The uncomfortable truth #EmbraceEquity
International Women's Day 2023 campaign theme: #EmbraceEquity
At the current rate, it will take 257 years to close the global gender pay gap!
When a woman is involved in a car crash, she is 47% more likely to be seriously injured, and 71% more likely to be moderately injured, even when researchers control for factors such as height, weight, seatbelt usage, and crash intensity. She is also 17% more likely to die. And it’s all about how the car is designed – and for whom, basically, all testing is done on men.
For me, the most important part of IWD, 8 March is to focus on the existing gender inequalities. Of course, we must not forget about the sacrifices and successes of women before us, but it is important to remember that the past does not equal the future.
Equity isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a must-have. A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society's DNA.?When we embrace equity, we embrace diversity, and we embrace inclusion. We embrace equity?to forge harmony and unity, and to help drive success for all.?Equality is the goal, and equity is the means to get there.
Did you know that just 105 years ago women were allowed to vote in the UK for the first time? Even then it was only some allowed this right in 1928, not all. This ‘privilege’ was not for women of lower socioeconomic backgrounds, women of colour or any women from the LGBTQ+ community.
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Not long ago, women were allowed to work fulltime and allowed to work overtime (I suggest you watch; On The Basis of Sex 2018 and Hidden Figures 2016).
I read an IWD blog my former colleague, who was born in the 60s, which pretty much described the situation perfectly: “I am the generation of working women who are expected to do both.?Remember - it was a privilege to work, so you could only do it if you managed the house and the children as well.?We were told we had it all, the truth was, we DID it all.”
Today across Britain, men are almost twice as likely to be a manager, directors or senior officials than women. Despite a higher percentage of men (11%) than women (9%) were Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) during the school period.
Did you know that because of studies only focusing on men, the temperature in office spaces are suggested to be set at 22 degrees, the average woman is most comfortable at about 25C, 3C higher than for men - this is based on our metabolism. Obliviously if you are going through menopause or perimenopause, this have an enormous effect on our bodies.?
Small facts like this affect us every day. OK, this won’t kill anyone, but it can and does mean that our basic right to work in comfort comes second and that women are still living very much in a man’s world. Shouldn’t we all want this to be everyone's?world?
As the life course of women often involves economic inactivity, part-time work, unpaid work, lower wages and an average of five years’ shorter working life than men, we face a significant risk of poverty in old age.
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Inequality between genders in the workplace is rooted in outdated stereotypes, cultural habits, and organisational activities. Diversity make companies stronger.
Men have ruled the world for too long?and have not allowed us equity outcomes, to all men?please help women by educating yourself on all the gender inequalities that still exist in our society.
Research has shown that the more diversity and especially ethnicity and gender diversity you have on a team, the better that team performs, so we should all want to achieve this, and we can do this by creating an inclusive and respectful work environment for all. Consider?what you can do, whether you are?male, female, trans, non-binary to fight for an equal world!
Just a few steps we can all take:
With so much yet to achieve it is important that we hold and build on the progress already made.
A note about sexism, misogyny and violence against women.
There are still so much we need to change for women to feel safe and respected. There are a few wins at the moment, as for example misogyny will now be recorded as a hate crime - a huge victory for everyone.
It’s time for everyone to call out sexist and misogynistic attitudes wherever they are found – in the workplace, school, on the streets or public transport.
1 in 5 women experiences sexual violence.?Please note I have added links to domestic helplines below.
Below is a list of videos, articles, podcasts and tweets with more information around sexual assault, sexism, misogyny and violence against women:
Domestic Abuse Helplines: