Thought For The Day – Thursday 12^th March 2026

Sunday the 8^th of March was International Women’s Day.

Thank you to Mr. Mariner-Goff for his excellent and insightful assembly this week.

Sexism and misogyny abuses and harms women and girls.

Sexism and misogyny abuses and harms men and boys.

Sexism and misogyny abuses and harms everyone.

On Tuesday, with an important speech in the U.K. marking International Women’s Day, Queen Camilla expressed support for survivors and victims of sexual violence:

“We stand with you and alongside you, today and every day, in solidarity, sorrow and sympathy. To every survivor of every kind of violence, many of whom have not been able to tell their stories or who have not been believed, please know that you are not alone,”

The event was organised by “Women of the World” , an organisation which campaigns for an “equal and inclusive future”.

The Queen, who has herself spoken about sexual abuse she suffered,  encouraged all to speak up and speak out:

“When we live in a culture of silence, we empower violence against women and girls,”

A woman is killed every three days in the U.K..

Negative prejudice, negative discrimination, wrong and disrespectful comments, abuse, bullying, harassment, gaslighting, manipulation, exploitation, macro aggressions, and micro aggressions are also experienced.

We need to engage with, listen to, and respect, people’s experiences.

And we need to very careful indeed with, and about, aspects of technology.  In her latest book, “The New Age of Sexism”, inspirational campaigner Laura Bates, who has visited T.B.S.H.S., and recorded a message we are watching in Citizenship lessons this week, writes of the very grave and evil dangers, beyond words, of aspects of the Internet, including Artificial Intelligence.

In her speech this week,  Queen Camilla talked about the importance of on-line respect and safety and the importance of male role models and warned about the Internet:

“It is in the online space where boys and young men absorb many of the values they will carry through until adulthood. If misogyny and hatred are not confronted here and now, then we will face far greater issues in the future.”

The Queen concluded by empowering and inspiring guests:

“Let your lives be the stones that will shatter glass ceilings everywhere and inspire generations to come.”

For sure there has been very much progress.

But there is still so much more still do.

In everything we do, we should, and must, at T.B.S.H.S., and beyond,  play our part, and continue to play our part, to lead the way.