Author Maythee Rojas spoke of the controversies involved with race and gender to a packed conference room Tuesday June 9.

During her speaking time, she highlighted the importance of checking one’s own privileges, self-reflection and love.

Rojas was invited by Marc Coronado, head of the women’s studies department, because classes had been reading Rojas’ book “Women of Color and Feminism.”

Students presented Rojas with a workbook they had created based on the book.

Rojas has studied intersectionality, the study between intersections of oppression and discrimination, since she first discovered the concept in grad school.

Intersectionality originated as a legal term, but grew to encompass the relationship between racism and sexism for women of color, Rojas said.

“We must be willing to regularly check ourselves,” Rojas said. “Some women have felt that bringing up intersectionality is dividing us as sisters.”

Rojas shared an anecdote about one student’s critical review and how it helped her realize that she could have been more inclusive of transgender people in her book.

Before Rojas spoke, Coronado announced the introduction of four new classes into the women’s studies department starting
fall 2015.

Cynthia Kaufman, director of the Vasconcellos Institute of Democracy in Action introduced a class called “Women and Gender in the Global Perspective.”

Julie Lewis was not present, but will be teaching a class on black feminism.

Coronado also announced that the women’s studies department is working on a women’s studies certificate and a masculinities class.

Students can find out more about these courses and meet Latina leaders at “The Minute Mentor” event on June 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Conference Room B.