The first official International Women’s Day was in 1975, which also happened to be the United Nations’ International Women’s Year. We’ve made a lot of gains in the workplace since that time but have also taken some backward steps in other areas. Every benefit that women enjoy in the workplace today is the result of the generations of women that have come before. That’s why it’s important to keep fighting for equality and inclusion. It benefits us today, and the generations to come can build upon that.
It’s also not guaranteed that we can just keep building upon the gains achieved. We’ve seen that outside of the workplace. It’s important to not be complacent and remember that we must not take any achievements for granted.
Achievements also need to be across the board because inclusion is important for all of us. You grow more and have a better understanding of the world around you when there’s more inclusivity. It’s not good enough to just make strides in the C-suite or in only certain segments of the population. Changes for the better need to be inclusive, not exclusive to only a select few. This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Inspire Inclusion”, focusing on creating a more inclusive world, challenging stereotypes and addressing discrimination.
For me, International Women’s Day is a good reminder that we’ve made great strides, but there is always more to be done. The decisions each of us make on a daily basis can add up to bigger changes. Sometimes these smaller steps may seem more attainable than being part of a bigger movement. Whether the steps are big or small, it’s just important that we take them.