International Women’s Day 2009

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future and takes place every year on 8th March.

The Staff Development Unit (SDU) at City is celebrating International Women’s Day 2009 with an exciting programme of events from 9th-13th March which all women are invited to attend.

The theme for this year’s programme will be ‘Women and the Credit Crunch’. The Observer has stated that this credit crunch is shaping up to be Britain’s first fully feminised recession with implications for equal rights. In a sign of how seriously the issue is being taken, Gordon Brown has agreed to dedicate a session of the G20 meeting of the world’s economic powers to the impact of the recession on women, the first time the G20 has held formal talks about the role of women in the economy.

Seminars throughout the week will explore the issues that are affecting women, whether diversity and more female decision-makers are key to future corporate success and how we react to money varies according to our experiences and personality. There will be a ‘Making Money Work for You’ workshop facilitated by Simonne Gnessen, co-author of the new book ‘Sheconomics’, and an Assertiveness workshop available as well as complementary health taster sessions and a well-woman drop in clinic.

For an outline of the week’s programme, please see below:

Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th March, 12.00 – 14.30

Free Complementary Health Taster Sessions

Research by Bupa UK has found that one in every two women is experiencing increased stress at work because of the pressures caused by the credit crunch. SDU are offering staff the opportunity to book a 20 minute Complementary Health Taster session and individuals can choose from an Indian head massage, Reiki or Holistic massage.

Indian Head Massage is given to the head, face, ears, shoulders, neck, upper back and arms. When tension appears in these areas the body is put out of balance, causing tiredness, muscle fatigue, headaches, eye strain, hair loss, neck and shoulder problems. Indian Head Massage will restore equilibrium, ease tension headaches, and stimulate blood and lymph flow to create a feeling of well being and mental alertness.

Reiki is a Japanese word meaning ‘universal life energy’, and is a healing energy. When a reiki therapist channels this life energy through their hands to the recipient it activates the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Reiki is a safe, natural and holistic way of treating many acute and chronic conditions, bringing about spiritual, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Holistic Massage is an approach to the treatment of the whole person-mind body and spirit. It aims to treat each person individually. The massage is a hands on experience using a series of strokes to manipulate the skin muscles. Strokes vary in order to relax or invigorate.

To book a slot for one of these therapies please see contact details below.

‘Well Woman Drop in Clinic’ (available on Monday 9th only)

Occupational Health Advisors will be available for drop-in sessions on Monday 9th March. These sessions address any work related or personal health queries and help to raise awareness of women related health issues. If you have ever wondered what the settings on your work chair can do for you, now is the time to find out!
Venue: Room C, Northampton Suite, College building

Sheconomics Quiz

Money is something we all have to deal with on a daily basis. Yet how we react to it varies according to our experiences and personality. Check out here what your personal style with money says about you – are you Sheconomically sharp or shambolic? Take the Sheconomics Quiz and find out!

Wednesday 11th March, 1.00 – 4.30

‘Making Money Work for You’ Workshop

Facilitated by Simonne Gnessen, co-author of the new book ‘Sheconomics’, this activity-based workshop will help you:
• Gain awareness of the thoughts and emotions that influence your spending, saving and investment decisions
• Understand some key principles to create more financial success in your life.
• Take away tools, techniques and the motivation to take greater control and responsibility over the way you handle money in the future.

Thursday 12th March, 12.00 – 2.30

Women and the Credit Crunch

The credit crunch has been described as a ‘man-made disaster’ and there is growing opinion that it might have been avoided if there had been more female decision makers at senior levels in banks and other institutions. After all, women, it is claimed, are more risk-averse, more reluctant to take on huge amounts of debt and more receptive to advice. Or are they?

In this lunchtime seminar we aim to explore whether diversity might be key to future corporate success, the problems that women are potentially facing in these challenging economic times and where to go for advice. The session will also provide the rare opportunity to meet and network with other staff across the University over lunch.

12.00pm – 1.00pm Professor Jo Silvester will explore why the credit crunch is shaping up to be Britain’s first fully feminised recession and considers what we can all do to ensure that diversity remains a core issue for business and the economy. She will draw on recent research into diversity and leadership in investment banking, plus studies of gender and integrity in politics and explore psychological factors that lead to hubris in decision making at work.

1.00pm – 1.45pm Lunch and Networking

1.45pm – 2.30pm Citizens Advice Bureau: The problems that women are potentially facing in the credit crunch are highlighted, useful tips shared and where to go for help and advice.

Friday 13th March, 9.30 – 1.30

Assertiveness Session for Women

This workshop specifically for women provides participants with the skills and confidence to behave more assertively in a variety of situations. Followed by a Springboard information session from Staff Development and lunch.

9.30am – 12.30pm Assertiveness Workshop (Penny Forster, The Change Agency)

12.30pm – 12.45pm Springboard: Women’s Development Programme (Lucy Farnes, SDU)

12.45pm – 1.30pm Lunch

To book a place on any of the above events please contact Polina Mavroeidi indicating which sessions you would like to attend at sdu@city.ac.uk or ext. 5669.

*All participants at the above events will be eligible to be entered into a prize draw. First prize will be a personal 2-hour ‘Sheconomics Surgery’ financial coaching session with Simonne Gnessen, co-author of the book ‘Sheconomics’ and founder of the financial coaching firm ‘Wise Monkey’. Three runners up will win a copy of the book ‘Sheconomics’.

http://www.city.ac.uk/sd/Events0809/InternationalWomen’sDay.html