We’re now on the fourth wave of feminism, but how far have we come? In the UK, women are still paid less then men, and often do the lion’s share of childcare. Girls’ clothes and toys are differentiated from boys’ like never before, and there’s even the need for a political party, the Women’s Equality Party, to campaign against basic inequalities between the sexes.
Come along to this evening class with historian of ideas Dr Hannah Dawson and you’ll get an intellectual grounding on the hot topic of feminism. The class begins with a lecture exploring the “four waves” of the feminist movement – from the first wave, where the suffragettes fought for the right to vote, to the second, when the personal became political, to the third, which femininity was reasserted and ‘choice’ championed, through to the present-day, a digital symphony of diverse voices.
Along the way, you’ll explore ideas by some of the great figures of the movement, such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Simone de Beauvoir, bell hooks and Germaine Greer. Throughout the class, the past will be used to reflect upon the pressing concerns of the present, and there’ll be plenty of opportunities for discussion and Q&A. By the end of the evening, you’ll have a fresh perspective on the key historical and contemporary issues surrounding feminism, enabling you to contribute to gender-themed debates with more confidence.
Some of the key questions explored during the class…
- Are there any essential differences between men and women, or is gender just a construction?
- Has the liberation of women in fact only pulled the chains more tightly around them?
- Do women really choose to wear high heels, do the majority of domestic work, and shy away from the top jobs - or is choice just a delusion?
- Why is there need for a political party, the Women’s Equality Party, to campaign against the basic inequalities between the sexes at work and home, in the media and on the streets?
- Is feminism the privileged preserve of a few white, middle-class Western women, and therefore a failure?
- Is feminism a movement just for the liberation of women, or of men, too?
- How can feminism work to free us all from the stereotypes that shackle us?
The class emphasises that there are no straightforward answers to these questions – it’s open to all, and aims to foster free, inclusive debate
More about your teacher…
Hannah Dawson is a historian of ideas, and a lecturer in the history of political thought at King’s College London. She received her PhD in history from the University of Cambridge, and is the author of books including Life Lessons from Hobbes. Hannah contributes frequently to live and broadcast media, including BBC4, BBC Radio 4, TEDx and Guardian Live, and writes for publications such as The Times Literary Supplement (TLS) and Prospect. She tweets @DrHannahDawson.
Details
Date: Monday 26 September 2016
Times: 6.30pm-9.30pm
Location: The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU
Price: £49 (includes VAT, booking fee and drinks)
Event capacity: 100
You may also be interested in…
- The soul of the city: A tour of London’s four oldest streets with Dr Matthew Green
- Art appreciation with Jonathan Jones: A morning at Dulwich Picture Gallery
Sign up to our newsletter and you’ll be among the first to find out about our latest courses and special offers. You can also follow us on Twitter, and read our latest articles and interviews on our blog.
Information on Guardian Masterclasses
If you have any questions about our programme, our contact information is here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy: Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 14 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
