THIS Sunday is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across the world. This year’s theme is #EachforEqual, for a gender equal world.

Durham University is running a wide-ranging programme of events to mark the day, and is inviting women of all backgrounds and experiences to join them.

Blather and Lather will be an evening of friendship, food and fun, featuring three women with three very different talks.

Dr Sui-Ting Kong, an Assistant Professor in the university’s Sociology Department will talk about “Gender and the democratic movement in Hong Kong”. Dr Kong trained as a social worker in Hong Kong and has studied the experiences of abused women in the former colony.

Sue Fox, from the Durham County Federation of Women’s Institutes, will give a talk about the WI titled “All they do is make Jam”.

Finally, Dr Joanna Berry, an Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship at the university’s Business School, will talk about Imposter Syndrome and how to resist it. Dr Berry is a self-styled “pracademic”, combining academic and practical experience, a mentor to many businesses and a well-known public speaker.

The Northern Echo:

Blather and Lather will be at the Old Cinema Launderette, Gilesgate, Durham, on Sunday, March 8 from 7.30pm. Tickets are £5.50. Later in the week, there is a chance to explore the world of feminist fiction, learn craft techniques and practice short writing activities, at the Writing your Feminism event.

Writer and former Durham University student Florianne Humphrey will lead the session, exploring what it means to write feminist fiction, why writing is an important tool for women and how writers of any gender can authentically narrate the female experience.

The session is open to all genders and experiences and will cover writing prose, poetry and drama.

The Northern Echo:

Writing your Feminism will be at Alington House Community Association, North Bailey, Durham, on Thursday, March 12, from 5pm to 7pm. Tickets are £9. plus an Eventbrite booking fee.

Durham University has a long history of pioneering women, right back to when it was among the first UK universities to admit female students. It runs International Women’s Day events each year, celebrating the achievements of its staff and students.

This year’s International Women’s Day programme also includes talks and networking events. Details at www.durham.ac.uk/equality.diversity/events/iwd