Resisting Gender-Based Violence and Injustice Through Activism with Biblical Texts and Images
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Sch of Theology & Religious Studies
Abstract
As highlighted in UN Sustainable Development Goal #5, gender-based violence and inequality (GBV/I) disproportionately deprive women and girls of personal, social and economic fulfillment and health: physical, emotional and mental. All countries at the centre of this project - South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, UK - are impacted by GBV/I but in South Africa and Lesotho, which have among the highest rates of reported rape worldwide, the situation is particularly acute. In all of South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana, moreover, GBV is compounded by high risk of HIV infection, with socio-economically deprived women and girls particularly vulnerable to both GBV and the hardships procured by HIV and Aids.
Expertise and resources from the Arts & Humanities (A&H) alongside targeted international collaboration can go a long way to providing sustainable support and development in innovative and effective ways. The A&H expertise focal to this project focuses especially on two disciplines:
- biblical studies, because the Bible is highly influential and unprecedentedly available (in all indigenous languages) in all project countries, which all have Christian-dominant populations;
- gender studies, because GBV/I perpetuates damaging gender stereotypes which must be fully understood first to be effectively detoxified and resisted.
Another area of A&H expertise applied in the project is music and performance arts, in order to foster a creative, interactive and sustainable media of resistance. Outputs in this area - such as photographs, songs, survivor stories and live performance - also lend themselves to self-representation, allowing persons vulnerable to GBV (foremost girls and women but also members of the LGBTQ community) unfiltered media of expression, aimed at all of healing, empowerment and solidarity.
To address especially UN sustainable development goals pertaining to gender equality (#5), quality education (#4) and peace- and justice- building (#16), the project will:
1) Harness energy, expertise and support of A&H academics in the three southern African project countries as well as in the UK and direct these towards social activism in the area of GBV through working together with relevant NGOs and community groups. The project's three core facilitators (one based in Botswana, two in the UK) are all biblical scholars, with each contributing also distinctive expertise in the areas of sexuality, HIV-theology or ethnicity. All have associations with NGOs and community groups active in addressing GBV/I, as well as passion for social justice.
2) Facilitate existing resources and create also new ones that will in a series of workshops explore the relationship between the Bible and GBV/I. Southern African NGOs and community groups are doing fabulous work in demanding circumstances but this is not always effectively shared due to inadequate networks. The project's facilitators will train at an established centre of socially engaged Bible study, the Ujamaa Centre in South Africa, and disseminate tried and tested resources as well as devise new ones to be trialled in a series of workshops in both Botswana and Lesotho.
3) Produce collaboratively artistic and self-representational media that actively resist GBV/I. Alongside educational and information resources produced in and for workshops, the project will facilitate also creative ways promoting personal expression and healing as well as community mobilization and solidarity.
4) Disseminate information and resources in academic and popular forums, including on the open-access project website.
In diverse and innovative ways, the project seeks both to infuse academia with social justice, as well as creative outlets and social justice endeavours with high quality information and education. This will both strengthen and diversify existing and form also new networks and take a big and promising step towards sustained social betterment and justice.
Expertise and resources from the Arts & Humanities (A&H) alongside targeted international collaboration can go a long way to providing sustainable support and development in innovative and effective ways. The A&H expertise focal to this project focuses especially on two disciplines:
- biblical studies, because the Bible is highly influential and unprecedentedly available (in all indigenous languages) in all project countries, which all have Christian-dominant populations;
- gender studies, because GBV/I perpetuates damaging gender stereotypes which must be fully understood first to be effectively detoxified and resisted.
Another area of A&H expertise applied in the project is music and performance arts, in order to foster a creative, interactive and sustainable media of resistance. Outputs in this area - such as photographs, songs, survivor stories and live performance - also lend themselves to self-representation, allowing persons vulnerable to GBV (foremost girls and women but also members of the LGBTQ community) unfiltered media of expression, aimed at all of healing, empowerment and solidarity.
To address especially UN sustainable development goals pertaining to gender equality (#5), quality education (#4) and peace- and justice- building (#16), the project will:
1) Harness energy, expertise and support of A&H academics in the three southern African project countries as well as in the UK and direct these towards social activism in the area of GBV through working together with relevant NGOs and community groups. The project's three core facilitators (one based in Botswana, two in the UK) are all biblical scholars, with each contributing also distinctive expertise in the areas of sexuality, HIV-theology or ethnicity. All have associations with NGOs and community groups active in addressing GBV/I, as well as passion for social justice.
2) Facilitate existing resources and create also new ones that will in a series of workshops explore the relationship between the Bible and GBV/I. Southern African NGOs and community groups are doing fabulous work in demanding circumstances but this is not always effectively shared due to inadequate networks. The project's facilitators will train at an established centre of socially engaged Bible study, the Ujamaa Centre in South Africa, and disseminate tried and tested resources as well as devise new ones to be trialled in a series of workshops in both Botswana and Lesotho.
3) Produce collaboratively artistic and self-representational media that actively resist GBV/I. Alongside educational and information resources produced in and for workshops, the project will facilitate also creative ways promoting personal expression and healing as well as community mobilization and solidarity.
4) Disseminate information and resources in academic and popular forums, including on the open-access project website.
In diverse and innovative ways, the project seeks both to infuse academia with social justice, as well as creative outlets and social justice endeavours with high quality information and education. This will both strengthen and diversify existing and form also new networks and take a big and promising step towards sustained social betterment and justice.
Planned Impact
Throughout the lifetime of the project the members of the Management Board will integrate processes of research, engagement and impact. Potential impacts arising will be realized through a range of different activities and outputs, tailored to reach specific and relevant audiences.
Following training in contextual Bible study (CBS) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Ujamaa Centre, Management Board members will adapt CBS resources and develop also their own based on visual images that combine or are relevant to both rape culture and the Bible. (A sample from popular culture media can be found in 'Visual Evidence'.) Together these will form the basis of a series of workshops on how biblical texts and images legitimate rape culture and gender-based violence and inequality (GBV/I) to be conducted in Botswana and Lesotho. Participants will be directed by both the Uni of Botswana (there will be 2 workshops: 1 with students and 1 with members of the Gender Policy and Programme Committee) and by NGOs working to support particularly women and girls at risk of or affected by GBV/I (4 more workshops). Letters confirm support from a number of relevant organizations in Botswana (Emang Basadi) and Lesotho (Help Lesotho). Additional support is in place from Botswana's Women's Shelter and LGBTQ support group Legabibo. Management Board expertise in biblical studies and Ujamaa techniques will thus be combined with NGOs' experiential knowledge and connections to identify and benefit persons at risk of GBV/I. The Management Board will also provide training for NGO support staff in addressing Christian rhetoric and biblical justifications for GBV/I. This includes the development of training materials for resisting homophobic biblical interpretation (especially pertinent for Legabibo).
The project will facilitate and develop alongside educational workshop resources also creative self-representational resources and a sustainable media of resistance through women's songs, high-quality images (to be made into posters) and live performances. These will provide counter narratives to endemic rape culture messages and will be recorded and widely disseminated on the project website, as well as social media channels of Management Board and project partners (e.g Twitter @ProjShiloh). Contacts with Botswana Society for the Arts Project and Maitisong Festival and support from Sheffield's Global Soundtrack Programme to realize this endeavour with professionalism are secured.
PI and CI will receive expert training and advice from the Sheffield Feminist Archive to work with Emang Basadi and conduct voluntary interviews with survivors of GBV. This can be a powerful tool of healing and ownership and subject to ethical approval can (via the project website) provide resources for other survivors as well as for support service professionals.
The PP will make public presentations at the Uni of Leeds Centre for Religion and Public Life and at two of Uni Sheffield's public engagement initiatives, Hidden Perspectives and the Shiloh Project, to disseminate Ujamaa methods and the network's own resources.
PI and CI have met Botswana's Minister of Education and will take forward discussion about the integration of rape culture education by applying the project's resources at every level of schooling, which holds enormous potential for long-term and beneficial impact on pedagogical policy.
The project website will bring together a wide range of resources (academic, activist and self-representational) to open the way for more inclusive public debate and to benefit both survivors of GBV/I and professionals working with them.
Impact will extend from the local to the international and benefit a wide range of vulnerable persons (LGBTQ persons, women, girls) in all project countries. Throughout, efforts will be made to extend the network and its reach. Towards this endevour existing media connections (popular press, radio and TV) will be fully exploited.
Following training in contextual Bible study (CBS) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Ujamaa Centre, Management Board members will adapt CBS resources and develop also their own based on visual images that combine or are relevant to both rape culture and the Bible. (A sample from popular culture media can be found in 'Visual Evidence'.) Together these will form the basis of a series of workshops on how biblical texts and images legitimate rape culture and gender-based violence and inequality (GBV/I) to be conducted in Botswana and Lesotho. Participants will be directed by both the Uni of Botswana (there will be 2 workshops: 1 with students and 1 with members of the Gender Policy and Programme Committee) and by NGOs working to support particularly women and girls at risk of or affected by GBV/I (4 more workshops). Letters confirm support from a number of relevant organizations in Botswana (Emang Basadi) and Lesotho (Help Lesotho). Additional support is in place from Botswana's Women's Shelter and LGBTQ support group Legabibo. Management Board expertise in biblical studies and Ujamaa techniques will thus be combined with NGOs' experiential knowledge and connections to identify and benefit persons at risk of GBV/I. The Management Board will also provide training for NGO support staff in addressing Christian rhetoric and biblical justifications for GBV/I. This includes the development of training materials for resisting homophobic biblical interpretation (especially pertinent for Legabibo).
The project will facilitate and develop alongside educational workshop resources also creative self-representational resources and a sustainable media of resistance through women's songs, high-quality images (to be made into posters) and live performances. These will provide counter narratives to endemic rape culture messages and will be recorded and widely disseminated on the project website, as well as social media channels of Management Board and project partners (e.g Twitter @ProjShiloh). Contacts with Botswana Society for the Arts Project and Maitisong Festival and support from Sheffield's Global Soundtrack Programme to realize this endeavour with professionalism are secured.
PI and CI will receive expert training and advice from the Sheffield Feminist Archive to work with Emang Basadi and conduct voluntary interviews with survivors of GBV. This can be a powerful tool of healing and ownership and subject to ethical approval can (via the project website) provide resources for other survivors as well as for support service professionals.
The PP will make public presentations at the Uni of Leeds Centre for Religion and Public Life and at two of Uni Sheffield's public engagement initiatives, Hidden Perspectives and the Shiloh Project, to disseminate Ujamaa methods and the network's own resources.
PI and CI have met Botswana's Minister of Education and will take forward discussion about the integration of rape culture education by applying the project's resources at every level of schooling, which holds enormous potential for long-term and beneficial impact on pedagogical policy.
The project website will bring together a wide range of resources (academic, activist and self-representational) to open the way for more inclusive public debate and to benefit both survivors of GBV/I and professionals working with them.
Impact will extend from the local to the international and benefit a wide range of vulnerable persons (LGBTQ persons, women, girls) in all project countries. Throughout, efforts will be made to extend the network and its reach. Towards this endevour existing media connections (popular press, radio and TV) will be fully exploited.
Publications
Stiebert
(2019)
Rape Myths, the Bible, and #MeToo
Stiebert, Johanna
(2020)
Journal
in Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies
| Title | GBV and Bible graphics |
| Description | graphic/comic art to explain what gender-based violence is and where it occurs in the Bible - tool for generating recognition and, subsequently, discussion |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | The images appeal particularly to younger audiences and are effective with audience for whom English is a second language. They have been requested by educators and workshop leaders and have been used in ministerial training at Talitha Qumi (Legon, Accra, Ghana). |
| URL | http://www.shilohproject.blog/graphic-artwork-on-sexual-violence-in-the-bible-by-pia-alize |
| Description | •New or improved research methods or skills developed: collaboration with representatives from Talitha Qumi Centre (Accra, Ghana) held at the Circle for Concerned Women Theologians, led to a meaningful discussion on the Talitha Qumi technique of using lifestory telling as a means of opening personal discussions among members of religious communities, including with religious leaders; to this we added images of biblical motifs from biblical stories. In workshop settings, the combination of finding affinities between biblical stories and participants' lifestories proved productive, as did the use of visual images. This led on to a setting of trust in which the information materials from NGOs were easier to absorb. In some cases we worked with NGOs (Legabibo) to adapt existing resources and make these more accessible and effective. Subsequently we have applied findings to develop further visual resources for conveying information, for pointing to further resources (on the Shiloh blog) and for starting conversations through biblical texts. These take the form of graphic art which depicts biblical characters of various and/or generic ethnicities. The graphic art is likely to appeal to younger audiences. •Important new research resources identified: literature on lifestories of Talitha Qumi Centre, literature of Legabibo (LGBT rights group of Botswana) - combinations of lifestories, biblical narratives, images of biblical motifs and stories - we combined elements of existing methods in new ways and adapted these in response to participatory workshops. •Important new research questions opened up: during our project homosexual acts between consenting adults were decriminalized in Botswana. This led to a surge of interest in the topic of LGBT sexualities and to opportunities for expanding discussions on gender-based violence beyond male-female dynamics. •Significant negative results and/or research paths closed off: we found work in Lesotho much more difficult than in Botswana. We benefited from having a project partner and strong networks with NGOs (Legabibo, Emang Basadi) in Botswana. In Lesotho these proved harder to forge and take forward. We have, consequently, concentrated efforts in Botswana settings. •Particularly noteworthy new research networks/collaborations/partnerships, or combinations of these: we were able to bring expertise from Ghana (Talitha Qumi) to an international gathering held in Botswana (Circle for Concerned African Women Theologians). This was a unique concentration of experts in the area of addressing women's rights and the topic of gender-based violence and how these intersect with religion in African settings. We used the opportunity to conduct extensive consultancy. •Increased research capability generated from training delivered in specialist skills: intensive consultancy during events at the gathering of Concerned African Women Theologians; the project partner from Botswana participated in a day-long practitioner-and-academic workshop in the UK. She is using some of the techniques trialled there to apply to her teaching and work in communities in Botswana. |
| Exploitation Route | The methods can be used in teaching settings, as well as in congregations and in workshops with religious leaders (Christian and other) as a way to speak openly and productively about ways collaboratively to address gender-based violence. The graphic art has already been used in teaching and workshops with ministerial candidates in Ghana. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| URL | https://shiloh-project.group.shef.ac.uk |
| Description | We have had a consultation with Botswana's Minister for International Development (formerly the Minister for Basic Education), The Honourable Justice Unity Dow, who acknowledged the significance of church leaders and communities in addressing gender-based violence. She, in turn, invited us to participate in an event at the Gaborone Anglican Cathedral during the UN Sixteen Days of Activism. We have had extensive consultation and collaboration with Legabibo, Botswana's Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual in Botswana NGO, and discussed how to address the use of biblical texts in ways that discriminate against the LGBT community. During the time of the project homosexuality was decriminalised in Botswana, which led to more interest and renewed discussions with Legabibo about their existing excellent resources, as well as advice from them on how to adapt our methods for discussion with workshop members. This led on to inform a toolkit to use in church settings for opening conversations about gender-based violence and abuse. The toolkit is the output of a subsequent AHRC grant (reported on separately) - but work and exchanges with Legabibo fed into this process. We have participated in a gathering of the Circle for Concerned African Women Theologians and received extensive consultancy from and conducted a participatory workshop with representatives from Talitha Qumi, focusing particularly on their method of lifestory-telling and using this to work with church leaders. Refined methods are being taken forward by Talitha Qumi also. A publication by the Circle has appeared (focused on Covid-19). It includes academic chapters but also poems and other personal responses. This continues the aims of the Circle to promote women's writing - both academic and otherwise. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Education,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Global Challenges Research Fund (Round 2b, University of Sheffield) |
| Amount | £22,113 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | X/161727 |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Global Challenges Research Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2019 |
| End | 07/2019 |
| Description | Tales of Sexuality and Faith |
| Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The British Academy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2019 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Worldwide Universities Network Research Development Fund |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | DV.PRHS.362755 |
| Organisation | Worldwide Universities Network |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2017 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | University of Botswana (and Boleswa Universities) |
| Organisation | University of Botswana |
| Country | Botswana |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Co-I (Katie Edwards) and PI (Johanna Stiebert) travelled with the Project Partner (Mmapula Kebaneilwe) in both Lesotho and Botswana in late November and early to mid December 2018. During this time they held meetings on the integration of education about GBV in campus communities, including at the University of Botswana. They also visited with teaching staff in the study of religions at the National University of Lesotho. At the University of Botswana they met with a range of staff (teaching and administrative) and students. They discussed the making of a film about GBV and how to report it and met with representatives of two NGOs (women's rights and legal protection group Emang Basadi and LGBT rights group Legabibo) to improve dissemination of information and discuss ways to impart information more memorably, effectively and creatively. The collaboration with the University of Botswana (and beyond that with its Boleswa network partner universities in Lesotho and also Swaziland) is strong. Co-I and PI are returning to Botswana in July 2019 to contribute to a large gathering called The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. This will involve workshops and a panel discussion. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project Partner Kebaneilwe is visiting Co-I and PI in March to make several presentations and discuss organisation of The Circle. The Project Partner (who is based at University of Botswana) facilitated meetings with NGOs and with other University of Botswana staff. Planning of workshops and a panel discussion are in progress. The Project Partner also advised a consultation in the north of the country, in Kasane. This is the location where the opening of a new bridge is imminent. This is expected to transform the town of Kasane - including in negative ways pertinent to the project - e.g. in terms of sex trafficking, prostitution and surges of refugees (especially from Zimbabwe). We visited Kasane (December 2018) and conducted scoping, visiting the police station, Department of Gender, and local library (which offers government-funded training and information displays). |
| Impact | - a book manuscript (on womanist African-centred criticism, gender and the Bible) authored by Project Partner Kebaneilwe is under contract - a special journal edition (Journal of Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies) guest-edited by the PI is completed (2020). The journal is on activism in the global biblical studies classroom and this derives directly from this grant. The focus of the journal is to use academic research to underpin practical teaching strategies towards social justice activism. - a research event in the UK took place. This was attended and co-organised by the Project Partner (Kebaneilwe). The day conference was on how researchers and practitioners working on GBV can work together more effectively. Hosted at the University of Leeds on 25 March 2019. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | #SheToo |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The Bible Society commissioned a series of podcasts on gender-based violence against women and the Bible. Given this is, in part, a response to #MeToo, the series is called #SheToo. This features scholars but is designed to be accessible to a general audience. It is particularly for members of faith communities who wrestle with content of the Bible that is violent and disturbing. The audience is international. Both Katie Edwards (Co-I) and Johanna Stiebert (PI) were interviewed. All episodes were listened to by hundreds of listeners. They continue to be used widely - in teaching and beyond. See: https://biblesociety.org.uk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Bible Society podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Podcast about texts of terror in the Bible and how GBV (more prominently in the public domain due to the MeToo campaign) features in biblical texts and the impact of this on contemporary UK society and beyond. PI and Co-I were approached by the broadcaster and the programme was commissioned by the Bible Society. Both contributed an interview (2/6). This brings the focus of the project (using biblical texts to discuss GBV) into the public domain and makes it available very widely - including internationally. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/explore-the-bible/shetoo/?referrer-shetoo |
| Description | Consultation with Legabibo (Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana), human rights group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The law in Botswana was recently (June 2019) changed to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adult persons in private. Some religious communities of Botswana have been supportive of Legabibo (the group working towards decriminalization); others have been obstructive. Much of the general public is unclear as to what the new law does and does not mean (e.g. some believe homosexuals can now marry), or what its implications are in and for religious communities. Our consultancy (PI, Co-I, the leadership team of Legabibo) discussed and planned resources (pamphlets and a short, informative film for national television) and workshops (with educators, miners, religious leaders, the police) to provide accurate information and disseminate it widely. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Engagement day with researchers and practititioners working in the area of sexual/gender-based violence |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We had an all-day meeting of researchers and practitioners working in the area of sexual and gender-based violence. The meeting took place on 25 March 2019. Twenty people attended for a full day of presentations and discussions. The make-up of the group was 10 practitioners and 10 academics. The main aim was to find ways to work more effectively together and to answer: how can academic research benefit practitioners on the ground? How can the experience of practitioners feed into research? Collaborations were formed and strategies for ways forward identified. The SARC team of West Yorkshire will communicate with JWA to disseminate their information about support services availability for victims in Jewish communities. All participants will sign up with Blue Light - so that emergency services have all groups and what they can offer on their records. Academics will facilitate accessible information for groups Staying Put and SAS RIGHTS CIC and the Survivors Network on spiritual abuse (practitioners identified this as a need they find difficult to meet - e.g. they wanted more information on what it is and how to communicate with service users claiming spiritual abuse - e.g. from djinns, possession, etc.). Please see the full report on the day (including details of participants) in the link below. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://shiloh-project.group.shef.ac.uk/shiloh-project-research-day-report/ |
| Description | Multimedia International Women's Day event: #ChooseToChallenge |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | On 8 March I hosted an online International Women's Day Event. Participants were mostly local and national but our Project Partner in Botswana attended and participated as did 4 LGBTQ Ugandan refugees based in Kenya. One of them was a co-organiser. The event featured: an introduction about things to celebrate and things that posed challenges for those who identify as women in 2021 (the event was trans-inclusive and several who identify as transgender or non-binary participated); a recording of a traditional Ugandan dance (which we all tried to learn - this was bond-forming), two poems about gender-based violence, two short films about gender-based violence and how we can choose to challenge, lots of discussion and pooling what we can contribute to solutions, a collective promise to choose to challenge. 30 registered participants attended/took part. Participation was lively and the event exceeded the 1.5 hours we set aside. Many commented on how moved they were, how interested in diverse perspectives and in 'bursting bubbles'/echo chambers. There was lively conversation in the 'chat' function. A journalist attended who will write an article on the event. We will do follow-up drop-in sessions for activating support networks. We will conduct a follow-up survey. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Public Talk at Storyhouse Women Event in Chester |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 91 people attended the 'Everyday Rape Cultures and Religion: A Complex Relationship' talk at the Storyhouse Women festival in Chester on Sunday 28th April. Audience members, including postgraduate students from Chester University and workers from the third sector, approached me to discuss their opinions and said that the talk 'had made them think differently' about religion and rape culture and that 'they hadn't thought about sexual violence in this way before'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.storyhouse.com/event/contemporary-rape-cultures |
| Description | St Paul's Catherdral Panel on #MeToo |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A panel discussion at St Paul's Cathedral for the general public. The discussion sparked numerous questions afterwards (see video - URL supplied below) and a further invitation to speak at TRS UK on 6th December 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.stpaulsinstitute.org.uk/ |