Stuewe: Experience women's history

Understanding women's history is vital to any college education

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By Liz Stuewe

Monday, March 12, 2007

The madness of March is here, but there is a lot more than basketball going on. For those of you who need more than brackets and Dickey V. or are just generally sick of hearing old white men calling Darrell Arthur “Shady”, check out the Women’s History Month events all around Lawrence.

Women’s history month began in the 1970s when, according the National Women’s History Project, “women’s history was virtually an unknown topic in general public consciousness.” Like many great things, women’s history month started small and blossomed into the month-long celebration it is today.

While the United States has progressed dramatically since the 1970s in terms of gender relations and gender understanding, there is still more to be done. For example, according to statistics from U.S. Department of Labor, the number of women who work outside the home has risen from 5.1 million in 1900, to 18.4 million in 1950, to 65.7 million in 2005. The number is projected to reach nearly 76 million by 2014.

This is an amazing increase; however, if you look at the breakdown of the statistics you can still see a clear gender bias in the types of jobs women get. The Department for Professional Employees reported that in 2005, 92 percent of registered nurses, 82 percent of all elementary and middle school teachers, and 98 percent of all preschool and kindergarten teachers were women.

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I have been asked repeatedly about the necessity of women’s history month.

To celebrate amazing women, the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center has put together a free calendar of local events honoring women. The calendar includes events sponsored by the Lied Center, Student Union Activities, the Hall Center and many more.

It includes comedian Alexandra McHale’s performance at the Kansas Union and lectures by Ann Cudd, professor of women’s studies. The events are designed to broaden the understanding of what it means to be a woman.

You can pick up a copy of the calendar, featuring pictures of Frida Kahlo, Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt at the Student Involvement and Leadership Center at room 400 in the Kansas Union.

I have been asked repeatedly about the necessity of women’s history month. And the National Women’s History Project Web site says it the best: “the knowledge of women’s history provides a more expansive vision of what a woman can do.

This perspective can encourage girls and women to think larger and bolder and can give boys and men a fuller understanding of the female experience.” Understanding women and women’s history is a crucial part of any college education.

So take a small break from basketball this March and appreciate how hard women have worked and how far they have come.

Stuewe is a Lawrence junior in political science and American studies.

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