SJC Women's Network eNewsletter - November 2021
Welcome to the Michaelmas term edition of the newsletter! At the start of this new academic year in Oxford, we are celebrating our alumni of the Women's Network, current students and of course our President, Professor Snowling, who has been an inspiring and impactful figure in College for the past nine years.
We are lucky to be able to look towards the future and our current students in this newsletter. We also celebrate Sofia Henderson winning the Barbara Savage Prize for her undergraduate thesis on the Black British Women's movement. We spoke to her about her motivations for researching this topic.
On Saturday 18th September, the College opened its doors for Reflections of a President after 40 Years of Women. The session was well attended by a group of alumni from across the years and disciplines.
There were a variety of topics examined, from looking at the power of speech and importance of networks in our discussion of race issues, reframing narrow notions of 'success'; and looking at transitions and challenges we all encounter throughout life. Alex Bollen has written about her breakout session on navigating motherhood, and how to balance a personal and professional life.
You can read the Chair of the SJC Women's Network, Hannah Gilbert's article to find out more about the wonderful weekend. Speaking on behalf of everyone at the event I wish to say thank you to Hannah for coordinating this fantastic occasion - the feedback has been superb and many meaningful connections were made.
For anyone unable to join, we hope to run similar events in the future so watch our upcoming events space! Videos from some of the seminars are available below, so you can taste a small flavour of the cross-generational and discursive sessions.
Rose Sundt (2015, Oriental Studies)
Communications Lead for SJC Women's Network
Click here to read more about Rose
The Chair of the SJC Women's Netw
ork, Hannah Gilbert (1993, Arabic) wrote a summary of the Reflections of a President: 40 Years of Women event held on 18 September 2021.
Alex Bollen (1991, History) ran one of the morning transitions sessions, focusing on motherhood. The group discussed the challenged of becoming and being a mother. How does motherhood shape your work, financial security, relationships and sense of self?
Watch recordings from the 40 Years of Women: Reflections of a President event here:
Watch the interactive session's plenary discussion
Sofia Henderson (2018, History) was awarded the Barbara Savage Prize in Black History for her undergraduate thesis entitled 'OWAAD is all of us': Unity and the politics of identity in the Black British women's movement, 1978-1984.
The Women's Network Steering Group is currently looking for an alumna to fill the vacancy of 2010s Representative. If you are interested, or would like to know more, please email women@sjc.ox.ac.uk.
St John's will be hosting two different exhibitions in our Barn Gallery Space as part of this festival running until 15 November 2021
Don't forget to join our new SJC Women's Network group on LinkedIn