BYU hosted a variety of speakers on the creativity of women and the role of women throughout history at the Women’s Studies Conference last week.
Many speakers from all over the country gathered on campus to speak about women’s studies. The Women’s Studies program at BYU sponsored the three-day conference, open to all students, teachers and community members. Dozens of speakers talked about many topics regarding women. Women in the 20th century, women and spirituality, women and creative identities, early modern women’s art and literature and women reinterpreting classic themes are just a few of the topics addressed.
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“Women’s songs define and delineate religious themes,” Smith said. “Sacred songs are a primary venue open to women in the scriptures.”
Summarizing each song, Smith talked about each one’s significance. Miriam’s song is found in Exodus at the beginning of the Bible. Her song is theologically provocative as she did not praise the human armies like most women did, but instead she praised the Lord. Deborah’s work is found in Judges Chapter 5. Her focus was on overcoming idolatry, a major issue in society at that time. She also explored what it means to be a mother.
Smith said Hannah’s song is about her infertility. She had promised the Lord that if he blessed her with a child, she would consecrate it to work in the temple. Hannah writes her song after she has fulfilled her promise and her child is serving in the temple.
Mary writes in the New Testament about the role of a mother, but she also condemns those that are focused on money, wealth and worldly things, Smith said.
Lastly, Smith spoke on Emma Smith and the executive role she held to crystallize the doctrines of the church by selecting the hymns for the hymnbook. Though she did not write these songs, her influence was just as important for the future of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Julie Smith said.
“Her work in selecting hymns had a great role in shaping the belief of the doctrine among the saints,” Smith said.
Another speaker Friday morning, Jacqueline S. Thursby, is a member of BYU’s English Department. Thursby’s topic was “Maya Angelou: A Life of Orderly Chaos.” Thursby focused on the life of Angelou, a woman who has had huge literary influence throughout the last few decades. Currently, Angelou is in her early 80s. Looking back on her literary accomplishments, Angelou wrote an autobiography, a book of essays, two children’s books, cookbooks and has won many national and international awards. Last year Angelou won the 2011 “Metal of Freedom” award, which President Barack Obama presented directly to her.
Thursby said Angelou grew up in poverty but has accomplished much in her lifetime based on her circumstances. She raised her son as a single mother without any outside financial help. With her work she has also helped raise self-respect for African-American women worldwide. Angelou through the years stressed the importance of recognizing the role of womanhood and of motherhood.
“Maya Angelou has an inner power that has become a deep commitment to serve the women of the world,” Thursby said.
Smith and Thursby were just two of the speakers at the conference last week. BYU Women’s Studies not only hosts this conference every year, but offers a minor in Woman’s Studies for those students interested in additional study of the global, historical and contemporary female perspectives and influence.
