When Jessica invited me to contribute to this blog I like many others was stuck thinking about what to write. Having largely avoided the world of blogging before I was unsure about which issue to concentrate on, what aspect of my experience of being a Labour woman I wanted to draw on. Should I list the numerous times I have had to justify all women shortlists to my male friends, should I recall the horrific displays of sexism from those who claim to champion equality, or should I convey my frustration at the continued under representation of women within our decision making structures.

I could write something on all of these points, but then I know I am not alone in experiencing those feelings or situations- and instead I wish to use today- International Womens Day to talk about the positive aspects of being a woman within the Labour party, and the real benefits a blog like this could have on our movement.

As a young member of the party I have women to thank for my first exposure to the party and my involvement to date. It has been my fellow sisters who have explained the acroynms, pushed me to stand for positions and inspired me to get more involved. From the female MP I worked for right to my fellow Labour student feministas I have seen what a difference a supportive womens group can have on my experiences as a member, and the strength of our party as a whole.

But as many will no doubt highlight more needs to be done. This week at our NUS womens conference we highlighted time and time again the continuing barriers to female participation in politics and political life. Even within the student movement we see the traditional gender divisions continuing with high proportions of female welfare officers, and men continuing to dominate the roles of president and treasurer.

Of course more prominent women at the top isnt going to prevent the scenarios I highlighted at the start, plus we cannot expect all women to share in our own perceptions of feminism or sexism. However this blog and others like it is a welcome way of helping each other to share our experiences as female members of the party, as women who want to change the potrayal of women in the media, and as ultimately people who share a desire to see issues that affect women remaining or increasingly being represented within political thinking or discourse.

My own feminism has changed rapidly over the years from initially not associating with the term right through to today being active in NUS womens campaign. So whilst I am new and inexperienced blogger I look forward to reading and contributing to this invaluable page over the coming weeks and months.

Same Struggle - different means

My interest in politics developed, through the experience of being English born of Irish immigrants, in the early 1980’s. I thought about joining the Labour Party but I didn’t know how to, and never thought that standing in the High Street shouting and selling newspapers was for me. At University I was persuaded that the Labour Party could be home for the aspiration and experience of more than the highly visible and fairly noisy male. I learned that organisation is crucial but there are different ways to organise, that there are techniques to learn to make different voices heard, that throughout the world those without power organised to take power. That power, voice and influence is never given.

In the intervening 25 years I have never doubted that women should organise and take power, and on the left we have. However, I have doubted the capacity of any political party to change to realise our aspirations and do more than acknowledge our experience, I am dismayed by the sexist nature of attack on women in politics, the over promotion of males, the lack of younger women coming forward to take winnable positions in political parties. I looked at some political blogs and welcome the launch of left blogs but rather like newspaper selling didn’t feel it was for me. Now it is a matter of time and relevance. Following the debate with Gordon Brown on Mumsnet and most debates on Labourlist etc is exactly like comparing my conversations on the doorstep to various General Committee meetings through the years. I know the struggle is the same but I have been persuaded the means must change and to join political women taking our place in the blogosphere, it is certainly much warmer than the High Street and I look forward to the debate. Also in those 25 years Ireland and the political experience of the Irish has been transformed. However I write as soldiers are shot in Antrim. On International Women’s Day I would like to dedicate my thoughts to their families and the hundreds of women who have worked across the sectarian divide in Ireland to bring peace to their communities. It was they, not Bill Clinton or Tony Blair who forced the peace process. Let us hope they have the strength not to let the boys and their guns take us back.

Karin Smyth

Women's rights in the workplace "a lot done, a lot more to do"

As we commemorate International Women's Day 2009, I thought it a fitting opportunity to reflect upon the steps taken in the last decade that have made a real difference to women's working lives. Trade Unions, women's groups and other campaigning organisations have been at the forefront of a movement to secure better rights, conditions and representation for women in the UK.

From the minimum wage to the extension of paid maternity leave, the introduction of paid paternity leave for new fathers and equal pay and conditions for part time workers - who are disproportionately women - including equal pro-rata pay, pension and holiday entitlements as full timers.

In addition, there has been the introduction of the right to request flexible working for parents of children under six, with plans to increase to 16, or disabled children under 18 with a duty placed on employers to take these requests seriously. Political parties have been given the right to take measures to increase the number of women elected at all levels - only Labour has used these new powers.

Yet, while massive progress has been made, we must not be complacent - women still only make up around 19% of Westminster Parliamentarians and flexible working too often, in reality, places the additional burden of request and responsibility on the woman. We have won much but the fight goes on the ensure that women are recognised in the workplace and represented in politics.