Who’s she, the cat’s mother? No, she’s a force to be reckoned with!
Despite some gradual advancements toward equality, with more women entering male-dominated fields of business, politics, and even the final frontier of space, it is disheartening to know that there are still many countries where women and girls face challenges when it comes to:
Education
Employment and Equal Pay
Freedom
Discrimination, Abuse and Harassment
At GLP Training, we believe talent has no gender and that anybody can succeed with the right tools. We have celebrated and advocated on this particular date for a while. Regardless of gender, we believe now is the perfect time to get everyone involved or, at the very least, provide some fiery food for thought via this Hot Topic.
The 8th of March is International Women's Day (IWD), and this year's theme is Accelerate Action. If progress continues at its current pace, full gender parity, where men and women have equal rights, opportunities, and representation in areas like education, employment, and leadership, will not be reached until 2158, according to the World Economic Forum. Also, it is estimated to take roughly 300 years to eliminate child marriage.
This year’s campaign highlights the critical need to accelerate efforts to dismantle systemic barriers and biases that hinder women's equality. Despite progress, women worldwide (and even closer to home in the UK) continue to face persistent challenges that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Inequalities such as pay gaps, gender bias, and a lack of leadership opportunities create an invisible ceiling, keeping many from advancing despite their skills, dedication, and ambition.
These barriers mirror the plight of a hamster on a wheel. The hamster itself is determined to keep moving, scurrying its tiny little legs off constantly day in, and day out, but never actually moving forward no matter how fast or how long they run - much like women who exert equal or more tremendous efforts to encounter outdated perceptions and discrimination daily. That alone can be tiresome, but the constant struggle for equal pay, uphill battles to be acknowledged or unfair burdens of unpaid care work show that the cycle repeats itself.
What if the hamster stops running (or becomes too ill to be able to)? This too, reflects the reality for many women who become discouraged when progress is repeatedly blocked by pay disparities, gender bias, and a lack of leadership pathways, some may feel forced to step back, lower their ambitions, or even give up on dreams altogether. Some women reach the point where they pause out of exhaustion, which also robs industries, economies and societies of different perspectives to move forward and overcome.
This is what inspired International Women's Day in the first place.
The Past: How IWD Came to Be
International Women’s Day (IWD) is deeply connected to the early rights of women to be allowed to vote in both the US and the UK (which we brought up last year), including both the peaceful advocacy of the suffragists and the militant actions of the suffragettes in the fight for the ability to vote.
The colours often associated with IWD—purple for dignity and justice, green for hope, and white for purity—were first used by the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1908 to symbolise their campaign for women’s suffrage here in the UK.
Mud, Monster Meetings and Monumental Movements
Why the 8th of March?
Forgotten Feminism: Concepts of Equality
Feminism. It is one of the oldest and largest movements in history that addresses economic, civil, and ideological inequalities among men and women, and it has also expanded to include non-binary individuals in recent years.
Yet, depending on who you ask, this word can mean different things. Some wrongly interpret this as an insult, others think this comes with stigma, while others think there is only one ideology. For instance, a male attorney that believes in feminism may advocate for gender equality both inside and outside of the courtroom.
Here are some examples of the different types of feminism:
Liberal Feminism
Radical Feminism
Marxist / Social Feminism
Ecofeminism
Black / Womanist Feminism
Cultural Feminism
Postmodern / Intersectional Feminism
Transfeminism
Before you go...
That is all for this month, but before concluding, we would like to take a moment to share some inspiring and encouraging words from our esteemed CEO, Gemma:
International Women’s Day is a time for us to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women, both within GLP Training and among our learners. We’re committed to creating real opportunities, providing support that makes a difference, and ensuring everyone has the chance to succeed.
Discussion Points for Equality, Diversity, Tolerance and Respect
Can you name three successful women off the top of your head?
Do you think challenges still exist in achieving gender equality globally and within the UK?
How do you think the UK compares to other countries in terms of gender equality?
Does anything need to change to overcome any challenges?
Are there any British Values not mentioned above that can also apply here?
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