Women Speakers $5000 and Under

Author of "The Moral Underground," Dr. Lisa Dodson is widely known for her policy research on low-wage families. Her newest book “The Moral Underground" examines the profound harm of a deeply stratified economy and was recently called gripping by Publisher's Weekly. [Photo Credit: Ellen Shub]

MacArthur Fellow Lateefah Simon is part of a new wave of African American civil rights and community leaders. She is the Project Director of California's Future Initiative at the Rosenberg Foundation. Ms. Simon has advocated tirelessly on behalf of communities of color, youth and women since her teenage years. She made O Magazine's first ever Power List in 2009 and was recognized with a Lifetime TV Remarkable Women Award.  

An investigative journalist and author of such critically acclaimed and prize-winning books as "Crude: The Story of Oil," “The Fever: How Malaria Has Ruled Humankind for 500,000 Years,” and “The Body Hunters: Testing New Drugs on the World's Poorest Patients."

Media critic, American Studies professor, and author of "Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female with the Mass Media," Susan Douglas reveals how television and advertising target images of women. Her newest book is "Enlightened Sexism," which chronicles the gap between images of women in the media and the everyday lives of women.

Once marginalized, pornography has now become a central part of our cultural landscape, with its idealized, mass produced images of women, men and sex seeping into our identities, body image, and relationships. In this powerful multi-media presentation, Dr. Gail Dines explores how gender is shaped by a consumer-driven culture, and the ways the public images we consume on a daily basis spill over into our most private worlds. Her new book "PORNLAND: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality" has been called "sharp and savvy."

America's teenagers and young adults want the straight talk about sex. Amber Madison, author of "Hooking Up: A Girl's All-out Guide to Sex & Sexuality" gives them what they want in simple non-clinical language. Madison also addresses parents in her new book "Talking Sex with Your Kids," which explains how parents can have productive conversations about sex with their kids.

June Cross follows news coverage and cultural thinking about race, sex, Hollywood, and politics. She is an Associate Professor at Columbia Journalism School, a writer, and an award-winning producer. Her first book, a memoir titled “Secret Daughter,” (based on an Emmy-winning documentary) was published by Viking in May 2006. She has worked for PBS’s Frontline and The Newshour, as well as for CBS News. Her most recent documentary, The Old Man and the Storm, followed three generations of a New Orleans family as they struggled to return to normal lives. It aired on PBS’ FRONTLINE in January 2009.

Named the #1 new Latino author watch in 2010 by LatinoStores.com, Carolina De Robertis is the author of the critically acclaimed, best-selling novel "The Invisible Mountain," which has been published in sixteen countries and twelve languages. It was named one of the Best Books of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle and O, The Oprah Magazine

Camille Cooper’s powerful multi-media presentation, “Discover the Truth,” addresses issues of women in Hollywood and how the media portrays the “perfect American girl”. She delivers a unique, humorous, and insightful look at a media industry obsessed with thinness and beauty. Ms. Cooper has worked professionally in film and television.

Anna Rosmus triggered a firestorm of controversy in her German hometown by writing about the deeply buried role it played under the Nazi regime. Committed to combating the neo-Nazi movement and the extreme right, Rosmus is the author of several books dealing with both the historical and contemporary impact of the Nazis on Germany and the rest of the world.Her newest release, "Valhalla Finale," is a photo book about the end of WWII.

Comedian and Actress, Diana Yanez, tells a powerful and fantastically funny,personal account of growing up Cuban, Catholic and closeted in Miami!

Involved in long-term studies of rainforest regeneration, Lowman has developed canopy techniques, including ropes, walkways, hot air balloons, construction cranes, and combinations of these methods. She frequently speaks about her jungle adventures and about rainforest conservation to educational groups. She continues to travel worldwide to “map the canopy for biodiversity”, and to work on conservation.

Chan stars in the one woman play "Unbinding Our Lives" which shatters the exotic, subservient, “China doll” image.  In this powerful show Ms. Chan portrays three real Chinese American women from China in the 1800's and their personal stories of being sold into child slavery, prostitution, and abandonment.  An unforgettable look at forgotten history.

Samhita Mukhopadhyay is an activist, writer, technologist, and the new executive editor of Feministing.com. Her work has appeared in Colorlines, The Nation and The American Prospect, and she is currently completing a book on the dating and romance industry. Mukhopadhyay is a popular panelist and guest speaker on the intersection of race and gender.

Abolitionist and suffragist Sojourner Truth's life is told in her own words using her speeches and songs in this dramatic presentation by Kathryn Woods.  Born a slave, Isabella Baumfree walked away from slavery to become an evangelist, when she wasn't being a maid or laundress.  In her travels she met preachers and advocates of all sorts, and evolved into Sojourner Truth.

Costa wears many hats: she is a security engineer, a practicing Buddhist, a theater producer, a playwright and a trans-woman. Cheryl crossed the boundary of gender when she transitioned from male to female in the mid nineteen-eighties. In her presentation she discusses the differences between “Sex” and “Gender” and her personal journey through life with courage, conviction, and healthy dose of humor.

Margot Mifflin is an author, journalist, and professor who writes about women, art, and contemporary culture. The author of Bodies of Subversion: A Secret History of Women and Tattoo, she has written for The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Believer, ARTnews, and Salon.com. Her new book, The Blue Tattoo:The Life of Olive Oatman, was published in April, 2009.

An award winning journalist and former Washington Post reporter, Patrice Gaines works to empower girls and young women at risk, drawing from the heart of her experiences on the streets and in prison. She is the co-founder of Brown Angel Center, seeking to provide formerly incarcerated women and their families with the tools to renew their lives. Gaines is author of "Laughing in the Dark" and "Moments of Grace: Meeting the Challenge to Change."

Journalist and author of “In Conflict: Iraq War Veterans Speak Out on Duty, Loss and the Fight to Stay Alive,” which was turned into an award-winning play. Latty is also the author of the critically acclaimed “We Were There: Voices of African American Veterans, from World War II to the War in Iraq.”

Suzan Shown Harjo is a poet, journalist and activist for Native American rights and culture. She is president of The Morning Star Institute, a non-profit cultural rights and arts advocacy group; served on the Native American Policy Committee for Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and as an Advisor to the Transition in 2008-2009; and Harjo is currently the Guest Curator and General Editor for the National Museum of the American Indian’s upcoming exhibit and publication on Treaties.

Young,  Fierce,  Eco-Huntress -- Emily Hunter  is the eco-correspondent for MTV, Emily -- like her father, the late, great Robert Hunter, a Greenpeace co-founder -- uses her journalistic talents to spread a green message. Emily strives to make people aware of the consequences of consumption and everyday actions through television and videos, print media and web-based publications. Her latest project is a book entitled The Next Eco-Warriors

Since appearing on the MTV documentary No Easy Decision, Katie Stack has used her story to connect with people, encouraging respectful and honest dialogue on the emotionally heated topic of reproductive justice. Her experience with both the pro-life and pro-choice movement gives unique insight into the grassroots battle of hearts and minds.

Caryl Rivers and Rosalind C. Barnett tackle a new, troubling trend in the theorizing about gender: that the learning styles, brain development, motivation, cognitive and spatial abilities, and "natural" inclinations of boys and girls are so different, they require completely different styles of parenting and education. Their book The Truth About Girls and Boys educates us in the true nature of the gender game, helping future generations transform if not transcend the parameters of sexual difference.