We work in the marketing and communications department and this year have been highlighting women and equality as part of Vote 100 – a national campaign to commemorate 100 years of women’s suffrage. As Bristol Uni Women ourselves, we wanted to kick off this blog series by talking about why we are excited to be involved in this project.
Throughout 2018 we’ve been asking fellow feminists to tell us about the women they think more people should know about; the next thing they’d like to see change; and the everyday acts we can all take part in to improve equality.
The answers have been as varied as they are inspiring and are testament to the difference a single voice can make. So what changes are we making in our own lives? We’ve started deliberately supporting women’s art, literature and film; spoken out against sexism; and learnt more about the importance of intersectionality in our activism. We’re also starting conversations about the everyday challenges faced by women, encouraging people to reflect on their own actions and beliefs.
It’s been wonderful to work on a project that has allowed us to look into our fascinating past, discovering the trailblazing Bristol women who changed our University, and our city, for the better. From entrepreneurial alum Chloe Tingle to Students’ Union Chief Executive Sam Budd, our staff, students and alumni continue to help shape policy and culture today.
This November we are commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the first women being able to stand for election, with an event in the Wills Memorial Building. Baroness Shami Chakrabarti joins an expert panel of activists and historians, with interactive voting to bring our audience into the debate. In the run-up to the event, we’ll be asking some of our #BristolUniWomen to contribute to this blog, discussing what changes we need, how to best achieve this, and what equality means to them.
We’d love you to join us in this conversation. Use the hashtag to tell us about your favourite #BristolUniWomen and what topics are most important to you.
We’re also planning an historic surprise at our venue for the night – so make sure you don’t miss out. You can book your free ticket here: https://women-and-equality.eventbrite.co.uk
Find out more about women at the University of Bristol and our campaign at bristol.ac.uk/women
By Kate Ashley, Sarah Ashley, and Philippa Walker