What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of March? For some it is St. Patrick’s Day and for others it is March Madness, but March is also Women’s History Month.
In the United States, Women’s History Month started on March 8, 1978. March 8 is now International Women’s Day.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Creighton held a Women’s Words of Wisdom program on March 1 in the Harper Center Auditorium. This program focused on the influence of women throughout history and highlighted women’s words of wisdom through word, dance and song.
Arts & Sciences senior Elizabeth Boos organized the event along with the help of Lori Durako, the Director of the Lieben Center, and Dr. Calef, Director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, as well as a couple classmates from her Women and Gender Studies course.
“I enjoyed being able to bring a diverse range of Creighton students, faculty and staff together and show off their talents from singing and presenting to writing an original slam poetry piece,” Boos said. “Participants were able to share about the women who inspire them.”
Boos expressed that the historical impact of women is not always well known so we should take advantage of this month to show them off.
“I think this is an important event to have on campus because it shows part of where we came from,” Boos said. “There were so many remarkable women throughout history who did so much to make things better not just for women, but for everyone.”
Arts & Sciences junior Bethany Bentele along with Business senior Brenna Yallop presented a piece on the four founders of their sorority, Gamma Phi Beta.
“As President of my Sorority, I felt it was important to participate in this event, in order to show our community how sororities empower women and build them up as leaders in society,” Bentele said. “This positive image of sororities is not usually harped upon by the media or even in our Creighton Community.”
The image of women in society has transformed over the years and it is important to continue to focus on the influence women have upon world.
“It was amazing to hear how far we’ve come as women, yet how far we still have to go. The main point all of us made was to start with each other — by changing attitudes as young women, we will gain the respect we deserve and change society’s labels,” Bentele said.
After we have filled out our NCAA brackets and worn everything green in our closet, lets choose to spend some time to reflect on the women who have paved the path for where we are now.