Women’s History Month events to highlight experiences

ORONO – A full schedule of events highlighting women’s experiences from around the world has been set for the University of Maine’s celebration of Women’s History Month, “Kaleidoscope: Women’s History from Diverse Perspectives.”

Events, which began March 3, include women’s perspectives from Nepal, Pakistan, Cyprus, Turkey, Palestine and the U.S.

“There is a great diversity of women’s experiences globally, but common themes play themselves out in different settings,” said Ann Schonberger, director of UMaine’s Women in the Curriculum and Women’s Studies program.

“Women’s History Month gives us a time to celebrate women’s achievements and highlight the places where we still need to make progress. And it’s been a long winter – so this is a good time to do something fun,” she said.

There is also an art exhibit in the Bodwell Lounge, “Empowerment Through Tradition: Janakpur Women’s Development Center.” It was organized by Satyam Barakoti, a UMaine student from Nepal.

The exhibit features paintings on parchment based on the art that the women of Janakpur, Nepal, have traditionally painted on the mud walls of their houses. This artwork is also on sale at the Hudson Museum shop.

Cemaliye Volkan, president of CAG-SEN, a union in Cyprus, and a member of groups seeking an end to disputes between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot people, will speak on “Women in the Labor Movement in Cyprus,” at 7:30 p.m. March 26 in the Bodwell Lounge of the Maine Center for the Arts.

Activities are held on the University of Maine campus, Orono, unless otherwise specified. The schedule:

. March 23: Spruce Run Chocolate Party, with musical entertainment and a chocolate buffet, 7-9 p.m. at the Spectacular Events Center, Griffin Road, Bangor. Tickets are $10, and proceeds benefit the Spruce Run Association. Contact Spruce Run at 945-5102 or Ann Schonberger at 581-1229 (days) or 942-4055 (nights).

. March 25-27: Women’s History Celebration Open House and Book Fair, a display of new books and periodicals concerned with women’s studies, feminism and all aspects of women’s lives, experiences and accomplishments, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day in the Women’s Studies Program and Women’s Resource Center library, 101 Fernald Hall.

. March 25: “Illusions,” a Julie Dash film depicting the mistreatment of a black woman who sings the voice-over for a Hollywood movie that features only whites, 6:30 p.m. in 117 Donald P. Corbett Hall. A discussion will be led by Laura Lindenfield Sher.

. March 26: “Gender, Prehistory and Archaeology: What’s Sex Got to do With It?” a talk by Marcia-Anne Dobres, adjunct professor of women’s studies, at 12:15 p.m. in the Coe Lounge of the Memorial Union.

. March 26: “Women in the Labor Movement in Cyprus,” a talk by Cemaliye Volkan, president of CAG-SEN, a union in Cyprus and a member of bicommunal groups seeking an end to the continuing disputes in Cyprus, at 7:30 p.m. in the Bodwell Lounge, Maine Center for the Arts.

. March 29: “Daughters of Allah,” a film detailing the new challenges and dramatic choices faced by modern Palestinian women trapped between the stalled peace process and strong Islamic movements, at 7 p.m. at the Peace and Justice Center, 170 Park St., Bangor.

Women’s History Month is sponsored by Women in the Curriculum and the Women’s Studies program at the University of Maine.

For more information, call 581-1228.