Women’s History Month: Top photos from The Independent archive

This Women’s History Month we are highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society

Ann Hayes lifting in the Women’s Powerlifting Championships in Manchester, UK, 1992 (Peter Jay/Independent)

A look in our archive at women who have impacted societal change, championed causes, showcased their strength and upheld our safety.

From being a pioneer in the arts to creating safe spaces for women in our communities, we reflect on strong and influential women in UK history.

For any enquiries regarding the images featured here please contact: esilibrary@esimedia.co.uk

Rev Joyce Bennett in Prestwood, Bucks. Rev Bennett of St. Martins-in-the-fields outside her local church (David Rose/Independent)

Rev Joyce Bennett in Prestwood, Bucks. Rev Bennett of St. Martins-in-the-fields outside her local church. She was the first Englishwoman to be ordained a priest in the Anglican Communion in 1971.

HIV/AIDS activist Marguerite Littman, 1987 (Keith Dobney/Independent)

HIV/AIDS activist Marguerite Littman at Christies King Street. SW1 with “Head of a Woman”. No 91 in a catalogue donated for the Aids Crisis Trust Auction by Hon. Jacob Rothchild.

Women’s ordination vote at The Synod, 1992 (John Voos/Independent)

Activists for and against the ordination of women gather as the Synod voted in 1992, the General Synod of the Church of England voted to ordain women.

Activist Monica Furlong, 1986 (David Rose/Independent)

Monica Furlong photographed for The Independent. Furlong campaigned for the ordination of women priests in the Church of England, once arrested for chaining herself to the railings of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Women’s Institute: Some of the 7,000 delegates to the WI AGM make their way to Kensington Gardens for lunch, 1990 (John Voos/Independent)

Women’s Institute is a community-based organisation for women in the United Kingdom. Formed in the UK in 1915, original members helped produce food during the First World War. Now the largest women’s organisation in the UK, WI set out to give women a voice and to be a force for good in the community.

Mairead King, Women’s Section, Sinn Féin (David Rose/Independent)

Mairead King, a peace activist from Northern Ireland, Women’s Section, Sinn Féin. In 2008 Sinn Féin asked to hold an International Women’s Day event in the Long Gallery at Stormont to commemorate Mairead Farrell.

Campaigner Dr Margaret Spufford 1992 (David Rose/Independent)

Dr Margaret Spufford at the end of her campaign to open a hostel for disabled students at Cambridge, June 1992. She was appointed OBE for services to Social History and to disabled students in 1996.

Rachel Whiteread installing her work at the Karston Shubert Gallery, 1995 (Nicolas Turpin/Independent)

Rachel Whiteread installing her work at the Karston Shubert Gallery at Foley St in May 1995. Whiteread was the first woman to win the annual Turner Prize in 1993.

Volunteer at Castleford Women’s Centre, 1994 (David Rose/Independent)

Volunteer at the Castleford Women's Centre, 10 years after the Miners' Strike.

Diane Julie Abbott, British Labour Party Politician, 1980s (David Rose/Independent)

Diane Abbott became the first black female MP in Britain, elected to represent Hackney North and Stoke Newington in the 1987 general election.

Powerlifter Ann Hayes, 1992 (Peter Jay/Independent)

Ann Hayes lifting in the Women’s Powerlifting Championships in Manchester, UK, 1992.

45 years of Women’s Hour, Party at the University Women’s Club, 1991 (Nicolas Turpin/Independent)

Women’s hour has been making programmes for and about women for the best part of a century, though initially presented by a man the show has seen a fanfare of iconic female presenters Joan Griffiths, Jean Metcalfe, Olive Shapley.

Pearl Sagar, Women’s Alliance Party, 1996 (Brian Harris/Independent)

Community worker and Politian Pearl Sagar OBE, Women’s Alliance Party.

Susanna Samson at the Options Women Mean Business Awards, 1986 (John Voos/Independent)

Business woman and designer Susanna Samson at the Options Women Mean Business Awards at The Savoy Hotel, 1986.

Thames Valley Police Women, underwater search unit and mounted section, 1987 (Keith Dobney/Independent)

Thames Valley Police Women, all in specialist departments, arrive at a photo call at Milton Keynes Police Station. They are led by W.P.C. Williams (of the underwater search unit) & W.P.C. Wright (of the mounted section).

For any enquiries regarding the images featured here please contact: esilibrary@esimedia.co.uk