Women's History Month

Women's History Month 2024

During this month we will be running events to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievements and International Women’s Day. As a part of this, we celebrate Women’s History Month with a wide range of SU and University events, including in our Lakeside Theatre and Art Exchange.

We are currently organising our programme of events for Women's History Month 2024 and will update this webpage as events, timings and locations are confirmed. If you would like any further information about our planned programme of events for 2024, please email the Events team at events@essex.ac.uk.

How resilience is helping women win the battle with leprosy

Date: Monday 4 March
Location: STEM, 7-8.30pm

Lepra and the University of Essex are co-hosting a special event to celebrate International Women’s Day on Monday 4 March at 7pm in the STEM Centre at the University’s Colchester Campus, followed by a drinks reception.

Register your place today.

Empowering Women in the Digital Age: Addressing Gender-Based Digital Harm

Date: Thursday 7 March
Location: Room CTC 2.05, 4-5pm

Join us for an enlightening event as we celebrate International Women's Day at the University of Essex Human Rights Centre. Held in conjunction with the Centre for Global South Studies, and the Centre for Intimate and Sexual Citizenship. This year, we have decided to spotlight the theme of gender-based digital and online harm, and we are proud to host speakers who are leading experts in understanding and addressing this critical issue.

Please register your place.

Feminist Placard Making

Date: Thursday 7 March 
Location: Art Exchange, 6-8pm

Join us at our art workshops where women and their allies come together to get creative as they talk, plan and activate celebrations for IWD.

In the spirit of the University’s history of women activists, we’re creating a platform for you to ‘say it loud and say it proud’ – and this week we’re making placards in preparation for the IWD march across campus on Friday 8 March.

In this workshop, you can design and paint your very own placard. We’ll provide the cardboard, paint and brushes. You just have to bring your brilliant ideas and feminist slogans!

Led by local feminist activist Marina Cusi Sanchez, in collaboration with the UoE Colchester campus Students’ Union Women’s Officer and Feminist Society.

All materials provided. Admission free

Womens and Black SCO Mixer

Date: Thursday 7 March
Location: The Atrium, 7-9pm

Details to be confirmed.

Celebrating Women in Political Science

Date: Friday 8 March
Location: Lakeview Room, 11am-1pm

The event will feature a round table, followed by lunch, where there will be a chance to network with the speakers and other attendees. This year, we have three panelists: Prof Zeynep Bulutgil from University College London, Dr. Janina Beiser-McGrath from Royal Holloway, University of London, and Dr. Allyson Benton from the University of Essex.

All are welcome (not just women!) Book your place now.

Making Mentoring Work for Women

Date: Friday 8 March
Location: EBS.2.1, 12-2.30pm

Essex Business School is hosting an event to celebrate International Women's Day. Students and staff will come together for a productive discussion on the importance of mentorship at work, especially for women. This event will also mark the launch of the Essex Business School Women's Working Group, which aims to promote gender equality and opportunities for women in the workplace.

The discussion will be led by Anna Sarkisyan, one of the co-chairs of the new Essex Business School Women’s Working Group, along with Christina Ferreira and Teresa Alvarez. Our panel will discuss mentorship for women in the workplace, hoping that lively interaction will take on a life of its own as the conversation gets going.

This event will be in person and online, register your place today.

Canvas & Confidence: A Celebration of Women in Colour

Date: Friday 8 March
Location: STEM 3.1, 2-5pm

Canvas & Confidence offers more than just an ordinary art session; it's an inclusive space for staff and students to come together, celebrate diversity, and empower one another. As part of the session, we'll embark on a collaborative mural project, serving as a powerful symbol of our shared strength and resilience. Join us as we gather to paint and empower one another within our community.

Refreshments will be provided for your enjoyment. To confirm your attendance, please register here.

Panel Discussion on Women at E15 & in the Arts

Date: Friday 8 March
Location: NB1 (E15), 6.30-8pm

Panelists:
Dr. Christina Kapadocha (E15 Lecturer in Movement for Acting & Research)
Caroline Ibrahim-Hansford (E15 School Manager)
Matthew Lloyd (Associate Director of E15)
Industry Professional, Angela Michaels (Tell Tarra, Half Moon)

Chair: Charlotte Thompson-Lillie (E15 Lecturer in Acting)

There will be an introduction and performance by E15 students. This is an inclusive event and we welcome attendance from all genders. The organiser will be ensuring audience capacity meets fire regulations so please arrive early to avoid disappointment.

The event will last roughly one hour and 15 minutes. Due to time constraints, there will not be a Q&A, but if you have particular areas that you would like to propose for discussion, please feel free to email me at chthom@essex.ac.uk and we will do our best to accommodate where possible.

International Women's Day: Empowering Women in Economics and Beyond

Date: Friday 8 March
Location: The Hex, 12.30-6.30pm

Join us for an impactful event hosted by the Economics Society, featuring inspiring female speakers!!!

Some of the industries our speakers will be representing:
• Civil Service
• Consulting
• Fintech
• Transportation and many more...

We'll explore crucial topics like women's involvement in AI development to ensure gender equality, barriers to women entering STEM fields, insights into early career opportunities in STEM, workplace myths and navigating professional challenges.

Looking through the glass (The fem lens)

Date: Friday 8 March-Sunday 10 March
Location: Online

Reel making competition for women. Looking at the world through the feminine lens. The top 3 shall be posted on our socials. 

Womens Market

Date: Monday 11 March
Location: Colchester, Square 3, 11am-4pm

Stalls on SQ3 to promote local businesses run by women.

Period Stigma Mixer

Date: Thursday 14 March
Location: The Atrium, 5-7pm

Details to be confirmed.

Mug Decorating

Date: Friday 15 March
Location: The Atrium, 6-9pm

To provide a low-impact fun and creative environment for women to socialise in, creating the opportunity to maintain and enhance the relationships within the community.

Gals Day Out!

Date: Saturday 16 March
Location: Southend (exact location to be confirmed), 11am-3pm

A day out with ladies of Southend campus. Both staff and students are invited. A picnic filled with fun, food, .laughter and sharing.

Celebrating Women at Essex

Date: TBC
Location: The Atrium, 7-9pm

A networking event bringing together the university and the Student’s Union with the aim to uplift and encourage, while providing a platform to make connections. Over the course of the evening a series of short speeches will be given from notable women in our community, reflecting on their education, careers, and why they have chosen Essex.

Womb Eye

Date: Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 March
Location: Lakeside Theatre, 6.30-7.30pm

A Homegrown Season production by Stella Perry, PhD Theatre Studies, Playwriting This performance of Womb Eye is a staged reading. Womb Eye is a concept piece about two entities who awaken in a dark limbo. They explore language, power dynamics, and fate, knowing only one can survive.

This work investigates Antonin Artaud’s idea of theatre as a “magical exorcism”, in which the actors and audience commune in a language of gesture, sound, and image.

Stella is a Punk-Noir writer/director/performer. Theatrical works include the House of Carte Blanc trilogy, The Oppenheimer, HMLT, Norwich Pepper Girl, and The Blood Vessel. Co-founder and Artistic Director of the Brooklyn based theatre group Zemwerk.

Show Guidance
Age guidance: 18+
Language, violence, some flashing lights, jarring soundscape.
Run-time: 60 minutes

Tickets cost £5.50. Book your place today.

Solidarity Bonfire

Date: Thursday 21 March
Location: Colchester, The fire pit, 2-5pm

Details to be confirmed.

Exhibition: Women, Culture, Power

Date: Friday 22 March
Location: The Forum (Southend), 10am-4pm

An exhibition in the forum about women representing women. A dedication to strong female inspirations diverse cultures who held power and took their societies to greater heights.

Wonder Women Southend

Date: Thursday 28 March
Location: SU Lounge (Southend), 6pm-8pm

A talent competition among the incredible women of Southend campus.