I have an announcement to make. I’ve just had it confirmed that I will be speaking at two panel sessions during next week’s Women of the World Festival (WOW) at the Southbank Centre in London.
I’m delighted to have been asked to take part in the festival, the aim of which is to champion gender equality, celebrate the achievements of women and girls everywhere plus examine the obstacles that keep them from fulfilling their potential. I consider this a great opportunity to raise the profile of us stay at home fathers and contribute a male voice to debates surrounding childcare and domestic responsibilities.
If you are going to WOW and want to hear what I have to say, you will find me at the following sessions;
- Childcare Utopia, Friday, 11 March, 1500hrs – 1600hrs. A discussion about shared parental leave, what the UK can learn from other nations and the cost of childcare.
- Chore Wars and Domestic Lives, Sunday, 13 March, 1315hrs – 1425hrs. A discussion about domestic chores and why men do fewer than women. This session will be chaired by none other than Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism project.
I have been asked to speak because of my involvement in a campaign group called Work Care Share. We are a group of campaigners from diverse backgrounds who wish to see greater equality for women and men both at work and at home. Please do take a moment to visit our website, we’d love you to have a read and see what we are all about.
I don’t mind admitting, I’ve taken a look at who is speaking at this year’s event and I’m having a “rabbit caught in the headlights” moment, if you’ll excuse the cliché. Among those speaking are Liberty Director Sharmi Chakrabati, writer and broadcaster Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and HRH Crown Princess Marga of Romania. Somehow or other, I fit into this mix!
If there are any particular points regarding childcare or domestic responsibilities you feel I should raise, please do leave a comment below. It’s always good to hear other people’s ideas. Feel free to wish me luck, I may need it!
9 thoughts on “See you at the Women of the World Festival”
WOW!!!! Well done John — OK not a puppy or a kitten but VERY exciting!! You should be enormously proud — there are some amazing speakers there! Fab news! 🙂
Yeah, I’m looking at the list of speakers and thinking “how did I end up here?” ANyway, I think it’s a great opportunity and if you’re in the audience, do come and say hi.
This is wonderful news John, well done, you are perfect for this festival, so proud of you!
Thanks Vicki. It means a lot simply to be asked. I think it’s a great opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it.
Brilliant news and I am sure you will fit right in with those speakers! Good luck, I think it is fab to include stay at home fathers voices too in this event.
Thanks, I feel it is a brilliant opportunity and am genuinelly looking for ward to it. If you’re there, do come and say hello.
Oh, this is brilliant, well done! Really important topics as well. In our house, things have changed somewhat since my husband was badly injured in a motorbike accident. He does the chores that he can do like hanging washing up (once I’ve carried it to where it needs to go) and vacuuming. I do the bins, all the heavy lifting, fix fences and today I spent mother’s day fitting a new floor in the kitchen. It’s not ideal, but it is what it is. I’m lucky that my husband is happy to take on traditionally ‘female’ chores because otherwise I’d never get any sleep, I just wouldn’t have time. Have a brilliant time at the festival and don’t be nervous, you deserve to be there and you will be brilliant.
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