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
For more details see: https://5050parliament.co.uk/get-involved/
And you can join me in pressing
for progress by going to:
