Embrace Equity

International Women's Day (IWD) has its roots in the early 20th century, specifically in 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding the right to vote, better pay, and shorter working hours. The following year, on March 19th, the Socialist Party of America designated the day as National Woman's Day.

Then, in 1910, the International Socialist Woman's Conference was held in Copenhagen, where German socialist Clara Zetkin proposed that an International Women's Day be established to promote equal rights and suffrage for women. That led to the first International Women's Day being celebrated on March 19, 1911, across Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Over one million people participated in rallies to demand women's rights to work, vote, and hold public office.

Since then, the significance of International Women's Day has evolved and expanded. Originally focused on suffrage and political rights, the day now also focuses on economic and social rights, such as equal pay and an end to discrimination and violence against women.

In more recent years, a specific theme has been applied to International Women's Day. For instance, last year I wrote about how 2022's theme was #BreakTheBias. For 2023, the theme is #EmbraceEquity.

Embracing equity is a crucial component of International Women's Day because it acknowledges that women and other marginalized groups face unique challenges and barriers that must be addressed in order to achieve true gender equity. Equity focuses on creating a fair and just society where everyone has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive, regardless of their background or identity.

In the context of IWD, embracing equity means recognizing that different groups of women face different levels of discrimination and oppression based on factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ability. It also means taking into account the specific needs and experiences of these groups when advocating for women's rights and empowerment.

By embracing equity, IWD recognizes the complex ways in which different forms of oppression intersect and compound one another. This approach acknowledges that fighting for women's rights cannot be separated from fighting against other forms of injustice, such as racism, ableism, or homophobia.

There are many ways to celebrate International Women's Day (IWD) and promote gender equity. Here are a few examples:

• Wear purple: The colour purple is often associated with IWD, and people around the world wear purple on this day to show their support for women's rights.
• Use social media: Share information, facts, and inspiration about International Women's Day using the hashtags #IWD2023 #EmbraceEquity.
• Educate yourself: Learn about the history of IWD and the ongoing struggle for gender equity. Read books, watch documentaries, and follow social media accounts that focus on women's issues.
• Amplify women's voices: Listen to and share the stories and perspectives of women in your community and around the world. Support and promote women-led businesses and organizations.
• Take action: Use IWD as an opportunity to take action for gender equity. This can include volunteering for a women's rights organization, participating in a local event, or starting a conversation with friends and family about gender equity.
• Show appreciation: Thank the important women in your life and acknowledge their contributions. You can also honour the women who inspire you by sending them messages of support or making donations to organizations that support women.

These are just a few examples, but there are many other ways to celebrate and support International Women's Day in 2023. The most important thing is to use this day as an opportunity to raise awareness about gender equity and to take action to promote it.