February 11, 2016
The Penn Humanities Forum and the Alice Paul Center for Research on Gender, Sexuality and Women at the University of Pennsylvania will present two lectures in February focused on black women's sexuality. Professor Dorothy E. Roberts will speak at both events.
The renowned professor is celebrated for her work in law and public policy, notably contemporary issues of health, social justice and bioethics as they affect the lives of women, children and African-Americans. She is also an award-winning author and holds multiple positions within the academic community.
Both lectures that Roberts will speak at are free to the public but require registration. The first will take place Feb. 17 and the following lecture will be on Feb. 24.
The first lecture in the series will take place at the Penn Museum. Roberts will trace a history of policing and punishing black women’s sexuality, including current policies.
Roberts will ultimately focus on why black women’s sexuality is considered dangerous and how that fear has worked to impede sexual liberation.
Wednesday, Feb. 17
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Free
Rainey Auditorium, Penn Museum
3260 South St.
As for the second lecture in the series, it will be held at the University of Pennsylvania.
Roberts will shift from historical critique to fresh ideas for change in this lecture. The struggle to liberate women’s sexuality, she argues, must begin with black women.
She will share some of the recent and ongoing sexual liberation strategies and proposes a new direction for the future.
Wednesday, Feb. 24
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Free
G17 Cohen Hall, University of Pennsylvania
S. 36th St.
