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March for women sees a march for equality

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March for women sees a march for equality

The fight for women to have equal rights as men is still an on-going battle. 100 years after women received the right to vote, they are still campaigning to been seen as equals to their male counterparts, Elle-Mae reports

This year marks 100 years since some women in the UK received the right to vote. On the 6th of February 1918, parliament passed the Representation of People Act, which allowed women over 30 who had a mortgage, or were married to someone who did, to now vote. This was after several years of campaigning and fighting for equal rights to men, whom of which had had this honour for many years previous. However, some feminism activists might suggest that we have not actually come much further from the monumental change that was implemented that day, and there is still so much more work to be done.

On the 4th of March 2018, NGO Care International organised a ‘March4Women’, which saw thousands of women and men come together to march on the streets of London, from Milbank to Trafalgar Square. The march was not only to celebrate the changes to equality that women have caused, but also to highlight the gender-based discrimination that is still present in today’s society.

However, it wasn’t just the public who got involved. Amongst the crowds of men and women fighting for the cause, was Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, Michael Sheen and Danielle Rowley. There were also performances from some more famous faces, such as Biffy Clyro and Sophie Ellis Bexter, and also a speech from the city’s mayor, Sadiq Kahn. The mayor received huge admiration after his speech, especially since stating “One, my name is Sadiq Kahn. Two, I am the mayor of London. And three, unlike the president of the United States, I am I proud feminist”. Helen Pankhurst, the great-granddaughter of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, also headed the march and spoke out on equality in today’s society.

Although the march has already taken place, there are still many fun ways you can get involved with supporting International Women’s Day 2018 and women’s history month. Between Friday the 9th and Sunday the 11th, there will be a Women of the World Festival taking place at the Southbank centre. And on the actual day, there will be an International Women’s Day Breakfast Morning, in Holborn.

However, the celebrations won’t end here, as in 2028 we get to celebrate 100 years since all women over the age of 18 were eligible to vote. So, keep celebrating and keep fighting for the cause.

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