Sunday Assembly East End: The Looking Glass Self

Poplar Union regulars, Sunday Assembly, bring you this special, Women in Focus edition exploring this year’s theme of ‘perception’, in relation to gender, identity, and the self.

The “looking-glass self” is a concept created by sociologist Charles Horton Cooley, suggesting that individuals base their identity or sense of self, in part, on how they believe others view them. With the multiple mirrors we are now surrounded by, particularly with the rise of social media, can there be any such thing as an ‘authentic self’? How does this relate to our gender identities as women, men, and everything in between?

To discuss this, we’ll be joined by Katie Mark, a freelance journalist and award-winning documentary film-maker based in London and Lagos, Nigeria. She’ll also talk about how her personal experience as a female minority film-maker has influenced her approach to the representation and portrayal of minority groups in the media.

Plus the usual live band singalongs, poetry, deep chats with strangers, reflection, shared wisdom and all round community spirit!

There are also exciting plans afoot to launch Sunday Assembly East End Women’s and Men’s groups at this assembly… more info TBC!

*** Assemblies are free to attend and run entirely on donations. Please support us if you can to keep it free for those who can’t ***

Book Club

Join the Sunday Assembly East End book club from 1pm-2pm in the Library as they discuss Jean Rhys’ 1966 novel ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’, a feminist, anti-colonial response and prequel to Jane Eyre. Pre-reading recommended but not compulsory!

Part of our Women in Focus Festival 2019