March marks Women’s history month; professors reflect on women’s roles

Every March is dedicated to the recognition and appreciation of women’s history.  While the recognition of Women’s History Month seems enough to appreciate it, women’s views and feminist views are still in need of being included in everyday life to fully understand the importance of women.

Dr. Diane Weger is a history professor at Wilkes. She teaches American Women’s history and specializes in the history of women. She disclosed her views on how women’s history should be included in all aspects of history.

“When you shift history around and you start to look at it through women’s eyes or how it affected women or how women effected it, you get a whole different slant on it than if you looked at [history] in the traditional way. “ stated Wegner.

Feminism holds strong ties with Women’s History Month. Wenger tries to in cooperate feminism into her everyday teaching.

“What I try to do is show students how few rights women had. I think once we show what women did not have, then feminism doesn’t seem like that radical of an idea.”

The true meaning and theories of feminism are often hidden under harsh stereotypes. Dr. Mia Briceno, Communications  Studies professor, states her definition of feminism.

“It’s about emphasizing the role of gender and how it potentially constrains both men and women in their daily lives, culture, and society.”

While there are many progressive attributes to Wilkes’ culture; including the recent addition of a Women and Gender Studies minor and the Wilkes’ Safe Space, there are many more things that can be done to promote Women’s History Month and its themes of feminism.

Wegner discussed having more programming on campus pertaining to celebrating and protecting women. Wegner disclosed that establishing markers for local successful women and creating Wilkes scholarship programs would be a good way to establish the themes of Women’s History Month into everyday life.

Briceno and Wegner hope that in the future, Women’s History Month, feminism, and the recognition of women’s success will play a larger role in the main curriculum of all education levels.

According to Women’s History Month .gov, Women’s History Month was founded in 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project.  Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional petitions requesting the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month.