{"id":1812,"date":"2014-04-08T16:36:56","date_gmt":"2014-04-08T16:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?p=1812"},"modified":"2014-05-10T17:19:39","modified_gmt":"2014-05-10T17:19:39","slug":"%e2%80%aa%e2%80%8eemilymatters%e2%80%ac-whats-it-all-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?p=1812","title":{"rendered":"\u202a#\u200eEmilymatters\u202c – What\u2019s it all about?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Emilymatters_80096b\"<\/a><\/p>\n

#Emilymatters\u00a0<\/b>first appeared on social media at the beginning of 2014. If you’re wondering what it’s all about, here’s a summary:<\/p>\n

Firstly, \u202a<\/a>#Emilymatters<\/strong> supports gender equality campaigns, including\u00a0Emily Thornberry MP<\/b>‘s<\/a> important campaign for a statue of suffragette Emily Davison to be erected in the Houses of Parliament, No More Page 3<\/a>,<\/strong> 5050Parliament<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>as well as the work of organisations such as NAWO<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(National Alliance of Women\u2019s Organisations).<\/p>\n

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Because Emily Davison campaigned for a more equal society, not just the vote.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"TFC-Panel---Emily-Thornberry_3285_EM_2FClogo\"<\/a>

Emily Thornberry MP on why the Emily Davison Statue in Parliament Campaign matters:
\u201cPolitics is about individual people, as much as collective action.\u201d
Photo: Brian Astbury, 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

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We worked with Emily Thornberry\u2019s team on an historic event (in support of the Emily Davison statue in Parliament campaign) that took place in the House of Commons on 13 February 2014.<\/p>\n

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The location of the event was extremely important, as it was very close to where Emily Davison made her audacious 1911 Census Night protest occupation of the House of Commons that the late Tony Benn<\/strong> would later commemorate with a plaque in the cupboard where she hid.<\/p>\n

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We all walked in Emily Davison\u2019s footsteps that evening.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Emily Davison strove for an equal society and so it was important that we opened up the event to as wide an audience as possible and get people involved in the debate. Drawing on Emily’s pioneering use of \u00a0modern media, MasonClark Digital CIC<\/strong><\/a> assisted the social media campaign for the event and created a series of infographics<\/strong> like the one below:<\/p>\n

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I created the hashtag\u00a0#Emilymatters<\/strong> as part of that campaign with the long term aim of highlighting gender equality<\/strong> issues and supporting campaigns to redress the balance.<\/p>\n

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It’s easy to get involved:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Post\/tweet your\u00a0#Emilymatters<\/strong>\u00a0photo\/selfie to\u00a0@2FCPlay<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0including\u00a0#Emilymatters<\/strong>\u00a0in the text in support of Emily Davison’s important legacy, namely\u00a0gender equality<\/strong>\u00a0campaigns, including Emily Thornberry MP<\/strong>‘s Emily Davison statue in Parliament campaign.<\/p>\n

To find out more about how you can add your support,\u00a0click here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Emilymatters<\/a>

#Emilymatters to the world: L to R – Emily Thornberry MP, comedian Kate Smurthwaite and
Lucy-Anne Holmes (No More Page 3 founder), Anisa & Shanaz at the WOW Festival and
actress Kate Skinner in Sidney, Australia<\/p><\/div>\n

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‘To Freedom’s Cause’ the campaign for equality – still worth fighting for?
\n<\/em>Thursday 13th February, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The whole evening and social media discussion in the weeks building up to the event were very much about women and men who are making a positive difference – who are a part of Emily Davison\u2019s legacy today<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\"Rebecca<\/a><\/p>\n

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The event included a performance of my Emily Davison play To Freedom’s Cause<\/b><\/a>, which was directed by Brian Astbury<\/a>\u00a0<\/b>(Founder & Artistic Director of South Africa\u2019s first non-racial theatre, The Space).<\/p>\n

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TO FREEDOM\u2019S CAUSE should be seen by every woman and teenage girl.\u00a0And by anyone who couldn\u2019t be bothered to vote. Moving, stirring & passionate.
\n– Jane Garvey, BBC Radio 4, Woman\u2019s Hour presenter<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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To Freedom\u2019s Cause is an ensemble piece that combines the politics of the women\u2019s suffrage movement with the State sanctioned brutality the campaigners faced:<\/p>\n

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The play does not simply pay lip service to the suffragette movement, particularly Emily Wilding Davison and her extreme tactics. It examines multiple points of view and offers a meaningful interrogation of equality, democracy and what actions are necessary and permissible in the pursuit of what is deemed to be right and just.\u201d
\n– A Younger Theatre<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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However, at the heart of the play is a mother\u2019s love for her daughter, whose cause she supports, but who struggles to understand her child\u2019s willingness to risk life and limb for it.<\/p>\n

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I cannot believe that you could have done such a dreadful act. Even for the Cause, which I know you have given up your whole heart & soul to & it has done so little in return for you.
\n– Extract from Margaret Davison\u2019s last letter to her daughter after the 1913 Epsom,
\n<\/b>which inspired me to write\u00a0To Freedom\u2019s Cause<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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In performance: \u2018To Freedom\u2019s Cause\u2019 by Kate Willoughby at the Houses of Parliament
Kyra Williams (Margaret Davison) & Kate Willoughby (Emily Wilding Davison).
Photo: Brian Astbury, 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

**** \u00a0CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PLAY’S MICRO TRAILER (45 SECONDS) <\/a>\u00a0****<\/b><\/p>\n

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An enlightening and thoughtful debate followed the performance, which was chaired by Jane Garvey<\/b> (BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour presenter), with:<\/p>\n

Dr Helen Pankhurst\u00a0<\/b>(Great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst)
\nChi Onwurah MP<\/strong> (Shadow Cabinet Office Minister & Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
\nEmma Barnett<\/strong>\u00a0(Women\u2019s Editor of The Daily Telegraph and broadcaster)
\nYas Necati<\/strong>\u00a0(Feminist campaigner and winner of The Guardian Women awards 2013: Best hope for the future , UK)<\/p>\n

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The Debate – \u2018To Freedom\u2019s Cause\u2019 the campaign for Equality – Still worth fighting for?
With Chi Onwurah MP, Dr Helen Pankhurst, Yas Necati, Jane Garvey & Emma Barnett.
Photo: Kate Willoughby, 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

**** \u00a0CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DEBATE’S MICRO TRAILER (55 SECONDS)<\/a> \u00a0****<\/b><\/p>\n

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Jane Garvey<\/strong> held the debate together, bringing in audience comments and Twitter questions to the debate. There was a comment about the need for more sisterhood \u2013 how we need to stand together and support one another more. Another woman spoke about how difficult it was to go back to work on an equal footing after having a baby.
\n– Charlie Tarrant, feminist campaigner (weareunfinished.com<\/a>)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Emily Davison is one of our most important feminist icons<\/b>. Her legacy continues through current campaigns such as\u00a0No More Page 3<\/b><\/a> and the\u00a0Everyday Sexism Project<\/b><\/a>, which is why we were thrilled that Yas Necati<\/b> and Charlie Tarrant<\/b> from the No More Page 3 campaign were involved in the event.<\/p>\n

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Emily Davison<\/strong> was a hero. But what makes heroes is not faultless, perfect super humans. It\u2019s just ordinary people who decide they want to go out and do something really positive and that they\u2019re really passionate about something. And if you have that sort of passion and that goodness, it doesn\u2019t matter if you make mistakes sometimes, what matters is that you carry on with what you believe in.
\n– Yas Necati, feminist campaigner on the play\u2019s portrayal of Emily Davison<\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Emily Davison represents a great movement for positive change. She is one of the most important women in the first wave of feminism who would make an inspiring figure among the sea of blokes in Parliament today, providing a clear example of the immense struggle women faced in order to get the vote as well as challenging us to continue to push for true equality.<\/p>\n

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The future calls for more women in Parliament!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Thank you to everyone who’s got involved so far by posting\/tweeting @2FCPlay<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0with their own #Emilymatters<\/strong> photos as well as\u00a0signing the Emily Davison Statue in Parliament\u00a0petition<\/a>.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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\"YoungEU_Annette_Caroline_Rosie_NAWO_HoC_29Apr14_1\"<\/a>

Annette Lawson OBE, Josie (NAWO Youth Caucus) & Caroline Criado-Perez add their support for
gender equality campaigns, including the Emily Davison statue in Parliament campaign.
Photos: K Willoughby, 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

The fourth wave of feminism continues to gain momentum, but many people still see feminism as a dirty word and question the importance of voting.<\/p>\n

Building on the success of the special House of Commons event in February, To Freedom’s Cause<\/strong> and #Emilymatters<\/strong>\u00a0are looking to further support and encourage positive change in the UK and across the globe – building on Emily Wilding Davison’s important legacy.<\/p>\n

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\"Emilymatters_AliM_DebbieB_SandiToksvig_Sluggard_statue\"<\/a>

#Emilymatters to Equity members Alison Mead & Debbie Bridge, Sandi Toksvig &
historian Lucinda Hawksley with Eli Merchant & Sarah Mordaunt<\/p><\/div>\n

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Take a look at the #Emilymatters<\/strong> flickr page, to see support for gender equality<\/strong> from far and wide, not just in the UK but across the globe:<\/p>\n

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