Kate Osborne, MP Jarrow and Gateshead East
This International Women’s Day we celebrate the social, economic, scientific, cultural and political achievements of women across the world. When women thrive, society thrives. Investing in women’s health and equality does not just lead to a fairer world – it leads to a more prosperous one too.
Right now, in a world too often shaped by conflict and division, where power remains concentrated in the hands of men intent on fighting each other, ensuring women can thrive is not simply a matter of fairness. It is essential if we want a more peaceful, equal and prosperous society, and if we are to tackle the most pressing challenges we face – from conflict to environmental crisis.
Women are the shock absorbers of poverty, violence against women and girls still remains at a crisis level and women continue to face systemic discrimination in workplaces, healthcare, politics and in society.
We have also seen a rise in sexism and misogyny fuelled by toxic online behaviour – 73% of social media users have witnessed misogynistic content online and it’s something I and many other women experience everyday on social media.
Of course the abuse I receive comes with an added serving of homophobia, we know that intersectionality means that working class women, Black women, disabled women and LBQT women often receive abuse more frequently and abuse that is compounded and more intense.
We must – invest in women, support women, develop women and, above all, believe women. Women like Gisèle Pelicot have reminded us in the starkest possible terms why women must be believed and why, in her now iconic words, the shame of sexual violence must “change sides”.
International Women’s Day is not only a moment to celebrate progress, but to confront the inequalities that persist and call for continued action. Nowhere is that more necessary than in healthcare.
Women’s health has historically been under-researched, underfunded and too often overlooked. Conditions that disproportionately affect women -from endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome to menopause and reproductive health issues – are frequently dismissed, misdiagnosed or left untreated for years. Many women still report having their pain minimised or ignored, a reflection of the misogyny that has long shaped medical systems and research priorities.
The gender health gap remains stark. Much of modern medicine was built on research conducted primarily on male bodies, meaning diagnostic tools, treatment pathways and clinical trials often fail to reflect the realities of women’s biology and lived experience. The consequences are often catastrophic: delayed diagnoses, inadequate treatment and poorer health outcomes for millions of women.
Reproductive and fertility care shows both how far we have come – and how far we still have to go.
As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fertility, I see first-hand the challenges many people face in accessing treatment. Across the UK there remains a postcode lottery for fertility care, with families unable to access NHS-funded IVF despite clear clinical need. Fertility care should not depend on where you live, your income or whether you meet narrow and outdated criteria.
The history of fertility treatment also reminds us of the extraordinary women whose contributions have too often been overlooked. Jean Purdy, the pioneering nurse and embryologist who co-developed IVF, played a crucial role in one of the most significant medical breakthroughs of the twentieth century. Her work helped make possible the birth of the world’s first IVF baby in 1978, transforming fertility treatment and bringing hope to millions of families worldwide.
Yet for many years Jean Purdy’s contribution went largely unrecognised. Like so many women in science and medicine, her work was overshadowed and her name left out of the story. Today she stands as a powerful inspiration – a reminder of the determination and resilience of women advancing healthcare despite systemic barriers.
Closing the gender health gap requires more than improving access to care. It means investing more, improving recognition of women’s pain, tackling racial and socioeconomic health inequalities, and ensuring research reflects the diversity of women’s lives.
I will continue doing all I can to fight for improvements for women across the world and here in the UK, I was proud my model legislation to ban conversion therapy was passed at the Council of Europe, this will improve the lives of LBQ women, and I will continue to fight for IVF for all.
The Labour Government is taking steps to tackle these issues through our VAWG strategy to strengthen women’s rights at work through our Employment Rights Act, introducing statutory maternity pay from day one, taking decisive action to tackle the epidemic of violence against women and girls and embedding domestic abuse specialists in every 999-control room, ensuring immediate support for survivors.
But we need to do much more, I will keep fighting to ensure that we do even more, especially for LBQ women, and to ensure we see greater improvement in women’s health.
I am proud to be the second woman MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, following in the footsteps of the formidable Red Ellen Wilkinson. As a young trade unionist, Ellen helped organise the Suffrage Pilgrimage in 1913, when more than 50,000 women marched to Hyde Park demanding the vote. As MP for Jarrow she was at the forefront of organising the historic 1936 Jarrow Crusade, an iconic protest against unemployment and poverty in Tyneside.
This year marks 90 years since that march, and I am working with community groups, constituents and colleagues in Parliament to ensure it is properly remembered – with Ellen Wilkinson at its heart.
International Women’s Day reminds us that progress has always been driven by women supporting women. By recognising pioneers like Jean Purdy and Ellen Wilkinson who never gave up. We must continue to challenge inequality, honour those who came before us- and build a fairer future for the generations that follow.