Why it is not, in fact, a particularly happy International Women’s Day
I’m angry. And I need to get this off my chest.
This week’s newsletter is a slight change to my usual. It’s International Women’s Day (IWD) today, and I’ve got some things to say.
The vibe online in the run-up to IWD this year has felt different. Significantly fewer celebratory and self-congratulatory posts, less purple-washing, a healthy dose of critical articles and a whole lot of frustration. Or to call it by its real name, anger. Because make no mistake, I’m angry and fed up, and I think a lot of women are too.
Angry that at the current rate of progress, it will take another 286 years to remove discriminatory laws and close prevailing gaps in legal protections for women and girls. (Source: UN Women)
Angry that globally only 1 in 3 managers/supervisors is a woman, and at the current pace of change it will take another 140 years to reach parity. (Source: UN Women)
Angry that there is a $300bn gap in financing for women-owned businesses despite them outperforming the market (source: World Bank)
Angry that the gender pay gap will take 132 years to close at the current rate. In the Middle East and North Africa that’s more like 150 years (source: UN Women)
Angry that a woman dies a preventable death from pregnancy or childbirth, globally every two minutes (source: WHO, The Lancet)
And that’s the tip of the iceberg.
It’s simply not good enough. Change is not happening fast enough.
I’m tired of asking nicely. I’m tired of having my tone policed. I’m tired of tiptoeing around fragile egos. I’m tired of the same old excuses being trotted out.
My wish for this IWD is that we can make the collective anger that’s being felt, productive. I hope we can channel it into concrete action that makes a difference, not just today but every day. Because while I, alone, may not be able to solve these problems that doesn’t make me - or you - powerless.
We can start by shifting our focus. Forget what you can’t do. Ask:
What can I do?
Then, commit.
What will I do?
When taken en masse, actions that feel small add up to something much bigger and more impactful. The UN Women theme for this International Women’s Day is Invest in women: Accelerate progress. It’s about putting your money, and time, where your mouth is.
For starters, here are some things that I’m committing to:
Intentionally spend my money in women founded, women owned and women led businesses as much as I can, including:
Working with Proof Content, founded by Charli Hunt
My incredible VA Michelle Payne at Time Matters
Buy books and watch films by female authors and directors, starting with:
Revolting Women: Why midlife women are walking out, and what to do about it, by Lucy Ryan. (Through Bookshop.org I’m supporting Round Table Books, my local inclusive, independent, Black-owned bookshop based in Brixton).
Wicked Little Letters, directed by Thea Sharrock and starring Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman.
Set up a regular donation to at least two organisations advocating for women’s rights and women’s equality, starting with:
Join the 30% Club cross-company mentoring scheme (or find an alternative to support).
I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments. What will you commit to do to make a difference?
Happy (*cough*) International Women’s Day.
Image source unknown.
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