Women's Visual Voices - through her eyes and in her own words

Dr Méabh Savage, from the Dept. of Social Care and Early Childhood, is holding an event on Friday, 19 April from 11:00-1:00pm in the Chapel in College Street campus, Waterford to exhibit ‘Women’s Visual Voices through her eyes and in her own words’, which includes photo narrations exploring women’s lived experiences of homelessness, mental distress and substance use. 

Women with lived experiences of homelessness, mental distress and substance use are a significantly disadvantaged group –frequently experiencing intersectional inequalities including gender (DCGBV), disability ( including mental health-related) and family status (mother-child separation; lone parenthood) inequalities, among others. As a result of this, the identities and lived experiences of this group of women are frequently invisible or stigmatized and devalued, resulting in barriers to them accessing the support and services needed to exit homelessness and to support their recovery.  

This event aims to raise awareness and to open conversations amongst staff and students and others about themes relating to women’s lived experiences of homelessness,  recovery and gender equality and inequality as experienced by this group of women.

The event will also include speakers from local services that accommodate women in homelessness including Tinteán Housing, De Paul, and that offer support to women in recovery, including peer-led support group Better Together among others.