It was wonderful to join colleagues at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, to speak in my role as Trustee on #IWD2026. I enjoyed sharing my story, giving so others might gain. 

 

Thursday was World Book Day. I dressed up a Dalmatian, not an inspirational woman, or a princess, or Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. Or, a wicked witch. We had quite a few of those costumes. A Dalmatian was simple, and the children enjoyed painting on my face. 

 

But where are those powerful and empowering women? 

 

Today, a different audience. But, I used a book to illustrate my point. I spoke about Ethel Carnie, a widely published novelist of the early 20th Century, a journalist, prolific activist anti-fascist campaigner, who began her career working in a mill in Lancashire. 

 

Oh, that Ethel Carnie. Or, Ethel who?

 

Ethel has been forgotten or has become a Miss Nobody, like the title of her first novel. She gave up writing, and according to her daughter, this was because she was "worn out", or worn down. What did a working class former mill worker have to offer to the literary cannon? She fought to be heard, and in the end, she was silenced, or became silent. Let’s use our voice to ensure Ethel is heard again.

 

Ethel gave so others could gain. 

 

We need to "see it, to be it". 

We need to hear, see, women as leaders, inventors, writers, leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists. 

We need to see it to be it! 

 

Today, I shared the stories of three women who gave, so that I could gain. I saw it, I believed I could be it. I gained belief in self, drive, a vision of a world that was outside my lived experience, and an insight into activism. I was given the love of reading and books to read. 

 

The first of these women was my grandmother, nanny Jordan. A single parent running her own small home produce stall. Yes, that was her primary source of income, selling vegetables and flowers grown on her own small plot of land, bringing up 3 boys. She was proud, independent, incredibly talented and hardworking. She was definitely worn out and worn down. But at 92 years old was still baking and making jam. 

 

The 2nd was Mrs Welsh, who arrived in her sports car at my rural primary school. She was from California. She was flamboyant. She was "wow"! She showed me a world so far outside my lived experience. Life in the isolated rural Fenland was not for Mrs Welsh, but in her short time in my life, she inspired me to reach for the stars. From my isolated rural Fen village, becoming a teacher felt like I was reaching for the stars. 

 

The 3rd was my English teacher at secondary school. Ms Deung. She was an activist. She gave me books to read beyond the standard diet of literature for 13 year olds. I remember on a school trip she was reading My Left Foot. She lent me the book to read. This was the beginning of our book sharing. Well, her giving me books to read. I went in to study English Literature and History at university. I concluded my Doctorate by declaring "I am a researcher story teller". 

 

 

Each of these women gave to me, so I could gain.

 

Many years later, with my Doctorate in Education, I am using my knowledge, my skills and my story, so others might gain.

 

Today I challenged the language and titles used. Why "assistant" ? 

Today I challenged not to put our story's down, big our stories up. 

Today I challenged our #HeForShe to be disruptive, stand behind us, give us space at the top table, to pull up a chair, to give someone their chair. 

Today I challenged everyone to stand together. It is hard work to champion for equality.

 

 

It can wear us down, wear us out. The problem does not go away if we stop talking about it, or if we go away. ( Sara Ahmed, Living A Feminist Life, 2017, page 47).