Women's Studies colloquium series begins Feb. 16

The Women's Studies program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will present talks in its colloquium series on Feb. 16 and 20 and March 27.

The series is offered in conjunction with the UNL College of Arts and Sciences' new minor in LGBTQ/Sexuality Studies. All colloquia will feature a topic related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer studies and/or sexuality studies. Each lecture begins at 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 16: Stephen Lahey, a lecturer in the UNL Department of Classics and Religious Studies, will present "Jesus and Mary Magdalene: The Opposing Orthodoxies of Thomas Aquinas and Joseph Smith and Their Curiously Consonant Anti-Feminist Results" Recent popular interest, arising from books such as "The DaVinci Code," has raised the possibility of a sexual relationship between Jesus of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene. This interest has led to the question "Why is sexuality taboo for Jesus?" While for many American Christians the question of Jesus' sexuality is not at the heart of their faith, to Roman Catholics and Mormons it is of central importance. Lahey's talk will address this centrality and its results for women in these religious traditions. (Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., room posted)

Feb. 20: Debbie Krahmer, a digital learning librarian at UNL, will present "Doing Transgender Research." Krahmer will discuss current issues, trends and definitions and provide practical strategies for those doing research on historical and contemporary transgender topics in order to make their research more effective. (Library Instruction Room, Love Library, 13th & R streets)

March 27: Sarah Rodriguez will present "A 'Veritable Sheep in Wolf's Clothing': Medicine, Intersexuality, and the Role of Clothing in Sex Identity in America, 1935-1950." She will examine how people with intersex conditions visibly communicated their sex identity through their clothing, how physicians reacted to and directed the dress of their intersex patients, and why it mattered that patients visibly indicated whether they were male or female. Rodriguez, who teaches at Nebraska Wesleyan University, earned her master's in the history of science and medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her doctorate in medical sciences from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

CONTACT:Maureen Gallagher, Graduate Assistant, Women's Studies, (402) 472-9392