Fanny Mendelssohn, a German pianist, was the eldest sister of Felix Mendelssohn. She composed upwards of 460 musical works but virtually none of these were published during her lifetime and the few compositions that were made public were published under the name of her brother Felix. Her father did not encourage her either: "Music will perhaps become Felix's profession, while for you it can and must only be an ornament". Even her brother, although admiring of her talent, did not feel is was appropriate for her 'womanly duties' to be disturbed by the publication of works in her own name. Only in recent years has her output received the attention it deserves, at last her compositions are now widely performed and recorded, and the BBC has recently examined her legacy as part of their inspiring women series.
Additionally, the BBC have published their annual list '100 Inspiring Women of 2018'. What an incredible list it is, filled with women who have done amazing things for the world in which they live. I just want to highlight the work of one, Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista, a lawyer in Peru and an advocate for women. Arlette Contreras, as she is generally known, came to prominence in 2015 when she was assaulted by her boyfriend in a hotel with the entire incident being recorded by security cameras. She was seriously injured leaving her with a permanent disability. Despite the incontrovertible evidence against her ex-boyfriend, he was given a suspended sentence.
Contreras risked her safety by going public, protesting against the way she had been treated and the attitude of the judges. As a result of her courage, there was one of the largest demonstrations Peru had seen, with thousands of women marching in support of, and as, victims of domestic violence. The appeal court of Peru then overturned the sentence which was then substituted with more serious charges. This act of bravery has set an example to other women suffering and has helped changed attitudes not only in Peru, but further afield too.
From reading these amazing stories, I looked inward at my own company as gender still sadly is an issue in the workplace (like the gender pay gap for example). I believe diversity enhances the performance of an organisation and my practice is full of brilliant women. Our senior management team is 55% female, and the leadership potential is immense! It has been great to see the gradual change in leadership balance as the firm has grown, there is no doubt that we are much stronger as a result.
From mentioning Arlette Contreras above, I think it is appropriate to highlight our family teams - led by two inspirational women. Jenny Brunt and Haley Farrell lead of private and public family departments respectively and deal with issues of property, contact arrangements, domestic violence and the protection of children. They are women I believe anyone would want on their side when the difficult issues of relationship/family breakdown occur. They are empathetic, strong and pragmatic in the way they give advice and protect rights. They also inspire two large teams with their supportive leadership approach.
The world is constantly moving forward. Fanny would thrive in a career as a composer today! However, the need for new trail blazers and women who will inspire and change society will be crucial for generations to come. Let's continue to herald their achievements!