New podcast series charting women’s fight for equal pay to launch this week

A new five-part podcast series examining women’s battle for pay parity is to launch on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1970 Equal Pay Act.

The Rebel Women podcast has previously shared the stories of a number of women’s rights activists, from suffragettes to Extinction Rebellion members.

Its latest series focuses exclusively on women who have fought for equal pay, such as trade unionist Mary McArthur, who championed the chain-makers of Cradley Heath, Ethel Froud, the general secretary of the National Federation of Women Teachers, and the Dagenham Ford machinists.

The podcast, part of a wider Women Activists of East London initiative from community-led education group Share UK, launches on Friday 21 August at 11am, and aims to raise awareness of the continuing campaign for equal pay, as well as to inspire a new generation of activists to take up the fight.

Podcast presenter, writer and historian Esther Freeman said: “Many people know about the Dagenham Ford machinists, but don’t know what led up to that moment.

“The fight for equal pay began many generations before. And it continues today, because we still have not solved the issue of pay parity between men and women.”

The Rebel Women podcast is available through iTunes and Google, or can be downloaded directly from eastlondonwomen.org.uk/podcast