Women and City Lit
Throughout our history, City Lit has played a significant role in educating women. Empowerment through learning, regardless of gender, has been at the centre of our activities.
Since we opened our doors, thousands of women have benefitted from City Lit’s broad and flexible courses, managing study alongside work and other responsibilities. Our inspiring alumni include best-selling author Malorie Blackman, visual artist Charmaine Watkiss and comedian and actor Kerry Godliman.
To celebrate and recognise this day, we are shining a light on a few of our many inspirational students and tutors at City Lit. In this article, they share what this day means to them, how City Lit helps them feel empowered as women, and we also find out who their female role models are.
Mei Lock
Mei has found a new path at City Lit, where she has been pursuing her passion for art after a successful corporate career in science. Over the past two years, she has completed the Advanced Textiles course and recently started the Developing Art Practice course. City Lit has provided her with the perfect environment to challenge and inspire her artistic journey.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
My grandmothers never had the opportunity to attend school; in their community, education was a privilege reserved for boys. My mum never finished secondary because of family obligations and the demands of the family business. As the first in my family to attend university, International Women's Day is a powerful reminder of how far we've come. It’s a day where I feel an immense sense of pride and gives me a chance to express my heartfelt thanks for the enduring contributions made by the women who came before me.
How has your time at City Lit empowered you?
City Lit has been transformative, allowing me to rediscover my artistic voice. Although art was always my passion, as the daughter of immigrants, I was encouraged to pursue a more "practical" path, leading me to a science degree and a career in market research.
The pandemic, however, prompted a shift in perspective, and I finally began exploring my artistic side at City Lit. This experience has been more than just learning new skills; it's been about finding my voice and connecting with a vibrant community of women.
I'm incredibly grateful for the guidance of my talented tutors and the inspiration I've drawn from my fellow students. The Advanced Textiles course at City Lit was particularly impactful. Surrounded by women from diverse backgrounds, I learned that age is no barrier to pursuing new passions. Being one of the youngest on the course, I found reassurance that my earlier focus on practicality hadn't been a waste. I also learned to embrace vulnerability and celebrate the power of shared stories.
Who are your female role models?
My female role models are the women closest to me – my friends and family. They may not be famous, have published any books, or made great breakthroughs in a given field, but they possess qualities I deeply admire.
- They are unflappable, staying calm and collected, and responding in measured and thoughtful ways.
- They consistently show empathy and humility, even in challenging situations, reminding me of the power of human connection.
- Their resilience is a constant source of motivation; they face setbacks with grace and determination.
- They possess an enduring hopefulness that inspires me to keep striving, even when the path ahead seems uncertain.
Emily Parr
Emily has embraced a new career direction at City Lit, focusing on education and support. After leaving university, she held various administrative roles in different organisations, including organising the Edinburgh Marathon, working with charities as an employee and volunteer/fundraiser, and contributing to healthcare companies. She even spent time insuring spacecraft! Emily studied at City Lit to become a teacher on our lipreading teacher training course. She has studied both on Zoom and via a very fiddly commute from outside London. Her dedication to helping others has made City Lit a pivotal part of her journey.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
The word ‘Women’ relates to such a huge and diverse group of people. I do think it is very positive to shine a spotlight on and celebrate women.
How has your time at City Lit empowered you?
In 2023/24, I studied the Award in Education and Training and the Lipreading Teacher Training Course at City Lit. Studying to be a lipreading teacher at City Lit has allowed me to pursue a career that is focused on kindness and supporting people. My life experiences have taught me that kindness, including tolerance and patience, is the most important thing in life.
Who are your female role models?
I don't have a specific role model I'm trying to emulate, I believe each of us is unique and should celebrate that individuality. However, there are many women who have inspired me.
My grandmother, who would have been 99 on 8 March 2025, went through incredible hardship yet always looked after others. During WW2, she stayed in Liverpool during the Blitz to care for her ill mother and young sister. My mother is equally as generous, wonderful, and calm. These two amazing women have taught me that kindness is the most important thing in life.
Beyond these incredible women, there are many others, both alive and historical, who inspire me with their attitudes and brave acts. For example, Lily Parr, a female footballer in the 1930s, and Catherine Parr, the sixth and surviving wife of Henry VIII. I hope I’m related to them, but I don’t know the genealogy!
Chaachi Deane
Chaachi has rekindled her passion for performance at City Lit, balancing her busy life as a teacher and mum. Studying at City Lit has provided her with the flexibility to pursue her interests while managing multiple responsibilities. She has found joy and empowerment through the various performing arts courses offered, allowing her to reconnect with her love for the arts.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day, for me, is a time to pause and reflect on how the lives of women have evolved since the days of our mothers and grandmothers. It's important to celebrate the freedoms we now enjoy compared to the past, but also to acknowledge that there is still a significant amount of work to be done.
How has your time at City Lit empowered you?
Studying at City Lit has allowed me to reconnect with my passion for performance while fitting into my busy schedule as a teacher and mum. Women often juggle many responsibilities, and it is usually their own interests that are the first to fall by the wayside. The flexibility of the courses at City Lit helps me carve out a little slice of time for myself each week.
Who are your female role models?
As a singer, it's truly inspiring to look up to legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, and Billie Holiday. Despite the immense hardships and prejudice they faced, their resilience and talent allowed them to deliver some of the most iconic performances in music history. Their legacy continues to influence and shape the world of jazz, reminding us of the power of music to transcend adversity.
Sandra Bee
Sandra has found a vibrant community and a platform for her creativity at City Lit. With a background in the arts and a passion for performance, Sandra has been able to explore various courses that reignite her love for the stage and music. As a mother, City Lit offers Sandra the flexibility and support she needs to thrive.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a celebration of women and how far we have come, as well as how far we still have to go. It's a celebration of the challenges we've overcome and a recognition of the women who have made sure their legacy is in place, opening doors for other women. It showcases our hearts and passion in what we choose or are blessed with.
My background is in the arts, and I try to evolve. I started as an actor, took time off to have a child, and now in 2025, my passion is back for a musical called 'Discovering Cassius.' I looked in my drawer, read it, thought it was crap, and now I'm rewriting and laughing as I go. Women making a change and achieving something for themselves, even when others may not want you.
Women of all races, statuses, and genders should be who they want to be and bring forth new strategies to thrive in life in 2025. Here's one: mothers, take 10 minutes a day for yourselves. Pamper in the mirror, talk to the you before you were known as 'mum.' I always dance to an R&B track and slow jam, pretending I'm at a rave with my girls, and then back to being mummy. Happy Women's Day!
How has your time at City Lit empowered you?
City Lit has empowered me to be me! It has allowed me to do courses outside my comfort zone and focus on something weekly. I engage with people who love what I do rather than blank coffee mornings and kids' corner expansions. Meeting strong women teachers, like Penny and Sue, who are accomplished authors and working actors, has been inspiring.
The flexibility of City Lit's courses helps me carve out time for myself each week. It brings cultures together with kindness and laughter, offering a hug when needed. Not literally, but through a writing course, an art course, or even comedy acts, drawing, and acting all day long.
I always look at what's happening at City Lit and sometimes plan my year around courses. The live show debates and events like Poets' Night have made me realise that I still love the stage and that I'm still funny. For 2025, my next chapter is to finish a writing project! All my studies in film, comedy, stage, and mindfulness have led me to love the stage, music, musicals, and my number one passion – dialogue and characters. City Lit, I challenge you – once my musical is finished, can we have a rehearsal reading with music at the place I love? I love Holborn, the mood, the fab receptionists, and the joy City Lit brings.
Who are your female role models?
As a singer, I have such admiration for the great jazz singers: Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, and Billie Holiday. They faced immense hardship and prejudice in their lives and careers yet gave us some of the most iconic singing performances in music history.
Tina Turner is another role model, a woman who embraced her unique sound and style and overcame incredible challenges through her faith, setting a legacy as a great rock artist, not just a black artist.
Bette Davis, an actress who did her thing her way, upped the ante in acting with realism and heart, choosing roles wisely and giving her all to every performance.
My late great mummy, Louise Brown, taught me to do my best or not at all. She believed in lifelong learning and that one must be happy at home or work, creating a sanctuary of love, kindness, and peace.
Bonnie, an autism specialist from Canada at Curzon Crescent Nursery School, taught me how to teach my autistic son to be the best he can be. She emphasized the importance of individualized teaching and using visuals, even after he becomes verbal. This inspired my own programme called Genesis Stories, aimed at helping parents with bespoke programmes.
Josephine Baker, a fabulous dancer in the 30s who mixed dance and comedy and later adopted a rainbow of kids, changed perceptions of mixed-race women and comedy. Her power through movement continues to inspire me.
Sally Abingdon
Sally has been a dedicated student at City Lit for many years, finding joy and empowerment through the diverse dance courses offered. With a background as a professional dancer, Sally has rekindled her passion for dance at City Lit. She has taken courses such as Tap Dance Improvers, Silver Swans Ballet, Ballet at the Barre, and Musical Theatre Dance. Currently, she is enrolled in four dance courses at City Lit.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women's Day is a great chance to demonstrate and celebrate how much women add to the world. In addition to mothering and caring roles, many also enjoy successful and satisfying careers in various fields including arts and crafts, literature, science, and research. On International Women's Day, I enjoy the opportunity to hear about women who have achieved so much with their special empathy and unique ideas. Recognising these achievements encourages many other women to follow their dreams and passions too.
How has your time at City Lit empowered you?
I have been attending dance at City Lit for many years now. With my children grown up and living their own lives, I found I had the time to enjoy something just for myself. The City Lit offers a wide selection of courses, and I was pleased to find courses for the many types of dancing I have tried over the years. Having been a dancer as my first career, it was fantastic to come back to Tap dance. A big thrill for me is that I no longer have to suffer the pressure and competition of auditioning for work, not to mention the constant rejection that any professional dancer has to endure. Pure dance for the joy of it! Coming to City Lit gives my week structure and purpose, also health benefits, and of course the pleasure and friendship of being on a course with others who share my passion.
Who are your female role models?
Female role models include my mother, who had a career as a dancer but gave it up to look after her three children. She was widowed while we were still very young. She never let us go without anything and helped us to follow our dreams. She is still fabulous at 94 and I admire her strength and spirit! Marianela Núñez is a leading ballerina at the Royal Ballet. She achieved her position through sheer dedication and hard work and deserves every curtain call she takes. Sylvie Henry and Danielle Leslie, the mother and daughter who founded Future Dreams Charity to support those with breast cancer. They both sadly died of their cancer, but left a wonderful legacy in Future Dreams House, which helps hundreds of individuals and families who have been touched by breast cancer.
Pauline Greene
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
While I haven't personally felt significant prejudice in my career due to being female, I know many women have faced and continue to face such challenges. International Women's Day is an opportunity to celebrate those who have succeeded against the odds. It's important to shine a spotlight on both less well-known and famous faces. On a personal note, this day holds special meaning for me as it marks the birthday of a wonderful former colleague at Birkbeck, Lorraine, who sadly passed away much too young. In her memory, a prize for excellent students has been established and celebrated on March 8th. Here's to you, Lorraine.
What advice would you give to women aspiring to enter your field of expertise?
In my experience, there are no barriers to women in academia in music. To be successful, you need confidence, an outgoing personality, and enthusiasm for your subject, which are not gender-based traits. Enjoy the process of learning and sharing knowledge with your students! This applies to composing as well – you must be determined and persistent.
Who are your female role models?
The pianist Hephzibah Menuhin, sister of Yehudi Menuhin, inspired me to become a performer. My parents took me to hear her play when I was quite small, and I was captivated by her ability to sway the mood of the audience. I couldn't take my eyes off her. Sadly, I'm a lousy pianist, but I had dreams!
My first music teacher at secondary school, Hilda Morgan, composed music that we sang. I was amazed to learn that women could be published composers. Her enthusiasm and encouragement set me on this path, and I'll always be grateful to her.
The French composer, teacher, and conductor, Nadia Boulanger, trained several generations of composers, both European and American. She was one of the first women to conduct major symphony orchestras.
In just about all my jobs, whether in the theatre, schools, universities, or colleges, I've had fantastic colleagues who were skilled, enthusiastic, and supportive. There's a special camaraderie among 'women together'. At City Lit, the other 'History Gals' – Katy Hamilton and the recently-retired Karen Betley – have been fantastic.
Olga Lamb
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day represents solidarity with women all over the world in terms of empathy – not just towards people in general, but towards all living things. It’s a reminder that the struggles for human rights, gender equality and other causes are intertwined with the fight for the rights of animals, the protection of the environment, and the well-being of the planet. By nurturing empathy, we create a ripple effect that extends far beyond human communities, impacting all living creatures with whom we share this Earth.
How has your time at City Lit empowered you?
I began my journey at City Lit as a student, eager to learn and develop new skills. My experience at City Lit shaped my understanding and passion for various subjects, and it wasn’t long before I transitioned into teaching British Sign Language (BSL). As I gained more experience and confidence, I took on greater responsibilities, eventually progressing to the role of Assistant Head of Programme at Universal Skills.
This journey at City Lit has been transformative. The skills, knowledge, and experience I have acquired over the years have equipped me with the tools to make a meaningful impact in both the educational field and the wider community. City Lit has played a pivotal role in my personal and professional growth, providing me with a solid foundation that has enabled me to not only excel but also give back to the community. Now, I am in a position where I can share my expertise and contribute meaningfully to the development of others, helping them achieve their goals just as I was supported in my own journey.
Who are your female role models?
My mother is my one and only role model, and her influence on my life is immeasurable. As a deaf person, I faced numerous challenges in terms of communication in the wider world. Despite these difficulties, my mother’s unwavering love, wisdom, and guidance helped me push past these challenges and find my way towards becoming a self-sufficient individual and a fully established professional.
What makes our bond even more special is that my mother is also my best friend. Our relationship has evolved into one of mutual respect and deep connection, and I am incredibly grateful for the foundation she has provided me, which has shaped both my personal and professional life. My mother is not only my role model but also my constant companion and source of strength.
Celebrating Women Through Courses, Talks and Lectures
City Lit is honouring International Women’s Day on Saturday 8th March 2024, with a diverse programme of courses, talks and lectures.
Our courses aim to put the spotlight on remarkable women across arts, culture, and social history. Tutors will take every opportunity to promote and celebrate the achievements of women throughout our programmes.
We hope that you’ll join us in celebrating the achievements of women in the UK and across the world through our courses and activities.
International Women's Day at City Lit
Over the coming months, we are offering an exciting range of in-person and online courses and talks that explore and celebrate the significant contributions made by women to life, society, and culture. Topics will include art, politics, philosophy, and literature.
