“Do women just have to stay up all night in order to take care of the kids, take care of the husband and be successful at their jobs?” Fatima Shaik, assistant professor in the communication and media culture department and author, wondered at a panel discussion about women in power as part of Women’s History Month at Saint Peter’s University. Women’s History Month, which celebrates and encourages the study and observance of the vital role of women in American history, has taken place in March since 1987 and began at Saint Peter’s in spring 2007, two years after the women’s studies minor was established. The month has always started with the event “Celebrating the Women’s Voices of Saint Peter’s: Faculty, Staff and Students” to highlight the contributions made by women to the University’s intellectual, artistic and political life.
Later in the month, at an event geared towards empowering women, Shaik moderated a panel discussion with two professors in the English department. Deborah Hairston has been a lecturer in the English department for over 23 years and is a former McGraw-Hill editor. Kimberly Norsworthy was a public relations strategist before becoming an adjunct professor. Shaik, Hairston and Norsworthy integrate unique experiences from their previous roles into their classes at Saint Peter’s. The women discussed their experiences with having high-level roles, specifically focusing on the struggles they faced by being African American and female. Their struggles and accomplishments allow them to bring unique industry knowledge to the classroom.
“Even before social media, there was a way to show your brand. Your character became your brand,” said Norsworthy, who is a former public relations executive at Sony.
Even though both Norsworthy and Hairston had built fabulous reputations for themselves, they still struggled in the workplace being African American women.
“We have fought so much for inclusion; employers have to include us, but we are not preferred,” Norsworthy said.
A commonality between the three women is that they are avid readers. Norsworthy said that books made her feel like there was something better out there for her than her tough family life at home. Books made her feel like she could chart a course for herself and then be able to take that course. Shaik, who grew up in the segregated south said that books help her to keep moving forward. She set a goal to read a book from every part of the world in order to become accustomed to different lifestyles and cultural norms.
“Curiosity takes a person a long way,” said Shaik.
All three women faced struggles in their lives, but they were able to overcome them. Shaik asked Hairston about her decision to stay in Jersey City even after she became a successful executive. “You can’t do anything for your people if you are afraid of them,” Hairston said. She made the decision to send both of her children to Jersey City public schools and now both are successful Harvard University graduates.
In addition, as part of the month-long celebration of women, the University connected students with industry professionals when prolific women in law gathered for Women’s Empowerment Day on March 8. Panelists included Donna Jennings, Esq., partner, land use team, at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, PA; Nancy A. Lottenville, Esq., Director at Gibbons, P.C.; Kirsten Scheurer Branigan, Esq., Law Office of Kristen Scheurer Branigan, P.C.; and Rosanne DeTorres, Esq., Managing Partner at DeTorres & DeGeorge Family Law. Lori Ann Buza, Esq., chair of the accountancy and business law department, moderated the panel.
In her speech, “Climb to Success as a Female Partner in a Large Firm,” Jennings stressed the importance of networking. She grew up uncertain of where she wanted to go to college, and eventually went to the only place in which she applied, Rutgers University, and then later decided to go to law school at Seton Hall Law, where she did terribly her first semester due to family issues. She said she was able to recover and build a successful career because she joined as many clubs as possible and built relationships with as many people as possible. The relationships she formed later led to jobs. Throughout her career, she has faced challenges due directly to her gender. She advised women in the audience to pick up a hobby such as golf, that way, they can invite men out as clients and the invitation will not be misinterpreted as a date.
Lottenville spoke to the positive effects of Title IX, in her presentation, “Title IX and Its Impact on Women in Business and Law.” The amendment gave academic opportunity to women and provided them access to programs that they were not interested in before. However, Lottenville shared shocking details about the results of Title IX 45 years later. She said that women were the slight majority of the population, held the majority of undergraduate degrees and held about half of the law degrees; however, women were only 14.6 percent of top executives, 8.1 percent of top earners and held 16 percent of Fortune 500 board seats.
“We still have a long way to go,” she said.
Upcoming events for Women’s History Month include Eileen Markey presents, “A Radical Faith: The Assassination of Sr. Maura Clarke, M.M.” on March 27 in the McIntyre Conference Center B at noon and Robin Spencer, “The Revolution has Come,” on March 30 in the forum on the fifth floor of the Mac Mahon Student Center at noon. Remarkable women at Saint Peter’s University including faculty, staff and students were celebrated earlier in the month at the 10th Annual Celebrating the Women’s Voices of Saint Peter’s event.
For more information, please contact Marilyn Cohen.