From the pink Labour bus to small Saudi victories, this is what 2015 looked like for feminism

Corbyn's 50/50 cabinet wasn't quite what it seemed, and Clinton gave Trump a run for his money

Hillary Clinton reminded Bernie Sanders that he voted for removing Col Muammar Gaddafi from power in Libya in 2011 (Getty)

2015 has been a mixed year for women in particular. There have been some great triumphs, such as the Women’s World Cup - and then there have been some hugely retrograde steps, like Donald Trump’s numerous sexist remarks including the denigration of Hillary Clinton on the basis of her gender rather than her policies.

I’ve worked hard to pick out a personal highlights reel that represents all facets of feminist achievements and downfalls in the last year - so, without further ado, here are my seven biggest moments.

Saudi steps toward equality

Women in Saudi Arabia finally gained the vote and opportunity to stand for office this year, showing a landmark move towards equality in a volatile environment for women. However, it remains that women are still not permitted to drive, leave the house without a chaperone, try on clothes while shopping, or wear anything except the long black robe dictated by a strict dress code. Clearly, many more pillars towards equality are yet to be achieved in the country. Let’s hope this is the beginning of an upward trend.

The tampon tax retained

The downing of the proposal to oppose the tampon tax at the EU was an integral moment in British politics, with the Conservatives, including their female MPs, voting sorely against the motion. A sad moment for women, but one that was not left to rest, with Osborne then putting forward the idea to divert the tax funds to women’s shelters.

That was a fine enough idea, but in practice it means that women are effectively self-funding their own services in the event that they are raped or experience domestic violence. Needless to say, these services should have been funded regardless of whether women were buying sanitary towels or not.

Corbyn’s 50/50 cabinet

Jeremy Corbyn’s so-called 50/50 cabinet was seemingly a changing moment for women at Westminster, with them occupying half of the Labour front bench for the first time. However, if one looked slightly closer, many hold rather tenuous and minor posts, with men still holding the prime spots of Shadow Chancellor and Shadow Foreign Secretary. Corbyn’s defence - that the roles considered ‘most important’ were only labelled that way by a patriarchal system in the first place - didn’t convince many.

New Clinton on the block

Hillary Clinton’s sweeping success in the USA this year has been a great step for womankind, with her remaining in prime position for the Democratic nomination for the US Presidency. Her campaign has been strong, well-thought-out and has shown that it may be possible for a woman to hold the most powerful office in the world.

Following in the footsteps of Condoleezza Rice, she has earmarked herself as the opposition to Donald Trump, who has spent a portion of his campaign criticising her on sexist and gendered grounds. As Trump raged about banning Muslims from the US, Clinton tweeted: “The idea we’d turn away refugees because of their religion is a new low.”

Sturgeon’s SNP sticks to its principles

Nicola Sturgeon’s amazing leadership of the SNP, which she led to a sweeping victory in 2014, has continued. Her manner, approach and determination have been inspiring to watch - and her party has continued to stick to its principles rather than being swayed by its new presence in Westminster, most notably voting against Syrian air strikes in December.

The pink Labour bus

One of the key moments of 2015, sadly, has to be Harriet Harman’s pink bus. Brought out to attract more female voters for Labour during the election, it appeared to have the opposite effect, with many pointing out that it typified the female voter as a pink-loving, pinny-wearing housewife. Like the infamous Better Together character who talked about her politically engaged husband and “that guy off the telly”, making up her mind based around what’s best for “the children” back in 2014. Perhaps it’s time for politics to de-pinkify.

Women on the ball

The wonder that is the Women’s Football Team in this year’s World Cup, who got further than any team preceding them, and truly putting the men’s team in the shadows.

Here’s hoping for a more equal - and vastly less patronising - 2016.