March is Women’s History Month!

By: Megan Lee

Throughout the month, units and groups across campus are hosting speakers, media shares, activities, games, and other events. The WorkLife Office has collaborated with Women*s Student Services, Womxn’s Council, TransAction, Alliance, Transcend, James Madison College, Planned Parenthood Generation Action, Prevention Outreach and Education, the Center for Gender and Global Context, the Associated Students of MSU, the LBGT Resource Center, the Womxn of Color Community, and the Undergraduate Research Unit to create a shared calendar of all the events happening during March. 

This link has all the registration information for each session.
View the flyer (PDF)

In the use of “women,” we recognize that gender is complex. We are all more than just our gender – we are comprised of intersecting identities that are grounded in history and our lived experience that goes beyond the gender binary. We celebrate this month because of the past and present existence of systemic gender oppression that impacts women as well as others who exist differently regarding the gender construct. 

The Women’s Networking Association, specifically, is hosting two events, Shortlisted: Women in the Shadows of the Supreme Court and Assertiveness: The secret ingredient for self-care and unlocking your untapped power. These WNA sessions are open to all, but faculty, staff, and postdocs are the main intended audience.

Shortlisted: Women in the Shadows of the Supreme Court with speaker Renee Knake Jefferson

Celebrate Women’s History Month by joining Professor Renee Knake Jefferson for this special conversation about women shortlisted for the United States Supreme Court before Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female justice in 1981. Drawing from the research in her book Shortlisted: Women in the Shadows of the Supreme Court, Jefferson will introduce the audience to nine extraordinary women—a cohort large enough to seat the entire Supreme Court—who appeared on presidential lists dating back to the 1930s. These women include Florence Allen, the first female judge on the highest court in Ohio, was named repeatedly in those early years. Eight more followed, including Amalya Kearse, a federal appellate judge who was the first African American woman viewed as a potential Supreme Court nominee. In addition to filling a notable historical gap, Jefferson will discuss the harms of shortlisting― how adding qualified female candidates to a list but passing over them ultimately creates the appearance of diversity while preserving the status quo. This phenomenon often occurs with any pursuit of professional advancement, whether the judge in the courtroom, the CEO in the corner office, or the coach on the playing field. Women, and especially female minorities, while as qualified as others on the shortlist (if not more so), find themselves far less likely to be chosen. Jefferson will conclude a valuable set of strategies for upending the injustices that still endure, drawn from the personal and professional lives of the shortlisted sisters profiled in her book.

Renee Knake Jefferson is a law professor and an award-winning author whose work is frequently featured in the media including appearances on MSNBC and National Public Radio. She holds the Doherty Chair in Legal Ethics at the University of Houston Law Center where she teaches ethics, constitutional law, and a writing seminar on gender, power, law, and leadership. She was appointed to the Michigan State University Board of Trustees by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2019 following the resignation of a trustee over the university’s handling of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case. She testified in 2018 before a federal judiciary committee about reforms to workplace sexual harassment and misconduct rules. A Fulbright recipient and elected member of the American Law Institute, she regularly consults on matters related to lawyer/judicial ethics, gender diversity in leadership roles, and the first amendment and lawyer speech. She is the author of three casebooks, more than 20 law review articles, and the book Shortlisted: Women in the Shadows of the Supreme Court.

Date: Wednesday, March 17th, from 3:00-4:30pm
Link to register 
Link for more information

Assertiveness: The secret ingredient for self-care and unlocking your untapped power with speaker Dr. NiCole T. Buchanan

Assertiveness is one of the most important skills women need for stepping into their power, reclaiming their lives, and establishing boundaries and self-care practices. Despite its importance, assertiveness is often misunderstood as aggression, acting like a man, being mean or being disrespectful. This talk will debunk the myths about what assertiveness is and is not. By the end of this session, participants will have the resources needed for growing their assertiveness skills so they can build self-care practices and unleash the full depths of their power.

NiCole T. Buchanan, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University. Her research examines how race, gender, and victimization relate to well-being and how organizations can utilize workplace best practices to reduce bias and create healthy work environments where all employees thrive. She is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, four separate divisions of the American Psychological Association, and has been the recipient of several awards for her contributions to the field.  Dr. Buchanan is also the Clinical Director and Founder of Alliance Psychological Associates, PLLC in East Lansing, MI. Her clinical work focuses on healing from gender- and race-based trauma and victimization, thriving in difficult work environments, assertiveness training, and personal empowerment. Finally, Dr. Buchanan offers trainings on implicit bias, microaggressions, and improving dialogue and diversity-related climate for medical personnel, academic units, business leaders, and police departments. Videos of her TEDxMSU talk and other professional presentations are available online.

Date: Wednesday, March 31st, from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Link to register 
Link for more information

International Women’s Day with speaker Dominique Jackson

In celebration of Women’s History Month 2021, join us for an evening with model, actress, author, and advocate Dominique Jackson! Best known for her leading role as Elektra Abundance on the FX television series Pose, Dominique has a story to tell! This event is coordinated by the LBGT Resource Center and Women*s Student Services.

Date: Tuesday, March 23rd, at 6:00 p.m.
Link to register
Link to submit questions

Women in STEM Research Panel

A panel of women in STEM will share their experiences navigating the STEM field in research, academia, and industry. Panelists include MSU students, faculty, and former students. They will address topics on how to navigate undergraduate research at MSU, the importance of Women mentors and navigating and managing gender dynamics and imposter syndrome in the STEM field. The goal of the panel is to support women interested in pursuing careers in the STEM field. This event is coordinated by the Undergraduate Research Unit.

Date: Thursday, March 11th, from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Link to register
Link for more information

Communists, Criminals, and Caravans: The Social Construction of Central Americans as Crisis with speaker Dr. Leisy J. Abrego

Thousands of Central Americans are leaving their homes in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to seek refuge in the United States. What is propelling their mass exodus and why should U.S. society care? This talk provides the political and social context for U.S.-Central American relations from the 1980s to the present to better understand how U.S. foreign policies in the region and immigration policies at home shape the current situation.

Trained in sociology, Dr. Abrego studies Central American migration, U.S. intervention in Central America, Latina/o/x families, and the production of “illegality” through U.S. immigration laws. She is the author of the award-winning book, Sacrificing Families: Navigating Laws, Labor, and Love Across Borders (Stanford 2014).
This event is coordinated by James Madison College.

Date: Friday, March 12th, from 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Link to attend 
    Password: JMC
Link for more information

Follow this link to see the entire calendar of events.