Feminism 100: A series of events for students and staff in English Literature and History

2018 marks the centenary of the extension of the franchise to include (some) women, and the Department of English Literature is collaborating with colleagues in the Department of History and with a group of Part 3 students to present a series of free events to celebrate this anniversary.

1. Friday 18^th January, Palmer Building Room 104, 1-3pm, ‘Debates and Doughnuts: Is Feminism Dead?’: this event is organised by two students who would like to reignite feminist debate on campus. Predominantly student-facing, the aim is to draw in students and staff from several Schools. The students hope that this will reignite the RUSU Feminist Society, and RUSU support is being sought for the event. All welcome – free doughnuts!
2. Thursday 8th February, Van Emden LT and first floor foyer, 6-9pm: ‘Inspired by Vote 100: Celebrating Forgotten Heroines’. The evening is the idea of a Part 3 student in connection with a work placement for ‘Literature, Media, Education’, and the planned event splices activity between SLL, MERL, and Dr Jacqui Turner’s Vote 100 and Astor 100 impact projects. The event will include lectures, a celebratory party, and an exhibition organised in liaison with MERL and Special Collections. The event aims to connect issues of equality with issues of education, and it will include a ‘keynote’ lecture given by Dr Turner, mini lectures by Dr Madeleine Davies, Dr Mary Morrissey, and Professor David Stack, as well as student contributions (‘Why this heroine matters to me’).
3. Thursday 8^th March, Edith Morley Building, Room G25, 5-7pm: ‘International Women’s Day Debate and Celebration: ‘Press for Progress’. Dr Madeleine Davies (SLL) organises an ‘International Women’s Day’ event for students every year. This takes the form of talks from senior colleagues at UoR and a student-led debate following the talks. The event is primarily student-facing and is always a lively affair. The evening will conclude the series of celebrations that constitute ‘Feminism 100’.

The three events involve significant levels of collaboration between staff across the university and they also involve close working partnerships with our students. The organisers of the events hope that the focus on equality issues and questions of inclusion central to this series of talks, debates and celebrations will refuel significant conversations in a year that marks a crucial centenary in the history of equality.

To participate in any (or all) of these events, please contact Dr Madeleine Davies, m.k.davies@reading.ac.uk, or Dr Jacqui Turner, e.j.turner@reading.ac.uk.