In 2009, a record number of women were awarded Nobel Prizes - in literature, economics, medicine and chemistry. With women also occupying positions such as the U.S. Secretary of State, justices of the Supreme Court, as well as heads of state in Latin America, Africa and Asia, the growing power and influence of women in today's world is undeniable. Success stories like these would not be possible were it not for the courage, discipline and sacrifice of generations of women stretching from Seneca Falls to the halls of power of the 21st century. Join us for this national series, as we take a comprehensive look at women's history and make a call to service to inspire the next generation of women in social and political leadership.
Program coordinated by Exploritas Regional Office.
Participants will receive a complimentary registration for one guest.
Program includes six lecture sessions.
Session 1: The Suffrage Movement
March 11, 2010 | 3:00-4:30 p.m.
The story of the suffrage movement is thrilling-with cliff-hanging votes in both the U.S. Congress and Tennessee State Legislature. This lecture will bring a fascinating aspect of American history to light and introduce you to some truly amazing women, setting the stage for more contemporary discussions of women's political leadership.
Session 2: Women of Peace & Diplomacy
March 18, 2010 | 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Of the dozen women who have earned the Nobel Peace Prize, not one has won for her work as a government official. Have America's three female Secretaries of State made a difference for peace -- and for women? What - if anything - changed at the United Nations in the 1990s when women ran the UN agencies devoted to human rights, health, population, children, food, and refugees?
Session 3: Eleanor Roosevelt, The Universal Declaration of Human Right
March 25, 2010 | 3:00-4:30 p.m.
60 years ago, Eleanor Roosevelt led the charge for the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a landmark achievement in world history because it represented the first international recognition that human rights and fundamental freedoms are applicable to every person, everywhere. This lecture will focus on the impact of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Eleanor Roosevelt today, particularly as it relates to women, health care and children.
Session 4: 60s & 70s: Women in Social Justice, the Feminist Movemement
April 1, 2010 | 3:00-4:30 p.m.
The decades of the 1960s and 70s were turbulent times in America, with questions of civil rights and social justice coming to the fore for many groups. Consider the impact of the Women's Liberation Movement, early leaders like Bella Abzug, Betty Friedan, and Gloria Steinem, on the rights of women today.
Session 5: Unexpected Leaders: Women of the Developing World
April 8, 2010 | 3:00-4:30 p.m.
While Americans debate whether they are ready for a female president, women elsewhere have already served as elected presidents and prime ministers - even in conservative societies that limit women's rights and opportunities. This lecture looks at how women have reached the top in these unexpected places, including leaders such as Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto to the Philippines' Corazon Aquino.
Session 6: The Next Generation: Pearls, Politics & Power
April15, 2010 | 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Why should a woman enter the ugly, dirty field of politics? Based on former Vermont Governor Madeleine Kunin's book, Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead, this lecture focuses on why and how women make a difference when they are in leadership positions -in elective or appointive office, on the bench, as Presidents of universities, as CEO's of corporations.
*Subject to change. A full syllabus will be distributed during the first session.
Medford Leas
Sponsored by The Estaugh, a Quaker-related not-for-profit corporation founded in 1914, Medford Leas is an accredited community designed for mature, active adults. Since its opening in 1971, it has been recognized nationally for its leadership and innovation, outstanding facilities and services, wide range of home designs on two campuses, superior health and wellness services, and prudent fiscal management.