Category Archives: Gender

Age, Diversity, Equality, Gender, Uncategorised

Obituary: Clare Hollingworth – War Corresondent

clare-hollingworth

Clare Hollingworth was the war correspondent who broke the news that German troops were poised to invade Poland at the start of World War Two.

She went on to report on conflicts across the world but it was that moment that defined her career.

She was by no means the first female war reporter, but her depth of technical, tactical and strategic insight set her apart.

And, even as she approached her 11th decade, she still kept her passport by her bed in case she should be called to another assignment.   More

Gender

Laura Kenny named Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year

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Four-time Olympic gold medallist Laura Kenny has been named the 2016 Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year.

The Great Britain hockey side who won gold at Rio 2016 have been named Team of the Year.

Cyclist Kenny won team pursuit and omnium gold during the summer.

The 24-year-old beat fellow cyclist Sarah Storey, who has won 14 Paralympic gold medals and Jade Jones, who successfully defended her Olympic taekwondo title, to the prize.

Nicola Adams (boxing), Charlotte Dujardin (equestrianism) Johanna Konta (tennis) were the other nominees.  More

Gender

Margaret Thatcher tops Woman’s Hour Power List

mrs-tMargaret Thatcher has topped a list of the women who have had the biggest impact on women’s lives over the past 70 years.

Fictional heroine Bridget Jones and singer Beyonce were also named on the list, which was compiled by BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour.

Seven people were picked for the Power List to mark the show’s 70th birthday.

While Thatcher topped the list, the other women who appear on it were not ranked in any order.

Feminist academic Germaine Greer also made the cut, as did Helen Brook, who set up the Brook Advisory Centres in 1964 offering contraceptive advice to unmarried women.

The other names listed were Barbara Castle, the Labour MP who brought in the Equal Pay Act in 1970, and Jayaben Desai, who campaigned against low pay and poor conditions for women workers.  More_92954312_castle_bbc

Gender

Rogue One’s Felicity Jones says female action heroes are now ‘the norm’

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Rogue One actress Felicity Jones has said the number of lead roles for women in action films is a “a wonderful moment for cinema”.

Jones, who plays Jyn Erso in the new Star Wars spin-off, said “it means a huge amount” to be the first woman to have top billing in a Star Wars movie.

She said: “It’s absolutely time that we had female leads and as many females leading films as we do men.

“It’s a very exciting time to be an actress.”

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story had its UK premiere in London on Tuesday and is released around the world this week.  More

Gender

Don’t buy pink toys for girls, parents told

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Parents are being warned against buying pink, gender-stereotyped toys this Christmas, so as not to deter girls from getting into science.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology claims such stereotypes could be putting girls off engineering and technology.

Its analysis of top retailers and search engine results found 89% of toys aimed at girls were pink.

Only 11% of girls’ toys focused on science, technology or engineering.

Conversely, nearly a third (31%) of toys aimed at boys had a such a focus.  More

Gender, Mental Health, Uncategorised

Adele speaks about her postnatal depression after the birth of her son Angelo

adeleAdele has opened up about her battle with postnatal depression after the birth of her son, Angelo.

The singer told Vanity Fair magazine that she felt, at the time, like she had made “the worst decision” of her life.

The 28-year old goes on to say that she “loves her son more than anything” but admits she really struggled adjusting to motherhood.  More

Gender, Uncategorised

Wonder Woman to become UN Women’s Champion

_91910568_wonder_woman_getty_ap_warneComic book heroine Wonder Woman is to be named as a new honorary ambassador for the United Nations (UN).

The character will be used to promote messages about women’s empowerment and gender-based violence, the UN said.

DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson will accept the role for her company’s comic book, TV and film character at a ceremony on 21 October.

The DC comics site hinted that actresses who have played Wonder Women will also attend the event.

The campaign is being sponsored by Warner Bros and DC Entertainment who are supporting the UN and Unicef’s year-long campaign for gender equality and women’s empowerment.  More

Gender, Uncategorised

Woman’s Hour at 70: ‘Hooray for being a housewife’

_91624061_housewifeOn 7 October 1946 a male presenter introduced the very first episode of Woman’s Hour.

Created as a time-filler for housewives, its early broadcasts were criticised for being “patronising” and obsessed with the routine of domestic chores.

Three months after the programme’s launch, the first female presenter was at the helm and the show went on to become a Radio 4 staple – the longest-running radio magazine programme in British broadcasting.

From how to cook with whale meat to contraception and “the perfect affair”, the shifting nature of its subjects shines a light on the changing nature of the issues affecting women.  More

 

Gender, Uncategorised

Chasing the Sun: The woman forgotten by science

annie-maunderOn the far side of the Moon lies the Maunder crater, named after two British astronomers – Annie and Walter Maunder.

Annie worked alongside her husband at the turn of the 19th Century, recording the dark spots that pepper the Sun.

The name Maunder is still known in scientific circles, yet Annie has somehow slipped from history.

“I think the name Maunder is there and we have all rather forgotten that that’s two people,” says Dr Sue Bowler, editor of the Royal Astronomical Society magazine, Astronomy and Geophysics.

“She was acknowledged on papers, she published in her own name as well as with her husband, she wrote books, she was clearly doing a lot of work but she also clearly kept to the conventions of the day, I think.”  More

Diversity, Gender, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month, Mental Health

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – October 2016

karen-taylor-1World Mental Health Day takes place on 10 October 2016.  With this in mind we have chosen Karen Taylor as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month.

Karen is a former employee of the University, originally employed as our Equality and Diversity Champion, and it was she who put the idea of the ‘Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month’ in place.

Karen currently works for Bromley and Lewisham MIND and is the Project Co-ordinator for ‘Mindful Mums’.

The project, run by Karen and her volunteers, is all about learning how to stay resilient and emotionally well, develop confidence and social connections during pregnancy and in the first year of birth.

The courses have proved very beneficial to the 43 women who have attended the groups so far and courses will continue well into the new year.

Karen is a graduate of Queen Mary, University of London gaining a language degree, and recently attained a PG Cert in Special and Additional Needs.  Outside of work she is busy looking after her young son, she loves to exercise and is a professional standard baker of cakes.

To find out more about Mindful Mums see here https://www.blmind.org.uk/bromley-services-2/support-mothers/mindful-mums/

To find out more about World Mental Health Day see here http://wfmh.com/index.php/world-mental-health-day