The Global Education Committee is gathering
information about the role of women in the
worldwide funeral profession with an innovative
new project. “A Manifesto of Visibility and Voice”
is an online project that invites women working in
the funeral profession to share their stories through
visual expression.
Through this new and innovative project, the FIAT-
IFTA Global Education Committee is seeking to
better understand the valuable role that women
play in the worldwide funeral profession. The aim is
to build a creative collection that reflects the realities
of their work – often quiet, often unseen – and to
help others better understand the vital role women
play in caring for the dead and supporting the living,
all around the world. Whilst we possess significant
knowledge regarding the activities of our global
membership, our understanding of women’s roles,
as well as the systemic barriers and challenges they
may encounter, is still limited.
Although this project aligns in some ways with Goal
5 of UNESCO’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals,
“Gender Equality”, it is about much more than
policy alignment. We believe it to be the first step
A MANIFESTO OF VISIBILITY AND VOICE
EXPLORING THE ROLE
OF WOMEN IN THE
FUNERAL PROFESSION
By Alison Crake, Chair of FIAT-IFTA Global Education Committee,
on behalf of members of the committee
16
No. 111 – AUTUMN 2025 | THANOS MAGAZINE
COMMITTEE NEWS