So what does the women’s officer do?

Our team of full time officers is comprised of seven Swansea University Alumni Students who were all elected in March 2012 by you, the student body. If you go onto the ‘Union Officers’ section of the website, it gives you a run-down of who we all are, and what we do. 

However, I am sure, still many of you will ask why we have a women’s officer and what your women’s officer actually does. The role of the women’s officer is to represent and support female students and other liberation students on issues that affect them. The role is also designed to help develop and deliver campaigns to fight for equality and respect for women and liberation, so that eventually all students will feel safe, included and represented at SUSU. 

Sadly, even in the UK equality is still an issue – For example, many of you may not even realise or believe that there is still a gender wage gap in this day and age; even in our home city of Swansea. I have been elected, like the previous women before me to stop these inequalities, helping to make everyone equal one step at a time.

Our team in the union are here to help you feel safe and equal during your time at SUSU. We also have amazing part time Black students, disabilities and two LGBT+ officers on our executive team to work towards respect and equality on campus. 

Therefore, if you feel passionate about women’s and/or liberation issues and want help starting a campaign on campus that will fight for a cause, please contact me or one of the part time liberation officers and we will be more than willing to help you where we can.

Furthermore, like the rest of the full time officer roles, the women’s officer also sits on the trustee board, student affairs committee, meetings of council and senior management. During these meetings I am present to ensure that the voice of the women and liberation students is heard and represented and will in no way be overlooked or undermined.

The role is not just about working towards equality and respect for women and liberation students, I am also here to offer support. The women’s officer also organises the zero tolerance to discrimination and sexual harassment policy at SUSU. Therefore, if you have been harassed or feel like you are being discriminated against, please feel free to contact me. Anything you report will be confidential.

If you want more in depth chat about the role of the Women’s Officer or are thinking of running please feel free to email me and pop in for a chat. Womensofficer@swansea-union.co.uk