International Women's Day 2023

International Women's Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.  The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.

The theme for 2023 is #EmbraceEquity.  It aims to understand the difference between equality and equity and to get the world talking about why 'equal opportunities are no longer enough'.  Equality means that each individual or group is given the same resources or opportunities.  Equity recognises that everybody has different circumstances, and that different resources and opportunities might be needed for an equal outcome.  You can read more about the difference between equity and equality on the International Women's Day website.

In 2023, International Women's Day has a number of Missions:

• Celebrate the women forging change
• Elevate visibility of women creatives
• Build workplaces where women thrive
• Improve equality for women in tech
• Forge women's empowerment worldwide
• Empower women's choices in health
• Applaud equality for women in sport

To celebrate International Women's Day, the Parkinson building will be lit up in purple, green and white on Wednesday 8 March.

In Leeds

There will be a range of events taking place in the University and elsewhere in Leeds to celebrate the day.

Are We Different? - International Celebration of Women at the University of Leeds

Wednesday 8 March, Liberty Building, 12 - 2pm

Join the Women at Leeds network for this panel event featuring Mrs Sarah Budello (OD&PL), Dr Shareefa Fadhel (Research & Innovation Service), Dr Kendi Guanti (EDI Dean), and Dr Linyan Han (Mechanical Engineering).  They will share their stories and experiences of adjusting to a new cultural environment.   Celebrate the achievements of colleagues and friends over tea, coffee, biscuits and cake.

Register for this event via Eventbrite

Liberate LUU Film Festival

Monday 6 March, Pyramid Theatre, Leeds University Union, 5.30pm

Liberate LUU is beginning a new film festival, recognising important dates and a variety of liberation topics.  To mark International Women's Day, they will be showing the film In Between (2018), which focusses on three Palestinian women sharing an apartment in Tel Aviv.  This event is free and not ticketed.  For more information, and to browse other films in the series, visit the LUU Liberate Events webpage.

International Women's Day 2023 at the Left Bank Centre, Cardigan Road, Leeds

The Left Bank Centre have put together a programme of events to celebrate International Women's Day throughout March.  They will start on 3 March with a Supper Club, and on 4 March there will be an International Women's Day Extravaganza to highlight the work of women's organisations in Leeds.  Other events include a Makers' Market, an Open Mic event and an exhibition of work by women and non binary artists based in Leeds.  To browse the full range of events and book tickets, visit the Left Bank Centre website.

Out of the Darkness: Greenham Voices with Rebecca Mordan - The Leeds Library, Commercial Street, Leeds

Sunday 5 March, 12-1pm

In this talk about her book Out of the Darkness: Greenham Voices, Rebecca Mordan will bring along women who joined the women's peace camp at Greenham Common to share their stories, sing you some songs from the Greenham Song book, and she and her guests will answer questions.  This event is part of Leeds Literature Festival.

For more information and details of how to book, please visit the Leeds Library website.

Phenomenal Woman - Heart Centre, Headingley

Tuesday 7 March, 10.30am - 12.30pm

A celebration in poetry and song for International Women's Day.  This event is part of Headingley Literature Festival.  For more information, visit the Heart Centre website.

Stitch Art: International Women's Day - Leeds Art Gallery

Wednesday 8 March, 10.30am - 12.30pm

Explore Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds Libraries collections on International Women’s Day and celebrate the strength, resilience and power of women through stitch.  For more information and details of how to book, please visit the Art Gallery website.

An Evening Celebrating Female Classical Composers - Heart Centre, Headingley

Saturday 11 March, 7.00pm

An evening of music written by female classical composers performed by students at the University and at Leeds Conservatoire to celebrate International Women’s Day.  For more information and details of how to book, please visit the Heart Centre website.

Linked In Learning

To celebrate International Women's Day, LinkedIn Learning have compiled a collection of learning resources on this year's theme of #EmbraceEquity.  You can access the resources by logging in with your normal University details.  Themes include:

• What is equity?
• Equity in the workplace
• Gender equity for women
• The role you can play
• Speaking up against bias

Podcast

Becoming Bethany Marsh, life as a transgender Professor of Mathematics

Leeds University’s Professor Bethany Marsh talks about winning the Whitehead prize, her ongoing INI research programme, and the many positive outcomes that have come from her recent transition of gender.

Networks

The Women at Leeds Network is for all staff and postgraduate researchers at the University of Leeds.  It aims to:

• Support women's personal and professional development
• Advance gender equality at the University by removing barriers that prevent women from achieving their potential
• Promote communication, networking and mutual support among women at Leeds

If you would like to join and get involved, please contact the network at women@leeds.ac.uk

Women in Leadership

Women in Leadership is a student led initiative to empower students to push beyond what they thought possible irrespective of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or any other factor.  If you are a student and you are interested in getting involved, please visit their website.

Support for Staff and Students at the University of Leeds

• LUU Student Help & Support
• University Equality & Inclusion policies
• Student Counselling and Wellbeing Service
• Staff Counselling and Psychological Support Service

If you have experienced or witnessed any form of sexual harassment or abuse at the University, you can report it via Report and Support.  You can report incidents anonymously or leave your details if you would like to speak to an advisor.

If you or somebody you know is at risk of domestic violence or abuse, you can find help and guidance on the Equality and Inclusion website.