Accelerating action on gender equality

IT IS more than 100 years since International Women’s Day was first introduced yet economic experts estimate that based on the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 before full gender equality is achieved.

So that’s not our granddaughter’s era but our great great granddaughter’s generation which can expect a gender equal world, free from bias, stereotypes and discrimination, according to data from the World Economic Forum.

International Women’s Day (IWD) looks forward to a world which is diverse, equitable and inclusive, which celebrates and values difference but many of the issues impacting women’s advancement that sparked that first International Women’s Day in 1911 still remain today.

For instance, despite making up half of the population, women still:

• Make less money
• Do more unpaid work
• Cook more
• Are sexually harassed at work more frequently
• Are more likely to be killed by people they know
• Experience worse mental health
• Have poorer healthcare
• Pay more for female products
• Are trapped more frequently in car accidents

In addition:

• There are more girls out of school
• Paternity leave is stigmatised putting greater expectation on mothers
• Transgender and gender-diverse people face more discrimination.

Celebrated annually on March 8, the theme for this year’s IWD is Accelerate Action and the need to take quick, decisive action to achieve gender equality. It calls for urgency, inclusion and transformative change in addressing systemic barriers and biases that women face both personally and professionally.

To achieve this, it suggests understanding what works with forging gender equality and doing more of it but faster. Also acknowledging strategies, resources and activity that positively impact women’s advancement and not only supporting but accelerating their implementation.

The official colour of International Women’s Day is purple, representing dignity, power, creativity, and hope, and has been used by feminist movements throughout history. On Wednesday (March 12), Turning Lives Around will be wearing purple, striking a pose and holding an event at Francis House, our intensive support environment for women clients, where we will hear from Michelle Torez, an inspirational speaker, survivor and poet, on the events that have shaped her life.

We will be looking at what we can do to make changes in every section of society to #accelerateaction and bring about a more gender equal future sooner. Maybe then our granddaughters or great granddaughters could benefit as well.