Women Writers: Naomi Mitchison Lecture

Naomi Mitchison was a bold and fearless voice in a literary and political environment dominated by men. She championed birth control, abortion and improving the lives of women and the working class. Since Naomi’s time, pivotal changes have been made in Scotland, across the UK and around the world that are crucial to the progression of women’s rights and health. However, there is no denying that recent events have had a devastating effect on women and young girls and that access to these rights is under threat.

Scottish PEN's Women Writers Committee will be hosting the annual Naomi Mitchison Lecture via Zoom on Saturday 30th January at 6:30 pm. The writers of the committee, and guest writer Jenny Lindsay, will each explore and respond to topics such as period poverty, abortion and domestic life, using their own personal experiences, creative writing and research as a starting point for discussion. The committee will also use this opportunity to celebrate passing of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill, which ensures period products are free and available to all who need them. The event will end with an open discussion inviting audience members to share their own stories and respond to the topics that will be explored throughout.

This event is free to attend and is open all Scottish PEN members, writers, editors and publishers.

The Women Writers Committee is a diverse space created by Scottish PEN for women writers. The committee is shaped by the women in the committee and is open to all irrespective of ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, class, income and any other protected characteristics. The committee welcomes trans women, non-binary, inter-sex and gender-fluid people. The committee is strengthened by a diverse range of opinions, experiences and backgrounds.