Much has been achieved in the long march towards equal rights for women, and there is much still to achieve. We at The Independent are focused on the progress that has been made, not to diminish the task ahead, but to inspire people in a spirit of optimism to renew the struggle.
Thus our annual list of the 50 most influential women in Britain to mark International Women’s Day is a celebration rather than a competition. We have used it, we hope, to spread the joy in women’s success, as well as to mark milestones in the journey towards equality and to recognise the extraordinary contribution of campaigners fighting for justice for the victims of violence against women and girls.
The theme of this year’s list is “give to gain”, in recognition of the sacrifices many of these women have made to succeed. The list is led by Chloe Kelly, who embodied the exuberant delight so many fans felt after the England football team won the Euros and that so endeared them to the nation. But Kelly’s success came out of what she called the “dark moments” when her career seemed to be over.
She took control, asking Manchester City to release her, and eventually joined Arsenal, who went on to win the Champions League. “Sometimes it’s the dark moments that get you to those winning moments, so for me speaking up and taking control of my own destiny, writing your own script, was really important,” she told The Independent.
Hers is a confident, fighting spirit that recurs in many other women on the list, acting as an example not just to women and girls, but to men and boys too, which is a test of true equality.
Many names on the list are milestones: not simply because they are the first women to take up these roles, but because what they do is hugely significant. Sarah Mullally is the Archbishop of Canterbury. Blaise Metreweli is chief of MI6, the international intelligence service. And Rachel Reeves is chancellor of the Exchequer.
This year, Ms Reeves writes for us that International Women’s Day is “a reminder that history does not change by itself. It changes when people decide that what seemed normal is no longer acceptable, and then do the hard, practical work of building something better”.
She is one of several politicians on the list, including Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary; Kemi Badenoch, the first Black female leader of a major party; Lucy Powell, the deputy leader of the Labour Party; and Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls – a vital role in government.
Many of our readers will disagree with one or other of the politicians on our list, but that is the point of democracy – to argue for beliefs, principles and policies, and British politics has shown that women and men can do so on nearly equal terms.
We use the word “nearly” deliberately, because as Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson, the hosts of The Independent’s new podcast, In The Room, have shown in their first three episodes, there are still many subtle markers of sexism in politics at the highest level in No 10. They speak with the authority of a former senior civil servant and former special adviser to two prime ministers.
The list is intentionally broad, encompassing figures in sport, entertainment and campaigning. Margaret Aspinall, with her relentless fight to hold government to account and to introduce accountability for the police into law, is a shining example.
Her 18-year-old son James was among the 97 Liverpool fans unlawfully killed in the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. She has devoted the 37 years since to campaigning tirelessly – not only for the truth, but for a change in the law, so that nobody has to endure what she has.
Alongside Ms Aspinall are entertainers such as Claudia Winkleman, the undisputed queen of TV, and Olivia Dean, the first solo female artist to have four hits in the top 10 at the same time.
Feminism is a ceaseless campaign which takes the “dark moments” of which Chloe Kelly speaks and turns them into the joy of success on equal terms. There is further to go, and every moment of every day is another challenge. As we are proud to say on International Women’s Day, the good news is that women can win.
