Each year on March 8th, International Women’s Day (or on the nearest week day), the Centre for Gender Studies in Wales presents a public lecture, the Ursula Masson Memorial Lecture, to celebrate the day and to commemorate its founder.
Dr Ursula Masson (1945-2008) was a much loved and highly esteemed
senior lecturer in History at Glamorgan. She was also instrumental in
founding Archif Menywod Cymru/Women’s Archive of Wales and its roadshows.
It is fitting, therefore, that the Memorial Lecture is given in her honour on International Women’s Day.
This year's Ursula Mason Memorial Lecture for International Women's Day will explore the modern history of women’s representation in Welsh politics and public life.
Centering on devolution and the wider context of politics and governance in Wales, Professor Laura McAllister will trace progress made since 1999 in the number of women elected to the National Assembly for Wales.
The lecture is open to everyone and is free to attend. It will be followed by a drinks reception and the opening of the award-winning Forty Voices, Forty Years exhibition.
The 40 Voices, 40 Years project, created by USW's George Ewart Evans Centre for Storytelling and Welsh Women’s Aid, profiles the memories and stories from women who have been responsible for placing domestic abuse and all forms of violence against women on the public, political, and social agendas.
It includes a collection of 40 oral histories in the form of digital stories and an exhibition of photos and objects from the movement’s past.
