Clarion University Women and Gender Studies Program

10/13/2020

Please join us on Wednesday, October 21 @ 6:30PM for the annual Take Back the Night event! We have two speakers this year, Moriah Hathaway and Anne Ard.

09/18/2020

The annual Take Back the Night event will be held virtually this year on October 21st at 6:30PM and because of this, we are calling for our campus community to send photos of themselves, their family members and even pets with lit candles (not the pets of course!). These photos will be compiled to form a video for us to show during the vigil and walk portion of the event since we are unable to hold the annual vigil and walk through campus. Anyone who wishes to send a photo, please send it to [email protected] prior to September 30th.

We would like for this night to be a night of empowerment for sexual assault survivors so we are also looking for roughly four individuals who would be willing to share their stories at the event, individuals can remain anonymous. If anyone would be willing to share their stories, please send an email to [email protected] or [email protected]

We will have a zoom link and info on our keynote speakers in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for that!

11/12/2019

Hi everyone! This is a shout out for Sociology Club, who is hosting the Courageous Conversation event on November 19th from 6:30-8PM in Suites On Main South, room 9A&9B! The conversation topic is: Student Retention. Everyone is welcome to attend!

09/05/2019

Hi everyone! The WGS department is holding a Meet Your Advisor Gathering on Wed. Sept. 25 from 10-11:30am. Everyone is invited to attend! There will be cookies, fruit, and light refreshments! Please stop by!

02/14/2019

The VDay Project is co-hosting a Sexual Violence Literature Night with English Club and TOBECO. This event will be held on February 28, 2019 from 6-8PM at Michelle's Cafe on Main Street in Clarion. We invite you to come sit in the audience or to participate! To participate: Bring a short (300-words or less) personal story, poem, or an excerpt from someone's literary work to read aloud- or we'll read it for you! This event is also open mic, meaning that you can sign up to read/share when you arrive. Please direct any submissions or questions to [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you there!

Please note that Michelle's Cafe only accepts cash or check, if you wish to purchase food or drinks

09/07/2018

If you are a student looking for a minor, check out Women and Gender Studies!! It benefits all majors!!

06/23/2018

Happy Birthday, Title IX!

Happy 46th birthday to Title IX! The landmark U.S. civil rights law which prohibits gender discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving federal support became law today in 1972. Due to this far-reaching legislation, girls and women have equal access to higher education, are legally protected at school from sexual harassment, and have greater professional opportunities in academia. And, of course, the Act is especially famous for its transformative effect on girls' and women's athletics.

The U.S. has among the highest levels of participation of girls in sports in the world and that fact is largely due to this little known, but hugely significant law. According to the Women's Sports Foundation, girls' and women's participation in sports in the US has increased by 990% in high schools and by 560% at the college level since its passage.

Thanks to all of the activists and politicians who championed the passage of Title IX! And, special thanks to former US Congresswoman Patsy Mink, one of Title IX's principal authors and the driving force behind its passage; in 2002, the Act was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in her honor. Thanks to all of their hard work and dedication, girls and women in the US have had greater access to everything from higher education to sports programs for the past four decades!

Were you an athlete in school or is your Mighty Girl today? Please share your Title IX stories -- or a photo of your Mighty Girl participating in her favorite sport -- in the comments below.

For an excellent resource for teaching tweens and teens about the history of Title IX and its impact on girls' lives, we highly recommend "Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law That Changed the Future of Girls in America" for ages 11 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/let-me-play

For books for children and teens starring girls and women who love playing sports, visit our "Sports & Games" section at https://www.amightygirl.com/books/general-interest/sports-games

If your Mighty Girl is also an athlete, you can find girl-empowering t-shirts that show off her love of sports in our "Sports & Hobbies" t-shirt section at https://amgrl.co/2Ihg5vx

And, for one of our favorite t-shirts for sports-loving Mighty Girls -- young and old - that proudly states "I'm not strong for a girl. I'm just strong.", visit https://www.amightygirl.com/strong-t-shirt

Thanks to the National Women's Law Center for this tribute to Title IX!

06/11/2018

On this day in 1913, Illinois passed legislation that permitted women to vote in presidential elections. Illinois was the first state east of the Mississippi where women could vote - seven years before suffrage was won nation-wide.

05/15/2018

Meghan Markle has been hailed as Britain’s first black royal. But Queen Charlotte, who married King George III 257 years ago, probably had African blood from both sides of her family.

05/12/2018

Congratulations, WGS graduates!

04/27/2018

Please join WGS on Tuesday, 11:30-1:30, for our 25th anniversary party and senior recognition day!