In celebration of Women

 My father-in-law liked the colour purple so wearing a velvet coat of that colour for supper was always a success.  However, the significance of colour in our lives is far more deeply embedded than just aesthetic impressions and preferences. Colour has practical applications to help us navigate our environment, it affects our mood and emotions as well as having historical, cultural and symbolic attachments. 

Purple is associated with creativity, with imagination and with spirituality. These attributes have long been associated with women, whose strength in many aspects of life is derived from empathy, team spirit, the ability to listen or what is usually described today as emotional intelligence. It is no surprise therefore that purple is the official colour of international Women’s Day which was celebrated yesterday on March 8th. 

The day aims to celebrate women’s achievements in the workplace and politics as well as their broader contributions to culture and society. Over the last century, at least in some countries, changes have been written into law and, more slowly, into culture for greater equality and fairness in the lives of women though it has a long way to go. As a result, there are some practical aspects of life that many of us can take for granted today – the ability to have a bank account, to vote, to speak out and to take part. 

These rights have been fought for which is odd in some ways as they should be self-evident if you believe in the mantra that “all people are born equal”. In England, in the early 20th century, the women of the suffragette movement fought for women’s right to vote. They used purple, white and green as their colours. Purple represented dignity, but thanks to its long association with royalty and luxury, it is also a symbol of power and status.  The other two colours were white of purity and green for hope and they were all used in banners, ribbons and clothing during protests and rallies. This theme was even referenced in Downton Abbey when Lady Sibyl came to the fore once more. 

Last Friday I was invited to Poland as the keynote speaker at a conference to celebrate women in Poland. The first speaker though was the First Lady of Poland, Marta Nawrocka, who spoke about true courage – the refusal to respond  “with hatred to hatred”. It was an honour to listen to her. 

My talk was perhaps a little more lighthearted. I began with a few words in Polish – slightly nerve wracking before relaxing to speak on the subject of “Heritage as a global force of leadership”. I hope always to entertain – that was why we all watched Downton Abbey – but also to think about the strength of legacy, resilience and the sense of place.

The entire conference had a sense of energy and camaraderie which are essential for life, with interesting panels and talks from women focussing on all of our roles whether in national defence, coping with mental health challenges, ensuring financial independence and of course, female achievements in science, technology and medicine. Warsaw is after all the home of Marie Curie, to whom we are all in debt today. 

Marie Curie was extraordinary. She was a pioneering physicist and chemist, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the only person, man or woman, to win a second one, in fact they were in two different scientific fields, for Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911. Apart from her scientific work, a central theme of her life was the importance of getting doctors, scientists and intellectuals from all over the world to work together. Convinced of the need for cooperation, she joined the International Commission for Intellectual Cooperation (a consequence of the 1922 League of nations), bringing together intellectual and scientists from all over the world. She even encouraged Albert Einstein to join. 

The conference (Polka XXI Wieku) (Polish Women of the 21st Century) is a remarkable event, seeking to expand its scientific and cultural links towards an international platform. Nations recognising women’s rights and place are more economically successful and hats off to the conference organisers and founders for arranging it. It has been an amazing weekend.