Marianne Githens (November 10, 1936 – February 27, 2018)
was an American political scientist, feminist, and author. She was an Elizabeth Conolly Todd Distinguished Professor and the co-founder of the Women's Study Program at
Goucher College
Goucher College ( ') is a private liberal arts college in Towson, Maryland. It was chartered in 1885 by a conference in Baltimore led by namesake John F. Goucher and local leaders of the Methodist Episcopal Church.https://archive.org/details/h ...
. In 1977, she co-authored the anthology ''
A Portrait of Marginality''.
Early life and education
Githens was born in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
to Anita Keller, a schoolteacher and life-long resident of
Cedarhurst,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
and John H. Githens, an accountant. She was raised in
Cedarhurst,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
. She had one brother, John Lawrence. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Marymount Manhattan College
Marymount Manhattan College is a private college on the Upper East Side of New York City. As of 2020, enrollment consists of 1,571 undergraduates with women making up 80.1% and men 19.9% of student enrollment. The college was founded in 1936.
Hi ...
. After graduation Githens moved to
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
, where she lived with an emigre German Jewish family near
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath (locally known simply as the Heath) is an ancient heath in London, spanning . This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band o ...
. Githens studied at the
London School of Economics
, mottoeng = To understand the causes of things
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £240.8 million (2021)
, budget = £391.1 millio ...
, earning a doctorate in European political institutions and French political thought in 1960.
Her dissertation was titled ''The Separation of Powers in the Working Constitution of the Fourth Republic''.
Career
Githens taught full-time at
Goucher College
Goucher College ( ') is a private liberal arts college in Towson, Maryland. It was chartered in 1885 by a conference in Baltimore led by namesake John F. Goucher and local leaders of the Methodist Episcopal Church.https://archive.org/details/h ...
from 1965 to 2014. She taught part-time until 2016. She was recognized by peers as a "pioneer scholar" in the field of women in politics
and public policy.
Githens was an advocate for inclusion, diversity, and equity. This advocacy included women's rights and for urban neighborhoods in
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
. She was a co-founder of the Women's Studies Program at Goucher and served as the chair of the political science program.
In 1977, Githens and
Jewel Prestage authored the anthology ''
A Portrait of Marginality.'' In 1993, Githens was commissioned to write a report on women in Europe by the
European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body o ...
's Commission of the European Communities for Program Development.
In 2000, Githens was named Goucher College's Elizabeth Conolly Todd Distinguished Professor due to her "leadership, scholarship, teaching and community activism." The appointment provides five years of funds to pursue research.
Personal life
Githens was a feminist and enjoyed fashion and jewelry. She married Stanley Zenith Mazer in 1973. Mazer was a dean and professor at
Baltimore City Community College
Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) is a public community college in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the only community college in the city and the only state-sponsored community college in the state. It is accredited by the Middle States Commiss ...
. The couple met during
Parren Mitchell
Parren James Mitchell (April 29, 1922 – May 28, 2007) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Congressman affiliated with the Democratic Party representing the 7th congressional district of Maryland from January 3, 1971 to January 3 ...
's campaign where they were both were interested in racial equality. Githens and Mazer moved into the
Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon is an American landmark and former plantation of Founding Father, commander of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, and the first president of the United States George Washington and his wife, Martha. The estate is on ...
neighborhood in
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
in 1994. Githens had two sons and two daughters.
Githens died February 27, 2018, of a heart attack at the age of 83. She was survived by her children, brother, and five grandchildren.
Awards and honors
Githens received multiple awards from Goucher College, including the Outstanding Teaching Award, Caroline Doebler Bruckerl Faculty Award, and a Human Rights Scholar Award. She was recognized by
Marymount Manhattan College
Marymount Manhattan College is a private college on the Upper East Side of New York City. As of 2020, enrollment consists of 1,571 undergraduates with women making up 80.1% and men 19.9% of student enrollment. The college was founded in 1936.
Hi ...
with a Distinguished Alumna Award.
In 1997, Githens and her husband were presented a preservation project award from
Baltimore Heritage
Baltimore Heritage is an American nonprofit historic-preservation organization headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.
Foundation
Baltimore Heritage, Inc. was founded in 1960, and Baltimore's nonprofit historic preservation advocacy organizati ...
.
Selected works
Articles
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Books
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[Reviews of ''Abortion Politics: Public Policy in Cross-Cultural Perspective'':
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References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Githens, Marianne
1936 births
2018 deaths
20th-century American non-fiction writers
20th-century American women writers
21st-century American non-fiction writers
21st-century American women writers
Activists from Maryland
Activists from New York City
Alumni of the London School of Economics
American feminist writers
American women political scientists
American political scientists
American women academics
American women's rights activists
Goucher College faculty and staff
Marymount Manhattan College alumni
People from Baltimore
People from Cedarhurst, New York
Scientists from Baltimore
Scientists from New York City
Writers from Baltimore
American women non-fiction writers