Jude's trailblazers 'SECRETS TO OUR SUCCESS'

The United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day in 1975. The 50th anniversary is a chance to reflect on how far women have come and have yet to go

- Jude Dobson

Reflecting on my own life and that of my mother's, women's equality - or lack thereof - is demonstrated in all sorts of moments," says TV personality Jude Dobson.

"In the 1950s, my mum was one of only a handful of TEAL air hostesses. Marriage signalled an end to her international flying career because the rules stated hostesses needed to be single. That seems absurd now and when you think of the reasoning, sort of creepy.

"When I got the Sale of the Century presenter job in 1989, I was called a co-host instead of a hostess. It was a small but significant step forward. I was also given more airtime to talk than in other countries, which riled a few (male) viewers.

"I asked for time off in my contract should I have a baby, which took some negotiation. I didn't need to invoke the clause, but I made the point. By the time I had my third baby and shared her with Weekly readers in 2003 (above), I wanted to promote breastfeeding as a normal activity in public. I asked for a photo of me breastfeeding in the story. After a brief discussion, the magazine ran with it. Go the Weekly! "As a sisterhood, I feel challenging a norm that isn't favourable to women and making a new norm is integral to who we are.

Sometimes it's little steps.

"At other times, we can all hear the glass ceiling shatter and applaud, knowing women have forged a new path and made it easier for those who follow.

"To mark International Women's Day, I've had the wonderful opportunity to talk to four women from diverse sectors about their journey." These are their stories.

Dame Theresa Gattung