Last week, I attended two remarkable events hosted by The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
The first event, featuring Professor Claudia Goldin, Nobel Prize winner in Economics, was nothing short of enlightening. Professor Goldin’s lecture painted a vivid picture of the struggles and triumphs on the path to gender equality. What struck me most was the staggering realisation that legal rights for women in crucial areas like the workplace and family came decades after they gained the right to vote.
Claudia Goldin’s presentation on women’s rights in the United States left a profound impact on me as an international master’s student attending the event. I was captivated by the depth of historical insights she shared and the clarity with which she articulated the complexities of the women’s rights movement. I couldn’t help but reflect on the parallels between the US context and the challenges faced by women globally.
What resonated with me most was Goldin’s assertion that feminism fundamentally boils down to the belief in women’s equal humanity. This simple yet powerful definition struck a chord within me, reminding me of the universal importance of advocating for gender equality in all spheres of life.
The second event’s focus shifted to one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. Led by luminaries such as Shweta Banerjee and Professor Esther Duflo, the discussion delved into new paradigms for designing and financing loss and damage funds.
As someone who has worked with a conservation organisation in India, I found Professor Duflo’s insights deeply relevant to my own experiences in the field where she emphasised that while wealthier countries are often the highest emitters, it is the poorest and most vulnerable communities that bear the brunt of climate change’s consequences. As someone who has witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of climate change on marginalised communities in Sundarbans, India, this resonated deeply with me.
Similarly, listening to Shweta Banerjee gracefully weave the work of BRAC with poetic elegance underscored the urgent need for collective action to address climate change. She also emphasised the disproportionate burden borne by women and marginalised communities, who are often the most vulnerable to climate events. Banerjee reminded us of the importance of listening to diverse voices and perspectives. She emphasised the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge and historical solutions into our efforts to address climate change.
These lectures were not merely events to attend; they were transformative experiences that have enriched my academic journey at LSE. As I reflect on the profound insights shared by Professor Goldin, Shweta Banerjee, and Professor Duflo, I am reminded of the critical role education plays in shaping our understanding of complex global challenges. I’m glad to have been part of these talks and look forward to more enriching experiences in my academic journey, both within and outside the academic sphere.
You can find out more about the recent Nobel prize winner event series at LSE here: https://www.lse.ac.uk/News/Latest-news-from-LSE/2024/e-May-2024/Three-Nobel-Laureates-speak-at-LSE-in-one-week
