Embracing Equity
The Stade played host to a series of sporting, political and cultural events on Sunday 12 March under the designation Hear Me Roar to mark International Women’s Day (IWD). The day has its roots in 1909 when New York women garment workers celebrated a successful strike for better working conditions the year before. In the years since, the day has become a focal point in the women’s rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.
The day began with a frenetic game of rounders organised by Amy Walker, Chair of Hastings Rounders. In addition to the regular players, unsuspecting visitors were pressganged to join in the fun – which, to their great credit, most did with enthusiasm, drawing cheers from a bumper crowd.
The focus then moved inside the Stade. Anne-Marie Watson from Women’s Voice said the theme of this year’s events was “embracing equity” and the “fight for equality, support and recognition of those who are most vulnerable.”
Women’s Voice was set up in 2006 by a group of women to “offer support, solidarity, and opportunities to women in the local community”. To mark this year’s IWD, they organised creative workshops aimed at young people to “raise awareness and empower them to stand up against sexual abuse, coercive control and domestic violence.”
There were also talks from a team of inspirational women. Rossana Leal, the founder and CEO of the Refugee Buddy Project, Antonia Berelson of the Royal College of Nurses, Claudine Eccleston, creator of Playing the Race Card creative project, Steph Warren, owner of the Stella Dore gallery and Maggie Capps, who is part of the RMT cleaners protest, each spoke passionately on subjects as diverse as friendship, anti-racism and feminism. One thing common to all speeches was how, with the support and solidarity of local women in Hastings and St Leonards, so much is being achieved everyday by so many remarkable women working within the local community.
The proceedings were brought to a close by local artist Carol Prior. She roused spirits with a musical celebration of women, but also a reminder to all present of the needs of local women who are in abusive, violent and coercive relationships.
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