Oxford University apologises after picture of cleaner scrubbing out 'Happy International Women's Day' graffiti goes viral

'Having a woman scrub off chalk that says Happy International Woman's Day while some blokes stand around in the background isn't a good look'

The Clarendon Building is a Grade I listed neoclassical building that dates back to the 18th Century and is next to Oxford University’s iconic Bodleian Library

(Alamy)

Oxford University has been forced to apologise after a photo of a female cleaner scrubbing out graffiti that said “Happy International Women’s Day” on International Women’s Day was shared widely on social media.

Sophie Smith, an associate professor of political theory at the university, shared the image of a woman in cleaning attire scouring the message with a mop.

The academic claimed security had ordered the cleaner, whose face she obscured in her tweet, to wash off the graffiti emblazoned on the steps of the university’s Clarendon Building in Broad Street.

Dr Smith tweeted: ”What an image for #IWD.”

Oxford University has now apologised for the incident.

“We are deeply sorry for this and for offence caused. International Women’s Day is hugely important to Oxford. This should not have happened,” it said in a statement.

Dr Smith thanked the prestigious institution for their apology but asked for them to also say sorry to the female cleaner.

She said: “I appreciate your apology, but far more importantly can you please make sure that the woman asked to remove the message receives a heartfelt apology, a warm cup of tea, the rest of the day off and, along with all our precarious staff, good enough pay to live in this city.”

The tweet, which has been shared more than 13,000 times and has more than 16,000 likes, prompted a ferocious backlash on International Women’s Day 2018.

“Having a woman scrub off chalk that says Happy International Woman’s Day while some blokes stand around in the background isn’t a good look,” Twitter user Mark Macartney said.

Another commenter, Jessie Raymond, added: “A picture’s worth a thousand words.”

The incident came after an International Women’s Day rally organised by picketing UCU trade unionists and students outside the Clarendon Building.

The Clarendon Building is a Grade I listed neoclassical building that dates back to the 18th century and is next to Oxford University’s iconic Bodleian Library.

For more than a century, International Women’s Day has provided a time to look back at women’s achievements and celebrate the movement for women’s rights.