Denver, April, 2008.

“Culture, Gender & Global Communication” became a 2008 Spring Course at the School of Communication of the University of Denver where the book Women, Metamorphosis of the Butterfly Effect will become part of the syllabus.

The course explores the ways in which culture, gender, communication and media affect and are affected by a variety of issues from an international and intercultural perspective.

The class is co-taught by María Suárez Toro, human rights and feminist activist and journalist from Puerto Rico/Costa Rica and author of the book; and Margaret Thompson, associate professor of mass communications and international journalist and editor if the English version translated by Marci Valdivieso in San Francisco for future publication in that language.

Topics covered in the 4 credit course for both graduate and undergraduate students include the role of gender & culture in globalization of media, women’s human rights, violence against women, social/political movements and change (focusing in particular on Central America), cultural & gender issues related to war and peace, and alternative uses of media & media activism related to culture, gender, disabilities, etc.

The topic “Breaking out of the box: Working toward social change” features the “Imaginary letter from Rosa Parks” in the book Women, Metamorphosis of the Butterfly Effect, an in progress book published in 2008 by Editorial Farben/Norma in San José, Costa Rica.

“Masculinity, femininity & feminism: Global & historical perspectives” explores alternative paradigms by women & indigenous peoples, which have often been ignored, discounted or buried in history. Students read “Imaginary letter by Lucy: A lost paradigm.”

“Disability issues & media” will have disabilities activist Laura Hershey, writer, poet, disabilities activist who happens to be the woman who made Maria aware of the unacknowledged scientific contributions of Mileva Maic, Eistein’s ex-wife an disabled student of math and physics in the same University where Eistein studied. Students will read the chapter in the book entitled “The invisible Mileva Maric “Ex-Einstein: If women counted.”

“Women, war & peacemaking:” includes the readings about “Comfort women & Japanese American women in WWII: Breaking 50 years of silence” in the book. Marge Taniwaki, character in the book telling her story as a Japanese American in the U.S.A. Concentration Camps during the war came to speak to the students presenting er personl accout.

On the topic “Holistic paradigms – Reconceptualizing women’s experiences in women’s human rights” the “Introduction” to the book will be studied alongside a “resonance” workshop where students are encouraged to make connections between their lives and those of the women in the book. Former course student last year, Carolyn Munoz shared her resonance story about her migrant grandmother, contributing to the exercise. (see www.alasdemariposa.org click on “Butterfliers”.)

“Activism toward social transformation & paradigm shift: Central America Women against CAFTA” includes the chapter “Francisca Alvarez: A Mayan feminist cosmo-vision” and other material from the region.