COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. –A photography exhibit that profiles the lives of mothers in America will open at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Feb. 9 and will continue through March 8.
Beggars and Choosers: Motherhood is Not a Class Privilege, is a collection of more than 50 photographs by a dozen distinguished photographers. The exhibition addresses the politics of parental choice and the application of that term to reproductive rights.
In addition to the exhibit at the campus University Center, a series of free events will take place on March 8.
“Beggars and Choosers challenges prevailing ideas that motherhood in America should be a class privilege,” Abby Ferber, associate professor, Sociology, and director of the Women’s Studies Program, said. “For more than a generation, politicians have argued that poor American women who have children, especially the ones who need public assistance, are irresponsible and selfish, are wasting public money, and make bad mothers. Many Americans have embraced the notion that parenthood should be reserved for people with enough money to give their children advantages.”
The exhibition was inspired by Rickie Solinger’s most recent books, Beggars and Choosers: How the Politics of Choice Shapes Adoption, Abortion, and Welfare in the United States, and Welfare: A Documentary History of U.S. Policy and Politics. Solinger will visit the university March 8 and participate in the following events that are free and open to the public.
10- 11:30 a.m., March 8, University Center 122. No charge. Panel discussion: “The Politics of Welfare”, featuring Linda Meric, regional director, 9 to 5 National Organization of Working Women, Marjorie Levine-Clark, historian, University of Colorado at Denver, and Barbara Drake, director, El Paso County Health and Human Services.
Noon-2 p.m., March 8, University Center 116. No charge. Women’s leadership symposium and luncheon, “Women Creating Change for Women” featuring Rickie Solinger, historian and curator, Linda Meric, regional director, 9 to 5 National Association of Working Women, and Alma Lantz, founder, Smart-Girl. Speakers will discuss their own work and their commitment to improving women’s lives. To reserve space, call 262-4553.
2:30-4 p.m., March 8, University Center 122. Panel discussion, “Families of Choice” with John Miller, professor, Languages and Cultures, Lynda Dickson, associate professor, Sociology, and Rachel Bixler, a local social worker.
4:30-6 p.m., March 8, University Center 302. Closing keynote, “Nine Ways of Looking at a Poor Woman,” Rickie Solinger, historian and exhibit curator. The presentation will be followed by a reception.
These events are sponsored by the CU-Colorado Springs Center for the Study of Government and the Individual, the CU President’s Fund for the Humanities, and the Women’s Studies Program.
For more information or directions, call Shari Patterson, 262-4153.
CU-Colorado Springs, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 25 bachelor’s degrees, 17 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls more than 7,600 students annually.