International Women’s Day (or IWD for short) is a day to recognise the achievements of women and to push for our economic, political and social rights.
While spotlighting gender (in)equality is a good first step, meaningful change isn’t going to happen unless we take action all year round.
In 2023, we believe going beyond awareness is essential to drive meaningful change for women. That means taking tangible steps at an individual, organisational and societal level to redress gendered imbalances and build a fairer world for everyone.
A brief history of IWD
So how did it all begin?
Over the years, women have gathered, rallied, protested and demanded equal rights. Way back in 1908, 15,000 women of New York City marched the streets in protest of long hours, low pay, and to reform child labour laws, as well as gender-based voting restrictions.
In 1910, Clara Zetkin pushed for an International Women’s Day at the second International Conference of Working Women, determined to give women a greater voice for their demand for equal rights and was met with unanimous support.
The following year, the day was honoured across much of Europe. And in 1975 the day was, finally, recognised by The United Nations.
So, what’s the problem?
While advancements have been made, even today, we continue to fight for better working conditions and fair wages across the globe. Protests, gatherings and celebrations have continued to take place each year on IWD, but many of these events are starting to feel a little performative.
If, like many of us, the end of February rolls around (a little too quickly for our liking) and you’ve done a quick google search of “How to celebrate IWD in the office,” you’ve probably come across multiple unrelated themes. Why?
Private companies have begun creating their own themes to capitalise on the movement and even use it as a way to drive profits. While we champion anything that contributes to the progression of women, these conflicting themes dilute the aim of the day and movement.
Why IWD needs to be more than a one-day event
Each year IWD brings the topic of women’s rights to the forefront of the global conversation. It’s an annual reminder of the great leaps and bounds that women have taken to ensure their right to equality and gives a voice to our further demands to make this a reality.
It inspires, empowers and brings us together. And there’s a lot yet left for us to fight for.
Unfortunately, the gender pay gap in Australia is still sitting at 13.3%. While we’d never suggest not celebrating and elevating women, we need more than one day of branded shirts, breakfast panels and cupcakes to see meaningful change.
How to keep the conversation of gender equality going
Making the world a better place can seem like an overwhelming challenge. But little steps each day can help see huge improvements.
Let’s take a look at some actionable steps we can all take to promote gender equality and the ethos of IWD year-round.
1. Prioritise pay transparency in companies
In Australia, the gender pay gap means that each week women earn $263.90 less than their male counterparts. While there are plenty of gaps in the research, we also know women with intersectional identities face even higher pay gaps.
In fact, The World Economic Forum reveals it will take 150 years to close the gender pay gap globally.
These are big numbers. And sometimes it can feel overwhelming and out of our control. But what we do know is that pay transparency can help close this gap.
For companies, it’s time to look at human resource policies, from hiring to promotion, and identify any gender biases. How are different roles distributed by gender – and is there any discrepancy in how roles are valued?
If you have the capacity to ask these questions and advocate for change in your workplace, it’s time to make the push. Learning more about the new salary transparency laws being introduced in Australia is a great place to start.
2. Making quality childcare free
Making childcare free, or at least more affordable, is proven to boost women’s participation in the workforce. With free childcare, the levels of disposable income in households would rise, and with it, consumer spending and overall demand.
But we believe that women are more important than just their economic value. The freedom of returning to work, without spending a significant portion of pay on childcare, benefits the health and happiness of an entire household, too.
Getting behind grassroots movements like The Parenthood is a practical step we can take can to advocate for affordable high-quality childcare and the flow-on benefits for families and kids.
3. Support women in positions of leadership
While women make up 51% of the workforce, they remain underrepresented in key decision-making roles, comprising only:
- 19.4% of CEOs
- 32.5% of key management positions
- 33% of board members
- 18% of board chairs
These numbers are pretty dismal, Australia. That’s why elevating women to leadership roles can have huge benefits.
Research has shown that increasing the representation of women in executive roles can half the gender pay gap and can add a whopping $70 million increase in the market value of an average-sized company. See, it makes commercial sense.
How do we make this reality? Thanks to The Business Council of Australia, McKinsey & Company and the Workplace Gender Equality Agency there’s an evidence-based way to get more women into leadership roles. Here are a few handy tips:
- Make a commitment to diversity with your business partners
- Actively sponsor rising women and set them up for success
- Set clear diversity goals, backed up by accountability
- Support talent through life transitions, such as starting a family
4. Protecting women’s health
The healthcare system is failing the women of Australia. Medical gaslighting is rife, with one in three women reporting that their health concerns were dismissed by their GP.
And the gaps are even more significant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, they are three times more likely to suffer complications with childbirth than non-Indigenous women, and twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease and experience higher rates of cancer.
On top of that, medication isn’t even usually designed for women’s bodies, leading to more complications and adverse reactions.
While, unsurprisingly, there’s not been a whole lot of research into why this disparity exists, simply put: the system was built by men, for men.
Addressing these biases requires structural change from within the medical industry, but there are a few things we can do to demand the quality healthcare we deserve.
Using your voice is powerful, keep a journal of symptoms, ask for second opinions and referrals, and if you think your doctor isn’t listening to you, it’s okay to speak up. You know your body better than anyone else.
Feeling empowered to make waves?
In the fight for women’s rights, International Women’s Day can be a great catalyst for jumping on board. But it’s important to remember that issues like these can’t be solved in one day, and for meaningful changes to be made, small steps need to be taken every day.
So enjoy the cupcakes today, and bring on the revolution tomorrow.
