The IU South Bend Veterans Book Club will meet March 9 to discuss Unbecoming: A memoir of disobedience by Anuradha Bhagwati. This book fits well with other topics inspired by Womens History Month in March. Dr. Betsy Lucal, professor of sociology and gender studies, will be facilitating our discussion. Her expertise will provide a helpful framework for understanding the social and gender issues this memoir touches on.
Bhagwati dropped out of an Ivy League graduate program to join the Marines, much to the dismay of her strict immigrant parents. She struggled with the treatment of women in the Marines and left disillusioned, physically and emotionally battered. After fighting depression and the impact of trauma, she was able to channel her anguish into activism. She helped found the Service Women’s Action Network, which advocates for women who suffer sexual assault in the military and successfully lobbied Congress to expand the participation of women in combat roles.
Everyone is welcome – you do not need to be a veteran to attend, just interested in the role of war and the military in our culture.
The book club will meet in room 301 of the library and on Zoom at 5:30. For questions, a free copy of the book, or the Zoom link, please contact Rhonda Culbertson rculbert@iusb.edu