Thursday, 8 March 2018

Mill and 50/50 Parliament for IWD


Today (8/3/18) is International Women’s Day, which the Suffragettes started.

JS Mill was an amazing philosopher whose belief in women’s equality helped him create an egalitarian marriage with fellow philosopher and women’s rights activist Harriet (Taylor) Mill with whom he worked in equal partnership.  JS Mill was a public intellectual and an MP for Westminster for 3 years and an advocate for giving women the vote challenging the stereotypes that existed about women in the 19th century. His tireless campaigning and petitioning alongside the suffragettes eventually lead to political and legal progress for women.


To celebrate the legacy of the philosophers JS Mill and Harriet and follow in their footsteps this International Women’s Day and all year round, let’s make 50/50 representation in parliament a reality.

We can champion their theme, #PressforProgress, by:

·         challenging stereotypes and bias:

Using inclusive language. Harriet Mill felt passionately about this and encouraged JS Mill to use gender neutral language.

Challenging biased assumptions, statements and arguments about women

Fighting against inequality, the obstacles and glass-ceilings women face

·         celebrating women’s achievements, past and present, individual and collective

·         making women visible:

Promoting opportunities for women and encouraging them to be leaders, including in politics. One such way is:

·         maintaining a gender parity mindset:

In politics, 50/50 representation in Parliament is the objective. You can get involved in bringing this about by backing the 50/50 Parliament in the following ways, including:


ü  Promoting #AskHerToStand or by becoming a female member of parliament yourself

ü  Following them on social media

ü  Becoming an Ambassador for 50/50 Parliament  


And you can join me in pressing for progress by going to:

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