The Working Lives of Women in Northern Ireland takes visitors on a reflective journey through photography and personal testimony, revealing the essential yet often overlooked contributions women make – from employment and community leadership to childcare, eldercare, and domestic work.
The exhibition forms part of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Festival of Social Science, an annual UK-wide celebration showcasing how social science research helps us better understand people and the world around us.
Drawing inspiration from the Monument to the Unknown Woman Worker on Great Victoria Street and the Peace Heroines exhibition at Linen Hall Library, the exhibition highlights women’s resilience, creativity, and determination in the face of economic and social challenges.
Visitors are encouraged to take part in an interactive element at the end of the exhibition, sharing their own thoughts, hopes and visions for the future of women’s work in Northern Ireland. These reflections will form part of a collaborative visual display shaped by community voices and lived experiences.
Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Provost at Ulster University, said:
“Ulster University is pleased to host this exhibition as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, bringing together personal testimony, historical context and community voice to shape a more inclusive understanding of work and its value in society.”
Dr Susann Power, Co-Investigator with EPIC Futures NI, added:
“EPIC Futures NI seeks to fill knowledge and data gaps for fair and inclusive employment in Northern Ireland. Through the Behavioural Insights workstream, we investigate the capabilities, opportunities and motivations for a return to work of those furthest from the labour market. Women are disproportionally affected by economic inactivity. With this exhibition, EPIC Futures NI hopes to tell stories of resilience and passion of working women in Northern Ireland.”
The exhibition is a collaboration between EPIC Futures NI and the Ulster University Directorate of Regional and Community Engagement, as part of a wider effort to develop evidence-based solutions for fair and inclusive employment across Northern Ireland.
Exhibition dates: 23 October – 3 November 2025
Location: Birley Building, Belfast Campus
Admission: Free and open to the public during campus opening hours
