This week, I had the unreal and unforgettable opportunity to attend a panel with the Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern, the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand, currently on a remarkable tour for her bestselling memoir, A Different Kind of Power. The event was proudly hosted by Wimbledon BookFest and held here at Wimbledon High School. Below are some of the topics discussed and my personal takeaways from the experience.
Virginia Woolf’s work demonstrates how, so often in literature, women are made rivals competing for the attention of the male gaze, thereby legitimising its supremacy. She demonstrates how, in ‘A Room of one’s own’, the relationship between Chloe and Olivia thus signifies some great change, wherein the two are allowed to simply exist together, momentarily undefined by their relation to men- “‘Chloe liked Olivia…’ Do not start. Do not blush. Let us admit in the privacy of our own society that these things sometimes happen, sometimes women do like women.” (Woolf, 1935, p. 123) Therefore, it is clear that the dynamics between women on a romantic scale should similarly undermine this literary tradition, providing a secluded space where rivalry is replaced with tenderness and male validation becomes insignificant to female appreciation for the female.
To add some excitement to the final stretch of the summer term (you’re almost there, guys!), we’re delighted to continue our SLT interviews series and introduce you to the Community Action Team for the 2025-2026 academic year. This year’s Community Action Team includes Lila and Jemima as the Heads of Charities and Partnerships, Lauren as Head of the Charter, and Anna as Head of Sustainability and the Environment.
A message from the Heads of Charities Lila Henderson and Jemima Bennett on this year’s Summer Charity Fair:
As we wrap up Activities Week, we’re thrilled to continue our SLT Interviews series! This week we’re shining a spotlight on the 2025/26 members of the Student Voice Team, including: Heads of Academia and Scholarship, Valentina and Libby, Unconquered Peaks editor-in-chief, Cecilia, and our Sports Captain, Mia.
