Hoff Sommers to discuss sex, lies and <i>The Vagina Monologues</i>

The Women’s Center at Lehigh University recently announced a four-part lecture series titled “Identity and Power: Perspectives on Feminism, Fundamentalism and the Future.” The series, which began with a lecture on Sept. 27 by Jennifer Baumgarder and Amy Richards, authors of Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism and the Future. , focuses on a variety of related religious, political and health issues and is designed to “inspire women to take action on issues that affect them,” according to organizers.
“It’s a provocative blend,” says Kristin Handler, director of the Women’s Center. “All of the speakers hold strong views on these very critical issues and will hopefully spur further debate and discussion.”
Co-sponsoring organizations include the Visiting Lectures Committee, the Chaplain’s Office, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Women’s Studies Program, and the Office of Graduate Student Life.
Remaining talks include:
“Sex, Lies, and ‘The Vagina Monologues’”
The talk by Christina Hoff Sommers, the W.H. Brady Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute for Policy Research, will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4 in Sinclair Auditorium. A former university professor, Hoff Sommers is the author of Who Stole Feminism: How Women Have Betrayed Women, and The War Against Boys: How Misguided Feminism is Harming Our Young Men.
This talk is also being co-sponsored by the College Republicans, Young America’s Foundation, the English department and the Humanities Center.
“The Battle for God”
The talk by Karen Armstrong, author of the international best-seller The History of God, and other books on religion, will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21st in Packard 101. In her lecture, Armstrong will present an account of the history of fundamentalism in Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and discuss the continued growth of fundamentalist movements as a response to a technologically driven world influenced by liberal Western values.
This talk is also being co-sponsored by the Visiting Lectures Committee and the Religion Studies Department.
“Our Bodies, Our Votes: Women’s Health and the Election”
The talk by Marcia Ann Gillespie, former editor in chief of Essence and Ms. magazines and expert on global women’s health issues, will be at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25 in Whitaker 303. Gillespie will talk about contemporary issues that affect women and the role the issues will play in the upcoming presidential election.
For more information, please contact the Women’s Center at 610-758-6484.
--Linda Harbrecht