Take Back the Night is an annual rally held during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It offers survivors and their supporters a chance to speak out about rape and sexual assault. Take Back the Night is all about women reclaiming the right to feel safe in their homes, communities and personal lives day or night. It is about feeling empowered to break the silence surrounding their experiences in a way that challenges others to examine their roles in ending sexual violence.
The Vagina Monologues is a play written by Eve Ensler that brings attention to the many ways in which women's lives and experiences are maneuvered. It is about reclaiming the strength and wisdom of our bodies, our sexualities, and our lived experiences as meaningful, insightful and essential means to our liberation. It recognizes the worth and participation of women transnationally to bring awareness to many crucial and often controversial issues surrounding women's fight for social justice. As a part of the campus campaign it encourages its volunteers to think and feel deeply about the important role of women's activism in bringing about social change.
Everywhere we look there are images and advertisements telling us what we should look like, what size we should be, and what products we can buy to finally achieve the "right look." This is a day to fight back and appreciate our bodies in all of their sizes, shapes, colors, and abilities. We hosted a busy and popular festival in Myers Field House, with lots of information, activism and fun things to do. As always, our "i heart my body" t-shirts were a big hit!
For more information visit the Love Your Body website.
National Eating Disorders Awareness week was founded in 1987 with the intention of educating people about the importance of positive body image, healthy eating behaviors, and the dangers of eating disorders. In February 2008 Camille Cooper, former model and actor, came to campus for a standing-room-only keynote presentation, "The Truth About Beauty." In previous years we've hosted famed media critic Jean Kilbourne, and local dietician Kathy Kader.
For more information visit the National Eating Disorders Awareness Week website.
Each year, usually during Women's History Month, the Women's Center sponsors a major lecture. Past speakers include Dorothy Allison, Chief Wilma Mankiller, Kathy Najimy, Rebecca Walker, Jackson Katz and Gloria Steinem. Help us select our next important campus guest, or work with us as we publicize this program.
The Women's Center has celebrated the National Young Women's Day of Action annually in the fall. Nationally, the day of action began in 1977 to commemorate the death of Rosie Jimenez. She died as a result of the Hyde Amendment, which blocks federal funding for abortions for poor women.
We had a speak out on the mall area at MSU. Young Women were encouraged to come out and speak about issues that were dear to them or offer some empowering words.
March is Women's History Month and the Women's Center put on several events to honor women. We opened the month with a movie showing of a powerful and well made film, The Color Purple then we celebrated International Women's Day, where women from all over the country came together on a panel and shared things that were dear to them about their homes and also offered encouraging words. We returned after Spring Break and had a day of pampering. Spa Day involved getting a massage, a free spinal examination, enjoying a foot massage, comfort foods and listening to soothing music. It was truly a relaxing atmosphere. We ended the month with a bang, The Women of Courage and Vision Reception honored women of courage and vision on campus. Women were nominated and were given gifts and certificates and enjoyed a reception in their honor!
