Folklore & Women

How have myths and fairytales shaped feminist thought? Explore the power of folklore, its symbols and role in today’s society. With Q+A.

Be the fairest of them all, and you’ll win the prize. Depend on the hero – he knows best. Marry the prince and you'll live happily ever after. Don’t grow old, or risk becoming an ugly, evil hag. For centuries, folklore and fairytales have reinforced limiting gender stereotypes, confining heroines to narrow, conventional roles. 

In this talk, Dr Ceri Houlbrook will explore how folklore is much more than just fairy-tale clichés. Hidden within women’s stories and folk songs are powerful messages of anger, fear, resilience, and hope. We’ll look at how these stories have been preserved and shaped by women, and how they continue to influence ideas about gender and societal norms today. By uncovering the legacies of these women and the stories they championed, this talk reveals how folklore has served as a subtle but powerful tool for female emancipation, equality, and empowerment.

Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!

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Speaker Bio:

Dr Ceri Houlbrook, Senior Lecturer in Folklore and History, is the Programme Leader for the MA Folklore Studies at the University of Hertfordshire. She is also a Council member of the Folklore Society. Her primary interests are the modern adaptations of stories, ritual practices, and popular beliefs. She has written several scholarly books on folklore's journey through the past and present, as well as folklore-inspired fiction.

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