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Women of Westminster
- The MPs who Changed Politics
- Narrated by: Rachel Reeves, Harriet Harman
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
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Women of Westminster
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Summary
In 1919 Nancy Astor was elected as the Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton, becoming the first woman MP to take her seat in the House of Commons. Her achievement was all the more remarkable given that women (and even then only some women) had only been entitled to vote for just over a year.
In the past 100 years, a total of 489 women have been elected to Parliament. Yet it was not until 2015 that the total number of women ever elected surpassed the number of male MPs in a single parliament. The achievements of these political pioneers have been remarkable - Britain has now had two female Prime Ministers, and women MPs have made significant strides in fighting for gender equality, from the earliest suffrage campaigns to Barbara Castle's fight for equal pay to Harriet Harman's recent legislation on the gender pay gap. Yet the stories of so many women MPs have too often been overlooked in political histories.
In this audiobook, Rachel Reeves brings many forgotten MPs out of the shadows and looks at the many battles fought by the women of Westminster, from 1919 to 2019.
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- J V Cousins
- 28-08-22
Not before Time that Women are seen as equals in the World as well as U K.
As a retired business women of ninety years of age I am delighted to see the change in my life time of mens attitude to working together on equal terms.
Fantastic!
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- Dr A Wilcock
- 30-07-23
brilliant book, well worth listening to.
Brilliant book, excellent research using data to illustrated stories.
Takes you on a journey from the very first woman MP to today (Well it was published in 2019 so 4 years out of date).
The book is not tied to any party political standpoint or ideology (although the author expresses a challenge and call to action for her party in the final "afterward" section).
She outlines the transions that have taken place in UK politics over time and the challenges of many tenacious women MPs have faced and continue to face to the present day, discussing some of the most trying elements (such as the murder of Jo Cox and threats and misogyny encountered by women MPs). For historical figures she delves into the archives to bring forward the narratives for those more recent times and MPs who are sitting at the time of authoring she has interviewed and brought the perspectives and experiences to life authentically bringing insights about the truths of the lives of these tenacious women that have been twisted and manipulated by the press.
The book highlights the importance of breaking the glass ceiling and the changes being wrought as a result of this.
She also talks about how much women have achieved by working across party groups rather than playing the power games that have dropped down the patriarchal misogyny of the traditions of different parties; essentially focusses on the benefits of collaboration and bringing many opposing views to the table to grow something better rather than shutting down opposing views.
A really powerful book, and recommended read/listen - for any woman to identify their self worth and for men to realise just how misogynistic the world is that they take for granted.
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- Mrs. Jasmine Simeone
- 17-12-21
Astonishingly detailed
This is a wonderful account of women in parliament. I thought I knew a lot about it. I was wrong and this book has been truly enlightening. It should be on every school curriculum. Rachel Reeves has done an astounding job and I thank her most profusely for it. Recommended highly to anyone interested in how our government works.
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