Blog: UoB's inspirational female political alumni

Written by Grace, Secretary of Women in Politics

I’m Grace, a third year Politics and International Relations student and Secretary of the UoB Women in Politics Society. March is International Women’s Month, the perfect time to celebrate sisterhood, female empowerment, and the achievements of women everywhere. What better way to do this than to highlight some of UoB’s very own inspirational women in politics?

Female students from the university have gone on to incredible careers in activism, public affairs, and Parliament. Despite facing countless barriers, these women have carved out spaces of political influence and demonstrated the capacity to reshape institutions historically dominated by men.

1.Jess Phillips MP

Jess, born and raised in Birmingham, is the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley who holds a postgraduate diploma in Public Sector Management from the University of Birmingham. She is committed to women’s rights, championing the Domestic Abuse Bill, securing £20 million in funding for victim services, an incredible achievement. She also helped to launch the #NotTheCost campaign to combat the violence faced by politically active women, as well as the ‘Recl@im’ Internet campaign, which challenges abuse faced online by MPs. She is a leading voice for female participation and ending violence against women.

2. Glanis Changachirere

Glanis is a Zimbabwean activist who holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University. At age 26, she founded the Institute for Young Women’s Development, a grassroots organisation that encourages growth and leadership for women and girls. The organisation’s efforts focus on dismantling gender-based violence, ending child marriage and encouraging female participation in politics across Zimbabwe. Her organisation has reached at least 350,000 young women and has over 7000 members, impacting young women and girls in life-changing ways.

3. Zarah Sultana MP

Zarah graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2012 with a first-class degree in International Relations and Economics, she has been the MP for Coventry South since 2019. During her time here, she was involved in political campaigns on issues from Free Education to anti-racism. She is now one of Britain’s most prominent socialist leaders, co-leading the new ‘Your’ party alongside Jeremy Corbyn. Her influence spans topics from ending the genocide in Gaza, to being a prominent role model for young women in politics.

4. Sonia Khan

Sonia studied Political Science and Government at the university and has since worked across various influential government sectors, including the Civil Service, the Department for International Trade and HM Treasury. She was recently awarded Public Affairs Woman of the Year. She is passionate about expanding political access to minority groups and kindly attended our Women in Politics National Conference in November as a speaker. She champions her voice as a woman in politics by writing about broadening political access in The Times newspaper and frequently speaking on broadcast television.

5. Baroness Valerie Amos

Valerie Amos is a British politician and the first Black woman to serve in a British cabinet, as leader of the House of Lords, and to head an Oxford college. During her life she has broken a myriad of intersectional barriers. She earnt her Master’s degree in Cultural Studies here at the University of Birmingham in 1977. She has been a long-time campaigner and advocate for human rights, social justice, and equality issues, and is the true representation of female inspiration.

Happy Women’s History Month

This month is a chance to celebrate the incredible women around you and the barriers they’ve broken. Let their stories, especially those who once walked the halls of UoB, inspire you to recognise your own power and speak up for what you believe in.

Check out what's on for Women's History Month.