The rain-soaked, muddy field was a world away from the grand halls of the United Nations. Yet, it was here, in the heart of the NGO Forum at the 1995 Beijing Conference, that I witnessed the sheer force of global feminist solidarity. Forty-five thousand women from across the world had come together, many scraping together every penny they had to make the journey, determined to be part of history. I stood before them, putting forward a resolution demanding that the UN appoint a senior leader dedicated to promoting women’s equality.
The response was electrifying. A rousing roar of approval swept through the crowd. In that moment, it was clear – this was more than just a conference. It was a movement, and we were making change happen.
The conference wasn’t all grand speeches and resolutions. The setting itself was a stark reminder of the challenges we faced. Our hotel, an old Communist Party holiday building, was sparse and unwelcoming. Guards – mostly women – sat on every floor, ostensibly to prevent men from entering. But truth be told, there weren’t many men around at the NGO Forum anyway.
Of course, the true highlight of the event was Hillary Clinton’s speech. In a vast, muddy marquee, hundreds of NGOs gathered to hear her declare, "Women’s rights are human rights." The crowd erupted. It was a defining moment for all of us.
Beijing changed me and my life, but what about the world? Thirty years on, I see both progress and persistent struggles.
Women have undeniably advanced in leadership roles. The once-common argument that women couldn’t be strong leaders or that men couldn’t report to women has faded. Legal protections have improved, and there’s greater awareness of gender-based violence. Yet, the fight is far from over. The progress we’ve made is often met with backlash, and we find ourselves taking one step forward, only to be pushed two steps back.
This, I have come to accept, is the rhythm of feminism. Power is rarely surrendered without resistance. Male privilege, deeply entrenched in institutions and cultures, does not erode overnight.
Too often, gender equality conversations centre on younger women, sidelining the experiences of older women. Ageism, combined with sexism, leaves older women with fewer resources and limited spaces to live with dignity. In the UK, we are fortunate to have one of the best old-age pensions, yet older women still own less, earn less, and receive less recognition than their male counterparts.
We must rethink housing, work, and care systems. Women, especially those living alone, need greater support and community-driven solutions. And the growing crisis of violence against older women, even at the hands of their own partners or sons, needs to be addressed.
When I reflect on the Beijing Declaration and its vision for women’s equality, I see gaps. Society has changed dramatically – technology, employment patterns, and family structures are unrecognisable from 1995. But our policies and protections have not evolved at the same pace.
CEDAW must be fully embedded in UK law. We need widespread education on gender equality, starting from school. Men and boys must be part of the change, not merely allies but active participants in dismantling patriarchal structures.
We must also be cautious of narratives that undermine women’s hard-won rights. Women do not need to be “empowered” as if we are inherently powerless. We have always had power, especially within families and communities. The challenge is ensuring that power translates into broader societal influence and economic security.
Every day at the conference, NGOs gathered to push forward the outcome document that would become the Beijing Platform for Action. One of our major wins was securing language that called for a senior UN official to focus on gender equality. But we soon realised the risk – what if this became just another political appointment with no real impact?
Late one night, a secret meeting took place with UN staff who shared our concerns. They urged us to draft a formal reservation – something that had never been done before. Undeterred, we did it anyway. We were determined that this role should be meaningful, not symbolic. That moment taught me an invaluable lesson: institutions only change when people dare to challenge them.
Today, I am both hopeful and frustrated. The struggle for gender equality is not linear; it is a battle fought across generations. We celebrate our victories, but we must remain vigilant.
For older women, the fight is far from over. We need systemic changes in housing, employment, and care. We need feminist movements that embrace all ages, all races, and all abilities. And most importantly, we need to keep raising our voices – because, as I learned in that muddy field in Beijing, when women speak together, the world must listen.
Annette Lawson was born into a long-established Jewish family in England and grew up in Somerset, where she enjoyed a happy and independent childhood. She later attended university and pursued an academic career as a sociologist, living in both the UK and the USA. Her experiences of sexism in academia led her to feminism, and she has since dedicated herself to advancing women’s rights.
Annette has held leadership roles as Chair of Fawcett, NAWO, and the Women’s National Commission. She is also the co-founder and original co-chair of the UK Civil Society Women’s Association (UKCSWA).
