Tell me what things have got better for women in the last 7 years or so

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

What progress has been made for women in the 7 or so years since the Mumsnet FWR topic has been set up?
There must be things. I keep thinking of ways we have gone backwards but I would like to think I am being overly negative. Please?

Not much I'd say :(

One positive thing I can think of - women political leaders in the UK are a pretty un-notable thing now. Its really no big deal that TM, NS etc are women, the vast majority of attacks on them relate to their politics (as they should).

I know there was the leather trousers thing, but to me it felt like 'any mud we can throw' and not so different from attacking JC's clothing.

Anti-Stalking laws? Most victims are women

Coercive control laws

The just-announced video evidence for rape trials.

Sexual abuse/rape victims to give pre recorded evidence

Oh, and having it recognised tampons aren't a luxury, nor a taboo subject. Announcement today re free sanpro for girls on FSM is good news.

Why 7 years, it seems an odd figure to choose?

Now on our second female Prime minister, hopefully encouraging girls and women into politics when they see her lead.

Finally a decision to make sex and relationship compulsory in all schools and a much needed update to the curriculum. A few decades too late but at least it is happening.

We've had very little progress in the last 7 years as the Conservatives have been the main party in power.

The Conservatives have a poor record on FWR.

Even in the EU parliament, Conservative MEPs have consistently voted against a string of measures to protect women's rights. They voted against, or abstained, eight times on issues relating to sexual equality, family-friendly working hours, maternity leave and reproductive health.

In 2001 there were 118 female MPs, now there are 191. Nowhere near the 325 MPs that would make it a 50:50 parliament, but moving in the right direction.

Representation on TV, or BBC at least. I think it was about 4 years ago there was a sudden media storm about HIGNFY rarely having women on, ditto other panel shows, documentary presenters and experts. Suddenly over the next year it became rare for such shows not to have a woman on, sometimes even two or three, Sandi Toksvig took on QI, history documentary series appeared with women, and generally the 'local expert' and vox pops are now much more likely to be women. Not sure if radio or sport have made noticeable progress though women's football is now shown sometimes and women's sport (not just gymnastics) at the Olympics got way more coverage than it used to.

Some of the things already said I think are quite big deals, like the coercive control laws, video evidence and SRE in schools.

Also the Istanbul Convention bill got through the House of Commons, so is closer to being ratified, after not progressing at all for a very long time.

Some police forces are now treating violence/abuse against women as a hate crime (like racism etc - previously it wasn't considered one), and I think there are some plans to extend this further.

I think there have been some improvements in things like threats against female MPs being taken more seriously recently, though rather too late

Revenge porn laws
Shared parental leave

On TV and radio, I'm seeing and hearing more female experts, especially in STEM subjects. I think we should be seeing and hearing even more women but the current number is an improvement on previous levels of exclusion.

Honestly I am not sure much has changed in the last twenty. I grew up in the 70's when we couldn't even study certain subjects at school as they were boys subjects. It's great that that has changed but I watch my grown up daughter (first class degree, masters, PhD great career that she loves) warring with herself and her drive for children/ love of a clean home/exhaustion/gorgeous fiance. He's been bought up in a. house where 'mum' does everything and he tries he really tries but he just doesn't get it. My gorgeous hard working bright successful girl is in exactly the same place I was 25 years ago so no not much has changed certainly not enough or maybe the wrong things.

Sorry I am sure I am being an idiot but what does FWR stand for?

Laws or general changes in society?

I've noticed positive changes in an everyday sense, I'm not saying these are 'amazing' but positive nonetheless:

• I know a lot more of my social circle who identify as feminists and share feminist messages on social media

• This includes a couple of men (seems to have started in the last year possibly due to the rise in popularity of the feminist message)

• Less women in my social/work circles take it as given that they will change their name after marriage and I know quite a few that haven't

• In the last year I've suddenly met a few women who are the main breadwinners in relatively senior positions and their DH/DP is the SAHP. I work in The City and before this year hadn't met anyone in RL who made this choice

Shared parental leave the main legislative one, IMO.

Splendide: feminism and women's rights, the original name of this board.

Stones: as OP said, this board has been going for 7 years on MN

Agree too re TV and politics, balance of sexes is improving.

"Stones: as OP said, this board has been going for 7 years on MN"

Cheers, I thought it had been here from the start.

Happy to help, of course.

From yesterdays telegraph...
" Stephen Hawking hails seismic shift that has put power in women's hands "
The five most powerful people in Britain are now women, Professor Stephen Hawking has said, claiming there has been a "seismic shift" in gender equality.
The 75yr old astrophysicist said the Queen, Prime minister Theresa May, Sottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Met Commissioner Cressida Dick were evidence that times have changed. He aslo added that the private sector has yet to catch up.

Add Merkel in Germany and the fact that we came within a few million votes of the Clinton becoming the first female POTUS he has a point.

77000 votes, I believe. HRC won the popular vote by c3 million.

Stephen hawking is a strange choice of social commentator!