00:00:00.020 - 00:00:10.460

[Marie Laberge] Okay. This is June 23rd, at 10:30 in the morning and this is Marie Laberge with Emily Hayworth. Welcome, Emily. Thank you for doing this.

00:00:10.460 - 00:00:22.060

I want to start this interview by asking for a little bit of your own personal background. Sort of where you grew up? And what your sort of background was?

00:00:22.060 - 00:00:35.210

[Emily Hayworth] Okay. I actually was born in Germany and my family came to America in 1949. And I grew up in a little town of Lester, which is right outside

00:00:35.210 - 00:00:49.220

of the Philadelphia region. I went to high school, at Ridley Park, and married and moved to Wilmington, suburb of Wilmington,

00:00:49.220 - 00:01:07.310

and then relocated again to Landenberg, where I had my children. And basically my education started with children when my kids were in

00:01:07.310 - 00:01:20.530

school and I asked to be a parent volunteer. So as they went through elementary school, I worked in that school. And when they've moved

00:01:20.530 - 00:01:30.110

on to the middle school, I was able to secure a job as a reading teacher and followed them to middle school

00:01:30.110 - 00:01:42.580

and worked there for almost 10 years. And when they were ready to leave high school, I decided I was going to move on

00:01:42.580 - 00:01:54.800

to University of Delaware, where I wanted them to go to school. They forbid me to follow them to high school. And as I was looking for

00:01:54.800 - 00:02:03.560

the different positions there, the library was hiring. So I was hired in the administration office of

00:02:03.560 - 00:02:17.740

Morris Library and I worked there for 10 years. [ML] And what did you do while you were at the Library? [EH] It was general office administration and I

00:02:17.740 - 00:02:28.000

worked with personnel and Julie Brewer hiring at the Library. It was so large at the time that we were able to have applicants

00:02:28.000 - 00:02:38.230

send their resumes directly to us, and I would follow up doing the paperwork of contacting them and having them come in for

00:02:38.230 - 00:02:47.370

interviews and which was lot of fun just having that aspect. I knew all the employees at the time I did the roster.

00:02:47.370 - 00:02:57.570

And when I left, there were about a 180 employees. It has downsized little bit since then. And I also worked on

00:02:57.570 - 00:03:11.760

a newsletter that the Library put out, and I typed that with all the news of what was going on. [ML] So you started at the Library in 1985? [EH] 1985, I believe. Yes.

00:03:11.760 - 00:03:26.260

[ML] So you were there for how long? [EH] 10 years. [ML] Okay. And then how did you end up in Women's Studies? [EH] I was looking for a position to upgrade, and in my office I was a Senior Secretary,

00:03:26.260 - 00:03:34.910

but the next position would have been Administrative Assistant and my friend had that position and she was not going anywhere.

00:03:34.910 - 00:03:50.530

So to upgrade, I had to actually leave the Library and look elsewhere. At the time, I was going to a lot of seminars that Women's Studies had going,

00:03:50.530 - 00:04:01.340

and I really enjoyed them. So when an opening came up there for an Office Coordinator, I applied and was very lucky to have it.

00:04:01.340 - 00:04:22.450

[ML] So you started in Women's Studies around 1996? [EH] Yes. I believe it was 1996. [ML] And then for the timeframe you just retired? [EH] In December 31st of 2011. [ML] So you were with Women's Studies about...? [EH] 16 years.

00:04:22.450 - 00:04:33.600

[ML] So over the course of that period Women's Studies has changed quite a bit. What was the circumstances? Sort of the situation when you walked into Women's Studies?

00:04:33.600 - 00:04:49.730

Where were they located? And what was the status of the...? [EH] We were in the building Smith Hall, upstairs. We had a little office suite. I believe it was 1-2-3,

00:04:49.730 - 00:04:58.550

3 medium-sized rooms and 2 that were almost closets. I think they actually were media closets when they

00:04:58.550 - 00:05:08.600

were first originally used. And they housed 2 of our part-time faculty that worked, that taught in Women's Studies.

00:05:08.600 - 00:05:19.470

So it was a very small complex. The budget was extremely small. Actually, at the time, I think for all our expenses,

00:05:19.630 - 00:05:34.310

we never had more than $5,000. [ML] Wow. Was that for staff? [EH] Yeah. So that included all of the supplies that we would need,

00:05:34.310 - 00:05:48.950

what we paid a little salary or honorarium for a speaker to come in, expenses for their travel, any of the travel expenses

00:05:48.950 - 00:06:00.560

one of our faculty might need if they attended outside the university. It just was so tight. It was very, very small.

00:06:00.560 - 00:06:14.020

[ML] So at that point, there were 2 part-time faculty? [EH] Yes, there was, yes. Sue Cherrin and Kathy Turkel were the 2 full-time, I mean,

00:06:14.020 - 00:06:26.300

part-time faculty that taught courses in Women's Studies. And we had several off-campus faculty. [ML] And then Jessica Schiffman was there?

00:06:26.300 - 00:06:38.800

[EH] Jessica Schiffman, yes. Was... what was she called? Program Coordinator at the time. And we had a Director

00:06:38.800 - 00:06:52.230

[ML] And the first job that you entered into was to hire the first Director? [EH] Yes, at the time, the outgoing Director was Kate Conway-Turner and she was ending her term.

00:06:52.230 - 00:07:04.040

She was on sabbatical when I actually started there in the spring. So shortly after I came to the office, there was a hire for a new Director.

00:07:04.040 - 00:07:18.320

[ML] And that would have been? [EH] Beth Haslett. [ML] So the transition from that office in Smith Hall to where we are today has seen a number of different changes.

00:07:18.320 - 00:07:27.080

[EH] Exploded. [ML] I wonder if you could talk about what it is that you witnessed. I noticed you mentioned that

00:07:27.080 - 00:07:38.660

you were there when the major was approved. Do you remember how that went through? [EH] The paperwork I think was already started. Jessica Schiffman had,

00:07:38.660 - 00:07:51.460

I think, put through most of the paperwork. I remember being there when when it was, I think shortly before I arrived, it was actually approved.

00:07:51.460 - 00:08:01.970

But it was a big talk in the office of having a major in Women's Studies. So I was very happy for them.

00:08:01.970 - 00:08:12.910

And they were, the office, the Director, the Program Coordinator, Jessica, really was hoping to see the program expand.

00:08:12.910 - 00:08:24.440

[ML] And how did it? What was it like to have that first preliminary group of students coming in? And doing the major process in terms of transition?

00:08:24.440 - 00:08:33.320

[EH] Transition. I don't, I'm not sure if I understand all of that. [ML] Well, I was wondering what the sense was for

00:08:33.320 - 00:08:42.410

people in terms of finally graduating a class of Women's Studies majors? [EH] Oh, yes! Well, yes, to have our own students graduate with a major.

00:08:42.410 - 00:08:51.640

Yeah. It was thrilling. It was very few students, I believe there were 6. And, but we were excited just to have that.

00:08:51.640 - 00:09:01.970

And I believe Mae Carter had called the office in fact and asked, spoke with me and asked me how many majors we were

00:09:01.970 - 00:09:10.340

actually graduating from Women's Studies. So that was, that was... Even though it was a very small number,

00:09:10.340 - 00:09:24.530

it was a mark for us. We had quite a few minors though, and I'm trying to go back. And that was, I would say, at least 50 or 60

00:09:24.530 - 00:09:39.040

minors at the time. We had a lot of minors but that was thrilling just to have our own majors graduate. [ML] And then, over the course of the next several years,

00:09:39.040 - 00:09:52.010

the staff, the faculty positions changed as well. Can you talk a little bit about how that took place? [EH] Yes. I believe Beth Haslett had a 2-year term and then

00:09:52.010 - 00:10:05.400

we had another election and Marian Palley came in as Director. And at that point we moved to Ewing Hall, another building.

00:10:06.070 - 00:10:19.430

And that was... we actually had a little wing of a Ewing Hall, which really helped us and our faculty to be able to have

00:10:19.430 - 00:10:26.800

a little bit of their own space where they were able to have students come in and meet with them and have the room to seat them.

00:10:26.800 - 00:10:44.120

It was so tight, where we were in Smith Hall. I'm trying to think. I believe at that point we had,

00:10:44.120 - 00:11:06.380

I think it was 8 offices. And I believe Marie Laberge had an office in the Ewing wing. And I'm trying to think if there was

00:11:06.380 - 00:11:18.440

another off-campus faculty that was housed. And I don't recall. I just don't recall the string of offices and how

00:11:18.440 - 00:11:29.810

they were laid out with everybody. [ML] Marian had an end one, and there was that meeting room. We actually had a meeting room, across the hall. [EH] Yes, you are right. And then Jessica was beside me.

00:11:29.810 - 00:11:45.560

[ML] Then Kathy and Sue. [EH] Kathy, Sue, yourself. [ML] I was sort of across from Marian and Carolyn might have had an office? Or there was an office for adjuncts? Us adjuncts, I was adjunct at that time. [EH] Yes. There might've been 1 office with

00:11:45.560 - 00:11:55.970

a desk that was shared by other off-campus faculty. So we actually had a meeting room and were able to

00:11:55.970 - 00:12:12.760

hire additional off-campus faculty to teach. Our program was expanding. We had faculty that came in and taught basically courses of their...

00:12:12.760 - 00:12:28.580

what's the word I'm looking for? Their interest or their discipline. And at that point, the major number really

00:12:28.580 - 00:12:42.100

expanded and the minor all our courses filled. There were usually students who begged to get in more, but we really had an explosion

00:12:42.100 - 00:12:56.560

of students when we were in Ewing Hall. It was very popular, the courses. [ML] And that was the period where Kathy and Sue's positions went to continuing, non-tenure track, full-time? [EH] Yes, yes.

00:12:56.560 - 00:13:06.770

Marian Palley was able to secure their positions. So they were, and I believe Marie Laberge's position

00:13:06.770 - 00:13:28.270

was also put in as CNTT. And I think we were there for 2 years, possibly 3, but I think was no longer than that.

00:13:28.270 - 00:13:40.120

And then we were able to secure across the street a little Victorian house, that housed Women's Studies. And we were all very excited to

00:13:40.120 - 00:13:54.310

have the residence of a building just for Women's Studies, [ML] And during this time there, we also saw the curriculum of Women's Studies expanding so we had the Global... [EH] Perspective.

00:13:54.310 - 00:14:07.760

[ML] Perspectives Concentration was created. [EH] Yes. [ML] And then, also Margaret Stetz joined us as tenured faculty. [EH] That was the other office! I was trying to think of the other office

00:14:07.760 - 00:14:15.320

in Ewing Hall and Margaret Stetz came in at that point. She was... She had an office there in

00:14:15.320 - 00:14:35.830

that building. [ML] She was our first tenured. [EH] Yes, she was our first tenured faculty in Women's Studies. And we were, delighted to have her. [ML] Over the course of that time period,

00:14:35.830 - 00:14:53.860

how do you... what sort of successes, do you think, were most significant for the development of Women's Studies? In sort of expanding the program? [EH] Mae Carter had given

00:14:53.860 - 00:15:04.920

Women's Studies a research grant, which we used for 3 years. And we were able to expand the program because

00:15:04.920 - 00:15:15.280

new courses were developed by faculty across campus who applied for the grants. And I think that brought in additional

00:15:15.280 - 00:15:29.970

courses that Women's Studies was able to use. Also with the Sexuality and Gender Studies became part of Women's Studies. And that also helped expand the program.

00:15:29.970 - 00:15:48.190

Plus we had another tenured faculty appointed when we were across the street in Women's Studies, which was Pasha. [ML] Right, Pasha's hire

00:15:48.190 - 00:16:03.060

was in 2009. [EH] 2009. Right. And also then we had Alvina Quintana, come in from English and being switched to a Women's Studies line.

00:16:03.060 - 00:16:18.320

So the faculty expanded, the programs extended, expanded, additional courses were added. And Women's Studies was

00:16:18.320 - 00:16:29.660

on its own. It held its own. [ML] How do you think Women's Studies at UD fares compared to other campuses in terms of its relationship with the

00:16:29.660 - 00:16:43.090

broader University? Because there are Women's Studies programs that are actually falling apart, or being shut down, and we just turned into a department. So I wonder what your sense is in terms of how we are with our...

00:16:43.090 - 00:16:58.390

[EH] Well, I think some of it is leadership. I think we have had strong leadership. And yes, that last 2 years I was there, I was hearing about

00:16:58.390 - 00:17:08.660

other universities losing the program, which did scare me because I didn't know if this was going to be a trend where when

00:17:08.660 - 00:17:18.260

money is short at the universities, and that is usually a way that they're able to take out programs.

00:17:18.510 - 00:17:37.600

It could have been something that fell apart, but I think Monika Shafi is a strong leader and she was able to be a friend, And Arts & Science was able to be a friend of

00:17:37.600 - 00:17:53.270

Women's Studies and the program actually grew and became a department. So that was one of the achievements that Monika Shafi was able to get through.

00:17:53.770 - 00:18:07.220

And I think we are strong. And as far as when we were a program, interdisciplinary program, we were one of the largest, I believe.

00:18:07.220 - 00:18:16.620

So, I think Women's Studies does have a presence there and we're able to secure it. [ML] I was just reading

00:18:16.870 - 00:18:25.370

the format, the sort of application to become a department. And they did a comparison of University of Delaware Women's Studies with the other

00:18:25.370 - 00:18:40.250

leading Women's Studies departments in the region. [EH] West Chester? [ML] Maryland, and I believe, Rutgers. But they have many more faculty, and the sort of resources, and many less majors.

00:18:40.250 - 00:18:54.650

We have an extraordinary large number of majors and minors with less faculty, and I wonder how you think-- [EH] Wow. [ML] -- we manage it. [EH] I think teaching style.

00:18:54.650 - 00:19:04.110

And the faculty have a lot to do with it. The reputation of the faculty at Women's Studies at the University of Delaware

00:19:04.110 - 00:19:13.190

is very, very good. The faculty have a following. When a student starts with a faculty, takes a Women's Studies course,

00:19:13.190 - 00:19:23.050

say in their freshman year, they will seek that teacher out, and continue with them. So I think the teaching style

00:19:23.050 - 00:19:34.200

of the Women's Studies faculty at University of Delaware is superb. And we're able to keep the students interested and excited.

00:19:34.200 - 00:19:46.060

And many of the students go on to grad school and enter with law degrees or in the court systems.

00:19:46.060 - 00:20:00.370

It's something that they're very, very excited about. [ML] So, I want to ask you think about what the impact of the departmental status will have

00:20:00.370 - 00:20:10.970

on Women's Studies having seen that from start to finish? In terms of that process. That we are a department, how do you think that will-- [EH] Hopefully, we'll continue to grow.

00:20:10.970 - 00:20:19.810

The money will be able to come through. The funding will be able to come through and keep it going. You know, that's always a concern

00:20:19.810 - 00:20:34.070

when there's shortages. But departmental status, I think, will give Women's Studies, has secured Women's Studies in the University.

00:20:34.070 - 00:20:52.250

I believe. Just having that departmental status. I don't know what. [ML] Make us less vulnerable? [EH] Yes. [ML] So in terms of what changes over the course of the 16 years that you've been in Women's Studies,

00:20:52.250 - 00:21:06.160

so you think you sort of-- [EH] Oh yeah. [ML] -- envisioned that? [EH] The amount of faculty who have taught courses in Women's Studies, over,

00:21:06.160 - 00:21:17.230

across the disciplines of other departments. There are a lot of new faculty and they want to teach Women's Studies.

00:21:17.230 - 00:21:28.870

The University has now, is now hiring the so-called cluster faculty, where they will be, the line will be in

00:21:28.870 - 00:21:41.030

2 departments, or 3 departments. And they'll teach courses in those departments. So when a faculty might be hired in English, they will also have

00:21:41.030 - 00:21:52.640

responsibility to teach a course in Women's Studies or any other, I guess any of the departments, that will happen. But the faculty want

00:21:52.640 - 00:22:05.230

to teach Women's Studies courses. And I think that's to our advantage. The faculty want to teach in Women's Studies. [ML] So what are you most proud of in terms of the

00:22:05.230 - 00:22:16.190

process, of your experience? [EH] To say that I worked in Women's Studies is something I'm very, very proud to say.

00:22:16.190 - 00:22:28.700

I think it has opened the eyes of so many students to what they should be aware of. Many times they come in

00:22:28.700 - 00:22:40.160

not knowing anything about Women's Studies. And when they leave the University, they are a different person, because of the courses they took.

00:22:40.160 - 00:22:51.650

So I'm proud to say that most students who take a Women's Studies course were changed by it. [ML] It was interesting, when you just said that

00:22:51.650 - 00:23:03.960

you're proud to say you worked in Women's Studies, I'm reminded of what my students say, that when they tell people they're in a major in Women's Studies, they get a lot of different reactions. Do you get reactions when you say it? [EH] Yes. Yes, yes.

00:23:03.960 - 00:23:14.810

Sometimes I... In fact, I have a good friend who says, "What do you do with a Women's Studies degree? I mean, what kind of job do you get?"

00:23:14.810 - 00:23:25.760

So many people just don't associate life and having a Women's Studies background and how helpful it is. You know, they just

00:23:25.760 - 00:23:38.710

don't make the connection. But you can have that degree and go into teaching or any of the services out there. I think most large industries,

00:23:38.710 - 00:23:50.410

companies in their personnel offices, they want somebody with a Women's Studies background. There are many harassment cases

00:23:50.410 - 00:23:59.950

where this is so important. It still happens today, but most people don't tune into it until it happens to them.

00:23:59.950 - 00:24:15.320

But it's there all over. So it's... I think it's an awakening for a lot of people. [ML] It certainly is for our students. So what do you think

00:24:15.320 - 00:24:30.490

still needs to be addressed? [EH] Wow. That's a hard question because there are, I think society and how people view it changes.

00:24:30.490 - 00:24:38.440

And many times it's, it doesn't benefit the woman. They have to be careful of what is sometimes taken away

00:24:38.440 - 00:24:51.010

very slowly or it's very subtle. And to know they have to stand up for their rights. Women have to stand up for the rights

00:24:51.010 - 00:25:06.160

and know their rights, and demand their rights. [ML] In terms of the future of the Women's Studies department, actually now we're Women and Gender Studies department, I should say. That has officially gone through.

00:25:06.160 - 00:25:17.390

In terms of the Women and Gender Studies department, what do you think are some of the things down the road for us? The future might hold.

00:25:17.390 - 00:25:35.050

[EH] Gay rights still have a long way to go. So I think Women's Studies will have to probably still battle there in that area. But things change and it sometimes takes

00:25:35.050 - 00:25:45.490

years of getting things through. But it will change if there are enough people who are passionate about it and want

00:25:45.490 - 00:25:54.540

to see equal rights for everybody. So Women's Studies still has a little bit of work to do there. As a department,

00:25:54.540 - 00:26:10.000

I think we're stronger and we'll be heard possibly a little louder. [ML] So we are coming up on our 40th anniversary of Women's Studies,

00:26:10.000 - 00:26:23.090

the creation of Women's Studies,. In terms of the impact of that, what do you think the impact of those 40 years has been? [EH] Wow, 40 years. It's going to be

00:26:23.090 - 00:26:36.260

a great celebration just knowing 40 years of Women's Studies and the battle is fought all this for the time period.

00:26:36.260 - 00:26:49.460

There's many things that have changed because of it. But I think there are still battles to be fought. So I'm not sure

00:26:49.460 - 00:27:02.060

exactly how society is going to produce all these battles that are still coming, will come up. But yeah, there's, I'm glad that it's there.

00:27:02.060 - 00:27:12.200

And there's enough students who will be awakened to know that there are battles that will need to be fought,

00:27:12.200 - 00:27:25.350

and will have the passion to stand up, and do it. [ML] How do you think working in Women's Studies has affected you? [EH] Me? I think I'm a better person. I think I'm a more rounded person.

00:27:25.350 - 00:27:34.130

I never thought about the issues of what actually is taught before I went to Women's Studies,

00:27:34.130 - 00:27:45.610

I just thought, "Well, women have equal rights." You know, it's just something that everybody told me was true. And it wasn't. Until you are really,

00:27:45.610 - 00:28:02.910

really tuned in to what is not fair for women. So yeah, it's opened my eyes. Most people just don't realize it, until they take a course and know what's happening.

00:28:02.910 - 00:28:24.080

[ML] Is there anything else you want to? [EH] Can I get a drink? (Coughs) All of a sudden. Okay. [ML] So is there anything else you think

00:28:24.080 - 00:28:43.600

would be important to know about Women's Studies? From you experience? [EH] Well, Women's Studies is... Women's Studies is a powerful place to be.

00:28:43.600 - 00:28:55.380

I miss, since I retired, being in the middle of different topics that are on the news every day.

00:28:55.380 - 00:29:08.110

And the topics that are brought into the classroom and are talked about. I miss having, hearing all of this on a daily basis,

00:29:08.110 - 00:29:26.960

but I'm proud to have been there, and known all of the faculty, and I think they're doing a splendid job teaching our students. You know, that it is important for

00:29:26.960 - 00:29:39.770

them to know about what's going on and how to do it and how to take care of problems. I don't know if there's more to say,

00:29:39.770 - 00:29:44.070

except that I think our future is in our students. [ML] All right.