UCD Equality Society

A New Year for the Equality Society: Events

ucdequalitysocietyeditor — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:06:09 +0000

Thursday 17th October: Coffee morning, L532 @11 am ’till 12

The Equality Society hosted its first coffee morning. We’d a great discussion with lots of ideas for events over the year with one ready to go next week.

This event will be held on 21st October, same week-day and time. Feel free to join us at anytime within that time and if a lot of people feel that maybe another morning would facilitate attendance then let me know before the end of Reading Week so that it’s a ‘fixture’ that students can attend as and when they’re free.

**First event of the Equality Society to be next week: ‘Claiming our Future’ School of Social Justice Local Discussion**

Tuesday evening Equality Society meetings (2) 6pm-7pm ( meet outside L532) and 7.30-8.15 (L532)

This session is to try and have a time to meet for those who cannot attend the coffee mornings- it’s in two sessions to facilitate as many as possible. The initial purpose is to gather ideas for events this year as happened yesterday. As above, if you let me know options that would suit you, a decision can be arrived atas to when would be the best time to have this session as a ‘fixture’.

The purpose of all these meetings is to gather as many ideas and ensure everyone has a chance to contribute and be involved with planning the activities of the sociey for the coming year. A summary of points discussed and ideas from all three/four meetings held before Reading Week will be written up and sent around – as a sort of combined minutes- and feed back on these would be very welcome.

Membership

There will be sign up sheets to become a member of the Equality Society at the meetings. I will also have the sheet available to sign-up to in class. There is a sub of €2 and if you didn’t have it to give me when you signed up this week, any time next week is fine.

‘Claiming our Future’ School of Social Justice Local Discussion: Thurs. 21st October @ 12.30-2pm L532

Niamh McCrea and Dee Blakety made enquiries about if the Equality Society/ School of Social Justice could host a local event in preparation for the ‘Claiming our Future’ conference to be held on Sat. 30th October (Details emailed last week by Kathleen Lynch) and the society is delighted to be able to say that we can.

The organisors of the conference are encouraging these local discussions to deepen the engagement with the issues to be discussed at the conference on the 30th to ensure that the conference isn’t just a one off event but is part of building a movement. As an example See website http://www.claimingourfuture.ie/ Posts: NUI Maynooth Meeting

So come along, bring your lunch, your views and a copy of the document- tea and coffee will be provided.

Augusta McDermott

UCD Equality Society, Auditor

Hanna’s House Summer School

Emma — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:10:01 +0000

A Feminist Peace: How do we get there?

27-29 August 2010

University of Ulster Belfast Campus, York Street, Belfast.

Hanna’s House mission is to mobilise the collective energy of women to work towards feminist ideals of justice, equality and non-violence.

Friday 27 August 2010:

6-8.30pm: Official Opening of the Summer School.

6pm: Hanna’s House Feminist Peace Building Project

Margaret Ward, Chair of Hanna’s House, welcomes everybody to the Summer School.

6.10pm: Opening address

Joanna McMinn, Board Director of Hanna’s House.

6.45pm: Poetry recital

Ann Zell.

7.00pm: Feminist Art Exhibition: The Wars on Women: Peace Works

Roisin McDonough, CEO Arts Council.

Champagne reception and music by Yolande Carter and Marion Jordan.

Saturday 28 August 2010:

9.30 registration for a 10am start.

10-10.50	*Keynote: Kate Fearon*. Women, Peace and Conflict: stories from Afghanistan. (Auditorium)
10.50-11.10	Tea, coffee & pastries. Poetry recital by Grainne Tobin.
11.10-12.45 Workshop A:	Niamh Reilly and Catherine O’Rourke. On the Consultative Group to the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the National Action Plan for UNSCR1325.
11.10-12.45 Workshop B:	Rob Fairmichael. How violent men can change their ways: what will enable them to move beyond violence whether it is interpersonal or military violence?
11.10-12.45 Workshop C:	Mary Lodato. Healing through autobiographical writing and imagery- Scriptotherapy. FULL
11.10-12.45 Workshop D:	Joanna McMinn, Jennifer McCann, Caral ni Chuilin and Jenny Meegan. Feminism and Prison Education: Educating Women.

12.45-13.45 Lunch break (sandwiches and fruit). Poetry recital by Eilish Martin from 12.45-13.00; presentation by Rita Duffy from 13.00 to 13.30; Ruth McCarthy presents E-Zines at 13.30.

13.45-15.15 Workshop A:	Bronagh Hinds, Margaret Ward, Laura McMahon, Liz law. Lessons Learnt on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 from a cross-learning visit to Liberia. FULL
Workshop B:	Roberta Bacic. Sewing stories into arpilleras and quilts. Part I of a two-part workshop. (*please see materials required below).
Workshop C:	Breda Gahan. Gender based violence and the feminization of HIV – changing Masculinity, an analysis by Concern Worldwide.
Workshop D:	Noirin Clancy. Women into Public Life, cross border initiative between three women’s organizations in Derry/Londonderry, Donegal, and Scotland. FULL

15.15-15.45 Tea, coffee & biscuits. Poetry recital by Ann Zell.

Afternoon session: 15.45-17.00

15.45-17.00 Workshop A:	Gillian Gibson and Eleanor Jordan. ‘Frontline Feminism’ and the work of women’s centres. FULL
Workshop B:	Roberta Bacic. Sewing stories into arpilleras and quilts. Part II
Workshop C:	Linda Kelly, Emma Rogan and Adelita Monteiro. What does feminism mean to young women today?
Workshop D:	Micheline Sheehy Skeffington. Hanna and Frank Sheehy Skeffington, and the social justice issues they championed.
17.00-17.15	Tea, coffee break. Poetry recital by Maria McManus.
17.15	*Keynote:* Professor Monica McWilliams. Women and the Peace Process in the North. (Auditorium)

18.00 Film screening in the auditorium ‘Pray the Devil back to Hell’ Liberian women’s experience of conflict.

Saturday evening: 8pm: A social event will take place at the Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, Belfast. There will be performances by individual musicians, comediennes and singers, followed by a disco. Cost £5.

Sunday 29 August 2010:

09.30 Tea, coffee & pastries.

10.00-11.00	*Keynote:* Mary Cullen. Feminism, Citizenship and Peace in Ireland: Today and Yesterday.
11.30-12.30 Workshop A:	Claire Hackett and Laura McMahon. International and national perspectives of how truth recovery processes help and hinder women’s access to justice and reconciliation. FULL
Workshop B:	Annie Campbell and Niamh Wilson. Women, violence and security issues, north and south.
Workshop C:	Goretti Horgan, Sharon Meenan, and Roisin Barton. Anti-war action and the Raytheon case.
Workshop D:	Rola Hamed-O’Neill. The Palestinian-Israel women’s peace movement.
12.30 12.30-13.30 Panel discussion	Tea, coffee, juices available. Ailbhe Smyth, Susan McKay and Finola Meredith. Using the media to further the feminist cause. (Auditorium)
13.30 Hanna’s House closing comments by Ann Hope. 13.40 Mary Dorcey recites poetry. 13.50 Deirdre McAliskey sings ‘Bread and Roses’. 14.00 Summer school ends.
The fee for the weekend is €10/£10 (waged) €5/£5 (unwaged). To reserve a place at the Hanna’s House Summer School 2010 please email Shirley Graham at hannashouse@nwci.ie listing the workshops you would like to attend and send a cheque to Hanna’s House, c/o National Women’s Council Ireland, 9 Marlborough Court, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. For more information refer to our website: www.hannashouse.net.

*For the workshop on ‘Sewing Stories into Arpilleras and Quilts’ you will need the following materials: Needles, scissors, a small sewing kit, if available some small little objects or personally valuable memory scraps of materials to include a personal touch to the work to be done.

The Hanna’s House Peace Project is funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.

UCD Equality Week: Female Representation in Irish Life

ucdequalitysocietyeditor — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:00:26 +0000

EQUALITY WEEK

April, 20^th to 23^rd, 2010 in UCD

Where are all the women?

Female Representation in Irish Life

Tuesday 20^thApril

11am – 12:30pm – Room L532 5^th Floor Library Building UCD

Coffee Morning with Rachel Doyle from National Women’s Council of Ireland.

Rachel Doyle is a member of the Senior Management Team and is responsible for the management, development and implementation of the NWCI’s outreach and support programme to its affiliates and to the women’s sector. She is also responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with strategic partners.

1:30pm to 3:30pm – Room L503 5^th Floor Library Building UCD

Workshop: How do I Look? Gender Representations in Popular Advertising Images and the Development of Media Literacy

Bernie Grummell and Mimi Doran
Mimi Doran and Bernie Grummell teach on the Media and Equality module in the MSc in Equality Studies, which intends to develop media literacy and critical knowledge amongst those interested in equality issues.

Mimi Doran is a communications practitioner and media lecturer with interests in social justice and participatory approaches to learning, research, and communication. She is in her final year of a PhD on media literacy with St Michael’s Estate Regeneration Team, at the Equality Studies Centre. Mimi has provided strategic planning, communications strategies and media training to a variety of businesses and organisations.

Bernie Grummell is currently Research Manager and Lecturer in NUI Maynooth and previously worked with the School of Sociology and the Equality Studies Centre in University College Dublin. She completed media research projects with several organizations, including Department for Education and Science, National Adult Literacy Agency and Radio Telefis Eireann and worked in independent film production.

7:30pm to 9pm – Room L532 5^th Floor Library Building UCD

(Venue to be confirmed)

Lecture: Gender Equality and Quotas for Women

“Do we need quotas to ensure women are fairly represented?”

Guest speakers: Mary McAuliffe and Sile de Valera

Síle de Valera is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. She is the granddaughter of Fianna Fáil founder, Taoiseach and third President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera. She was first elected aTeachta Dála (TD) in 1977 serving as a member of Dáil Éireann until 1981, and then again from 1987 to 2007, as well as being a MEP from 1979 to 1984 representing Dublin. She served as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands from 1997 to 2002. Her final government office was Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, with special responsibility for Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage. She resigned as a Minister of State on 8 December 2006.

Mary McAuliffe graduated from Trinity College, Dublin with a BA in History and subsequently was awarded a PhD in Medieval History from TCD. She teaches mainly in the area of Irish women’s history and has been teaching on the Outreach Certificate and Diploma courses in Women’s Studies, along with the postgraduate programmes in WERRC. She is the co-ordinator of the BA (Modular) in Women’s Studies. Her main area of research interest is in medieval studies, specifically women in Medieval Ireland. She is also interested in and has published in the areas of women and power, women and representation in art and sculpture in medieval Ireland and the history of sexualities of Early Christian and Medieval Ireland.

Wednesday 21^st April

11am – 12:30pm – Room L532 5^th Floor Library Building UCD

Coffee Morning: Shirley Graham, Co-ordinator of the Hanna’s House Peace Project will talk about community activism, advocacy and networking.

The Hanna’s House Peace Project is designed to enable women to engage in a process of reconciliation on an all-Ireland basis through participation in a series of events intended to develop awareness of feminist ideals of justice, equality and non-violence, thereby promoting strategies for transformative change and articulation of a feminist peace.

3pm – 4:30pm – Room L532 5^th Floor Library Building UCD

Workshop facilitated by Gisela Boehnisch and Linn Vizard:

‘Being A Young Woman in a Men’s World’: What are the opportunities and obstacles for young women living in today’s largely male-dominated world?

Join us for a fun, informal discussion and share your thoughts on career choices, relationships, feminism and more.

Gisela Boehnisch is doing an MSc in Equality Studies at UCD and has a background in linguistics, journalism, new media and the nonprofit sector. She is currently working on a thesis on women’s film festivals and their potential for achieving social change. Linn Vizard is doing a BA in Industrial Design at NCAD and has been working on various projects to do with gender and design.
7:30pm to 9pm – Room L504 5^th Floor Library Building UCD

Lecture: Diversity in the Irish Workplace and Irish Media

Guest: Dil Wickremasinghe – Social Entrepreneur, Broadcaster & Columnist

Dil Wickremasinghe is the director of Diversity and Equality Works, providing Irish businesses with diversity and equality training. Dil is on the Board of Akidwa and is involved with numerous other NGO’s that campaign towards social and racial integration and has made numerous oral and written submissions to the Oireachtais. Dil presents a weekly 2 hour live radio programme on Newstalk 106-108 FM called “Global Village” Irelands only mainstream radio programme which focuses on equality and social justice issues. The programme also hopes to raise awareness of the Irish 9 Grounds of Equality.

Thursday 22^nd April

11am – 12:30pm – Room L532 5^th Floor Library Building UCD

Presentation: Examining the Concept of “Harm” in Sex Consumption.

Coffee Morning with Melissa Stobie, Senior lecturer in Ethics, School of Philosophy and Ethics University of KwaZulu-Natal, currently PhD student at DCU.

“When Tiger Woods sms’d his lovers that he wanted to DP them, and give them ATM, what did he mean? If you know, you’re been enculturated into porn culture. But what does this mean, for you, me, and society at large?”

Melissa Stobie majored in Philosophy and English in 1996 at the University of Natal, PMB. She has been teaching at UN/UKZN since 1999, and is now the academic co-ordinator for Ethics Studies. Her published research has focussed on health research ethics. Melissa sits on the ethics committees of Greys Hospital and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital. She is a founding member of the Ethics Society of South Africa, a member of the International Network of Bioethics, South Africa’s Country Representative for the International network on Feminist Approaches to Bioethics, and a member of the Philosophy Society of South Africa.

2pm – 4pm – Room C108 2^nd Floor Newman Building UCD

Coffee Afternoon: Story–telling with Female Activists

Guests: Mary Banotti (former Minister of European Parliament), Mary Killoran, (activist) and Anna Farrell (student adviser UCD).

Mary Banotti has been a prominent, respected elected official in Ireland for many years. In 1984 Mary was first elected as a Member of the European Parliament. From being elected to the European Parliament, she has worked on a variety of issues including environmental and women’s rights and is currently the European Parliament President’s Mediator for Transnationally Abducted Children. Mary Banotti resigned from Parliament in June 2004.

Mary Killoran worked in the European Parliament Office in Dublin. She has been involved in many campaigns and will speak about her experiences as a campaign worker and activist.

Equality Society’s Annual Lecture

7pm to 8:30pm – Astra Hall Student Centre – UCD Belfield

Joan Burton, Labour TD: “My journey through politics”

Joan Burton is serving her second term as Labour TD for Dublin West. In the present Dáil she is Labour’s Finance Spokesperson. Previously she served as a Minister of State, first in Social Welfare and later in Foreign Affairs overseeing a dramatic extension of Ireland’s International Development Programme. Joan is one of the most high profile TDs in the Dáil. She has won much praise from political observers for the high quality of her contributions to public debates and Dáil QuestionTime.

Friday 23^rd April

7pm onwards

Social Night for Equality

Trinity Capital Hotel,

Pearse Street, Dublin 2

Tagged: Dil Wickremasinghe, equality, feminism, Hannah's House, harm of sex consumption, mary banotti, mary killoran, melissa stobie, peace, shirley graham, UCD

International Women’s Day 2010

ucdequalitysocietyeditor — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:29:41 +0000

Monday 8th March is International Women’s Day. To mark the day there is a wide range of events in Dublin city and around the country you might be interested in. Please contact us if there are any other events you would like to inform members about.

Sunday 7th March

Feminist Walking Tour of Dublin 2010
When? 1pm Sunday March 7th 2009, International Women’s Day
Where? Meet at Central Bank Plaza (followed by a walk through Dublin city).
“The tour will tell stories of the women who have changed Irish society from the women of the Ladies Land League and Cumman na mBan to today’s women activists who work to reduce poverty and discrimination in our city,” comments Sinead Ahern
Cost: Free event
This is an accessible route. For more information contact feministwalkingtour@yahoo.ie

The Progressive Film Club presents
Six Films for International Women’ Day Film Festival
When? Sunday March 7th from 1:15 pm
Where? New Theatre · 43 East Essex Street · Dublin 2
Cost: Free events
Full details:http://www.progressivefilmclub.ie/

Celebration of Women in Struggle
Music · poetry · song - Joyce Moloi-Moropa
When? Sunday 7th March
Where? 2.30 pm Connolly Books and New Theatre (43 East Essex Street)

Shannon Airport Peace Rally: Calling Women
When? 2 pm on Saturday March 6th, ending with an action-rally at 2pm Sunday March 7th.
Where? Gathering at Shannon Airport for the sixth year of the Women’s Peace Camp.
Full details: margaretta@iol.ie or 091 565430

Monday 8th March- International Women’s Day

Tralee Women’s Resource Centre
Celebrating International Women’s Day 8th March 2010
When? 8th -12th March. Week-long programme of activities
Where? 35 Ashe Street, Tralee
Further details: 066 7120622, twrc@iol.ie

Waterford Women’s Centre
The International Women’s Day Café
When? Monday 8th March 9.30am- 1.30pm
Where? Espresso Restaurant, Parnell St, Waterford
For a cuppa and chat with Ailbhe Smyth and Maeve O’Grady and many more
Further details: womcent@access.iol.ie

National Women’s Council of Ireland
The Illusion of Equality with Kat Banyard and Sylvia Meehan, Alwiye Xuseyn, and Linda Kelly
When? Monday 8th March 11am – 1.30 pm
Where? European Union House, 18 Dawson St, Dublin 2
Further details: http://www.nwci.ie/events/2010/03/08/international-womens-day/

Legacies of Feminism
With Margaret MacCurtain, Ivana Bacik, Catriona Crowe, Susan McKay, and Chair: Anthea McTiernan
When? Monday 8th March 3pm
Where? Dublin City Hall (part of Dublin Book Festival)
Cost: Free
Further details: http://dublinbookfestival.com/monday.html

Globalisation and Women’s Struggle Today
Speaker: Joyce Moloi-Moropa MP, African National Congress; Deputy Chairperson, South African Communist Party
When? Monday 8th March, 7:30 p.m.
Where? Liberty Hall, Eden Quay

Tuesday 9th March

Take Back the Night march @ Trinity
When? Tuesday 9th March, 7 – 9 pm
Where? Front Square, Trinity College Campus,
Followed by tea, coffee and snacks
Equality Officer, USI – Linda Kelly

Thursday 11th March

The Family Resource Centre, St Michael’s Estate. invite WOMEN ONLY
to CELEBRATE International Women’s Week
When? Thursday 11th March 8pm til Midnight
Where? Wynn’s Hotel, Abbey St, Dublin
Join in the celebration with Fancy Dress, Food and Dance – the theme this year is ROCK & ROLL
Admission €5, including finger food.
Further information: Phil or Rita at 01 4533938

Saturday 13th March

Feminist Open Forum and Kilbarrack CDP
A Nation in Crisis: Feminist Perspectives
When? Saturday March 13th, 2010 10am to 5pm
Where? Kilbarrack CDP, Swan’s Nest Road (near Kilbarrack Dart Station)
*Booking Essential* Please contact Lisa Dowling: lisadowling10@gmail.com to ensure your place

Civil Partnership legislation: Responses of the Irish Churches

Emma — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:27:44 +0000

The Equality Studies UCD Public Lecture Series continues this week.

Civil Partnership legislation: Responses of the Irish Churches

Room C214, Newman Building

Thursday, 4th February at 7pm.

by Dr Richard O’Leary (School of Sociology, Queen’s University Belfast and EWI visiting fellow at UCD).

Tagged: churches, civil partnership, Ireland

Events Schedule 2010

ucdequalitysocietyeditor — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:46:14 +0000

*Coffee Morning* Thursday January 28^th

11am – 12.30pm Room L532

This is an opportunity for you to catch up with fellow students and members as you prepare yourself for the demands of the coming year of study.
We will be looking at upcoming events of the equality society and asking you for your thoughts and ideas on how the equality society can work with you in the coming months.

**Womens Week** February 2010

This year the Equality Society will be working with the Students Union and with Equality Studies Students to organise a campaign during womens week on women’s participation and representation in campus politics and national political life.
We hope to have some lectures during the week on this issue as well as carrying out a student survery with students on their views of female representation in UCD.

***Guest Speaker*** February 2010 – Date to be finalized

As some of you may be aware the Equality Society this year has taken on the theme of Women’s Representation and Participation in political life.
Our guest speaker this year will reflect this and we are very excited about the speaker, details of which will be available in coming weeks.

****Table Quiz**** March 2010

Yes, the much-awaited Equality Society Table Quiz will take place at a venue in town during March. We hope you are able to come along, join in the fun and enjoy a well-earned break from work, study, recession etc.

Other events – we want to continue to host a Coffee Morning once a month until the summer. The Equality Meet-up Group is also hoping to continue into 2010, details will be on our website. Also, keep an eye on the website for finalised details of the above events for 2010 and for any new events as they arise: http://ucdequalitysociety.wordpress.com and on Twitter: ucdequalitysoc

If you have any ideas, would like to contribute or help out with the equality society in any way please email us at: ucdequalitysociety@gmail.com

We are keen to get as many people as possible involved with the society and look forward to your participation in the coming year!

Review of Equality Society Events in 2009

ucdequalitysocietyeditor — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:48:52 +0000

UCD Equality Society is looking forward to an eventful 2010 with coffee mornings, a table quiz and the Champions of Equality lecture planned. Please email the society to get involved and add your energies to the events and/or comment on any of the events (ucdequalitysociety@gmail.com). Here is a reminder of the events held during the first semester.

**********

To start things off, following Fresher’s Week in September there was a general meeting for members to get to know one another, enjoy some tea and cakes and plan for the year ahead. Direct action, the different campaigns, how to get involved and the opportunities to participate were all part of the vibrant discussion.

Also in September, Dil Wickremasinghe from Diversity and Equality Works, shared her business and personal experiences providing equality and diversity awareness and training in the Irish workplace. The seminar was inspiring and informative, showing the different legal options and tools equality proponents can use.

For October, in conjunction with the Equality Studies Centre, two lunchtime seminars about elder abuse were lead by Bernadette Casey, a senior social worker at the HSE. Kieran Allen, Head of Sociology in UCD, gave a n excellent lecture discussing the alternatives to capitalism in society. Following on from the disastrous neo-liberal and capitalist financial situations across the globe the discussion was particularly pertinent.

To finish off the year the society had a fundraiser mid-November. There was a raffle, nice food and people had fun in the name of raising awareness and funds for the group.

**********

During 2010 Adelita, Liz and Emma are looking forward to meeting more of the society members and welcoming new members. Bring yourselves, your ideas, your friends, most important your energies to the events. Remember you can contact the society through the blog, on Twitter (ucdequalitysoc) and on email (ucdequalitysociety@gmail.com).

Tagged: 2010, Bernadette Casey, Dil Wickremasinghe, elder abuse, Equality Society, Equality Studies Centre, Kieran Allen

Social Event, November 17, Dublin

ucdequalitysocietyeditor — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:24:28 +0000

Despite the awful weather, a good number of us showed up to the recent Equality Society social (sometimes there is nothing like a warm Dublin pub to encourage stragglers along!). Conversations buzzed all night and, despite the small group, we managed to give some raffle prizes away. Thanks to everyone who could make it and welcome to our new members!

Social Event

ucdequalitysocietyeditor — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:43:17 +0000

UCD Equality Society Social Evening, Tuesday, 17th November at 7.30pm in Pub 51, Haddington Road, off Baggot Street. Bring yourself and your friends for some recession-busting fun!

Gas, Shell and Ireland

ucdequalitysocietyeditor — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:18:53 +0000

****CANCELLED****

The Equality Society, in conjunction with Equality Studies Centre

GAS, SHELL AND IRELAND
Community Campaign to bring gas safely ashore for the benefit of Irish People

MICHAEL McCAUGHAN

Thursday, November 12th at 7:30pm UCD Belfield, Newman Building, Theatre R