Ladies, this next one’s for you. Women’s History Month begins on March 1, and all students will have the chance to participate in a variety of events during this year’s new Semana De Mujer, Tuesday March 8 through Friday, March 11.

“Women’s History Month is about paying homage to all of the women who have done so much and put their lives on the line for social justice,” explained Equity Intern Lucero Segundo, a coordinator of the events.

All events are scheduled for lunch periods in S214, beginning on Tuesday with a hip-hop/spoken word workshop about spreading self-love through music. Wednesday is a dance workshop on popular dance styles from Latin America and South Asia with a conversation lead by students in the South Asian and Middle Eastern Alliance Club (SAME) on diaspora in Latin America.

“I really wanted to plan this week of events to focus on more of a queer feminist person of color lens,” added Segundo. “The role of the LGBT community and folks of color is always downplayed.”

The events continue on Thursday with an art workshop with local Chicago artists on how young people can use art as a tool for social justice. On Friday, students who identity as female and/or people of color will have the chance to talk to a panel of college students about their struggles and experiences navigating a college campus.

For students like senior Rebecca Wood, Women’s History Month is all about feminism.

“We focus on so many men in history who have changed the world and made it better, but some female recognition would be great,” she commented. “Women’s History Month is a time to recognize how amazing we are. It’s a time to build us up,” added Wood.

This year’s focus on the intersectionality of identities is important to many students, including Girl Up Club Co-Founder Daisy Chaudruc. “The biggest issue we have with Girl Up is that it’s become very White dominated. The majority of the people participating in the  discussions we’re having are straight, White, middle-class girls,” said Chaudruc. “We need more diverse voices.”

These diverse voices should include guys, stated Girl Up Club member and freshman Callie Benson-Williams. “Feminism is often viewed as something that only women can participate in, and that’s not true” explained Benson-Williams. “It’s good for men and boys to learn about what women think about and the other way around.”