Girlguiding Advocate Lydia, 16, gave this speech at our Celebrating Women MPs event in Parliament in June 2023.
My name is Lydia, and I am a sixteen-year-old Girlguiding advocate. My role is to help raise awareness about the issues girls and young women, such as myself, care about so that we can make meaningful change.
I am delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate some of the amazing politicians who are an inspiration to young women across the country (and I am sure many of you in this room as well) and who have also inspired me to get involved in advocacy and politics.
Today I will be honouring the legacies of two phenomenal women, Barbara Castle and Betty Boothroyd, who stood tall in the face of adversity, challenging the status quo and proving that women can excel in the political arena. They both led the way for other women to enter the political sphere and were part of some of the most important moments in 20th-century politics.
Despite this, they both often faced frivolous media scrutiny, which focused on appearance and personal relationships, rather than their great achievements. This tendency of the media to judge women MPs primarily on superficial qualities like appearance is a main catalyst in young girls and women being afraid to take on leadership roles today.
Barbara Castle, a true titan of British politics, exemplified the spirit of fearless advocacy. Her name has become synonymous with progress and empowerment, as she fearlessly fought for the rights of women and workers. Castle’s vision and determination made her the first woman to hold a major Cabinet post in the United Kingdom, and her impact continues to resonate to this day. Throughout her career, Barbara Castle championed the cause of gender equality, tirelessly striving for equal pay and better working conditions. Her revolutionary legislation, the Equal Pay Act of 1970, was a landmark achievement that paved the way for greater opportunities and economic empowerment for women across the nation. Castle was often criticised for being “overly glamorous” – she was known to have her hair done twice a week and favoured bold colours, for which many newspapers dubbed her vain and egotistical.
Furthermore, Betty Boothroyd was the first Speaker of the House of Commons to be a woman. During her time in the position, she called the House of Commons to order with her uncompromising manner and indomitable wit. She was well respected by all members of the House, regardless of party – a respect she earned through her fierce, no-nonsense approach when chairing debates. Her calm yet commanding presence reminded us all that women have an integral role to play in shaping the democratic process. In all the research I did on Baroness Boothroyd, in almost every article and interview, it was without fail highlighted that “she never married” and in some instances, this was ridiculed as a blow to the idea women could have it all.
This shows that women politicians’ incredible successes are often overshadowed by the media’s focus on perceived flaws that often have nothing to do with their ability and are based on misogynistic expectations and beliefs. This problem continues into the modern era, Theresa May MP was often ridiculed for her outfits during her time as prime minister and her style was seen as too bold for a head of state. Many other women MPs from across several parties have shared stories about tabloids focusing on outfits and families rather than policy – something that would rarely be the case for male MPs.
Young women see this sexist press coverage and it pushes them away from politics. Girlguiding’s 2019 Girls’ Attitudes Survey shows that 41% of girls aged 11-16 are put off being leaders because “There’s too much focus on [women leaders’] looks, not what they do”. According to the 2020 Girls’ Attitudes Survey, 64% of girls aged 11-21 think more girls would take up leadership roles if women leaders weren’t judged by how they look. This, combined with the overwhelming response from girls that they wanted more opportunities to take part in politics, proves that this sexist media coverage is a barrier for young women entering the political sphere. Seeing this kind of irresponsible journalism is what pushed me to become an advocate and also began my journey as a feminist. We first discussed this issue during UK Parliament Week at Guides, and I remember thinking it the most bizarre thing in the world that women MPs’ personal lives and wardrobes were sometimes at the forefront of media coverage rather than their policies.
The legacies of Barbara Castle and Betty Boothroyd continue to inspire generations of women around the world. They remind us that the path to progress is often fraught with challenges and obstacles, but through resilience and perseverance, we can break down barriers and bring about real change. Today, as we celebrate these extraordinary women in politics, let us recognise the transformative power of their actions. Let us be inspired by their unwavering dedication to social justice and equality. Let us reaffirm our commitment to fostering a political landscape that embraces diversity, inclusivity, and gender equality. But let their legacies empower us to speak out against sexist media coverage and criticism which shames women for their life choices and appearance, instead of discussing their political ideas and achievements.