Philosophy

Edinburgh Women in Philosophy Group

Description

Welcome to the webpage of the Edinburgh Women in Philosophy Group, a newly-formed assortment of philosophers (aspiring and established), friends, and academics. Our collective goal is to raise awareness of the many disputes and debacles that currently surround the status of women and minorities in academic philosophy, and to provide support for female faculty and postgraduates. Through a variety of initiatives, we hope to create a space for reflection on the ideology and practice of contemporary philosophy, and to contribute, together with related support networks, to creating an academic culture of intellectual openness and fairness in which all philosophical talent, irrespective of gender, can thrive and flourish, both at Edinburgh and beyond.

Lady Philosophy
Lady Philosophy
From Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy (524 AD)

The following are the specific projects, initiatives, and wider goals we support:

  • Increase visibility of female faculty at organisational/management level
  • Ensure broader equality in numbers of female speakers at workshops, seminars and conferences
  • Encourage recognition of, and student exposure to, internationally acclaimed female philosophers through invitation to named lectures
  • Ensure fair representation of women philosophers on syllabi
  • Raise awareness of implicit gender-bias
  • Provide tutors with skills for ensuring spirit of intellectual fairness in tutorials
  • Create an academic culture in which philosophical talent thrives

"Three cheers for the Edinburgh Women in Philosophy Group! What a splendid idea, and beautifully timed to catch the rising current of awareness about women in philosophy. I warmly applaud this initiative. Edinburgh is a marvellous place to do philosophy, and you are going to help make it even better for women. I wish I could be there to join your efforts".

Professor Rae Langton, Professor of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh from 1999-2004 (a position for which David Hume was turned down in 1755) and the first woman to be appointed Professor of Philosophy in Edinburgh.

If you wish to be kept in the loop about informal meetings, and other relevant notices of interest, or if you wish to raise an issue for discussion or consideration by the group, please subscribe to our mailing list by contacting one of our members (details listed below).

We also warmly welcome new members and friends. In particular, we would like to expand and organise the Group, by establishing an executive committee, in charge of making decisions, and an advisory committee, for the executive committee to consult on certain issues. If you would like to form part of the Group on either capacity, please contact Ana, Liz, Nicole, or Clare.

News:

EWIP Group recognised by SWIP

SWIP logoThe Edinburgh Women in Philosophy Group has been recognised as a Women-Friendly Initiative for 2011 by the Society for Women in Philosophy (SWIP) UK.

Thanks are due to Ana Barandalla, Nicole Hall-Elfick, Clare MacCumhail, Elizabeth Ellis, and everyone who helped make this possible.

Past events:

30 May 2011, 10:30 - 17:00, Dugald Stewart Building (Room 1.17).

21 January 2011 12:30 - 18:30 Conference Room (Room G.04), David Hume Tower.

  • The Edinburgh Women in Philosophy Group hosted the EWPG Workshop 2010/11 to explore some of the philosophical issues surrounding the underrepresentation of women in professional philosophy.

19 January 2011 13.00 - 14.00 Professional Development Seminar, Dugald Stewart Building (Room 3.01)

  • Roundtable Discussion on "Academia and the Family" to explore and begin to address difficulties for combining philosophical research with having a family.

25 November 2010, 14:30 - 16:00, Room 1.17 DSB. Organisers Liz Ellis and Nicole Hall-Elfick.

  • Women in Philosophy "Afternoon Tea" - Andy Clark shared, as an in memoriam to Susan Hurley, Professor Hurley's reflections on issues facing women in philosophy. Holly Branigan offered a picture of how women are doing psychology, which we were able to compare with philosophy and we were offered anecdotes and reflections from Emily Brady and Natalie Gold, as well as reflections on pedagogical approaches from Alasdair Richmond.

3 November 2009, 14:00 - 15:30, Middle Reading Room, Teviot Row House.

Selected useful links:

Discussion blogs

Dedicated websites