March 8th marks International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate and advocate for all women around the world and recognise the outstanding achievements of women globally.
A bit of history.
The first official celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8 was in 1975, however, the recognition of a day for women has a long history going back to the early 1900s. The establishment of a day to celebrate women provides the space for women to celebrate their achievements and continue the work to push for equality.
This year the theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Changing Climates: Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’, a theme designed to recognise the contribution of women who work toward building a sustainable future and those who are working to change the climate of gender equality.
The current state of affairs.
The importance of celebrating International Women’s Day is both to recognise the achievements of women but also the ongoing inequality and need for change as we look to the future. The UN Women Australia* has said that as of 2022, women earn 23% less than men globally, and occupy only 24% of seats in parliament globally. Within Australia, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency reported that Australia’s national gender pay gap was 14.2% in August 2021**, an increase from the previous report in November 2020. The increase in the gender pay gap means the push for gender equality and the recognition of International Women’s Day this year is increasingly important, especially as the pandemic continues to increase this shift backwards.
How to support women in your life this March 8.
Make it more than just March 8. It is important to recognise and celebrate women on International Women's Day, but the support for gender equality needs to happen all year round. This year don't be afraid to get involved, this is a day for everyone, and gender equality isn’t just about women, so it’s important for all genders to be involved.
Celebrate the women in your life and let them know the ways that they make your life better! Reaching out, making plans, or just having a chat are great ways to connect on IWD. Whether it’s making plans, sending flowers, or just reaching out to let them know they inspire you, connecting with the women in your life on March 8 is an important way to support the women in your life this International Women’s Day.
How will you celebrate the women in your life? Share with us today!
References:
*https://unwomen.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/UNWomenAust-IWD-Key-Messages-2022_FINAL.pdf
**https://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Gender_pay_gap_fact_sheet_Feb2020.pdf
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