FEMALE FIRSTS

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Some of the incredible things British women have achieved over the past 100 years

During the year that marks 100 years since women got the vote, this year's International Women's Day feels more empowering than ever

In the century since women were finally allowed to vote for their own Prime Minister, women across Britain have made large strides towards equality. Today, we have a female Prime Minister, a female Home Secretary, a female Met Police Commissioner... and our monarch, the longest reigning in British history, is a woman.

But the gender pay gap remains a pressing issue. That Equal Pay Day exists is evidence enough of how men and women are still not considered equals, even in the workplace. There is still much work to do.

Nonetheless, today is a day of celebration. And here we celebrate 10 incredible achievements for women over the past 100 years.

1. In 1918, women in the UK got the vote – 85 years after voters were described as ‘male persons’. Women were still restricted as only women aged over 30 who met certain property rights could vote. At the same time the men’s voting age was lowered to 21 and property rights removed.

2. In 1918, Constance Markievicz became the first woman to be elected to the Commons – but she didn’t take her seat in protest.

3. In 1919, Viscountess Nancy Astor became the first women to take her seat in the House of Commons.

4. In 1928 all women aged over 21 were given voting rights.

5. In 1979 Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the UK. She held this post for 11 years and was the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th Century.

6. In 1952, Queen Elizabeth became the Queen of England after her father’s untimely death.

7. In 2015, Queen Elizabeth became the UK’s longest-reigning monarch after 65 years on the throne.

8. Upon her death in 1943, author and conservationist Beatrix Potter left the land she owned to the National Trust, this would later make the majority of the Lake District National Park.

9. In 1921, Marie Stopes opened the UK’s first birth control clinic.

10. In 2017, Cressida Dick was appointed as the first female Met Police Commisioner.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking