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.”

You can read the full feature here.

As Budget 2012 announcements are taking place in the House of Commons today, women’s groups call for a feminist budget.

Read the article in full on the Women’s Views on News website.

‘The Women’s Budget Group said in their briefing released last week that Plan A has failed and it’s time for ‘Plan F’, a feminist plan for economic recovery.

The charity campaigning for equality between women and men, the Fawcett Society, also released a briefing on Monday condemning the impact of the Chancellor’s austerity measure on women and calling for greater equality.

The Chancellor George Osborne is making his 2012 budget announcement today amid speculation that he will seek to cut child benefit for those who pay the 40p tax rate and reduce the 50% rate of income tax for the highest earners.

The Women’s Budget Group budget briefing argues the Chancellor must maintain the 50% tax rate and tighten tax loopholes. This will provide billion-pound savings, and introduce a financial transactions tax that can help subsidise social and child care.’