So International Women's Day has come and gone, but at W&T, we'll be celebrating the occasion next week with an event with UK author Naomi Alderman, US author Sarah Blake and Turkish author on the topic of women and self censorship - 'Breaking The Silence' - a timely topic considering that while much progress has been made, and quite a few glass ceilings have been broken, equality between the sexes is neither a given nor has it been achieved. Reflecting on what this day means, it occured to me that I hadn't given it much thought before the Eighties. I guess you could say it was my moment of awakening. I remember my awareness being heightened when Cory Aquino's People Power revolution swept away the Marcos regime. Around the same time, Benazir Bhutto had just come to power. And of course, over here in the UK, the Iron Lady held court. I remember looking at these women and thinking that if there were more women in high office, surely war would be less prevalent; after all weren't women supposed to be more nurturing, in touch with nature and all that. (And then the Falklands happened but that's another topic for discussion another day.) Regardless, these women were instrumental in my being conscious of the opportunities and challenges available to women everywhere. For that moment of awakening, I have Cory, Benazir and Maggie to thank.