Taking place on Wednesday, March 8, International Women’s Day is an annual global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, raises awareness about discrimination and promotes taking action to drive gender parity.
Find out more the history and resources available to celebrate around the world, classroom resources from British Council around gender equality and activities and events in Newcastle to celebrate International Women’s Day 2023 – discussions and talks, poetry and comedy, data science masterclasses and the This Girl Can run.
Events in Newcastle
Organisations across Newcastle are holding events celebrating the achievements of women and bringing awareness to crucial causes. Find out below about some of the events which are still open for bookings and how you can get involved in this International Women’s Day in the city.
We are here: Inspirational Women trail at the Discovery Museum
Discover 16 inspirational women’s stories who enriched North East communities in medicine, healthcare, science, education, activism and politics. Follow the trail around the museum. Click here to find out more about the trail and the women featured.
Celebrating women #EmbracingEquity in the North East: 10.30am-2 pm on 8th March 2023 at Recovery College Collective 1 Carliol Square Newcastle NE1 6UF
On International Women’s Day 2023 Fuse (the centre for translational research in public health) and NIHR (National Institute for Health and care Research) North East are embracing equity by celebrating resilience and showcasing the lived experiences of women in the North East. Academics, researchers, practitioners, staff volunteers and members of the public with an interest in women’s health and wellbeing are welcome to attend. Click here to find out more and register to attend this event
The women behind the stones: 11am – noon on 8th March at Newcastle Cathedral
Learn about some of the trailblazing women remembered in the Cathedral. Meet the Madonna in our medieval window; 16-times mother, Elizabeth Maddison; stained-glass artist Caroline Townshend and other notable women highlighted on this tour. Tickets are pay as you feel with a £6 suggested donation. Click here to book.
International Women’s Day Data Science Masterclasses: 1-4pm, 8th March at The Catalyst 3 Science Square, Newcastle Helix Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5TG
The masterclasses are free to attend and will provide you with hands-on, practical skills and knowledge around data science that you can readily take back to your own organisation and teams. Three expert data scientists will each lead a 90-minute data science masterclass based on a specific area of interest. The International Women’s Day Data Science Masterclasses are open to anyone who identifies as a woman. Click here to find out more about the masterclasses and reserve a free spot.
This Girl Can: 5.30pm – 8pm on 8th March at Exhibition Park, Newcastle.
This Girl Can will take place on International Women’s Day. It is a sporting event where those taking part can run, jog or walk a 5km or 1 mile route. Click here for more details about the event
COCO celebrates International Women’s Day #EmbraceEquity: 6-7.30pm on March 8 at Florence Kirkby Lecture Theatre, The Frederick Douglass Centre, Newcastle
There will be a diverse range of speakers at this free event, who will share their personal experience of inequity (and inequality) be it personal, educational or professional. Click here to book tickets
Born Lippy & Wor Lasses present an International Women’s Day Special: 7-10pm 8th March at Cobalt Studios 10 Boyd Street Shieldfield, Newcastle NE2 1AP
All female line-up & hosts. Open to all genders. Everyone welcome. Includes poetry from Elizabeth McGeown, singer songwriter and poet Mima Merrow, Tahmina Ali, Al Redman and an open mike poetry slam. Click here to book tickets
Tyne to Stand Up…Again! 7.30pm on 8th March at Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Westgate Road, Newcastle
A gala of the great women comedians in the North East is to take place at the iconic Tyne Theatre and Opera House to mark International Women’s Day. The show takes place in aid of Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland with all money going to the charity. A great line-up has been assembled, with the show shining a light on women and the incredible talent we have in the region. All comedians are donating their time for free. Tickets are £10. Click here for event details and booking
Oh Bondage Up Yours! A history of feminism by Dr Hannah Dawson: 5.30-6.30pm on 9th March at Curtis Auditorium Herschel Building Newcastle University Newcastle NE1 7RY
To mark International Women’s Day 2023, this lecture will take you on a whistle-stop tour From Christine de Pisan’s City of Ladies in 1405, to the feminist utopias of today, through key ideas in the history of the fight against the oppression of women: the struggle to be seen as rational human beings, the yearning for education, the value of women’s work, and how to solve the problem of violence against women. Through glittering thinkers including Mary Wollstonecraft, Sojourner Truth, Virginia Woolf, and Angela Davis, you will learn about a movement that is as riven by division between women, as it is united against patriarchy. The lecture marks the paperback publication of The Penguin Book of Feminist Writing, a global, intersectional treasure trove of feminist masterpieces, edited by Hannah Dawson. Click here to book tickets
Classroom resources
British Council is sharing a range of classroom resources for schools to use around the theme of #EmbraceEquity, including on gender equality through citizenship, climate change and girls’ education, equity in the classroom, gender equality in education amongst others. Click here to find out more.
There is also an Education Exchange webinar at 4-5pm on 15th March about Equity in the Classroom. Click here to find out more and register
United Nations Theme: DigitALL
The United Nations theme for the day this year is ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality’, including education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. You can find out more about the history of International Women’s Day and details of this year’s theme and resources online here.
Our lives depend on strong technological integration: attending a course, calling loved ones, making a bank transaction, or booking a medical appointment. Everything currently goes through a digital process. However, 37% of women do not use the internet. 259 million fewer women have access to the Internet than men, even though they account for nearly half the world’s population.
If women are unable to access the Internet and do not feel safe online, they are unable to develop the necessary digital skills to engage in digital spaces, which diminishes their opportunities to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related fields By 2050, 75% of jobs will be related to STEM areas. Yet today, women hold just 22% of positions in artificial intelligence, to name just one.
Bringing women into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality. Their lack of inclusion, by contrast, comes with massive costs.
The United Nations Observance of IWD, under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, recognizes and celebrates the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education. The observance will explore the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities, and it will also spotlight the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces and addressing online and ICT-facilitated gender-based violence.
#EmbraceEquity
The global campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity and the aim is to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren’t enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.
Click here to find out more about #EmbraceEquity and the resources available to participate and support IWD 2023.
