of Us: Words from Prison" will be held on March 27 and March 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. on both days. The event features writings by incarcerated women being detained throughout Arizona. The event will be held in Room 350 of the Modern Languages Building, 1423 E. University Blvd. The cost is $5 in advance and $7 at the door. To learn more, write to azvagwarriors@yahoo.com.

March 28

The Women in Science and Engineering Expanding Your Horizons Youth Conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Harvill Building, 1103 E. 2nd St. It is the 27th year for the conference, which targets adolescent and teenage girls and informs them about programs and careers in science, math and technology. To register, contact Carly Thomsen at 520-626-2698 or cthomsen@email.arizona.edu.

March 30

A workshop on sexism in language will be held at 1 p.m. in Room 404 of the Student Union. The workshop will delve into sexist language – what it is and where it comes from.

Uhatafe said such a comprehensive list of events was possible because the topic of feminism and women's history are so broad.

"There is a lot that has to do with being a woman and there is a lot that has to do with feminism," she said, "so we decided to bring up topics we were passionate about to bring the focus to all the different aspects of being a woman."