Resist

RESIST THE MANCUNIAN ISSUE First in the Fight: The Women Who Changed the city

The Women Redefining Strength, Skill and the City' Local, Led by Women, and Loved by the City

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'Local, Led by Women, and Loved by the City' The article highlights diverse women‑led Manchester businesses, stressing their cultural impact, community focus, and significance in challenging women’s under‑representation in entrepreneurship.

'Erased from the Record. Etched into the City'

Hidden in Manchester’s streets, forgotten suffragettes: mill workers, organisers, rebels, stitching courage into protest, reshaping democracy, their quiet defiance echoing beyond archives into living memory today and still.

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'The Safe Spaces Shaping Manchester's Community'

An Article showcasing a few of the charities that focus on women's health, safety, and growth in hopes to highlight the integral work they do for women in Manchester.

'Find your Season: A quiz to find your palette' A short, playful quiz helps you discover which colours suit you best, boosting confidence and self-expression by aligning your wardrobe with shades that make you feel empowered and comfortable daily.

First in the Fight: The Woman Who Changed the City Front and Centre, Emmeline Pankhurst remains one of the most recognisable figures of the British suffrage movement, a woman whose name has become inseparable from the fight for womenʼs political rights. In 1933 Rebecca West stated there is no one else like Emmeline Pankhurst.

Decades later, it is clear her legacy is not simply the result of historical hindsight,

but of a deliberate and highly visible leadership that forced the issue of womenʼs suffrage into public debate.

Pankhurst understood the power of presence. At a time when women were routinely excluded from political life, she placed herself firmly at the centre of national attention. Through relentless campaigning and extreme bravery, she ensured that the demand for the vote could no longer be dismissed. By placing herself at the forefront of the movement, Emmeline Pankhurst transformed womenʼs suffrage into a national issue, using visibility and determination to force political attention. Her leadership was deliberate and uncompromising, ensuring that womenʼs exclusion from political life was no longer treated as acceptable or inevitable, but as a pressing injustice that required immediate action.

' I'd rather be a rebel than a slave'' The city of Manchester plays an important role in this story. The cityʼs strong tradition of activism and reform created the perfect atmosphere for the suffrage movement ʻManchester - always a city of great political initiatives, hot feminist debateʼ, and it remains deeply proud of its role in that history. Today, landmarks, plaques, Statues (as shown on the left) and educational initiatives across Manchester, continue to reflect the cityʼs connection to the women who fought for change.

Within this civic memory,

Emmeline Pankhurst stands as a central figure, closely associated with Manchesterʼs identity as a place of protest and progress.

Rollyson, Carl, ʻA Conservative Revolutionary: Emmeline Pankhurst (1857-1928)ʼ,The Virginia Quarterly Review, 79.2 (2003), pp. 325–34, [25th February 2026].

Liddington, Jill, 'Era of Commemoration: Celebrating the Suffrage Centenary', History Workshop Journal, 59, (2005), pp. 194–218 [25th February 2026] Emmeline Pankhurst statue located in St Peters Square

Bessie Gillingham

The student designer who's destined for the bees Manchester Metropolitan University is one of the best fashion universities in the country. It's a city full of people daring to step outside the conventional box and express their true selves. Bessie Gillingham is a young expressive fashion art direction student. Her two current projects are hip-hop/hippie and 'La vie en rose'

Part of her learning at the university is to style different models and create different types of media and fashion directives. 'La vie en rose' is a take on hip-hop/hippie fusion style taking inspiration from an emerging sub-faction of modern styling but also adding to this style with her own vision and creative direction.

Contents

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'First in the fight: The Woman Who Changed the City'

A summary of one of the most influencia women in the fight for sufferage. The article will cover why she is remembered over a century later and how her lagacy lives on in the city

Contents Page First in the Fight Upcoming Fsshion Designers Redefining Strencgth A New Generation of Women Local Women-led Businesses Forgotten Women Safe Spaces in Manchester 'Whats ypur Season?

''The Women Redefining Strenght, Skill and the City' '

This article shows how powerful women can reshape a previously male orientated space. It demonstartes how women deserve a space in the sporting world and how they have done this.

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'Bessie Gillingham: Destined for the bees'

Bessie Gillingham, a young Manchester fashion designer at MMU University, uses her work to champion empowerment, creativity, and confident self-expression in contemporary fashion.

'A New Generation of Women This article shows how a new generation of women in manchester have created a space for themselevs and other women carrying on the strong legacy of empowerment.

Manchester is a hub of fashion within the UK, students from across the country come here to live out their creative dreams.

In the past Manchester had developed as a cultural hub with massive support for minority groups like the LGBT community, women and many more. this has lead to a city filled with creative, rebellious and alternative people from all walks of life.

Bessie has taken inspiration from and been heavily influenced by women in Manchester and they city as a whole. Her project 'La vie en rose' is a project designed to by looking at the world through rose tinted glasses. Manchester has been a positive beacon for the country in its development and people flock from around the globe to come and experience Manchester life and its creative atmosphere.

Historically women have confidently lead and kept the fashion world running.

Designers like Monique Nsiah from Manchester are founding fashion brands such as NSIAH - an ethical, environmental brands based around and inspired by nature. Her work is produced in a UK-based, renewable-energy-powered factory using organic cotton, and she incorporates natural patterns and photography into her designs. She is highlighted as one of the women “leading the way in art and fashion” in Manchester.

"La vie en rose'

Monique Nsiah A young black women designer from Manchester focused on sustainability and taking inspiration from nature.

The Women Redefining Strength, Skill, and the City Manchester has long cultivated a reputation as a city of radical politics and civic activism. From the militant suffrage campaigns of the early twentieth century to the contemporary growth of womenʼs football, the city has repeatedly been a site where women have demanded visibility in public life. Therefore, the popularity of womenʼs sport in Manchester should not be viewed, simply, as a modern progressive development. Instead, it reflects a longer civic tradition in which women have claimed space, recognition, and voice within arenas historically dominated by men.

The origins of this tradition can be traced to the suffrage movement. In 1903, Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Womenʼs Social and Political Union in Manchester, establishing the city as the center of militant suffragette activism.

Rejecting gradual reform, the WSPU adopted the slogan “Deeds not Words” and pursued direct action, including demonstrations, public disruptions, and acts of civil disobedience. These tactics were not only aimed at securing voting rights but also at challenging the exclusion of women from political and public space.

By occupying streets, meeting halls, and political platforms, suffragettes asserted their right to participate visibly in civic life.

A similar struggle over public visibility can be seen in the history of womenʼs football. In the early twentieth century, womenʼs matches attracted enormous audiences. The most famous example occurred in 1920, when the Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C. drew more than 53,000 spectators to Goodison Park for a match against St Helens Ladies. Yet the rapid popularity of womenʼs football also provoked institutional resistance. In 1921, the The Football Association banned womenʼs teams from playing on affiliated grounds, claiming that football was “unsuitable for females.” The ban remained in place for roughly fifty years, effectively marginalising womenʼs football from the professional sporting landscape. Much like the opposition faced by suffragettes, this exclusion reflected broader anxieties about women occupying spaces traditionally reserved for men.

The resurgence of womenʼs football in the twenty-first century has therefore carried historical significance, particularly in cities with strong traditions of civic identity. Manchester provides a striking example. The re-establishment of Manchester United Women in 2018 marked an important moment in the clubʼs modern history, and womenʼs matches have increasingly attracted large and enthusiastic crowds. In 2023, a Manchester derby played at Old Trafford drew more than 43,000 spectators, demonstrating the growing popularity and legitimacy of womenʼs football within the cityʼs sporting culture. Such support reflects not only changing attitudes toward womenʼs sport but also the broader civic pride that characterises Manchesterʼs football culture.

Understanding this development through a historical lens reveals important continuities.

The suffragette protests of the early twentieth century and the rising visibility of womenʼs football both represent struggles over public recognition and participation. In each case, women challenged entrenched assumptions about who belonged in the public arena.

Supporting women's teams in Manchester, therefore, is not simply an expression of contemporary progressive values.

Rather, it reflects a deeper civic tradition in which women have repeatedly asserted their presence within the cityʼs political and cultural life.

From the suffragette marches led

by Pankhurst to the chants echoing through Old Trafford today, Manchester remains a city where women continue to claim space, voice, and recognition in the public sphere.

A new generation of women Stories of resilience, leadership, and quiet transformation There is a new energy coming through Manchester, the sound of women organising, imagining, and building civic life on their own terms. A new generation of women are reshaping this city, by creating the spaces they need, and inviting others in.

Something that is striking is how varied these spaces are. Mothers against violence, has been at the heart of Manchester's inner city communities since 1999, founded in response to a surge of gun and knife violence, decades on, their work mentoring young people and supporting families continues to ripple outward, proving that grassroots leadership can outlast any funding cycle.

Or look at the Pankhurst centre, the world's only museum dedicated to the suffragettes, run by women who understand that civic pride isn't just about heritage – it's about stewardship. Their programme for girls and young women doesn't simply teach history; they cultivate it.

Women are also reshaping the economy. The Manchester women's institute has become a hub for skill-sharing, activism, and mutual support, while social enterprises like stitched up in Chorlton are using sustainable fashion to teach practical skills and challenge fast-fashion culture. These groups prove that civic pride can be sewn, mended, and remade!

A new generation of women is not defined by age but by attitude. The lonely girls club is a newer example of a group for women created in 2018, lonely girls club started with 5 girls, and now over 7 years later the lonely girls club is a national organisation bringing women together to connect, find support and try new things .

Power and purpose: the new face of Manchester Manchester has forever been a city of firsts. The first industrial city, the birthplace of the suffragettes, the home of radical idea. But the most recent revolution is happening in community halls, WhatsApp groups, allotments, sewing rooms and youth clubs. It's happening wherever women gather to say: this city is ours too.

A new generation of women were here all along, Manchester is simply learning to see them.

Women Led Businesses in Manchester

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Kimpton Hotel

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Nibble NQ

The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is known for its strong female leadership and staff- with Sharon Cameron noted for managing the hotel. This landmark is celebrated for its "Beyond the Uniform" initiative, which highlights the diverse women working there.

Nibble is located in Northern Quarter and is an Independent cafe. They offer homemade cakes, brownies and afternoon teas. They also cater to all dietary needs offering gluten-free and vegan alternatives. they are a small team of women who have built the brand from scratch.

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Feel Good Club

Feel Good Club is a female‑founded Manchester café built around mental wellbeing, inclusivity and community. Created by women, it offers a supportive, empowering environment through positive messaging, conscious design and open conversations around mental health. Beyond food and coffee, it nurtures confidence and connection through community‑led events, creative workshops and safe social spaces. Its female leadership centres empathy, collaboration and visibility, making it a welcoming hub where women feel supported, valued and encouraged to share experiences, build relationships and take up space within Manchester’s independent cultural scene

The Green Lab

The Green Lab in Manchester’s Northern Quarter was founded by sisters Nikita and Kanika Banga as a health-focused café and wellness space. Combining nutritious food, juices and fitness classes, the business reflects female entrepreneurship and promotes accessible healthy living within the city’s growing culture of sustainable, community-driven urban lifestyle spaces.

Women Led Businesses in Manchester

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Menagerie resturant Menagerie is a modern american immersive dining experience combining an innovative approach to food & drink alongside captivating performance in unique surroundings. founded by Karina Jadhav where they also host guest speaers and hold events.

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Ezra and Gil

Founded by Alison Creely and established in 2014, Ezra & Gil has become a Manchester brunch institution. Head to Hilton Street to see where it all started, or stay central and grab a coffee from our Peter Street shop. The names "Ezra" meaning 'helper' and "Gil" meaning 'happiness' embody an evolutionary concept in urban coffee and cafe culture.

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Hex hairdressing is led by ‘Head Witch’ Kayleigh Johnson, the hairdressers has an alternative and LGBTQ friendly environement. thier slogan 'Here at Hex we like to do things a little differently, great hair, by Good Eggs, for Good Eggs.

We aim to provide the most inclusive, bullshit free and welcoming salon experience in Manchester; with a wide range of stylists covering nearly every hair niche you can think of.'

The John Rylands Library is promoting world-leading research using the unique special collections of The University of Manchester Library. It was founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband John Rylands, Enriqueta is a entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Hex Hairdressing

John Rylands Library

Erased from the record: Etched into the City Manchesterʼs suffrage story is often told through its most famous names, but the movementʼs real engine was a network of women whose work unfolded far from the spotlight. These forgotten suffragettes ran printing presses from back rooms, stitched banners after long factory shifts, and turned ordinary homes into meeting spaces and safe houses. Their activism was practical, relentless, and deeply local.

Some sold suffrage newspapers on street corners, facing ridicule and harassment

Others organised strike support, fundraisers, or legal aid for arrested protesters. Many were working class women whose involvement rarely made it into official records, despite the risks they took. Arrest, blacklisting by employers, and family pressure were common consequences, yet participation continue.

There is a long list of these women but to name a few Esther Roper, the women who founded the Lancashire and Cheshire Women's Textile Committee, Mary Quail who worked to ensure representation for women within trade unions and Elizabeth Raffald who proved women did deserve a place in business.

Antrobus, Helen, Simcock, Andrew, First in the Fight, (iNostolgia Publishing, 2019)

Manchester's mass evasion at Census Lodge, Denison House, south Manchester.

Evaders on the staircase. John Brock collection.(Image: Martin Plant Photography Ltd)

The Safe Spaces Shaping Manchesterʼs Community MASH - began in 1991, during the hight of

the AIDS and HIV outbreak, as a small team of volunteers who aimed to support those working in an area everyone seemed to neglect - sex work. In 2000, they were considered pioneers for their approach to sex work and their connection to Public Health.

MANCHESTER WOMEN'S AID -

they offer their clients the confidential help they need and provide a holistic, safety-first approach. Their mission is to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse by providing a wide range of high-quality services to live an abuse free life. It was initially established in 1972 and formally recognised in 1974.

THE GIRL'S NETWORK - Becca and

SWAN - was established in 2007 to

promote the welfare of Black African women in Oldham. SWAN stands for 'support and Action for women's Network' and they predominantly work with women and their families who are first generation immigrants in the UK. They are a part of the Mama health and poverty Partnership, a collection of individual organisations that work with Black African women throughout the boroughs of Greater Manchester. Their work includes providing furniture to those less well off and providing one to one support to those who may have medical needs or poor mental health.

Charly began the girls network after realising many of the young girls they taught faced barriers that prevented them from reaching their full potential.

As a result of this, they established a one-to-one scheme for 30 girls in 2013.

This quickly became a big hit and The Girl's Network now inspires girls from the least advantaged communities through things such as workshops and mentorship.

Find Your Season!

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What colour is your natural hair?

2

What colour are your eyes?

A. Blonde

A. Brown

B. Brunette

B. Hazel

C. Ginger

C. Green

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D. Blue What is your Skin Tone

A. Cool B. Warm

Results ...

Winter A, A, A A, B, A B, A, A B, B, A C, A, A C, B, A

Spring A, C, B A, D, B B, C, B B, D, B C, C, B C, D, B

Summer A, C, A A, D, A B, C, A B, D, A C, C, A C, D, A

Autumn A, A, B A, B, B B, A, B B, B, B C, A, B C, B, B

Ada, Izzy, Freya, Katie and Maisie