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| My suffragette great-grandma would be proud and cross at councils | My suffragette great-grandma would be proud and cross at councils |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Tuesday 6 February marks 100 years since the passing of the Representation of the People Act that paved the way to universal suffrage – and many of us will be reflecting on the progress made on gender equality over the past century. | Tuesday 6 February marks 100 years since the passing of the Representation of the People Act that paved the way to universal suffrage – and many of us will be reflecting on the progress made on gender equality over the past century. |
| I am the great-granddaughter of an Oldham suffragette called Harriet and I think she’d be proud to know I am now the chief executive of a local council in London. She would also be delighted to know that two women now run Oldham – Jean Stretton and the fabulous Carolyn Wilkins, the leader and the chief executive of the council, respectively. | I am the great-granddaughter of an Oldham suffragette called Harriet and I think she’d be proud to know I am now the chief executive of a local council in London. She would also be delighted to know that two women now run Oldham – Jean Stretton and the fabulous Carolyn Wilkins, the leader and the chief executive of the council, respectively. |
| Deborah Cadman: women in local government need to grab power | Kirstie Brewer | Deborah Cadman: women in local government need to grab power | Kirstie Brewer |
| There is so much to celebrate – but I think my great-grandmother would also agree there is still work to be done in the name of women’s equality. Last week we were reminded just how far we still have to go when the talented and committed Claire Kober quit as leader of the London borough of Haringey, citing the sexism and bullying she experienced. | There is so much to celebrate – but I think my great-grandmother would also agree there is still work to be done in the name of women’s equality. Last week we were reminded just how far we still have to go when the talented and committed Claire Kober quit as leader of the London borough of Haringey, citing the sexism and bullying she experienced. |
| Like lots of women, this made me furious – and it would have made my great-grandma furious too: 100 years on, people are still being attacked on the basis of their gender. | Like lots of women, this made me furious – and it would have made my great-grandma furious too: 100 years on, people are still being attacked on the basis of their gender. |
| I can’t tell you how important stories of Harriet and the other strong women in my family were to me growing up. Like most of the women in my family, my great-grandmother worked in the cotton mills of Oldham. She would have worked alongside my all-time heroine, Annie Kenney, a fellow suffragette and the only working class woman to reach the top of the Women’s Social and Political Union. There is a campaign to fund a statue of Kenney in Oldham Parliament Square. | I can’t tell you how important stories of Harriet and the other strong women in my family were to me growing up. Like most of the women in my family, my great-grandmother worked in the cotton mills of Oldham. She would have worked alongside my all-time heroine, Annie Kenney, a fellow suffragette and the only working class woman to reach the top of the Women’s Social and Political Union. There is a campaign to fund a statue of Kenney in Oldham Parliament Square. |
| These brave and principled women were not women of privilege. Kenney started work in the cotton mill when she was 10 years old. My great-grandma started work when she was 12. They did dangerous jobs. Kenney lost one of her fingers and Harriet had terrible hearing due to the noise of the machines in the mill. It’ s not surprising they passionately believed things had to change. | These brave and principled women were not women of privilege. Kenney started work in the cotton mill when she was 10 years old. My great-grandma started work when she was 12. They did dangerous jobs. Kenney lost one of her fingers and Harriet had terrible hearing due to the noise of the machines in the mill. It’ s not surprising they passionately believed things had to change. |
| Like many suffragettes, my great-grandma went out of her way to help those less fortunate. She was prone to bringing home “waifs and strays” for a good meal. Meanwhile, in the little spare time she had, Kenney taught other women to read. They were generous women who believed in social justice and doing the right thing. | Like many suffragettes, my great-grandma went out of her way to help those less fortunate. She was prone to bringing home “waifs and strays” for a good meal. Meanwhile, in the little spare time she had, Kenney taught other women to read. They were generous women who believed in social justice and doing the right thing. |
| Why so few female councillors? Good old-fashioned sexism, for starters | Why so few female councillors? Good old-fashioned sexism, for starters |
| Growing up, I had these stories to fortify me – and I was surrounded by women who often earned more than their husbands, who were strong, resilient, funny and uncompromising. The confidence that gave me has served me well. | Growing up, I had these stories to fortify me – and I was surrounded by women who often earned more than their husbands, who were strong, resilient, funny and uncompromising. The confidence that gave me has served me well. |
| Over the past 25 years I have been a chief executive of a police authority, held five executive director roles and been the chief executive of two councils, including Bexley. For the past two years it’s been a privilege to work in London, where half of the council chiefs are women. They’re all doing cracking jobs and there is a lot of camaraderie and support among us. | Over the past 25 years I have been a chief executive of a police authority, held five executive director roles and been the chief executive of two councils, including Bexley. For the past two years it’s been a privilege to work in London, where half of the council chiefs are women. They’re all doing cracking jobs and there is a lot of camaraderie and support among us. |
| There is so much for women to be proud of. The police and fire brigade in London are both headed up by women. I work with a female politician who has been the leader of Bexley council for 10 years. Our neighbouring borough Greenwich has a female chief executive and a female leader, both amazingly talented. | There is so much for women to be proud of. The police and fire brigade in London are both headed up by women. I work with a female politician who has been the leader of Bexley council for 10 years. Our neighbouring borough Greenwich has a female chief executive and a female leader, both amazingly talented. |
| With all this in mind, we could kid ourselves that things have changed and that we have gender equality in local government. But this is not true. | With all this in mind, we could kid ourselves that things have changed and that we have gender equality in local government. But this is not true. |
| Research from the Fawcett Society shows that just a third of chief executives and just 30% of councillors are women [pdf]. And there is still a gender pay gap which, at current rates, will take 62 years to close. | Research from the Fawcett Society shows that just a third of chief executives and just 30% of councillors are women [pdf]. And there is still a gender pay gap which, at current rates, will take 62 years to close. |
| So let’s remember the sacrifice those women made 100 years ago – but let’s bring that same grit to doubling our efforts to make sure that this year is the year when things change: for good. | So let’s remember the sacrifice those women made 100 years ago – but let’s bring that same grit to doubling our efforts to make sure that this year is the year when things change: for good. |
| Gill Steward is the chief executive of the London borough of Bexley and chair of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies | Gill Steward is the chief executive of the London borough of Bexley and chair of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies |
| This series aims to give a voice to the staff behind the public services that are hit by mounting cuts and rising demand, and so often denigrated by the press, politicians and public. If you would like to write an article for the series, contact kirstie.brewer@theguardian.com | This series aims to give a voice to the staff behind the public services that are hit by mounting cuts and rising demand, and so often denigrated by the press, politicians and public. If you would like to write an article for the series, contact kirstie.brewer@theguardian.com |
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