Women’s History Month recognizes achievements and advocacy

Clark University will celebrate Women’s History Month with special programs throughout March, including guest speakers, athletic games, a film screening, and a special pop-up market featuring women- and femme-owned businesses.

Women’s History Month began as Women’s History Week and was first held in March 1982 — the same year the Equal Rights Amendment fell three states short of ratification. Congress expanded the celebration to a month in 1987; since 1995, presidents have issued annual proclamations that designate the month of March as “Women’s History Month” and recognize women’s contributions and achievements throughout American history.

The 2024 Women’s History Month theme, selected by the National Women’s History Alliance, is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” This recognizes women’s advocacy as the source of societal changes that have expanded our possibilities and have moved history forward, according to the Alliance’s website.

“We approach Women’s History Month with an intersectional lens, understanding that our students hold multiple and intersecting identities,” said E. Tejada III, Associate Director for Gender and Sexuality in the Office of Identity, Student Engagement, and Access (ISEA). “We seek to uplift and celebrate women and femme folks and honor their experiences and contributions toward equitable support and access for all who have made our society and world a better place.”

ISEA and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) are leading Clark’s events, collaborating with other departments to create a campuswide celebration.

All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend the month’s events, which include:

• Thursday, March 14: Women’s Tea
  • Sponsored by the School of Professional Studies
• Thursday, March 14: Film Showing: “Bottoms”
  • Sponsored by Clark U Film Screening Society (CUFSS) and ISEA
• Tuesday, March 19: Afternoon Tea and Treats with Trans Scholar Susan Stryker
  • Sponsored by ISEA and Women’s and Gender Studies; preregister for location »
• Tuesday, March 19: “What Transpires Now: Trans History in the Present,” a lecture by Susan Stryker
  • Sponsored by the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, the Provost’s Office, Office of Faculty Affairs, Dean of the College, Department of History, Department of Political Science, and The Writing Center
• Wednesday, March 20: “Rebuilding Reproductive Freedom in Abortion-Restrictive States,” a lecture by Kathryn Abrams, J.D.
  • Sponsored by the Higgins School of Humanities in conjunction with Menstrual Equity Alliance and Pro-Choice Clark
• Thursday, March 21: Pop-Up Market for Women and Femme-Owned Businesses
  • Sponsored by ODI and ISEA; vendor sign-up form »
• Saturday, March 23: Athletics Home Games
  • Sponsored by Clark Athletics
    • Women’s Lacrosse v. Wellesley, 1 p.m. at the Granger Athletic Complex
    • Women’s Softball v. Regis College, noon and 2 p.m. at the O’Brien Softball Field
    • Women’s Tennis v. Salve Regina, 1 p.m. on the Corash Tennis Courts (Granger Athletic Complex)
• Saturday, March 23: Girls’ Lacrosse and Soccer Clinic for girls in grades two through eight, a fundraiser for the Women’s Sports Foundation
  • Sponsored by Clark Athletics
• Wednesday, March 27: Alumni and Friends Virtual Book Club reads “Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America” by Mayukh Sen
  • Sponsored by Alumni and Friends Engagement and the Goddard Library; register »

“We aim to share and explore experiences together as a campus and as a community — whether that be via athletics, art, or film,” said Ashley Caruso, assistant director of DEI programming and planning in ODI. “We look forward to highlighting the women who help make Clark and the Worcester community a vibrant scene.”

To learn more about these events, visit the campus events calendar, follow @clarku_diversity and @ClarkISEA on Instagram, or email odi@clarku.edu or isea@clarku.edu.