Messages from our Youth Panel on International Women's Day

Equality hasn't been reached and we need to keep striving to ensure all women have access to all opportunities they desire. Feminism needs to include all women, and that means we need to speak up for women across the globe.

I am scared for the future.

Don't let other peoples' preconceptions hold you back from seeking out the life you want to live. Just because women aren't represented in an area, doesn't mean you can't do it. Be the change you want to see.

Misogyny is not your fault. You are a person, not an object.

• It is okay to make mistakes, every single day is a new chance to start again.
• Social media shows everyone's best bits, not their whole story.
• The future is important, but so is the present.

People often forget the weight young women have to carry. Things like the stress of walking home alone or catcalling get normalised as part of the female experience, but that doesn't mean it doesn't take a toll on your mental health, having to be on guard. People also often turn a blind eye to 'casual' misogyny in daily life, and that can really take a knock on the confidence of young women. I wish people acknowledged the strength it takes for women to keep going despite the systemic barriers remaining in our way.

I feel so much pressure to look a certain way, and it’s so tiring to fight against that rhetoric. Women have to think about so much more in order to be safe and successful.

I feel women need safe spaces and community support. Brilliant role models already exist for girls, but their experiences need to be upheld more in communities, encouraging women to follow their aspirations. We also need communities to acknowledge the intersections of bias and womanhood. The experiences of racialised women will always be different to their white parts, and same goes for trans and disabled women. These voices need our support more than ever in times of such uncertainty and backlash.

If I speak up about feeling patronised, I need to be taken seriously. I am not being overdramatic, even if the patronising wasn’t done with malicious intent.

We need YoungMinds to continuing standing up for all women, acknowledging the unique barriers they face surround mental health and support, especially for those facing multiple systemic barriers to support like trans and racialised women and girls. Having organisations acknowledge that equality isn't there yet helps us feel seen and supported in our continued efforts for equality.

I want to see work being done to prevent violence against women and girls and support victims.