To celebrate International Women’s Day 2010, Trinity College Dublin launched a week long schedule of exciting events throughout College with the opening of a photographic exhibition in the College Sports centre showcasing girls and women in developing countries around the world. TCD’s celebrations, which will run from Monday 8th to Friday 12th March, aim to celebrate women’s achievements in technology and the arts and at the same time raise awareness of the inequalities that women still experience, on both a national and international level.
During the week a series of vibrant and informative talks, workshops, new research presentations, fundraising activities and sports classes have been put together organised by various academic and administrative units, schools, women’s and human rights societies at the College who collaborated to devise the schedule. Highlights of the programme include talks on both female artists and writers with a TCD focus on Wednesday 10th. Events focussing on ending violence against women will be taking place on Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th. The week will conclude with a concert of musical, audiovisual and performance works by female students and staff is scheduled for Friday 12th. All events mark the contributions of women in different artistic and scientific fields and recognise the role of both men and women in attaining equality of participation.
Speaking about the international celebration Dr Maryann Valiulis, Director of the Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies said: “International Women’s Day is an opportunity to value women in all their different roles, but it also helps us focus on the reality of women’s lives which, unfortunately, often times includes violence against women.” Commenting on TCD’s contribution to the day Karen Campos McCormack, TCD’s Equality Officer said: “The week of celebrations at TCD has proved a great catalyst of creative energy in College, fostering engagement between different schools and administrative units, staff and students in a very positive manner – we welcome new participants in this initiative every year.”
