Campus book discussions raise awareness for women's leadership
Kimberly Grogan
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Life
UW-Green Bay's campus book discussions, sponsored by the Office of Student Life, will continue to inform and expand the minds of students this spring by featuring three books as part of the Women's Leadership Program.
The first discussion, Feb. 17, will be hosted by Sheila Carter, program coordinator for the Office of Student Life. Her discussion will focus on a collection of works in Audre Lorde's book, "I Am Your Sister."
Lorde was a poet, lesbian and radical black feminist of the 1960s and 70s who helped to reshape feminism into the women's movement we know today.
"She was not necessarily the most popular," Carter said. "She was part of the feminist movement in the 60s, but she really railed against the traditional feminists. As a black woman and a lesbian, she felt there was not space in that movement for difference, so she really challenged women in that movement to recognize their racism, sexism and homophobia."
Carter hopes the discussion of Lorde's writings will help students become more aware of what Lorde and others like her did in the past that have allowed women to be in the place they are today.
"We hear about the Gloria Steinhams of the movement, but we don't hear much about the Audre Lordes of the movement," Carter said. "She was a very important figure."
The second discussion in this book series will be hosted by its author, one of UWGB's own, Kim Nielsen, professor of women's and gender studies.
Her latest book, "Beyond the Miracle Worker: The Remarkable Life of Anne Sullivan Macy and Her Extraordinary Friendship with Helen Keller," details Macy's life.
"I think it's very exciting to actually have the author lead the book discussion," Carter said. "We will not only get the benefit of her discussing the content of the book, but she has so much more to say about the writing of the book, the process of writing and the process of learning about someone else's life."
Nielsen, who has hosted book discussions both in town and out of town in the past, is excited to receive feedback from students.
The first discussion, Feb. 17, will be hosted by Sheila Carter, program coordinator for the Office of Student Life. Her discussion will focus on a collection of works in Audre Lorde's book, "I Am Your Sister."
Lorde was a poet, lesbian and radical black feminist of the 1960s and 70s who helped to reshape feminism into the women's movement we know today.
"She was not necessarily the most popular," Carter said. "She was part of the feminist movement in the 60s, but she really railed against the traditional feminists. As a black woman and a lesbian, she felt there was not space in that movement for difference, so she really challenged women in that movement to recognize their racism, sexism and homophobia."
Carter hopes the discussion of Lorde's writings will help students become more aware of what Lorde and others like her did in the past that have allowed women to be in the place they are today.
"We hear about the Gloria Steinhams of the movement, but we don't hear much about the Audre Lordes of the movement," Carter said. "She was a very important figure."
The second discussion in this book series will be hosted by its author, one of UWGB's own, Kim Nielsen, professor of women's and gender studies.
Her latest book, "Beyond the Miracle Worker: The Remarkable Life of Anne Sullivan Macy and Her Extraordinary Friendship with Helen Keller," details Macy's life.
"I think it's very exciting to actually have the author lead the book discussion," Carter said. "We will not only get the benefit of her discussing the content of the book, but she has so much more to say about the writing of the book, the process of writing and the process of learning about someone else's life."
Nielsen, who has hosted book discussions both in town and out of town in the past, is excited to receive feedback from students.
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