The Frances M. Maguire Art Museum partnered with the St. Joe’s Women’s Center to host its first-ever Pink Party April 25. About 200 people attended the opening of the “Virgins, Goddesses and Barbie” exhibit on both floors of the museum. 

The City Belles and the University Singers performed throughout the night. The main highlight of the event was a focus on St. Joe’s “Pink Pioneers,” women faculty members who excelled in their fields. Each Pink Pioneer gave a 100-second speech about being a woman in their field. Speakers included Laura M. Crispin, Ph.D., professor and chair of the economics department, and the first woman president of St. Joe’s, Cheryl A. McConnell, Ph.D.

McConnell spoke about how society tells women they’d be great leaders, “if only” women “leaned in,” “learned how to negotiate” or “smiled more.” McConnell’s answer to these suggestions were firm.

“Let me say it loud and clear. We. Are. Not. Broken. And we don’t need to be fixed,” McConnell said. “If only the world stopped trying to fix us. Because we are truly wonderful the way we are.”

Crispin said the event opened up conversations and created opportunities for support amongst women.

“I don’t know that when I was an undergraduate there were ever events like this about women, for women, supporting women,” Crispin said. “I think that in itself is a really big and important step that we’ve taken.” 

Veronica Farr, education outreach coordinator for the museum, said the Pink Party was a women-focused event aimed at celebrating the accomplishments and role of women in society, which she said does not happen enough. 

“I think it’s time that there’s more discussion, more awareness, more celebration of what women do, and how much we do,” Farr said. “The professors that are here, they’re incredible, all the things that they have to do in their fields that are male-dominated, to have a voice at their table for their research to be heard. We just thought this was the perfect way to bring that together.” 

The “Virgins, Goddesses and Barbie” exhibit showcases the work of women artists’ who interpreted conventional beauty standards and expectations of women throughout the years, and how a cultural icon like Barbie has contributed to these beauty standards and expectations.

Maria Gutierrez ’27 attended the event with friend Ana Soler ’27. Gutierrez said the exhibit showed Barbie’s impact on women through the decades, and continues to be an inspiration for all women. 

“Barbie has always been a hero,” Gutierrez said. “She is literally everything. She can be whatever she wants.” 

For Soler, the diversity of Barbies was particularly empowering. 

“As an international student, I like seeing that [the Barbies] also not only represent the USA, they also represent other countries and other ethnicities,” Soler said. “She’s a person to look up to because, if Barbie can be everything, I can be everything.”

Usha Rao, PhD., professor of chemistry and another Pink Pioneer who was honored, concluded the night with her 100-second speech by saying the event was one that honored solidarity and fierceness amongst women of St. Joe’s. 

“There are very few spaces in the world that mostly draw women. This event tonight has been one of those,” said Rao.