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The month will include visits from some of the most influential women of the 21st century, literary works from generations gone by, poetry readings, theatrical performances and films directed by women.

"Women's history is important for a lot of reasons," said Susan Thomas, acting director for Women's Studies and associate professor of Women's Studies and Political Science at Hollins University. "Before the 1970s, few scholars would have identified themselves as women's historians. Before then, most of the nation's history was about the universal man. But in the 1970s, the New Social History developed, which had a broader spectrum in which women are much more visible."

Some of the noted speakers are Pauline Kaldas, an assistant professor of English at Hollins who spent a great deal of time in the Middle East and will talk about the contrast between women's education in that region and the United States; Judy Woodruff, a news anchor, journalist and a founding co-chairwoman of the International Women's Media Foundation; Jessica Valenti, author of "Full Frontal Feminism"; and Natasha Trethewey, who won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for her most recent collection of poetry.

Frances Niederer Auditorium will host "Women Behind the Lens" by showing four films directed by women. Ballator Gallery will house "Women of the World," a collection of watercolor paintings by Rieneke Leenders that explore the differences and similarities in the status of women in cultures around the world. The Wyndham Robertson Library will be open with an exhibit named "The Second Sex Speaks" featuring writings from the women's rights movement with original text dating to the 18th century.

"The book exhibit consists of text from the history of women's rights," said Maryke Barber, a librarian at Wyndham Robertson Library. "We will have books to check out in the main library, but we will also have an exhibit of first editions in our special collections room.

"We have a first-edition of Margaret Sanger's 'Women and the New Race,' " Barber added. "Another good example is Mary Wollstonecraft's 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women,' where she was arguing that women should have the same education as men. That doesn't seem like a big deal now, but in 1794 it was."

Barber said the issues may change over the years, but working for human and civil rights is something that stays the same through time.

Hollins also has a long line of alumnae who are advocating equal rights around the world, which is why Women's History Month is such an exciting time for the university, Barber said.

"Mildred Persinger is the World YMCA representative to the United Nations and was in the Hollins class of 1939," Barber said. "She is just one of the examples of women who are working for women's rights."

Even those who aren't interested in the lectures, literature or films, might find their Women's History Month spirit with a presentation of "The Vagina Monologues" in Talmadge Hall on March 7, 8 and 9. Unlike most of the other events, there is a fee -- $5 for general public and $2 for Hollins University students.

For more information and a list of events, visit the Hollins University Web site at www.hollins.edu or call 362-6588.