The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater celebrates the 50th anniversary of its Women’s and Gender Studies program by welcoming acclaimed author, activist, and thought leader Sonya Renee Taylor for a special keynote event on Tuesday, March 3, from 5-6:30 p.m. at the James R. Connor University Center in Whitewater.

The celebration takes place in room 275 of the University Center, and is free and open to the
public. A reception with appetizers will follow the program.

This anniversary event honors five decades of scholarship, activism, and community building,
highlighting the Women’s and Gender Studies program’s ongoing commitment to equity, critical inquiry, and transformative education.

Taylor, founder of the global “The Body Is Not an Apology” movement and a New York Times
best-selling author, will participate in a 50-minute moderated conversation and presentation
focused on radical self-love, body liberation, and social transformation, followed by a 30-minute audience Q&A.

Her groundbreaking book, “The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love,” has
been widely recognized for reshaping cultural conversations around embodiment, justice, and
collective care.

“This book is not about something as simple as body positivity or acceptance,” said editor Jeevan Sivasubramaniam. “It’s about the ways in which we see others and ourselves and judge one another on far deeper levels than we may know.”

Taylor is also the inaugural recipient of the Brian F. Bolton and Anne Nicol Gaylor Endowed
Professorship in Secular Studies, jointly awarded by UW-Whitewater’s departments of Women’s and Gender Studies and Philosophy and Religious Studies. The professorship supports intellectual engagement within an access-driven public institution, with a mission to reach first- generation students, students with disabilities, and adult learners.

Women’s and Gender Studies at UW-Whitewater is an interdisciplinary program that explores how gender and sexuality intersect with race, class, ability, and other identities. Students develop analytical thinking, intercultural competence, and problem-solving skills for diverse careers and graduate study.

Editor’s note: This press release was provided by UW-Whitewater.