Each year, we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March to increase awareness of women’s rights and gender equality. 

Focus is also given to celebrating the political, cultural and social accomplishments of women. 

This year’s campaign theme, #ChooseToChallenge, reminds us to challenge gender biases and inequality. By choosing to challenge, we can all help to create a more inclusive world. 

According to the International Women’s Day website, all are invited to join in by doing the #ChooseToChallenge pose. 

How to do the pose: 

• Raise your hand high to show that you commit to choosing to challenge and call out inequality. 
• Snap a picture of yourself doing the pose. 
• Share on social media and use the hashtags #ChooseToChallenge and #IWD2021. 

There are a few missions that are related to IWD, these include: 

1. Helping women to be in a position of power to make informed decisions about their health 
2. Celebrating the work of and increasing visibility for women creatives. 
3. Creating inclusive work cultures where women’s careers thrive and where their achievements are celebrated. 
4. Putting a spotlight on activity encouraging and uplifting women to pursue goals without bias or barriers. 
5. Honouring women athletes and applauding when equality is achieved in pay, sponsorship and visibility. 
6. Celebrating digital advancement and championing the women forging innovation through technology. 

This year, there will be virtual IWD flagship events in the UK, US, Austria, Finland, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Japan and other countries.  

Why do we still need to focus on IWD? 

A recent study conducted by the United Nations shares that the impact of the current pandemic could significantly impact over 25 years of increasing gender equality. The study confirmed that while both women and men have increased their unpaid workloads, women still do the bulk of the work. Women are also taking on a greater intensity of care-related tasks than men, which may be contributing to more women leaving the workforce. 

International Women’s Day Facts: 

1. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote, planting the seeds for IWD. 
2. The idea for IWD came from Clara Zetkin at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910. They agreed to her suggestion unanimously.  
3. The first International Women’s Day gathering took place in 1911 and had over a million participants. 
4. The United Nations started celebrating IWD in 1975.  
5. The colour purple is associated with IWD as it signifies justice and dignity. 

Happy International Women’s Day, and let’s continue to celebrate, applaud and support women across the globe! 

Sources: International Women’s Day, BBC, United Nations and UN Women.