International Women's Day is not only a celebration of women.
It's also about honoring people who dedicate their lives to the well-being of women, including men, said Sandrea Gonzales, director of the Women's Resource Center at UNM.
"It's a time to celebrate social justice and human rights," she said.
UNM celebrated women and their accomplishments throughout history at the 15th annual Women's Day luncheon Tuesday at the SUB.
Barbara Ransby, history professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, was the luncheon's keynote speaker.
She addressed a range of topics, including women's issues, African-American history and feminism and racial political movements.
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Ransby also talked about feminist therapy for post-election depression.
"We come together today for a time of sadness and celebration for women struggling and suffering," Ransby said.
She said women should try to embrace history as a therapeutic response to the notions of political leaders.
"Things have changed because of generation after generation of feminine activists," Ransby said.
She said women have to fight for rights against political leaders' insane policies.
"Feminists are not strangers of hard work," Ransby said. "We are not afraid to fight."
She said women have already advanced their struggle against political leaders. Ransby said women's history is a powerful tool to battle despair.
She said history offers women inspiration and insight to fight for political justice.
"If you make enough trouble, people in power will have to listen," Ransby said. "Let's rear ourselves with a feminist fighting spirit."
She said the women's movement created the basis for women's studies in university settings.
Gonzales said UNM's women program is well-respected within the community.
"We have a lot of incredible women who work at this university," she said.
The luncheon honored several women within the UNM community, including Vera Norwood, associate dean of Arts and Sciences. Norwood is the first woman to be the interim dean of the college.
Summer Little, UNM's Women's Resource Center program coordinator, was also honored at the luncheon.
According to the International Women's Day Web site, the first International Women's Day was held on March 19, 1911, in Germany, Austria, Denmark and other European countries.
The Web site states, "Until women are fully represented at senior leadership levels of public, professional and economic life, women do not have equal rights or an equal voice."
The luncheon was sponsored by UNM's Women's Resource Center and the Women Studies Program.
