Cultural anthropologist to speak at Redlands AAUW meeting on women’s education in Sudan

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will host cultural anthropologist Ellen Gruenbaum as the guest speaker at its brunch meeting on Saturday, Feb. 1. Gruenbaum will discuss “The Struggle for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Sudan,” drawing on decades of research and experience in the war-torn country.

Gruenbaum lived, worked, and conducted research in the mostly Muslim, African country for five years in the 1970s and has returned many times since for continued research and teaching. While girls and women had begun making some inroads into Sudan’s historically male-only education system, their current horrific, ongoing civil war has closed all Sudanese universities and schools. Gruenbaum continues to meet and work with  Sudanese educators who are struggling, now often from exile, to keep women’s education alive over the Internet.

The meeting and guest presentation begins at 10 am in the Casa Loma room at the University of Redlands. Interested community members are welcome to attend Redlands AAUW branch meetings for free.

For those interested in attending the brunch at 9 a.m. prior to the meeting, reservations are required. To reserve a spot, call 909-362-4955 or email AUWrsvp@AAUWRedlands.org. Brunch reservations will be accepted based on availability, and there is a $25 meal fee.

If you want to attend only the presentation, you do not need to make a reservation.

Redlands AAUW is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing equity for women and girls through education, empowerment and advocacy.