Christie Fox Provides Opening Event for Women's History Month at USU

Christie Fox, director of Utah State University’s Honors Programs, provides the opening event for Women’s History Month with the presentation “Warrior Women” Thursday, March 1, from 3-5 p.m. in the Merrill-Cazier Library conference room (101).

The event is free and open to all and is co-sponsored by USU’s Women and Gender Studies program, Honors Program, Women’s Center and the office of vice provost for faculty development and diversity. Refreshments will be served.

 

Fox’s presentation grew out of an Honors course of the same name.

 

“We are used to seeing images of women in trouble, being pursued by bad guys, as victims of crime and who can’t stand on their own two feet,” Fox said. “Why is the blond always the first to die in horror films?”

 

More recently, strong women have emerged in the media and popular culture to counteract these weak, passive depictions.

 

“We have characters such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Xena Warrior Princess, Sydney Bristow from Alias and even the indestructible cheerleader from Heroes!”

 

Fox said her talk will explore the real-life antecedents, or “foremothers” of these fictional warrior women.

 

“My working definition of warrior woman is one who has fought the forces aligned against her to improve the world around her, especially for women and the oppressed,” Fox said. “The goal of this talk is to rediscover the amazing women whom we have forgotten and who have significantly contributed to the quality of life we enjoy and who, not insignificantly, can provide role models for the way we now live.”

 

Contact Fran Titchener (435) 797-1298