UKC FemSoc at UK Feminista Summer School!

This weekend, 350 women and men made their way to the Amnesty Centre in Shoreditch to attend the UK Feminista Summer School, which had proved to be so popular it was fully booked within weeks of its announcement. The weekend was advertised as ‘Two days of training in feminist activism’ and included workshops and talks on running a feminist group, campaigning, fundraising, demonstrations, promoting diversity and public speaking, to name a few. It was also billed as a good forum for networking with other grassroots feminist groups, and UKC FemSoc were no exception.




UK Feminista was set up earlier this year—in fact only a month before UKC FemSoc itself—as a kind of social networking site for feminists and feminist organisations. The website includes a map, where you can locate your nearest group, and forums and blogs where these groups can discuss and record their campaigns and progress. Its major aim is to create a space to bring grassroots feminism together, and create better communication across the Women’s movement.



In the foyer of Amnesty’s very modern, shiny building, there were a couple of stalls laden with leaflets on every topic from domestic abuse and rape to abortion rights to feminist music festivals. There was also merchandise on sale, and a book stall run by Silvermoon women’s bookshop (did you know that in Waterstones they stock ten male authors to every one female writer?)



Once we were all signed up for whichever workshops we planned to attend, we entered the auditorium to do a spot of networking. We met girls who ran other University Feminist Societies (Leeds, Southampton and Bristol), people from brand new fledgling groups like ours (Belfast Feminist Network), and people from big, established groups (Fawcett, London Feminist Network, OBJECT). Lots of friendly ideas were exchanged, and the atmosphere was fantastic, everyone buzzing with feminist energy.



The lineup of speakers was equally impressive, including Kat Banyard herself, director and founder of UK Feminista, author of new book ‘The Equality Illusion’, Hannah Poole, writer for the Guardian newspaper, Bidisha, Julie Bindel, Karin Robinson, who had been responsible for Obama’s electoral campaign abroad, women from ‘Lady Fest’, the Fawcett Society, Eaves and Women in Prison. The weekend aimed to address Feminist Activism as broadly as possible, and it was inspiring to see so many women’s organisations represented throughout.



More than anything, it was a wonderful feeling to be recognised as a Feminist, and to be in a space where that was celebrated. As I have learnt hosting FemSoc events at Uni, there is immense satisfaction in learning that you are not alone; that Feminism is not your own personal eccentricity. It was fantastic to hear so many voices cheer each others accomplishments, and equally satisfying to hear the unanimous groan when Theresa May was mentioned. The humour and optimism was infectious, and left everybody feeling energized and ready to act.



As for me, I cannot wait to get back to UKC FemSoc and get to work. I’m thrilled at the response we’ve had already from students and even non-students about our society, and I’m determined to continue this message of positivity and excitement throughout the year. I can’t wait for the next big national Feminist event—which will be Feminism in London in October, and I urge everybody to come along too, as there is really nothing quite like it.

Louise MacBean