Students and staff at the University are running numerous events to celebrate the mark that women have made on history.
For the full list of events taking, please visit: southampton.likn.co/iww
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a product of working women who wanted change. The first ever IWD took place in New York in 1999. It was organised by the Socialist Party of America in remembrance of the strike by the International Ladies’ Garment Workers union the year before.
We asked two female colleagues for their views of International Women’s Day. Professor Philippa Reed from Engineering Science said:
“International Women’s Week is a great opportunity to stop and reflect on the issues facing women across the world as well as celebrating the achievements and experiences of women staff and students within the University.”
and Dr Kim Harman, from Primary Care and Population Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine said:
“It is vital that women are treated as equals in all walks of life and this begins with the cultural identity of women as young girls. We need as a society to show girls they can achieve their goals no matter what they are and gender is no barrier. Men, and boys, need to be aware that being female is not a barrier to achievement, it is often a positive asset. All individuals should be supported by family, friends, teachers, mentors and anybody else they have contact with to aim high, strive to and achieve their goals.”
Dr Harman continues:
“Some of the events planned for IWW at the University show this. As a Higher Education Institution, the University needs to show it takes all sections of society with sincerity and values their contribution. IWW is a small but very important part of that agenda. The work with STEM also shows this as does the Athena Swan awards.”
“It is never too late to achieve your dreams.”
More information about International Women’s Day can be found on the UN Women website and on The Women’s Timeline.