Munroe Bergdorf: activist and inspitayion

DMU is very lucky to have activist and model Munroe Bergdorf as a guest during Cultural Exchanges 2019. 

 Her appearance may just be my highly anticipated event of the week. She is highly known for her work within the LGBTQ+ community and for her insight on diversity. In this modern age, such topics are more relevant than evert. 

In past articles from the likes of Teen Vogue and Grazia, Bergdorf has discussed topics ranging from mental health to feminism. I'm very much looking forward to hearing what she has to say and applying her knowledge to not only my every day life, but my writing as well.

https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/news/2019/february/cultural-exchanges-2019.aspx

Munroe will be at Cultural Exchanges on Wednesday 27th February. 

Book here today, and read more on her website in the mean time!


Belinda Campbell

Woman with bombs

'Why should a woman not use the same weapons as men. It is not only war we have declared. We are fighting a revolution.' (Kitty Marion)

I was already tired when I walked to Fern Riddell's talk and was worried that I'd fall asleep in the warmth. Luckily, that didn't happen. Instead, for the entire time I was completely intrigued by what was being said. I’ve always been interested in the suffragettes and women’s rights. Hearing Riddell discuss it in such a passionate way kept me listening and wide awake.

  I'd never heard of Kitty Marion before but she played a huge part in the Women’s Social and Political Union in the UK and led a fascinating life. After her cmapaigns with the suffragettes she became involved in another important campaign for women's rights - the campaign for birth control in the United States.

Fern Riddell's passion for this topic, and the way she spoke about it and answered questions from the audience was what kept my attention throughout and I look forward to the plublication of her book, Death in ten minutes (due in April) so that I can learn more about Kitty Marion and her appealing life story.

 

L A Parkins

Mothers of Feminism

Philosophy? A guilty pleasure of mine.

Feminism? Fresh from Imogen Sutton, who has studied a major figure in the Feminist movement.

How could I resist this event?

If I had known Simone de Beauvoir had never conceived children - or known anything at all about her - I might have understood beforehand the endearing irony of the event's title: "Imogen Sutton: Daughters of de Beauvoir."

After a short introduction to the film and a fumble with the light switch, darkness fell, and the screen brightened. Although there were no subtitles – forgivable since the film was produced nearly thirty years ago - it was an enjoyable and enlightening watch.

Faces of writers like Kate Millett (an old friend of the French writer) and Ann Oakley spread across the screen as they shared their discoveries of feminism through de Beauvoir's ground-shaking work.

Feminism has always been a concrete thing for me, as I was born on the eve of the 21st century. Not for these women, though. They pulled the cloth from their eyes and perceived their passive position in society: they were living through their husbands.

And this was all realised because the deeply introspective Simone de Beauvoir shouted into the void so effectively with The Second Sex, first published in 1949. 

Sutton admitted, with disappointment, that de Beauvoir and her work are still relevant today. Women continue to be oppressed "in all departments."

I left feeling unexpectedly wised-up and quite 'feminist-ed.'
 

G. E. Knight

That's what they said

Sexism in Britain today will be under discussion in De Montfort University's Trinity House next Thursday. The event is called 'That's  What They Said' and one of the guests will be Laura Bates of the Everyday Sexism Project.

As a modern woman I've heard some interesting reactions to the word ‘feminism’ - it's a delicate subject today. Recent debates and social media trends have shown a range of opinions (and some extreme views) on the topic of feminism.

It will be interesting to hear a variety of women speaking about their personal experiences of sexism. I hope the event will also offer some modern male perspectives. 

Annie Ford

Come fly with Virdee

Pakistan International Airlines logo 

Dr Pippa Virdee is touching down! On Wednesday the 25th of February in the Clephan building, Virdee will give a talk on the transformation of women in the public eye in Pakistan, using a rather surprising medium to illustrate her talk: airline commercials.  

Along with testimonials from women who have worked in the advertisement sector of Pakistan International Airport, Virdee plans to explore and explain the progress women have made in the Pakistan's culture.  

Although the development of women, their lives and their rights is being looked into increasingly often in modern times, these analyses tend to focus on the Western world. Feminism and general interest in women is far too frequently preoccupied solely with white women in First World countries, so it will be refreshing to see an alternative view this Cultural Exchanges Week.  

I look forward to not only the talk itself but also any comments and insights the audience have to offer. I'm expecting questions about religion, the history of Pakistan, women's rights and perhaps personal autonomy. The discussion should be rich in cultural references and detail here l at De Montfort University. 

You can book tickets on-line.

Jodie Goodwin