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Has Feminism made women more free? - WRN National Conference 2026

It's tempting to think that the big problems of women's inequality have been solved, but is this true or have the problems simply changed?

Is life better for young women than their mothers, or do they just have different challenges?

When feminists strove for equality, they wanted to remove the barriers that prevented women from engaging fully in society - they wanted us to be able to work after marriage if we choose, to have bank accounts, be able to borrow money or start businesses, buy property and travel without male approval. That equality of opportunity has morphed into expecting women to operate in the world as if we are men, without regard to the differences between sexes.

WRN's Emma Thomas chairs this panel, which includes:
- Rosie Duffield MP - Independent MP for Canterbury
- Susanna Rustin - Author of “Sexed: A History of British Feminism”
- Victoria Smith - Author of “Hags” and “Unkind”
- Maeve Halligan - Co-founder of Cambridge University Women’s Society

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You can also find more news, articles and videos on our substack at https://womensrightsnetwork.substack.com

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In April 2026, Féile an Phobail (Festival of the People) accepted a proposal from Women's Rights Network Northern Ireland (WRN_NI) to hold a panel event 'Respect, Rights & Reality' as part of that year's festival programme.

With just two weeks to go before the event, Feile cancelled WRN_NI. You may have seen some press coverage about the attempts that the women of WRN_NI made to have the event reinstated.

The event was ultimately held in a Belfast hotel to a much larger audience, and to much acclaim.

This is a recording of that event. Enjoy!

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to hear more, go to womensrights.network/wrn-podcast to listen, download and subscribe to more of our episodes.

You can also find more news, articles and videos on our substack at https://womensrightsnetwork.substack.com

And if you’d like to join our live conversations, go to womensrights.network/join-wrn

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Is the social contract between women and the State broken? - Women and the Law - WRN National Conference 2026

Over the last decade+, public bodies and employers embedded policies and procedures that impacted women and girls and their relationship with those organisations. As the public sector became overtaken by ideology, there has been an erosion of women’s rights. Promotion of ‘critical theory’ over actual equality/social justice.

For Women Scotland seemed like a watershed moment for women’s rights, yet for over a year, the Government that claims they are committed to upholding the rights of women and girls failed to lay the EHRC Guidance before parliament.

Our panel of Susan Smith (For Women Scotland), Maya Forstater (Sex Matters), Professor Jo Phoenix and Akua Reindorf KC discussed, with Emma Hartley chairing at the WRN National conference in 2026.

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to hear more, go to womensrights.network/wrn-podcast to listen, download and subscribe to more of our episodes.

You can also find more news, articles and videos on our substack at https://womensrightsnetwork.substack.com

And if you’d like to join our live conversations, go to womensrights.network/join-wrn