Molly Taylor, Mental Health and Wellbeing Advocate at the Students' Union, has worked hard throughout March to ensure we celebrate the incredible achievements of the women in our community.
Molly Taylor, Mental Health and Wellbeing Advocate at the Students' Union, has put together a blog reflecting on all the conversations and activities she's had a hand in organising this Women's History Month. From social events such as a pub quiz, to creative workshops and panel discussions, Molly's worked hard throughout March to ensure we celebrate the incredible achievements of the women in our community.
Molly Taylor
Mental Health and Wellbeing Advocate
Hello, my name is Molly and this month, I have had the opportunity to organise Women's History Month, which has reaffirmed my pride as a woman and taught me the importance of listening to and amplifying the voices of other women.
Women’s History Month Quiz
To kick off the celebrations, The Packhorse hosted an extra special Women's History Month quiz! There were 24 questions in total, testing our knowledge of both historical and contemporary women. In 1831, Mary Prince made history as the first African American woman to publish an autobiography and bring an anti-slavery petition to parliament. Also, by the time she was 10 years old, Eleanor Roosevelt was an orphan. What extraordinary women...
It was inspiring to see the students so involved and competitive, and it was wonderful to make new connections with students who also shared my enthusiasm for Women's History Month.
While we had a great time at the quiz, it also taught me that women frequently endure the brunt of oppression. However, women throughout history have transformed this oppression into powerful stories, rewriting history and telling their narratives as they wish them to be told.
Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories Panel
We didn't stop there though! The following day, I had the privilege of hosting a panel discussion of five outstanding women, including activists and academics. Our keynote speaker, Marian Adejokun, shared her inspiring experience as a survivor of Steven Johnson syndrome after an allergic reaction to eyedrops and how she found the strength to not give up and spread awareness of her story through her "My scars, my story" campaign.
Throughout the event, I questioned the panelists about their activist experience and how they became interested in Women's rights and history.
Sarah Ansari replied: “I was just thinking, you know, you asked us originally about when we saw ourselves as an activist? I don't know when I saw myself as an activist; I don't really know when I ever particularly have. But on the other hand, I think things that I've done (going back to what you said about actions sometimes being louder than words) for example, about 10 years ago, I was head of the History department. The key thing was that there hadn't been a woman headed the department in 40 years.”
We then heard about their thoughts on why women’s history is so important.
Weipin Tsai said: “In the West and the Chinese context, the same women's history tends to be ignored. But when we look at paintings or images or something like that, we often see women there. For example, when we talk about producing a piece of silk fabric, beginning with the cultivating of silkworms and ending with the weaving of the fabric, women are at the centre of the production process. Or, if we look at the 16th-century musicians playing lutes, we often see women holding and playing a beautiful lute, but we rarely hear about women musicians. Normally it's only men. So, I think to really understand human history, we really need to bring in women's voices.”
Finally, we learned some tips on how to be better allies for women and marginalised people:
- Step outside your comfort zones; show you're interested in experiences beyond your own.
- Be an ally in the community; our community should be a safe space.
- Be accommodating and flexible to the variety of needs of different women; your experience is not necessarily universal.
- Have a network of support around you.
- Hold yourself accountable; this is a challenging but essential thing.
- Have the confidence to take action.
We recorded the event! If you want to watch and listen to the event and their stories in full... watch this space.
Self-expression Social
On Wednesday 8 March, I was joined by Lucy and a few students at a self-expression social event where postcards produced by the SU's Graphic Designers were decorated. This exercise was designed to reflect on our journeys as women and to celebrate our own and other women's lives. The goal of this activity was to introduce students to each other and, also provide a nice stress reliever during a busy month. Everyone who came could also take home their postcards as journals!
Look how amazing and colourful these postcards are! Woman power indeed.
Ally Zlatar, The Starving Artist, ‘Exploring The Power of the Female Voice’
The next event in the Women’s History Month calendar was in collaboration with our Art Society and hosted by Ally Zlatar, an artist and activist.
Ally is the founder of The Starving Artist, an artist initiative that uses voice as a way to create advocacy and systemic reform. She also founded The Starving Artist Scholarship Fund which helps people access inpatient treatment for eating disorders. Her "This Body of Mine" campaign explores migrant experiences through creative voices and has helped support individuals and artists from refugee backgrounds globally.
During the session, Ally discussed the significance of art for conveying messages and stimulating empathy, as well as how art can connect us, aid us in telling our stories and life experiences, and bring us closer together. She then guided us through the creative process and provided self-portrait tips.
What stood out to me most was how tough it was initially to sketch and envision a self-portrait. While we frequently provide our services to others, we rarely spend time providing services to and honouring ourselves. I learned that I need to honour my accomplishments and life experiences as a woman more!
Below you can find artwork created by students at the event!
Women’s history month Exhibition
Natalia Wieckowska, a friend and fellow student studying Liberal Arts and aspiring curator, enabled and organised the final event of Women's History Month.
The exhibition, which was on display from 10am-4pm in the Library, was small, but I was grateful and proud to have been able to shed light on women past and present whose voices deserve to be heard.
The exhibition retold the stories of Bedford College's early trailblazing women, such as Sarah Parker Remond, who studied French, Latin, English Literature, music, and history and went on to become an abolitionist who fought for freedom. It also featured submissions by women on campus in the form of poems, short stories, and historical pieces.
Thank you to Simona Palcau, Aran Pascual Quiros, Emilie Williams, Olivia Singh, and an anonymous contributor for submitting such powerful pieces, which have rightfully left a legacy on campus.
Thank you to every student, colleague, and friend who has supported this Women's History Month at the SU. And to women, past and present, whose stories of oppression, fear, strength, and resilience will continue to influence our daily lives, during and beyond Women's History Month.