Feminism in Politics: Past, Present and Future. Charlene White, Harriet Harman and Joeli Brearley
Channel: British Library
Date: 2023-05-25

This event took place on 27 April 2023. The information below is correct as of the publication date.

Helen Pankhurst introduces a dynamic exploration of feminism and politics.

Over a century since some women won suffrage in the UK, why has equal political representation of women still not been achieved? What stands in the way of full participation, and what can we do about it? This event asks political leaders to explore the obstacles that prevent women in all their diversity from entering politics.

Inspired by the suffragettes and suffragists, the Centenary Action Group was established by Helen Pankhurst, uniting political parties’ efforts at removing barriers to participation. 2028 will mark the centenary of equal franchise, providing a timeline for a transformed and inclusive parliament. Helen Pankhurst (grand-daughter of Sylvia Pankhurst - whose prison writings are held at the BL - and the founder of CAG) introduces this rousing session, chaired by ITV’s Charlene White.

Journalist and presenter Charlene White was the first Black woman to present ITV News at Ten.  She has written for the New York Post, hosts Loose Women and starred on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here… She uses her platform to educate children about race and racism, mentor aspiring journalists, and work alongside various organisations to achieve better representation of women and minorities in the industry. Charlene’s documentary Empire’s Child, delving into her Jamaican ancestry and its links to the British Empire. She co-hosted the notable documentary Has George Floyd Changed Britain? with Sir Trevor McDonald exploring the impact George Floyd’s death had on people living in the UK.

Harriet Harman, the ‘Mother of Parliament,’ started her career when men-only job adverts and a 'women's rate' of pay were the norm - a woman couldn't even sign for a mortgage. She was elected as Labour MP for Peckham in 1982. Joining a House of Commons which was 97% male, she had three children while in Parliament. She has been politics' most prominent champion for women's rights, introducing the National Childcare Strategy, the Equality Act and changing the law on domestic violence. In 2007 Harriet was elected as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and appointed Chair of the Labour Party . She also served as Leader of the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Equalities and Minister for Women.

Joeli Brearley founded the charity Pregnant Then Screwed in 2015 after her own experience of pregnancy discrimination. Vogue named Joeli as one of their top 25 influential British women who are shaping 2021 and beyond. She is an Amnesty International Human Rights Defender and a member of the United Nations Working Group: Women’s Human Rights in the Changing World of Work. She sued the UK government for indirect sex discrimination and led a protest march of 15,000 parents demanding childcare reform. Joeli’s debut book is The Motherhood Penalty (Simon & Schuster 2021)

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