The 8th March is International Women's Day, which this year has as its theme ‘For women and girls in all their diversity: Rights, equality and empowerment’. To mark the occasion, several activities have been organised at Vilamuseu.
On Thursday 6th March, the exhibition ‘Women Geographers and Science’ will be inaugurated, on loan from the University of Alicante, which aims to disseminate and raise awareness of the first women geographers, many of them unknown, as well as the data on the scarce presence of women in Geography today.
This exhibition reveals 19th century women travellers who described the places they visited and even drew up maps of these unknown territories. These works were so scientifically rigorous that they were even presented at geography congresses. Some of these women, very few, were recognised as geographers and were admitted into geographical societies; others went on to study this discipline and become teachers and researchers. The panels on display will present these women geographers, of whom there is some documentary trace of their exploits, achievements and contributions. In addition, the panels will be accompanied by some pieces from the Vilamuseu collection related to the theme, such as a globe and some books from the 19th century.
On the same Thursday, the University Headquarters of La Vila Joiosa offers a talk related to the exhibition under the title ‘Intrepid women geographers and adventurers’. It will be given by one of the curators of the exhibition and lecturer at the University of Alicante, Ascensión Padilla Blanco, from the Department of Regional Geographical Analysis and Physical Geography. In this talk, the professor will present Geography as a science, with special attention to the contributions of women geographers, giving visibility to their work and their contributions to society.
On Saturday 8 March Vilamuseu offers the Vilakids workshop ‘Women in History’ for children aged 6 to 12. Participants will learn about the new exhibition ‘Women Geographers and Science’, and will play a game to find out about other women who have been pioneers in different areas. The workshop lasts one hour and costs €2. Reservations can be made by Whatsapp at 628 993 175.