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11Mar

Gender, culture and equality in today’s Britain

Hosted by the Department of Gender Studies
In-person and online public event (Old Theatre, Old Building)
Wednesday 11 March 2026 6pm - 7.30pm

Join us for a timely conversation on equality, gender and culture in contemporary Britain with Sarah Owen MP, chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee.

At a moment when “culture wars” dominate headlines and seek to divide communities, this event will explore how political and cultural life intersect to shape debates on inclusion, justice and representation. Drawing on her experiences in Parliament and long-standing commitment to equality, Sarah will reflect on the challenges of confronting racism, sexism, transphobia and inequality, as well as the opportunities for building solidarity across communities. The conversation will also consider the role of politicians, activists and cultural leaders in resisting divisive rhetoric and fostering spaces where all identities can be recognised and valued. In dialogue with Rohit K Dasgupta, Associate Professor at LSE Gender, Sarah will share insights from her work and open discussion on how we can collectively push for a fairer and more inclusive Britain.

Meet our speaker and chair

Sarah Owen (@sarahowen.org.uk) has been the Labour MP for Luton North since 2019 and is Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee. With strong trade union roots, she has campaigned nationally on homelessness, poverty, VAWG, health inequality and human rights. A former care worker, she brought frontline insight to the Health and Social Care Committee during the pandemic. She is also a champion for the East and South East Asian community, working to challenge racism and celebrate inclusion.

Rohit K Dasgupta (@rkdasgupta.bsky.social) is an associate professor in the Department of Gender Studies at LSE. He researched in the areas of digital culture, queer politics and cultural production. His publications include the books Desi Queers: LGBTQ South Asians and Cultural Belonging in Britain (2025); Friendship as Social Justice Activism (2018) and Digital Queer Cultures in India (2017) amongst others. He is currently researching sustainability and equitability in India’s textile crafts funded by the AHRC.

More about this event

LSE Gender (@lsegender.bsky.social) pioneers intersectional, interdisciplinary and transnational teaching and research, addressing the tenacity of gendered power relations and gendered inequalities in times of global transformations. Established in 1993, LSE Gender is the largest Department of Gender Studies in Europe.

Join us on campus or register to watch the event online at LSE Live. LSE Live is the home for our live streams, allowing you to tune in and join the global debate at LSE, wherever you are in the world. If you can't attend live, a video will be made available shortly afterwards on LSE's YouTube channel.

Hashtag for this event: #LSEEvents

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