GRASS VALLEY, CA, March 1, 2018 – As part of Women’s History Month, the Women and Gender Studies Department will (WGS) be holding a series of three compelling and award winning films followed by expert led conversations. The free films are open to the public and held at 6:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Center N12 on the Nevada County Campus in Grass Valley.

March 7 – Whale Rider: In a small New Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from Paikea, the Whale Rider. In every generation for over 1,000 years, a male heir born to the Chief succeeds to the title. The time is not and there is no male heir. Will Pai, a young woman, be accepted as the Whale Rider? The conversation following the film will be led by (WGS) professor Dr. Kristen O’Shay.

March 14 – What I Want my Words to do to You: An unprecedented look into the minds and hearts of the women inmates of New York’s Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. The film goes inside a writing workshop led by playwright and activist Eve Ensler, as the women explore the nature of their crimes and the extent of their own culpability. The conversation following the film will be led by (WGS) professor Anya Stanger.

March 21 – Pray the Devil Back to Hell – This movie chronicles the remarkable story of the Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country. Armed only with white t-shirts and the courage of their convictions, they demanded a resolution to the country’s civil war. The conversation following the film will be led by (WGS) professor Dr. Kathleen Taylor.

Women’s Studies at  is an interdisciplinary major based on the premise that gender is a historical variable that affects the social, economic, and political structure of our society as well as the everyday lives of women and men. Employing a wide range of perspectives from disciplines such as history, literature, philosophy, sociology, psychology, art, anthropology, and biology, students will explore and examine how these disciplines pertain to women and how women have contributed to the cultural and sociological landscape.

For more information contact Dr. Kathleen Taylor at ktaylor@sierracollege.edu.

Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3200 square miles of Northern CA with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four year Universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills.  Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at www.sierracollege.edu