International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women all around the world. It is also a time to recognize the ongoing struggle for gender equity, and to reflect on how we can work towards a more inclusive and just society. This year’s theme, “Embrace Equity,” is a call to action to create a world where women have equal access to opportunities, resources, and power.

At the heart of “Embrace Equity” is the idea of fairness. To truly embrace equity, it is important to recognize that everyone has different needs and circumstances, and that these must be taken into account in order to achieve true equality. Equity is about giving people what they need in order to have the same opportunities as others. To embrace equity, we need to start by acknowledging and addressing the ways in which gender inequality continues to shape our society.

One place women continue to see bias is in the workplace. In fact, 73% of women experience bias at work — yet less than a third of employees are able to recognize bias when they see it. Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it harder for women to get hired and promoted while also negatively impacting their day-to-day work experiences.

Lean In aims to change that. Lean In is a global community of women and men dedicated to helping women achieve their ambitions and promote gender equity in the workplace. To learn more about gender bias in the workplace, how to identify it, and why it matter, check out the slide show below:

 

 

Invest:

One of the most important ways to embrace equity is by investing in programs that provide girls and women with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue careers in fields traditionally dominated by men, such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). According to Lean In’s research, about 1/5 of all women say they are the only woman in the room at work. Embracing equity means supporting women entrepreneurs and business owners, and promoting policies that encourage companies to adopt more equitable hiring practices.

Below are resources on how to make the workplace a more equitable place for all genders, and organizations that women and girls can access to help achieve their career goals:

  • The Gender Equity and Equality Toolkit: This toolkit, developed by the International Labor Organization, provides practical guidance on how businesses can promote gender equality in the workplace. It includes information on everything from recruitment and hiring to leadership development and work-life balance.
  • Catalyst: Catalyst is a nonprofit organization that works with companies to advance women in the workplace. Their website offers a range of resources, including research reports, webinars, and tools to help companies measure and track progress towards gender equity.

Listen:

Embracing equity means listening to and elevating the voices of women from all backgrounds and experiences. Women of color, Indigenous women, women with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ women face unique challenges and forms of discrimination that must be acknowledged and addressed. By centering the experiences of these women in our efforts to promote gender equity, we can create a more inclusive movement that reflects the diversity of our communities.

Here are valuable resources for women, women of color, and women who identify in the LGBTQIA+ community to access to help their voices be heard:

  • The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance: The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance is a think tank dedicated to creating work environments that value diversity and flexibility. Their website includes research reports, best practices, and case studies that can help businesses create more equitable and inclusive workplaces.
  • The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index: The Corporate Equality Index is a benchmarking tool that measures corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ equality. Businesses can use the tool to assess their own policies and practices and identify areas where they can improve.
  • National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC): NBJC is a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black LGBTQ+ people. They provide advocacy, education, and support to individuals and organizations that work to advance equality for Black LGBTQ+ people. Their website includes a range of resources, including research reports, policy briefs, and training programs.

Embracing equity has to be a dedicated effort beyond one month or one day. Embracing equity every day, in every situation, is essential if we want to create a world where women have the same opportunities and resources as men. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us recommit ourselves to this important work, and to building a world where all women can thrive.