By: Ariel Taranski
Are you wanting to celebrate Women’s History Month in Memphis, but you’re not sure where to start? Luckily for you, this city has some amazing upcoming events that you won’t want to miss. There are so many ways to honor women and celebrate them this month, right here in our city that’s rich with history. Here are just some events and activities you can participate in this March!
University Events
All of the following events are free and open to the public, so grab your gals and head to campus for some of these. (You can also choose to participate in The University of Memphis Women’s History Month Committee’s support of the Tiger Pantry. Donate items directly to the Pantry or purchase items off of their Amazon Wish List.)
March 11
5:30 PM | Chloé Hilliard: F*** Your Diet
The perfect mix of cultural commentary, conspiracies, and confessions, F*ck Your Diet pokes fun at the all too familiar, misguided quest for better health, permanent weight loss, and a sense of self-worth. Join online.
March 15
NOON | Make Your Own Bath Bombs
Join SAC On Alumni Mall Lawn at Noon on March 15 to pick up your make-at-home bath bomb kits. Each kit comes equipped with all the supplies you need to make six personalized bath bombs. Supplies are extremely limited.
March 17
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Women’s History Month Photobooth
Grab your mask and a friend, and join Student Activities council on Alumni Mall Lawn to take a picture in the Women’s History Month photobooth. Social distancing and masking will be strictly enforced.
7:00 PM | Women in Film Wednesday
Join Student Activities Council as they watch movies together that celebrate stories of strong women. Join online.
March 18
NOON | Paint by Numbers: Prominent Women Figures
Celebrate Women’s History Month in a unique way by painting incredible female icons on the Alumni Mall Lawn!
5:30 PM | The UofM Distinguished Lecture Series in Mathematics
The Cantor Sect will host Dr. Maria Chudnovsky, a distinguished mathematician from Princeton University, to give an approximately 1-hour lecture with a 30-minute question-answer session with the audience afterward. Join online.
March 19
11:00 AM | Spirit Swap
Swing by the Alumni Mall Lawn at 11:00 AM to pick up a special Women’s History Month t-shirt meant to celebrate and empower women.
12:30 | “The 19th Amendment: What ‘Votes for Women’ Really Meant”
History Department
In this talk, Dr. Catherine Jacquet (Associate Professor of History, LSU) will focus on the battle for women’s suffrage in the South, exploring how beliefs about race and gender-informed Southerners’ hopes and fears around extending the franchise to women. Join online.
March 23
3:00 PM | Let’s Talk @ KWS: Female Chefs Reflect on Working in a Male-Dominated Industry
Kemmons Wilson Culinary Institute
This event will feature a panel of female chefs discussing their career paths in the male-dominated culinary field. Join online.
March 24
7:00 PM | Women in Film Wednesday
Join Student Activities Council as they watch movies together that celebrate stories of strong women. Join online.
March 31
6:00 PM | WHM Closing Ceremonies
University of Memphis Alumna Summer Owens will be speaking on Women’s Empowerment. Summer is a renowned motivational speaker who uses her hard-learned life lessons from her life to educate, inspire, and motivate young adults to overcome their own success. Join Online.
All Month-Long
These events are occurring throughout the month, or are available online anytime. Be sure to check them out!
Wednesdays in March
4:30-5:30 pm CST | Breaking the Ceiling with Soul
Stax Music Academy will be hosting weekly “Women Breaking the Ceiling” Q&A sessions with women in male-dominated careers. These hourlong Q&A sessions will be free to young women and girls in the community and will feature female leaders from a variety of professions. Join as they share stories, insight, and advice from their career journeys on breaking barriers, overcoming fear, flipping the script on imposter syndrome, and what it takes to step up to positions of leadership. Located at Stax Music Academy, 910 E McLemore Ave, Memphis, TN 38106. RSVP here.
All Month – Online Exhibit
Revisit the Memphis Public Library’s Votes for Women online exhibit celebrating the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and the decades-long struggle by suffragists in Memphis, the state of Tennessee, and across the nation. Check it out through this link.
March 24 Through March 31
Muddy’s Bake Shop will be hosting their Open Studio: Cookie Decorating at their Broad Ave location. While this isn’t a strictly Women’s History Month event, it’s still a great opportunity to support a women-owned business while having some fun! Secure your place here.
All Month – Online Exhibit
Visit the National Women’s History Alliance’s website for resources, tools, and more. If you’re interested in diving deeper into the history of the month, this is the site for you. Check it out here.
Women’s History Month is a time to learn more about where we came from and celebrate where we plan to go. And with a city like Memphis, the opportunities to educate yourselves are boundless. Interested in checking out some of these events? Don’t wait too long to snag your tickets or secure your spots!
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