I never thought of myself as a feminist - because, when I was growing up I (naively) believed that we were now living in an enlightened age, where I didn't need to fight the good fight any more and equality was a given! 20 years later and now I've realised how wrong I was. I feel that within the context of women's equality, we have very much taken 'one step forward and several steps back'. Howsoever this has come about I don't quite know - what I do know is that we still need a strong united front to act for the interests of women in particular and for equality in society overall. I believe that WE will provide the impetus for change that I've been looking for.

Hi all. I have spent my career working in the Corporate world trying to work out how it is that men get on and women's skills and approach to solving problems are not valued. I've just come back from ten years in Australia where the problem was even more noticeable. I have attended countless 'Women in Business' events where we hear inspirational stories from those who have broken through the ceiling but always felt they were preaching to the converted - I want men to hear these stories! I am inspired by this party and look forward to getting involved

Hello everyone, I'm on the lookout for a software developer or development firm that can act as a reliable technology partner for my business. We're embarking on projects that require not only strong technical skills but also a deep understanding of emerging technologies and future trends. The ideal partner would help us innovate and build solutions that are both cutting-edge and scalable. If anyone has recommendations or experiences with developers who excel in these areas, I'd appreciate your insights! Thanks for your help!

I remember sitting in my high school history class, and my teacher, Beth Starichino, desperately trying to encourage me to join a Women’s Rights organization. At the time, I was stupid and claimed that women had equal rights, at least in the western world. I’ll never forget the look on her face, when she said, “when you’re older, you’ll think differently.” At the time, I laughed, the way any sixteen year girl that got good grades and had a sense of entitlement would laugh at such a statement, having no clue what discrimination looked like, either as a woman or as a person with a disability. I’m joining the Women’s Equality Party because it’s taken me sixteen years to to admit to myself, to the world, to her, that’s she’s right. It’s taken me sixteen years to admit that there’s something wrong when co-workers call me irrational just because I stand up for my ideas. There is something wrong when the boy I’m dating calls me ‘a proud woman’ and says it like it’s a bad thing. There is something wrong in this world where we can not find a reasonable way to provide new mothers with affordable childcare, where a woman still has to make a decision whether or not to chase her own dreams in the career of her choosing or to be a mom. Where girls at the age of twelve or thirteen would rather be pretty than smart, and where it has been scientifically proven that if a man behaves one way, he is called assertive, but if a woman behaves the same way, she is called a bitch. I joined the Women’s Equality Party in the UK because I want to make history and make sure that for the next generation, when they talk about equal rights between the genders, they can say that this fight is over, and the teacher will agree that they are right.

I am pleased to see the birth of a political party determined to fight for equality for women. It gives me hope for the future and that my grand daughters will have a better chance of enjoying rewarding lives.

I'm a mum of two and don't want full time work as I want my children to have me around while they're young. Part time work is a joke.....poor pay.... no progressing....hours not suitable.... child care expensive....should I go on? But not only these issues bother me, the portrayal of women in TV/film/childrens programmes/magazines is either ever available, victim, supporter etc.... it's a sad image to grow up with. I could go on but I'd take up half the site.

And I want my sons to grow up believing in equality and having the courage to practice it because they see how everybody benefits.

Congratulations for starting a WE party. This is the first time I have become a member of a party. My background is working for 10 years in the private sector and financial institutions and over 22 years in the public sector, mainly housing and homelessness. I would like to see that WE have a clear policy on educating our girls and boys to have respect for each other and be kind and compassionate human beings; children who have respect for the environment and are against any form of violence at home, outside home and internationally. I hope there will be policies on fairer distribution of income and reduction in the gap between the poorest and the richest in our communities.. Best of luck

I think it's brilliant to form a party to cater for our own needs, since all the other parties are not. I want... or rather demand a world where young women and all are encouraged and supported to achieve economic independence and be the best they can be in whatever profession they choose without gender or other bias.

Only then can we begin to challenge the ingrained cultural acceptance of deprecation towards women.

30 years ago, during my educational process at university/higher ed, I witnessed how the best of my own female tutors/lecturers were little acknowledged for their contribution within the power structures of their institutions. I saw them being unjustly pensioned off with a pittance (compared to their male colleagues) after a life time of incredible commitment to education; I watched how they struggled to survive, with such limited means, whilst others with so much less commitment were able to enjoy retirement. It is astonishing that the very same has repeated in my own working life so that I am in the position they were in 30 years ago. The sad part of this is that 3 decades later, some fellow women colleagues who are nowadays promoted to key positions have been party to such oppressive and discriminatory conduct. Little has changed in the ideology of the educational institution, even if a lot more women are employed. Worse still, despite the glut of self-publicity about equal opportunities in its institutions, the higher education work place is as sexist and racist as it ever was, in the UK. It is the cultural politics at national level that needs to be changed.

I believe that Women have experience that gives them insights that will help everyone achieve equality. I have never joined a political party before because there has never been a party that spoke of the need to develop equal opportunity so that we can all move forward together. My experiences of how inequality damages individuals, damages communities, damages our country made me want to be part of a movement for change and equality for everyone. When I was 16 (after failing throughout my school life culminating in failing all 7 of my O-Levels) I pushed my Mum to help me find out what was wrong with me. Eventually we got an appointment with an Educational Psychologist. He seemed to listen as I explained how hard it was to write so that people could read my words and how I wanted to write and to study. I then sat next to my mother and listened as an Educational Psychologist ignored me, looked at, and spoke directly to, my mum asking 'can she write enough to fill out a cheque?' 'Oh... yes' replied my mother 'Well then, she won't need to worry about anything; she'll be married soon and her husband will look after her' concluded the man. My desire to answer my mother's worries, to find out what was wrong with me and to have a future was written off. One failed marriage and 18 years later I started to study again, to take my GCSEs, to complete an access course, to complete my Maths and Education Degree; I could have done all of these things through my teenage years and into my early 20s if I had help, if my potential to contribute to anything had been recognised, if I had been valued. I have been teaching for 17 years and I love being part of a profession that contributes to the life of this country, a profession that at its best changes lives and empowers people to fulfil their dreams. I am excited to be part of the Women's Equality Party because at its best it promises to change lives and empower people to fulfil their dreams.

Sexism is everywhere and is not being antagonised, neither in principle nor practice, as other forms of discrimination are. In many schools children are reminded daily about the imperative of mutual respect in racial, cultural and religious terms. However, gender discrimination is not similarly prioritised. Boys dominate in the playground, despite some schools introduce 'Girls football days', which many girls don't join anyway, used as they are to boys ultimately taking over. Children uttering remarks like 'stop crying like a little girl' or boys refusing to sit next to girls, all represent attitudes which go often unchallenged and are often attributed to specific types of cultural upbringing. Sexism in schools does not seem to be recognised as damaging enough. As if it's some kind of low level discrimination, to be dismissed with a shrug. It is instead pervasive and remains mostly unchallenged (often in fear of hurting particular, culturally-shaped, sensibilities). What is the point of fighting for equal pay in the workplace, if girls are taught that inequality starts at school? 'Stop sexism in education' is the campaign I would like to join.

I've been lucky having friends, families, teachers and employers who supported me in my dream to become a mechanical engineer and then a consultant. I was always encouraged to believe that my gender was irrelevant to my career ambitions and personal life choices. Sadly, I see that not everyone has this supportive environment and I want to create a world where opportunity is equally accessible for everyone.

Don't see it in society. The few female lecturers at my university aren't considered as good academics as their male colleagues; sexual violence and rape is a problem that disproportionately affects women not only in my context but across the globe; there's huge pressure on women in today's society to look a certain way and wear the right things; if you don't have a career you're a scrounger, but if you don't have kids you're selfish. It's all too much.

Lift her to her pedestal

She hops and steps with grace

Lift her to her pedestal

My hands set her in place

I know they’re rough, and I’m no lord

I’ve got no handsome face

But God built me to help her, see

In that there’s no disgrace

If I don’t lift her, then I’m stuck

With no-one to adore

You’ll think me silly, saying that,

That’s what good men are for

I set her on her pedestal

Just like They said to do

“She’s made for that”, the Goddess said

“Where she can gaze

At you”

...For my son who who wanted to play with Lego no matter what I offered. For my daughter who didn't like dolls but loved pink. Wishing the Party the tenacity to achieve the success it deserves, and hoping it will always take individual diversity into account alongside equality for the sexes. Cheers to you all, Love Geeger

I want to be out in the world changing it for the better through positivity. I am WE because equality is a no brainer, it benefits everyone. Girl power is a force for good and a move to the future. I joined this party for every woman who came before me who paved the way to the freedoms I have today and for every person in the future to make sure they have it even better, no matter what religion, what race, what sexual orinentaion or even what gender.

I am a well qualified (I have four degrees), articulate and self confident woman who is unemployable. I also have three children and apparently you can't have both a family life and a career. I have applied for lots of part time jobs in my local area but even if I get an interview they tend to say that - this is not the job for me, and that I will get bored. Even an adviser at the job centre suggested that I lie on my CV and lose some of my qualifications as they made me unemployable. Why do I have to dumb myself down to get work???

I am a professional who has worked in the public sector since 1988 and before that private sector. I have suffered from gender discrimination from School and throughout my early career in industry. I joined the fight in the eighties and have been involved with the fight for equal pay since 1985, at a national level via trade union input and as a management professional, since working in higher education. In the 80's I believed we got closer to closing the gap and since then it has widened and in a far more pernicious way. I work with advising organisations on pay and grading and reward and never cease to be horrified by the way in which the cards are stacked against women (let alone black and ethnic minority women) by the way work is perceived and valued. I dream of a world where men want to stand alongside women and help us achieve equality to make choices, the equality we have been denied for so very long.