For those familiar with previous International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations, this year’s programme may seem remarkably sober. Verena Menzel, who has co-organised the IWD celebrations for several years now, explains the frugal programming choices.
Concentrated effort
‘Given recent developments, such as the diminished appreciation for academia within Dutch politics leading to UT’s budget cuts, we felt it was appropriate to scale down the programme. While it allows us to use our resources better, concentrating our efforts into one event also makes it both more noteworthy and fosters a stronger sense of community and engagement,’ Menzel explains.
Another march?
‘We are aware that the march will take place only two weeks after the support march for dismissed staff. The support march was organised spontaneously and on very short notice, while ours has been in the works since last October. We didn’t want to change plans now, as our ambitions and goals for this event are unchanged.’
Route
Starting and ending at the O&O square, the march route is scheduled to make a loop along the Spiegel and Vrijhof buildings. Promoting a festive atmosphere, there will be musical performances at O&O square, and speeches along the way. The march will end in a central event.
Underrepresentation
She points to the Female Professor Monitor, which indicates that that the recent lay-offs have caused UT to fall short of its goals for female representation in academic positions. ‘There’s still a long way to go and many challenges to overcome. Especially in technical universities, women are still underrepresented.’
She is quick to add that the march is also meant as a celebration, not just a protest. ‘We are hoping this singular event will drive needed attention and spur conversations within the wider equity, diversity, and inclusion debate.’
About IWD’s efforts
International Women's Day (IWD) serves as a platform to acknowledge the achievements of women while highlighting ongoing issues related to gender equality. IWD encourages collective efforts to foster an inclusive environment that supports the advancement of women and promotes equity for all genders. Menzel adds: ‘I am proud that we were able to create a joint event with no less than seven different UT initiatives: DE&I Team UT, EO4all, EQUITY/P-NUT, Studium Generale, Technology for Women's Health, OBP Women’s Network, and WANT.’
