Jacqui Low: Women have many more battles still to fight

In 1917, on 8 March, Russian women held a strike for “bread and peace” in defiance of political leaders, and changed the course of history. Four days later, the Tsar abdicated and the new government granted women the vote. It was this event that has led to the annual celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March.

Since then women have made great progress. We have equality laws, jobs in all walks of life and access to mortgages. We can choose to have babies or not, vote and are educated as a right. Life is much improved.

But why do I feel more powerless than those women in Russia 95 years ago? What have we actually “won” since “women’s liberation”?

Where’s equal pay? Why is domestic violence against women accepted? Why, at times, are we segregated into our own ghetto in the interests of “positive discrimination”? Why are poverty and prejudice still issues for women in 21st-century Scotland?

Some of us have secured equality, freedom and choice through sheer bloody-minded determination. As we celebrate, let’s not forget the women whose sacrifices paved the way for us doing that. The women worn out and old at 40 years old. The women who were chattels, denied education. The women with no voice, who dared not complain. The women whose collective potential was never fulfilled. Thankfully for me and many other women, they raised their daughters and granddaughters to strive for better and accept no less.

It’s easy to blame men for the situation. But the answer isn’t for women to become “mini-me’s” of men to improve things. Let’s not lose our Blue Peter approach to life – the ability to find a way to do the apparently impossible using common sense, imagination and the will to succeed. But we need to start taking better care of the women around us. Inspire, challenge, help, support, share – sitting back is no longer an option.

Ironically, some 95 years after those Russian women struck for “bread and peace”, the UN theme for this year is “Empower Women – End Hunger and Poverty”. Plus ça change? Let’s hope not.

l Jacqui Low, managing director of Indigo, will speak at the CBI/Accenture breakfast on 8 March to mark International Women’s Day.