USC Upstate Discusses “Why Women’s History?” on Tuesday, March 27
March 26, 2018
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, the University of South Carolina Upstate is taking a deeper look at one of the most important academic disciplines in women’s studies: women’s history.
A panel discussion “Why Women’s History?” will be held from 3:30 – 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, 2018 in the ballroom of the Olin B. Sansbury, Jr. Campus Life Center, 180 Gramling Drive, on the USC Upstate campus.
Dr. Lisa Johnson-Marsala, director and professor for Women’s and Gender Studies, said it is valuable to look at “big picture questions” in celebration of Women’s History Month. Instead of hearing from a single scholar on one subject in women’s history, she built this panel to reflect more broadly on “why we study women’s history” and “what’s interesting about this field of research.”
Panelists for the event include: Carol Loar, Ph.D., professor of history and chair of the History, Philosophy, Political Science and American Studies Department at USC Upstate; Carmen Harris, Ph.D., professor of history at USC Upstate; Melissa Walker, Ph.D., recently retired George Dean Johnson, Jr. Chair of History at Converse College, and Angela Esco Elder, assistant professor of history at Converse College.
“I’m excited to bring together four highly-accomplished professors of women’s history to discuss the significance of their work and to talk about their personal journeys into this particular area of study,” Johnson-Marsala said. “In a moment when women’s voices are being heard on the national stage in unprecedented ways, with the #metoo and #timesup digital movements, it is timely to think about which women’s voices have not been heard throughout history, why, and what feminist researchers have done to address those gaps.”
According to the National Women’s History Project, the U.S. Congress designated March as women’s history month in 1987 to create “a special opportunity in our schools, our workplaces, and our communities to recognize and celebrate the often-overlooked achievements of American women.” The 2018 theme is “Nevertheless, She Persisted: Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women,” a theme that “embodies women working together with strength, tenacity and courage to overcome obstacles and achieve joyful accomplishments.”
Panelists will comment on the uses of women’s history to empower today’s women and girls.
Light refreshments will be served.
About USC Upstate
The University of South Carolina Upstate is a regional, comprehensive university that offers more than 40 bachelor’s degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences, business administration, nursing, and teacher education, and master’s degrees in education, informatics, and nursing. These degrees help students to transition easily to careers in the Upstate region. USC Upstate is committed to fulfilling regional and state workforce needs and thus the university is a major engine of social and economic development. Comprised of a diverse and dynamic community of approximately 6,000 students from 26 states and 17 countries, USC Upstate is a wonderful blend of traditional and nontraditional students who reflect the Upstate’s rich international character. USC Upstate offers a balance of strengths that, when added up, results in a learning experience that is hard to match. The academic programs are accredited and highly ranked, with amazing research and internship opportunities for students. USC Upstate has its main campus in Spartanburg, the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics and the UPSTATE Gallery on Main in downtown Spartanburg, a location in Greenville, and a growing number of programs online. The USC Upstate Spartans, which fields 17 varsity sports, compete on the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Nearly 30,000 alumni have earned degrees from USC Upstate and approximately 85 percent choose to remain in the Upstate region to build their lives and careers, making a significant impact of the region’s economy and quality of life. Learn more at www.uscupstate.edu.
