Embrace Equity and Empower Women: Celebrating International Women’s Day with Action and Advocacy for Gender Equity

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8th, and this year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity. This theme highlights the importance of gender equity in all aspects of life, including education, employment, healthcare, politics, and social norms. It is a call to action to ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities and access to resources, and to dismantle systemic barriers that prevent them from achieving their full potential.

What is the Difference Between Equality and Equity?

It is important to recognise this year’s theme for IWD 2023 focuses on #EmbraceEquity not #Equality as it seeks to get us talking about why “equal opportunities are no longer enough”.

Equality and equity are two concepts that are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings and implications. Understanding the difference between these two concepts is crucial for promoting social justice and addressing systemic inequalities.

Equality refers to treating everyone the same regardless of their differences. It assumes that everyone has the same starting point and the same needs, and therefore, the same resources and opportunities should be available to everyone. The goal of equality is to create a level playing field where everyone has an equal chance to succeed.

Equity, on the other hand, recognises that people have different needs and experiences, and therefore requires that resources and opportunities be distributed in a way that addresses those differences. It aims to create fairness by ensuring that everyone has access to the resources they need to achieve their goals and overcome any barriers they may face. The goal of equity is to promote a just and inclusive society that recognises and respects diversity.

To illustrate the difference between equality and equity, imagine a scenario where two people of different heights are trying to watch a football game over a fence. If they are given the same size box to stand on, this would be an equal solution, but not an equitable one, as the shorter person would still struggle to see over the fence. An equitable solution would be to provide a taller box to the shorter person so that they can see over the fence, while the taller person could use a shorter box.

In essence, equality aims to treat everyone the same, while equity aims to ensure that everyone has what they need to be successful, even if it means treating people differently based on their unique circumstances.

While equality and equity share the goal of promoting fairness and justice, they have different approaches. Equality assumes that everyone has the same needs, while equity recognises that different people have different needs and seeks to address those differences. By understanding the difference between these concepts, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and just society that values diversity and promotes equity for all.

Join the Movement: Why Supporting International Women’s Day 2023 is Crucial

Supporting IWD 2023 and the theme of #EmbraceEquity is crucial for several reasons. First and foremost, gender equity is a fundamental human right. Women and girls make up half of the world’s population and should have the same rights and opportunities as men and boys. This includes access to education, healthcare, and employment, as well as the right to live free from violence and discrimination.

Secondly, achieving gender equity is essential for sustainable development. Research shows that empowering women and girls leads to better health and education outcomes, higher economic growth, and more stable and peaceful societies. Gender equity is also critical for addressing global challenges such as climate change, poverty, and inequality.

However, despite progress in recent years, gender inequities persist in many parts of the world. Women and girls continue to face discrimination, violence, and unequal access to resources and opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated these inequalities, with women and girls disproportionately affected by the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.

Therefore, supporting IWD 2023 and the theme of #EmbraceEquity is more important than ever. It is a reminder that we still have a long way to go in achieving gender equity and that we all have a role to play in making it a reality.

So, how can we embrace equity and support IWD 2023? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Educate yourself and others about gender equity: Read up on the issues and challenges facing women and girls around the world. Talk to friends and family about the importance of gender equity and the steps we can take to achieve it.
2. Speak out against discrimination and violence: Challenge harmful gender stereotypes and behaviours and speak out against gender-based violence and discrimination whenever you see it.
3. Support organisations working for gender equity: Donate to organisations that are working to promote gender equity and support women and girls around the world.
4. Advocate for policy change: Contact your elected representatives and advocate for policies that promote gender equity, such as equal pay for equal work, access to healthcare and education, and laws to prevent gender-based violence.
5. Empower women and girls in your community: Support women and girls in your community by mentoring, volunteering, and creating opportunities for them to succeed.

Embracing Equity: How We Can Help You Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

At the core of our support for International Women’s Day 2023 is our commitment to work collaboratively with our clients to empower them to promote gender equity. Through a range of specialised courses, we aim to enhance our clients’ understanding of unconscious bias and equip them with the skills necessary to recruit and attract the best-fit talent, as well as build a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Unconscious Bias Leadership Development Workshop – our bias-busting workshop helps identify biases and develop tools to mitigate them to be a professional and effective leader. Attract & Select Top Talent Programme – maximise your ability to attract and select the best-fit talent for your organisation using a competency-based approach with our unique “hybrid” e-learning programme.

Recruiting a Diverse Workforce – this course offers a comprehensive overview of the benefits of recruiting for a diverse workforce whilst teaching tools and methods for fair recruitment. This not only improves expertise but also helps to convince hiring managers to apply fair recruitment.

In addition to supporting our clients in promoting gender equity, we also challenge them to embrace equity with us. By recognising and addressing systemic inequalities, we can work towards creating a more just and inclusive society that values diversity and promotes equity for all.

Give Equity a Huge Embrace and Work Towards True Inclusion and Equity for All

‘Give Equity a Huge Embrace’, the theme of IWD 2023, is a call to action for everyone to come together and support the promotion of gender equity and inclusion. In a world where systemic inequalities and biases still exist, it is more important than ever to recognise and address these issues. By embracing equity, we can create a society that values and respects diversity, and ensures that everyone has access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

In conclusion, supporting IWD 2023 and the theme of #EmbraceEquity is crucial for achieving gender equity and creating a more just and equal world. Let us all commit to taking action to promote gender equity and empower women and girls around the world.