Unbox Yourself
Approaching social justice through an intersectional lens by Ebere Edeh
Ebere stood for intersectionality, what will you STAND for?
Image by Roisin McGrath. Design by Andrew Holt.
“We are so multifaceted,” says Ebere, calling in from Chicago, “we can jump in and out of different identities.”
At only 21, Ebere Edeh has a long list of accomplishments to her name, including being Maynooth University’s Activist of the Year 2024. It's her belief that “the university experience can change your life.” Through her workshops, Ebere is ensuring that every student, no matter their identity or background, can get the most out of college.
“I wanted to make a social justice workshop, but I didn’t want it to be generic. I used my own life and the people in my life as an example.”
Ebere, born in Dublin, cites her own identity and family’s immigration background as factors in her global view: “I’m from multiple backgrounds and identities, but sometimes I feel put in a box.”
The workshop was designed at STAND’s Ideas Collective before being delivered at Maynooth University. Students and lecturers are invited to uncover the nuances of the student population to better understand and empathise with other people’s lived experiences.
“Students come in all shapes and forms,” she explains. “If there are policies around that and we view them through an intersectional lens, the student experience will be better.”
As for the project's future, Ebere has partnered with Athena Swan to deliver more workshops in the autumn. She might be going into her final year studying Law, but Ebere won’t be slowing her efforts to promote equality on campus any time soon.
