Welcome to York International Women’s Week 2020
YIWW20 is underway, with over 30 events organised by local people for local people, exploring the idea of ‘respect and recognition’ for all women, in York, nationally and internationally, via workshops, talks, performances and more.
The core Programme occurs during 7th-15th March, with some earlier and later events.
The programme is now live! Read or download our YIWW20_Programme at a glance or view details of all of the events on the YIWW20 Programme page.
Printed brochures and flyers are available in local York venues, including Libraries and Visit York.
If you would like to support YIWW20 by distributing brochures or flyers, or displaying posters, please email: yorkwomensvoices.co.uk
YIWW is coordinated by a group of local volunteers. We welcome new people; if you would like to find out more and consider being involved in YIWW21, please email: yorkwomensvoices.co.uk
With best wishes for a stimulating, informative and enjoyable YIWW from the YIWW20 Coordinating Team: Penny Bainbridge, Marilyn Crawshaw, Rose Drew, Margaret Everall, Kate Hignett, Ann Kaloski, Kim Stephen, June Tranmer, and the YIWW20 Social Media Team: Leena Agunabor, Georgia Bevan, Debbie Stuart.
Background to York International Women’s Week
We are delighted to once again offer a varied and exciting programme of talks, workshops, gigs, performances and other events here in York to promote this year’s theme of ‘Respect and Recognition’ for all women throughout our city and beyond.
There are different versions of the origins of the idea of holding an annual ‘Women’s Day’ but a key event was a European conference of working women in 1910. There, Clara Zetkin proposed an annual day to celebrate women at the same time as urging action to improve working conditions, bring about equal pay and ensure women’s voting rights. Over the years, campaigns to shift attitudes and challenge discrimination on these and other areas such as gender-based violence have achieved much. And there is more to do. Did you know, for example, that globally one new ‘child bride’ gets married every two seconds? That women are almost twice as likely as men to suffer severe injuries in car crashes because safety features are designed for men? That only six countries in the world – Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden – give women equal legal work rights as men? That women have been hit far harder than men from austerity? And for women who are disabled or from minority ethnic groups, the effects of gender discrimination are magnified? [www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/03/surprising-stats-about-gender-inequality]
York International Women’s Week is about celebrating women too! Respecting all that we have achieved and will achieve and Recognising our unique strengths and attributes.
International Women’s Day is now marked in many countries on 8th March each year.
In York people come together to celebrate women’s achievements, to witness women’s struggles, and to work towards justice and equality for all, locally and globally. This year the broad aim of the festival is ‘Respect and Recognition’ for all women, whatever their cultural or personal background and identity. The events are offered by local organisers (individual and groups) and the festival pulled together by a small group of volunteers. We expect all events to be welcoming and inclusive and for everyone to join in, in the spirit of respect and recognition. We must all also acknowledge our responsibility to listen to each other and not seek to silence women even if we don’t share the same views. Our voices as women have been silenced for too long. We welcome all women and everyone in support of them to join us.
We hope you will join in – browse the programme, find out something new about women’s rights locally and globally, enjoy a poetry or music gig, try new activity such as acting or yoga – and celebrate women’s worth in the world.
Queries?: yorkwomensvoices@gmail.com
Supported by
York Human Rights City
In April 2017, York was declared the UK’s first Human Rights City. Its Declaration commits to promote human rights in decision making, to ensure all residents’ human rights are respected, and to encourage awareness and debate about human rights. To read more about what is happening in the city and to sign up for regular notices, visit www.yorkhumanrights.org; Fb:@YorkHumanRightsCity; Twitter:@YorkHumanRights.
University of York Centre for Women’s Studies (CWS)
The Centre for Women’s Studies (CWS) was established at the University of York in 1984. It has grown to become a world-leading centre for the study of women and gender, offering innovative teaching across the humanities and social sciences, linking theory in imaginative ways to current affairs and cultural and political issues. CWS offers postgraduate Diplomas, MAs, and PhDs. We are lucky to have a lively, international group of students from many countries, including the rest of Europe, and we warmly welcome applications from those living locally in York and the surrounding area. Students normally have a 2:1 in their first degree, and we also take relevant experience into account. For details, see www.york.ac.uk/womens-studies and contact cws@york.ac.uk if you’d like to discuss studying with us.
York Women’s Forum was founded in 2018 and is a developing network which aims to provide a vehicle for women to share ideas, knowledge and experiences, to identify issues for action, promote gender equality and non-discrimination in York, and encourage women to take part in our democracy. The Forum is non Party political, and open to all who self-identify as women. http://www.yorkwomensforum.wordpress.com
