Womens Rights – Centenary Celebration

Geography & History Ambassadors Host Centenary Celebration

The 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918 was marked on 6 February. It was legislation that enabled all men and some women over the age of 30 to vote for the first time and paved the way for further suffrage activism to gain the right for all to vote, 10 years later. January 2018, has also marked a year since the first International Women’s Marches, where millions of women mobilised across the world to say no to sexism. At such a pivotal time in womens’ history, both Geography and History Ambassadors saw this milestone as a chance to work cross-collaboratively across Humanities in order to shine a light on the history of women, to celebrate the anniversary of female suffrage and to raise awareness on the struggles that still exist for many women all around the globe today.

The UK suffragette movement was born in Manchester in October 1903, when Emmeline Pankhurst held the first meeting of the Women’s Social and Political Union in her home at 62 Nelson Street,. So on Friday 9^th February, the Ambassadors felt it was fitting to hold the first meeting on Female History and Fourth Wave Feminism at Kings Norton Girls’ School. The History Ambassadors brought their knowledge of The Suffragette Movement to light whilst the geographers used maps and topical news articles to demonstrate world gender inequality issues today.  The event was enjoyed by all those who attended and the Ambassadors are keen to work together on future projects, especially those to do with women’s’ rights and equality.

In addition to the event, five KNGS students were interviewed by TV channel ‘Made in Birmingham’ about their  thoughts on the ‘Fight for the Right’ film plus their own personal inspirations and aspirations as modern day women.