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LCSC sets talks during Women's History Month
Julie Neuffer, a History instructor at Washington State University, will be the keynote speaker on March 25 during Lewis-Clark State College’s celebration of Women’s History Month, which is being co-sponsored by the President’s Commission on Diversity and the Social Sciences Division at LCSC.
Neuffer will discuss “In Search of the Perfect Women: Examining the ‘Other’ Feminist Movement” at 6:30-8 p.m. in room 100 of Meriwether-Lewis Hall. The event is free and open to the public, and snacks and refreshments will be served.
Neuffer will talk about Helen Andelin, who published “Fascinating Womanhood” in 1964. The book sold more than three million copies and launched a movement by the same name that offered that offered a counter position to the feminist movement of the time and drew large numbers of conservative women.
Neuffer will talk about how conservative women have utilized religion to redefine traditional ideas about family and politics, and how they challenged the feminist movement by placing the family and womanhood itself in a position of power in society.
Four other speakers, all from LCSC, will speak on women’s topics as well during March. The four discussions will be held at noon-1 p.m. in room 128 of Activity Center West. The discussions are free and open to the public, and attendees are welcome to bring and eat lunch during the talks.
The first speaker on March 4 is History assistant professor Amy Canfield, who will discuss “Stephen King’s Real Horror: Domestic Violence and the Feminist Backlash.” By using the novels of King as lenses through which to view society and its responses to domestic violence, this talk will examine the impacts of both the feminist movement and the consequent backlash against feminism. King’s works demonstrate a growing public awareness of domestic violence, as well as the fact that the feminist backlash of the late 1980s did not completely overwhelm the feminist movement.
The next discussion will be March 10 and will feature a film by director Jean Kilbourne called “Killing Us Softly: Advertising’s Effects on Women.” The film examines more than 160 ads and commercials to analyze different images of women. By considering familiar images from different perspectives, the film seeks to empower its audience to take auction. Following the film, there will be a brief discussion led by Psychology professor Leanne Parker.
Political Science assistant professor Jocelyn Parkhurst will discuss “The Political Image of Woman” on March 23. The recent presidential election highlighted the “image of woman” in the campaign process and in political leadership. From both sides of the political spectrum emerged negative comments and positive descriptions of women’s political image, implying a relationship on how they would act as political leaders. From “Saturday Night Live” to “Cosmopolitan” women as political leaders were lambasted and praised.
The fourth presentation will be the documentary film “The Fury for the Sound: Women and Environmental Activism” on March 25. The film chronicles the efforts of women activists involved in the struggle to halt the destruction of ancient forests in the Clayoquot Sound area of Vancouver Island, which culminated in the largest civil disobedience action in Canadian history. This film traces the role of women is the social movement history and brings to light fundamental questions of gender, nature, values, and community well-being. A discussion led by Sociology assistant professor Laura Earles will follow.
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