Women’s History Month in review

With Women’s History Month (WHM) having drawn to a close, Morley reflects on a month filled with insightful events, engaging discussions and inspiring exhibitions.  

Throughout March, the college welcomed staff, students, and members of the public to participate in various activities that celebrated the achievements and contributions of women. 

Women Pioneers of Morley 

The ‘Women Pioneers of Morley’ booklet outlines a captivating narrative that spans from the visionary Founder Emma Cons to the current cohort of accomplished staff and students.  

From the first few pages, you will see the legacy of Women at Morley: from our Founder Emma Cons, to contemporary staff and student profiles. 

This contrast between historical female figures with modern day female success stories at Morley is at the heart of this campaign, showing a spirit that is still very much alive today. 

This booklet can be found at all centres and downloaded below.  

Lectures for a penny / Education for the community 

One of the standout events of WHM was the Penny Lecture by Caroline Ings-Chambers, which explored the parallels between historical narratives of child maltreatment and contemporary definitions of child abuse. With 31 attendees, the lecture provided valuable insights into the intersections of history, culture, and social issues, drawing on academic research and real-world examples. 

Caroline Ings-Chambers, PhD, is an esteemed researcher and lecturer at Morley, specialising in Victorian Studies and the role of women in nineteenth-century society. Her work delves into the complexities of the era, shedding light on often-overlooked aspects of history and literature. 

Caroline also teaches Pilates at Morley: click here to explore her classes starting this term. 

Empowering Exhibitions 

Throughout WHM, Morley showcased the talents of its students through a series of exhibitions. From fine art to fashion design, these exhibitions provided a platform for students to express their creativity and explore themes related to women’s experiences. 

Highlights include the Fridge exhibition featuring HE Fine Art and Access to HE students, the Puppets exhibition by UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma Creative Practice students, and the Interim show featuring UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design and Fashion students. 

Spreading the word: stats, reach, and impact 

With in-person events ranging from lectures to exhibitions, this year’s WHM campaign reached a wide audience within the college community. But a comprehensive social media campaign really helped spread the word much more widely thanks to Morley’s expansive online following,  drawing in a diverse audience and sparking meaningful conversations. 

Through social media, word of mouth, and promotional efforts, Morley was able to amplify the reach of its WHM events, ensuring that the celebration of women’s history resonated far and wide. 

Below are some statistics from our social media campaign showing impressions from Morley’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) – e.g. the number of times people had the opportunity to see a WHM post from Morley. The green figures below show the increase from last year’s campaign, reflecting growth across all channels. 

Continuing the celebration 

While Women’s History Month may have officially ended, as part of the wider work of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion working group, Morley College London is committed to continuing the celebration of women’s achievements throughout the year. 

“I’m proud that Morley has celebrated Women’s History Month so actively this year with guest speakers and podcasts as well as reporting the improvement in our Gender Pay Gap, with the gap reduced since last year. Morley’s commitment to equality started with its founder, Emma Cons and our celebrations and College today reflect the same ideals that she held. My thanks to Marketing Campaigns Manager Amani, who has put so much work into leading the programme of activity this year” – Alison McNamara, co-chair of the EDI working group.