Liverpool charity pushes for equal gender representation in history books

Research indicates that fewer than one in five figures detailed in school history books are women, highlighting a significant gap in gender representation.

Kate Chadwick from Tomorrow’s Women emphasises the importance of young girls learning about women's contributions to history, advocating for their inclusion in educational materials.

"I think women and girls need role models. I think they need to see that there are women of history who have contributed to society, who have caused societal change, who have contributed to politics and inventions and campaigned for things. It's so important that women can see other women achieve."

Tomorrow’s Women is a Liverpool-based charity that empowers women through mental health, wellbeing, and practical support services, helping them overcome challenges and build brighter futures.

The study further reveals that while 57% of people feel more confident naming male historical figures, many are calling for changes in the national curriculum to address this disparity.

Concerns also point to future consequences, where AI systems could perpetuate gender bias if historical records remain unchanged, with 65% expressing this fear.

Chadwick stresses that showing more women in history is crucial for representation and inspiring young girls:

"We do make a real point of educating the women that we support, that there are such powerful women, there's such strong women, there's such intelligent women in the past and that allows the women that we support to be empowered that they too can achieve these things..

The push for a formal review and correction of historical records is gaining momentum, as two-thirds of respondents support such action.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.