With a year of events being organised to support Nottingham’s female students, Women’s Officers Beth Searby and Emma Ehrenberg are going to be very busy ladies! Upcoming campaigns include a Body Confidence Week and encouraging women into leadership roles, so this was a great opportunity to get to know more about the girls and their plans.
Emma and Beth
So, what is the Women’s Network?
Beth: The Women’s Network is a campaign and support group for women. We differ from the UoN Feminists because we are a women’s-only space, focused on representing women and addressing the issues we feel affect our self-defining female students the most. We also provide socials and events.
Emma: We’re a representative group. So if any woman on campus feels discriminated against, they can come to us.
Casting your minds back, why did you decide to run for Women’s Officers?
Emma: Basically, Feminism has always been a part of my life. Ever since I was a tiny girl I knew I wanted to work with Women’s Rights. When coming to England to study, I was introduced to different networks and groups, and when the opportunity arose to run for a committee role, I went for it. Then last year one of the previous Women’s Officers asked if I wanted to run for Women’s Officers, so I did! So, I would say it was my burning interest for Feminism really.
Beth: It was the first time I felt like there was a leadership position out there that I could actually do and properly engage with. Before, I never really felt like I was a leader or able to organise things, or campaign for things and have my voice heard; but when Nina and Krishna [last year’s Women’s Officers] approached me about running for the position, I realised that ‘yeah, this is something I can do, something that people aren’t going to shout me down for’. The Women’s Network is all about solidarity between women, and it was a great gateway into leadership for me.
As Women’s Officers, what are your aims for the year?
Beth: This year we want to focus on three things: tackling Lad Culture, women in leadership, and body confidence. We’re actually running a Body Confidence Week with the UoN Feminists, starting on Monday 17th November, which will be a week of workshops, socials, and an art exhibition to address the theme of ‘body confidence’. According to Bliss Magazine, 87% of teenage girls have negative feelings about their bodies, and we relate that to the fact that a lot of women have low self-esteem and are not applying for leadership positions. Fundamentally, if you’re not happy with yourself, you are likely to want to put yourself out there and make decisions in the public eye.
Emma: We’re currently in the process of organising our women in leadership campaign, but first we want to boost women’s confidence so that they can run for positions of power in JCR committees and in the SU elections. Female representation at this university could be a lot better!
Beth: How is university going to change and develop in accordance to what’s best for women, if women aren’t present in the SU to say ‘this is what we need as a group’?
Unfortunately, sexism is a well-documented part of campus life; what kinds of things are you doing to combat sexism at Nottingham?
Beth: The UoN Feminists are running a project that we’re really interested in and have quite an influence over, and that’s the ‘Notts Sexism’ project. Anyone can easily highlight instances of sexism that happen in Nottingham by tweeting #NottsSexism. Also, last year there was a workshop that advised women on how to deal with Lad Culture and confront it in an effective way. This year we’re working towards enforcing a Lad Culture pledge, which all societies and sports teams have to make against homophobic, sexist and albeist behaviours and speech.
Emma: When combatting sexism, an important thing is to just do things as a woman. Run for positions in leadership and show that women can!
What else can we be expecting to see from the Women’s Network?
Beth: We’re going to continue publishing the zine. The next issue will be released in conjunction with our Body Confidence Week. We also have a pub quiz coming up, which will be on Thursday 9th October at the Ropewalk. Anyone can come along and it’s going to be really good fun!
Emma: Also, as a network we are going to be even more visible and present that last year. We want people to notice us.
Beth: Yeah, we’re trying to do that through collaborative events, firstly with Art Soc for our Body Confidence Art Competition and Exhibition. It’s going to be on Tuesday 18th November in the Atrium, and entries will be from women only, as it will be a platform for female talent.
Any advice for Nottingham ladies?
Beth: Basically, get yourselves out there and run for things- run for everything!
Emma: Do what you want and don’t feel held back just because you’re a girl.
Beth: When I was Fresher I wanted to run for a position on the JCR committee, but I was stopped because I felt that I’d be more of a target for ridicule as a girl. But my advice is to not worry about things like that because we’re here to support you. We’ll support you and give advice on how to campaign for leadership roles. We’re here to make your journey through uni as empowering as possible, so just run for everything and have fun! Don’t be hemmed in by what you think your gender should do, because everything is alright
Emma: … apart from homicide…I shouldn’t have said that haha. But yeah, do what you want, within the law, and be who you want to be.
Beth: Wow, this is turning into a cheese-fest.
Emma: I know! Just don’t let anyone hold you back.
Beth: Also, from personal experience, don’t spend too much time on Netflix because you will end up losing whole days of your life!
Emma: Or Tumblr, honestly!
Image source: Amelia Bauer