Suffragettes Interview

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 19 November 2018 > Ready to Use

2018 marks the centenary of the 1918 law which gave some British women the right to vote in parliamentary elections for the first time. Dr Helen Pankhurst has particular insight into this subject, not just as an academic but as the great-granddaughter and granddaughter of Emmeline and Sylvia Pankhurst, two of the leaders of the … Continue reading “Suffragettes Interview”

Votes for Women: Helen Pankhurst Lecture in Paris

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 03 July 2018 > What's On

In 2018, Britain is celebrating the centenary of a major milestone in the suffragette movement’s fight to obtain votes for women, which was led by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Sylvia and Christabel. Emmeline Pankhurst’s great-granddaughter, Dr Helen Pankhurst, is giving two talks in Paris: “From ‘Votes for Women’ to ‘Time’s Up’, Reflections on feminism … Continue reading “Votes for Women: Helen Pankhurst Lecture in Paris”

Suffragist Honoured

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 26 April 2018 > In the News

A hundred years after some British women got the right to vote, there is finally a woman among the statues of political and democratic heroes on Parliament Square outside the Palace of Westminster. London Mayor Sadiq Khan unveiled the statue of Dame Millicent Fawcett on 24 April. There had been an organised and popular movement … Continue reading “Suffragist Honoured”

From #MeToo to “Oprah for President”

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 12 January 2018 > In the News

Since the Harvey Weinstein scandal was revealed by The New York Times on 5 October, the movement to denounce sexual harassment has swept across America and the world. Spreading far beyond Hollywood, women from all walks of life have spoken out saying #MeToo, #YoTambien or #balancetonporc. The New York Times investigation detailed numerous accusations of … Continue reading “From #MeToo to “Oprah for President””

Battle of the Tennis Films

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 28 November 2017 > What's On

Who would have imagined two films about tennis duels from the 1970s would hit cinema screens at the same time? More than just some entertainment for tennis fans between seasons, they provide fascinating psychological portraits and a discussion of gender roles in sport and society. Each film centres on a single, iconic match. In Borg … Continue reading “Battle of the Tennis Films”

Doctor She

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 20 July 2017 > In the News

It was the British equivalent of making an announcement during the halftime break in the U.S. Superbowl game. Immediately after the 2017 Wimbledon men’s final the BBC revealed what the entire U.K. seemed to have been waiting for… that the next actor to portray the lead in sci-fi series Dr Who would be… a woman! … Continue reading “Doctor She”

Lucky Stars: NASA’s New Astronaut Class

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 20 June 2017 > In the News

NASA received a record 18,300 applications to join its 2017 astronaut candidate class. The agency has just announced the 12 lucky people chosen for two years training to potentially become astronauts. And as NASA continues to open more opportunities to women, five of the new recruits are female. The 12 new astronaut candidates will undergo … Continue reading “Lucky Stars: NASA’s New Astronaut Class”

The Face of Money: U.S. Banknotes Get a New Look

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 20 February 2017 > Ready to Use

This A2-level article will enable your pupils to understand the historical significance of portraits on American banknotes, and to compare with other currencies. The presentation of new notes featuring Harriet Tubman and other African-American and women’s suffrage activists includes suggestions for  an EPI with history. Vocabulary and structures Verb tenses: simple past and simple present … Continue reading “The Face of Money: U.S. Banknotes Get a New Look”

Equal Pay Day

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 07 November 2016 > Celebrate

“Equal Pay Day” is marked on different days in countries but the message is the same: women are paid less than men for equivalent work, and it’s time to raise awareness of this gender pay gap. In France, Equal Pay Day 2016 is being marked on 7 November. In the UK it’s the 10th. That’s … Continue reading “Equal Pay Day”