For more than a century, International Women’s Day has been a symbol of progress and equality. Yet today, its significance feels more urgent than ever. Misogyny is on the rise, not in the form of outdated catcalls, but as something far more insidious and deeply embedded in our societies.
The alarming popularity of Andrew Tate and his harmful, misogynistic ideology is proof of this disturbing trend. A recent survey marking International Women’s Day found that 64% of UK adults believe misogyny is a serious issue, with three in ten considering it a very grave concern. They are right to worry.
Women’s sports are another battleground in this fight for equality. Sporting bodies have prioritized perceived “trans rights” at the expense of fair competition for female athletes. It’s a disgrace that women’s sports receive only 4% of global sponsorship funds, but an even greater injustice that over the past few years, female athletes have lost an estimated £1.5 million in prize money to male competitors identifying as female.
More than 3,500 races have been won by male athletes in women’s sports, affecting over 11,000 competitions. Biology exists, and the female category must be protected to ensure fair competition. Some organizations, including the FA and governing bodies in cricket and golf, have shielded elite sports from this issue while neglecting grassroots levels, where the impact is severe. Contact sports like football pose particular dangers, leading many parents to pull their daughters from competitions altogether.
Young girls’ feelings and aspirations deserve as much consideration as those of trans athletes. The erosion of women’s rights, coupled with the rise of online misogyny, underscores the need for women to stand together, empowered by resilience, unity, and determination.
Last week in Paris, I attended a conference honoring the extraordinary courage of Iranian women fighting against the oppressive regime of Ayatollah Khamenei. These women risk their lives daily to combat a brutal system that denies them basic rights. Their stories of suffering and defiance were heartbreaking yet inspiring.
One of the leading voices in this fight is Maryam Rajavi, head of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. She has spent decades advocating for democracy, gender equality, and the separation of religion from state governance. Despite assassination attempts and relentless threats, she remains steadfast. Her words at the conference resonated deeply: “Technology has advanced, human knowledge has expanded, yet society remains deeply misogynistic.”
Though Iranian resistance and fairness in women’s sports may seem unrelated, they share a common thread—both are fights for justice, dignity, and equal opportunity. We must never back down. Progress is possible, as seen in recent victories such as the International Olympic Committee’s renewed commitment to protecting female categories and the press regulator’s ruling affirming the right to describe transgender football players by their biological sex.
These wins remind us that when women stand together—whether on the streets of Tehran or a sports field in the UK—we can challenge injustice and prevail.
