Every Saturday a diverse group of DePaul women gather with warm mugs of tea to rehearse for the upcoming production of the Vagina Monologues. This year's production has been met with incredible support from the organizers, cast, and DePaul community at large.

This year's show is being co-directed by Emma Jubinski, Madison Hanna and myself. The experience has been one of the most meaningful I have had at DePaul. When I initially got involved as a director I was apprehensive about the massive time commitment for which I was signing up. However, with each passing organizers' meeting and rehearsal, I see my involvement much more complexly than a time commitment. Rather, I have seen it as a way to make wonderful friends, learn about women in the Congo, be active in my political convictions, and dialogue with fellow participants about how the Vagina Monologues dually contributes to feminism, and reinforces oppression.

I was anxious to co-direct the Vagina Monologues because I knew I would have to grapple with this idea of oppression. To speak more specifically, some of the monologues in the show reinforce second-wave, Western-centric feminism. When I weighed the pros and cons of participating in the Vagina Monologues I actively decided that its mission of ending violence against women and girls is ultimately central to my notion of feminism, and well worth the experience.  Co-directors Jubinski and Hanna, the cast and I try to have active conversations confronting the implications of "othering" international women in some of the monologues. We have also taken steps to minimize this, and diversify our perspectives as American women.

The quality of performance of this year's cast has astounded me. The DePaul women participating have been focused, fun loving, and hardworking. During Saturday rehearsals I have been brought to tears, laughed from the deepest parts of my belly, furrowed my brow, rubbed away goose bumps, and squirmed from excitement. I cannot believe that these women have two more weeks to refine their pieces even more thoroughly.

The Vagina Monologues are an important part of the "V-Day Movement", the movement to end violence against women and girls. The proceeds from the show go directly to organizations whose missions embody this objective. This year the DePaul Vagina Monologue proceeds will go to Apna Ghar, Rape Victim Advocates, and Take Back the Halls. The Vagina Monologues will take place Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14 at 8:00 PM in Student Center's Multi-Purpose Room. Tickets are a suggested donation of 10$, and will be available at the door. Folks interested in attending a performance can also email vday.depaul@gmail.com to reserve tickets or look for Student Center tabling.

From my co-directors, to the cast, the DePaul Vagina Monologues would like to invite you to attend this year's performance. February 13 and 14 will be evenings of empowerment, demystification, activism, and community. We look forward to seeing you.

 

What is a feminist baby shower? When the 2010 WGS cohort decided to have a baby shower for a very special mother-to-be, Mona Ismail, I was confronted with this question. We knew a feminist baby shower is women centered, but beyond that, it's up for interpretation. After doing some research, I found a term called Blessing Way. Blessing Way originally comes from a Navajo term and is used to bless the "one sung over," to ensure good luck, good health and blessings for all that pertains to them. There are many different activities that one can do during a Blessing Way, but it is primarily a meaningful and spiritual experience.

This was many of our first baby shower and it turned out to be very meaningful. First, we dined on delicious Mediterranean cuisine and had great conversation. Then, we all sat in a circle around our mother-to-be. We burned sage around the circle and explained the activity. Each person picked out a bead to give to Mona. There was a burning candle that each person held during the blessing. Each person shared a blessing with Mona and then shared personal lore or experiences from their childhood that was special to them. The bead was then placed in a small bag for Mona to make a necklace to wear during labor. The setting was warm, with dim lighting and meaningful exchanges.

One of the blessings included Namaste. "The divine essence in me bows to the divine essence in you." Ultimately, the baby shower was a blessing for the mother-to-be, as the divine essence in each person bowed to the divine essence in Mona and her baby. After the blessing, each person laid hands on Mona's belly. The cohort was given small candles to light during the labor. We then gave a gift of a spa massage for the Mona for after the birth.

Ultimately, a feminist baby shower can be whatever the mother and her friends want it to be. We found that our experience was touching and meaningful and a great occasion. The WGS cohort anxiously waits for a new feminist boy to be born into the world! Namaste.

 

Of all the dives in town...

Perversity brings with it a

Since I graduated from DePaul University, as a Women's & Gender Studies major and photography minor, I have been attending graduate school at the University of Chicago's School for Social Service Administration where I am focusing on a master's degree in social work. Not only am I currently taking the core social work classes in public policy, direct practice interventions, and research methods, I am also doing my first year field placement at Vital Bridges, a non-for profit agency located on the west side of the city in Garfield Park who provides a variety of services to clients living with HIV/AIDS. My work at Vital Bridges involves the case management of four clients, where I attempt to help direct them to services that best accommodate their life. Our services that we provide to clients include: temporary housing through our hosing program, mental health services, case management services, and then a grocery service where clients can receive a variety of food products on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

When I first applied to the School of Social Administration at the University of Chicago, as well as when I first started fall quarter, I was extremely interested in pursuing the social administration concentration, but then after my first public policy class fall quarter, I quickly switched over to pursuing a clinical direct practice concentration. I am currently in the process of applying for my second year field placement and have decided to concentrate my studies within the program of study titled family supportive services. Within this program of study, I am interested in working directly with clients in a more therapeutic setting. I am also interested in concentrating in a sub-area of study which would certify me as a substance abuse counselor. All in all, I am passionate about doing direct practice therapy with individuals, families, and groups.

Thinking about how my current graduate education differs from my undergraduate education at DePaul makes me miss the last four years of my life in Lincoln Park. I knew coming into the program that there would not be as much feminist, or even women's and gender studies, related materials for classes, and very honestly, I miss this aspect of my life which was so central while I was attending DePaul University. With my current lack of feminist literature, I am attempting to find ways of pulling feminism into what I am learning about social work. In terms of other differences between the University of Chicago and DePaul University, I am finding that there is a much larger push towards academic excellence, as well as just what is expected of you for each of your classes. When I first stated classes, I was continually thankful for the professors of DePaul's Women's & Gender studies department who had prepared me for graduate school.  I honestly feel that without the amazing and unique education I received from the Women's & Gender studies department at DePaul, I would be struggling at the University of Chicago.

Overall, I have enjoyed my time in graduate school, even though I do not have a lot of time for anything else. I am excited about graduating next June and hopefully embarking on a new, professional chapter of my life where I can apply what I've learned at the School of Social Service Administration as well as at DePaul University.

 

Anida Yoeu Ali is an interdisciplinary artist of Cambodian Muslim heritage currently living in Chicago. Her performance repertoire synthesizes poetry, movement, video, and site-specific installations into hybrid explorations of identity. Ms. Ali will build her keynote around a performance and installation which she has described as seemlessly stitching "together narrative, critical analysis, poetry and performance into a presentation about my journey as someone who is seeking an artistic, spiritual and political juncture of hybrid identities." The performance, installation, and talk "will present an arsenal of work and the stories/motivations/ideas behind them from my humble beginnings as a performance poet to my most recent works involving multimedia site specific installation."

 

 

Religious Peacebuilding: Voicing Women's Interventions for a Just World Women's History Month Lecture

Thursday, March 4th / 5:30pm - 6:00pm - Reception 6:00pm - 7:30pm - Lecture Student Center / Room 120

Maria Pilar Aquino, born in Mexico into a family of braceros, and raised in the Sonora/Arizona border, is a feminist theologian of liberation. Currently, she is Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Diego, and is a past visiting Professor of Theology at The Divinity School of Harbard University. She is a founding member of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic/Latino Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS), of which she has also been the first woman president. A recipient of the "Virgilio Elizondo Award" of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS) of which she has also been the first woman President. A recipient of the "Virgilio Elizondo Award" of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States for her outstanding contribution to Latina Feminist Theology, Dr. Aquino was designated as the first "Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz" Professor of Latina Feminist Theology by the Hispanic Summer Program at Princeton Theological Seminary, and is the recipient of the 2006 Ann O'Hara Graff Memorial Award by the Women's Seminar in Constructive Theology of the Catholic Theological Society of America for her sustained commitment to women's theological education. She is considered to be one of the most influential theologians in the Americas today. Among her most recent publications: The Return of the Just War, with Dietmar Mieth (2001); The Rights of Women, with Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza (2002); A Reader in Latina Feminist Theology, Religion and Justice, with Daisy Machado and Jeanette Rodríguez (2002); Reconciliation in a World of Conflicts, with Luis Carlos Susin (2003); and Feminist Intercultural Theology: Latina Explorations for a Just World, with Maria José Rosado-Nunes (2007). She has also published numerous articles on critical approaches to theological method, religion and society, social justice, intercultural change and peace-building from the perspective of liberation and feminist theologies.

 

 

The Theatre School presents A RAISIN IN THE SUN 
DePaul's Merle Reskin Theatre,

 February 5 - 14, 2010

 

Let it Bleed: The Nature of Visualized Violence in Dance, Cinema and L 
DePaul Humanities Center presents Shifting Perspectives and the Mediated View

February 16, 2010 

 

Unveiled: Written and Performed by Rohina Malik

Friday, February 26th / 6:00PM

Cortelyou Commons

 

Five Muslim women in a post-9/11 world serve tea and uncover what lies beneath the veil in this compelling one-woman show.

 

Health Care Panel Discussion 
DePaul will host a panel discussion on current health care issues. Particular attention will be paid to health care concerns for the African-American community

 February 16, 2010 

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Sappho's Salon at Women and Children First

Sat, 02/20/2010 - 7:30pm-9:30 pm at Women and Children First

Women and Children's First popular salon night for lesbians and their friends features the performance work of two outstanding queer artists. Barrie Cole, deemed "Chicago's Champion of Lyrical Oddness" by the Chicago Reader and. Atlanta-based lesbian erotic writer, performance poet and musician Ifa Bumi is author of the collection Liquid Toffee, and the spoken word CD, Museotry. She'll be joined by a collaborative dancer. As always, DJ SpinNikki will play us in and out of sets.

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