From bespoke events to interviews with students about equity and their achievements, we celebrated women at the University and beyond in a variety of ways this Women’s History Month.
As part of the celebration, the University and SUSU organised a programme of events for Women in Sport Week (1-7 March), designed to offer female, female-identifying, and non-binary students the opportunity to get involved with free sport activities in a safe space. It included taster sessions from various SUSU sport clubs across the week, fitness sessions from Southampton Sport, as well as the headlining Night in on campus.
An almost all-day takeover of Jubilee Sports Hall and The Bridge on Saturday 4 March, Night in on campus included a wide variety of events, from weightlifting workshops and self-defence classes to help students feel safer and more confident, to badminton, golf chipping, dodgeball, and frisbee sessions for students to have fun while trying something new.
To top it all off, the programme also featured a free food buffet, a film screening, an all-day hangout space, and an inflatable pool party.
The event received highly positive feedback, with students who took part saying that they enjoyed “the friendly, welcoming, and encouraging atmosphere”, and that they felt “very comfortable and safe.” Many students expressed hope for more similar events going forward, with one student saying that the reason why she did not join previous recreational sessions has been a worry that there would not be other female students there.
Check out the video below for more highlights of our Women in Sport Week events.