Is International Women’s Day (IWD) still relevant today? Right here and right now?
Well, we really believe it is relevant, maybe more now than in the past few years. There had been much progress for women in all walks of life globally. However, with the arrival of the Pandemic and the rise of high-profile misogynistic influencers, women’s security and economic outlooks have taken a downturn. In our own community, the lion’s share of homeschooling throughout the various lockdowns fell to the women, who then had to put their own work on hold or overstretch themselves every which way. Economically this was difficult and had a massive impact on their physical and mental well-being.
As the world recovers from the lasting effects of the Pandemic it’s clear that women are still disproportionately affected by poverty, violence, and lack of access to healthcare and education. And not just in developing countries. Women still face gender inequality and discrimination in various aspects of life, including business, the workplace, education, and politics.
IWD is an important call to action and awareness. A day to recognise the achievements of women, not just the big achievers throughout history but those striving right now for recognition and excellence in their fields. A day to raise awareness of ongoing gender inequality and discrimination. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made towards gender equality and to call for continued action towards achieving equal rights and opportunities for women. And we never shy away from an excuse to celebrate the sisterhood’s achievements!
We believe that one of the most important functions of IWD today is to mark a global day of solidarity, where people from all genders and backgrounds can come together to support and empower women. A day to amplify the voices of women and advocate for our rights, to challenge gender stereotypes, and to promote gender equality.
So International Women’s Day still remains an important date on the calendar and is more relevant than ever, to celebrate and continue the ongoing push for gender parity.
IWD Logo reproduced by kind permission of Aurora Ventures (Europe) Limited
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