March just may be the perfect month for the celebration of Women’s History month. The combination of warmer weather and the arrival of activist Marcia Freedman-in not so wintry fashion-makes for an exciting and inspirational event.
USM’s department of Women’s Studies has organized a number of events, highlighted my Ms. Freedman’s speech entitled “Women, Peace and Political Action: The Israeli Experience” at 5:30 p.m. on March 15 in the Luther Bonney Auditorium. “She’s a feminist with a realistic global perspective on women’s rights” said Rita Kissen, Associate Professor of Teacher Education and Women’s Studies. The celebration will also include discussions, seminars, lectures, and a walking tour of “Portland Irish Women’s History,” which will occur on Saturday, March 20.
The importance of women in history and their influence is quite apparent in the USM community, and Women’s Studies minor Sonia Acevedo lists a few of her personal influences. “Being an artist, feminists such as Ani DiFranco, and authors Janet Zandy, and Bell Hooks have all influenced myself to pursue further education in Women’s Studies.” She believes the importance of the celebration of women’s history lies in the fact that a lot of it has been erased. “It is important to put back in what has been forgotten in time. The perspectives and outlooks of today’s activists should be supported by everyone, especially feminists,” said Acevedo.
Freedman, the featured speaker, emmigrated to Israel in 1967 where she taught philosophy at Haifa University. She was elected to the Israeli Knesset and served from 1973 to 1977 as a member of the Citizens Rights Movement. She raised concerns in Israel that had previously never been addressed such as domestic violence, rape, incest, breast cancer and teenage prostitution. Currently, Freedman splits her time between Israel and America, and is president of Brit Tzedek V’shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, which is a national organization of American Jews, committed to Israeli’s well being.
Freedman implied that her speech will not only address problems surrounding current issues with women’s rights, but also the general relationship between war and peace using Israel as a model. She validates the need for focus on women’s rights stating, “There is always hope for women in general.” She added, “Women have been fighting for our rights since the 1860’s, and we still have a long, long way to go.” She said that issues surrounding women’s rights are quite similar throughout the world, with one large exception being Israel – especially their laws governing the military. “Women in the military are drafted and put into a separate women’s corps, and they are trained to accept male dominance, something that is not apparent in countries around the world,” she said.
In regard to Women’s History Month, Freedman stressed the fact that women have power, and that this power should be realized and expressed in every way possible. “It is important for us as women to celebrate this month because of the continuing struggle within academia for it to be noticed. The fact that the history of women is being restored is huge for our movement.” She continues to state that “We are engaged as women and feminists in a complex and profound way to change society.”
As recently as the 1970’s the study of women’s history was virtually unseen in academia. Women’s History Month can be traced back to 1978, where the Education Task force of California’s Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women introduced the celebration of “Women’s History Week”. It was not until 1987 that Women’s History Week was expanded to what is now the entire month.
This year’s theme for Women’s History Month is “Women Inspiring Hope & Possibility.” Freedman gave her opinion on the title of this year’s theme to all women. “Have it,” she said. “It is important to understand that women always have hope, and always have possibility, and that needs to be understood,” she said.