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EAKMAN, Beth (b. 1964)

ProfessionsGraduate Student

Oral Histories

OH 1174

Her experiences concerning the establishment of the Women's Studies Program at the University of North Texas. Her early introduction to feminism while a student at Texas Christian University, 1980s; activities with Planned Parenthood in Fort Worth; activities with Choice Dallas; involvement with the North Texas Democrats and Ann Richards's gubernatorial campaign, 1990; break-up of her marriage, 1991, and spousal abuse; stalking by her ex-husband; entry into therapy; enrollment in women's studies courses at the University of North Texas, 1994; organizing the Women's Studies Roundtable; her work with Barbara Rodman in establishing the Women's Studies Program, 1994; establishment of the Professing Women Award; establishment of the feminist newsletter, “The Gaze;” relations between the Women's Studies Roundtable and the Women's Collective; establishment of “Women's ‘Her story’ Month”; relations with Chancellor Alfred Hurley and the UNT administration; performance by Latina feminist poet Rosemary Meza; contributions of Dean Nora Kizer Bell to the Women's Studies Program; effects of English Department politics on the program; relations with Women's Programming at UNT; importance of maintaining a personal journal; her views of area studies as the future of higher education.