USC kicked off Women’s History Month on Friday with the 16th annual Women’s Conference, celebrating influential women of Troy including President Carol Folt. Celebrations continued on Monday with a Women’s History Poster Making Gala hosted by the LGBTQ+ Student Center and a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and a two Spirit Panel hosted by the Native American and Pasifika Lounge.
The celebration of women’s accomplishments originated as Women’s History Week in 1982. In 1987, Congress officially declared the month of March as Women’s History Month. Since then, Women’s History Month has become an important step in honoring women’s contributions to history that have often been overlooked in general education for years.
Sheridan Spain, a senior studying psychology, said that Women’s History Month has been an important step in the fight for women’s rights and in boosting feminist voices internationally.
“This month is a time where discussions around striving for equality and feminist ideals should continue to be talked about,” Spain said. “Here at USC, students can generally be more privileged and it’s important to recognize that other women in the world are facing extreme oppression. This is the time that we need to advocate for them because we have the privilege to do so.”
The celebration of Women’s History Month has also prompted introspection by students. Mavi Eyuboglu, a senior studying human biology, said that the discussion around Women’s History Month gave her a deeper appreciation for the women in her family, and it also gave her a chance to consciously appreciate her femininity.
“Especially in college, I have been embracing my transition into womanhood and recognizing just how different it is from girlhood,” Eyuboglu said. “Because of that, I now just have a much deeper appreciation for the women around me. All of the small cultural things that I do will remind me of my mom and my grandma, and I’m so proud to be raised by and share a community with people like them.”
Here are the list of USC events celebrating this year’s Women’s History Month:
Women’s History Month Kickoff - Friday, March 8
Women’s History Month begins with a special celebration of International Women’s Day hosted by President Carol Folt. This event will be open to all faculty, staff, students and alumni on a virtual streaming platform. It will explore the theme “Women Who Advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.”
Negotiating Salary - Tuesday, March 19
Whether you’re currently looking for a job or wondering what the next steps are after receiving a job offer, the USC Gender and Equity Programs and Career Center has got you covered. Learn how to negotiate your salary and discover your worth in the workforce at a lunchtime workshop discussion at 12 p.m. in TCC 224.
Spill The Tea - Wednesday, March 20
Take a break from the stress of homework and wine down at the Paint & Sip event hosted by the Gender Equity programs and JEDI. Enjoy food from Annie’s Soul Delicious and sip on some drinks while celebrating and uplifting the voices of women’s narratives. This event will take place in Student Union 410 at 4 p.m. and is open to all USC students.
“I think these activities are really important, especially at a college campus where, a lot of times, women can generally feel unsupported,” Spain said. “So I feel like any opportunity for people to bond with people like that is great.”
Women’s Night - Wednesday, March 20
Are you interested in fitness and nutrition? Are you yearning for tips on weight training techniques? Lyon Center is hosting a free women-only fitness program from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20. From PMS-relieving yoga and a F45 demo to a strength and nutrition Q&A, a variety of fitness workshops will be provided at this Women’s Night. Attendees will also receive a free t-shirt while supplies last. Students can sign up for specific classes with this registration link.
Re-envisioning Troy - Thursday, March 21
This event will showcase student-written short plays that reimagine USC’s Trojan symbolism and is presented alongside an exhibition at Doheny Memorial Library. The plays will highlight gender issues, war and violence through Greek tragedy. The performance will be followed by a conversation with playwrights and scholars Christine Evans, Afroditi Angelopoulou, Rena Heinrich and Diana Shield.
Leadership Conference - Saturday, March 23
The USC Dornsife Center for Political Future will be hosting its annual Young Women’s Leadership Conference on Saturday, March 23 in TCC 350, 351 and 352. The conference will focus on bringing young high school women together to become more civically engaged through skills-building workshops, discussions, and panels from influential women. This event is free for all high school students. Program participants have gone on to pursue jobs in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and elected offices.
Christeene - Saturday, March 23
Drag Queen Christeene will perform Sinéad O’Connor’s debut album in Bovard Auditorium at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. Christeene will be joined by musician Peaches and performance artist Shannon Funchess for a night honoring O’Connor’s music. Admission is free and reservations are required.
Queer Women in Trivia - Monday, March 25
The Gender Equity Programs and LGBTQ+SC will highlight the representation of queer women within the media. They will host Kahoot trivia and eat sushi while discussing the portrayal of the LGBTQIA+ community in cultures globally. Prizes will be awarded after this friendly competition. This event will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, March 25.
Women’s Empowerment Panel - Thursday, March 28
Explore the challenges faced by women of color in the corporate industry in a virtual panel. The session will focus on empowering the next generation of women in the workplace with insight and advice from influential leaders. This empowering discussion will cover navigating the workplace as a woman of color.
USC FemFest - Saturday, March 30
The Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment (SAGE) will be hosting its annual counter-patriarchal music festival on March 30. More details will be provided closer to the date.
“This is a time where we can come together as a community to celebrate women and non-binary people, especially queer women and people of color,” said Shiloh Gonsky, FemFest co-director of sponsorship. “I think it’s cool that USC allows us to have a space to celebrate these voices, which have typically been suppressed by the patriarchy.”