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NEWS
International Women’s Day Staffordshire University plays hosts to ‘International Women’s Day, Be Bold For Change’ event. The event was headlined by Chief Constable of Staffordshire police, Jane Sawyer, who spoke about her time within the police force over the past 33 years and how things have changed for women. When Jane first entered the world of police, her uniform consisted of a blouse, skirt, soft hat and a handbag, in which she would carry her radio, tape measure, handcuffs and a whistle in. She also stated, if any female officer wanted to wear trousers, the stipulations for this was permission
was to be sought from their Inspector and would only be granted if they were on a night shift, and the weather was poor. This has now obviously changed to today’s world, with both men and women wearing similar uniforms apart from a difference in the head wear. “I genuinely believe that the service is a different today. I don’t think of it as a ‘Man’s world’, but are there challenges? Of course, there are, but daily, whether you’re male or female, it is about what you do and not about your gender.” Vice-Chancellor, Professor Liz Barnes who was a member of the panel commented: “International Women’s day is to celebrate our female achievers, within Staffordshire.
Gender Identity Max Davies wakes up some days, feeling feminine, and puts on a dress, heels and makeup. Then the next day feels an overwhelming surge of masculinity and dresses to suit this. Max Davies, 30, from Worcester identifies gender as fluid, a term that is becoming more recognised amongst fashion magazines, the public and clothes designers. Max says that ‘’society feels the need to put everyone into boxes the day that they are born, you are told your gender, your name and put into a class system into society, this is not that easy for everyone to follow.’’ Max describes how as a teenager he identified as a lesbian, as this was the only reason he understood as to why he felt feminine and was attracted to women. After this, he struggled to come to terms with the fact that he may be transgender. ‘‘After years of research and the help of the internet and social media, I discovered that there is not just a black and white system to sexuality and gender. That clothes do not need to define who you are, your gender or who you are attracted to’’. Young people are increasingly challenging conventional gender identities by evolving notions about what it means to
be male, female and the meanings behind transgender, cisgender, gender conforming, gender queer plus up to 50 more identities. Facebook now offers these identities for their profiles. Scientific writer, Robin Marantz Henig says that ‘’We know that the various elements that we consider ‘male’ and ‘female’ don’t always line up neatly. This opens people’s minds to the differences between biological gender and what an individual may identify as.’’ The gender revolution is taking the world by storm. Fashion designers such as Tillyand-William are creating a platform for genderless clothing and High street stores such as Zara are now featuring gender fluid clothing, the designs and fittings are neither for male or female. Runways and casting agencies are crying out for androgynous models to become a part of the shift in gender. The world is seeing a positive stride in the gender shift showing a worldwide acceptance of blurring the conventional gender lines.
Text and Photographs by Sarah Staff
This is an opportunity to celebrate what has been achieved but also to recognise that we still have a lot to do in terms of support across the world.” Fleur Robinson, Commercial Director of Burton Albion, another member of the panel added: “I am hoping that as being part of that council I can try and make a difference and create more opportunities for women.” When asked why she attended the event, Student Union president Jamie-Lee Cunningham said: “Never doubt yourself, and to make sure that the people around you are the ones who are going to support you. Follow your dreams, and do not let gender, age or anything get in your way.”
THE PHOTOJOURNALIST Text by Laura Mellor Photography by Tara Daniels and Laura Mellor