{"id":919,"date":"2026-03-04T14:53:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/signature-events\/?page_id=919"},"modified":"2026-03-17T13:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T13:04:11","slug":"women-gender-sexuality-studies-colloquium","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/signature-events\/women-gender-sexuality-studies-colloquium\/","title":{"rendered":"Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies Colloquium"},"content":{"rendered":"

About the Series<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/div>
\n
\n\t

The first annual Women Studies colloquium was held March 22-24, 2000. With the support of the Alice McLellan Birney Women Studies Fund, the cross-disciplinary study area in Women, Gender, & Sexuality presents a colloquium each spring in connection with Women\u2019s History Month.\u00a0 Since 2000, the WGSX Colloquium has become an established tradition at St. Mary\u2019s College.\u00a0\u00a0This very successful annual program has regularly drawn large audiences to events that have offered powerful interdisciplinary combinations of scholarly discourse and artistic expression (including film screenings, theatrical performances, and exhibitions) to discuss a topic critical to the lives of women.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\n
\n\t\t\"Poster\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

2026<\/strong> Colloquium<\/h2><\/div><\/div>
\n
\n\t

This Year's Theme \u2013 Speaking back: Language as Rebellion.<\/h3>\n

The WGSX Colloquium (March 25\u201326, 2026)<\/strong> centers on\u00a0\u201cSpeaking Back: Language as Rebellion,\u201d examining the power of language\u2014understood broadly as speech, narrative, embodiment, symbolism, aesthetics, and cultural practice\u2014as a catalyst for social change. The colloquium explores how language in its many forms shapes and reinforces gendered identities, cultural norms, and social hierarchies, while also highlighting how women and gender-diverse individuals strategically \u201cspeak back\u201d to systems that marginalize or silence them.<\/p>\n

Through critical dialogue and the sharing of scholarly, activist, and artistic perspectives, the event interrogates language\u2019s dual role as both a tool of oppression and a powerful site of resistance, celebrating the creative ways communities reimagine meaning-making in their ongoing struggles for equity, justice, and freedom.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For more information, contact the\u00a02026 WGSX Colloquium Committee: Argelia Gonz\u00e1lez Hurtado<\/a> and Samantha Wrisley<\/a> (co-chairs), Stephanie Reyes<\/a>, and Brian Smithson<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Events<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n
\n\t

Speaker:\u00a0 Jenny Davis<\/a><\/h3>\n

Wednesday, March 25 | 4:45 \u2013 6:00 pm<\/p>\n

Cole Cinema, Campus Center<\/p>\n

Speaker:\u00a0 Glorimar Marrero<\/a><\/h3>\n

Wednesday, March 25 | 7:30 \u2013 9:00 pm
\nCole Cinema, Campus Center<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\n
\n\t

Speaker:\u00a0 Dozandri C. Mendoza\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n

Thursday, March 26 | 4:45 \u2013 6:00 pm<\/p>\n

Cole Cinema, Campus Center<\/p>\n

SMCM\u2019s students and the guest speakers<\/h3>\n

Thursday, March 26 | 7:30 \u2013 9:00 pm<\/p>\n

Cole Cinema, Campus Center<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

2025 WGSX Colloquium<\/h3><\/i><\/div>

The Joy of Resistance: Finding Hope in Activism<\/h3>\nThe colloquium (March 19-20, 2025) will focus on transformative justice and pleasure activism. While activism is often paired with organized mass protest, a topic we have addressed during previous colloquia, this time we propose to explore the question of \u201chow do we find hope and joy in the face of hopelessness and injustice?\u201d Our starting point is Grace Lee Bogg\u2019s motto, \u201cWe must transform ourselves to transform the world.\u201d\n\n \n\n2025 WGSX Colloquium Committee:<\/strong> Ximena Postigo-Guzman and Bet\u00fcl Basaran (co-chairs)\n\nWGSX Coordinator:<\/strong> Argelia Gonz\u00e1lez <\/span>Hurtado\n\n \n

EVENTS<\/h3>\n \n

\u201cMycelial Methodologies: What fungi teach us about interconnected approaches to collaborative and creative practices\u201d<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\nYasmine Ostendorf-Rodriguez<\/a>\nWednesday, March 19 | 4:45 - 6:00 pm\nCole Cinema, Campus Center\n

\u00a0\u201cResentment and Repair\u201d<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\nSukaina Hirji<\/a>\nWednesday, March 19 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm\nCole Cinema, Campus Center\n

Margaret Brent Lecture and Award Ceremony: \"Already Free: The Courage and Joy of Fugitive Practice\"<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\nAutumn Brown<\/a>\nThursday, March 20|\u00a0<\/strong>4:45 - 6:00 pm\nNancy R. and Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center Recital Hall\n\nWhat if a vibrant, multiracial movement for justice is within our grasp? What practices make it possible for us to not only build this movement, but to be its courageous membership? In this lecture, Autumn Brown will illuminate a pathway to cultivate mutual resilience in our organizing and community work, so that we can more effectively resist the ideology of racial capitalism and racial practice. From her depthful study of fugitivity, Brown will offer a set of practices for moving in formation, sustaining human connection as we navigate a time of rapid change, and most importantly, refusing the politics of despair.\n

Student Talkback<\/strong><\/h3>\nSMCM's students and the guest speakers\nThursday, March 20 |\u00a0<\/strong>7:30 - 9:00 pm\nCole Cinema, Campus Center<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

2024 WGSX Colloquium<\/h3><\/i><\/div>

VISIBILITY OF DISABILITY: EXPLORING THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF DISABILITY, RACE AND GENDER<\/h3>\n

The 2024 Colloquium continues the program\u2019s tradition of engaging with critical intellectual themes, this time focusing\u00a0on disability visibility. This topic is not only timely given the current political landscape, but is of interest and relevance to the students, faculty and staff at SMCM. This topic, in part was inspired by student activism (i.e., Disability Speak Out event on March 3, 2023, where students with disabilities expressed their honest opinion and personal experiences regarding accessibility on campus, and at the same time, provided a place for students, faculty, staff, and other entities allies to listen). In September 2023, the\u00a0National Institutes of Health designated<\/a>\u00a0people with disabilities as a population with health disparities. The \"designation, new research program and update to NIH mission are actions to ensure inclusion of people with disabilities.\"\u00a0As we aim to build a more welcoming and inclusive campus, this is an urgent topic to address. It provides an ideal opportunity to model the intersection of academic study, social engagement, and social justice activism, which defines the WGSX Program curriculum.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2024 WGSX Colloquium Committee: Gili Freedman and Brian Smithson (co chairs),\u00a0Angie Draheim<\/p>\n

2024-25 WGSX Program Coordinator:\u00a0Bet\u00fcl Basaran<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

EVENTS<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Care at the End of the World: Health\/care Infrastructure and Wild Disability Justice Life-Writing\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Jina Kim
\nWednesday, March 20 | 4:30 pm
\nCole Cinema<\/p>\n

\"Reproductive Care and Disability\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Angelica Vega
\nWednesday, March 20 | 7:30 pm
\nCole Cinema<\/p>\n

\"Mental Health, Memories, and the Earth\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Cherish Marquez
\nThursday, March 21 |\u00a0<\/strong>4:30 pm
\nCole Cinema<\/p>\n

Students Talkback<\/a><\/h3>\n

SMCM's students and the guest speakers Jina Kim, Angelica Vega and Cherish Marquez
\nThursday, March 21 |\u00a0<\/strong>7:30 pm
\nCole Cinema<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

2023 WGSX Colloquium<\/h3><\/i><\/div>

EXPANDING GENDER: TRANS EXPERIENCE AND ACTIONS<\/h3>\n

The 2023 Colloquium continues the program\u2019s tradition of engaging with critical intellectual themes, this time focusing on transgender and gender non-conforming populations. In 2020, nearly 80 different anti-transgender legislatures were introduced. In 2021, that number nearly doubled with approximately 150 proposals. In 2022, activists identified about 280 bills currently filed to restrict transgender individuals\u2019 access to healthcare, bathrooms, education, and athletics. Further, violence toward the transgender and gender-non-conforming community highlights intersectionality, with fatal violence disproportionately impacting transgender women of color. This year\u2019s speakers will focus on the experiences and issues facing transgender and gender non-conforming individuals today.<\/p>\n

We believe this topic is not only timely given the current political landscape but will be relevant to the students, faculty, and staff at St. Mary\u2019s. This topic, in part, was inspired by student activism on campus (i.e., the Call Us By Our Names movement) and upcoming SMCM policy changes (e.g., changes in Open Housing, Name Change Policy, reinstating of the LGBTQ+ Student Affairs Advisory Committee).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

EVENTS<\/h3>\n

\u201cWe Have Never Been Queer: Contested Politics of Queer Humanitarianism in Neoliberal Ghana\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Kwame Edwin Otu
\nWednesday, April 5 | 4:30pm
\nCole Cinema<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Trans Liberation in our Lifetime - past, present and future\"<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Margaret Brent Lecture<\/p>\n

Isa Noyola
\nWednesday, April 5 | 7:30pm
\nAuerbach Auditorium\/St. Mary's Hall<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Exploring Black Queer Joy (Even When it Feels Hopeless)\"<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Aurora Higgs
\nThursday, April 6 | 4:30pm
\nNancy R. & Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center Recital Hall<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Round table: Students Talkback<\/h3>\n

SMCM's\u00a0students and the guest speakers Aurora Higgs, Isa Noyola and Kwame Edwin Otu
\nThursday, April 6 | 7:30pm
\nNancy R. & Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The first annual Women Studies colloquium was held March 22-24, 2000. With the support of the Alice McLellan Birney Women Studies Fund, the cross-disciplinary study area in Women, Gender, & Sexuality presents a colloquium each spring in connection with Women\u2019s History Month.\u00a0 Since 2000, the WGSX Colloquium has become an established tradition at St. Mary\u2019s Find out more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":245,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"full-width-content","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-919","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/signature-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/919","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/signature-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/signature-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/signature-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/245"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/signature-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=919"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/signature-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":947,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/signature-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/919\/revisions\/947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/signature-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}