Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories
Join Governors State University in celebrating women, past and present, and acknowledging women’s vital role in shaping American History. Women should be celebrated every day, but a month dedicated to female empowerment is an honor and worth celebrating. Women’s History Month began as a week-long proclamation in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. While women have made significant advancements economically and politically since the country’s founding, gender discrimination, and sexism still create social and economic barriers.
This year’s national theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” This theme recognizes “women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling, including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, news, and social media.” GSU would like to acknowledge the women in our media, marketing, and communications departments and programs. According to recent research, women are well-represented in the career pipeline in media; however, they are a minority at the highest levels, with only 27% of C-suite positions. Women comprise over 50% of our nation’s population and 65% of GSU’s population.
We at GSU strive to create a campus that supports gender-equity and inclusion. For too long, women have been treated like what storytelling artist Alicia Keys calls ‘an Underdog,’ built to break the mold (take a listen). As Oprah Winfrey once advised, “Step out of this history that is holding you back. Step into the new story you are willing to create.”
Every March, GSU intentionally coordinates efforts across the community to celebrate women’s historical contributions and host programs that envision how we can achieve a gender-equal world. Visit the Diversity Programming and Resources website for more information.
For more information about Women’s History Month, check out the following links:
Entertaining movies about women who broke the mold
Joi F. Patterson, Ph.D.
Chief Diversity Officer
Governors State University