University of Kentucky Women: Leaders in Time --The Modern Struggle

The exhibit University of Kentucky Women: Leaders in Time is an expanded on-line version of the physical exhibit created by University of Kentucky (UK) Archives exhibit intern and UK History Ph.D. student Jennifer McCabe for display at the 2017 Sarah Bennett Holmes Award Luncheon sponsored by the UK Women’s Forum on March 23, 2017.  

The exhibit poses two central questions--“What is Real Change?” and “When Does Real Change Occur?”—and seeks to answer them through highlighting notable UK alumna, faculty, and employees—white and of color—who displayed remarkable strength and leadership in ushering in real changes toward full equality with men throughout the 20^th century, particularly during times of campus tumult and change:  white women being admitted to the school, white women being allowed to enter all majors and live on campus, racial integration for women and men, Title IX, and various protest movements.  Each of these times of tumult have their own separate online exhibit, tied together by the opening title “UK Women:  Leaders in Time.”  

Moving through this exhibit chronologically and thematically, it becomes clear that exact dates for real change in inequality are difficult to pinpoint.  Instead, individual female leaders and groups of UK women fought hard for a long time in order that current UK community members might benefit from their struggle for a better world.  And, the struggle continues.

This exhibit, "The Modern Struggle," focuses on University of Kentucky women and their fight for equality within education in the second half of the 20th century, particularly after the passing of Title IX - a federal law demanding that there be equality between men and women in education.