Behind the Headlines: What’s all the fuss about feminism?, Conway Hall

Whether you’re a fervent feminist, or a little afraid of them, this discussion promises to pick apart just what feminism is all about. Why are some people wary of using the term, and others only too proud to use it? Does the 21st century need feminism, and what use is it?
Laura Bates’ Everyday Sexism Project, cataloguing stories of daily sexual discrimination and prejudice, has sparked much debate about feminism and gender inequality in the past few years. As chairperson of this discussion, she’ll invite the panel to explore why terms like ‘bra burner’ and ‘militant feminist’ are still bandied around, and what difference, if any, the movement has made to the lives of ordinary men and women since it first gathered media attention in the 1960s.
Part of the Behind the Headlines series, this debate will bring together a range of voices from different generations and perspectives to discuss one of the most talked about, yet most poorly understood issues of our times. And, as Emma Watson so eloquently argued in 2014's U.N speech about the He for She campaign, the issue of feminism is relevant to both genders, so we hope to see a mixture of men and women joining in the discussion.