International Womens Day 2021
March 8th 2021 is IWD: #choosetochallenge
A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day.
We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.
From challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge.
For further information, visit the IWD website & gallery
– click here to go there right now!
Our local CLP Womens Group have collected some examples of how we can all do that, as women or as allies supporting IWD.
Firstly, our own gallery of CLP members and allies – which will build up over the week of March 8th-12th
“I’ve worked for the NHS locally for 26 years. I have seen how the burden of caring for a loved one seems to fall on the female members of the household or family. There’s an expectation that daughters will ‘step up’ to help mum or dad whereas the same does not hold true for sons, generally. Of course there are exceptions.
It’s good that we have plenty of women on Folkestone Town Council and we have a good gender balance, especially in our Labour group.
We’re trying to forge links with local groups and women are often at the forefront of these movements. There is always more to do. The election of Kamala Harris to high office in the states has been encouraging to see. It’s also really good to see Laura Davison and Jackie Meade in our target seats in Folkestone for the forthcoming KCC elections.
Both of them are committed to raising the status of women.”
#choosetochallenge
Here is Jackie Meade, one of our local Labour councillors, who is standing for election this May as Folkestone East Division on Kent County Council.
For a long time Jackie was a lone Labour voice on Folkestone Town Council.
Here’s what she says about her experience.
‘I have faced many challenges in my work and council life, but the worst can be when you are belittled, or overlooked because you are a woman.
I have been made redundant before men less qualified than me.
The glass ceiling is still in place, stopping women reaching the top in business.
As women make up 50% of the population this is simply not good enough.
Challenge inequality in whatever for it takes. Stand tall. Stand strong.‘
#choosetochallenge
I choose to challenge the limitations placed on me based on the body I inhabit, my gender and my colour. I choose to challenge the limitations I place on myself due to my debilitating imposter syndrome.
I choose to challenge myself not to stereotype my own gender, to celebrate the achievements of all of my sisters.
Whether in the home or the boardroom, whether trans or cis. I choose increased visibility and empowerment. I promise to work in collaboration, respect and love to achieve those aims.
Hi I am Laura Davison, I am a Town and District councillor in Folkestone for the Labour Party.I am standing for election as a Kent County Councillor in May.It’s a fantastic privilege being a councillor and I want to see more women, women of all kinds, getting involved.There’s still a long way to go to break down those barriers to make it possible, but it’s the system that has to change, not the women. And that’s what we’re working for sisters, along with our brothers in arms.Solidarity.
Below is a link to work by two amazing local women artists who produced a graphic novel based on The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
– their comment reminds us to read beneath the surface of everyday life and the narrative which remains one of a deeply unequal society.
