Women's Studies
This page contains some of the experiences that I've gotten to have by being a Women's Studies major. Penn State's WMNST department has been ranked second in the nation. Extremely flexible as a second major, WMNST is interdisciplinary by nature and provides the supportive staff so that each student gets individualized attention. Mandatory in completing the WMNST program is an undergraduate thesis. (See what I researched for my thesis.)
*The events are listed by most recent to oldest.*
Preview of what's here:
-NWSA Conference 2012: paper presenter
-NWSA Conference 2011: attendee
-WMNST Awards Ceremony 2012: Laura Richardson Whitaker Award recipient
-Mixed Media Chair Project: artist
*The events are listed by most recent to oldest.*
Preview of what's here:
-NWSA Conference 2012: paper presenter
-NWSA Conference 2011: attendee
-WMNST Awards Ceremony 2012: Laura Richardson Whitaker Award recipient
-Mixed Media Chair Project: artist
National Women's Studies Association Conference 2012: Oakland, CA
November 8-11, 2012
Oakland, CA
Oakland Marriott City Center
Oakland, CA
Oakland Marriott City Center
In November 2012, I got the opportunity to present my Women's Studies undergraduate thesis, "Rethinking Rigidity: Fluid Genders, Liquid Identities" at the NWSA conference. My fellow panelists included Leslie Sotomayer Zoebisch, Janeetra Johnson, Jeremy LaMaster, and Liz Crossen (who was unfortunately unable to attend). The panel was eloquently moderated by doctoral student, Lauren J. DeCarvalho.
For three days, I was plunged into the bustle of attending roundtables and panels, and engaged in conversations with other feminists from around the United States. In this photo, I answered, "Why Women's Studies?" My response: Because difference can unite not divide. To learn more about the conference, my former professor, Dr. Stephanie Troutman, does a wonderful recap of the events, featured on Feministing.com
(Left Photo Credit: NWSA)
(Below Photo Credit: Lauren J. DeCarvalho
National Women's Studies Association Conference 2011: Atlanta, GA
November 10-13, 2011
Atlanta, GA
Sheraton Hotel in midtown
Atlanta, GA
Sheraton Hotel in midtown
This photograph was taken right after the keynote speaker, Ruth Wilson Gilmore, gave her opening speech.
Photo (left to right): Liz Crossen, Lex Shaw, Leslie Sotomayer Zoebisch, and myself were the undergraduates that attended. Photo credit (above): NWSA After the conference, the undergraduate and graduate students that went were asked to share our experiences in a roundtable meeting. It was a great opportunity to hear about presentations that I didn't go to and share my perspectives of the conference. Photo Credit (right): Penn State Women's Studies |
I got to experience an academic conference firsthand at the NWSA 2011 National conference in Atalanta. Never have I seen so many feminists in one place! Over the course of a long weekend, we immersed ourselves into a feminist academic sphere by attending various panels, meet and greets, speakers, and poster presentations. By attending the conference, we prepared ourselves to present the following year on the undergraduate thesis work many of us were working on during the Atlanta conference.
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WMNST Annual Awards Ceremony and Department Celebration
The 2012 dinner was held:
Tuesday, April 17th
5:00-8:00 P.M.
in the Garden Room of the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center
Tuesday, April 17th
5:00-8:00 P.M.
in the Garden Room of the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center
Saw these balloons shortly before my the awards ceremony. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and these brightly colored message ballons help increase visibility to this very important issue: Sexual assault and rape are REAL. Only have sex with consent and communication of all parties involved. Mindy Boffemmyer introduces me as the recipient of the Laura Richardson Whitaker Award 2012 for my undergraduate thesis. Professor Boffemmyer has been one of my closest mentors at the university and has been very influential in guiding my development as a scholar. She helps every student tailor their learning experience to their interests. Thank you Mindy! Mimi with this year's recipient, Leslie Sotomayor Zoebisch. Congratulations Leslie!! She will also be presenting at the NWSA Oakland Conference with me this fall! Never underestimate the power of friendship! These are the best grrrl friends you could ever have!!! Renée Palochko (far left) and Liz have strengthened and encouraged me during our undergraduate years at Penn State. Plaque with all the recipient names for the Mimi Barash Coppersmith Endowed Scholarship. |
Mindy Boffemmyer with the award recipients for the Outstanding Undergraduate Award, Janeetra Johnson (left) and Caroline Fitzgerald. (right) I've had the pleasure of being on a panel for the WSGO Conference in Spring 2012 with Janeetra and am looking forward to presenting again with her during the NWSA Conference in Oakland, CA this fall. Caroline was also the 2012 Women's Studies Student Marshall and maintains a feminist blog. Check out her amazing site here: Fitz of Rage Mimi Barash Coppersmith attended the dinner this year! I was the recipient of the Mimi Barash Coppersmith Endowed Scholarship in 2010. Her daughters, Nan and Carol, created it in her honor so it's a particularly special award, I think, for both of us. Without the support of such scholarships, I simply would not be able to attend Penn State. Thank you Mimi and family! Smiles all around after the dinner. Liz Crossen (left) will also be presenting with us at NWSA: Oakland. Nikk Mataka (right) has been my #1 fan and supporter this semester.
The lovely Liz and Leslie posing pictures! Too bad this one is a little blurry. Plaque with all the recipient names for the Laura Richardson Whitaker Award. |
Mixed Media
In partial class fulfillment for:
WMNST 003H Women, the Humanities, and the Arts
Spring 2010
WMNST 003H Women, the Humanities, and the Arts
Spring 2010
I created a mixed media final project for WMNST 003. The project was complicated ideologically because I sought to use images found out of women's magazines in order to repurpose them ("take them back") for a more inclusive message. The problem I found when ransacking these magazines was that it was really difficult to find women of multiple nationalities, skin colors, body weight and other aesthetics which to help strongly reinforce my understanding of white privilege in the media. I consider this piece a form of artistic visual rhetoric since it is playing with so many important topics. |
< The back of the chair.
I wanted to send a message to "See Imperfection as Beauty" and to see beauty as being more than a surface level aesthetic but rather an idea of a whole complete woman. Though the images I had to work with were limited, the rainbow colors around the chair signify an understanding and embracement in a person's natural fluidity of being. |
< The seat of the chair. The different words incorporated into the design signal ideas of a whole beautiful woman. There are elements here to boost self confidence, and words that signal a path of self-reflection and actualization. I wanted this piece to speak towards independence and love for oneself rather than internalizing the normative images of femininity. |