IRVINE : Women’s Conference Begins Today at UCI

UC Irvine is hosting the fourth annual Southern California Women’s Studies conference today to address the Tailhook scandal, violence against women and other issues.

This conference is called “Feminist Dialogues Across Disciplines: Students and Teachers Learning Together” and is sponsored by 10 Southland college and university groups.

Anyone may attend any of more than 20 workshops on topics such as feminism and religion, and women as mothers and scholars, UCI spokesman Scott Nelson said.

Ghana-born writer, actress and educator Akuyoe will perform “Spirit Awakening,” a one-act narrative play. Akuyoe, a former African princess, uses poetry, monologue and drums to tell her story, Nelson said.

Her transformation from a woman trying to repress her black identity to fit in a white world to finally rediscovering her identity in Hollywood is at the heart of her performance. Akuyoe has performed at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.

The conference is at the UCI campus and costs $30. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the conference lasts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Akuyoe’s performance is free and begins at 7 p.m. at the UCI Social Science Laboratory and Hall, Nelson said. Information: (714) 856-4234.