What to See
Up until January 2019, the Museum of London is hosting a range of displays, exhibitions, tours and lectures to celebrate the centenary year of the 1918 Representation of the People’s Act, the bill which finally enfranchised a proportion of the female population. From film to physical artifacts, the museum aims to tell a range of stories of the women who fought for their voices to be heard and ultimately changed the course of history. With no entry costs, the range of displays and talks are truly an inspiring reminder of why we need to celebrate women’s history and listen to the stories of the past.
Alternatively, if you would rather explore the impact women have had on the arts this WHM, the 2018 Wonder Women Festival is hosting a range of displays across the North of England to celebrate the place of women in the Arts. This festival includes a range of fascinating exhibitions, such as the celebration of Sonia Boyce’s artistic career at the Manchester Art Gallery, or Chiharu Shiota’s mesmerising exhibition “Beyond Time” in the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. With the majority of events hosted by the festival allowing free entry, there’s certainly something of interest for everyone.
What to Read
One of the most inspiring and empowering reads on my bookshelf that inspired this blog post, Jenni Murray’s ‘A History of Britain in 21 Women’ is an overview of the powerful and highly influential roles women have occupied throughout Britain’s history demonstrates the rousing tenacity of the women we admire and their ability to thrive despite the odds. Murray profiles many famous women, from Boudica to Austen, as well as a few figures you may not have heard of, and highlights the valuable contribution they held not only to their own society, but also towards our modern existence. Ultimately, the aim of this book is to disprove Thomas Carlyle’s famous saying “the history of the world is but the biography of great men”, and Murray certainly succeeds in proving women have earned their rightful place in the pages of history.
What to Watch
Medieval history may not seem to be the most interesting topic to explore, but Dr Helen Castor’s documentary “She-Wolves: England’s Early Queens” is a truly fascinating exploration of a part of women’s history which is often bypassed. Available on Netflix and YouTube, this documentary explores the lives of seven British female monarchs who dared to challenge male power in a time when the roles of women were set in stone. This is a truly fascinating film, which poignantly captures both how far we’ve come in our attitudes towards women in positions of power, yet also how much has unfortunately not changed.
What to Do
2018 has been a year of inspiring change and progress for women all over the world, and there has never been a better time to join the movement and get involved. Whilst reading, watching and learning about women’s history is truly fascinating, this Women’s History Month make sure you become part of women’s history by volunteering or donating to one of the inspiring and vital charities below.
Time’s Up - In the hope to address the systematic inequality of workplace sexual harassment, this organisation aims to provide and fund defence and assistant attorneys to women and men seeking legal retaliation against harassment
https://www.timesupnow.com/#donate-anchor
Savera UK - Savera works with BME communities across the UK to prevent harmful practices to women such as FGM, forced marriage and ‘honour’ based abuse. This vital organisation also aims to challenge the ideas surrounding these practices in local communities, as well as providing support for victims of domestic abuse from around the UK.
Plan International - Plan works across a number of different areas, all to ensure the advanced rights of children and girls across the globe. This organisation focuses on education, domestic abuse and sexual health, ensuring girls everywhere are given the opportunities they deserve to have the best chance in life.
https://plan-international.org
Make your voice heard - Voice is collating content for WHM and the wider feminist movement that has been reinvigorated by Time’s Up. If you have something you would like to add to the collection, whether it be a poem, a personal experience, an event you want to promote or even a video response, it’s really easy to do! Simply create an account and create a blog post, and where it asks for a Voicebox, select Time’s Up!
This is really interesting and thankyou for sharing the possible ways to get involved going forward. Although the month is nearly up we should always be working to ensure women get equal opportunities to make their mark on history. Keep up the good work.