Students and Fellows shared cakes and a glass or two of fizz today to mark the launch of a new College society set up to encourage dialogue on feminism. The first Joyce Frankland Garden Party, named in honour of a Tudor benefactor who founded junior Fellowships and scholarships at Caius, was open to all members of College. Set up by first year history student Ruxandra Rogojinaru and Economics Fellow Dr Victoria Bateman, the society aims to hold a presentation and discussion each term, as well as a termly social event.

Caius admitted women to its fellowship and student body in 1979, and today almost half our undergraduates are female. Ruxandra said: "We aim to create a feminist society at Caius that can serve as a meeting point for people across College to share their experiences, ideas and research. I would love to see more opportunities for dialogue on feminism, and especially allowing undergraduates, graduates and Fellows to meet."

Dr Bateman said Caius had been very supportive in promoting gender equality. She added: "I am very proud to be a Caian and very proud that we have a College filled with young women such as Ruxandra that can help to take us forward into a future that is very much in our hands: a future that is for us - or should I say them - to make." With a wages gap of 18% and a lifetime earnings gap of 48% between women and men, there remained a "sizeable gender gap" in Britain, she said.

The next Joyce Frankland Society event will be a social event for Freshers joining Caius in the autumn.