Who we are

Who We Are

We are the Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for women’s rights and gender equality. For more than 150 years, we’ve campaigned for women and girls. To live free from fear and on equal terms with men.

Our founder, Millicent Fawcett, fought for women to win the vote. Today, we fight for a world where every woman and girl can make her own choices, free from misogyny and inequality.

What drives us

Across the UK, women’s rights are being pushed down the agenda. Misogyny is rising in politics, online, and in public life. Progress that once felt secure is being rolled back.

We will not let that happen.

Inequality impacts every woman. Whether at home, at work, online, or in wider society. We exist to tackle misogyny wherever it appears. To root it out. Call it out. And to demand that women can live free from abuse, from fear, and disrespect. We are an anti-racist, intersectional movement. We stand with women and girls of every background, at every stage of life. Shape

How we create change

We combine campaigning, research and advocacy to challenge the systems that drive misogyny and inequality. Our priorities focus on where change is most urgent and where our voice can shift policy, culture and public debate.

This work is powered by our members, local groups and allies. We are a movement of people who act and our members drive and shape our campaigns.

Together, we’ve secured better parental leave proposals, fairer pay protections, and historic wins such as the decriminalisation of abortion in England and Wales. We’ve helped ban gagging clauses that silence women at work. And we’ve kept long-running injustices, like the WASPI campaign, on the national agenda.

Every success comes from people who share a belief that change is possible, and that it happens when we act together.

Join us

Feminism isn’t finished.

Join us; be part of a growing movement that is fearless, inclusive and determined to build a fairer future for everyone.

“Misogyny is growing, but so is our determination to end it. This is our time to fight — together.”
— Penny East, Chief Executive

Become a Fawcett member today

Useful Info

Want to find out more about Fawcett? Click the links below to:

Latest

AI and Gender Equality: Bringing the conversation to Parliament
Baroness Harriet Harman stepping down as Chair

After strong leadership on women’s rights, Harriet wlll continue supporting the organisation and wider movement.
Join us for our flagship annual conference

A discussion on the solutions to tackling misogyny and sexism.
Why the Equality Act Matters For Everyone

During Women’s History Month, we explain why the Equality Act matters for everyone and why protecting these hard-won rights is vital.

Our new Chair, Harriet Harman

Mother of the House Harriet Harman joins the Fawcett Society as incoming Chair.
Review – Women at the top: time for quotas? event

21 JANUARY 2016

Who we are

The Fawcett Society is the UK’s leading feminist charity, fighting misogyny and driving real change for women and girls. Through campaigning, research and advocacy, we challenge the systems that hold women back and push for a fairer, safer and more equal future. Join us to help make it happen.
Work with us
Join our movement for women's rights

We campaign for gender equality. At home, at work, and in public life. Join us — become a Fawcett member today!
Our history

Millicent Fawcett began campaigning for women’s equality in 1866, and was instrumental in achieving first votes for women in 1918. At The Fawcett Society, we’ve continued her legacy of fighting sexism through impactful research and hard-hitting campaigns for over 155 years.
Fawcett research shows exposure to gender stereotypes as a child causes harm in later life

7 MARCH 2019: New polling today shows ‘significant and wide-ranging consequences for both women and men’.
Close the gender pay gap

Did you know it will take 100 years to close the gender pay gap at current rates? We cannot afford to keep going backwards.
Equality – it’s about time: Timeline of women’s rights 1866-2016

29 JANUARY 2016
Menopause and the Workplace

Our new landmark report reveals a lack of basic support and damaging stigma which means the needs of menopausal women are being ignored both in the workplace and by healthcare providers.
Find a local group and download our resources

We’re delighted to have a growing number of active and effective local women’s rights meet ups, who work in the local community to enforce change and campaign on our behalf. Their work is invaluable to Fawcett.
Equal Pay

The Equal Pay Act in the UK is not fit for purpose. We're calling to end pay secrecy with a legal 'Right to Know'. The time for change is now.