You don’t own them: The women who came before you

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Women gained political rights 106 years ago, joining the men who had enjoyed them for the 300,000 years of human existence prior.

Women’s History Month gives us the opportunity to recognise how far women have come throughout history and especially which women have influenced societal change. Lesley Gore’s ‘You Don’t Own Me’ can be seen as a symbol of women’s freedom. Released the same year women were granted equal pay in the US, it was also used in the ‘Me Too’ movement to raise awareness about sexual harassment.

One of the most influential figures in women’s history in the UK is Emmeline Pankhurst, who organised the British Suffragette movement, helping women gain basic fundamental rights they had been stripped of. She was a warrior that fought the battle for women, and in the face of retaliation, she continued to persevere.

Despite imprisonment and the refusal of the right to see her daughter, she stated: “The Government must not think they could stop this agitation.” Carving the path for women’s defiance against oppression. Lydia Becker was highly influential in her identification as a feminist as it was her speech that inspired the 14 year old Emmeline Pankhurst to become “a conscious and confirmed suffragist”. Without her work, we could still live within a society where women have no voice.

The inspiring Emma Watson has also had a significant impact on the lives of women as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. In her ‘He for She’ campaign speech she said: “We want to end gender inequality, and to do that we need everyone to be involved.” This is a powerful point to make as men such as Dr Richard Pankhurst have played important roles for the empowerment of women. “We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes,” she said. Without this, it is hard to capture everyone’s attention. It highlights everyone is a prisoner of the patriarchy, just in separate cages.

The University of Sheffield alumna, Dr Emma Nagouse, has played a key role in the Sheffield Women’s movement as she is a co-organiser of the Sheffield Feminist Archive, responsible for women’s history education. She is a strong and influential woman who has used her position to support others despite the effect of her research causing her to reevaluate the experiences in her life. She explores this in the Shiloh Projects ‘16 Days of Activism’.

Finally, a current organisation called ‘Sheffield Women’s Collective’ led by Amber, Jade, and Skye, is contributing to the lives of many women. The International Women’s Day Vigil they held on the 8th of March 2026 united both men and women to remember the lives of the many women lost to male violence. Speakers at this vigil gave emotional and compelling speeches about the importance of advocacy for women’s rights. Despite retaliation from some members of the public, the women organising the event ensured a lasting impact to date.

One thing these women have in common is, despite the indoctrination faced about women’s position in society, they have defied these expectations and created a legacy of owning themselves rather than being owned by the patriarchy.

Edited by Georgia Cook