This page featuring the reflections of students, faculty, and staff will be updated throughout the month of March in celebration of Women's History Month. Check back to read more or follow along on the university's official social media accounts.
Eileen Boris
What do you think are the biggest challenges women face today?
The biggest challenges that ‘women’ face today depends on their race, class, citizenship status, location, sexuality, and gender identity. While all perceived as female can experience sexual violence, some are more likely to face assault in the workplace and the home than others. While women compared to men earn less, according to the categories in which the government collects statistics, white and Asian ‘women’ generally earn more than Black and Latinx ‘women.’ While the pandemic has disrupted the living, caring, and working arrangements of most people, those of us with jobs that can be done remotely might find ourselves juggling employment and child care in the same space, others must go out to work jeopardizing their health and those of their households—often for low pay despite being lauded as essential. Race, class, citizenship, and other factors map onto the impact of the pandemic. Thus, while some women have benefited from anti-discrimination, equal pay, and other rights-based laws and public policies, other women have found themselves stigmatized more than ever because of their race, gender identity, marital status, ethnicity, lone motherhood, etc. We need to put care work at the center of economic life along with providing basic income/living wages because equal pay is not enough when some occupations and jobs are feminized no matter the identity of the worker. For that, we need real democracy and empowering unions and other worker formations, reparations for enslavement and Jim Crow, tuition-free college, and other measures to redistribute wealth (i.e, wealth tax).
Eileen Boris is the Hull Professor and Distinguished Professor of Feminist Studies and a professor of history, Black studies, and global studies.
Malaphone Phommasa is Director of Academic Success Initiatives in the Office of Undergraduate Education. She oversees the ONDAS Student Center and Transfer Student Center.
Malaphone Phommasa
What female role models have made a significant impact on your life?
I am incredibly proud to be a daughter of Lao refugees and descend from an ancestral line of women who are strong, resilient, hard-working, caring, compassionate, and giving. I hold their stories in my heart and am grateful to have been nurtured by my grandma, mom, aunts, and cousins.
What makes you proud to identify as a woman?
Women endure so much physically, mentally, culturally, and socially. A lot of times, it's exhausting. But all of the time, we’re incredible.
What do you think are the biggest challenges women face today?
As we continue the movement for equity and inclusion, it's important to reflect on "for whom." Using an intersectional lens in our work is critical; I highly recommend reading or listening to Mikki Kendall's book, Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot.
Kate McLeod
What female role models have made a significant impact on your life?
Without a doubt, my mom is my role model because she has inspired me to live every day with joy and kindness. The amount of love and support that she has raised me with has made me the woman I am today, and I couldn't be more grateful for all that she does.
What makes you proud to identify as a woman?
I am proud to identify as a woman because I love defying any stereotype and breaking any glass ceiling put against me. I love all of the powerful women that I surround myself with and get to learn from every day. In the span of women's history, I have gotten to grow up in an amazing phase of progress towards equality and appreciation of the power of women.
How can we empower young girls and women today?
Education is the key to empowering young women! It allows them to feel powerful in their knowledge and achieve amazing things. I am proud to be a woman in STEM, and passionate about the amazing things that the future generations of young women will be able to do with the gift of education.
Kate McLeod is a biological sciences major in the Class of 2021 and is president of the Gaucho Tour Association.
Shirley Geok-lin-Lim is a professor emeritus of English and is affiliated with the College of Creative Studies.
Shirley Geok-lin Lim
What does Women's History Month mean to you?
While Women’s History Month is viewed as a reflection on and recuperation of women’s successes, accomplishments, and triumphs over millennia of silencing, invisibility, subordination, and outright social and political oppression, we should see this history nuanced by two aporias. The first is that our celebration is also somber; this history of successes is only partial in the larger timeframe and backdrop of women’s failures, losses, and sorrows, the centuries of ceaseless childbearing, early deaths, that “flower that is born to blush unseen,” the struggles to save and nurture their children, their disposability as exchange commodities as in the still present practice of bride-burnings, concubinage, sex traffic, child brides, female infanticide, and more horrors. The second is that women’s history must be celebrated in the light of women’s future. The past is chiefly valuable if it teaches us what will move us forward if we will learn from it to shape a future in which we all, male, female and in-between, can form in the U.S. a more perfect union, what Randolph Bourne in 1916 (“Trans-National America”) had envisioned as “the environment of the Beloved Community.” We celebrate Women’s History Month as that moment when we recover what has been missing in History and envision what is possible for humanity.
Briana Villaseñor
What female role models have made a significant impact on your life?
I have had strong female role models in my family, beginning with my great-grandmother who advised my grandma, who then advised my mom, who then advised me to always make sure that no matter my situation, that I was able to depend on myself and be financially independent if I had to be. This came from a place of empowerment and encouragement to become educated and successful in whatever career or path in life that any of us took. Education has always been a strong core value that the women in my family have espoused, and that is the legacy that I strive to carry on through my own personal and professional life.
How can we empower young girls and women today?
While I do not have any daughters, but sons, it is almost more important to me to set a strong example to them of what a woman can accomplish and to help them understand the female experience from a historical, but also current perspective. Our sons get mixed messages from the media and our culture, so it is critical to me that they be a part of the solution to dispel biases against women and break the cycles of misogyny that still exist in our society. Women don't only have the ability to empower other women, we actually all have the responsibility to do it.
Briana Villaseñor is assistant dean of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education.
Sarah Davila is an English major in the Class of 2022. She is co-president of the UCSB Women's Ensemble Theatre Troupe and secretary of Shrunken Heads Production Company.
Sarah Davila
What female role models have made a significant impact on your life?
Amanda Gorman, the 2021 Inaugural Poet, is one of my biggest inspirations because as an English major I write a ton, and her words and poetry have made such an impact on my decisions to be a professor because I want to make a difference just like she did. She has made history as the youngest Inaugural Poet and because we are so close in age, I highly aspire to work harder to become a writer and activist like her.
How can we empower young girls and women today?
I think the biggest thing that we can teach young girls and women is to live unapologetically and do not make yourself small for others. Women are constantly belittled to think they have to apologize for requesting boundaries or for even asserting themselves, and the biggest thing to learn is that we are allowed to take up space. We have a right to take up space, and no one should be able to make us feel like we are burdens, or too headstrong, or not gentle enough. Live loudly, live proudly, and live to your own standards!
Wendy Eley Jackson
What female role models have made a significant impact on your life?
My mother is my first influencer. She was bold, brilliant, and elegant. My second role model was a woman by the name of Vivian Malone Jones. She helped to raise me. Amidst blatant racism and sexism, she was the first African American to desegregate The University of Alabama in 1963.
What makes you proud to identify as a woman?
I see my womanhood as the most powerful vehicle on the planet. I'm created to create, develop and harvest both anatomically and through my activism for society. Being a mother has been one of the greatest loves of my life, and my children are proof that I have existed!
How can we empower young girls and women today?
I would encourage every woman to use their voice and power in the private and public sectors to make a positive impact by creating opportunities for others. Politics isn't perfect, but it is the best non-violent means to change the way we live, so voting at each and every election is crucial. We must take our families and friends to the polls at each and every election. So much of how we live is governed by people we never meet. Elect women to places of leadership. Empower all young women to use their voices and then TEACH them the strategy on how to create sustainable change!
Film producer Wendy Eley Jackson is a lecturer in the Department of Film & Media Studies and is affiliated with the College of Creative Studies.
Breana Barak is an admissions counselor in the Office of Admissions and president of the UCSB Professional Women's Association.
Breana Barak
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
Taking time to celebrate how far we've come in the fight for women's rights gives me hope and inspiration for the future. We've still got a long way to go in creating a truly inclusive world, but I'm constantly amazed how different my life is from my ancestors, and how hard folks have worked to make that so.
What female role models have made a significant impact on your life?
I’ve always admired Michelle Obama for the way she prioritizes herself and her family amid all the advocacy and work she’s done. Her message that we don’t have to be on the world stage to make an impact, and that taking care of ourselves is valuable and responsible, has hugely influenced how I approach my day-to-day life and my own role in my community.
How can we empower young girls and women today?
Seeing other women use their voice, claim their power, and live freely has had the biggest impact on me feeling empowered to do the same. I think the more we lead by example and practice, the easier and more comfortable it will be for all folks in the future, both young and grown.
Shivani Awasthi
How can we empower young girls and women today?
I believe the best way to empower young girls and women today is through a three-pronged approach: uplifting, mentoring and fostering honest and open communication. By uplifting one another, we inspire hope and resilience among young women and girls. There are many ways to uplift those around you and sometimes it's as easy as listening to someone else's lived experience with an open mind and validating how they feel. Mentoring is another great way to empower young girls and women. As someone who will be entering a primarily male-dominated field, it can be invaluable to have a mentor that is a woman. Women face different challenges than men do in the work world and it can make all the difference to learn from a woman mentor who has undergone similar experiences and can share some advice. Finally, fostering open and honest communication is a great way to empower young girls and women today. Sometimes, women just need a space where they can share their experiences without judgment and at times a candid talk is needed to understand and reconcile differing viewpoints. As women, it is important to understand that while being a woman may tie us all together, we will not always experience the same treatment. A white woman or a cisgender woman may not share some of the hardships an indigenous woman or a transgender woman has experienced, so it is important for us to understand different experiences so we can close the gap. Returning to the first point, this way we will know how to uplift one another. By providing a space where that can happen and encouraging those conversations, we can empower young girls and women.
Shivani Awasthi is an economics major in the Class of 2021. She serves as an economics peer advisor and as communications and marketing director in the Associated Students Office of the Controller.
Verónica Castillo-Muñoz is an associate professor in the Department of History.
Verónica Castillo-Muñoz
Any advice for young girls who aspire to pursue research in higher education?
Women are still underrepresented in academia which means that sexism and gender inequalities still persist in higher education. My advice for female undergraduate students who plan a career in higher education is to map out a plan which involves getting to know at least three professors in the field you plan to pursue. Attend their office hours and ask questions about their experiences in academia. Also, take advantage of student research programs. UC Santa Barbara has wonderful opportunities for students to conduct research and to get hands-on experience while also earning credits. By doing this, it would help you get to know potential mentors in the field you are interested in and you would also get to know faculty who would write strong letters of recommendation for you when you apply to graduate school. It would also keep you motivated and inspired to continue pursuing a career in academia.
Brie Galicinao
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
Women's History Month is a time to celebrate women in history for their accomplishments and reflect on how we as women today can contribute to their legacy.
How can we empower young girls and women today?
After coaching young women for over 15 years, I think we can support young girls and women today by encouraging their support of one another and reminding them of their own personal strengths.
What makes you proud to identify as a woman?
My daily interactions with the Gaucho softball players make me the proudest to identify as a woman (even on the days when it's not all lollipops and sunshine).
What female role models have made a significant impact on your life?
The woman who raised me, my mom, has been the most significant role model in my life through her example of honesty, compassion, and strength. She continues to remind me that integrity is something that nobody can take away from you, it's okay as a leader to show people that you're human, and perhaps most importantly, remember to wear sunblock!
Brie Galicinao (right) is the head coach of the UC Santa Barbara softball team and two-time Big West Conference Coach of the Year.
Amoni Thompson is a PhD candidate in the Department of Feminist Studies.
Amoni Thompson
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
For me, Women's History Month signifies a time to reflect and celebrate the lives of Black women, girls, and nonbinary femmes who continue to have a remarkable impact on our collective histories and our capacity to dream up new worlds.
How can we empower young girls and women today?
We can empower young girls and women by addressing structural inequities that make it difficult for us to live a life of wholeness. This means intentionally addressing and abolishing systems such as white supremacy, anti-Black racism, and transphobia.
Any advice for young girls who aspire to pursue research in higher education?
I encourage young girls who aspire to pursue research in higher education to always honor and remember the folks in your lived and ancestral community who have made your work possible. Academia can be very isolating so staying connected to the people and histories that keep you grounded will be critical.
Sabine Frühstück
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
That the other 11 months don’t belong to just men either.
What female role models have made a significant impact on your life?
My beautiful grandmother, Maria Frühstück, taught me that nothing is more rewarding than giving. My dissertation advisor, Helga Nowotny, showed me how intellectual independence feels.
How can we empower young girls and women today?
Give them space.
Any advice for young girls who aspire to pursue research in higher education?
You are just as smart as that boy who dominates the conversation. Show them. Or in Julia’s words, “You must have a certain ruthlessness to win, as if by right. In the hierarchy of talent, you are born an aristocrat” (Julia in Joan London’s The Golden Age, 2016).
A professor in the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultural Studies, Sabine Frühstück is the Koichi Takashima Chair in Japanese Cultural Studies and interim director of the Center for Taiwan Studies.
Betsy Kaminski is the director of Women, Gender, and Sexual Equity, which encompasses the Women’s Center and the Non-Traditional Student Resource Center.
Betsy Kaminski
What female role models have made a significant impact on your life?
I’m inspired by women who fight for justice and who lift up those around them. Thinking about women in history, I look to women like the Civil Rights Activist Ella Baker. Her focus on empowering young people and helping them develop leadership skills is what I hope to emulate when working with students. I feel so fortunate to be able to work with students and to be a part of their college experience because these are the people who will create the future and will continue to push for social justice. On a more personal level and closer to home, my mentor in graduate school was Professor Verta Taylor in the Department of Sociology. Verta not only helped me through the process of getting a Ph.D., but she also sharpened my mind and my writing skills and encouraged me to have confidence in my own voice.
What are some of the biggest challenges that women face today?
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately hurting women. More women have lost their jobs, and women are at greater risk of food and housing insecurity. So, while some women have gained access to leadership positions and have made gains in the workforce in the last decade, that progress is fragile.
Tori Palma
What makes you proud to identify as a woman?
Women’s resiliency is what makes me proud to identify as a woman. Women exemplify resilience in all different ways spanning over time and in different scenarios in our lives.
What female role models have made a significant impact on your life?
My teammates. I do have women role models in my family and famous athletes and humanitarians I look up to, but the people who inspire and influence me the most are the ones closest to me. Every day, as athletes, we wake up and walk into a world dominated by masculinity and males. Being in a mixed-gender sport, the willingness to face doubt, assumptions, and stereotypes every day, and staying focused on our goals, inspires me to keep going and have faith. Teammates of mine, who came before me and were my mentors, taught me how to maneuver a male-dominated world of sports. We uplift each other with support and love during training and competition instead of tearing each other down. They've influenced me to be independent while also caring for others. My teammates have also taught me that strong is beautiful. Every day I am surrounded by extraordinary people performing extraordinary tasks and being bosses! I see the beauty in being a strong and athletic woman, and that’s from being around my female teammates.
A member of the Class of 2021, Tori Palma is majoring in global studies and German and is captain of the women's track & field team.
Professor France Winddance Twine, pictured right alongside Oprah Winfrey, is the vice chair of the Department of Sociology.
France Winddance Twine
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
I am the daughter of a Black working-class woman who was orphaned at 8 years old. My mother became pregnant with me when she was a 19-year-old high school student in her senior year. She married my father and due to the discrimination against Black mothers, she did not have the institutional or spousal support to pursue her educational goal of attending college. When I was 7 years old I began to identify as a feminist. As a child, I witnessed the discrimination that my mother faced as a divorced woman in the Catholic community in which I grew up. Women's History Month is important to me because I am very conscious of all of the 'invisible' women in my life who will never be recognized for the intellectual, spiritual, and economic contributions that enabled me and my family to thrive. But there are often emotional and professional costs. My mother inspired me to pursue my dreams, but I also saw the occasional sadness in her eyes as she talked about her failure to go to college. It is my mother's experiences that inspired me to create a course titled "Sociology of Girlhood," and much of the content is how girls empower themselves under constrained conditions.
How can we empower young girls and women today?
One way that we can empower young women is to fight for access to reproductive health care and mental health care. We must support Planned Parenthood and continue to build intergenerational, interfaith, interracial, and international networks to support the bodily integrity of girls and young women with sex education and free access to publicly funded healthcare.
Reema Moussa
How can we empower young girls and women today?
I think the first step of empowerment is getting excited — conceptualizing all the problems that exist in our society and interesting ways they can be fixed, and what sort of exciting implications that might have. Then, it's vital to consider the challenges at play, but not to get subdued by them — simply recognize that they're present in order to strategically pave a path forward. This is crucial for innovation, and for the empowerment of women and girls, especially in STEM, following this framework in a number of different applications (for example, battling the gender-wage gap) could be incredibly impactful.
Any advice for young girls or women who aspire to pursue a graduate education?
Don't be afraid to ask questions! Talk to lots of people — professors and students, men and women, people with whom you have a lot and not so much in common, and get different perspectives on what's going on in the field in which you're interested. One of the biggest barriers for women pursuing advanced degrees is an asymmetry of "insider knowledge" about how to leverage the best opportunities available, so tackle that asymmetry by taking an active role in getting that insider knowledge. A lot of the time, you'll find that people are happy to talk to you and share insights.
A Master of Technology Management candidate, Reema Moussa works for Information Security as a cybersecurity awareness coordinator and is the founding president of the UC Santa Barbara Chapter of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS).
Priscilla Siow is majoring in statistics and data science in the Class of 2022. She is a graphic designer for Associated Students and president of the UC Santa Barbara Chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Priscilla Siow
What female role models have made a significant impact on your life?
My role model is my grandmother who inspired me to do everything wholeheartedly. Even the simplest task, my grandma would take diligent care in doing because she cherishes every moment and never wants to waste it carelessly. She reminds me to be grateful for every moment I have, even through the most difficult times.
What makes you proud to identify as a woman?
Women have prevailed through many injustices in the past and present. Despite the difficulties of being a woman, we've never given up in the face of adversity. Instead, we've banded together to support issues we believe in and fought for one another. One of my favorite quotes is by Sarah Kay: "You are a woman who can build it yourself. You were born to build."
How can we empower young girls and women today?
I believe that the best way to empower young girls and women is by building safe spaces for them to work on impactful community projects, address issues in their communities, and encourage them to pursue careers that are underrepresented by women.