Voices and Visions

oices and Visions V A Newsletter of the UW-Eau Claire Women’s Studies Program | Spring 2012 ___________________________________________________________________________ Director’s Corner By: Dr. Theresa Kemp (Program Chair) Perhaps the most visible change had the great fortune to work with Dr. Ryan Murphy (So- to report since last spring is our ciology), who joined us in 2011-2012 on a 1-year Visiting new location on campus. On Assistant Professor position. June 18th, 2011, about eight In addition to the new LGBTQ Studies certificate pro- inches of standing water and silt gram, we have made significant changes to the core cur- flooded the basement of Brewer riculum of the major and minor programs. The Women’s Hall, where the Women’s Stud- Studies Curriculum Committee received a small grant this ies offices had been located. summer to support committee members Mary Hoffman, It was hard to feel anything Audrey Fessler, and myself to undertake a major revision but trauma after rescuing our of the scope and sequence of courses in both programs. belongings and cataloging the thousands of dollars’ worth Among the major changes was the transformation of of damaged items. On the bulletin board outside my office the capstone into a group door, you will find a slip of paper from a fortune cookie externship project based in that says, “Any day above ground is a good day.” Due to social justice. The rest of the goodwill and collaborative spirit of several department the curricular changes will chairs in Hibbard Humanities Hall, now every day is a day be introduced next year as above ground. We are happy to announce that Women’s they become official in UW- Studies is now located in Hibbard Humanities Hall Room Eau Claire’s 2012-2013 607, sharing the sixth floor with Philosophy and Religious Catalog. Studies, along with a number of colleagues in English and Continued on Page 7... Math, whose offices are also located on this floor. Over the summer, big changes also occurred with our Contents Page office staff. Judy Gray was offered a new position in the publications office for Theater and Music Arts. Although Director's Corner 1,7 the Women’s Studies Program was sad to see her leave after nine years, we wish her all the best in her new job. We A New and Better Person 2,3 were able to find a wonderful new Academic Department Associate, Lucy Lee (pictured right), who works mornings Maria Elena Cuadra Internship 2 in Women’s Studies and afternoons in American Indian Studies. We also have two new student workers, Cynthia LGBQTA Studies and Eau Queer Film 4 Yang and Hannah Lee, who joined the office this fall. Both Festival are first-year students that we hope to have working with NEW Women's Leadership Institute 4 us for a few years. There have been changes in our faculty as well, thanks Publications, Presentations, and Projects in 5 to a number of successful Blugold Commitment propos- Women's Studies als. In August, the Women’s Studies Program was able to Feminist Teacher Mini Conference 6 convert Dr. Barbara Kernan’s position to full-time tenure- track after ten years of award-winning teaching as an 2011 Award Winners in Women's Studies 6 adjunct instructor. Blugold Commitment has also enabled us to “borrow” affiliated faculty from other departments, Alumnae Updates 7 including Dr. Sanjukta Chaudhuri (Economics), Dr. Asha Sen (English), and Dr. David Jones (English). We’ve also Layout design by: Jeanie Butzler, Lindsey Quinnies, Ong Xiong Page 1 A New And Better Person By: Hope Tyson The six weeks I spent in the Women Lives and Expe- sociable and humanitarian. We want to share with others riences in Nicaragua program were transformative. and we can smile and suffer.” Through insightful readings, I gained a broad but thor- The class (pictured top of page 3) readings clarified cer- ough understanding of Nicaraguan society, and through tain aspects about Nicaraguan women’s lives. “If Women conversations with women’s movement leaders and other Counted” by Marilyn Waring, for example, brilliantly inspiring women, I gained an intimate understanding of complemented the visit by Carla, Jennifer, and Erminia. Nicaraguan women’s lives. Without this course, I would The three women worked in the formal workforce, not have had access to some of the essential tools for specifically a maquiladora factory, but also spent hours understanding the lives of women in developing nations, of their day caring for children, doing housework, and specifically in Nicaragua. making other people’s lives possible. Waring’s work elo- Economists, lawyers, quently highlights the ne- maquiladora workers, cessity of women’s work and revolutionaries trav- in the home. Without it, eled to the Maria Elena men’s work would be Cuadra in Granada, pointless and impossible. where our women’s Waring argues that despite studies class was held, the informal nature of to teach us about the re- women’s housework, it is alities of women’s lives essential to all our lives in Nicaragua. Whether and it holds up the global acknowledged or not, economy. women shape Nicaragua’s society, economy, politics, and While the readings and guest speakers were inspiring, culture. Of the visitors, I was most deeply impacted by spending time with Nicaraguan women living in poverty three maquiladora workers who risked their jobs to share was the most rewarding experience of the program. their experiences with our class. What I have learned Argentina, the woman I spent a day with at her home in about Nicaraguan society in general is summed up most el Pantanal, exemplified Ermina’s definition of Nicara- perfectly by one of these three women’s description of Nicaraguans: “We are fighters to the death. We are Continued on Page 3... Maria Elena Cuadra Internship By: Kelsey Switters I had the opportunity to intern at the Maria Elena Cuadra with open ears to these options, even though for many of (MEC), in Granada, Nicaragua. MEC’s programs pro- them it was too late. For a week, I helped with a project vide job training and income-generating opportunities set up by MEC and another organization called FU- to unemployed women, as well as sensitize women to PROSOMUNIC. Together, we built solar stoves for ten gender issues, such as domestic violence and reproduc- women in a nearby neighborhood. I was an observer, but tive health, while teaching them about their rights. While I was also helping facilitate and work on these projects. I was in Granada, I was able to help MEC with some I was constantly struggling to balance the line between current projects in the area. The first week, I went with being a white outsider and caring insider, while trying to the outreach coordinator of MEC to a poor neighborhood avoid both extremes. This internship gave me an insider and discussed the prevalence of domestic violence with look at the lives of women in Nicaragua, an experience the local women. We discussed the cycle of violence and that I would not have been able to obtain on my own. where they could go for help if they or someone they While participating and helping with these projects, I knew was being abused. One of the women present had a was able to expand my understanding of a global femi- busted lip and remained silent for the entire presentation. nist perspective. This was a transformative trip for me Her silence was explained to me later as being part of the in my own journey through feminism. I am very excited machismo culture in Latin America. I also accompanied to continue to seek to understand other cultures from a the coordinator to another neighborhood to talk to teen- global perspective. age girls about birth control options. The girls listened Page 2 A New And Better Person ... continued By: Hope Tyson guans as fighters and people who smile through suffer- me. She revealed to us the extent of the United States’ ing. She told me candidly of the hardships of her life: she involvement with Nicaragua and the consequences of our has lost a child, been abused, and endured life in a home oppressive economic and political policies; I was horri- with dirt floors and no running water. Yet, she smiled fied. I am connected, by our mutual humanity and by our and played with her daughters. After my interaction with countries’ involvement, to every Nicaraguan citizen. My Argentina and her family, I will never be the same person actions impact them; when I buy clothes made by ma- I was before. Argentina’s life was a personal window quiladoras, I affect the lives of Nicaraguans. When I vote into the reality of life in Nicaraguan for women living in for policymakers, I affect their lives. During Sharon’s poverty. discussion, I decided that it does not matter how small When I first arrived in Nicaragua, I noticed hungry my footprint may be—it is not fair or acceptable for it to animals, impoverished people, and a lack of necessary land on someone else’s back. I will learn how to walk resources. Throughout my time there, however, I began the world and live my life in a way that does not oppress to notice something else: Nicaraguans are not self-pity- others. ing; generally, they do not complain but rather seek to Women’s Lives and Experiences in Nicaragua presented improve their lives. People are helpful, even to strangers. me with tools to build my knowledge of women’s reali- They are friendly and sociable. Nicaraguans chatted with ties all over the world.

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