Project Specifications

Project Components

“Feminism Now” is composed of three primary, organized components, outlined as follows.

I. “Feminism Now” Colloquia Series

A series of informal colloquium events will serve as the organizing spine of “Feminism Now.” At the present time, five colloquia have been proposed for the spring 2007 semester.

Feminism & Sexuality – featuring panelists discussing issues such as women and pornography, reproductive rights, prostitution, and bisexuality. Potential panelists include Ryan Shanahan, graduate student in the University of Maryland’s Department of Women’s Studies and active member of HIPS: Helping Independent Prostitute’s Survive; Jill Paquin, graduate student in UMD’s Department of Counseling and Personnel Services and former staff member of NARAL; Julie Arseneau, graduate student in UMD’s Department of Counseling and Personnel Services and published emerging expert on bisexual women and sexual identity development; Dr. Laura Mamo, Assistant Professor of Sociology (UMD).

Men Doing Feminism – featuring panelists discussing the role of men in feminist scholar-activism. Potential panelists include Dr. Angel David Nieves, Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation and Director of Graduate Training and Research at the Consortium on Race, Gender and Ethnicity (UMD); Robb Hernandez, graduate student in American Studies and founding director of the Latina/o Studies Working Group (UMD)

Politics & Feminism – spotlight presentation from Ambassador Frances Cook, first women U.S. Ambassador to the Middle East (Oman).

Globalizing Feminisms – panel of expert academic feminists discussing feminism in globalized contexts. Potential panelists include Dr. Michelle Rowley, Assistant Professor of Women’s Studies (UMD); Dr. Psyche Williams-Forson, Assistant Professor of American Studies (UMD); and Dr. Lois Vietri, Professor of English (UMD).

Women, Work and Culture – featuring panelists discussing women’s roles in male-dominated fields, especially science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Potential panelists include Dr. Ruth Fassinger, Professor of Counseling and Personnel Services/Counseling Psychology and principal investigator of the ENHANCE Project (UMD); Erin Deery, undergraduate engineering student and Honors Humanities Program member; Dr. Paige Smith, Director of Women in Engineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering (UMD).

The preceding list is clearly not exhaustive of all relevant issues and topics. Future panels might include a pro-life/pro-choice dialogue, as well as panels on disability, transgenderism, the history of feminism, women’s health, international development and women and warfare, among many others.

II. “Feminism Now” Reading Group

The “Feminism Now” Reading Group, led by Gender Caucus members Rayyan Ghuma and Anqi Fu, will meet periodically during the semester to discuss literature, television and film relevant to the “Feminism Now” colloquia. This reading group is designed to facilitate discussion among interested students and to create a designated space for students to come together and dialogue around a range of gender topics.

III. “Feminism Now” Online

The “Feminism Now” Online Web site will feature a blogspace that will serve to: a) inform interested parties about upcoming relevant events, not limited to those specific to “Feminism Now,” and b) facilitate conversations, networking and information exchange among people interested in “Feminism Now” and other scholarship and activism related to gender issues.