gender equality forum

Leading on gender equality

Our Gender Equality Forum welcomes all colleagues and students who have an interest in promoting gender equality at Leeds Beckett University.

Most recently we have worked with outside agencies to raise awareness of violence against women in the Leeds area and over the coming year will be looking at trans issues and men’s health.

  • The Chairs of the forum are:
    • Dr Bronwen Edwards

If you would like to work with us or join our mailing list please contact the forum's Chairs.

Three people socialising at the Golden Robes 2019 which celebrates Leeds Beckett staff and students

Joeli Brearley from Pregnant Then Screwed with Leeds Beckett University Gender Equality Forum

Joeli Brearley from "Pregnant Then Screwed" with Leeds Beckett University Gender Equality Forum

As part of our activities to mark International Women's Day 2021, the Leeds Beckett University gender equality forum have arranged a conversation with Joeli Brearley, founder of the campaign organisation Pregnant Then Screwed, to mark the 6th anniversary of the founding of her organisation and the launch of her new book – Pregnant Then Screwed: The Truth About the Motherhood Penalty and How to Fix It. We first screened this hour-long conversation on Monday 8th March as part of our International Women's Day events.

Pregnancy maternity discrimination is all too common. It is major driver of inequality for women, and can impact all people who are pregnant and all people who become mothers. Our conversation includes discussions on institutional systemic sexism, Joeli's founding and work with Pregnant Then Screwed, and the future of paid and unpaid labour.

Joeli Brearley is a northern activist and mother who founded Pregnant Then Screwed after being sacked when she was four months pregnant. She writes for the Telegraph and the Independent and speaks about the motherhood penalty all over the world. She is one of the Observer's 50 New Radicals of 2018, an Amnesty International Women Human Rights Defender, winner of the Northern Power Women 'Agent for Change' award, and her national demonstration – 'March of the Mummies' – won PR Week top campaign. She was described by Elle Magazine as: 'Fearsome and funny.' Her writing on the issue was described by one Telegraph commenter as: 'A massive pile of whiny nonsense.' Joeli has made it her life's mission to end pregnancy and maternity discrimination.

To buy Joeli's book, find out more about the support Pregnant Then Screwed can offer you, volunteer, donate, or read more, please visit: pregnantthenscrewed.com.

Our successes

  • Received information on the Equal Pay Audit
  • Commented upon various gender initiatives such as the extension of research mentoring to all schools across our university

Dr Bronwen Edwards

Senior Lecturer / School Of Built Environment, Engineering And Computing

Dr Bronwen Edwards is a Senior Lecturer in Human Geography and Town Planning, with expertise in cultural and historical geography, cultural history and architectural heritage and conservation.