This Wednesday, Let's hear it for the girls—as loud as you like

Yay, here we go again: March 8th marks International Women's Day 2023. America gets Women's History Month in March, by the way, and it does seem that equality gets more focus there than here in the UK—but hey ho, we got a day, we can build up to a month soon enough I’m sure.

Once again, my way of celebrating IWD is to check in with the fabulous women I am privileged to work with here at Sarum PR—women who I genuinely give thanks for every single day.

We've worked together a long time, we still work hard every day together, we laugh a lot together, support and advise each other more than we probably care to admit, I'm sure; we juggle work with our busy family lives.

Some of the team have young school-age children, others are celebrating finally becoming Empty Nesters and looking to some adventure travel. Others are rediscovering their Rock Chick roots—or in the case of one, defying age with physically demanding hobbies that would test the stamina of a 20-year old.

?So, I asked this impressive, lovely, and opinionated bunch of women, Why do we still need an International Women's Day? And this is what they said.

Sue

Mother of 2 | Widower | Traveller | Serial Rescue Dog Adopter | Lover of all things Welsh, particularly beach walks and beauty spots

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“I do lament that we still need to call out women’s achievements as a distinct category. But then, we do hold up half the sky while doing a lot of other juggling besides.?

“As a single mum who’s raised my kids alone for the last 16.5 years following sudden bereavement, I am immensely proud of having made such a good job of that while simultaneously managing a successful career as a writer in one of the most dynamic industries we have today.

“Women rock, and the workplace is all the better for having us there—and excelling—at all levels. “

Amanda

Mother of 2 | Deep Thinker, Lover of London, Theatre & Art | Welsh | Happy Place: Lincolnshire

“International Women's Day offers an opportunity to express appreciation for amazing women everywhere. In my experience, women are some of the most clever and creative colleagues and clients, and they are some of my favourite people to work with.

?“In addition, I think we should have Women's History Month here in the UK and not just in the US; we should celebrate women always, of course, but a whole month dedicated to this cause seems far more proportionate to me.

?“Girl Power—yes!”

Jan

3-day Eventer | Lover all things equestrian | Owner of 6 horses | Worked in San Francisco as a tech journalist | Brave

“One day I really hope we won’t need such a day, but unfortunately, we are still some way off a gender-equal society. It is, therefore, important we recognize women’s achievements and highlight what still needs to be done to stamp out inequality.”?

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Tracey

Mother of 3 | Rock Chick| Lover of festivals | Super attention to detail

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"Because there will ALWAYS be reasons to celebrate women."

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Gillian

Lily and Poppy's mum | Lover of countryside and horses | Smiler | Too nice for words | The glue that holds us all together

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'International Women's Day' is a great opportunity to celebrate the progress we have made over the years—and particularly in recent years the freedom and acceptance women must combine a career and time with their family.”

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And last, and very much least

Carina

Mother of 2 | Lover of laughter, poetry and Thomas Hardy | Happiest driving her very old Land Rover with her dogs Murphy and Dave in tow | Irish | A bit wild

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“We still need an IWD and would like a British Women's History Month because women are still underrepresented in leadership positions in so many industries, like politics, business, and media.

?“But mostly I truly believe that blended teams are the best teams. They just work.”

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So, give it up for not just the wonderful Sarum women, but women everywhere this week.

Enjoy and embrace International Women's Day everybody and everything it means to you. Here’s to celebrating a whole month of women as soon as we can get there.

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Carina