This autumn I was pleased to play a small part in the Essex-wide women’s history project ‘Snapping the Stiletto’. A two year project by Essex County Council to mark the centenary of the Representation of the People Act in 1918 which gave the first British women the vote, the project has explored how Essex women’s lives have changed since 1918. The project aimed to replace the outdated stereotype of ‘Essex Girls’ with stories of Strong Essex Women, and was a partnership project with museums across the county.
Signing up to the programme through their Volunteer Makers scheme, I have gained new skills and experience by getting my first Wikipedia article published. Writing for Wikipedia involves a different writing/editing style to a normal article or blog post, and learning how to use their platform. You can find the Wikipedia article here (credit to Tim Wander for all the research material behind this article!)
I also helped out at one of the project’s engagement tables in Chelmsford town centre, raising the profile of the project and helping more local people to discover the stories of Strong Essex Women.
To find out more about the project visit Snapping the Stiletto
Jennifer Rowland 