This week’s big news

Cressida Dick Other UK female firsts Helen Sharman In 1991, 27-year-old Sharman became the first British person to go into space.

Margaret Thatcher Thatcher was the UK’s first female Prime Minister, serving from 1979 to 1990.

Diane Abbott In 1987, Abbott became the UK’s first black female Member of Parliament.

Sayeeda Warsi Baroness Warsi was the first Muslim to serve in a British cabinet (the group of senior politicians in charge of government policy).

Rebecca Stephens Stephens became the Meet London’s new top cop first British woman to n 22 February, London’s new chief include working to prevent terror climb Mount Everest, Oof police was announced. Her attacks and other crimes. Another the world’s highest name is Cressida Dick. She is the WOW! big challenge will be policing mountain, in 1993. Cressida Dick is first woman to take charge of protests and events, to make London’s main police force, related to the women’s sure they don’t turn violent. Nicola Adams the , in rights campaigner, Sophia She’ll be paid more than The first woman ever to its 188-year history. Jex-Blake, who died in 1912. £270,000 a year. win an Olympic boxing Jex-Blake was Scotland’s title, in 2012. Adams first practising female What’s the job? doctor. Who is Cressida Dick? was born in Leeds, in Dick studied agriculture at Commissioner of the Metropolitan West Yorkshire. University and later took a master’s degree Police is one of the most important in criminology (the study of crime and criminal and difficult jobs in the UK. The new commissioner Amy Johnson behaviour) at Cambridge University. She gained the will oversee a workforce of almost 49,000 people, In 1930, Johnson highest marks in her class. Dick joined the police in with a budget of more than £3 billion to spend on became the first female 1983 and gradually worked her way up the ranks. keeping London safe. Dick’s responsibilities will pilot to fly solo from Eventually she was put in charge of keeping the Britain to Australia. She London 2012 Olympics safe from terror attacks, and set many flying records International Women’s Day also oversaw other major police operations. “I am during the 1930s. thrilled and humbled,” she said about her new job. Cressida Dick may be the first woman to lead the What do people think? Elizabeth Garrett Metropolitan Police, but women all over the The new commissioner is highly respected and Anderson world still face an uphill battle to achieve popular. She won the support of the London mayor, In 1865, Elizabeth equality with men. Even in the UK there are far , and the , , Garrett Anderson more male politicians than women (just 196 out to get the top job. Not everyone is happy with the became the first female of 650 are female), and in lots of jobs, women decision, though. Dick was in charge of an operation qualified doctor. It was are still paid less than men. On 8 March it is that resulted in an innocent Brazilian man, Jean recently discovered that International Women’s Day, which is a global Charles de Menezes, being shot dead by police in James Barry – another celebration of the social, economic, cultural and London in 2005. Police officers mistakenly thought he 19th century doctor – political achievements of women, and a chance was a terrorist. It was later decided that Dick should was actually a woman to shine a light on gender inequality. not take personal responsibility for the tragedy. – Margaret Ann Bulkley.

2 The Week Junior • 4 March 2017