Southeastern to celebrate Women's History Month
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Department of History and Political
Science will host Women’s History Month this spring with a free lecture series.
“We have a diverse and interesting list of presentations this year,” said Bill
Robison, head of the Department of History and Political Science. “We encourage everyone
to join us in celebrating Women’s History.”
All Women’s History Month lectures are free and open to the public.
The first lecture is scheduled March 13, at 1 p.m., in Pottle Auditorium. Professor
of Political Science Margaret Gonzalez-Perez will discuss female genital mutilation.
“In November 2018, a U.S. District Judge ruled that a Federal law against female
genital mutilation is unconstitutional. This brought attention to a practice of which
many Americans were unaware,” said Robison. “What is female genital mutilation? Why
has it become a political issue in the U.S.? Was the U.S. Congress within its rights
to impose a ban on the practice? How has female genital mutilation become part of
the states’ rights debate? Why should America care? Come to the lecture and find out.”
Heather Duncan, history and political science graduate student, will deliver
the second lecture in the series, “Patrons of Prophecy: Oracular Practitioners in
Ancient Greece,” on March 19, at 11 a.m. in the Student Union Theatre.
“For both ancient and modern minds alike, the very mention of oracles conjures
up images of the great Pythia of Delphi, seated upon her tripod, murmuring the words
of Apollo in her frenzied state,” Robison said. “Despite the fame given to the Oracle
of Delphi, the question of who was visiting the oracles and for what purpose receives
little attention. Through a combination of available written record and archaeology,
this presentation highlights the petitioners of the oracles at Delphi, Branchidae-Didyma,
Claros, Dodona, Olympia, and Zeus Ammon.”
Rounding out the series is the final lecture by Lauren Doughty, instructor of
history and political science titled “Royal Women: Sexual Politics and the Gendering
of Royal Authority.” Scheduled March 27, at 1 p.m., the lecture will take place in
Pottle Auditorium.
“Often marginalized or ignored, the women of West Saxon royal court nevertheless
played a valuable role in securing and expanding royal authority. Limited by geography,
politics, and economics, Anglo-Saxon kings increasingly relied on women of the court
to secure their ascension, legitimize their reign and retain dynastic power,” Robison
explained. “Dominated by fraternal succession struggles, the West Saxon court relied
on women to both produce heirs and rule as regent if necessary. The increasing power
of the nobility through the ninth and tenth centuries threatened royal security, thus
making the role of queen a vital component of a successful reign.”
For additional information about Southeastern’s Women’s History Month, contact
Robison at 985-549-2413 or wrobison@southeastern.edu.