Celebrating all women all over the world.
8 March – take time to celebrate achievements big and small.
In 1903 in the fight for women’s right to vote in the UK Emmeline Pankhurst, suffragette adopted the motto ‘Deeds not Words’ as the slogan of the new Women’s Social and Political Union.
In 1918 women over the age of 30 who met minimum property qualifications got the right to vote.
In 1920 Millicent Fawcett, suffragist penned the words ‘Courage calls to courage everywhere’ in celebration of Emily Davison, suffragette who died on June 8 1913 days after being hit by King George V’s horse when running on to the Derby racecourse.
In 1928 women in the UK received the vote on the same terms as men.
In April 2018 a statue by Gillian Wearing of Millicent Fawcett was unveiled in Parliament Square, London.
Today, technically speaking, the only place where women can’t vote is the Vatican City. However, we know having the formal right to vote for women in many countries it is still high risk and a real challenge to exercise freely their legal right.
Sexual violence, domestic violence, denial of the right to education, unequal rights in the workplace and in society are still challenges for women everywhere.
A recent report published by the World Bank harshly demonstrates the slow change towards equality. Only in six countries in the world do women have equal legal footing with men. (That does not include equal pay for equal work for women and men)
To celebrate International Women’s Day tonight together with my great friend JoAnne and her great daughter Aasha we will celebrate and listen to Angela Davies at the Southbank centre.
The first Women’s Day observance National Woman’s Day was held in New York on 8 February 1909 and organised by the Socialist Party of America at the suggestion of Theresa Malkiel.
8 March – A day in the year that should become every day in every year celebrating women and our equal rights, our talent, ability and competence to be put to the best use for everyone and all of us.
Following in Mary Wollstonecraft’s footstep and the publication in 1792 of “A Vindication of the Rights of Women”, with strong voices and in words, let’s strengthen the fight relentlessly until we all have our equal place and power in the world.
For inspiration, here is a very small but in my opinion, handy selection of excellent books to inspire and underpin our voices and arguments for uniting in the fight for equal rights, diversity and representation.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: We Should All Be Feminists
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
Cordelia Fine: Testosterone REX
Gina Rippon: The Gendered Brain
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