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This is a page dedicated to celebrating Women's History Month and International Women's Day. You will find links to global events and history, as well as information related to LSBUs women's history.
International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Activities take place worldwide to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's equality.
Marked yearly on the 8th March , International Women's Day (IWD) is an important day of the year to:
Each year IWD focuses on a particular theme.
The theme this year is #ChooseToChallenge
The idea is to actively choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.
The first national women's day was celebrated in 1909 in accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, and was observed across the United States on the 28th February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
In 1911 International Women's Day was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on the 19th March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the 23rd February, the last Sunday in February. Following discussions, International Women's Day was agreed to be marked annually on the 8th of March that translated in the widely adopted Gregorian calendar from the 23rd February - and this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since.
Find out more about IWDs history on the IWD website
This academic year (2020/21) sees the centenary year of London South Bank University first teaching women Engineering subjects. LSBU will be celebrating this occasion by highlighting the achievements of women engineers in 10 events leading up to International Women in Engineering Day on the 23rd June. This page will feature short biographies of some of the women who have studied and taught engineering at LSBU over the last hundred years.
The image above pictures Madelaine she started taking courses in the academic year 1938-1939 and later became President of the Women’s Engineering Society and their journal, The Woman Engineer.
Change isn’t just about big headline moments, legal victories and international agreements: the way we talk, think, and act every day can create a ripple effect that benefits everyone. The UN has put together a list of 12 everyday actions we can make in order to help progress for women’s rights, join them, and be part of 'Generation Equality', in getting to gender equality through these simple everyday actions:
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.
Endometriosis is a chronic and often debilitating condition that can cause painful or heavy periods. It may also lead to infertility, fatigue and bowel and bladder problems. Endometriosis can affect all women and girls of a childbearing age, regardless of race or ethnicity. The impact can also be felt for life.
One in ten women endure unrelenting pain that affects every aspect of their lives each day. That’s over 1.5 million women who desperately need support and information to help them understand this chronic condition.
Endometriosis UK are hosting a series of events to raise awareness throughout March.
At LSBU, we’re choosing to challenge the taboo that surrounds the menopause – not just in the work place but in daily life.
This event looks to celebrate the day to share best practice as to how workplaces, and individuals, can be more inclusive and better support those around them who are experiencing the menopause in an informed, sensitive & accepting way.
The next event Hormones, the Menopause and Mental Health will be on the 11th of March.
LSBU archivist Ruth Mcleod has made this excellent blogpost charting both how much things have changed at LSBU and includes an infuriating story.
Suffrage to Citizenship: Female Activism In Twentieth Century Britain 
This list contains reading material found in our library catalogue that spans a broad range of topics relating to women's history.
Women in Twentieth-Century Britain by 
English Feminism, 1780-1980 by 