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Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies

‘Abortion and Women’s Rights 1970’: A film that’s newly timely
Screen grab of woman from 1970 Abortion documentary transposed over an image of the 2017 women's march on Washington.

In 1970, Mary Summers (not pictured) of the School of Arts & Sciences worked with a group of women to create one of the first documentary films about abortion. In April, Summers and her collaborators launched a website to reissue the film, just a month before the leaked Supreme Court opinion on abortion. (Image: Courtesy of Mary Summers)

‘Abortion and Women’s Rights 1970’: A film that’s newly timely

Five decades ago, ahead of the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade, political scientist Mary Summers worked on a documentary film. That film is gaining new viewers through a recently launched website.

Kristen de Groot

Possessed: The Salem witch trials
Historical rendering of a courtroom in the era of the Salem witch trials.

In many ways, the witch hunt fit in with New England folk beliefs and theology, says Kathleen M. Brown. The idea that the devil had a hand in human affairs and “could seduce you away from God” was a very normative belief, she says.

Possessed: The Salem witch trials

This spring marks the 330th anniversary of the Salem witch trials, during which a total of 20 “afflicted girls” accused around 150 people, 19 of whom were executed. Historian Kathleen M. Brown discusses why this episode is still fascinating today.

Kristina García

Bridging Wikipedia’s gender gap, one article at a time
Person’s hand using a mouse and a keyboard at a computer.

Bridging Wikipedia’s gender gap, one article at a time

Wikipedia has a major gender inequity problem. In a new study, Annenberg researchers evaluate how feminist interventions are closing the gap, and how they could improve.

From Annenberg School for Communication

The Period Project: Period poverty and the fight for menstrual equity
Self Magazine

The Period Project: Period poverty and the fight for menstrual equity

Allison Whelan of the Law School and Leonard Davis Institute co-authored an article about the social consequences of unequal access to menstrual products and education and what some states are doing to remedy the problem.

The ‘music’ of one poet’s words, translated
Huda Fakhreddine holding the poetry book outside

(Homepage image) As a scholar, Fakhreddine works hard to retain as much of a poem as possible when it moves from Arabic to another language. “It’s a challenge that all translation involves. We talk about what’s lost and what’s gained,” she says. “It’s all exaggerated here with these short musical pieces. Their meaning is ground in their sound.”

The ‘music’ of one poet’s words, translated

With help from her daughter, scholar Huda Fakhreddine published an English version of 30 poems for children written by her father in Arabic, paying tribute to their endearing and enduring subject matter and to the musicality and richness of their sound.

Michele W. Berger

Ten years later, examining the Occupy movement’s legacy
occupy wall street 99%

(Homepage image) Occupy Wall Street protesters join a labor union rally in Foley Square before marching on Zuccotti Park in New York’s Financial District on Oct. 5, 2011. (Image: AP Images/Jason DeCrow)

Ten years later, examining the Occupy movement’s legacy

For Jessa Lingel of the Annenberg School for Communication, a decade after Occupy Wall Street’s beginnings presented an opportunity for reflection, which she led this fall semester in a new course.

Kristen de Groot

Gender and identity: A lecture on diversity
An image of a Black woman with a flower crown. Text reads "no pride without Black trans lives"

The work of BIPOC activists is integral to the history of women's rights and LGBTQ+ rights, says Melissa Sanchez

Gender and identity: A lecture on diversity

In the first in a series of diversity lectures offered through the Office of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity Programs, Melissa E. Sanchez of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke on “Addressing a More Complex and Encompassing Understanding of Identity.”

Kristina García

Conference celebrates worldwide impact of Penn women
two people walking on campus with face coverings

Conference celebrates worldwide impact of Penn women

Momentum 2021: The Power of Penn Women online conference takes place Oct 1-3 with a who’s who lineup of speakers comprised of alumni and Penn community members.

Dee Patel

A new name and a new director for the Alice Paul Center
A woman stands with folded arms in front of a building; six people enter/exit at the doors behind her

Melissa Sanchez stands in front of Fisher Bennett Hall, which houses the Center for Research in Feminist, Queer, and Transgender Studies.

A new name and a new director for the Alice Paul Center

Melissa E. Sanchez speaks about her research and her new position as director of the Center for Research in Feminist, Queer, and Transgender Studies, formerly the Alice Paul Center. 

Kristina García

For women, remote work is a blessing and a curse
Vox.com

For women, remote work is a blessing and a curse

Jerry Jacobs of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke about the effects of remote work on women’s work-life balance. “If women feel disproportionately responsible for the household activities and for parenting, working remotely makes life a whole lot more flexible,” he said.