Jane Kenyon MBE

The world is still dominated and ruled by men, male energy pervades, and misogyny is on the rise.  This makes many women feel uncomfortable and without clarity on the why, but many more will leave this page NOW as they will feel this is just another male bashing rant by an angry feminist.  Shame, but it’s a free world, or is it?

Here’s a few things to consider:

• If we continue at the same rate of progess, it will take another 134 years to realise equality. That’s 2058!  In effect, we will not see equality in our lifetime, nor our daughters, and likely not their daughters either. World Bank & JP Morgan IWD25 report 

• Women are still carrying out over 75% of all unpaid domestic work and family care needs. International Labour Organisation (ILO) and ActionAid UK

• Violence against women and girls is now endemic in our society with the Police demanding more resources and the Government calling it a national crisis. Two women will be murdered every week by a partner or ex-partner, over 52% of all sexual abuse cases reported to the Police are teenagers abusing teenagers and domestic violence is on the increase impacting girls and women disproportionately. Police estimate less than 24% of domestic abuse is actually reported and one in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. The UK incident of rape is still unacceptably high with over 90% non-reporting  (all these stats from ONS and Police) and 14-year-old girls are now the most common age group to report rape in England and Wales – Home Secretary talking to The Times on 20/9/24

• A 2023 poll by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) found that 58% of women reported experiencing sexual harassment, bullying, or verbal abuse at work. This figure rose to 62% among women aged 25–34. However, as many as 1 in 3 women do not report these incidents for fear of retribution.

• The AXA Mind Health Study revealed that 38% of women are experiencing a mental health condition and 24% are in a "struggling" state, indicating significant emotional distress.

• Pregnancy discrimination is also on the up –over 74k women were sacked last year for just being pregnant or daring to return to work post maternity, this is a 37% increase in past 8 years. Report from Pregnant Then Screwed 2025

• And globally in conflict-affected countries, women hold only 21% of parliamentary seats and 19% of cabinet positions with only 33% of UN Security Council Permanent Representatives being held by women. UN Women’s Global Forum

Universally, women have less political capital, hold fewer C-Suite positions, work the same if not more hours than men, for less rewards, are under pressure to do it all and look good whilst doing it AND have to navigate all the major female related conditions along the way, pregnancy, childbirth, hormonal challenges and menopause.

And even taking all this into account it is still an awesome time to be female, the world needs our feminine wisdom, the universe is calling us to action – can you hear?  Are you listening?

Time to wake up, see the big picture, harness your courage and join the sisterhood.  If not for you (but please let it be for you too) for our daughters.