Events at Elizabeth College for International Women's Day

Thursday 03 March 2022

Elizabeth College students will celebrate gender equality on the first International Women’s Day since its upper school welcomed girls last September.

Students will take part in various events in the run up to the day itself - which is 8 March, next Tuesday - and will raise funds for the Campaign for Female Education, a charity which assists vulnerable girls and young women in Africa.

Events will include a visit from Julia Hirst (OE 8991) in costume as the College’s foundress, Elizabeth 1, who she portrayed in a performance at Hatfield House.

British travel writer, photographer, polar explorer and television presenter Kari Herbert will speak to Year 7 students about her life experiences and work. 

Students will also discuss extracts from Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk entitled “We should all be feminists”.

Pictured:  Elizabeth College students will discuss exerts from Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk

Elizabeth College Principal Jenny Palmer said it is important to celebrate gender equality. 

“This year marks an important milestone in the history of our school and who is able to access an Elizabeth College education,” she said. 

“We are really proud of the opportunities available to boys and girls here at College, where they can work together as equals to develop an understanding of different perspectives and continue to break down outdated gender stereotypes.”

Activities in support of International Women’s Day will also include a whole school assembly to focus on trailblazing women in sport, celebrate their success and discuss the challenges faced by women in sport today. 

Year 7 students will undertake a research task and presentation on a modern inspirational woman of their choice. 

Year 8 students will examine Virgina Woolf’s ‘A Room of One’s Own’ essay in which she asks her audience to imagine a parallel history in which Shakespeare had a sister who also wanted to be a writer. 

Pictured: US poet Amanda Gorman spoke at President Joe Biden's inauguration.

Year 9 students will examine rhetoric and speech making through US poet Amanda Gorman’s inaugural address for President Joe Biden. 

Junior school students will also participate in activities including a 'guess who?' assembly during which they will recognise the hidden talents of a variety of famous women. 

“While the education we offer today at Elizabeth College looks very different to what was available when it was founded in 1563, it is important to offer our support for access to education in other communities as well as encourage our own community to understand gender biases and to help break them for future generations,” said Mrs Palmer.