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Performance-led inquiryÌýinto legacies of gender equality in higher education

This study day exploredÌýgender equality at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ since the 1860s, featuring a re-enactment performance of prospective students’ admissions experience before 1919. Set against the turbulent backdrop of women’s fight for equality in Britain, we invited reflection on the hidden ‘passing-in’ rules still in place for women and minority groups in higher education.

This event was co-conceived and produced by Dr Georgina Brewis, Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Institute of Education and Dr Nina Pearlman, Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Culture. It wasÌýaÌýcollaboration betweenÌýa number of academic modules and was supported by Institute of Advanced Studies, Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Culture Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Press, Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Institute of Education and Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Special Collections.

This is part of Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Art Museum's family of projects Curating Equality and Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾'s Grand Challenge Justice and EqualityÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýcoincided withÌýthe 2018 publication ofÌýthe revised edition of and the Disrupters and InnovatorsÌýexhibition at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Octagon Gallery.ÌýÌýThis event took place on the 21 November 2018, 'Passing In: An audience with the Lady Superintendent for Women Students' was performed again by inviation at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Festival of Culture in June 2018.ÌýPlease find the programmeÌýhere.

The projectÌýis incoporated into a module led by Georgina Brewis at the Institute of Education 'The Worlds of Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾: Critical Histories of Education, Nation and Empire.

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Performance: Passing In: An audience with the Lady Superintendent of Women Studies

Dr , a professional historical interpreter, tookÌýon the role of Miss Rosa Morison, Lady Superintendent of Women students (1883-1912) and, in full costume,Ìýled participants on a walking performance of Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾. This re-enactment immersed participants in Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ as it was between 1883 and 1919. All intending female students had to present a reference, in person, acceptable to the Lady Superintendent of Women Students. In 1883, birth control activist Annie Besant famously failed this test and was refused admittance. Intersections of gender with class, race and religion will be explored.ÌýDuring the event, participants hadÌýthe opportunity to present themselves to Miss Morison, using stories taken from historic student records or by creating their own.

Discussion panel: Passing in today?Ìý

An evening panel followed the afternoon of talks and performances and usedÌýtheÌýhistorical notion of ‘passing in’ as a means to discuss what might still be hidden passing-in rules in higher education, in terms of gender but also religion, race, LGBTQ+ identity and other intersections of identity, questioning theÌýrole played by networks and other diversity initiatives. Miss Morison (Kate Vigurs)Ìýopened the evening . The following speakers took part in the event:

• , Women’s Officer, Students’ Union Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾Ìý and undergraduate Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Neuroscience and Japanese
• Manya Eversley, Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Political Science undergraduate involving in making on Jewish student identity
• Professor Uta Frith, cognitive neuroscientist; co-founder of Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Women network; and one of the ‘Female Firsts’ selected to mark #Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾Vote100
• Anne Moore, Co-Chair of the largest staff network at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾, LGBTQ+ Equality Advisory Group; Business Development Manager, Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Centre for Languages & International Education
• Xueyan (Juno) Sun, Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ History PhD student working on representations of China and Chinese people in Hollywood
• Professsor Ijeoma Uchegbu, Pro-Vice Provost - Africa and The MiddleÌýEast; Chair in Pharmaceutical Nanoscience; Provost’s Envoy on Race and Equality.

The information provided reflects the students' studies and academics' roles at the time of the event in 2018.

Teaching:ÌýThe Worlds of Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾: Critical Histories of Education, Nation

This project is incorporated into the module 'The Worlds of Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾: Critical Histories of Education National and Empire' led by Georgina Brewis at the Institute of Education.ÌýThis course approaches the study of the history of education through the lensÌýÂ鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾, founded in 1826 and the Institute of Education, founded in 1902. It provides context to the historical evolution of the educational system in the UK and critically examines the close, but often hidden, connections between British education and empire, asking what impact these imperial legacies have today. It aims to provide a general introduction to the history of education, while preparing students to take more specialist history modules in year two and three. The course is structured in a broadly chronological fashion but each week also explores a different method or approach to studying, researching and making history.Ìý Students will be introduced to a range of transferable practical skills that are linked to assessment. It draws on Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾'s rich libraries, archives and museum collections and works in collaboration with colleagues in Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Culture and Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Libraries, Archives and Special Collections.Ìý

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