UNCA will celebrate Women’s History Month throughout March with more than 20 diverse cultural programs. Among the highlights will be a keynote address by Wake Forest University Professor Mary DeShazer and a talk by nationally known author bell hooks. Events are open to the public and free unless otherwise indicated.

DeShazer, Wake Forest University women’s studies and English professor, will give the keynote address on "Women’s Poetics of Resistance: Women Writing in the United States, South Africa and El Salvador" at 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 16, in Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. DeShazer’s will discuss her 1994 book "A Poetics of Resistance," a study of women poets and cultural and political resistance in South Africa, El Salvador and the United States. She traveled to El Salvador and South Africa to interview women poets and in her talk will examine how their work expresses women’s resistance to political and social oppression. She will compare their strategies and relate them to social and political conditions in which they write.

hooks, an acclaimed writer, feminist theorist and cultural critic, will discuss "Creating Beloved Community: Confronting Racism, Sexism and Classism" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 30, at Lipinsky Auditorium. A book signing will follow her presentation. hooks, who holds a doctorate degree from the University of California Santa Cruz, recently released her twentieth book, "Salvation: Black People and Love." Tickets for hook’s talk are $15 general admission. Tickets are available at the YMI Cultural Center, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe and from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the UNCA Ticket Office, Highsmith Center room 27. Tickets also may be charged by phone by calling 828/251-6584 during the hours listed above.

* Special evening programs include:

-- Acclaimed folk musician Peggy Seeger will present an "Evening of Song" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, in the Highsmith Center Lounge. Seeger, a talented artist in her own right, comes from a long family line of folk music pioneers, including her half-brother Pete Seeger who is widely considered to be the father of the American folk-revival.

-- Jacquelyn Osherow, author of four books of poetry and director of the master of fine arts program at the University of Utah, will give a reading from her recent book, "Dead Men’s Praise," at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15, in Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall.

* Special afternoon programs include:

-- "Women’s Studies or Gender Studies?" will be the topic of the opening celebration of UNCA’s Women’s History Month events at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1, in Highsmith Center room 18. Lori Horvitz, assistant literature and language professor, the Women’s Studies Program Advisory Board and students will lead discussion on the past, present and future of Women’s Studies at UNCA.

-- Joseph Sulock, UNCA economics professor, will screen and discuss two brief videos on "Women in Sports" at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall.

* A 15-Part Brown Bag Lunch Series will be a central focus of UNCA’s Women’s History Month celebration. All Brown Bag Lunch talks will be given at 12:15 p.m. These include:

-- "Women’s Bodies, Women’s Births" will be discussed on Thursday, March 1, in the Dining Hall’s Private Dining Room 200. Sheryl Sawin, assistant literature and language professor, will give a talk on "The Whole Art of Midwifery Discovered: Jane Sharpe and the Subversion of the Speculative Body in the 17th Century." UNCA senior Kerri Jackson will talk on "Challenging the Discourse of Childbirth."

-- Ellen Perry, adjunct humanities instructor, will discuss "Now the Game Begins: Masquerade and Identity in Aphra Behn’s ‘The Rover,’ Parts I and II" on Friday, March 2, in the Dining Hall’s Private Dining Room 200. Perry will identify ways Behn uses the masquerade motif in many of her works, allowing female characters to disguise themselves for a purpose.

-- Gwen Ashburn, assistant literature and languages professor, will give a talk on "Anne Newport Royall: An Ornery Woman" on Monday, March 12, in the Dining Hall’s Private Dining Room 200. Asburn will relate how Royall (1769-1854), a traveler, writer and newspaper editor, became a noted vigilant guardian of democracy.

-- Three UNCA seniors will present original research on the history of women’s activism on Tuesday, March 13, in the Dining Hall’s Private Dining Room 200. Sarah Young will discuss "What Kind of Woman Is She? Images of Margaret Thatcher in the British Coal Miners Strike of 1984"; Cathie Berrey will discuss "There Is Strength in Solidarity: Women’s Culture in the North Carolina Textile Strikes of 1929"; and Daniel Maddalena will discuss "Ending Desegregation at Asheville’s YWCA."

-- Peggy Seeger, one of the most authoritative voices in American and English folklore, will give a talk on "A Feminist View of Anglo-American Folk Culture" on Wednesday, March 14 in Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall.

-- "The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF): Then and Now" will be discussed on Thursday, March 15, in the Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. UNCA history major Alison Franks will present her thesis research on "The Effects of the 1920s Red Scare on the Nascent WILPF" and League members will discuss WILPF’s ongoing work.

-- "Asheville American Association of University Women (AAUW): Past, Present and Future" will be discussed Friday, March 16, in Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. Members of the AAUW local chapter will share the organization’s rich history and describe opportunities for college women today.

-- Sarah Judson, assistant history professor, will give a talk on "A Feminist Look at Contemporary Conceptions of Masculinity in Popular Culture" on Monday, March 19, in the Dining Hall’s Private Dining Room 200. Judson will explore how popular culture reflects current anxieties about race, gender, global economy and political disempowerment.

-- Melissa Burchard, assistant philosophy professor, and Marcia Ghidina, chair and associate sociology professor, will discuss "Homophobia in the Service of Patriarchy" on Tuesday, March 20, in the Dining Hall’s Private Dining Room 200. They will describe recent research that indicates that homophobia accomplishes a number of goals in the service of patriarchy, including the reinforcement of negative stereotypes of women, gay men and lesbians.

-- "The Cultural Valorization of Quilts" will be explored on Wednesday, March 21, in Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. Yolanda Hood, assistant literature and language professor, will discuss "A Piece of the Fabric: African American Quilt Culture Then and Now." Karin Peterson, assistant sociology professor, will discuss "How Quilts Became Fine Art: The Costs of Conformity to Aesthetic Norms."

-- Representatives from the Western Carolina Women’s Coalition will describe the variety of resources for women in 25 local counties on Thursday, March 22, in Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall.

-- A university panel will discuss "Teaching Diversity and Tolerance: Take It or Leave It?" on Friday, March 23, in the Dining Hall’s Private Dining Room 200.

-- Alice Weldon, assistant foreign language professor, will facilitate a discussion on "Latinas En El Condado/Latina Women in Buncombe County" on Monday, March 26, in the Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. During this talk, given in Spanish and English, several women will share their work and experiences since moving to Buncombe County.

-- A university panel will explore "Workin’ in a Man’s World, Workin’ in a Woman’s World" on Wednesday, March 28, in the Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. A variety of men and women will discuss their good, frustrating and humorous experiences in the work place.

-- Beth Groft, MAHEC family practice resident, will discuss "RU-486: Controversy and Impact and Women’s Health" on Friday, March 30. The talk will cover the history, politics and impact of this new drug.

* Special art exhibitions include:

-- An opening reception for "Family Portraits: Celebrating Life and Memory," featuring more than 15 works on paper, pastel and mixed media by UNCA senior Madalyn Rogers, will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, March 16, in UNCA’s University Gallery. The show is the culmination of Rogers’ work toward her bachelor of fine arts degree at UNCA. The exhibition will be open through April 3. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays.

-- "Women of Note in Western North Carolina, 1800-2000," an exhibition of text, photographs and illustrations related to the achievements of area women, will be on view through March in Blowers Gallery, located on the main floor of Ramsey Library. Gallery open during regular library hours. For hours, call 828/251-6546.

For more information, call the Women’s Studies Program at 828/251-6122.