Explore, Express, Empower: Zine-Making Workshop on Women’s Work Experiences

“Explore, Express, Empower: Zine-Making Workshop on Women’s Work Experiences”
Date: 6^th November 2025    Time: 6.00pm – 8.30pm
Location: Guildford Institute, 1 Ward Street, Guildford, GU1 4LH
Free to attend | Materials & refreshments provided

From #GirlBoss to #LazyGirlJobs, quiet quitting to side hustles, social media is full of conversations about work, especially women’s work. But beyond the hashtags, what are the real stories and struggles behind the screen?

This creative zine-making workshop invites women, including trans and non-binary people, to reflect on their own experiences of paid labour in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Through collage, drawing, and words, you'll create your own zine that speaks back to dominant narratives about women and work.

Guided by facilitator Dr Teresa Pilgrim (she/they) and informed by Dr. Nathalie Weidhase’s research on gender, work, and media, participants will explore personal stories through collage, image, and text — no artistic experience needed!

Why attend?

It’s part of an ongoing research project by Dr. Nathalie Weidhase, Lecturer in Media and Communication at the University of Surrey.

Her research explores how social media shapes conversations around gender, paid labour, and identity, and how these conversations often reflect (and challenge) wider cultural narratives about what work means for women today.

This workshop is a chance to bring that research into the real world, giving you the tools and space to respond creatively and critically. It’s a relaxed opportunity to connect with others, contribute to meaningful research, and create something unique that challenges dominant narratives about women’s work.

What to expect:

• A short introduction to Dr. Weidhase’s research on media representations of women and work
• A 90-minute guided zine-making session led by experienced facilitator Teresa Pilgrim
• All materials provided, plus snacks and drinks
• A chance to connect with others, share stories, and make something meaningful

Whether you’re working, between jobs, freelancing, studying, or rethinking your career, your story matters.

Booking is essential as places are limited! Please register your interest via Ticket Tailor, and if you have any questions, please contact: n.weidhase@surrey.ac.uk

This event is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science and part-funded by the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants programme.