Body Image: Glasgow Women's Library Story Cafe

Glasgow Women’s Library heads to the Women of the World Festival in Perth this September to deliver what promises to be a fascinating talk on the issues surrounding body image and menstruation. With readings from some of the best women writers worldwide, they aim to get to grips with body image in fiction and poetry.

For those that don't know, Glasgow Women’s Library is no ordinary library! The only resource of its kind in Scotland, it is a national treasure in the truest sense. Recognised as being a 'nationally significant collection' it recently earned a finalist spot in the prestigious Art Fund Museum of The Year awards.

The library supports thousands of women across Scotland every year to improve their lives through services and programmes, including support and activities that tackle a wide range of issues from poverty and women’s health, to sexuality and surviving violence.

Ahead of their visit to Perth for the Body Image: Glasgow Women’s Library Story Café symposium, we chatted to Nadine Aisha Jassat and Morag Smith.  Not only are these incredible women impressive in their career achievements, but they are also leading the way in female empowerment in Scotland today. They will be facilitating the conversation around the issues surrounding body image in today’s society on 

Nadine Aisha Jassat is an award-winning writer, creative practitioner, and professional in the movement to end gender-based violence. Nadine’s work has drawn significant acclaim; in 2017 she was named as one of '30 Inspiring Young Women Under 30' by YWCA Scotland, and in 2018 she went on to win a Scottish Book Trust New Writers’ Award. Nadine joined Glasgow Women’s Library in 2018 as a part-time Development Worker for the National Lifelong Learning Project.

Morag Smith studied English Literature in Glasgow and lived in Germany for some years before returning to Scotland where she worked in community learning and development, adult literacies, creative writing and literature development. In July 2009 she joined Glasgow Women’s Library as National Lifelong Learning Development Worker. She works with GWL’s learning team and a wide range of partner organisations, including libraries, community groups and women’s prison services, to deliver bespoke learning programmes, events, and workshops. Body image and menstruation are subjects which have been tackled in empowering, funny and moving ways by diverse women writers and we want to share some of this great writing with as many women as possible

Nadine explained "There's still a lot of stigma to battle in terms of talking about menstruation and women's bodies.

We face an onslaught of pressures; whether it's from the media telling us to be 'beach body ready' or the treatment from institutions that judge us for covering too much or not covering enough. By talking about it we hope to create a safe space, discuss these issues and celebrate the diversity and power of our bodies."

Glasgow Women's Library works around Scotland to engage women of all backgrounds and ages in talking and learning about issues that are important to them. 

If you are interested in hearing more from Morag and Nadine on Body Image, Make sure you head down to Body Image: Glasgow Women’s Library Story Café on Saturday 29th of September at WOW Perth.

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WoW - Women of the World Festival in Perth takes place from the 29th to the 30th of September at Perth Theatre.  Download the full brochure for all the details here.