ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y., March 6, 2017 — Two St. Bonaventure University faculty members have developed some creative bracketology that they hope will spur conversations and knowledge about some of the most trailblazing women in history.
Dubbed March into Women’s History, the initial bracket takes 16 women in each of four categories — STEM, business, government and advocacy — for a total of 64 women, much like the NCAA basketball bracket is constructed. (Click here to see a breakdown of the bracket)
Dr. Pauline Hoffmann and Kimberly DeSimone, both in the university’s School of Communication, convened women — and one gentleman — from across campus to develop the idea and launch the initial Women’s History Bracket.
The group of students, faculty and staff selected women from many eras, from an international pool, and gave consideration to women who were “first” in a particular area. They chose the categories because STEM, government and business are still areas in which women are woefully underrepresented.
“Certainly, 16 women in each category does not nearly sum up the contributions of women in that area,” said Hoffmann.
Voting in the first round began Friday, March 3, and will continue throughout the month until the field is eventually narrowed to two women March 27 with the winner being announced March 30. The public is invited to view brief bios on all 64 women and cast votes at marchintowomenshistory.
Their goal is to start a conversation: They’ve established social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to encourage dialogue.
“Tell us about who we’ve missed,” Hoffmann said. “Tell us why you voted as you did. And tell us how these women have had an impact on your own life.”
Among the women featured in the bracket are the first Latina Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi, abolitionist Harriet Tubman and nuclear physicist Marie Curie.
Bracket Breakdown
Voting in the first round of 64 women began March 3 and will continue until midnight March 7. The 32 women who advance to the second round will be announced March 8. The field will be narrowed from 32 to 16 during voting March 8-15.
The Sweet 16 will be announced on March 16, with voting beginning March 17 to narrow the field to the Elite 8. On March 20, the Elite 8 will be announced. Voters will narrow the field to the Final Four, who will be announced on March 23. Voters will have until March 26 to narrow the field to the final two women. Voting begins March 27 for the final woman, who will be announced March 30.
