2017 was an unprecedented year for women’s movements around the globe. Most notably, the Weinstein scandal produced the #MeToo and #Time’sUp movement, which spread around the globe, and Time Magazine named the Silence Breakers that stood up against discrimination in Hollywood and beyond. Now in 2018, women are planning to maintain their efforts and go full steam ahead, with the theme #PressForProgress.
The beauty of the #MeToo movement and women’s movements in general, is that they can be applied to all cultures and countries.
In Australia, there are a number of women’s issues coming to the foreground, including the gender pay gap, sexual assault in the workplace, domestic violence, and most recently noted with the release of the Red Zone report on sexual assault and rape on campus.
Here is a list of events happening in Sydney in celebration of IWD, with a focus on Australian women’s issues, so get amongst it!
Generation Women Sydney: TIME’S UP
Thursday 3 May 2018 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm
Giant Dwarf Theatre
Generation Women is a storytelling event where women from all walks of life tell stories and celebrate women’s voices. Hosted by Dr. Elaine Laforteza and featuring speakers such as social ambassador Jane Caro (Q&A, The Drum, Sunrise, ABC Compass), literary manager Polly Rowe, (Sydney Theatre Company), author Fiona Wright (Small Acts of Disappearance, Knuckled), actor Chika Ikogwe, (I Gotta Have You, The Country Wife) and entertainer Lillian de los Reyes, (Manila By Night, Divas from Vegas), the talk delivers a message for the likes of Trump: “Tonight the pussy grabs back. The pussy says ‘hell no’. The pussy and allies say ‘time’s up!’”.
Generation Women will also be donating a percentage of the proceeds to the Time’s Up Legal Defence Fund.
More information is available here.
MAAsive Lates at the Powerhouse Museum
Thursday 8th of March, 6 pm to 9 pm
Powerhouse Museum
Explore the Powerhouse after hours for free and celebrate women in design for International Women’s Day! Get inspired with a range of activities such as contributing to creative projects, listening to talks by Sydney power-women-of-design, going on an all-female led curator tour, watching as the museum walls are transformed with beautiful projections and moving images by artist David Greenhalgh… and much more!
More information here.
International Women’s Day Breakfast
Friday 9th of March 7am-9am
International Convention Centre, Sydney
UN Women National Committee Australia is hosting Australia’s largest International Women’s Day (IWD) events around the country. They’ll celebrate the successes of women past and present and discuss actions needed to continue accelerating gender equality.
TV journalist and author Tracey Spicer will be hosting UN Women National Committee Australia’s International Women’s Day Breakfast to discuss this year’s theme of ‘leave no woman behind’. The theme looks at the vital role that women play in humanitarian and disaster planning and response, highlighting the unique needs and vulnerabilities of women in crisis, and the role they play in rebuilding and rehabilitating.
More information here.
International Women’s Day 2018 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Thursday 8th of March, 10:30am-3:30 pm
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Free bite-size talks, panel discussions on gender bias in the arts, a banner-making workshop and a multi-sensory work by artist Emily Floyd in the Collection galleries- all to celebrate incredible, unappreciated female artists in honour of International Women’s Day!
More information here.
Sydney International Women’s Day March and Rally
Saturday 10th of March, 10am-12:30 pm
Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park North, Sydney.
With the theme of “Stop the Silence! End the Violence! In the workplace, campus and home”, join thousands of women as they march from Hyde Park to Belmore Park in protest of gender disparity, and listen to them talk about the progress we’ve made and the work we still have left to do. Don’t forget your flags, banners and slogan tees!
More information here.
UNSW International Women’s Day Special Grand Challenge Event
Thursday 8th March 4pm-5pm
Micheal Crouch Innovation Centre
Special Guest Speaker Professor Pauline Grosjean will deliver a talk about the historical origins of modern gender roles, the cause of the gender gap and how we can challenge it.
More information here.
And there’s plenty more to support and strengthen the Sisterhood! Happy International Women’s Day, check out more events in Sydney here
For more international events, click here.
Will you be attending any events? Let us know in the comments below!
