Students can gain a new perspective on what family and globalization means during a speech tonight.

Zillah Eisenstein, professor of politics at Ithaca College in New York, will be presenting “Families, Nations and Globalization” at 8 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

Jill Bystydzienski, director of women’s studies and professor in liberal arts and sciences cross disciplinary studies, said Eisenstein’s talk will be about “how globalization is affecting families and nations” as part of the year’s theme, “Strengthening Families to Become the Best.”

Eisenstein said during her presentation she will “seek to open up the understanding of each of the concepts and the way it functions” for audience members.

“Ideas get pigeon-holed and not really thought about,” she said.

The common understanding of the family has been redesigned, Eisenstein said. She said it does not include all forms of family structures. She said she is critical of the popular idea of a mother and father with children as being the only definition of family.

Eisenstein said she wants to “interrogate the way we think today” by using a series of slides and discussing the way a generation is taught to think about many issues. Eisenstein said the presentation will be “chaotic on purpose, with honest disorder.”

Pat Miller, coordinator of the lectures program, said Eisenstein has written extensively on topics involving the family and said she is hopeful Eisenstein will deal with a number of aspects relating to globalization during her speech.

As an activist during the civil rights movement and the women’s movement, Eisenstein said she believes there are many forms of feminism, and she has explored “feminism across the globe” for the past five years. She also has written eight books dealing with the issues of race and gender.