HERSTORIES is an annual event at Chapman University that celebrates Women’s History Month each March. Organized by students in Wilkinson College’s Women and Gender Studies minor along with professor CK Magnolia (Director of Women and Gender Studies), the event features student presentations highlighting the stories of influential women in activism, academia, and politics, including Gloria Anzaldúa (American scholar of Chicana feminism), Dorothea Dix (educator, activist and nurse), Isadora Duncan (pioneer of modern contemporary dance), Yuri Kochiyama (American civil rights activist), and many more!

“HERSTORIES is offered so students can get a crash course and much-needed remedial education,” said Magnolia. “HERSTORIES pays homage to a dozen or so historical and contemporary SHEROES everyone should know and learn about but rarely, if ever do– this is because of the widespread androcentric culture in which we live and the gender-biased and truncated curricula that follow from it even in higher education. HERSTORIES seeks to provide a learning space and unique opportunity for students to get a glimpse into some of what they are missing out on,” she said.

Emma Main (‘25 Communications and Women and Gender Studies minor) focused her project on American political activist and philosopher Angela Davis. Davis is one of the founders of Critical Resistance, a national grassroots organization dedicated to building a movement to abolish the prison system. In the early 1970s, Davis was involved in a high-profile murder case that led her to imprisonment. In 1972 she was acquitted and is now a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the author of nine books on topics such as feminism and racism.

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” – Angela Davis

Not only did Main present at HERSTORIES, but she learned a lot from her classmates, who also spoke at the event. “There were a lot of women I didn’t know about [that were featured today], and I feel like I’m pretty well versed with a lot of feminist icons,” said Main.

Pandita Ramabai

Senior Psychology major and Honors and Women and Gender Studies minor, Sophie Camilleri feels it’s essential to learn about women and feminists who have come before us, and the HERSTORIES annual event is the perfect opportunity to do just that.

“I think it is really important to expand our worldview and learn about important women who have made history, even on such a small scale. Oftentimes women, especially women activists, are erased from history, so it’s really important to give them credit and to spread their messages,” said Camilleri.

Amala Rajagopal (‘25 History, Philosophy; Women and Gender Studies minor) did her project on Pandita Ramabai, a social reformer, educator, and advocate for the rights of women in 19th-century India.

“I learned a lot about how women struggled and the work that women have done [to overcome some of the struggles],” said Rajagopal. “But there is still more work that needs to be done.”

HERSTORIES has been an annual event for over ten years at Chapman hosted by Women and Gender Studies each spring. Learn more about the Women and Gender Studies minor.