Fleetwood MP's push for women's studies

Ms Smith posed a question in the ‘feminism in the school curriculum debate ‘ in the House of Commons on Monday about the alleged lack of information given to youngsters about women’s activism at a pre-college level.

She said to fellow Labour MP Dr Rupa Huq, who headed the debate: “I discovered feminism through doing my A-levels – not A-level politics, but A-level sociology –which opened my eyes to the inequality that women face.

“Does she agree that women’s voices are often silenced in political debates, and that seems to be a way to silence the women from the past as well as those of the future? Do you agree that women’s voices are often silenced in political debates, and that seems to be a way to silence the women from the past as well as those of the future?”

Dr Rupa Huq agreed with Ms Smith’s statement.

She replied: “Women’s studies should not just be for women; this matters to all of us. The proposed syllabus implies that women do not belong in politics and that their contributions are not significant. The Government must now be clear and confirm the number of women thinkers on the new syllabus, their names and whether feminism will be fully reinstated.”