The number of active grassroots feminist organisations has doubled in the past two years, according to a research carried out by the campaign group UK Feminista.

Kat Banyard, the founder of UK Feminista and author of The Equality Illusion, says “It’s a really exciting time. We are seeing a real resurgence in feminist activism that is moving from the margins to the mainstream”.

“People are willing to put up their hand and say they are a feminist without the fear of being ridiculed. Particularly in the past 12 months, we are seeing people standing up and willing to be counted.”

Campaigners can be found in practically every area of Britain – even the Orkney Feminist Network has 40 followers on Twitter, the Guardian reports. Michael Moore, the regional organiser for UK Feminista in Northern Ireland, said sites such as Twitter and Facebook had enabled people in even the most remote parts of the UK to tap into the debate. “Now it’s as easy as sending an email to mobilise people. There’s no apologies, no minutes – people can engage and thrash out issues in an online space immediately. It’s really sped up the power to communicate.”

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