Fawcett holds first national Feminist Firewalk

PRESS RELEASE

Press release from the Fawcett Society (1)
Embargoed until 0.01hrs on Thursday 4 February 2010

Fawcett holds first national Feminist Firewalk

Photo opportunity with celebrity firewalkers at 8pm, Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre, London E14

On Thursday 4th February 2010 the Fawcett Society is holding the first national feminist firewalk.

The firewalk is a fundraising and awareness raising initiative. Fawcett supporters including Ken Livingstone (2), Sarah Waters (3), Tanika Gupta (4) and Oona King (5) are taking a stand to show that feminism is as relevant to us in 2010 as ever. 

Ken Livingstone (2), former Major of London and Fawcett Feminist Firewalker stated:

 “Now more than ever we must make people aware that women across the UK face inequality and discrimination. If it takes me walking on fire for people to notice, then I’ll walk on fire”.

Sarah Waters (3) novelist and Fawcett Feminist Firewalker said:

“Feminism is part of a wider struggle against all inequalities. Surely the real question should be, not ‘Why are you a feminist?’ but ‘Why aren’t you one?’

“Since women won the right to vote, feminism has achieved fantastic gains in UK society. But a glance at anything from the earnings gap to images of women in the media shows how far we still have to go. The Fawcett Society does brilliant work to publicise and campaign against gender inequalities, and I'm thrilled to be taking part in their firewalk challenge.”

Tanika Gupta, MBE (4) playwright and Fawcett Feminist Firewalker said:

“I am walking on fire for empowerment, for women and my three daughters’ future.”

Oona King (5) Channel 4 Television and Fawcett Feminist Firewalker said:

“The Fawcett Society is a brilliant non-party political organisation that campaigns on behalf of women.  I am prepared to walk on fire to highlight the discrimination many women still suffer – often on very low incomes – for no other reason than they are women. In 21st century Britain – it’s a shocker.”

Rowena Lewis, Head of Fundraising and Development at the Fawcett Society said:

“Women’s equality is so important we’re prepared to walk on fire for it.

“As we begin the countdown to the General Election the political parties are vying for the women’s vote, but are they doing enough to consider how their policies will affect women? The funds raised through the first national feminist firewalk will enable Fawcett to bring together individual women and women’s groups across the UK to ask politicians - including Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Leader of the Opposition David Cameron – ‘What about Women?’

“Feminism is as relevant now as it’s ever been. Today more and more mums are losing their jobs due to pregnancy discrimination (30,000 each year), in London women are paid on average 25.4% less than men for work of equal value, a woman is raped every half hour in the UK but less than 7% of reported rapes end in conviction.

“The key political parties must speak to the needs of women across the UK, and with the help of our feminist firewalkers we have raised over £10,000 that will help Fawcett make women’s voices heard in this election and beyond.”

The feminist firewalkers have already exceeded the fundraising target of £10,000 to raise in excess of £11,000, and counting.

The Firewalk will be supported and delivered by expert Firewalk company, Survivorbility (6)

For more information contact Rowena Lewis on 020 7253 2598. For out of hours media inquiries please call 07767 297812.


Notes to editor
(1)    The Fawcett Society is the UK’s leading campaign for equality between women and men www.fawcettsociety.org.uk

(2)    Ken Livingstone is available for comment and interview on 07799 583 443.

(3)    Tanika Gupta is available for comment and interview on 07943 196 332 and tanikagupta@hotmail.com

(4)    Sarah Waters is available for comment. Contact Fawcett on 020 7253 2598

(5)    Oona King is available for comment and interview. Contact Safiya Ahmed  on  020 7306 8721 or at saahmed@channel4.co.uk

(6)    Survivorbility runs safe, exciting and life changing fire walking events www.survivorbility.com