Bluestocking Week
NUS says “Our blue stockings are on the line”
Our blue stockings are on the line is the theme of the National Union of Students’ Bluestocking Week 2013 celebrated this week 29 April – 3 May.
Events are organised across some campuses, but organisation of BSW has been hampered as NUS has mobilised their limited resources to campaign against the latest $2.3 billion higher education funding cuts announced by the federal government on 13 April. NTEU members are urged to support students on their campuses organising bluestocking week events by congratulating the organisers, promoting events and participating where possible.
NTEU will be running Bluestocking Week later this year – 12- 16 August. Reviving BSW was such a success last year, everyone was keen to keep it going. While we have much to celebrate we still have much to do for women’s equality and gender equity in (higher) education and research.
Due to the demands on NUS organising around the federal election later this year, NUS decided to go earlier this year, while NTEU is keen to consolidate the week in (wintery) August. So just for 2013 we have a BSW in both semester 1 and semester 2!
Organisation for NTEU’s semester 2 Bluestocking Week will begin soon. Watch this space www.nteu.org.au/women/bluestockingweek and contact your local NTEU Branch. If you have a good idea or suggested activity, please also contact your branch, your NTEU Women’s Action Committee (WAC) representatives through your Division office or NTEU National President Jeannie Rea on jrea@nteu.org.au
This website details Bluestocking Week events across the country, as well as provided some history on the traditions of Bluestocking women. It also has links to other resources focusing on the themes of women’s intellectualism, advancing feminism through education and rebelling against social constructs that prescribe roles for women and restrict women’s the freedom of expression and thought.
For further information on Bluestocking Week activities and events please contact NTEU National Office on 03 9254 1910 or email Policy and Research Officer, Terri MacDonald at tmacdonald@nteu.org.au. Information on NUS's Bluestocking week activities for 2013 can be found here
Bluestocking Week at the State Library, Melbourne, 10 August 2012:
QUT Bluestockings Morning Tea, 13 August 2012:
UQ Bluestocking Week celebration, 13 August 2012:
CDU Bluestocking Week event, Friday 17 August 2012:
University of Melbourne Branch event:
