Sacramento State is honoring women’s achievements by hosting a variety of events throughout Women’s Herstory month.

With the help of the Women’s Studies Department, Theatre and Dance Department, UNIQUE, Women’s Resource Center and Multicultural Center, Sac State students will be able to attend  11 different events covering topics from female and male sexuality to women’s activism.

Women’s Studies Professor Elizabeth Mukiibi said the only way to end women’s struggles is by exposing students to the issues.

“We need to raise consciousness about issues like the wage gap,” Mukiibi said. “The hope is that future generations will create policies that will benefit women because they were exposed to these issues.”

The Women’s Studies Department invited Sally Roesch Wagner to speak about activism in the 1970s on March 19 in the Hinde Auditorium at 2 p.m. Mukiibi said the lecture will be an opportunity for women to learn where their freedom derived.

“Before, women did not have all the rights we have now,” Mukiibi said. “Activists made it possible for us to enjoy our freedoms and gave us a voice. We thought it would be great to hear from Sally Wagner, who was a part of the beginning and knows the importance of women’s issues.”

Wagner was one of the first women to receive a doctorate degree in women’s studies at UC Santa Cruz and founded Sac State’s women’s studies programs,which was one of the first in the country.

UNIQUE Program Advisor  Jamu Ajamu Lamumba said his program has collaborated with the Women’s Resource Center, Pride Center and Associated Students Inc. to plan events.

“These events support the contributions women have made and continue to make to society,” Lamumba said. “We will be showing a documentary film that highlights contributions and brings light to the challenges women face on a daily basis.”

The documentary is called “Girl Rising,” and shows the lives of nine young women who overcome major difficulties just to attend school and earn an education. The film will be screened March 19 at noon in the University Union Redwood Room.

Director for the Women’s resource center, Pride Center and Multi-Cultural Center J’Lissabeth Faughn, said Sac State students need to be aware of the inequality between men and women to help end sexism.

“Sexism in our society cannot be resolved just by women—men need to be a part of the conversation as well,” Faughn said.

Faughn said she is transgender and surrendered her privileges as a male when she decided to dress as female.

“I happen to be living proof that men and women are treated differently. As a female, I am perceived as too aggressive or less intelligent,” Faughn said. “When I used to work at UC Berkeley, there was a male administrator that would never ask me or any of the other women for feedback.”

Many male students on campus said before coming to Sac State, they did not know there was a Women’s Herstory Month.

Social sience major Miguel Lopez said the first time he heard about Women’s Herstory Month was  during an ethnic studies class.

“We are the future of this country and if we are aware of the problem, maybe we can come up with a solution to close the gender equality gap,” Lopez said.

Student organizations like Mujeres Ayudando la Raza, celebrated Women’s International Day early, [on March 6] by passing out flowers to women on campus to honor their success.

“We decided handing out flowers would be a kind gesture to make women feel appreciated,” said Mujeres Ayudando la Raza member Marcela De La Cruz. “We wanted to make women feel loved and beautiful on their special day.”

Sociology major Patsy Jimenez said she has felt empowered thanks to the organizations that have been holding events on campus to recognize women’s success.

“Today I felt appreciated by the simple act of receiving flowers from the club Mujeres Ayudando la Raza,” Jimenez said. “The last event I went to, I heard professors, who were Hispanic like me and had also emigrated from Mexico, speak about their obstacles they overcame. This inspired me and showed me I can also be successful.”

For a list of Women’s History Month events, visit http://calendar.csus.edu/MasterCalendar/MasterCalendar.aspx