To Sisterhood
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the beauty, the joy, and the power of the sisterhood.
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the beauty, the joy, and the power of the sisterhood.
A few weeks ago, I hit a wall. I was really struggling with my mental health. After numerous attempts of contacting my GP, local mental health services, and other organisations – and failing, I did what any other millennial would do: I asked for help on Twitter. I wasn’t looking for attention or sympathy, but understanding. A feeling that I wasn’t alone.
A woman called Jamie Klingler, founder of Reclaim These Streets, reached out. We had never met before, but she gave me her number and offered to listen. We met and what followed was an afternoon of kindness. She gave me advice, and we laughed and we cried, until I no longer felt deserted in my suffering. “Sometimes we need women that have been around longer to remind us that we will survive,” she explained, but more on that later.
There’s no doubt that the past year has been a tough one for women across the UK. The murders of Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa, Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, and countless others remind us that being a woman in today’s world is still terrifying. Not only are we faced with feeling unsafe, we also come up against the patriarchy, the gender pay gap, the gender health gap, rising domestic violence, and the constant debate over women’s reproductive rights, to name but a few. And the emotional, physical, and financial toll of multiple lockdowns… It’s a lot to deal with.
Which is why we’re choosing to focus on the power, beauty, and joy of sisterhood this International Women’s Day instead. From inspiring interviews with powerhouse Sharmadean Reid, chef Rachel Rumbol, and money expert Iona Bain, to personal pieces from Rose Frimpong, Black Girls Book Club, and NotYourWife’s founders, I hope you will find support and encouragement here. A reminder that with challenge comes hope, as these brilliant women prove in their own ways. Proof that when the sisterhood works together, we create magic.
— Jessica Morgan, Senior Editor
7 Changemakers Who Fought For Change & Won
Celebrate International Women’s Day by following these women, still pushing for gender equality.
Why Collective Ownership Is Key To Empowering Women, According To Sharmadean Reid
Plus, the beauty products she can't live without.
It's Time IWD Celebrated The Black, Masculine Women Too
“Representation is crucial for young girls struggling with their identity like I did growing up.”
Chef Rachel Rumbol On How Kitchens Run By Women Have Transformed Her Life
“I thought, wrongly, that you had to cut your teeth in traditional male kitchens in order to be respected.”
“It Takes A Village” – An Ode To The Women Who Raised Us
The founders of NotYourWife, a platform dedicated to sharing the stories of South Asian women, reflect on the power of sisterhood and the indispensable role of the women in their lives.
Black Girl Book Club On The Joy & Endurance Of Black Sisterhood
“I’ve learnt that through every success and every heartbreak, I wouldn't have been able to make it without my sisters.”
Meet The Money Expert Empowering Women To Become Financially Independent
Plus, 10 expert tips to get more bang for your buck.
Jamie Klingler On How A Woman 10 Years Her Senior Fuels & Soothes Her
“There’s a comfort and tenderness there that you don’t always find with friends who are of a similar age to you.”
Football Can Be A Tool For Social Change, Too
How Football Beyond Borders has turned the beautiful game into a fully fledged programme to tackle gender, education, and health inequalities.
