By Zermina Toghey, Women’s Officer, Wokingham Constituency Labour Party
I know that being a woman—no matter where you’re from or what your background is—comes with challenges. But I also know that those challenges aren’t the same for everyone. The barriers women face can look different depending on race, class or disability. A woman fighting for equal pay may not experience the same struggles as another woman facing racial discrimination in maternal healthcare, or a disabled woman navigating workplaces that aren’t built for accessibility. A migrant woman struggling with language barriers may face different challenges than a trans woman fighting for safety and recognition. But what unites us is that, in one way or another, we all face obstacles. And more importantly, we can be each other’s allies.
This International Women’s Day, we saw that solidarity in action. At Wokingham Market, we invited everyone to share their experiences, celebrate the women who inspire them, and come together in the fight for equality.
We asked the community a simple question: Have you ever faced barriers because you’re a woman? The answers spoke volumes—gender inequality isn’t just a thing of the past; it’s something women are still dealing with every single day:
- 23 people said never
- 158 said occasionally
- 77 said frequently
That means 91% of respondents had encountered some form of barrier simply for being a woman. Some shared experiences of workplace discrimination, where they had been overlooked for promotions or paid less than male colleagues. Others spoke about the healthcare system failing to take their pain seriously.
But this event wasn’t just about barriers—it was about resilience, too. We invited everyone, regardless of gender, to write down the name of a woman who had inspired them. The answers were as diverse as our community itself.
Many people honoured the women in their personal lives, with “my mum” being one of the most common responses. Others highlighted trailblazing figures from history and politics, including Malala Yousafzai, the Dagenham Women Strikers, Gisèle Pelicot, and Jess Phillips. Religious and historical icons also made the list, including Khadija, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, known for being a successful businesswoman and a strong leader in her own right.
Seeing such a wide range of names reminded me of something important: women’s struggles are different, but so are their victories. From personal strength to global activism, every woman leaves a mark in her own way.
Another key part of the event was highlighting the issue of domestic abuse. We were proud to distribute resources from Kaleidoscopic UK, a charity that provides support and recovery services for survivors of domestic abuse. Thanks to Jacqueline Pluves, we were able to make sure that people in Wokingham had access to vital information that could help them or someone they know.
For many women, escaping abuse is not just a personal struggle—it’s a systemic one. Lack of financial independence, immigration status, and fear of not being believed all make it harder to get help. That’s why services like Kaleidoscopic UK are so essential, and why we must keep fighting for stronger protections for survivors.
One of the most powerful things about this event was the way it brought people together. Almost every woman we spoke to had a story of facing barriers—but she also had a story of resilience. Some had overcome discrimination, some had lifted up other women, and some had fought for a better future, not just for themselves but for the next generation.
And that’s what feminism is really about. It’s not just about individual struggles—it’s about solidarity. It’s about recognising that while our experiences may be different, our fight is shared. It’s about women standing up for each other, and about men stepping up as allies.
International Women’s Day is not just a day of recognition—it’s a reminder of the work we still need to do. As long as women continue to face barriers, we will continue to push forward. And if we do it together, we will be unstoppable.
International Women’s Day is not just a day of recognition—it’s a reminder of the work we still need to do. - Zermina Toghey