Association of Women's Studies

UCO Women’s and Gender Studies Conference

Lauren — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:01:41 +0000

The Association of Women’s Studies will be hosting the first ever UCO Women’s and Gender Studies Conference on February 27, 2010 in the College of Liberal Arts. Learn more about it and register here. Check back soon for a detailed schedule and other exciting information.

First Presidential Transgender Appointment- And It Was Based On Merit!

Lauren — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:40:18 +0000

Amanda Simpson Receives Presidential Appointment to the Department of Commerce — Feministe

What has been making Simpson’s appointment newsworthy, though, is the fact that she is a transgender woman. And while very far from being the only trans government worker, it seems that she is the first openly trans person to receive a presidential appointment. Further, she’s actually an activist within the trans community who, among other things, served on the Board of Directors at the National Center For Transgender Equality (NCTE).

Rape Victim’s Choice: Risk AIDS or Health Insurance? – Huffington Post

Lauren — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:42:18 +0000

From the Huffington Post:

Christina Turner feared that she might have been sexually assaulted after two men slipped her a knockout drug. She thought she was taking proper precautions when her doctor prescribed a month’s worth of anti-AIDS medicine. Only later did she learn that she had made herself all but uninsurable.

Out-of-Body Image – Ms. Magazine

Lauren — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:30:41 +0000

Ms. Magazine | Out-of-Body Image | spring 2008

Out-of-Body Image
Self-objectification-seeing ourselves through others’ eyes-impairs women’s body image, mental health, motor skills and even sex lives

By Caroline Heldman

girls are taught: your body is a project that needs work before you can attract others. Boys are taught: your body is a tool to master the environment.

Domestic Violence Panel

Lauren — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:04:44 +0000

AWS will be co-hosting a panel on Domestic Violence with UCO NOW:

Tuesday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m. in Pegasus Theater.

Representatives will be on hand from several organizations, including the Violence Prevention Project and the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

Iron Jawed Angels

Lauren — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:01:52 +0000

AWS will be hosting a free screening of the film Iron Jawed Angels on Friday, October 9th at 7pm in Pegasus theater. The film portrays the struggle for women’s suffrage in America. AWS will also be registering people to vote at this event.

"Stop Fat Talk" video

Lauren — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:24:51 +0000

Thanks to AnyBody for linking to this great video.

Shotgun Adoption – The Nation

Lauren — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:49:36 +0000

I found this story very disturbing. I was aware of crisis pregnancy centers and how they try to pressure women not to have abortions, but I had no idea just how terrible these places are.

While there is growing awareness of how CPCs hinder abortion access, the centers have a broader agenda that is less well known: they seek not only to induce women to “choose life” but to choose adoption, either by offering adoption services themselves, as in Bethany’s case, or by referring women to Christian adoption agencies. Far more than other adoption agencies, conservative Christian agencies demonstrate a pattern and history of coercing women to relinquish their children.

Read the whole article here

Meeting Times

Lauren — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:31:01 +0000

AWS will be holding two meetings to inform people about our plans for the year, and in particular to get people interested in the Women’s and Gender Studies conference this spring. Please try to attend one of these two informational meetings:

Friday, Sept 4th at 2pm in LAR 117
OR
Tues, Sept 8th at 7pm in LAR 226

I hope to see everybody there!

The importance of “talking the talk”: male feminists and visibility – Hugo Schwyzer

Lauren — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:58:59 +0000

I learned early a basic truth that I repeat to my students and my mentees every chance I get: the acid test of a man who claims the mantle of feminism (whether he calls himself a feminist or a “feminist ally” isn’t particularly relevant) is not how only how he treats women, but how he deals with the men in his life. Feminist men need to be able to be vocal allies of women even when there are no women around; in all-male and mixed settings, male feminists have a special obligation to stand against misogyny. If that’s too scary to do in “real life”, it surely isn’t too much to ask in the world of the blogosphere, where nasty language doesn’t carry with it the threat of imminent physical violence.

Read the full article here