The UW Art Museum and the Department of Women and Gender Studies kicked off the celebration of Women’s History Month in the basement of the art museum with presentations, arts and crafts, and other community engagement on Monday, March 6.
This event focused on making a woman’s voice be heard, and showing the power a single voice can have.
“In history, a woman’s voice is usually not accounted for and made invisible. This kind of gathering puts on the front burner, the place of women in history,” said History Grad Student Kolade Folamu.
The oppression of women and minorities is an ongoing crisis around the world, and bringing people together in one room can break those barriers to start the change, according to the Department of Women and Gender Studies.
“This gathering will make a lot of voices be heard because history is power,” said Folami.
Graduate students and faculty led presentations on women’s rights, world history, and women who have made a difference.
“I presented some of my research on black history in Wyoming. My goal oftentimes when I present this subject is to make people aware of how multicultural Wyoming was historically,” said Public History Educator Brie Blasi.
Historical subjects were connected to the present day in hopes of bringing people together.
“We can come from different places, different backgrounds, and different perspectives, but we can all get together and make crafts and be friends,” said Blasi.
The celebration of women’s history, according to the faculty at the event, is meant to build connections between everyone.
“One of the things that’s nice about this event is that undergraduates, grad students, staff, faculty, administrators can all get together without a hierarchical environment,” said Arielle Zibrak, an assistant professor of English and gender and women’s studies.
Raechel Cok, the curator of academic engagement, and Zibrak partnered with the Art Museum and the Department of Women and Gender Studies to put on this event.
“Snacks, crafting, and hanging out with folks who believe in building inclusivity is our goal,” said Cok.
Events like this continue throughout the school year with the goal of supporting the underrepresented and promoting a sense of belonging within the community.
“Last semester we did a button making party, which was an effort to provide solidarity and to support students and members of the community,” said Zibrak.
“We want to get people on campus who support each other and to create a space of affinity and engagement.”
Upcoming plans include ‘queer night’ the first Monday of every month, and other events filled with crafts and community building.
