Why I Didn’t Celebrate International Women’s Day

I want to turn International Women’s Day on its head (which explains the image you thought was posted incorrectly).

On Saturday, March 8th, the world rolled out its annual performance review of gender equality.

Pink banners, inspirational quotes, and saccharine messages about female empowerment flooded the internet.

Companies sent emails lauding their “commitment to equality.” LinkedIn was inundated with posts from executives claiming they “stand with women. " For 24 hours, the world pretended that we’ve made progress. Women are celebrated for one day.

And then?

Then, everyone goes right back to business as usual.

Call me cynical, but I didn’t celebrate. ?? I’m calling it out for the absurdity it is. Forgive me if I’m not throwing confetti. ??

Because let’s face it—what exactly are we celebrating?

That the gender pay gap is still alive and well, with no real signs of closing anytime soon? Are we celebrating the fact that women in the U.S. are still making, on average, 84 cents to every dollar a man makes—and that this gap is even wider for women of color?

Are we celebrating the fact that women hold only 30% of Fortune 500 CEO positions despite making up 58% of the workforce, and when they do, they’re pushed out faster than their male counterparts?

Are we celebrating the relentless double standards, the systemic discrimination, and the ever-present bias that holds women back?

That even in 2025, the words “too ambitious” or “too emotional” are still used to undermine us?

And let’s not forget the monumental steps backward we’ve taken in recent years.

Women’s rights have been revoked. Not challenged. Not debated. Revoked. We are legislated, regulated, and dictated in ways that men never will be. Decisions about our bodies, our choices, our futures—still not ours to fully own.

And yet, people slap a #IWD hashtag on a post and expect a standing ovation.

No. Absolutely not.

One day a year doesn’t cut it.

• One day doesn’t erase the fact that women still get talked over in meetings.
• One day doesn’t change the fact that female entrepreneurs get less than 2% of venture capital funding while being told to “just be more confident.”
• One day doesn’t undo the reality that women are still expected to work like they don’t have children and mother like they don’t have jobs—while men get praised for taking a single paternity leave.

And let’s talk about those companies who celebrate.

Are they promoting women or just “mentoring” them? Are they paying women equally or just talking about the importance of pay equity? Are they calling out sexism or just hiring a consultant to run a one-time workshop and check the DEI box?

Let’s stop pretending that one day a year makes up for 364 days of inequality, gaslighting, and performative allyship.

???? I don’t want a day for women. I want a world where we don’t need one. ????

• A world where women don’t have to work twice as hard to be taken half as seriously.
• A world where “she’s too emotional” is no longer code for “I don’t want to listen.”
• A world where our rights don’t hinge on the whims of political power plays.

I want a world where women aren’t told they need to be “more like men” to succeed. I want a world where ambition in a woman isn’t seen as a character flaw. I want a world where “empowering women” isn’t a slogan—it’s the standard.

So, if you’re going to celebrate, celebrate by taking action.

Pay the women on your team fairly. Promote them into decision-making roles. Call out the microaggressions, the double standards, the casual sexism. Don’t just mentor women—sponsor them, advocate for them, and fight for them.

And if you’re not willing to do that?

Then, keep your inspirational quotes, your LinkedIn posts, and your corporate coffee mugs with “Women’s Empowerment” printed on the side.

Because women don’t need a holiday.

We need a revolution.

#InternationalWomensDay #EqualityNotExcuses #LeadLikeAWoman #WomenThink #IWD

Nancy D. Solomon, MA Psych, is a renowned executive leadership coach, prolific leadership trainer, dynamic speaker, and author with decades of experience guiding people toward unapologetic authenticity and unshakable confidence. She’s known for her bold, breakthrough approaches to professional and personal development, helping individuals, teams, and organizations unlock their highest potential. Follow her on LinkedIn or visit her website, www.WomenThink.com, to learn how she can elevate your leadership, transform your mindset, and ignite extraordinary results. www.ConnectWithNancy.com