Celebrating International Women’s Day in the Critical Communications industry

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8th to honour the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide. This year “DigitALL: Innovation and Inclusion”; is the theme set by the United Nations Observance of IWD 2023, and highlights the importance of bridging the digital gender gap to promote gender equality.

As a critical communications business, we recognise the significance of IWD in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women in our industry and beyond while also acknowledging the challenges they face.

The History of International Women’s Day

The origins of IWD can be traced back to 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding better pay, shorter working hours, and voting rights. The following year, the Socialist Party of America declared February 28th as National Women’s Day. In 1910, an international conference attended by over 100 women from 17 countries established March 8th as International Women’s Day.

Since then, IWD has become a global movement for gender equality. It is a day to celebrate progress made towards gender parity while also recognising that there is still much work to be done.

The Importance of Gender Equality

Gender inequality remains a significant issue globally. According to UN Women, women earn only 77% of the amount earned by men globally. Additionally, women are underrepresented in leadership positions across industries.

In the UK specifically, progress towards gender equality has been slow but steady. While there are more women in leadership positions than ever before, they still make up only one-third of board members in FTSE 350 companies.

Achieving gender equality requires collective action from individuals and organisations alike.

Celebrating International Women’s Day UK

This year’s IWD theme emphasises the importance of digital inclusion in promoting gender equality. With more people working remotely than ever before due to the pandemic, access to technology has become increasingly important.

Conclusion

International Women’s Day UK is an opportunity for us all to reflect on progress made towards gender parity while also recognising that there is still much work to be done.