Women's History Showcase

The Office of Diversity & Inclusion partnered with the Tarleton American Association of University Women to host a Women’s History Showcase on March 2, 2015. The Showcase was held in Ballroom A of the Thompson Student Center from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The mission of this event was to bring awareness to the accomplishments of women all over the world in honor of Women’s History Month.

This event was attended by students, faculty, administrators and members of the Stephenville community. During the showcase, students were encouraged to interact with the volunteers who chose women they admired and portrayed them. The women represented in the live exhibitions included: Frida Kahlo, Elizabeth Blackwell, Amelia Earhart, Dorothy Pitman Hughes, Gloria Steinem, Rachel Carson, Marion Talbot, Madam C.J. Walker, Mother Teresa, Dolores Huerta, Oveta Culp Hobby, Marie Curie, Doris Day, Aphra Behn, Rosa Parks and Folorunsho Alakija. Students were able to be informed about over 50 women from history as they communicated with volunteers and obtained their autographs along the way. 

 

Many other women were also represented on posterboards where students were able to read about their accomplishments. These women were prioneers in the military, the entertainment industries, the civil rights movement, and the suffrage movement. They included cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, suffragist Susan B. Anthony, activist Malala Yousafzai, musician  Celia Cruz, Selena Quintanilla Perez, political leaders Queen Lili’uokalani, Dilma Rousseff, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, and political prisoners such as Aung San Suu Kyi.

Many students were unaware of the challenges faced by women throughout history and were very surprised by the stories of the women they met. One volunteer, Julie Meyer, exhibited  antique chemistry equipment as she explained her life as Marie Curie. Another volunteer, Elaine K. Smith, represented Oveta Culp Hobby in honor of her mother, who was a member of the Women’s Army Auxilary Corps. Many of these women had deep connections to women’s history and those who came to the showcase from the community were touched by their dedication.

In addition, students were able to participate in a matching game to test their knowledge of women’s history. A drawing was conducted after the event for the winner to receive a free ticket to a business etiquette dinner hosted by Career Services.

 If you have any questions about this event, feel free to contact the Tarleton AAUW at aauwtsu@gmail. com or the Office of Diversity & Inclusion at diversitytsu@gmail.com or
254-968-9488.