6 February is one of the most significant dates in the history of women’s equality being the anniversary of the Representation of the People Act (6 February 1918) that finally allowed some women the right to vote.
Exactly one year ago (6 February 2019) the Pankhurst-Fawcett Scorecard of Greater Manchester was launched by Helen Pankhurst and the GM4Women2028 coalition in the city that gave birth to the suffragette movement.
Like the suffragettes who boycotted the 1911 census as an act of civil disobedience, and in whose steps they follow, GM4Women2028 are data driven.
The Pankhurst-Fawcett Scorecard of Greater Manchester sets out to continue the quest for equality by monitoring 10 indicators that cover work, safety, participation, education and culture. It is hoped that by 2028, when the centenary of all women achieving the vote is marked, that change and equality will have been achieved. The gathering of data has helped to paint the current picture and the monitoring of data will determine the progress that is made.
On Thursday 6 February 2020 GM4Women2028 will take the next stage of its journey. It invites people to gather by Our Emmeline in St Peter’s Square to hear the results announced of the Pankhurst-Fawcett Scorecard indicators 12 months on from their launch, as part of a day of action that aims to ensure that Greater Manchester is one of the best places for women and girls to grow up, get on and grow old. Join GM4Women2028 by the Our Emmeline statue at 2:15pm to hear the results, to take part in shared songs, poems and pledges and for open mic speeches. Included amongst those taking part will be Helen Pankhurst, Sally Lindsay, Tony Walsh, Claire Mooney and Lucy Powell MP.
Helen Pankhurst, activist, author and great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst, says “Greater Manchester is proud of its progressive and feminist history yet more than a century on, from the data we have, it is clear that women and girls of Greater Manchester still face significant inequalities. We can do better. We must do better. We need to be more effective at transforming our pride into action, individually, collectively and structurally, shifting the needle. Help us drive this change.”
The data driven campaign for change is spearheaded by Helen Pankhurst as part of the GM4Women2028 change-makers; represented by women who live, work and lead in Greater Manchester. The Pankhurst-Fawcett Scorecard, named after the iconic leaders for women’s suffrage Emmeline Pankhurst and Millicent Fawcett, is intended to challenge and support Greater Manchester’s ambitions of continuing to lead the change for progress and accountability for gender equality.
To register your interest in attending the GM4Women2028 at Our Emmeline on Thursday 6 February (2:15pm onwards) visit www.facebook.com/events/
To find out more about GM4Women2028, to view the existing Pankhurst-Fawcett Scorecard and to pledge your support visit www.gm4women2028.org
