#BeBoldForChange Be Inspired this International Women’s Day by 10 top Scouse Females

It’s International Women’s Day 2017 and we want to take this opportunity to give a huge shout out to all the incredible women who have changed the shape of our amazing city, and in some cases the world!

As a day-long global celebration of all things female, International Women’s Day is also a call for gender parity. Women are still not paid equally to men, women are still not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

However, great improvements have been made since International Women’s Day reignited in 2000, there are female astronauts and prime minsters, more girls than ever before have access to a university education and there’s a significant rise in working mums who come to the workplace armed with unrivalled multi-tasking and leadership skills, proving that we really can do it all.

The Liverpool Girl Geeks, a group of women on a mission to close the gender gap through positive interventions, workshops and classes and to inspire women of all ages, have lined-up a number of International Women’s Day events taking place in Liverpool, ready and waiting for your support. Check them out here.

International Women’s Day is a national holiday in many countries from Afghanistan to Zambia, where the tradition mirrors that of Mother’s Day with men and children honouring their female relatives, friends and colleagues with small gifts and flowers.

We’re flying the flag for equality here at The Guide Liverpool and in support of International Women’s Day we’re highlighting 10 scouse women who have inspired generations of others to make their mark on the world of media. From actresses to DJ’s, writers and broadcasters, how many of these trail-blazing women do you look up to?

1 – Margaret Aspinall

It took her decades of fighting the establishment to get justice for her son James’s death, she led the Hillsborough campaign with dignity, determination and bravery, and became the chair woman of the support group, finally winning her battle in April of last year when verdicts were overturned. We, like the entire population of our city take our hats off to one incredible mother, scouser and woman. Justice for the 96. x

2 – Kim Cattrall

Best known for her role as Samantha Jones in Sex and the City, Kim Cattrall was born in Mossley Hill before moving to Canada as a baby. Despite moving away at such a young age, Kim remains loyal to her scouse roots, even educating David Walliams on his chat show about Global Scouse Day last week! Kim chats with our Jay at The Collective Honours in the video above.

3 – Coleen Rooney

Her hubby may be the Man United captain but Coleen is very much as scouser, and proud of it too. The papers love to splash her picture all over the style pages to discuss her outfit at the Grand National, but Coleen is no one trick pony. As well as being a fully-fledged fashionista, she is a tv presenter, columnist and charity patron as well as being a full time mum to three (maybe four if you include Wayne) boys!

4 – Molly Bushell

If you’ve ever set foot in Goodison Park you will know all about this historic toffee lady….no? Well Molly Bushell is the lady responsible for creating Everton Toffees in 1759 (hence us not having a pic of the lady in question) from her little shop near Prince Rupert’s lock-up, which features on the Everton FC crest. Who’d have known all these years later the phrase ‘Up The Toffs’ would be thanks to her?

5 – Janice Long

Born in Liverpool in Liverpool in 1955, Janice Long is a highly respected radio presenter and DJ, having started her career in broadcasting at BBC Radio Merseyside in the early 80’s. The older sister of broadcaster and actor, Keith Chegwin, Janice is something of an enigma when it comes to new musical talent. She was the first to give airtime to a very young Amy Winehouse when presenting a show on BBC Radio 2.

6 – Cilla Black

Many people have a ‘lorra-lorra’ love for Priscilla Maria Veronica White OBE, better known as ‘Aar Cilla’. Born in Vauxhall, she’s the nations tv sweetheart who had a career spanning over half a century as a singer, TV personality, actress and author. Cilla died in Spain in 2015 and to mark her commitment to her hometown, a statue of her was erected outside the Cavern Club where she started out as a cloak girl.

7 – Lita Roza

We all know the famous 1953 tune ‘How much is that doggy in the window’ but do you know it was a number one smash hit single for Liverpool singer, Lita Roza? Lia became Liverpool’s first ever chart-topping solo singer with the catchy song and for her efforts she is remembered on Mathew Street’s wall of fame and gave her final performance on BBC Radio Merseyside in 2002. What a legacy!

8 – Alison Steadman OBE

Shirley Valentine, Gavin and Stacey, Life is Sweet, Little Voice, Fat Friends….Alison Steadman’s cv is never ending and yet she’s still in the thick of her acting career despite turning 70 recently. Born in Liverpool in 1946, Alison is a multi award-winning actress who was presented with an OBE in 2000 for her services to drama. We think she deserved it purely for her role as Pam in sitcom Gavin and Stacey.

9 – Carla Lane OBE

Described as a ‘television writer who dared to make women funny’, Carla Lane OBE is best known for screenwriting scouse comedies, The Liver Birds and Bread, as well as a whole host of other tv shoes between the 60’s and 80’s. Born in West Derby won her first literary accolade at the age of 7 when she penned a poem while at school. Carla used to meet her writing pal, Myra Taylor at the Adelphi Hotel to pen comedy scripts that would eventually lead to the pilot of The Liver Birds in 1969

10 – Lily Savage

Born to a single mother, Mary ‘Hellcat’ Savage, outside the Legs of Man pub in 1955, Lily Savage is a comedienne ‘smoker with a scouse accent, created by Liverpool’s beloved Paul O’Grady during his first attempt at creating a drag act back in the late 1970’s. Lily has gone on to host her own game show, hosted Top of the Pops and even took over from the legend Paula Yates with Lie-In with Lily on the Big Breakfast. Lily, we salute you!

This is just a tiny selection of scouse women who have made their mark on the media industry. International Women’s Day 2017 is about pledging support to do your bit to help achieve equality and inspire the next generation of women to maintain it. How will you #BeBoldForChange ?

Head to www.internationalwomensday.com to pledge your support and find out more.

Who inspires you, drives you, supports you and cheers you on in life? Give them a high five from us today and tweet us your #BeBoldForChange selfies @TheGuideLpool or email us info@theguideliverpool.com and we’ll share them on our socials.