Over the past few years, we have witnessed the revitalisation of a long-fought struggle: that of female empowerment and gender equality. With movements such as Time’s Up and the #MeToo campaign taking centre stage, women around the world are invigorating the fight with renewed urgency and determination.
This has had a trickle-down effect on campus, with Trinity latching firm to the activist momentum and riding the so-called fourth wave of feminism. In May, women on campus rose up as the repeal referendum took hold of the country, while Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) celebrated Women’s Week on campus with inspiring events that urged Trinity women to lead.
And lead they did, taking up the mantle from male counterparts to chair societies, perhaps the most fundamental branch of campus culture – a startling pattern to render laughable the infamous “over my dead body will women enter this college” line of former Provost George Salmon. Last year, 46 per cent of society heads were women. From Kate Fahy, auditor of the Law Society, Catherine Kelly, auditor of the College Historical Society (the Hist), to Sorcha Ryder, auditor of the University Philosophical Society (the Phil), female leaders are swiftly discrediting old prejudices. Not only are these major societies being headed by women: so are many smaller ones, including the Sign Language society and DU Computer Science Society (DUCSS). Indeed, in the case of the latter, it has an all-female committee for the first time in history. This is most notable given that it comes at a time when the male-dominated STEM disciplines are making an active effort to appeal to women. To top it all off, the Central Societies Committee (CSC), wielding ultimate power to recognise and fund societies, is also chaired by a woman, Fiona May.
With movements such as Time’s Up and the #MeToo campaign taking centre stage, women around the world are invigorating the fight
Speaking with The University Times, May remarked on how refreshing it was to see this surge in female leadership. She noted that “we are in a good place” in terms of society leadership and the gender divide, and personally seeks to ensure the momentum is sustained. According to May, the real “success story” of societies this academic year in terms of female empowerment was not necessarily the female leadership in the major societies, but in the smaller and traditionally male-dominated ones. “Female leadership in major societies is great but it isn’t new. What actually is a bigger story is that we are seeing female leadership in societies that haven’t really had it at all before”, she said.
Indeed, it would be remiss of me to overlook the surge in women entering STEM subjects in college, which has been reflected by societies: both the General Science Society (DU SciSoc) and DUCSS are now chaired by women.
But will this strong female leadership in societies translate into the workforce after College? Between the pay gap and the boys’ club culture of STEM companies, for many women, it’s still an uphill battle.
Catalina Rete, chair of DUCSS, makes the important point that setting an example on campus is a crucial first step. Speaking with The University Times, she said “I think what a lot of girls lack in early career are role models. We need to present students with empowering images of women because it is hard to stay focused if you don’t know where you are going.”
While more women on campus are putting themselves forward to chair societies, very few seem willing to lead in student politics
Aoife Crawford, Trinity’s Equality Officer, echoes these thoughts. Speaking to The University Times, she highlights the power female student leaders have to inspire the college population and provide concrete images of positions they might strive towards. “To have those role models very visible, front and centre, as societies do, shows that women are absolutely capable of reaching that goal if they want”, said Crawford. These women aren’t just leading the campus: they’re setting a precedent for incoming female students, and creating a new mould that will hopefully endure beyond Trinity’s gates.
A myriad of ambitious and trailblazing women have served as the forerunners to female leaders on campus today. This isn’t lost on either the Phil’s Sorcha Ryder or the Hist’s Catherine Kelly – they’re well aware that their positions at the top would have been unthinkable only 60 years ago, when women couldn’t even join the debating societies as members, let alone as auditor or even speakers. “I feel lucky to be following closely in the footsteps of incredible women,” said Kelly. It was her predecessors who introduced gender quotas into the Hist and established Harneys, the society’s competition for women and non-binary speakers.
Just as their foremothers paved the way for these equally determined and aspirant female students, both Kelly and Ryder hope to inspire incoming students. When quizzed about her hopes for future female involvement in the Phil, Ryder said: “I want to bring more women into the society and make it feel like a place where they are welcome and inherently belong.” There have only been five female presidents of the Phil since women were first accepted as members, but Ryder’s leadership will hopefully herald in an era of female empowerment within the society.
This female takeover parallels both a national and international cultural shift, but the same cannot be said about the political world, where meagre female representation is still the status quo. What is baffling is the fact that, while far more women on campus are putting themselves forward to chair societies, very few seem willing to lead within the realm of student politics. With only one female sabbatical officer in TCDSU, one can’t help but wonder what’s deterring female students from taking the leap.
Kate Fahy hypothesised that women may be discouraged by the traditionally harsh spotlight cast on candidates during TCDSU elections. “When it is females in a race, considerations go much beyond someone’s competencies and instead, into their personalities,” she said. Relating back to her own experience running for auditor, Fahy noticed that female candidates were scrutinised in a very different way to those of their male counterparts. This, she suggested, might impede their political ambitions.
Aimee Connolly, the lone TCDSU sabbatical officer, agreed. In an email statement to The University Times, she said: “I think it is no surprise that less women run in elections considering that women in the public eye often receive more criticism than men, simply because of their gender”.
Crawford suggests that this may not necessarily always be the case, but the perception that it is may dissuade female students entering student politics all the same. “Unfortunately we actually don’t know whether female candidates are treated differently in say, the presidential race because there have been so few.” Indeed, until we accept female candidates as the norm rather than an anomaly, we will continue to follow their campaigns with unchecked curiosity and an often pervasive inquisitiveness, which in turn puts many women off.
These leaders aren’t burning bras or renouncing all men: instead, they’re simply putting female competency and spirit on display
Nevertheless, each of these women made the point that the empowering image of female leadership projected by societies has great agency in itself. Following the sobering thoughts about female representation in student politics, Crawford optimistically pointed towards leading women such as Ryder, Kelly and Fahy. “You’re showing that women can do it and thereby challenge any of that residual fear or perception that there are going to be insurmountable barriers there,” she said. These trailblazing, powerful women on campus testify to the potential and capability of females across the student body to match their male peers in leadership roles.
The interviewees were all of the one mind when asked about the biggest hindrance to female leadership prospects: confidence. But it’s an obstacle that is hopefully on the decline. “[Female society leaders] show that women are just as capable of being successful leaders as their male counterparts,” said May. “It shows that we feel comfortable to go forward for these leadership roles which suggest that perhaps some of the barriers in terms of feeling less confident are going away.”
Indeed, each of these women are a declaration of female power and ambition. These leaders aren’t taking the dramatic and cliched route of burning bras or renouncing all men: instead, they’re simply putting female competency and resolute spirit on display. While there may still be some way to go, especially in terms of student politics, female students such as these are showing that women are most certainly capable, as well as absolutely determined. Let us all follow these torchbearers of female empowerment and take notes from Trinity’s inspiring, female-led society culture.
