We Have a Seat at the Table: Women’s History Month Student Discussion

Daytona State College female faculty members discussed the powerful history and current views of women during an annual panel on March 27, 2024, in the L. Gale Lemerand Student Center. 

Throughout the Women’s History Month Student Discussion, the common idea presented was a woman’s ability to, as they say, “have a seat at the table,” and that if there isn’t a seat already, women must create one. One of the main examples given by Elementary Education Professor, Margie Hensler, were pioneers such as the Hidden Figures: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, who helped win the Space Race in 1962. 

The event enforced the idea that even though women started inserting their role in male-dominating places years ago, women are still having difficulty fighting for equal positions. 

Associate Vice President Sherryl Weems brought light to the idea that people are shocked when it is brought to attention that a woman athlete is succeeding. “I think in this day in age we ought to be ashamed,” she said.

 Weems mentioned that the people should already be used to equality, especially when speaking about women in sports. The point she made regarding unequal pay is women are still not equal, and said it should have been equal long ago. 

An important piece the panel covered is what women have accomplished, not only throughout history but in recent years. 

“I know females dominate the education field, but in the stem course, I can count on one hand how many female teachers I had,” Associate Vice President Dr. Lakisha Holmes said. “I chose to attend a women’s college. I was just starstruck to go to every single course and to be instructed by a woman with a PhD.” 

There was recognition between giving examples of what the body of women have achieved and what still needs to be worked toward. 

One of the reasons an event like this is so important and draws attention is because the history is not over, because the work is not over. In this current day in age the people are active participants of what will be in history books for years to come. 

Until men and women reach full equality, panels such as this will continue because there is always something more to say. 

One of the questions brought in from the audience was, “how can we ensure that women’s voices and stories are accurately represented and preserved in historical narratives?”

“Be the ones to write them, be the ones who tell the story, be the ones to write the books, make the movies, start the podcast,” Adjunct Dental Assisting Instructor, Megan Kane said.  “All those things that are the communications that tell these stories I think should be led by the women who made the stories.”

The idea of “hidden figures” doesn’t need to exist anymore with the power that women have now in this day in age. Women are now being recognized, such as Gladys West, who contributed to the making of the GPS. Her work was not recognized until 2018. 

As Kane said, the most historical thing a woman can do is be the ones to write women’s history. 

Body image related to social norms was one of the first points brought up in the discussion. There has always been a stigma of how a woman should act and look through history and still applies to this day. 

“We live in a society where there is so much pressure, it’s constant,” Dean of Enrollment Services, Dr. Michelle Goldys said. “The social media addiction of people looking at the better life they think everyone has and how much better they look, those pressures are real for everyone.” 

Some women want to have more natural features and others want to present themselves differently, whether that is with makeup or even plastic surgery. This difference of what women want to do to make them feel confident causes a divide. 

Women’s History Month is a celebration of womanhood. As said by Holmes, “It should be like celebrating your birthday all month long.” Women can earn a seat at the table, with confidence, and by bringing forth the same power historical figures brought.