Creating Meaning on IWD

Today, March 8 2023, is International Women's Day, and with competing themes 'Cracking the Code: innovation for a gender equal future' from the UN and 'Embrace Equity' from the NFP International Women's Day, its no wonder people are a little confused about what to do with this day.

I had plans to be super organised with media contributions, perhaps a radio interview and a lunch or something. Instead, I am flat out with work and juggling mum life. I am speaking tomorrow morning, which will be fun, but the space today has given me a moment to reflect on what this day really means for me. And in the interest of transparency, I wanted to do those things more because I felt a responsibility, rather than it gives me life.

If I'm honest, IWD has become somewhat of a token day for me. It seems too often it is a day where companies roll out cupcakes, women (and some men) gather for food and listen to talks about either a) stuff they already know or b) tragic stories of victims becoming heroes. Often speakers are preaching to the converted or miss their target. In fact, I was speaking today with a colleague, whose experience was to get lectured at by another woman, who turned an event into an aggressive debate of right and wrong. Nothing empowering in that at all.

Don't get me wrong, I love the occasional inspirational story and conversations are useful, but there is already so much data, research and lived experience telling us what we already know. We know we still have a long way to go, what we need to see is action.

Over the past few years, certainly here in Australia, there has been a ground swelling of protests, movements, outrage and demands for change. And yet here we are, with one of the leading stories today of another female journalist being attacked for doing her job. The shit female leaders have to deal with, still, often leaves others wondering if it is worth it. And whilst our political landscape has faced recent inquiries and reports, we are yet to see structural changes that demonstrate a shift.

But then I heard from my Mum, who lives in a small country town. Today the women in the community came together with food, music, laughter, and stories. My Mum said it was fun, that the women came together and talked about issues that mattered to them. Hearing this warmed my heart and reminded me that by labelling this day, we empower people on the ground to talk, be heard and connect.

You see, there are layers of stories that impact women, from community to corporate leadership. The struggle at all levels looks and feels different for all of us, and perhaps that is the core of my tension with this day. For me IWD focuses too often on the visual representation of female, 'let's get more women on the board' or 'let's recruit more women into the job' or 'let's create more flexibility so that women can continue to juggle too many competing demands'. Action becomes a tokenistic box ticking exercise, a veneer of change.

What I would really love, is for us to recognise it is as much about diversity of thought as it is about diversity of gender, nationality, culture or whatever label we use. And in recognising that value, we are prepared to address the issues of POWER. But this requires recognising difference, difference often results in conflict and to resolve this we need to embark on change. For many, this feels too much, too hard, too uncomfortable - "what do you mean we suddenly have to negotiate with others who have a different idea!".

So, what is this code we are trying to crack? It seems to me inherently simple - it is our ability to respect difference and diversity. It's respecting the value of others and being willing to share the power to influence, access and make decisions.

How do we do this? It starts with curiosity, it is demonstrated in our ability to get comfortable with discomfort - to be vulnerable, and then being brave enough to do what is right. Right as in ethically, legally, financially, and fundamentally respectful of our humanity. But beware, this calls for nuance, this isn't an either/or decision, it isn't just a 'soft feel good/touchy feeling'. Rather this is about hard decision-making - the embracing our diversity as the vehicle for growth, innovation, and resolution. It is our collective capacity to take responsibility for the fact that one size does not fit all and it's our ability to care for those who don't directly benefit that shines a light on our success.

So yes, IWD is a celebration of women but it is also a call to be brave. Let's use this as a chance to reflect on the realities of complex, informed and nuanced decision-making; but more importantly it's time to put our words to action.

Be curious.

Honour not knowing.

Lean into change.

Create and empower others.

From home with our families, to the corporate powerhouse boards we can all create change if we start prioritising equity and respect. This might mean for men, that they say no to a position because the board needs more diversity. This might mean setting quotas to ensure a shift happens, it might mean calling out behaviour when you see it. There are lots of ways that action can happen, but it doesn't happen without effort. Use this day to sit with your team and plan what you can do to create change, chunk it into small actions and monitor delivery. So next year, when IWD comes around we have a lot more to show and can focus on what comes next!

Sarah M Blake: Award winning Conflict Strategist and Mediator, TEDx speaker, best-selling author and media commentator, Sarah Blake elevates leaders, empowering them to overcome conflict barriers.?