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March 8th celebrates International Women's Day, and I am beyond blessed to know the many powerhouses of women that I do. There are events globally, nationally and locally, with the focus on economic, social and political achievements. Across Yorkshire there are loads of seminars, talks and celebrations, including "Word Party" at Bradford City Library, "GIRL TALK" at Sheaf St, "Empowering Women in Healthcare" at Weetwood Hall as well as a full day of events and the unveiling of Alice Bacon's Blue Plaque in Wakefield, commemorating the first elected woman MP for Leeds West. If you stretch it out another day, Bernie Grant Arts Centre in London is showing "The Amazing Nina Simone", her life journey told through the jazz joints, classical music and concert halls, defying not only racial inequality but sexism and power struggles with her husband and peers.
Whatever you do tomorrow, the point of this day has never been to show us how fucking special we all are, the condescension would be unbearable. Young women need to be shown all the role models that are out there, and be encouraged to join the school bands, or take the tech subjects, or not have to compete with porn stars in the bedroom, or not have female politicians put into the worst lights. Virgin Money now have the only all-female leadership team in the FTSE 350, defying all corporate Mad Men-esque archaic world of banking. In every sector we're making progress and fighting the good fight, it's as "novel" an idea as racial equality or vegetarianism, and nothing can stop us. I am proud to know you, men and women, feminists and fighters. And Pussy Riot are free and touring again, which makes the world better.