March is Women’s History Month – to celebrate and encourage the study, observance, and celebration of the important role women play in America. Throughout history, women have faced varying challenges while continuing to make important contributions to our communities in both personal and professional settings.
At the University of Kentucky, now more than ever, the community is striving to acknowledge, celebrate and elevate the voices of history that have often been overlooked. With events such as Ubuntu, Latinx Heritage Month, MLK Day celebrations, and most recently, Black History Month, the UK is honoring the communities that have shaped the story of the institution.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, a planning committee consisting of UK Martin Luther King Center undergraduate interns and campus partners will host a variety of events for the campus community to participate in titled Womxn’s HERStory Month.
“Que emotion! I am thrilled to celebrate Womxn’s HerStory Month,” said Ruth Gonzalez Jimenez, MLK Center’s Latino Student Community Specialist. “When I was a student in the UK and an intern at the MLK Center, I participated in Womxn’s HERStory Month. It is now a pleasure to help the current MLK intern do the same.
“I feel empowered to be part of a committee full of women,” said Nazia Claiborne, MLK Administrative Support Intern. “Our voice was at the forefront of this year’s vision. We have complete confidence in our decisions and want only the best for our women on and off campus.
Claiborne emphasized that all programs are open to everyone in the UK and the Greater Lexington community.
Womxn’s HerStory Month celebration begins at 11 am on Monday, March 6 with pop-up booths on campus. The UK community is invited to stop by, take selfies and pick up cupcakes, cookies, cuties, and Womxn’s HERStory Month swag (buttons, stickers, etc.).
On International Women’s Day, March 8, the community is invited to attend a program featuring key women in Islam with speaker Ustad Lobna Mulla at 6 p.m. At MLK Center, learn more about the importance and significance of the hijab and why it matters so much to the women who wear it. The event is not only a part of Womxn’s HerStory Month celebration but also a part of the UK’s Islamic Awareness Week, organized by the Muslim Student Association of the UK. It, like all events, is open to the community to learn from and engage in intercultural exchange.
The community is also invited to attend Womxn’s HerStory Month keynote address with Liani Veni at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in the Gaten Student Center Ballroom AB. NAACP Image Award nominee Vani is a multi-faceted poet, producer, and director who will speak on the importance of liberating women. A graduate of Spelman College and Boston University, Vaini uses her digital platform to speak out on race, feminism, politics, and inclusivity. His address will be followed by a moderated discussion with Kishona Gray, Ph.D., associate professor of writing, rhetoric, and digital studies and Africana studies at UK.
The MLK Center will kick off the month with the annual Coretta Scott King Celebration and Awards Dinner, where campus champions are recognized through the Sisters Inspiring Sisters (SIS) Awards. The SIS Awards will recognize an undergraduate and graduate student and a staff and faculty member who has demonstrated commitment, sisterhood, and service to other women on campus and beyond.
For a complete list of Women’s History Month events throughout March, see below.
El mes de la historia de las mujeres!
Learn what it means to be a woman in Latin America and the individual progress being made to achieve equal rights for women. The meeting will be held in Spanglish (a mixture of Spanish and English). If you do not feel comfortable speaking Spanish, you are welcome to speak in English. Hay Que Hablar tries to be as inclusive as possible.
- 6-7 pm Wednesday, March 1 | Lewis Honors College, Room U134
- Hosted by Hey Q Hubler.
135 Years of the UK Women’s Anniversary Luncheon
The UK Alumni Association is celebrating the 135th anniversary of Belle C. Gunn, the first female graduate in the UK. This is a private event; Pre-registration is required: https://www.ukalumni.net/s/event/a4k5G000000UUYbQAO/135-years-of-uk-women-luncheon-students.
at 2 pm. Thursday, March 2 | Gaten Student Center, Harris Ballroom
Womxn’s HerStory Month Pop-up
- Tuesday, March 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- MLK Cultural Center | Gaten Student Center A230
- White Hall Classroom Building
- Jacob Vigyan Bhavan
- Lewis Honors College Scholars Lounge
- Center for Graduate and Professional Diversity Initiatives (Kentucky Clinic Location)
- The Office of China Initiatives Lounge
“The Edge of Each Other’s Battle: Audre Lorde’s Vision”
This powerful documentary is a tribute to black lesbian feminist poet Audre Lorde (1934-1992). One of the best-known icons of second-wave feminism, Lorde inspired generations of activists with her riveting poetry, serving as a catalyst for change and uniting the communities in which she worked. Was a part
- Tuesday, March 7 at 2 pm | Donovan Hall, Room 001
- Hosted by Lewis Honors College.
Sister Circle: Real Relationships
The second installment of this discussion will focus on healthy relationships.
4:30-6pm Tuesday, March 7 | Worsham Cinema, Gaten Student Center
History of jurisdiction
Learn how women have shaped global society in music, politics, and the arts, and how they contribute to ensuring that our societies continue to prosper.
6:10-7:30 pm Tuesday, March 7 | mlk center
Hosted by the OZ Chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma and BIILS: Brotherhood, Inclusivity, Integrity, Leadership, Service
Hijab Try-On & Give-Away
Women in Islam where participants will receive the hijab, learn how to wear it, and learn the differences between the burqa, hijab, and other headwear throughout Islam.
Thursday, March 8 from 9 am to 3 pm | mlk center
Organized by Muslim Students Union.
Prominent women in islam
Learn the significance and importance of the hijab and why it matters so much to the women who wear it. Everyone is welcome to join the conversation.
6:30-8:30 PM Thursday, March 8 | mlk center
Hosted by the Muslim Student Union and the MLK Center.
Leading Ladies Trivia
Come out and play with AO’s Butterflies and learn more about the leading women in our world.
5-6 PM Wednesday, March 22 | White Hall Classroom Building, Room 110
Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. Hosted by the Alpha Omicron Chapter of
An Evening with Lynne Vaini: Women’s History Month Keynote Speaker
Thursday, March 23 at 6-7 pm | Gaten Student Center, Ballroom AB
Sponsored by the Office of LGBTQ* Resources; the Center for Graduate and Professional Diversity Initiatives; the Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Studies; Department of African American and Africa Studies; underground perspective; the Office for Off-Campus and Commuter Students and the Office for Community Engagement.
Outside the Margins: The Health Gap: Gender Equity, Bias, and Everyday Sexism
One in five women say they have felt that a health care provider has ignored or dismissed their symptoms, and 17% say they feel they have been treated differently because of their gender – compared to 14% and 6% for men, respectively. Stereotypes about gender affect how doctors treat diseases, approach their patients, and promote a lack of inclusivity in research studies. Gender bias can also affect female healthcare providers professionally, reducing the number of women seeking leadership in academic medicine. Join a panel of UK faculty and UK healthcare providers as they explore gender bias and what organizations can do to support patients and providers.
Noon – 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 | Webinar on Zoom.
register here.
Hosted by the College of Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Martin Luther King Center, and Hughes in Medicine.
The Coretta Scott King Womackson’s HerStory Month Awards & Celebration Dinner
The event will highlight and honor those members of the campus community who actively engage Coretta Scott King’s work and legacy through their leadership and community engagement efforts, especially for women of color.
Friday, March 28, 5-7 pm | GatenStudent Center, Harris Ballroom
Register here or nominate someone for the SIS Awards (nomination deadline is March 20).
Hosted by the Martin Luther King Center
Sarah Bennet Holmes Luncheon
Sarah Bennet Holmes, a distinguished former Dean of Women in the UK, tirelessly supported women’s rights throughout her career. The annual Sarah Bennet Holmes Prize is awarded to UK employees who have achieved professional and personal success whilst promoting the development and well-being of all women in the UK and beyond.