Women#s Lecture Series Outlined

WOMEN'S LECTURE SERIES EXAMINES CHANGING MINDS AND LIVES

     COLUMBUS -- What happens when Black women achieve career 
success?  What do Victorian sexual values and practices have to 
do with American attitudes?  Why do so few women write the 
stories of their lives?  These questions will be explored during 
the 1996 Women's Luncheon Series, Women and Knowledge:  Changing 
Minds, Changing Lives presented by The Ohio State University's 
College of Humanities and Department of Women's Studies.

     Now in its seventh year, the series is designed to engage 
those who are interested in social and political issues but do 
not have regular access to university-level teaching and 
research.

     "Each of us needs to know who we are as individuals and how 
we came to be," said Shari Lorbach, coordinator of alumni and 
public relations in the College of Humanities.  "The series 
generates this kind of inquiry by featuring humanities faculty 
members who present new information or alternative perspectives 
of mainstream knowledge."

     Registration is $15 per person; pre-registration is required 
by Jan. 19 by calling Lorbach at (614) 292-1882.

     On Jan. 24, Paulette Pierce, a professor of Black Studies, 
will present "Black Professional Women:  What Price Success?" 
This talk will focus on how stereotypes of Black women -- Aunt 
Jemima, Jezebel, Sapphire, and Welfare Queen -- are being 
reinvented in order to discredit Black professional women who 
challenge the privileges of whiteness and maleness. Charlene 
Brown, news anchor at WSYX, Six On Your Side television, will 
introduce the speaker.

     Martha Garland, professor of history, will present "No Sex, 
Please, We're British" on March 14.  Victorian has long been 
thought of as a synonym for prudish, stuffy or puritanical.  What 
can modern society learn by reexamining Victorian values?  This 
talk will explore the sexual ideals and practices of Britain's 
Victorian period.

     On April 24, Leigh Gilmore, professor of English and Women's 
Studies, will present "Enough About You; Let's Talk About Me:  A 
Brief History of Women's Autobiography." This discussion will 
examine how women writers have developed their own ways of 
telling the truth about their lives. When women tell new, 
different, disturbing and powerful stories, how do these 
narratives shift our understanding of history, life, and 
literature?

     Thirty Franklin County high school juniors will attend the 
Pierce lecture through Horizons Unlimited, a program that exposes 
students to humanities in hopes that the students will take the 
ideas back to the classroom.  

     The audience is encouraged to interact with the speakers and 
with each other to continue inquiry and dialogue beyond the 
events and lead to new understanding and acceptance of themselves 
and others. 

     "Those who attend the talks develop a clearer view of the 
challenges facing women in today's society and of the role of 
humanities-based research in meeting those challenges," Lorbach 
said.  

     The luncheons are at noon at the Hyatt on Capitol Square, 75 
E. State St. WSYX, the YWCA and Mount Carmel Health Systems are 
sponsors of the series. Susan Altan, library director of the 
Columbus School for Girls, is the chair of the series planning 
committee and Mary Drennen, manager of marketing research, Ross 
Products Division of Abbott Laboratories, is vice chair. 

                             #

Contact:  Shari Lorbach, coordinator of alumni and public 
relations in the College of Humanities, (614)292-1882.


[Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Thu, 4 Jan 1996 12:59:42 -0500]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.