A Woman’s Place is asking big questions: What’s important about SSS?

The application of the single-sex exceptions in the 2010 Equality Act is surrounded by controversy and confusion, a reflection of broader societal debates about sex, gender and gender identity. How these questions are dealt with – or not – by those working in organisations which seek to challenge male violence against women is the subject of new research by Dr Shonagh Dillon, completed as part of a Professional Doctorate at the University of Portsmouth. In this seminar, Dr Dillon, who is also CEO of local domestic violence, sexual abuse and stalking charity Aurora New Dawn, will be joined by three prominent advocates for single-sex spaces: feminist activist and journalist Julie Bindel, barrister Lucy Masoud, and campaigner and survivor of male violence Jean Hatchet.

The event will be part of the “Big questions” seminar series which will host Woman’s Place UK as the first of a series of organisations discussing feminism in the 21st century. “The Big Questions” seeks to create space for ongoing conversations about feminism, sex, gender and sexuality in the 21st century by inviting speakers and organisations who seek to shape public policy from a range of different – and sometimes diametrically opposed – perspectives.

COVID-19: As part of our Covid safety measures tickets are very limited and attendee names and contact telephone numbers will be shared with the venue host. These will be kept for 21 days and shared with Track and Trace where necessary. Contact details will also be confirmed with attendees on the night of the event. Please do not attend if you feel unwell or are showing any symptoms of Covid-19. Also, if, for any reason you book a ticket but cannot attend, please notify us so that your ticket can be refunded and reallocated.

Chair:

Dr Natalya Vince, Reader in North African and French Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Portsmouth

Speakers:

Julie Bindel is a journalist, writer, broadcaster and researcher. She has been active in the global campaign to end violence towards women and children since 1979, co-founded Justice for Women in 1990 and the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize in 1998. She writes regularly for The Observer, Spectator, Telegraph and Unherd, is the author of over 30 book chapters and reports. Her new book Feminism for Women is published on 2nd September. and can be preordered from all good book sellers.

Dr Shonagh Dillon has nearly 30 years’ experience working in the male violence against women (MVAW) sector, she is the founder and CEO at Aurora New Dawn working with victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking. Shonagh recently defended her thesis and was awarded a doctorate from the University of Portsmouth. Her thesis researches the clash between transgender ideology and women’s sex-based rights analysing the direct impact on the MVAW sector.

Jean Hatchet is a feminist activist and writer who runs the project Ride For Murdered Women where she rides her bike to honour the lives of women murdered by men they knew. She has raised over £50,000 and ridden over 9000 miles for 354 women. In 2018 she was awarded the Emma Humphreys Memorial Special Prize for her work to end men’s violence against women and girls.

Lucy Masoud is a barrister, feminist campaigner and a former firefighter. As a firefighter Lucy campaigned against mixed sex changing rooms on fire stations, and was also heavily involved in the fight for justice for the survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire. Lucy is currently a family barrister who specialises in representing female victims of domestic violence.

Kiri Tunks is a long-time trade union activist and campaigner for women’s rights. She is a co-founder and director of WPUK.