Explore memoirs by women across cultures and generations. Reflect on identity, resistance, and storytelling while building your own voice through guided discussion and creative exercises.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This is a reading group exploring memoirs by women across cultures and generations. Through six powerful texts, we’ll reflect on identity, resistance, and storytelling, building community through shared reading and discussion. Please note the readings will contain experiences that may be both difficult to read and discuss.
We will read the following books:
Sojourner Truth: Narrative of Sojourner Truth (2022) - 9 March
Beate Sirota Gordon: The Only Woman in the Room: A Memoir of Japan, Human Rights, and the Arts (2014)- 13 April
Andrée Blouin: My Country, Africa: Autobiography of the Black Pasionaria (2025) - 11 May
Anna Castillo: Black Dove : Mama, Mi'jo, and Me (2016) - 8 June
Safiya Sinclair: How to Say Babylon: A Jamaican Memoir (2024) - 29 June
Hannah Azieb Pool: My Fathers' Daughter (2022) - 20 July
What will we cover?
Each session focuses on one memoir, exploring themes such as:
Framing the self: autobiography vs memoir
Intersectionality and lived experience
Migration, motherhood, and activism
Memory, trauma, and healing
Writing as resistance and reclamation
Style, voice, and narrative structure
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Engage critically with memoirs by women
Explore how life writing reflects and resists social structures
Reflect on your own story through guided prompts
Build confidence in sharing and listening within a group
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background knowledge. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to explore will increase what you get out of the course.
However, as with most of our history, politics and current affairs courses, an open mind and a respectful willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.
Given the sensitive nature of some of the topics the course will explore, we also expect everyone to engage group and class discussions with respect and the willingness to learn from others.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be expected to read the listed book for each session. Each session will entail tutor-led discussion and group reflection.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will be expected to secure access to the memoirs listed above. The books should be available in your public library and in second hand bookshops. Some of the titles may also be available as audiobooks or as digital books, e.g. via a kindle supscription. Please check your access to the books before enrolling.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
HMI57 Black British Studies: Politics, Power & Intersectionality
Your tutor will share their other courses with you. Please note other reading groups will be added to the programme also.
Michele Scott is an experienced Criminologist and Sociologist who has taught in a range of colleges, such as City of Westminster and Universities such as Birkbeck, LSE and London Metropolitan University as a Lecturer on courses such such as the Sociology of Crime and Deviance, Sociology of Gender, Sociology of Race and Ethnicity as well as Black Studies, Law, Justice and Society, Criminal Justice and Criminological courses. Michele is also an advocate for neurodiverse and SEND children. She also attained a wealth of voluntary experience surrounding supporting the needs of the parents of neurodiverse children. Alongside, neurodiverse children themselves and schools in attaining EHCPs for neurodiverse children. As well as ensuring their needs are effectively met within these educational establishments.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/our-world-s-memoirs-by-women2980004Our world(s): memoirs by womenhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/o/u/our-world-s-memoirs-by-women-1080.jpg159159GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Histories, memories & heritage/Courses/Online courses/Courses/International Women's Day at City Lit2285117711781907173120031228511771178<p>Explore memoirs by women across cultures and generations. Reflect on identity, resistance, and storytelling while building your own voice through guided discussion and creative exercises.</p>002979959Our world(s): memoirs by women159159https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/o/u/our-world-s-memoirs-by-women-1080_1.jpgInStockEveningMonOnlineStarted: last chance to book5-10 weeksWeekday2026-03-09T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allMar 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHPC278159159Our world(s): memoirs by women159103159Michele Scottour-world-s-memoirs-by-women/hpc278-2526<p>Explore memoirs by women across cultures and generations. Reflect on identity, resistance, and storytelling while building your own voice through guided discussion and creative exercises.</p>0010-StartedAvailable|2026-03-09 00:00:00<ul></ul><p>This is a reading group exploring memoirs by women across cultures and generations. Through six powerful texts, we’ll reflect on identity, resistance, and storytelling, building community through shared reading and discussion. Please note the readings will contain experiences that may be both difficult to read and discuss.</p><p>We will read the following books:</p><ul><li>Sojourner Truth: Narrative of Sojourner Truth (2022) - 9 March</li><li>Beate Sirota Gordon: The Only Woman in the Room: A Memoir of Japan, Human Rights, and the Arts (2014)- 13 April</li><li>Andrée Blouin: My Country, Africa: Autobiography of the Black Pasionaria (2025) - 11 May</li><li>Anna Castillo: Black Dove : Mama, Mi'jo, and Me (2016) - 8 June </li><li>Safiya Sinclair: How to Say Babylon: A Jamaican Memoir (2024) - 29 June </li><li>Hannah Azieb Pool: My Fathers' Daughter (2022) - 20 July </li></ul><p>Explore memoirs by women across cultures and generations. Reflect on identity, resistance, and storytelling while building your own voice through guided discussion and creative exercises.</p><ul></ul><p>Each session focuses on one memoir, exploring themes such as:</p><ul><li>Framing the self: autobiography vs memoir</li><li>Intersectionality and lived experience</li><li>Migration, motherhood, and activism</li><li>Memory, trauma, and healing</li><li>Writing as resistance and reclamation</li><li>Style, voice, and narrative structure</li></ul><ul><li>Engage critically with memoirs by women</li><li>Explore how life writing reflects and resists social structures</li><li>Reflect on your own story through guided prompts</li><li>Build confidence in sharing and listening within a group</li></ul><p>This course is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background knowledge. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to explore will increase what you get out of the course.</p><p>However, as with most of our history, politics and current affairs courses, an open mind and a respectful willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills. </p><p>Given the sensitive nature of some of the topics the course will explore, we also expect everyone to engage group and class discussions with respect and the willingness to learn from others.</p><p>You will be expected to read the listed book for each session. Each session will entail tutor-led discussion and group reflection. </p><p>You will be expected to secure access to the memoirs listed above. The books should be available in your public library and in second hand bookshops. Some of the titles may also be available as audiobooks or as digital books, e.g. via a kindle supscription. Please check your access to the books before enrolling. </p><p>HMI57 Black British Studies: Politics, Power & Intersectionality</p><p>Your tutor will share their other courses with you. Please note other reading groups will be added to the programme also. </p>HistoryHistories, memories & heritagevirtual159159103HPC278NONEMon09/03/26 - 20/07/2619:00 - 21:0019:0021:006 sessions (over 20 weeks)65-10 weeksWeekdayOnlineOnlineMichele ScottBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allStarted: last chance to book2026-03-09T00:00:00+00:00EveningMar 2026Culture, history & humanities159159Our world(s): memoirs by womenour-world-s-memoirs-by-women/hpc278-2526<p>Explore memoirs by women across cultures and generations. Reflect on identity, resistance, and storytelling while building your own voice through guided discussion and creative exercises.</p>0010-StartedAvailable|2026-03-09 00:00:00<ul></ul><p>This is a reading group exploring memoirs by women across cultures and generations. Through six powerful texts, we’ll reflect on identity, resistance, and storytelling, building community through shared reading and discussion. Please note the readings will contain experiences that may be both difficult to read and discuss.</p><p>We will read the following books:</p><ul><li>Sojourner Truth: Narrative of Sojourner Truth (2022) - 9 March</li><li>Beate Sirota Gordon: The Only Woman in the Room: A Memoir of Japan, Human Rights, and the Arts (2014)- 13 April</li><li>Andrée Blouin: My Country, Africa: Autobiography of the Black Pasionaria (2025) - 11 May</li><li>Anna Castillo: Black Dove : Mama, Mi'jo, and Me (2016) - 8 June </li><li>Safiya Sinclair: How to Say Babylon: A Jamaican Memoir (2024) - 29 June </li><li>Hannah Azieb Pool: My Fathers' Daughter (2022) - 20 July </li></ul><p>Explore memoirs by women across cultures and generations. Reflect on identity, resistance, and storytelling while building your own voice through guided discussion and creative exercises.</p><ul></ul><p>Each session focuses on one memoir, exploring themes such as:</p><ul><li>Framing the self: autobiography vs memoir</li><li>Intersectionality and lived experience</li><li>Migration, motherhood, and activism</li><li>Memory, trauma, and healing</li><li>Writing as resistance and reclamation</li><li>Style, voice, and narrative structure</li></ul><ul><li>Engage critically with memoirs by women</li><li>Explore how life writing reflects and resists social structures</li><li>Reflect on your own story through guided prompts</li><li>Build confidence in sharing and listening within a group</li></ul><p>This course is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background knowledge. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to explore will increase what you get out of the course.</p><p>However, as with most of our history, politics and current affairs courses, an open mind and a respectful willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills. </p><p>Given the sensitive nature of some of the topics the course will explore, we also expect everyone to engage group and class discussions with respect and the willingness to learn from others.</p><p>You will be expected to read the listed book for each session. Each session will entail tutor-led discussion and group reflection. </p><p>You will be expected to secure access to the memoirs listed above. The books should be available in your public library and in second hand bookshops. Some of the titles may also be available as audiobooks or as digital books, e.g. via a kindle supscription. Please check your access to the books before enrolling. </p><p>HMI57 Black British Studies: Politics, Power &amp; Intersectionality</p><p>Your tutor will share their other courses with you. Please note other reading groups will be added to the programme also. </p>HistoryHistories, memories & heritageconfigurable
19071178Histories, memories & heritagehttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/history/further-historical-studies1/2/285/1177/1178/19071/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Histories, memories & heritage
