‘Being Human Festival’ Event: Memorialising Middlesbrough’s Women
Rachel Reeves’s decision to substitute the portrait of Nigel Lawson with one of Ellen Wilkinson is an important move to put women’s contributions to political life front and centre. The fact this decision has generated negative attention at all (Sir Iain Duncan Smith’s remark that Reeves’s decision was ‘hysterical woke madness’ stands out as amongst the most unforgivable) says a lot about persistent undervaluing of women’s civic contributions. The treasury office where Reeves displays Wilkinson’s portrait is a symbolically important location at the heart of governmental business. But what about the presence of women like Wilkinson in our public spaces? Women are as underrepresented in our towns as they are in the history books and its important to ask questions about who we decide to memorialise and to think carefully about the politics of these choices. It’s easy to assume that because women historically haven’t had the same opportunities as men, they haven’t significantly shaped our culture. That’s simply not true; this mindset stems from our tendency to undervalue women who despite societal obstacles, achieve success in public sphere or, to overlook less visible forms of civic contribution.
As a Teesside university academic, I'm particularly interested in the fact that Wilkinson, or ‘red Ellen’ as she was known, was elected as a Labour MP for Middlesbrough in 1924, and was the only woman voted in during the general election that year. Middlesbrough, like many UK towns, is guilty of this failing to honour the contributions of women like Wilkinson in its public memorials —a fact that has already garnered attention. In 2016, journalist Emma Chesworth launched the Eighth Plinth campaign to highlight that none of Middlesbrough’s commemorative statues depict women. The campaign’s name reflects the reality that the town’s seven statues all honour men, including industrialists John Vaughn and Henry Bolckow, war hero Stanley Hollis, and footballer Brian Clough. This is frustrating because the absence of women’s statues, along with the emphasis on industrial history, football, and combat, contributes to what I feel is a predominantly masculine narrative of Middlesbrough. Who were (and are) the women who made the town what it is today? And how can we draw attention to their contributions?
The Eighth Plinth campaign culminated in a public vote in which Wilkinson selected to be the subject of a memorial statue. She is a great choice, not only because we are now in the centenary year of her election, but also due to her significant role in radical politics. Wilkinson was involved in the establishment of the British Communist Party, the campaign for women’s suffrage, and was the first female Education Minister. However, it is important to note that Wilkinson enjoys greater recognition than many women involved in socialist and labour politics in the 19th and 20th centuries. My academic research explores the impact on women’s rights and reputations within the context of late 19th- and early 20th-century British socialisms. Through this research, I have discovered many influential women whose voices have been forgotten or overshadowed.
Other UK cities have taken steps to address the absence of women in public memorials. Leeds, for instance, recently unveiled the 'Ribbons' sculpture, engraved with the names of 400 local women, including socialist Isabella Ford. I love the flowing design of this monument by artist Pippa Hale and how it suggests a multiplicity of women’s contributions.
In Middlesbrough, however, the local council has yet to make any decision or progress on commissioning the statue of Ellen Wilkinson, despite funds being raised. If this statue were never to materialise, what would that say, not only about public will but also about how we value women’s contributions to public life?
This is why, along with my colleagues, I've organised the Being Human Festival workshop on Memorialising Middlesbrough’s Women. Designed to maintain the momentum exerted by the Eighth Plinth campaign, this workshop invites the public to consider who we choose to remember and why. What does impactful and inclusive memorialisation look like in Middlesbrough’s historical and cultural context? And what are the forces that eclipse women’s contributions to political and public life? The workshop will also involve a hands-on participatory design workshop, where we will explore the power of creative and collective expression in memorialisation through a variety of engaging activities. Led by my colleagues Marcus Diamond and Ellen Mather from Graphic Design and Visual Communication, this workshop will delve into how graphic art and design can address social and political issues. Participants will have the opportunity to create written responses and symbolic representations around the theme. Get ready for an inspiring and immersive experience!
The Memorialising Middlesbrough’s Women workshop takes place on Saturday 9th November between 10- A14:00. All are welcome to join. You can book your place here. A14:00. All are welcome to join. You can book your place here.