Happy International Women’s Day to all our students and staff here at Leeds Beckett!
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on the 8th of March. It’s a day that highlights the fight for gender equality and acknowledges and honours women’s social, economic, cultural, and political contributions throughout history. ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’ is the theme of International Woman’s Day 2024, with a campaign theme of ‘Inspire Inclusion’ – emphasizing the importance of diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society.
The idea of International Woman’s Day comes from the 1908 labour movement, during which many garment workers marched the streets of New York, demanding better pay, shorter working hours and voting rights. This march inspired German delegates to propose “a special Women’s Day” at the Socialist Women’s Conference to be organised annually, which sparked the first celebrations the following year. After women gained suffrage during the Russian Provisional Government in 1917, IWD was made a national holiday.
Here at Leeds Beckett Students' Union we have our own Women Students' Community for students to campaign for change on campus and meet other students in their community. The Community provides a supportive and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and supported in both their academic and personal lives. Membership is free for all self-identifying students and gives you access to exciting opportunities, valuable information, a campaigning platform and resources to support you in your journey here at Leeds Beckett. You can find out more about the Women Students' Community here.
If you’re looking to celebrate this Friday, grab some tickets for IWD at Belgrave with Hannah Diamond from 7:30 pm, or check out the Chapel FM Arts Centre for 2 full days of conversations, crafts and community forums. Don’t forget to book!
Safer Leeds will also be celebrating International Women’s Day on Friday 8th March in partnership with Women Friendly Leeds! They’ll be promoting WalkSafe and Ask For Angela and will be at Leeds Trinity to ask answer any questions you might have around the safety and support available for women and girls in Leeds. Find them on the first floor by Fraser Hart from 10am- 5pm.