Women’s History Month: Remembering the Voices Often Overlooked
March is Women’s History Month; a time to celebrate the achievements of women throughout history and shed light on their contributions that have not been fully recognized. Dr. Belle Jones-Pierce, assistant professor of English and director of the first-year program at Centenary College, offered her expertise on the significance of teaching women's history and the importance of diverse voices in the classroom. Dr. JP is a specialist in British literature prior to 1800 and directs the Trek 115 curriculum. In addition, she teaches electives such as creative writing and medieval literature, and advises several organizations including Sigma Delta, the English Honor Society, and the Disabled Student Union. Her dedication to teaching the importance of women's history is evident despite her busy schedule.
When asked about women in history that have inspired her, Dr. JP spoke about Empress Matilda. “She should have been a queen of England but wasn’t,” Dr. JP stated about the historical figure. “She was the daughter of Henry I, the wife of the Holy Roman Emperor, and the mother of Henry II,” Dr. JP continued about the historical figure. “She was named heir to the English throne after the death of her brother, but her cousin Stephen claimed the throne, and there was civil war.” “Matilda is a badass,” Dr. JP stated about the historical figure, highlighting the respect that Dr. JP has for the historical figure and the determination that Empress Matilda displayed as a woman in history that did not want to be denied.
Dr. JP also discusses women who are less well known, such as Isabella Whitney, Amelia Lanier, and Lady Mary Roth. “A lot of the women who weren’t available to study when I was an undergraduate are now in the anthologies I use to teach.” By doing this, students understand the contributions women made are not limited to well-known women and are important in the understanding of the time. However, the difficulty in providing diversity in the classroom has yet to be overcome. “I am not as good at it as I should be,” Dr. JP said when referring to the difficulty in providing diversity in the classroom. Most of the research in the field is based on “old, dead white guys” such as Shakespeare. To overcome this, Dr. JP makes use of the research done by women and women of color and disabled women as well. Conferences such as the RaceB4Race at Arizona State University and the Rethinking Body Minds conference at UC Riverside provide exposure to the research done by women and women of color and disabled women.
Another factor that shapes Dr. JP’s perception of women’s opportunities is their family life. Her mother and aunt went to Montevallo College, a liberal arts college in Alabama, when women had limited opportunities in academia. Her aunt Nydia encouraged her to pursue higher education, which opened doors to opportunities that might have been closed to her otherwise. “If it weren’t for her and her experiences, I wouldn’t be here,” she said. Another factor that shapes Dr. JP’s perception of women’s opportunities is their family life. Her mother and aunt went to Montevallo College, a liberal arts college in Alabama, when women had limited opportunities in academia. Her aunt, Nydia, encouraged Dr. JP to pursue higher education which opened doors to opportunities that might have been closed to her otherwise. “If it weren’t for her and her experiences, I wouldn’t be here,” she said.
The essence of Dr. JP’s perception of women’s opportunities is that women’s history is history. “Men are not the default. Nor should they be,” she said in explaining her perception of women’s opportunities. “Even when women aren’t visible in history, they are still part of it,” she said in explaining her perception of women’s opportunities in society. Women’s History Month is more than a celebration; it is a call to action to seek out untold stories, challenge the status quo, and make women’s contributions known. In this way, educators like Dr. Belle Jones-Pierce seek to create a more accurate history of all people, rather than just those who have been historically recognized as significant.