Invest in (All) Women: Accelerate Progress

This year's theme for International Women's Day underscores the importance of investing in the advancement, empowerment, and well-being of all women worldwide. There is no single experience of womanhood, so it is crucial to address the diverse needs and experiences of all women, including lesbians, bi women, and trans women.

Intersectionality on International Women's Day

Intersectionality matters because it acknowledges that women's experiences are shaped not only by their gender, but also by other aspects of their identity, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, disability, and more. Recognizing intersectionality is essential for these reasons:

• Firstly, excluding lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women from conversations about women's rights perpetuates harmful stereotypes and reinforces the idea that there is a single, monolithic experience of womanhood. Embracing diversity within the women's movement strengthens solidarity and fosters a more inclusive and representative advocacy for gender equality.
• Secondly, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women face unique challenges and discrimination based on both their gender and sexual orientation or gender identity. Their experiences are often marginalized within feminist and women's rights movements, leading to their voices being silenced and their needs ignored.
• Thirdly, the fight for gender equality cannot be complete without addressing the intersecting challenges that affect lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women. Their struggles intertwine with broader issues of discrimination, violence, healthcare disparities, and legal inequalities.

By acknowledging and amplifying the voices of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women, we move closer to achieving a more just and equitable workplace and society at large for all women, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. International Women's Day serves as a reminder to recognize and honor the contributions and struggles of all women, including those whose identities have been historically marginalized.

Why Does It Matter in the Corporate Environment?

1. Inclusive Work Culture: Embracing intersectionality fosters an inclusive work culture where all employees feel valued and respected, regardless of their background. Recognizing the diverse experiences of women ensures that everyone's voice is heard and that LGBTQ+ women are not overlooked or excluded.
2. Better Understanding of Employee Dynamics: Understanding intersectionality helps leaders grasp the complex dynamics at play within their organization. It enables them to recognize how different aspects of women's identities intersect and impact employee experience, leading to more informed decision-making and equitable policies.
3. Enhanced Team Collaboration and Emotional Safety: Recognizing intersectionality promotes solidarity among employees by fostering a culture of allyship, with mutual support and understanding. While acceptance of LGBTQ+ women may vary in different cultures, the organization has a critical role to play in creating a safe space within the societies in which it operates.
4. Improved Representation and Visibility: Prioritizing intersectionality ensures representation of all employees within the organization, particularly with visible role models. This helps companies avoid tokenism and promotes genuine diversity and inclusion at all levels of the organization.

By recognizing and investing in the full spectrum of women's potential, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society for everyone... For International Women's Day and all year round!

The Origin of Intersectionality

Legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw initially coined this term to denote the various ways in which race and gender interact to shape the multiple dimensions of Black women's employment experiences (see this article).

Examples of Organizational Advocacy

Below are inspiring examples of organizations giving a voice to LGBTQ+ women.

United Nations Human Right Office

In the digital space many women and girls, including those who are lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex, are up against gender-based violence, misogynistic attacks, and digital exclusion. We must protect the rights of women and girls in all their diversity in digital spaces and to collectively counter the anti-rights and anti-gender narratives used by groups to misinform societies and undermine the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality.

Source: International Women’s Day 2023 [15-March-2023]

Amazon

We support and celebrate the accomplishments of binary, nonbinary, and trans women throughout the year

Source: 5 ways you can celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day with Amazon [8-March-2023]

Deloitte

At Deloitte, when we say “women,” we’re inclusive of #trans women. There is no single experience of being a woman. On Transgender Day of Visibility and as part of our International Women's Day celebration, we’re committing to call out and stop gender-based assumptions and help change the narrative.

Source: International Women's Day 2023

Barclays

I’m a transgender woman and in previous organisations, I faced hurtful words and people who saw me as if I wasn’t human. In a place like that, even if you’re doing good work, you don’t have acceptance. Barclays is different. Barclays is different. They gave me leave to go through my surgery, sorted out the insurance, and have always been there to help me. My managers have become like family members. By supporting employees like me, the bank is playing a role in helping to change things.

Source: International Women's Day 2023: why embracing equity is essential [8-March-2023]

Stonewall

International Women's Day is an opportunity to hear from lesbians, bi women and trans people who have historically been silenced.

Source: Why International Women’s Day matters for LGBT people [6-March-2020]

Australian Institute of International Affairs

Efforts to exclude transwomen from International Women’s Day run contrary to its very essence, which is to unite women and fight for equal rights. IWD has never been about only cisgender women, and it was never intended to be a divisive campaign. Rather, IWD is an opportunity to focus on ending discrimination for all women, which requires a focus on working class women, marginalised women, women of different races and religions, women with disabilities, First Nations women, and women with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and sex characteristics. The women’s movement is stronger and more relevant when it represents all women, not just middle class, white, cis-gender women.

Source: International Women’s Day Must be Inclusive of ALL Women

Uber

I have been lucky to work at places over the past decade that support every part of who I am: a woman, a parent, and a member of the LGBT community. Being able to be the same person at and outside of work reduces the mental load of trying to hide things that are important to me.

Source: How four women at Uber #ChoosetoChallenge [5-March-2021]

#InvestInWomen #IWD2024 #Intersectionality #PrideAtWipro