The UTM Women’s Center hosted its third annual Women’s Studies Symposium on Tuesday, March 25, featuring keynote speaker Whitney Maxey Trotter.
Trotter, a graduate of UTM, began the event at 1 p.m. with a speech, which was followed by breakout sessions at 2 and 3 p.m. The symposium ended with EqualiTEA at 4 p.m., hosted by motivational speaker Lisa Smartt.
Trotter’s speech, entitled New Age Slavery: The Problem, The Plan, The Progress, discussed human trafficking and how it relates to women.
Trotter defined trafficking as when a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not reached 18 years of age.
Trotter touched on many facts and ideas during the speech, including the fact that 68 percent of trafficking victims are female; in addition, 25 percent of victims are between the ages of 18-25 and 60 percent are from developing countries.
Trotter currently works and lives in Memphis, Tenn. where she is involved in many local initiatives designed to help women and others who cannot help themselves, such as volunteering as the Health and Wellness Coordinator of Restore Corps, a Memphis-based non-profit organization.
Following Trotter’s presentations, each breakout time gave those present at the symposium the opportunity to attend four different group discussions.
The first session featured: Super Woman: Challenges of Women in Today’s Society, presented by Jennifer Hart; Women’s Rights Movements: Turkey and the Middle East, presented by Renee LaFleur; Point/Counterpoint: Discussing Women’s Issues, presented by Dr. Sue Byrd and Sticks and Stones: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Illness, presented by Julie Floyd.
During the second break-out session the presentations included: Motherhood and Infanticide in Renaissance Europe, presented by Margaret B. Lewis; Want to be the Top Candidate: Marketing Yourself, presented by Kiara Champion; Title IX and Women’s Athletics: One Woman’s Historical Perspective, presented by Ms. Bettye Giles and Open Your Eyes: Women’s Self-Defense, presented by Sgt. Charlie Jahr.
The Symposium concluded with EqualiTEA, which featured Lisa Smartt, author of the southern romance series Doug and Carlie, as the keynote speaker. EqualiTEA allowed those in attendance to enjoy tea with the day’s speakers. Afterward, Smartt gave away free copies of her books, and signed copies for those in attendance. Over 200 people attended the Women’s Studies Symposium, and more than 100 attended the EqualiTEA. The UTM Women’s Center also gave away 3 awards during the EqualiTEA for outstanding action.
