'A Force to be Reckoned With' - a fascinating talk by acclaimed social historian, Jane Robinson (2019)
The Winchester Discovery Centre, Jewry Street, Hampshire, SO23 8SB
Everyone knows three things about the Women's Institute: that they spent the war making jam; some of their members were those sensational Calendar Girls; and that slow-handclapping of Tony Blair. But there's so much more to this remarkable movement.
With a growing membership of 200,000 women of all classes, religions and ages, it has come a long way from its early meetings. Founded in 1915, it counted among its members suffragettes, academics and social crusaders who discovered the heady power of sisterhood, changing women's lives and their world in the process. The WI was the original social network; its members have been friends and activists from the word go.
Come and learn about its surprising and invigorating story from acclaimed social historian Jane Robinson in this lively illustrated lecture for this year's People Power theme.
Jane Robinson is one of our most engaging and original historians, specializing in social history through women’s eyes. A love of book-collecting developed when she was banned from the local library for using a jam-tart as a bookmark, and after Oxford she worked for 10 years in the antiquarian book trade in London before embarking on a writing career. Previous publications include 'A Force to be Reckoned With' and her 2018 best seller 'Hearts and Minds'. She's now working on a book about women pioneers in the traditional professions, to be published in 2020. Jane is a Senior Associate of Somerville College, Oxford.
Timings & Tours
Available anytime
Location & directions
The Winchester Discovery Centre, Jewry Street, Hampshire, SO23 8SB
- Contact on day:
- HODs Volunteers 023 8097 0460
- Telephone number:
- HODs Volunteers 023 8097 0460
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
