Thread by @MetroUK

'I’m not being over-the-top when I hold keys in my hand for safety – just in case.'

✍️ Keira Knightley for @MetroOpinion on why we need International Women's Day.

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Every year on 8 March, people around the world mark International Women’s Day by celebrating the amazing contributions women have made to society and recognising how far we still have to go to achieve gender equality.

But some people still question the need for the day, asking questions such as 'aren’t women equal already?'

The simple answers to most of these questions are: Yes, we do need International Women’s Day and no, we have not achieved gender equality.

As our screens are filled with people fleeing the horrors in Ukraine, we are reminded how conflict and crises often disproportionately affect women.

An estimated 80,000 women will go into labour in the next three months in Ukraine – many without any maternal health care.

Globally, gender disparity is stark.

🔴 In 18 countries, husbands can legally prevent their wives from working.

🔴 In 39 countries, daughters and sons do not have equal inheritance rights.

🔴And 49 countries still lack laws protecting women from domestic violence.

It’s been estimated that it will take almost a century to close the global gender gap between women and men in politics, economics, wealth and education.

And, around the world, one in three women have experienced gender-based violence.

These are scary figures, and they apply in the UK – because despite huge progress over the past few decades in terms of women’s rights, we’ve still got a long way to go in this country.

In the UK, women are less likely to be employed full-time then men, women make up less than a third of members of parliament and only 35% of board members are women.

The gender gap is even more glaring when coupled with racial inequality.

But what gets me most is the everydayness of gender inequality. Because let’s be honest: Our fears are validated.

The devastating murder of Sarah Everard shook the country. Like many, her story made me relive the number of times I’d felt unsafe walking home at night.

Tragically, Sarah’s story is similar to those we’ve heard before and those we’ll hear again. Bibaa Henry, Nicole Smallman, Sabina Nessa – these are just some of the many women who have recently died at the hands of men. Their names are etched on our streets, and in our hearts.

Let’s use their memories to take action, to change things for our sisters and daughters and friends.

And this call to action is for men too, of course.

Let’s call misogyny out, support a local refuge, or break down gender divides in our place of work.

For all those who identify as women, they deserve much more than a day, but one thing is clear – we definitely still need it.

Read the full story ⬇️
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