Dagenham and Rainham has always championed the development of women and celebrating female successes and endeavours that makes us proud of our constituency. From the Dagenham Girl Pipers to the nomination of our first female Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Cllr Margaret Mullane, women have made up the backbone of our constituency.

Feminism was pioneered by Mary Wollstonecraft, an East End woman who lived on Whalebone Lane. Wollstonecraft wrote the seminal A Vindication of the Rights of Women which developed feminist theory that is still paving the way for equality today and empowered other Dagenham and Rainham women to change the course of history. This included prison reformist Elizabeth Fry and RMS Titanic survivor Eva Hart.

Dagenham and Rainham took centre stage in the female fight for Equal Pay, with the Ford Machinists Strikes in 1968. When Dagenham and Rainham women paved the way for the creation of the Equal Pay Act 1970 and developing a gender equal legacy for working and local women in our community to aspire to. Women in our constituency have always stood up for what is right and continue to inspire younger generations to follow in their footsteps to change history.

Fay Hough, Women’s Officer for Dagenham & Rainham CLP says: “Women in Dagenham and Rainham have catalysed the status and development of gender equality both in the constituency and for the wider country. I am honoured to be the Women’s Officer in a CLP where equality has built the foundations of our constituency and where the positive and incredible legacies of local women have encouraged the empowerment and development of women and girls.”