International Women's Day: Concerns equality is 'going backwards'

International Women's Day: Concerns equality is 'going backwards'

A trio of prominent figures in Wales have expressed concerns that the progress towards women’s equality may be regressing. Research conducted in 2024 revealed that nearly half of the population in Great Britain believed that women had already achieved equal rights with men. Johanna Robinson, a Welsh government advisor focusing on violence against women and girls, noted that a considerable number of men she interacts with feel that gender equality has advanced too far, leading to resentment and anger.

To commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8, a group of Welsh women participated in a discussion on BBC Walescast. Despite celebrating the advancements made for women’s rights over the past century, the panel emphasized that there were alarming signs of deteriorating gender equality. Johanna, who also advocates based on her personal experience as a survivor, shared troubling accounts she had heard from young women, indicating that they still face significant risks and challenges in their daily lives.

Helen Molyneux, a lawyer and founder of the Monumental Welsh Women Project, expressed her apprehension about a perceived backlash against women’s rights, pointing out instances where certain groups misconstrued statistical data on women’s achievements. Sian James, known for her role in supporting the 1984 miner’s strike, highlighted the pivotal contribution of women during the labor dispute, underscoring the need for continued advocacy to secure basic human rights and gender equality.

The World Economic Forum’s research highlighted that the current pace of progress towards gender parity suggests that it will take several generations, until 2158, to achieve complete equality. Each of the women recounted instances where they faced discrimination or harassment in their careers due to their gender. They emphasized the importance of educating men and involving them in efforts to combat gender inequality, emphasizing that it is a collective responsibility to strive for a more equitable society

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More