Herstory 20/20 aims to promote equality and fight discrimination, while celebrating inspirational and histrorical women from the past and present
Women in Waterford and the South-East who wish to align themselves with a movement that challenges historical and contemporary accounts of women’s achievements can do so by attending the Herstory Waterford 20/20 event planned for Monday, 20 February.
Fighting discrimination
According to one of the organisers, South East Technological University (WIT) academic Dr Una Kealy “Waterford women are fighting against the slight-of-hand discrimination against women that pervades contemporary social structures.”
Celebration
Created in association with Herstory.ie, the Waterford Herstory 20/20 event will celebrate inspirational women from Waterford, past and present and will be hosted by WIT’s Granary campus on Hanover Quay in Waterford city on Monday, 20 February from 7pm – 8.30pm. Herstory is a cultural movement and a multi-disciplinary arts platform created to celebrate women from history and today which aims to eliminate the phrase ‘I’ve never heard of her’.
Speakers
A number of speakers at the event will discuss inspirational, contemporary and historical Waterford women whose stories and experiences in the world of sport, broadcasting and business are aimed to inspire young men and women of the future.
Speakers at the event will include historian Julian Walton introduced by Jean Kealy, chair of local University of the Third Age, Tramore; entrepreneur and scientist Louise Grubb introduced by Jane Cantwell, City and County Librarian, Beat 102-103 broadcaster Trish Archer introduced by Dr Jenny O’Connor, SETU, and SETU student and Deise camogie player Valerie O’Brien introduced by Tammy Darcy of the Shona project (Shona.ie) a national anti-bullying initiative aimed at girls and based in Waterford.
Exhibition
Also exhibited during the event will be pieces from Waterford’s Women’s Centre exhibition, in association with the Index Gallery, curated for International Women’s Day this year; a host of images documenting Waterford women as photographed by Annie Brophy displayed in association with Waterford City Archives; and a documentary entitled In Loving Memory telling the story of the Magdalene laundry system shown in association with the Waterford Memories Project.
Dr Kealy explains what a network of resistance is: “Elaine Aston, feminist activist and academic writing in Theatre Research International last year describes a ‘growing number of women’s protests that show signs of feminism regaining momentum as a social movement’ and speaks of the importance of the formation of ‘networks of resistance’ which serve to expose and challenge the inequalities that operate as normal within prevailing attitudes to women. Such networks of resistance allow women and men to challenge historical and contemporary accounts of women’s achievements, successes and ongoing concerns and campaigns.”
Fighting discrimination
Speaking of Herstory Waterford 20/20 Dr Kealy said “The Waterford event aims to promote equality and demonstrate unity in the face of prejudice or discrimination. It is targeted at women, men, girls and boys. It’s really important that our audience is made up of girls and boys, women and men, those interested in continuing the work to create an equal and fair society now and in the future. We also wish to stress that the event is free and accessible to whoever wishes to attend.”
Waterford Herstory 20/20 is a multi-partner event supported by DVF Printing; the Granary Café; Herstory.ie; Shona.ie; the Equality Office and the Research Support Unit, TUI Equality WIT; the School of Humanities, WIT; the University of the Third Age, Tramore; Waterford City and County Council Library Services & Waterford City and County Archives, Waterford City and County Council; SETU Student's Union and hosted by South East Technological University.
The event is free. To book go to www.wit.ie/events - booking required as spaces are limited.