Summer news about UA women

Paula Maggio, a visiting lecturer with UA’s Women’s Studies Program, has been awarded a short-term fellowship with the New York Public Library (NYPL).  The NYPL announced the recipients in the July 14 issue of the New York Review of Books (PDF). This opportunity supports scholars from outside New York who need to use the Library’s unique research [...]

Women’s History Month

Get ready. Women’s history month really isn’t that far away. And this year, at the University of Akron, the Women’s Studies Program has great programs in store. The month will be kicked off with folk singer Catie Curtis. The “out” Boston folk singer is known for her songs about homelessness, social problems and her life. [...]

Xela women’s prison

I was able to go to the prison for a program about all the activities they have for the women there.  It was actually quite impressive, but almost all of the people running programs are volunteers. There are Guatemalans who come several times a week to help these women.  Interestingly, the woman who got the [...]

The bus ride

Today I decided to go to Panajachel, the place I stayed last year. I got up early and went to the bus terminal. The buses are all old U.S. school buses painted elaborately, usually with Christian symbols. It was necessary to ride the bus about two hours, then change to Pana. I, however, missed the [...]

Amazing day

I had an amazing day yesterday, Christmas. Luis, a weaver, the man that I bought my blankets from, invited me to his home. Two other students went with me. One is a young man getting ready to start medical school, and the other is a Brit who came to America for a girl who dumped him as soon [...]

Las mujeres

I had my first chance to actually enter the prison yesterday. I took little care packages for everyone. Not great presents, but I guess if you need it, it would be like a new car…Kotex, shampoo and soap. There are 41 women of all ages. I learned that one has been there 20 years. She [...]

Hola from Xela

Yesterday I left Atlanta to travel to Xela. What a trip. First, everyone was trying to get on the shuttle from the hotel. We are were in the same boat (shuttle) in that our flights had been cancelled and now we needed to get to the airport. Fifty people were on a shuttle made for [...]

Dec. 19: Stuck in Atlanta on way to Xela

I started out for Guatemala this morning to return for Spanish immersion school and to work in a women’s prison in the afternoon. However, I am sitting in a Ramada in Atlanta watching “Julia and Julie.” After standing in line four h0urs this morning in Cleveland, I made my way to Atlanta. But, not onto [...]

Get “An Education” during break

If you are looking for a good movie over break, try “An Education.” Set it England in 1961, it is the coming of age story of a young, bright woman. I don’t want to ruin the plot for you, but as a feminist, the movie made me mad throughout. But it is a  good movie with [...]

Salon.com

Two really good articles are on Salon today. One about pink ribbons taking the place of feminism and how women could learn alot from gay men and political contributions. Check them out.