How will you better the gender balance?

This was this was the take home message throughout March as the Faculty rang in International Women’s Day with a series of talks and workshops on gender equality.

Dr Jess Wade, early career researcher from Imperial and avid campaigner for equality, delivered a key note speech, rallying over 400 attendees to make changes to advance gender equality. It was a frank reminder that the world is very biased, but we can all do something (however small) to drive equality forward. Attendees demonstrated this through joining the campaign to #EndPeriodPoverty; donating hundreds of boxes of tampons and sanitary towels for the local foodbank Emmeline’s Pantry, for vulnerable women in Manchester.

On the day itself, a panel of speakers discussed being women in STEM, and how best to combat inequality in the workplace. Male allies were highlighted as essential to progress, but not forgetting a crucial way to better the balance; women supporting other women.

Three workshops followed these talks, led by each of the three schools of FBMH:

Work/life balance: Maintaining a good work/life balance is essential to women’s career progression. A group of experts from the University advised on how they best achieve a good work/life balance, with top tips including not over-committing yourself: prioritise the important meetings and block out your time (pretend you’re in London!).

Women and Wikipedia: Two women, Carol Ann Whitehead FRSA and Dr Mary Tully, took to the floor to discuss their Northern Power Women award-nominated work, and encourage attendees to take to their keyboards to remedy the gender bias on Wikipedia.

Mentoring: what’s in it for me?: Prof Stephanie Marshall from Queen Mary University of London, previously the Chief Executive Officer of the Higher Education Academy, chaired a panel discussion on the benefits of mentoring, motivating attendees to learn from their role models, and always support others.

The month was a wakeup call that we all need to work together to overcome inequality. Whether through donating sanitary products, mentoring others or even just sending out emails to speak out against gender inequality; what can you do to better the gender balance?

Join a women’s network: Women in BMH, Women in Cancer, and Women in Physics

Donate to a women’s charity: Emmeline’s Pantry, Women’s Aid and Refuge

Get involved with mentoring: Manchester Gold

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