Category: Fall 2009

Seeking submissions (one paragraph to four pages — 1000 words max) of anything YOU have *ever* done — little or big — that was gutsy, bold, brazen, outrageous, audacious or courageous. It can be playful or serious, spontaneous or calculated, smart, sexy, inspirational and/or an example of leadership. It could be you having adventurous fun, or it could be an act that defies sexism and gender stereotyping. Something that, when you think about it today, makes you nod your head with pride or even disbelief and think, “Wow! I did that!”

Include with the submission(s) a short description of yourself. Could include (or not): name, age, background (culture, ethnicity, orientation, etc.), location, profession, hobbies, most loved/hated things, especially things that relate to your story. Example: “Taylor, 19, Boston, MA, Latina, college student who loves hearing true stories about strong women and gutsy girls.”

This book will be the sequel to an already-published book of the same name, edited by Rivka Solomon (Random House/Three Rivers Press). That exciting collection of real-life stories is jam-packed with multicultural, fun, sassy, touching true tales of estrogen-powered deeds that range from playful to political, including women fighting for their human rights. For information on that first book (including sample stories), or to request the script for our That Takes Ovaries play, or to invite us to lead our women’s empowerment event for your campus, conference or community, please visit:

GWN Hikes the Notch 

Friday, October 26th * 4pm-5:30pm * The Notch, 1500 West Street (Amherst)

GWN Notch Hike October 26

Some Upcoming Non-GWN Events:

1) Rainbow Riverfest: An All-Day Queer Music and Art Festival 11am-7pm     Saturday 9/24/11     Holyoke, MA

2) Nailing the Immigrant Body: The Manicure as Embodied Labor and Resistance (A Talk By Professor Miliann Kang) 12-1:30pm    Wednesday 9/28/11      Bartlett 316

Additional Details:

Rainbow Riverfest: An All-Day Queer Music and Art Festival
This Saturday, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Holyoke Canoe Club (Route 5, Holyoke)

Co-sponsored by the Stonewall Center.  Free to those 20 and under.

The Rainbow RiverFest combines music, performances, art, games, a youth tent, educational workshops, demonstrations and the Zen Zone, a healing place for body, mind and spirit. Pop diva Crystal Waters is the headline performer. Other performers include legendary women’s music icon Alix Dobkin, Comedian Amy Tee, MAOR, Sister Funk, M3cedes Diaz, Sara Grace, Loco Ninja, Who da Funk It, and more.

The festival also includes a Youth Tent, a safe and welcoming space for young people ages 12- 22, with workshops addressing their needs and interests, as well as activities like the Graffiti Wall Art Project. Many of the RiverFest performers will tell their personal coming out stories and answer questions candidly in the Youth Tent.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go to:
www.RainbowRiverFest.org <http://www.RainbowRiverFest.org> or call 413-588-1018.

*                *                 *

JOIN the faculty and affiliated faculty of Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies for the first presentation of our
WORKS-IN-PROGRESS talk series

MILIANN KANG
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
12:00-1:30PM
Bartlett 316

Nailing the Immigrant Body: The Manicure as Embodied Labor and Resistance

In her book, The Managed Hand: Race, Gender and the Body in Beauty Service Work (University of California Press, 2010), Miliann Kang examined the dynamics of “body labor” in intimate bodily and emotional contact between women of different racial and immigrant statuses  in Asian-owned nail salons.  In this talk, Kang explores new theoretical dimensions of body labor, such as body rules (drawing on Arlie Hochschild’s concept of “feeling rules” in emotional labor), the manicuring of “docile bodies” (building on Foucault’s work on disciplinary technologies of the body) and dynamics of embodied assimilation and embodied resistance.  She situates this work within the current drive to pathologize, denigrate and deport immigrant bodies, and discusses how greater attention to embodied processes can inform organizing campaigns to resist this anti-immigrant backlash.

Bio:

Miliann Kang is associate professor in Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she is also affiliated faculty in Sociology and Asian/Asian American Studies. Her book, The Managed Hand: Race, Gender and the Body in Beauty Service Work (2010, University of California Press) won the Sara Whaley book prize from the National Women’s Studies Association, the Distinguished Contribution to Scholarship Book Award (American Sociological Association Section on Race, Gender, and Class), the Oliver Cromwell Cox Award(American Sociological Association Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities), and the Distinguished Book Award (American Sociological Association Section on Sex and Gender).  Kang is currently researching work-family issues and the racial politics of mothering for Asian American women.  Her research has been supported by the American Association of University Women, the Ford Foundation, the Institute for Asian American Studies at UMass Boston, the Labor Relations and Research Center at UMass Amherst and the Social Science Research Council.

Hello, Everyone!

My name is Adina Giannelli, and I am the Graduate Women’s Network (GWN) Coordinator for the 2011-2012 academic year. As you may know, the previous Coordinator, Hongmei Sun, has moved on to the auspicious role of Graduate Student Senate President. I look forward to working closely with Hongmei in the year ahead, to building on her successes, and most of all, to serve women graduate students at UMass as GWN Coordinator.

In the coming year, we plan to continue longstanding GWN programming, such as the weekly Yoga and Writing Groups, and to continue co-sponsorship of events such as Where’s the Love 101? and the commemoration of International Women’s Day.

We will continue to nurture the partnerships that sustain the GWN, in the belief that healthy collaboration benefits everyone involved, and work with campus organizations including the Everywoman’s Center (EWC), GEO, the UMass Office of Family Resources, the Stonewall Center, and the Women of Color Leadership Network (WOCLN).

In addition, we hope to offer additional programming and opportunities for graduate women, including the following:

• Monthly Arts & Entertainment Series, featuring live performances, documentary films, and open mic opportunities.
• Graduate Women Brown Bag Lecture Series, in which graduate women present their research projects to a supportive, cross-disciplinary audience.
• Focus and Interest Groups, to serve various constituents of graduate women, including international students, LGBTQ students, women of color, and graduate student parents and families.
• GWN Hot Chocolate Running and Walking Team, to benefit the 8th Annual Hot Chocolate Run and Walk for Safe Passage, December 4, 2011.

(And other events, as dictated by student interest, participation and demand.)

All GWN events are free and open to all women graduate students and their friends. Over the coming days and weeks, I’ll be posting updates related to upcoming groups, workshops, trainings and events.

In the meanwhile, if you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions, you can: (1) leave a comment here; (2) e-mail me at gssgwn@grad.umass.edu or gssgwn@gmail.com; (3) find me live in the GSS Office/919 Campus Center; or (4) call me at 413-545-2897.

Warm wishes for a productive and enjoyable start to the 2011-2012 school year, and I look forward to meeting you in the coming weeks and months!

Best,

Adina

Unsatisfied with  Your Sexual Relationships? Bored in Bed? Hooking Up Not Working for You?

Empower Your Sexual Self – Join us in a Safe and Supportive Space !

• This is an experiential workshop series that provides woman an opportunity to talk about their sexual experiences in a confidential, supportive and empowering environment. Together, we will explore how our histories inform how we behave sexually in the present. Discussions will focus on common sexual issues for women including dissatisfaction, loss of sexual interest and difficulty discussing sexual needs or desires. This group aims to empower women to explore their sexuality and increase their own self awareness.

Four Session Workshop Series for Women
Free and open to UMass and Five College Students.
Tuesdays, 4:30-6:00 p.m., beginning Nov. 17.

Registration required.  Registration for this workshop is filling up quickly so please register as soon as possible if you are interested!
Call Everywoman’s Center Counseling Services at  577- 0077.

Sponsored by GSS Graduate Women’s Network, Everywoman’s Center, University Health Services and Mental Health Services

Finding Safety in Your Body

Therapeutic yoga and movement group for women who have experienced harm. In this 6 week group we will explore movement exercises to help you connect with your body, promote relaxation, empowerment, self-acceptance, personal expression and balance.  Come and create peace in your mind, body and spirit in a safe, confidential and non-judgmental environment.

Group open to women who have experienced harm. No yoga or movement experience required!
Free and open to women from UMass and Five Colleges.

Registration begins October, 2009. Group runs for six weeks, Fall 2009. For more information, or to register please call Everywoman’s Center, 413-545-5834 x 3. Sponsored by Everywoman’s Center and Graduate Women’s Network.

Ruled by Your Emotions?

Graduate Women’s Network and Everywoman’s Center is offering this FREE workshop series:

‘Mindfulness and Mood: Empowerment Skills for Women’

Learn skills that will help reduce anxiety, improve mood and relationships, relax your body, quiet your mind and
gain greater emotional balance.

Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 p.m., beginning Nov. 3.  Registration is required.
Free and open to UMass and Five College Students. Graduate students welcome.

To register or for more information, call Everywoman’s Center Counseling Services at 577- 0077.

CREATIVE MOVEMENT AND SELF EXPRESSION

An Ongoing Workshop for Women
With Dora Arreola

Workshop sponsored by GSS Graduate Women’s Network and Everywoman’s Center Counseling Services

This workshop set as its goal self-empowerment through structured exercises, group games and movement improvisations. We meet every Saturday to do exercises and games, which emphasize rhythm and connection, and we conclude each session with a composition of individual or group actions. Participants are encouraged to use the opportunity to explore body expression and awakening of energy and creative impulses.

Free admission. All women students are welcome. Women of color and GLBTQ students are encouraged to participate. No previous dance or theater experience required. Remember to come in comfortable clothes so that you can stretch and roll.

Dora Arreola is Artistic Director and founder of Mujeres en Ritual Dance Theatre Company, based in México. She has more than twenty years of experience as movevment resercher, teacher and dance-theater artist.  Arreola has studied and worked with internationally prominent artists, including Jerzy Grotowski, Susan Rethorst, Katsura Kan, and Ludwick Margules.  Her teaching and artistic work emphasizes fusion and choreography as a creative process, developing interdisciplinary work through multiple cultures, languages and aesthetic forms.

When and Where:

9/26, Campus Center 917;
10/3, Campus Center 174-76;
10/10, Campus Center 101;
10/17, Campus Center 905-09; (to be updated)
10/24, Campus Center 165-69;
10/31, Campus Center 174-76.

For further information, please contact gss-gwn@grad.umass.edu, or call 413-545-2897.

If you have missed out on the first couple of sessions, it is OK to join us later!