Until women have equal opportunities in all aspects of life, International Women’s Day will continue to be relevant. This is a Day to think about the position of women, to become aware of what has been achieved and what more needs to be done toward achieving equity.
That’s why on March 8, a Day devoted to celebrating achievements of women and seeking gender equity, individuals and organisations go all out to embark on initiatives that help realise the Day’s purpose.
In commemorating this year’s celebration, some women share their thoughts on what International Women’s Day means to them and why it is still very important.
“I strongly believe that celebrating International Women’s Day is essential and will continue to be so because women are unique and valuable. Women are the bearers of life and contribute immensely to the essence of existence. Therefore, it is crucial to recognise and celebrate the significant impact that women have in society.” – Rhoda Ansah-Adjei, Businesswoman
“Celebrating Women’s Day remains relevant despite the progress made toward women’s inclusion in education and politics. While strides have been made, issues such as unequal maternal leave policies, gender pay-gap, and lack of representation in executive leadership remain. Women’s Day serves as a platform to bring attention to these challenges and find solutions to address them” – Theodora Agbo, HR Consultant
“We still need to amplify Women’s Day due to the fact that there are still very few women in influential positions. Women are still largely marginalised across the globe. The Global Gender Gap Report 2021 stated that, at our current rate, it will take another 135.6 years to achieve equity between men and women globally. Celebrating Women’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate women’s accomplishments and concurrently encourage everyone to challenge gender bias and inequity, call out discrimination, and seek out inclusion.” – Pearl Kemajou, Gender and Healthcare Advocate
Even though some people may see it as performative to celebrate days like this, it is crucial to recognise that such occasions bring attention to issues which affect women. This, in turn, sparks conversations on how to tackle these issues effectively.
Let’s celebrate Women’s Day every year until there is gender equity. On this International Women’s Day, everyone is urged to stand firm and #EmbraceEquity for the advancement of women.
