Nathaniel Fried
2018 saw the centenary of women in Britain gaining the right to vote. 100 years ago, women weren’t allowed to apply for a credit card or loan, claim equal pay to men or work in the legal profession or civil service. The suffragettes created a pivotal movement in working towards greater equality, and while it seemed as though they made great progress, it’s something that many women are still battling today.
Despite that, women’s power within society has increased dramatically, including their choices and tastes in things like ladies’ knickers, politics, sexual harassment and other potentially controversial topics.
Women taking more control
In recent years, since the huge growth of feminism across the country, it seems that women are equipped with more confidence to take control over their persona situations; something that has perhaps been suppressed in eras gone by.
Such a simple topic as underwear can demonstrate this. In centuries gone by, women’s underwear was a thing of practicality and something to create a particular, desirable body shape of the time. By the 1970s, women had decided to fashion underwear that was much more personal and even provocative, with the first thong bodysuit created in 1974. In the 90s, it was even a trend to show off your underwear as part of your outfit. This in itself shows that women started taking full control over their fashion, with a bigger emphasis on the likes of self-confidence and body positivity; something that was never really considered in earlier decades. For example, in the early 1900s, women’s underwear had a boyish and loose silhouette, which eventually gave way to smaller underwear that flaunted more.
Fighting for better equality
In the wider world, women are standing up and speaking out probably more than ever before. In the last few years, issues like the gender pay gap and the #MeToo movement have dominated the headlines in a bid to create a more equal society. We now have the first female Met Police Commissioner, first female Bishop of London and even the first female Dr Who. There has also been better representation in Parliament over the years.
Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8th March, who’s theme is #BalanceforBetter, expect a world that wants better equality between genders. The idea is that balance drives a better working world, encouraging women and men alike to celebrate the idea of balance.
So, if you’re hoping for a better world for men and women alike, take control of your future; whether that’s by fighting for your pay rise or speaking up when you feel something isn’t right!
