Review: Women’s History Month Panel
By Sasha Gordon, First Year History
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Bristol’s most brilliant minds gathered to discuss the study of Women’s History. Sasha reports on the insights, innovations and joys of this year’s Women’s History Month Panel.
On Thursday 17th March, I had the pleasure of attending the panel organised by the History Society in the Global Lounge in honour of Women’s History Month. The panel featured Dr Vivian Kong, Dr Sarah Jones, Dr Beth Rebisz and Professor Hilary Carey, and was chaired by Eleanor Hampson (third year history), providing a variety of perspectives on women’s history.
The discussion kicked off with a discussion of the panellists' favourite female historical figures. While the panel alluded to many extraordinary women throughout the world, such as Elizabeth Gaskell and Field Marshall Muthoni Wa Kirima, the panel took part in a critical examination of the implications of idealising specific historic individuals.
In examining this phenomenon, Dr Sarah Jones discussed the nuance needed when discussing historic women, commenting that the women who intrigue her are probably the ones who are quite unpleasant to know personally.
The conversation then moved on to the impact and importance of studying women’s history. Several excellent points emerged, with the takeaway point being that academia needs to stop viewing women’s history as a niche: women have always been present in human history, and should be represented as such throughout all historic fields. Similarly, the panel decried the stereotype that women’s history is the study of angry feminists, rather than a valid path of historical investigation.
This line of questioning lead on to discussions of the future of the historical field. The panel talked about the success of decolonisation efforts and how crucial it is to keep persevering with these efforts. Dr Beth Rebisz, the panel’s specialist on African history, made the point that women’s history is often done with one singular, Western construction of womanhood and how we should learn how to navigate cultural differences that may arise without sacrificing one’s own feminist ideals.
Questions from the floor highlighted the realities of being a female historian, both in the professional and student realm. Professor Hilary Carey told us about the struggles that she faced as the only woman - or certainly only woman in a leadership position - in various departments, allowing us to appreciate the progress that has been made, whilst appreciating changes still needed.
Audience members asked how to handle overly dominant male students in seminars, with change still necessary to safeguard the female student experience beyond highlighting female role academic role models. Similarly, audience members also questioned the appropriateness of women being the only ones to study women’s history, with Dr Sarah Jones providing resounding support for female academics in the field.
All in all, this was a highly thought-provoking and entertaining panel. What struck me the most was the camaraderie of the panel and the supportive atmosphere they provided for each other, a joyous site, especially alongside discussions of the struggles of being a woman in academia.
I left feeling filled with the prospect of possibility, truly reflecting the message about the importance of representation in academia. I would like to say thank you to the History Society, Dr Beth Rebisz, Professor Hilary Carey, Dr Sarah Jones and Dr Vivian Kong for this wonderful evening.