With International Womens Day approaching I’d like to shed some light on how you can celebrate and get involved at BU. The day is celebrated globally and is there to highlight all achievements by woman, socially, economically, politically and culturally. This year’s theme is ‘Embrace Equity ‘, with the global theme being “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. Campaigners are asking people, in light of the day, to challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion in order to promote healthy change within society.

I’ve highlighted a few events that you can join in Dorset below:

SUBU Elections Night 2019 (Women’s Committee)

Dorset Chamber is celebrating with a women’s lunch at The Captain’s Club, Christchurch where you can take part in a panel discussion and Q&A which celebrates how digital technology has enabled and empowered women.

Dorset Women, together with charity, GO Girls, are hosting Dorset’s first woman’s Health Symposium. The event is to be called “From Menstruation to Menopause” and aimed for all ages of women. The event will be launched by comedian and GO Girls patron, Helen Lederer, with an online guest appearance from Scottish comedian, Janey Godley. This is an exciting time for the voices of women to be heard and to understand the impact of their developing health.

The Guilty Feminist Podcast Show- Bath March 2022

If you’re willing to travel a little further afield to celebrate. A personal favourite of mine is a Podcast called The Guilty Feminist. They’re hosting an international women’s Day special show in London on March 4th. The Guilty Feminist – The comedy podcast hosted by Deborah Frances-White You can also listen to their podcasts online.

If you’re interested in becoming involved, you could get in touch with BU Women’s Committee and help volunteer at an event or set up a workshop of your own. If you’re interested in raising funds and making a difference, you could research local women’s shelters and find out what donations are most needed and support them in that way. You could also fundraise for a local charity you’re passionate about for International Women’s Day. Here’s a range of great charities you could support:

Five X More – These are a charity focusing on addressing and combatting the maternity health outcomes of Black Women in the UK.

Young Women’s Trust is a charity that is working to achieve economic justice for young women between 16-30 years of age. They focus on women struggling to live on low income and offer them coaching services to focus on a brighter future.

Sistah Space is a London community-based non-profit initiative created to bridge the gap in domestic abuse services for African heritage women and girls. Sistah Space (eaction.org.uk)

Bloody Good Period offers menstrual products to asylum seekers, refugees and those who can’t afford them. On top of this, it also offers menstrual education to those who are less likely to access it.

HOME – Women at WISH Wis

FiveXMore Charity

h, is the country’s only mental health service that specifically focuses on women. They aim to provide emotional support, guidance and advocacy at all life stages and support for women moving across hospitals and prisons into the community.

Bournemouth University is particularly good at high

lighting women within STEM. In February 2023 they hosted an online and in person event including online careers events for woman in science. Previously BU have hosted workshops, open mic events, ladies nights and career fairs specifically designed to promote and celebrate women.

Book Recommendations

International women’s Day takes place on 8 March this year and is a day to reflect upon achievements and promote advocacy, action and change across time as we evolve as a society. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get involved at BU and focus on the change that we so necessary call for.

Find out more

Women’s History month and International Women’s Day