CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Proudly coeducational in the Sixth Form since 1971, and shortly to welcome girls into all year groups, Charterhouse marked International Women’s Day on Thursday 8 March. The day's activities have been reviewed by pupils, Limaro Nyam and Adelina Dan.
The School’s Library, situated at the heart of our campus, hosted a display to celebrate this important day in the global calendar, with pupils and staff invited to contribute the names of the women who most inspired them. Nominations included the prison reformer Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845), Nobel Prize-winning activist Malala Yousafzai (b. 1997) – whose book is on the new Charterhouse Half-Century reading list – and members of our own families.
The film, Hidden Figures was watched by the Sixth Form, telling the story of women at NASA who, defying gender and racial stereotypes, helped to put the first American man in space.
Pupils were invited to contribute essay responses to the question, “What do you think history will say about the role 2017 played in the development of gender equality?” – for a book prize of course!
Year 10 pupils continued their examination of equality in their Citizenship classes, ahead of the Remove Citizenship Essay Prize which is launched at the end of this term.
International Women’s Day coincided with our latest Mufti Day, this term in support of SAFE Kenya which – amongst other amazing work – runs remarkable projects protecting women from AIDS and the appalling practice of genital mutilation. A number of pupils and staff chose to wear purple clothes and ribbons as a sign of solidarity with the international women’s movement.
Limaro Nyam, a School Monitor closely involved with organising the School’s celebrations, said: “I think International Women’s Day is extremely important, as we actively celebrate all women and their fantastic contributions to society. It shows us that a lot has been done and while there is still so much to be done, we can achieve whatever we put our minds to.”
Annabel Hawkins, Assistant Head (Pastoral) added: “As we approach 2021, the milestone moment in the School’s history when we will welcome girls into all year groups, International Women’s Day provided our community with an important opportunity to celebrate the women who we admire and value, and to look forward to a fully coeducational Charterhouse just around the corner.”
For more information about Charterhouse’s charitable activities, please email BN@charterhouse.org.uk
To learn more about our exciting plans for full coeducation, please visit https://charterhouseorguk.finalsite.com/about-us/development-strategy/coeducation-at-charterhouse
