A program today in the Memorial Union will attempt to define the terms “womanism” and “feminism.”

“Essentially, feminism is a white woman’s movement while womanism is a black woman’s philosophy,” said Judy Dolphin, executive director of the YWCA.

The program “Purple is to Lavender as Womanism is to Feminism” will feature speakers Brenda Daly, an Iowa State associate professor of English and Brittan Swanagan, a graduate student in English.

“They will try to define the role of women and they will explore the differences between the feminist movement and the philosophy of womanism,” Dolphin said.

Daly said: “We will look at the possibility of imagining different feminisms from different perspectives, not necessarily antagonistic toward one another.”

Swanagan said she and Daly will construct a dialogue. “It won’t be a speech. She and I will talk about feminism versus womanism or as opposed to or in contrast,” Swanagan said. “There are various types of feminism and various types of womanism and this will be an open discussion for people to come and express their opinions.”

The program will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 244 of the Memorial Union.