Every year March is designated as Women’s History Month, a time to honor women’s contributions in American history. The annual theme for the month is established by the National Women’s History Alliance. The 2021 theme continues to celebrate the women’s suffrage centennial since many events planned for 2020 were curtailed due to the pandemic. The theme for 2020 and 2021 is “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced.”
This year’s events include an Evening with Alice Walker on March 18, a virtual keynote titled “I Am Not My Hair” given by Drexel University Law Professor Wendy Greene on March 11, movie screenings, a cooking demonstration/salute to women chefs, trivia night and more. Celebrate the month and learn more about women’s history by participating in the activities listed below.
March 1-April 1
Intercultural Diversity Center, Ferguson 2100
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
Bessie Coleman was the first African American woman to receive her pilot’s license. Though her life was short-lived, Coleman has inspired generations of African American female pilots and astronauts. The goal of this exhibit is to highlight the contributions of Coleman and other female pilots.
Monday, March 1
(Educational Engagement)
The Women and Gender Resource Center is co-hosting a menstrual product drive with October 26, an organization dedicated to providing equitable access to menstrual products for people living in poverty. During the first week of March, leave your donation at one of a variety of drop-off locations on campus. For more information and drop-off locations, please contact Lizzie Smith at easmith11@ua.edu.
Monday, March 8
Noon-2 p.m.
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will provide a PowerPoint presentation about important facts of prominent women figures, historical events and general facts of Women’s History Month within the Center. This will be a presentation educating on cultural learning, sharing and teaching.
Monday, March 8
5-7 p.m.
The Women and Gender Resource Center and the Capstone International Center will present a virtual movie night in celebration of International Women’s Day. “Rafiki” (Swahili for friend) is a 2018 drama directed by Wanuri Kahiu. It is the story of romance that grows between two young women, Kena and Ziki, amidst family and political pressures around LGBT rights in Kenya. The screening will be followed by a discussion.
Register for the screening at tinyurl.com/rafiki2021. The movie and discussion links will be emailed 30 minutes prior to the start of the event to those registered.
Thursday, March 11
6 p.m. via Zoom
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will host Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law Professor Doris Wendy Greene. The daughter of American civil rights activists, Greene is a trailblazing U.S. anti-discrimination law scholar, teacher and advocate who has devoted her professional life’s work to advancing racial, color and gender equity in workplaces and beyond. Greene’s legal scholarship and public advocacy, which explore how constructions of identity inform and constrain anti-discrimination law, have generated civil rights protections for victims of discrimination throughout the United States. Greene will address the CROWN Act, how race and identity constructions constrain anti-discrimination law, and helpful suggestions on how we can minimize misperception on grooming codes and discrimination in the workplace. Registration required: www.tinyurl.com/deiidcevents. Read more at #FreeTheHair Resources
‘RBG’ Virtual Movie ScreeningFriday, March 12
7 p.m.
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will continue its Spring 2021 Social Justice Movie Series screening of “RBG” to commemorate Women’s History Month. By the age of 85, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had developed a lengthy legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. Explore her unique and unknown personal journey during her rise to the nation’s highest court. Registration required: www.tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Monday, March 15
3:30-5 p.m.
The screening is hosted by the Women and Gender Resource Center. Registration is required: tinyurl.com/9to5wgrc.
Tuesday, March 16
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Outside Starbucks, Ferguson Center Plaza
The Women and Gender Resource Center Student Leadership Council will host the Unequal Bake Sale for Pay Equity to raise awareness about pay inequity.
Thursday, March 18
5 p.m.
Alice Walker is an internationally celebrated writer, poet and activist whose books include many collections of short stories, children’s books, and volumes of essays and poetry. Walker made history as the first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Literature as well as the National Book Award in 1983 for her novel “The Color Purple.” The award-winning novel served as the inspiration for Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film and was adapted into a New York City Broadway Theatre stage play in 2005.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
In addition to the UA Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, co-sponsors include the University of Alabama at Birmingham Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, UAB Student Multicultural and Diversity Programs, UAB Institute for Human Rights, UAB Commission on the Status of Women, UAB African American Studies Program, UAB Graduate School, University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs and Samford University’s Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives.
Thursday, March 18
6 p.m.
The Intercultural Diversity Center will partner with Comcast and National Geographic on a special virtual pre-screening of their new season of “Genius,” which is focused on the life of Aretha Franklin. “Genius” is an Emmy-nominated series with Academy Award Nominee Cynthia Erivo starring as Aretha Franklin. This special premiere will be shown only at a few select Xfinity on Campus universities. Registration required: tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Thursday, March 18
6-8 p.m. in the Intercultural Diversity Center, Ferguson 2100
(Social Enrichment)
The Women and Gender Resource Center will partner with the Intercultural Diversity Center to host an in-person Women’s History Month themed trivia night. Test your knowledge and learn new information about women’s contributions to science, politics, art, literature and pop culture. Register your team and join in for fun, pizza and prizes. Registration required. For more information, contact Lizzie Smith at easmith11@ua.edu.
Tuesday, March 23
4-6 p.m.
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Women and Gender Resource Center will be facilitating the AAUW Start Smart workshops, which are specifically designed for college students about to enter the job market. These workshops are centered around combatting the gender wage gap, and are therefore typically geared towards women—however, people from all gender identities are welcome to attend. Workshops typically last about two hours. For more information, contact Elizabeth Lester at elester1@ua.edu.
Crafting Feminist FuturesWednesday, March 24
Virtual event
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
Join the Women and Gender Resource Center virtually to learn about the impact of women’s crafts throughout history and into the present. Choose and sign-up for the topics and tutorials that interest you as we try our hand at projects ranging from knitting to podcasting. Registered participants will receive all necessary supplies for their sessions. For more information, please
contact Lizzie Smith at easmith11@ua.edu.
Thursday, March 25
Noon-2 p.m.
Intercultural Diversity Center, Ferguson 2100
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will show a PowerPoint presentation on Dr. Mary A. Walker, the only female recipient of the Medal of Honor in observance of National Medal of Honor Day. Dr. Walker helped change the face of medicine during the Civil War. This presentation will feature cultural sharing, teaching and learning.
Every Woman Book Club: ‘The Vanishing Half’ by Brit BennettThursday, March 25
Noon-1 p.m. via Zoom
(Educational Engagement)
The Women and Gender Resource Center will host another installment of the Every Woman Book Club featuring “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett.
Friday, March 26
7 p.m.
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will continue its Spring 2021 Social Justice Movie Series with a screening of “Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise” to commemorate Women’s History Month. Distinctly referred to as “a redwood tree, with deep roots in American culture,” Dr. Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928-May 28, 2014) led a prolific life. As a singer, dancer, activist, poet and writer, she inspired generations with lyrical modern African American thought that pushed boundaries. The film presents Dr. Angelou’s incredible journey, shedding light on the untold aspects of her life through never-before-seen footage, rare archival photographs and videos, and her own words. Registration required: www.tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Monday, March 29
4-5 p.m.
The Women and Gender Resource Center will host a conversation with October 26 and UA Planned Parenthood Generation Action.
Tuesday, March 30
6 p.m. via Zoom
(Cultural Exploration/Social Enrichment)
To end Women’s History Month, the Intercultural Diversity Center will host a cooking demonstration featuring Birmingham chef Kelly Viall. Chef Kelly will prepare Jambalaya and discuss the importance of female chefs’ roles in the industry and the history of the Jambalaya dish. This event will address the importance of cultural sharing, teaching and learning. Registration required: www.tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Wednesday, March 31
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
LUNAFEST is a traveling film festival consisting of stories made for, by and about women. The Women and Gender Resource Center hosts this event annually to raise funds for programming and counseling/advocacy services, which are free and confidential to UA students, staff and faculty, as well as support Chicken and Egg Pictures, an organization that provides resources and funding to women who create the films for this festival. If you are interested in viewing this year’s lineup of films, please contact Jessica Kimbrough at jlkimbrough2@ua.edu or 205-348-5040.
Read more stories about Women’s History Month at The University of Alabama.
