• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

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#MeToo: gender, sexuality and breaking barriers

The University of Sunderland is to play host to a gender equality conference in light of the #MeToo movement sweeping the world.

The event has been inspired by research being carried out by academics at the University, who are contributing to work about gender equality.

This one-day event, on Friday, June 28, will feature a number of high-profile women speakers who will be exploring gender and sexuality in the world today.

The use of social media has seen the far-reaching impact of the global #MeToo movement, challenging conventions and bringing down some of the most powerful people in the entertainment industry.

Angela Smith, Professor of Language and Culture at the University of Sunderland, said: “We will be welcoming Professor Karen Boyle from Strathclyde University who is one of the speakers at our event, and she will be talking about her research into this particular movement.

“Elsewhere, we have seen huge inroads made by women into mainstream sport, and the increased media attention on women’s sport has also helped us see how gender equality has some way to go.

“Katy Daley-McLean from England Women’s Rugby is one of our speakers, talking about her experiences of being a high profile sports star at the time when these changes are taking place.

“The last 20 years has seen the increased acceptance of non-binary sexuality in the westernised world, but this is under challenges from the resurgent far-right in countries such as the US.”

The conference will also welcome Carrie Lyell, editor of Diva magazine, who will talk about the challenges and rewards of setting up a magazine in this context.

With global migration increasingly politicised, it is timely to hear the voice of one person who has experienced this. Aderonke Apata has taken a stand against the inhumanity of the immigration system, and her experiences of this has led to her setting up the African Rainbow Family organisation.

Tickets are available for morning and afternoon sessions. Although there is no charge for tickets, attendees need to register: visit eventbrite here and select one or both tickets. The event is open to academics, university staff, and members of the public.

If you have any questions regarding the event, please email events@sunderland.ac.uk

Gendered Worlds – exploring gender and sexuality in the contemporary world

Friday, June 28

Morning agenda:

10am – Registration

10.15 – Welcome

10.30 – Karen Boyle

11.30am – break (refreshments served)

11.45 – Katy Daley-McLean

12.45 – close

Afternoon agenda:

1.45pm – Registration

2pm – Aderonke Apata

3pm – break (refreshments served)

3.15pm – Carrie Lyell

4.15pm – close

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