#BreakTheBias: Six Inspirational Women Making History Today

International Women’s Day commemorates the cultural and economic success of women across the world. The awareness day has never been more important, as a reported 60% of women face microaggressions discrimination in the workplace. This is only amplified for those from ethnic minority backgrounds. To break the bias and spread awareness of the issues faced by women, employers need to take responsibility.

Gabriella Peace, Communications Manager at UK Greetings, a leading greeting card publisher across the nation, discusses the significance of this day:

“Here at UK Greetings, our team is excited to celebrate the successes of women on Tuesday 8^th March. There are countless women who have broken the mould and contributed to society. As a result, businesses should endeavour to make the most of this opportunity, regardless of the sector they operate within.

“International Women’s Day is for everyone. In addition to highlighting the work of famous women, such as revolutionary scientist Marie Curie, we can also highlight the amazing contribution of those in our lives. Whether this is your mother, sister, friend, or romantic partner.”

In honour of International Women’s Day 2022, this article will chart six women making history in Britain today. From actresses to athletes, these ladies are paving the way for the next generation.

1. Alice Dearing

Alice Dearing is no stranger to making waves. In 2021, she changed history and became the first black female swimmer to represent Great Britain at the Olympics. This is a fantastic achievement, especially considering she is only 24 years old. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for her.

Alice is also going above and beyond to ensure people of colour feel represented within our society. In fact, the Olympic swimmer co-founded the Black Swimming Association (BSA). The programme campaigns for further research and ensures Caribbean, African, and Asian communities are given access to swimming lessons.

2. Jameela Jamil

Next on our list of inspirational women is Jameela Jamil. You may be familiar with the actress from the hit television series The Good Place. Prior to this, however, Jameela was known to be the first woman to host BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart Show.

In recent years, Jameela has been breaking bias on social media. Her ‘I Weigh’ campaign encourages people to have open conversations about mental health and eating disorders. Her Instagram account alone (@i_weigh) has amassed a huge following of 1.3 million people.

Through her refreshing presence on social media, Jameela has influenced the introduction of laws prohibiting harmful content aimed at minors on social media. This includes sponsored posts regarding diet culture or the next detox fad. If this helps one young woman navigate social media without developing body image issues, then it is an amazing contribution to social progress for women.

3. Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent

Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Professor of Midwifery at King’s College London, is responsible for life-changing research on maternity standards. In addition to this, Professor Dunkley-Bent has been appointed as the first Chief Midwifery Officer for NHS England.

Professor Dunkley-Bent will work alongside Jane Sandall, professor of women’s health and social science at King’s College London, to tackle inequalities for BAME families. Considering women from ethnic minority backgrounds face greater risks during pregnancy, their research couldn’t be any more important.

4. Adele

Adele, arguably the most iconic British singer of her generation, is no stranger to success. In the last 10 years alone, her album ‘21’ has sold over 31 million copies globally, making it the best-selling album of the period. We can only imagine the feeling of knowing your album is a chart-topper in 30 countries!

The singer-songwriter continues to make history in the music industry. In 2021, her latest album ‘30’ has gone on to break a number of music records, including the biggest weekly sales since 2017. Adele is also the only female artist to have released four No.1 albums in a row.

5. Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton is remarkable in more ways than one. The Duchess of Cambridge is the royal patron of multiple charities across the nation. In 2021, Her Royal Highness started the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The centre encourages research into mental health, social sciences, and brain development issues within childhood.

As well as this, the Duchess has gone above and beyond to encourage open conversations about mental health. In 2020, the ‘5 Big Questions on the Under Fives’ survey uncovered ways to help children avoid potential mental health issues. The nation is lucky to have such a promising future Queen Consort, don’t you think?

6. Clare Balding

Last and certainly not least on our list of extraordinary women is Clare Balding. Clare has made quite the name for herself over the years, whether this is from broadcasting Wimbledon 2021 or releasing a number of best-selling books.

In addition to succeeding in a traditionally male-dominated field, Clare has gone on to support multiple charities. In 2021, she went so far as to launch the ‘Just Like Us’ foundation, which campaigns for the eradication of anti-LGBTQIA+ behaviour.

Clare has been married to her spouse, Alice Arnold, since 2015. In a 2014 interview, the broadcaster revealed that the couple understands the responsibility of being lesbians in the public eye. This no doubt influences others in the LQBTQIA+ community to live life on their own terms, publicly and unabashedly.

The list goes on. These are a select few examples of women making history in the United Kingdom today. Whether you’re a business owner or a passionate employee, take this as an opportunity to get involved in International Women’s Day this year. How will you endeavour to break the bias?