#FemFest – Young Women are taking action
Published: Thursday, December 03, 2015
Young women from across Ireland will gather for a sold out #FemFest in Croke Park, Dublin this Friday, 4th December. #FemFest is a conference about young women and for young women (16 – 24 years) by the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI). It is the culmination of a series of workshops with young women where they explored issues surrounding body image and leadership.
The young women will be addressed by speakers including Louise O’Neill, author of Asking for it, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Comedian Tara Flynn, and Tom Meagher and entertained by Maud in Cahoots and the Delorentos.
#FemFest follows a recent NWCI survey which revealed that young women have the highest level of confidence in their own leadership skills, but also the highest levels of body image insecurities. As a group in Irish society they also had the greatest desire to see more diversity in leadership, and to challenge the status quo.
Sarah Clarkin, Communications Officer and working on NWCI’s young women’s project said,
“Young women are growing up in a world which sees them navigating conflicting body image ideals. From the perfectly proportioned curves, to the tall, slender size zero, the bottom line is these shapes are unattainable for the vast majority. There are many debates on body image and leadership, but often these debates are not inclusive of young women. Social media and changing technologies are transforming how and what we communicate. This particularly impacts on young women. We need to shift the conversation from commenting on how individual women look, and discuss wider structural inequalities, social norms and gender roles. To do this, we need to include young women in the spaces and places where decisions are made, and empower young women to become leaders.”
Louise Glennon, Women in Leadership Officer with NWCI said,
“Young women are crying out for an alternative model of leadership that is not just middle aged and male. You can’t be what you can’t see, and right now, young women are telling us that they don’t see positive women role models in Irish society. We need to see more diverse female role models in all areas of society, including politics, business, media and the arts. Quotas and other positive measures are important for all women but will have the greatest impact for young women as future leaders in society “
Orla O’Connor, Director of NWCI said,
“There is a stereotype around young women as apathetic and as ‘their own worst enemy’ and we need to change this discourse. The energy around this conference shows that young women want to see change and are looking for spaces to make their voices heard and make a difference. We want young women to be leaders, to be portrayed as strong, independent people in the media, to walk down the street without having obscenities shouted at them by men, and to live in a world where they don’t have to navigate limiting gender stereotypes. In Ireland, NWCI and the feminist movement are being energised by young women bringing new ideas – we are ready to accelerate the pace of change and transform Irish society once and for all.”
At the event, participants will be voting on a number of motions in relation to body image and leadership. They will also be invited to sign up to a Feminist Pledge which will form a blueprint for young feminists in Ireland.
Feminist Pledge
Fight Sexism, Fight Racism, Fight Ableism, Fight Classism, Fight Ageism, Fight Homophobia, Fight Transphobia. The Personal is Political. Love Yourself. Be a Leader. Be Active. Organise, Agitate, Girlcott, Lobby, Sign Petitions, Demonstrate, Protest. Get involved in the Women’s Movement. Demand An End to Low Pay and Precarious Contracts. Create Women Only Spaces. Listen to Women Survivors. Support Women’s Choices. Celebrate Women Pioneers. Love Your Body. Don’t Slutshame, Fatshame, Bodyshame. Respect Women’s Choices. Say Yes to Leadership. Elect Feminist Women and Men. Fight for Equal Representation in Parliament, in the media, in Boardrooms, in Sport, in STEM. Create a Feminist Education System. Recognise Traveller Ethnicity. Respect Care and Care Work. Give Children Gender-Neutral Toys. Support One-Parent Families. Promote Inter-Generational Solidarity. Celebrate Women’s Achievements. Support Women Writers, Artists, Musicians and Pioneers. Demand Full Reproductive Rights. Demand and End to Men’s Violence against Women. Fight Rape Culture and Street Harassment. Consent is Active, Enthusiastic, Ongoing. Consent is Mandatory.
Other speakers at the event include:
• Lynn Ruane, Student Union President, Trinity College Dublin
• Clare Daly, T.D.
• Nadya Bhettay, Chief Financial Officer, Vodafone
• Ailbhe Smyth, Convenor of the Coalition to Repeal the 8th Amendment
• Dil Wickremasinghe, Social Justice, Mental Health Broadcaster and Activist
• Sinead Burke, Minnie Melange
• Sarah Griffin, Writer
Ends/
For more information, to register for the event or to interview one of the speakers or participants, please contact Silke Paasche, NWCI, Tel. 085 858 9104