Be Her Lead: bringing educators together

To create a community led, inclusive and educational space is not easy, but it was something that appeared effortless at the Be Her Lead 2019 Conference on October 5th. The day was a mix of inspirational speakers, panel discussions, networking opportunities and workshops centred around the mission of tackling gender inequality in schools. With 'Resilience and Aspirations' as the theme, the day saw educators who are passionate about changing the experience that girls have of education in the UK come together.

The fierce Susie Orbach, psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, writer and social critic opened the conference, talking passionately about costing inequality. Susie picked up on themes of ethics and the economy of clothing, cosmetics and the food industry. These themes were examined from a feminist lens and Susie explored the many dynamics behind everyday items and practices that we choose to ignore. Susie encouraged teachers to ask their students questions that interrogate and get to the heart of the invisible inequalities in our day to day lives:

'How much do we spend on cosmetics? Where are cosmetics made? What are they made of? Who loses and who gains when we buy cosmetics? Why are cosmetic 'medical' procedures growing? In whose interests are they growing?'

Later on in the day we heard from Laura Coryton, activist and writer who kickstarted the Tampon Tax Campaign that has led to the abolishment of the 5% 'luxury' tax on sanitary items in the UK. Laura spoke to the power of the internet and social media for galvanising support and awareness of the tampon tax. Inspiring and motivational, Laura touched on many issues including the thought-provoking notion that the reason we hadn’t heard about the tax before the campaign was because, quite simply, we don't talk about periods. The complex nature of women’s rights is such that issues do not exist in isolation from one another, in fact they overlap, uphold and support one another. So a silencing of women’s experiences is explicitly linked to the economic inequality of a tax on sanitary items.

The rest of the conference was wonderful; inclusive, informative and rooted in a feeling of community that can be rare to find. If you want to find out more about the Be Her Lead programme check out their website. And a reminder that applications for their next cohort of teachers are open now!

"[Be Her Lead] is the best thing that the school has ever organised to help different girls in different ways and to also show the power that they have to overcome their inner fears."

Student Participant, Be Her Lead Pilot