Symposium to concentrate on definition of womanhood

By Jennifer Koesling
Staff Reporter

Womanhood, as defined by society and by women themselves, is the central theme of the Seventh Annual Women’s Symposium today through Thursday.

“We have chosen defining womanhood as a new issue because people are always questioning who they are,” Marcy Paul, program coordinator of the Women’s Resource Center, said.

Paul said the idea began at the beginning of the school year when freshman women showed no interest in women’s issues. She said from that point, the Women’s Resource Center wanted to approach a topic central to many people’s lives.

“This is a critical issue for men and women, because we are all bombarded by images and influences from outside ourselves,” Paul said.

Included in the Women’s Symposium is a lineup of artists and authors, a Women in Community Dinner, a concert by entertainer Holly Near and a field trip to the Women’s Museum in Dallas.

Paul said the various hosts and guests will focus on defining womanhood in very different ways.

“The artist will present a topic on body and image issues, whereas another presenter will discuss the way women’s roles have been treated in the Bible and another will discuss why domestic violence occurs with some women and not others,” Paul said.

Courtney Miller, a junior English major, said she will be attending as many of the events as possible.

“We don’t always get to hear the woman’s side of the story,” Miller said. “This will open up ideas about how women fit into society and on our campus.”

The Women’s Symposium begins today in the Student Center Ballroom with the Women in Community Dinner, hosted by TCU and community groups.

Other discussions this week will feature topics about the relationship between women, sex, art, women’s roles in biblical scripture, womanhood in American culture, breast cancer, domestic violence, gender issues and racism.

For further information and reservations for the dinner, concert or field trip, contact The Women’s Resource Center at (817) 257-7855.

Jennifer Koesling
j.c.koesling@student.tcu.edu

Seventh Annual Women’s Symposium
Women, Womin, Womyn: How We Are Defined, How We Define Ourselves, presented by The Women’s Resource Center at TCU