Women’s History Month:
In SEQ, More Women Than History

By Shams Tarek

The people of Southeast Queens know a thing or two about the minority experience.

Black History Month is always big here – so big, in fact, that one or two events are still happening around the area even though the month has passed.

But now we’re in another month and we’re celebrating the history of another group struggling for equality – women. What does the community have to show for it?

Compared to last month’s observances, not as much.

An unscientific survey of Southeast Queens’ cultural and political landscapes shows that many places are either ignoring Women’s History Month or are not really playing it up too much.

Two Downtown Jamaica cultural institutions, the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) and York College, may be called forerunners in the field.

There haven’t been any public events relating to women’s history announced by any of Southeast Queens’ public schools, but that doesn’t mean events and lessons aren’t happening.

Jean Phelps, director of the York College Women’s Center, said the focus is educating and supporting women. PRESS Photos By Ira Cohen

When the PRESS interviewed seniors and children about Black History Month, we found that while the school curriculum may not mandate a lot of black history instruction, individual teachers often took the liberty to teach it themselves.

Diane Glover, the coordinator of multicultural education for District 29 and a woman who coordinates much of the cultural programming in the district’s 28 schools, confirmed the same situation this month.

District 29 isn’t scheduling any district-wide events for Women’s History Month, Glover said, adding that individual schools are on their own with holding women’s history-related events.

“A lot of the schools move on their own in terms of looking at women in more traditional roles,” said Glover, who added that “it’s important to do Women’s History Month events.”

Speaking for herself, Glover said that Women’s History Month isn’t something that’s often on her mind. She’s human first, woman second, she said. She’s also a woman all year round, not just in March.

“I’m a woman,” Glover said, “and I don’t think about celebrating being a woman at only a particular time. I look at black history the same way.”  

Southeast Queens’ churches – there are more concentrated here than in any other part of the borough – are doing a bit more for Women’s History Month.

Some women’s ministries in the area are holding events highlighting their contributions to their churches and community life in general.

The Jamaica Unit of Church Women United (CWU) is holding a worship called “Holy Spirit, Fill Us” in recognition of Women’s History Month and the World Day of Prayer on March 7.

The service, according to CWU Jamaica/Eastern Queens Unit President Marjorie Burns, will feature Catholic, Orthodox and Evangelical women, and will “support women’s ecumenical ministries towards peace and justice.” Offerings will go to women’s projects run by the CWU around the world.

The service will be held at 1 p.m. at Amity Baptist Church, located at 164-18 108th Ave. in Jamaica.

Later that day, Vera Isaacs, chair of the Grace United Methodist Church AIDS Ministry, will kick off a “Week of Worship” with a prayer service at the church.

The 7:30 p.m. event will feature a talk called “What’s The Right Thing?” by Rev. Dr. Lethia Alston, according to Isaacs, and will touch upon what women can do in response to the AIDS epidemic. Other women in the program include Rev. Delois Davis, who will lead a pastoral altar call, and Gertrude Nation, a lay church leader who will lead a benediction.

JCAL, one of Southeast Queens’ leading arts institutions, isn’t explicitly targeting Women’s History Month for its exhibits and events.

But what it does have is more than fitting.

There’s currently an exhibit at the Center strongly focused on women’s issues, called “Creatures” by Wangechi Mutu.

The exhibit, which will be in JCAL’s free public gallery until April 12, explores stereotypes – especially outmoded and harmful ones – of women, minorities and the “underclass,” according to JCAL.

The exhibit features the 24 works from Mutu’s Pin Up series, created for an imaginary 12-month calendar. Other works in the series feature African women in various forms of mutilation and disfiguration, all intended, according to JCAL visual arts curator Heng-Gil Han, to represent “the psyche of deep sentiment, emotional anger and inextinguishable resentment towards post-imperialism and post-colonialism that destroyed pre-existing traditions and cultures.”

The gallery, at 161-04 Jamaica Ave., is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

York College, Southeast Queens’ only college, may be considered the area’s forerunner in terms of holding events for Women’s History Month.

The school, whose student population is 72 percent female, is home to both an academic women’s studies department, from which Director Eva Vasquez coordinates the school’s Women’s Studies minor, as well as an extra-curricular Women’s Center, from which Director Jean Phelps coordinates special events and provides all sorts of social, cultural and health-related resources.

Vasquez and Phelps are both coordinating the school’s extensive Women’s History Month calendar, which features 10 events before the month is over and one in April.

Phelps, who is also the president of the Jamaica chapter of the NAACP, noted that not only are most of York’s students women, but most are minorities, too. The dynamic makes them “double-minorities,” she said.

“I’m also black,” Phelps said. “So I’ve gotta fight on two different fronts for equal access.”

Phelps said she doesn’t know if gender or race is the dominant identifying quality of the women – and the few men – who frequent the Women’s Center.

Phelps also said that the Center is more about helping students in general than any kind of extreme feminist agenda.

“We’re not fighting on that level,” Phelps said. “We’re seen as more of a support arm of the college.”

Phelps said that the school’s adult students are more aware the disparity between women and men in the post-college world, and that the focus of the Women’s Center is as much on education as it is on women’s issues.

“Our bottom line is about supporting our students and helping them get an education,” Phelps said. “I don’t have time right now to deal with other feminist issues.”

She also says the Women’s Center is an essential place.

“You’re constantly aware of the fact that women are not equally received,” Phelps said. “Until women reach equality, they need a place where they can help each other.”

Upcoming Women’s History Month
Events At York College

March 11 – “A Question of Silence”

March 18 – “The Quiet Room”

March 25 – “The Official Story”

Successive Tuesday afternoons from 12 noon to 2 p.m. on the Big Screen in the York College Cafeteria., Academic Core Building, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Contact: Dr. Sonia Rivera-Valdes at (718) 262-2440

Tuesday, March 11

Milestones for and by Women in America

The Women’s Club presents a program about major civil rights victories for women in America.

12 noon to 2 p.m., Room 2D01, York College Academic Core Building, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., (718) 262-2008

Thursday, March 13

Women in the World of Sports

Amanda Kraus, Founder and Executive Director of Row New York discusses women and athletics including issues related to Title IX, and sports education for women.

3 to 5 p.m., Faculty Dining Room Room 2D01, York College Academic Core Building, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Contact: Professor Eva Vasquez at (718) 262-2437

Tuesday, March 18

There is No Prince and Other Truths Your Mother Never Told You

Author, psychotherapist, and television/radio guest, Marilyn Graman inspires and enlightens as she discusses her new book and focuses on techniques that foster self-awareness and effective communication skills. This presentation will provide both women and men with the opportunity to gain insights and techniques that promote fulfillment and happiness in their personal and professional lives.

4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Faculty Dining Room, Room 2D01, York College Academic Core Building, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. Contact: Professor Eva Vasquez at (718) 262-2437 .