Erasmus University celebrates International Women’s Day

In celebration of the International Women’s Day 2013, Erasmus University hosted a film screening of the documentary The Eye has to Travel, preceded by a welcome and brief introduction given by prof. mr. dr. Suzan Stoter and dr. Bernadette Kester respectively. A reception with snacks and drinks concluded the event.   

The International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8 to honor the achievements of women while acknowledging the need for further change. ‘A promise is a promise – time for action to end violence against women’ is this year’s theme declared by the UN. “Unfortunately, violence against women is still prevalent all across the world as evidenced by recent news from India and South Africa for example”, says Kester.

Achievements and challenges

Whilst violence against women is a serious issue, there has been a lot of progress regarding gender equality and women’s rights. In journalism, for instance, women have increased their presence significantly. And yet, “there are still challenges. For example, there is an income gap and women occupy less management positions in professional journalism than men”, says Kester.

The Eye has to Travel

Diana Vreeland is an inspiring example of a woman that has achieved great success. As the former editor of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, Vreeland has made major contributions to the world of fashion journalism. The documentary The Eye has to Travel chronicles her life. “The documentary is inspiring and gives a good idea of Vreeland’s life,” says ESE student Chealu Bao (24) from China. “You certainly walk away with admiration for her”, she adds. NL