It’s time to say goodbye

EU Panel Watch
Nov 5 · 5 min read

A few years ago, we asked ourselves, “where are the women?” Since then, our journey has defied our expectations at every turn, but now it’s finally time to say goodbye.

EU Panel Watch was a project started by two friends more than four years ago, because we (Marika and Laurel) were frustrated. We were both working in Brussels, the policy-making capital of the European Union, a place where day in day out, we attended conferences about policies concerning the entire European population, but which failed to include the voices of half the population.

Photo by Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash

When we set up our Twitter account in early 2015, we hoped other people were as frustrated as we were, because it might mean things could change. We were right.

The Twitter account grew into a place where people could come and share their experiences, thoughts and hopes for more diverse debate and a more inclusive society. After a few months, we knew that while it’s all very well making noise about an issue, we needed to back it up with data.

Data would help us communicate with people who found our account more a source of irritation and extra work, than anything else. You can find all of our research for 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015 via these links.

Data for 2018–2019 on speaker representation at policy debates in Brussels

Since 2015, with the help of incredible teammates Iva Petkovic and Mari Eccles, as well as many dedicated volunteers, EU Panel Watch has grown; shining a light on the outdated conference format and encouraging many to advocate for change — even begin their own campaigns.

Only a few years ago, few voiced their concerns about all-white and male panels.

Sometimes we would attend conferences where speakers would say that if attendees had seen them speak at another event earlier that same week, well tough, they were about to hear the same speech.

Together with our Twitter followers, we’ve laughed and cried as event organisers in Brussels put the same old speakers on panels.

We’ve also learned how to master the very serious art of GIF-sharing to convey our messages more effectively; how to develop an engaging website where people can anonymously submit information about events they are attending and vent their frustration without going public; and how to engage volunteers and supporters, so that the campaign could become a living, breathing thing.

Like every campaign of this kind, we’ve faced difficulties, bouts of despair and even burnout. We’ve felt it all. Like most feminist activities, we were underfunded and stretched too thin, but we always held on to the belief that we needed to be completely independent and free to (constructively) criticise the lack of representation of women, people of colour, and young people in policy debates across all sectors and industry players.

But along the way, things did start to change.

Today, more and more event organisers are making real efforts to change who they give a platform to, and almost every corner of Brussels’ EU political bubble frowns upon pale, male and stale panels. While it’s taken far too long for this change in awareness to occur, and there’s still much to do, we doff our caps to those making that concerted effort to bring about change and call out those who drag their feet.

After four amazing years, we’re proud of the work we’ve done and grateful for what we’ve learnt along the way — most importantly how to bring intersectionality to our campaign for more diverse debates. For that we’d like to thank Sarah Chander from the European Network Against Racism.

That’s one of the main things we will take from the last four years — the way we learned and adapted. The whole experience has been a learning curve. That is largely because we were always learning by doing and as a result, EU Panel Watch changed and adapted as it needed to.

This journey has defied our expectations at every turn. As our lives have taken the majority of our dedicated team away from Brussels, and after careful consideration of how we might keep EU Panel Watch going, it is time to announce that we won’t be actively campaigning anymore.

Yes, it might be time to say goodbye for now, but did we ever think we would have a four-year old, successful Twitter campaign, multiple events under our belts, published research material and even a Politico chart place to our name? Absolutely not.

As sad as it is, an important part of every campaign is also knowing when it’s time to wrap it up. So for now, farewell.

As I (Laurel) sign this off, I’ll take the liberty of thanking first and foremost Marika, for being the teammate of dreams, knowing when to say enough on one idea and the fiercest cheerleader of a new direction. Iva, you’ve taught us more about feminism, intersectionality and diversity than we’ve ever known and EU Panel Watch was a far better platform because of you. Mari, your tenacity and commitment to our project from the day you told me you wanted to jump in and help out is a demonstration of passion for a cause that we need more than ever.

Joanna Maycock — The first person who met with us back in 2015 and told us we could be and do more. Corinna Horst — Without whom we wouldn’t have been able to host our very first event. Juliette Langlais — for bringing us together and giving her blessing to this project in the first place.

Elizabeth Van Den Bergh — Who collaborated with us on our series of public-speaking workshops, putting an end to the excuse “we asked women, but none of them wanted to speak!” Kirsten Duhme — For your constant encouragement and support.

Thanks you for your support and collaboration and if you don’t already, follow campaigners like us: Gender Avenger, Manel Watch Australia, Manel Watch Ireland, Und Wie Viele Frauen, Manel Watch Denmark, Manel Watch Pakistan, Manel Watch US, Voz Experta, and databases of women experts: Brussels Binder, Women Also Know, Women Also Know History, and Women for Media.

EU Panel Watch

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We call out pale, male and stale panels in Europe and beyond.

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