World-changing British women

IQ Today, My Mensa Weekly

World-changing British women

2 March 2023

To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March we share an inspiring article from our member newsletter, My Mensa Weekly, reflecting on five remarkable women, past and present, who have helped shape our world. Their achievements also make them powerful role models – for everyone but particularly for women and girls everywhere. This year’s IWD theme is all about embracing a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. #InspireInclusion

World-changing British women

With International Women’s Day just around the corner (8 March), we’ve been reflecting on the remarkable women, past and present, who have helped shape our world. This year’s theme is about embracing equity – imagining a world where difference is valued and celebrated, and opportunities and resources are shared.

To mark this annual event, we’ve compiled a list of five of Britain’s world-changing and inspiring women, highlighting the achievements that make them powerful role models, particularly for women and girls everywhere.

Beth Mead, Footballer (main image)

Arsenal forward Beth Mead is a talented and creative footballer, best known for leading the Lionesses to victory in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. Mead was awarded the Golden Boot and named European Player of the Tournament, and later that year she became the first female footballer to win the BBC’s prestigious Sports Personality of the Year Award.

Mead also dedicates her time to raising awareness of ovarian cancer. She became an ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Action after losing her mum to the disease earlier this year.

Sonia Boyce MBE, artist

Sonia Boyce is a British Afro-Caribbean artist. In 2022, she became the first Black woman to represent the UK at the Venice Biennale, where she claimed the top prize, the Golden Lion, for her exhibition Feeling Her Way.

Boyce’s art is colourful and vibrant; she was influenced early on in her career by Mexican painter and feminist icon Frida Kahlo. Much of Boyce’s work explores her experiences as a Black woman in the UK, alongside aspects of religion and politics, through a range of media, including drawing, photography, video and sound.

Sophia Jex-Blake, physician and feminist (1840–1912)

In 1869, Sophia Jex-Blake led a campaign to enable women to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Jex-Blake and six women, dubbed ‘The Edinburgh Seven’, fought to matriculate at the university and succeeded, but were soon expelled following outrage and abuse from fellow students. Finally, in 1889, an Act of Parliament sanctioned degrees for women, largely due to the Edinburgh Seven’s fierce campaign.

Jex-Blake went on to become the first female doctor to practise in Scotland and devoted her life to advancing medical education for women. She founded two schools of medicine for women, in London and Edinburgh.

Mikaela Loach, environmental activist and influencer

With over 150k followers on Instagram, activist Mikaela Loach uses her online presence to promote inclusivity in the climate justice movement. Loach’s platform is a hub for young people looking for a fresh and practical approach to climate action, highlighting the intersections of the climate crisis with aspects of race, human rights and economic inequality. Loach’s debut book, It’s Not That Radical: Climate Action to Transform Our World, comes out next month.

Little Simz, rapper (pictured above)

Simbiatu ‘Simbi’ Ajikawo, aka Little Simz, is a force in the UK rap scene, where women artists remain underrepresented. Simz’s music is equal parts bold, inspiring and deeply personal, and tackles subjects like family rifts, systemic racism, political oppression and violence with incredible grace.

Named Best New Artist by the Brit Awards in 2022, Simz accepted her award by saying she is “living proof that if you work hard at something, no matter where you come from, your background, your race, you can be something extraordinary”.

Feeling inspired? Follow #InspireInclusion and visit www.internationalwomensday.com to learn more and get involved this International Women’s Day.