Seed Talks – Folklore & Women – 24th November
November 24, 2025 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Join us for Seed Talks Folklore & Women: The power of folklore in reclaiming female stories, on Monday, 24th November.
How have myths and fairytales shaped feminist thought? Explore the power of folklore, its symbols and role in today’s society, with Q&A.
Religious stories, and cultural traditions to make sense of women’s experiences. All of these come under the umbrella of ‘folklore’. This talk will explore the enduring relevance of folklore, asking how these stories can be reclaimed and reimagined for the 21st-century feminist.
We’ll trace figures like the witch, the shapeshifter, and the maiden across different traditions, examining the societal norms they were created to enforce and how feminist thinkers have reshaped them into symbols of resistance and possibility.
Finally, we will ask why we continually return to ancient stories to tell new ones — does this suggest that we’re out of new stories, or is it a part of a longstanding literary tradition in women’s writing, to look back, to subvert dominant myths, and to challenge the patriarchal ideas embedded in our society?
Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm – come down early to grab a good seat!
BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE!
About Dr Shelby Judge:
Dr Shelby Judge is a Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of Derby, where she researches digital feminist and popular feminist responses to Incels and the Manosphere. She recently completed her PhD in English Literature at the University of Glasgow, producing the thesis Contemporary Feminist Adaptations of Greek Myth, and her work in this field is ongoing due to the genre’s proliferating nature. Shelby has published on topics including #MeToo and the Trojan War, 21st-century adaptations of Helen of Troy, transgender adaptations of Frankenstein, and transgender readings of Ovid. She has delivered public lectures on toxic masculinity in Greek myth and sea monsters in Scottish folklore, and is a regular contributor to the Literary Encyclopedia, where she has written on the poetry of Carol Ann Duffy and Margaret Atwood, as well as entries on Laura Bates and Janice Hallett. She also serves as a committee member for the Transatlantic Literary Women network, funded by the US Embassy and BAAS.
Testimonials from guests
⭐ Great events, amazing speakers on important topics, would recommend! – Scott F
⭐ Expertly run, talks are always super informative and a lot of fun! Couldn’t recommend these enough! 5 star. – Owen S
⭐ Engaging talks on lots of enriching & inspiring topics. Completely recommend Seed Talks for anyone looking to learn something new in an accessible way! – Colette F