Students and teachers gathered in the Student Support Center on Mar. 4 to celebrate International Women’s Day with presentations, games, crafts, and treats. The purpose of this event was to recognize women and encourage students to learn more about the impact women have made in society.
Upper School History Department Chair Amy Bresie ’96 has been involved in organizing the event for six years.
“This holiday has been celebrated since 1911 and has kind of grown and become embraced by the United Nations in 1975,” Bresie said.
According to Bresie, this annual celebration highlights a specific theme and encourages people to support one another while recognizes the progress women have made. This year’s theme is “Give to Gain.”
“It was this idea that by giving and supporting each other, everybody gets stronger,” Bresie said.
When this holiday first began being celebrated in 2019, it was mainly organized by teachers. Over time, students have become more involved with the planning. This year, members of the Feminist Literature Club helped lead much of the planning.
Senior Gigi Dimas, president of the Feminist Literature Club, helped coordinate many aspects of this event.
Club members also worked together to organize activities and encourage students to participate according to Dimas.
The event included several student presentations from the Women’s History class, highlighting influential women and their achievements.
Another highlight was a Jeopardy-style trivia game. This was created by senior Josh Traub, the secretary of the Feminist Literature Club, and the game was hosted by Upper School biology teacher Winfred Parnell ‘99.
In addition, students participated in crafts and reflections. One activity asked students to draw the women they admire.
The organizers said the event is important because women’s achievements are often overlooked in traditional history lessons.
“I don’t think we talk enough about women’s contributions in general,” Bresie said.
To Dimas, the celebration was also about encouraging more students to engage in the topic.
“I think a lot of people are really scared by the terminology of ‘feminist,’” Dimas said. “But feminism is really something for everyone to take part in.”
This celebration combined learning, creativity and community, allowing students an opportunity to recognize the impact women have had both in history and in their own lives.
“It’s a day that we try to remember and honor the women of the past as well as present,” Bresie said.
