About #SHESchool

I can no longer use a throwaway line that the old me regularly trotted out…”I know nothing about politics”…instead I can listen and learn more, thank you for making what seems a very confusing male dominated arena more accessible and understandable, I appreciate it. Theresa (SHESchool participant, May 2020)

Our aim with SHESchool is to demystify local politics. And based on testimony like this, we are succeeding. We solemnly promise that there is no homework involved and all you need is one hour a week, an email address, a device that connects to the internet, and a beverage of your choice to join in.

What’s it about?

The overall aim of the SHE Project is to empower women in the rural constituencies of the North West and Midlands to engage in electoral politics. We want to see more women being elected to councils and to the Dáil. Complementing this is our free online #SHESchool which is all about explaining local politics, where you fit in, and what you can do to have a say in what goes on.

Our free online #SHESchool is for anyone who wants to start to build up a bit of knowledge about what politics is and how politics works.

What will I learn?

The foundation course is 4 classes. It starts with active citizenship and explores what that might entail over and above what is required of ‘regular’ citizenship. Is it largely to do with volunteering and being engaged in our communities? Or does it see citizens questioning why volunteers are needed to overcome deficits in services and infrastructure and being part of change?

In the second class we start to try and understand the purpose, structure and function of a council. We look at the relationship between the elected county councillors and the people who work as executives in the council, as well as who has power to do what. We look at the opportunities for active citizens to become part of the decision-making structures, and how that can happen to allow better decisions to be made without necessarily running for election.

In the third class we examine the job of the county/city councillor. We look at the gender breakdown of councillors, and work through the latest research on the barriers that women face in running for council elections.

In the last class we delve into political language. We hear words and phrases such as left wing, right wing, neoliberalism, capitalism, social contract…. when politics is being discussed and it can be off putting. In our final class we look at some of the more frequently used terms as well as the feminism and the patriarchy, and explain what they mean.

How does it work?

We are running the classes on zoom. A link will be sent to you on the morning of each class. To participate you will need a computer or other devise, connected to the internet. The device will have to have working speakers mic and camera.

If you’d like more…

#SHESchool is developing based on the feedback of the May and June 2020 foundation class participants and will continue to evolve to meet the needs of the women engaging with the project.

Over the summer of 2020, our seminar series will see a variety of speakers talk to us about aspects of politics that you asked to hear about. Our next modules starting in the autumn will allow students to pick between a variety of policy, practical and politics classes.

Please contact us

To get involved please contact Michelle at info@seeherelected.ie or 0860320455