Goal 5 - Gender Equality

Achieve gender equality and empower women and girls

Research

The Centre for Gender Studies

The Centre for Gender Studies at Lancaster University is unique. It is one of the largest centres in the UK for feminist research, and gender studies, and it is the only centre of its kind in the North West of England. Over 30 years old, CGS has a long and proud history, counting many world-leading leading feminist academics amongst its former directors and/or alumni.

Gender equality in business schools

The Academy for Gender, Work and Leadership in Lancaster University Management School is a dynamic research area focused on exploring and tackling gender inequalities in work and organisational contexts. With a range of projects across multiple areas, exploring themes including gender dynamics in family business, and gender equality in Business and Management Schools, our academics are identifying solutions to key issues across the world.

Teaching

Gender equality

Gender equality is embedded across the curriculum at Lancaster University. For example, our Film and Creative Writing degree has a module on Women Film Makers, that explores the work of some of the most historically important female film-makers from the 1890s through to the present, considering films from around the globe. Our Sociology degree has a module on Gender Studies, which explores the gendering of identities, relations and institutions and the links between gender and power.

Campus life

Athena Swan

The Athena Swan Charter is a higher education programme for the advancement of gender equality. We have been members of the Athena Swan Charter since 2008, achieving awards at University, faculty and departmental level. Lancaster University has held an institutional level Bronze award since 2008, with renewals in 2012, 2014 and 2019. The Department of Physics, Lancaster Environment Centre and Faculty of Health and Medicine continue to hold Silver awards with the Department of Psychology achieving Silver in 2024.

Lancaster University Women’s Network

Established in 2018, the Lancaster University Women’s Network supports women at the University by providing a forum for empowerment, discussion and individual development as well as a platform for debate, awareness raising and to facilitate action for change. They offer targeted development activities and events for women including training, mentoring and support. There are also LGBTQ+ and parents’ and carers’ staff networks which also contribute to improving gender equality within the University.

Library family room

Lancaster University Library has developed a dedicated family-friendly study space to support students with caring responsibilities. The enclosed space has been designed for users with children up to 12 years old in mind, to enable parents to work alongside their children.