After establishing a society in a year where students were unable to attend campus, Mansi Vithlani our editor-in-chief interviews the president of the BAME Women Society who shares insight on how it is going to empower and uplift female City students.
The beauty of City, University of London is that it accepts students of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, beliefs, ages, and backgrounds. And, of course, at the university, women are empowered, as departments and students celebrate female accomplishments, raising awareness about bias, and inspiring and motivating us all to take action for equality.
This is the grounding ethos of the university but also that of the BAME Women Society, founded in 2020 but officially established in January 2021.
The pandemic allowed for the birth of a much needed society:
In a time where students were unable to attend classes on campus and meet with peers for social events in person, the president of the BAME Women Society, Lynszia Tuder Ranjith a second-year actuarial science student, was not afraid to use the power of social media to network with other female City students from BAME backgrounds.
Lynszia Tuder Ranjith
“I had a vision of where I wanted the society to go,” she says, “so I suppose I wouldn’t have been able to make that vision come true if I had any other role.” Establishing a new society during COVID is challenging, but Ranjith was disheartened by the lack of women-based societies, which is what inspired her to create her own.
The enriching purpose of the society:
Ranjith’s vision extends horizons as she wanted to create a society where those with similarities could share comfort in one another and navigate not only university but further adult life together, throughout the encouraging highs but also the turbulent lows.
Ranjith adds: “My thought was it’d be nice to have a women-based society, with women who are like minded and it’d be nice to meet other women, particularly women of colour, because that wasn’t a society before.”
Additionally, she shares the importance of understanding that everyone’s experience as a women is inherently unique and the beauty of sharing this with one another will allow BAME women to share their experiences via a platform that will empower and support them.
Why should you join?
After a successful turnout at the 2021 Welcome Fair, with new students sharing their favourite inspirational BAME Women with the team, Ranjith felt encouraged that the year ahead will be successful.
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The society also has a fulfilling year ahead with panel discussions from inspirational women and motivational speakers from a variety of industries in the talks.
Ranjith says: “I think it’s a really diverse society. I think if you want to know more about other women’s cultures and other women’s traditions then you should definitely join as it will be a place where you can educate yourself.”
However, Ranjith emphasises that the society is not necessarily just for women and welcomes anyone to join, adding that “being a BAME woman is very different from a white woman”.
What is planned for the year ahead?
With the aim to bring together students from BAME backgrounds, Ranjith insists on holding a cultural day and a food festival. She says: “I want women to wear their traditional attire and then celebrate their cultures through different types of foods.”
The team at the society has also planned panel discussions with entrepreneurs, business women, strategists and writers to help fuel creativity and push the BAME women at City.
The importance of the society:
Although Ranjith was hesitant to describe the society this way, she intends for the BAME Women society to represent “women supporting women”, despite the overuse of the phrase.
Overall, she aims for the society to be educational and to have that academic aspect as students grow and widen their horizons on backgrounds and cultures they may not have been exposed to throughout their childhood.
Ranjith adds: “There are no restrictions to join the society. Obviously, it’s targeted towards women and it’d be great if there were women of colour that would be interested.”
She hopes that students will leave this society proud of being a BAME women and that every woman at City has the potential to innovate and bring something fresh to any field. “We can all work together to achieve greatness,” she says.
Quick Fact File on the BAME Women’s society Founder and President:
- Full name: Lynszia Tuder Ranjith
- Course: 2nd year BSc Actuarial Science student at Bayes
- Fun fact: I make the best chaii, I know the whole of the Hamilton soundtrack, I play the piano and guitar, obsessed with kdramas, I’m a mix of cultures – Mauritian, Indian and Sri-Lankan
- BAME Women icons and inspirations: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and my mum
Email: [email protected]
Social: @citybamewomensoc
Read out inclusive interview with the 93% Club Society