Norwich School Blog

IWD22: FemSoc Assembly

On International Women's Day, pupils from FemSoc lead assembly. You can read their address below:

"Today is international Women's Day which is a global day celebrating the historical, cultural, and political achievements of women. 

It is important to celebrate this day as women across the world are still treated as secondary citizens. For example, equal pay across genders remains an issue, with women earning only 82% of what men do in the United States.  

International Women’s Day was first celebrated on the 28th of February 1909 in New York, initially called ‘National Women's Day’, organised by the Socialist Party of America. It became international in 1910 when an international Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen where the German Socialist Luise Zietz and Clara Zetkin, who was the leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, produced the idea of the day. 

This year’s theme is “Break the Bias”- encouraging us all to focus on ways in which we can contribute to a more equitable society, free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. We are now going to share with you the stories of inspiring women, who took it upon themselves to break the bias within their own field of work. 

Maya Angelou was an important influence in the literary scene during her life and even after her death. She was an award-winning author, poet, and civil rights activist. Angelou’s best-known work is I know why the caged bird sings, which made literary history as the first non-fiction bestseller by an African American woman. As an African American woman, Angelou experienced racism and discrimination in the place she was living in Arkansas, which is reflected in ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’, a coming-of-age story that explores overcoming racism and trauma. 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg remains one of the most influential women in law today, being the second woman to be a Supreme Court Justice. Her educational victories weren’t without struggle as she battled sexism throughout university life, her own professor even offered to give her the answers to an exam in exchange for sex. Even with this abuse, Ginsburg became the first person to become a member of both Harvard and Columbia Law Reviews. When she was hired as a law professor in 1963 at Rutger’s Law School, she had to fight for equal pay. When questioning why her male counterparts were paid more than her, the reply she received was: ‘Ruth, he has a wife and two children to support. You have a husband with a good paying job in New York’. Some of Ginsburg’s greatest accomplishments include; being the first Justice to officiate same-sex marriage, co-founding the first law journal on women’s rights and arguing six cases before the Supreme Court and winning five.  

Women are also doing extraordinary work in medicine, Federica Marelli-Berg was awarded a BHF Chair in Cardiovascular Immunology in 2016, specializing on the wider effects of anti-rejection drugs taken by patients with organ transplants. Also in 2016, Professor Barbara Casadei was named the President of the European Society of Cardiology. She is one the UK’s leading experts of atrial fibrillation as well as an Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. And in 2018, Professor Ferreira, who is a BHF Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, was awarded the 1st Dudley J. Pennell Award for a paper she wrote investigating new ways to image myocarditis which is an inflammation of the heart. This paper was the most referenced paper from 2014-16.  

When writing this assembly, it was difficult to find resources outlining the successes of women without patronising, demeaning undertones. For example, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s achievements appear to be unable to be recognised without first referring to her height, calling her ‘pint sized’, implying that it was surprising that a woman who happened to be shorter could stand her ground. Before any of her achievements in fighting for women’s rights are mentioned, her ability to have both children and a career is addressed first, as if that is the most groundbreaking aspect of her work. It is important to celebrate women and their achievements without first expressing how surprising, brave or outgoing they are, because if a man were to achieve the same thing, chances are he would not be faced with these labels.  

It is crucial that we support the women around us and celebrate their successes. Something like openly speaking about female role models is a simple way of inspiring women and girls. Monthly awards are being held across the world to recognise women in a variety of sectors which enhance the representation of women and promote a culture of placing female role models in the public eye. Gender equity is still not a reality; therefore, the representation of women and their celebration is so important so that we can build an equal society.  

This International Women’s Day, take the time to consider the female role models that surround you and the impact they have had on your life. Whether it is your mother, a teacher, or a friend, use today to appreciate and celebrate the achievements of those women closest to you."