FCB Inferno Marks Women's Suffrage Centenary with #VoteNext100
Today marks the 100-year anniversary of the first women in the UK being given the right to vote. It was the first step for women everywhere to begin the long standing, and still ongoing, movement to fight for their equality.
To celebrate this occasion, FCB Inferno asked 100 influential women to name the things they want achieved for women over the next 100 years. From free education worldwide, equal pay globally to a world without sexual violence, the 100 influential women have shared a few words on why it is so important to them. Take a look below at some of the suggestions.
And feel free to tweet your suggestions to the team at @FCBInferno with the hashtag #VoteNext100.
Vanessa Bakewell
Head of Entertainment, Facebook
In the next 100 years I would love to see the narrative change. All around us we see unnecessary sexual violence towards women in storylines in media, TV and film. I would love to see deeper, more meaningful, strong female central characters in a prolific way across all channels. You can’t be what you can’t see.
Susan Credle
Global CCO, FCB
A world where I can walk anywhere a man can safely and without judgement.
Caroline Baume
Marketing Lead, Europe Oreo/Milka Biscuits
I am a mother, a sister, a friend, and a daughter. My wish is that all the little girls of this world won't have to be super-women to become the great ladies they are meant to be...I don’t want us to be aiming for equality and freedom. I want us to simply BE equal and free.
Erika Darmstaedter
Global Chief Client Officer, FCB
#GlobalEqual pay - although I’d like to achieve it earlier than the next 100 ;)
Gurjit Degun
Experiences Editor, Campaign
I'd like to see a world where we no longer have to discuss rights for women, but rights for all.
Alexandra Jardine
Creativity Online
I would say more money ploughed into making childbirth safe for mothers worldwide.
Selena Schleh
Deputy Editor, Shots
I’d like to see a culture in which women stop apologising for everything. Whether it’s for speaking up in a meeting, when you get your foot crushed by a big, sweaty bloke on the tube or trying to get past a group of boozy lads blocking the pavement outside a pub. It might be a British thing, but it’s also a woman thing. Saying sorry so reflexively is like apologising for our existence – so let’s not do it!
Fabiana Xavier
Senior Creative, SheSays London President
The one thing I would like achieved for women is equal pay globally.
Jo-Jo Ellison
Head of Film, Archer's Mark
Our world is sexually diverse but our laws are not. I am free to be the woman I choose to be and I speak out for my sisters who aren’t. I hope for a future of LGBTQ equality.
Emily Hare
Managing Editor, Contagious
I’d want to see progressive companies offering more flexible working arrangements for women and men. I think these supportive, inclusive working environments will help people to produce their best work and also benefit the company. Trusting people with how they organise their time and prioritise what’s important in their lives means that they will feel autonomous and have the opportunity to succeed. The companies should also benefit from increased loyalty, engagement and morale, creating a happier and more productive working environment.
Cynthia Augustine
Global Chief Talent Officer, FCB
Radical self-acceptance and love.
Julie Lagan
Digital Strategy Director, FCB Inferno
I would like to see a world without a #motherhood penalty. I meet talented mums all the time who are forced to give up work because they have taken time out from their career to care for children, and are unfairly penalised when they want to re-enter the workforce. This new world would celebrate shared care, with both mothers and fathers having paid time off. It would offer high quality affordable childcare. And it will have eliminated the dramatic pay gap that exists between working mums and their similarly qualified colleagues.
Sammy Andrews
CEO, Deviate Digital
I'd like to see equal rights for all - something that isn't even questioned because it is normalised. Equal pay, access to education and access to health care for all.
Kate Dale
Strategic Lead, Sport England
A generation of girls growing up without the fear of judgement so they are able fulfil their dreams, have their fun and be who they want to be.
Emily Winterbourne
Marketing Director, FCB Inferno
I'd like to see it made easier for women to get back into the workforce after having children. Affordable childcare, flexible working options and equal pay.
Rhiannon Van Ross
Director of Global Leaders in Law, an ALM company
The future must not belong to those who bully women. It must be shaped by girls who go to school and those who stand for a world where our daughters can live their dreams just like our sons.
Sonoo Singh
Associate Editor, The Drum
In the next 100 years I would like to see tired gender roles smashed. And removal of barriers that disproportionately affect women and therefore a complete inversion of structural changes that allows all of us to participate equally in our societies.
Sarah Lloyd-Hughes
Leadership Communications Coach, Speaker & Author, Ginger Public Speaking
I would like to see us vote in 50-50 male and female MPs. Why it’s important? Equal representation in Parliament means a step change in the way we make policy decisions; it would put issues like care and education higher up the agenda and ensure that men and women lead in partnership. That we would vote in 50% of female MPs would signal that society at large sees women as leaders and values their voices.
FCB Croatia office
Here is the wish from the Croatian FCB office (we are a 100% female office, so we know what we're talking about). We hope that in a 100 years, women's rights related issues will be something that won't be an issue at all and that people from the 2118 world won't understand the concept of gender inequality. Hence, we hope that in a 100 years, there will be no need for campaigns like this anymore.
Becky McOwen-Banks
Creative Director, FCB Inferno
Equal pay – at global scale. Based on current projections it will not be another 100 years until women are earning the same as men. This single subject hits so many of the issues faced by girls around the world. It is insanity that 50% of the population is written off or held back. Until it is seen that girls' contributions are as valuable as boys – from the school room to the board room – gender equality will stall.
Sharon Jiggins
Managing Director, FCB Inferno
A world where all children can enjoy a happy childhood.
Leonie Ellis
Brand Strategy & New Business, Knucklehead
I’d like to see women's sports and their achievements broadcast equally to the men's in 100 years time. If we look at our female national teams and individual accomplishments they are often overlooked in the press, even when winning. Coverage is still dominated by the men's teams - although this is beginning to change.
Holly Brittingham
SVP Global Talent & Org Development, FCB global
I’d like to see us achieve a higher level of consciousness and the ability to stop injustice before it starts.
Laura Swinton
Editor in Chief and MD, Little Black Book
In the next 100 years I'd like to see the end 'othering' of women. Why can't the default be female sometimes? Think of the difference it would make to employment, medical research, tech , and social care? I'd also like to see people in stereotypically low paid 'feminine' caring roles (whether male or female) treated with respect and paid WELL. It's not easy, it doesn't 'come naturally' to women and it is so important to humanity as a whole.
Isabelle Sakai
Marketing Director, Mondelez International
I feel we are so fortunate, spoilt really, to live in a highly developed country where safety or respect are considered as basic human rights. Our challenges are challenges 'of the rich': how to juggle work and life balance, the famous “mental load” that has been largely debated recently (at least in the French press), how to break the glass ceiling and access to the C-suite. I don’t underestimate those challenges – I actually live them every day, but they can’t compare to the right to free education, the need to eradicate forced marriage or fight circumcision amongst other tough topics. With this in mind, I will go for something which I think is relevant for all women around the world. It is developing a sense of possibilities, and gaining confidence in our ability to go as far as we want to. Whether it is towards the C-suite in our developed world, or become an entrepreneur in the developing world, or whatever women want to become really.
Taking from my personal example, having my parents and lager family being 200% behind the importance of education AND a great role model in my mum – working in and outside of the home, I could easily project myself in having a career and a family. I was given the gift of possibility and confidence in myself that everything was possible. Those who are not as lucky as I am to have had a successful working mom as a role model – they can look at other female executives, living proof that it is a possibility. It is important to normalise the idea of women as managers, senior executives and even CEOs.
I read a good article on Inc. on the subject. “They suggest to take a cue from the educational world, specifically the KIPP network of charter schools, which serves mainly low-income students. Every class, starting from the kindergarteners, is told throughout the year that they will graduate from college. They are told they can, and will graduate from college if they put in the work. This way, each student thinks of him or herself as a potential college grad – even if no one else in their families has gone to college.” We can translate this concept into our own workplace by showing it is possible and creating a sense of “yes you can”, building women’s confidence to think of themselves as future business leaders.
Karyn Rockwell
CEO, FCB New York
Young women walk into any board or meeting room trusting their gut and using their voice to express themselves freely.
