On the 6th-8th March 2020, students at Langley Park School for Girls attended the famous Women of the World Festival.

Founded by Jude Kelly in 2010, it aims to vocalise gender inequality both nationally and globally. This year speakers expressed their views on topics including but not limited to: domestic violence, child marriage, FGM and intersectionality ( a term used to describe how social prejudices interact).

The Duchess of Cornwall, who is a patron of the festival, opened with a speech where she launched the hashtag #everyonesproblem. This aims to get everybody talking and reducing the stigma around victims of domestic violence as well as making us more aware of the part we play by being silent.

Pretty Loud, the first all girl Roma band from Serbia, stunned with their debut performance in London by saying a fierce “Enough” to gender inequality. In addition, renowned activist, writer and psychotherapist Susie Orbach commented on love and how our relationships with our mother effects friendships.

A market selling books, badges and other items relating to feminism were also sold for all budding activists.

This International Women’s Day, the theme was #EachForEqual. This draws on the idea of collective individualism. We are all responsible for ensuring a gender equal world is reached-as expressed on the official international women’s day website.

If you are looking to embark on a journey of gender equality, here are some recommendations:

1. Feminists don’t wear pink and other lies by Scarlett Curtis

2. A History of the World in 21 Women by Jenni Murray

3. A History of Britain in 21 Women by Jenni Murray

4. The Guilty Feminist Podcast hosted by Deborah Frances-White

5. Ted Talks by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (and other equally eye-opening ted talks by other activists!)

6. We Should All be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

7. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Christina Lamb and Malala Yousafzai

8. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

9. Inferior by Angela Saini

10. @i_weigh on Instagram!

Amelia Downs