Concord Speaks on International Women’s Day

President and professors speakers on Women's Day
Photo Courtesy of Anastasiia Voroberva 

Celebrated on March 8 of every year, International Women’s Day is celebrated to commemorate the movement for women’s rights, and their social, economic, cultural and political achievements as women. This year as women flooded the streets to participate in various marches as a global action to fight for equality, Concord University participated in their own celebration hosted by the Gender & Minorities Equality Club. 

    Anastasia Vorobeva, President of EQCU presented a formal round table discussion with professors Mrs. Lindsey Akers, Dr. Tina Powell, Dr. Shimantini Shome and Dr. Alecea Standlee, along with Concord’s President, Dr. Kendra Boggess. The meeting took place on the second floor of the library at the university with 20 students in attendance. 

    Moderator, Elisa Sperandio lead the academic discussion by asking the participants about specific controversial topics of women’s rights and their beliefs on the women’s march that was being taken all over the world that day. President Boggess spoke upon the group first reminiscing back to when she was a young woman. “I don’t think I ever felt like I was not able to do anything, and that comes from my family. They told me I could do anything I wanted to, and my father was a huge impact on me,” she says, “It taught me how to fight, because I learned how to stand up for myself and if I didn’t have that I may not be good at it at all.” 

    Along with Dr. Boggess, Mrs. Akers also made a comment on the subject. “I feel like from an early age my mother prepared me to live in a man’s world. My parents were both educators and instilled in me that I could do anything I wanted to,” she says. 

    Sperandio then asked the group of woman on their thoughts towards the Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) that are mostly dominated by men. Dr. Shome makes the comment that, “STEM is a United States problem. When I came here I was tired of doing STEM.” Dr. Shome also states that STEM dominated everywhere she was from despite gender. Dr. Boggess stepped in providing a few statistics at the university claiming that in the social science department there are 24 women. In the science department in biology there are two women out of eight men. In the math department there is one woman out of eight men. Throughout the humanities department there are three out of four men. In the fine arts department there are 10 women, and in the education department there are nine women out of 13 men. Dr. Boggess also says, “Don’t limit yourself. There’s an importance of having both male and female.” 

    During the discussion a male student brought up how he feels uncomfortable and awkward when discussions concerning women and their place in society arrises. To this comment, Dr. Standlee points out that feminism is not just for women. “Feminism isn’t just about women. It’s about standing with your brothers and sisters and fighting for what you stand for. It’s a battle worth fighting,” she says, “you got to fight like hell.” Dr. Boggess adds, “You must know who you are and gain strength then fight for those things. Don’t get down on the level of the people that are perceived as with no brains and unknowledgeable.” 

    The meeting concluded with these powerful women telling their personal stories about difficulties they have faced as a woman in todays society leaving a lasting impression that it is important to stand up for what you believe to have your voice heard, as Dr. Standlee says, “It’s not about hearing just the loud voices in the room, but everyones voice. Everyone deserves to be heard.”