Like other feminists in the 1970s, I wore badges proclaiming "the personal is political" and went on marches for "A woman's right to choose" and "Reclaim the night". I wrote and performed songs for demos and street theatre with titles like "Sistersong" and "Bent Ladies". I was young then and it was exciting being part of this new Women's Liberation Movement. But I was also troubled by the fact that most of the women going to meetings and marches looked quite like me – white women in their twenties to forties.
How brilliantly different it was being on the Million Women Rise march through London ten days ago, surrounded by women of diverse colours, ages and backgrounds – dancing, drumming, singing and marching together in vibrant solidarity. "Power… Power to the women" – a ringing call and response chant rose above the streets, led by Sabrina, Anjum, Lucy, or whoever had a strong voice or megaphone. A group calling themselves "Indian Ladies of the UK", flung off their warm coats and started us off with Bollywood dancing that quickly drew a crowd. One called out "Women oppose sexual violence in India and UK", as many more joined their voices in agreement.
