Department offers sample classes for Women's History Month
By Madison Flournoy
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Culture
In celebration of Women's History Month, UTC is offering sample women's studies classes throughout March before the women's studies major begins this fall.
Marcia Noe, professor of English and director of women's studies, from Rock Island, Ill., said she became interested in women's studies when she read "Feminine Mystique."
She then began to teach women's studies classes at Black Hawk College in Illinois. Noe will coordinate the women's studies major and minor at UTC.
"It is important to set a time once a year to celebrate women's achievements," Noe said.
"I think it is important for students to learn how patriarchy works because we live in a patriarchy," she said.
"It seems looks are more important than ever because of the media," Noe said, mentioning there are four gyms within walking distance of her house.
"One hundred years ago, only four percent of college-age women were enrolled in some form of higher education; today 60 percent of that age group attend college," Noe wrote at utc.edu/womensstudies.
"We need women's studies now as much as we did in 1970, when the first women's studies major was established at San Diego State College," she said.
There are over 200 women's studies majors in the U.S. for a B.A., more than 30 for a M.A. and 10 for a Ph.D., Noe said.
All of the sessions will be lectures except for "The European Witch Craze" at 1:40 p.m. Thursday, which will be a discussion-based session.
"It is important for students to experience as many perspectives as possible so they can learn to develop their critical thinking skills, so they can analyze all that they encounter," Noe said.
Jillian Alexander, a junior from Chattanooga, said she became interested in women's studies after taking Sarah Peters' criminal justice class, "Violence Against Women."
"It's important that women realize that we are in college because other women before us fought for that right," Alexander said. "Get out and come see the different programs. A lot of people don't understand what women's studies is all about. It's about some really important people that have made a big difference in the world."
Melissa Lawson, a freshman from Hendersonville, Tenn., said, "We have fought for our rights and worked hard to get where we are today. We deserve to be recognized."
The sessions going on through the month of March will allow students to test out the kinds of classes they would be taking when the major is offered in August.
Leigh Johnson, from Rhodes College, was the first speaker, and she presented her lecture entitled "Why Gender Is So Troublesome" Tuesday.
The spring 2008 women's studies newsletter has a complete listing of the sample classes, the benefits of studying women's studies at UTC and what students can do with the major in the future.
Students interested in participating in the March sessions or the women's studies major this fall can contact Noe at marcia-noe@utc.edu for further information.
Marcia Noe, professor of English and director of women's studies, from Rock Island, Ill., said she became interested in women's studies when she read "Feminine Mystique."
She then began to teach women's studies classes at Black Hawk College in Illinois. Noe will coordinate the women's studies major and minor at UTC.
"It is important to set a time once a year to celebrate women's achievements," Noe said.
"I think it is important for students to learn how patriarchy works because we live in a patriarchy," she said.
"It seems looks are more important than ever because of the media," Noe said, mentioning there are four gyms within walking distance of her house.
"One hundred years ago, only four percent of college-age women were enrolled in some form of higher education; today 60 percent of that age group attend college," Noe wrote at utc.edu/womensstudies.
"We need women's studies now as much as we did in 1970, when the first women's studies major was established at San Diego State College," she said.
There are over 200 women's studies majors in the U.S. for a B.A., more than 30 for a M.A. and 10 for a Ph.D., Noe said.
All of the sessions will be lectures except for "The European Witch Craze" at 1:40 p.m. Thursday, which will be a discussion-based session.
"It is important for students to experience as many perspectives as possible so they can learn to develop their critical thinking skills, so they can analyze all that they encounter," Noe said.
Jillian Alexander, a junior from Chattanooga, said she became interested in women's studies after taking Sarah Peters' criminal justice class, "Violence Against Women."
"It's important that women realize that we are in college because other women before us fought for that right," Alexander said. "Get out and come see the different programs. A lot of people don't understand what women's studies is all about. It's about some really important people that have made a big difference in the world."
Melissa Lawson, a freshman from Hendersonville, Tenn., said, "We have fought for our rights and worked hard to get where we are today. We deserve to be recognized."
The sessions going on through the month of March will allow students to test out the kinds of classes they would be taking when the major is offered in August.
Leigh Johnson, from Rhodes College, was the first speaker, and she presented her lecture entitled "Why Gender Is So Troublesome" Tuesday.
The spring 2008 women's studies newsletter has a complete listing of the sample classes, the benefits of studying women's studies at UTC and what students can do with the major in the future.
Students interested in participating in the March sessions or the women's studies major this fall can contact Noe at marcia-noe@utc.edu for further information.
