May '68

May ’68 demonstration in Paris, © Contact Press Images

By Ellie McGuffog

On 17 May 2018, the University of London Institute in Paris (ULIP) invited University of London alumni, current students and guests to ‘May 68 to Time’s Up: Fifty years of women in revolt’, a panel discussion with Professor Sue Clayton of Goldsmiths, University of London and Dr Melissa Thackway of INALCO and Sciences Po, Paris.

The evening began with a video illustrating key and powerful images from the women’s movement. Footage included the French student revolts of May 1968, International Women’s Day marches and images of women wearing black to the 2018 Golden Globes ceremony in support of the 'Time’s Up' movement.

The panel recollected their own experiences of social activism as women, with particular insight into how their upbringing and time at university influenced their need to revolt.

When asked what currently motivates them, Dr Thackway candidly said: 'It would be easier to say what I’m not currently revolting against' and highlighted that there is still considerable progress to be made in France in regard to human issues, not just for women. Dr Thackway was, however, thankful to campaigns such as #MeToo that help bring issues to light in the public space and open them up for discussion.

Professor Clayton discussed her current activism centred on her film Calais Children: A Case to Answer, which has been used as evidence in High Court cases to help refugee children gain access to the UK.

The evening’s host, Stella Beaumont (member of University of London Board of Trustees and the Paris Advisory Group for ULIP), said: 'I felt particularly privileged to host this discussion on 50 years of women in revolt. It was a great opportunity to help celebrate 150 years since women were first able to access higher education in the UK in 1868 but also acknowledge that we are far from a position of equality and that much more remains to be done. I would like to thank and congratulate the panel for creating such a stimulating evening of frank discussion.'