Women are not a homogenous group
Happy International Women’s Day!
Today is the special day set aside to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women globally. I like to appreciate the allies, champions, and sponsors of women working to eliminate barriers and pave the way for us all to rise.
So whether you choose to join the clarion call for action to promote #genderequality or decide to observe this year’s IWD under the “#DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” theme, let’s remember that women are not a homogeneous group and as such we must not use a blanket or all-size-fits — all approach to tackle the barriers, stereotypes, and oppressive practices holding women and girls down.
When women rise, we rise for all! Don’t stop.
Women are not a homogenous group.
We are each shaped by unique life experiences, impacted differently by biases and ethnocentric views, and influenced individually by the socio-economic realities of our society. Despite our many differences, we have a common interest: to build a world where women can create, contribute, and live life to the full, without fear or prohibition. Let’s celebrate our diversity, keep smashing the barriers holding women down, and open doors of better opportunities for ALL those coming behind us.
Did you know?
IWD History (culled from UN):
- Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th and is strongly linked to the women’s movements during the Russian Revolution (1917).
- New Zealand was the first self-governing nation to allow women to vote.
- In the first known campaign of its kind, the Egyptian Society of Physicians went against tradition by declaring the negative effects of female genital mutilation. This was in 1920.
Rural women (UN):
- Agriculture remains the most important employment sector for women in developing countries and rural areas, yet less than 15% of agricultural landlords are women. (World Bank 2021)
- 30 percent of rural women give birth without a skilled health worker present compared to 10 percent of urban women. (WHO/UNICEF 2021)
- In some countries, over 50 percent of girls from rural households will be married as children. (UN Women 2018)
- Only 2 percent of the poorest rural women in low-income countries complete upper secondary school. (UNESCO 2020)
- Most of the 3.7 billion people not connected to the Internet tend to be poorer, less educated, and rural women and girls. (ITU 2020)
Data culled from UN infographics
Tech and women:
- Only 63 percent of women are using the Internet in 2022 compared to 69 percent of men (ITU, Nov22)
- By 2050, 75% of jobs will be related to STEM areas. Yet today, women hold just 22% of positions in artificial intelligence, to name just one. (WEF Report)
- A study of 51 countries revealed 38 percent of women had personally experienced online violence. (2022 Gender Snapshot Report)
Happy Women’s History Month! Thank you for your contribution.
Get more campaign ideas from the IWD site: https://www.internationalwomensday.com
