International Women’s Day is on Wednesday 8th March 2023. It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
The 2023 campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity. It stresses the critical importance of understanding the difference between equity and equality, and highlights important Missions to help forge a gender equal world.
The difference between Equity and Equality
Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities.
Equity recognises that each person has different circumstances, and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
When we embrace equity, we embrace diversity, and we embrace inclusion.
Through the process of equity, we can reach equality.
Key missions of International Women’s Day
We’d like to share some of the key missions of International Women’s Day that relate to our vision and goals at Active Care Group.
The missions are Women at Work, Women’s Health, and Women’s Empowerment.
Women at Work
The mission of Women at Work is to forge inclusive work cultures where women’s careers thrive, and their achievements are celebrated.
This month we introduced our Women’s Network Group at Active Care Group. This is a great opportunity for our colleagues to share common challenges in an open, safe environment and to use each other as sources of mutual support. Having a busy, demanding job is hard in itself, but when you add in balancing that with our broader lives – children, looking after ageing parents, homelife, changes to our health and wellbeing and so on – things can get even more challenging. Knowing that you have the support of other colleagues, who are walking the same path as you, can be hugely beneficial.
Gillian Hallett, our Unit Manager from Murdostoun Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre, told us why she wanted to become Network Lead of our Women’s Network Group:
“The things I love about my job are the people, the patients, and the team I work in. I signed up to be a Network Lead because I think it’s so very important to have a voice and to give other people a voice too.”
We hope that the launch of our Women’s Network Group helps our members to inspire one another, support one another, share resources, and make a real difference to our workplace.
Women’s Health
The mission of Women’s Health is to assist women to be in a position of power to make informed decisions about their health.
The evidence tells us that women’s voices are so often overlooked in healthcare services. At Active Care Group we strive for fairness and inclusivity across our colleagues, patients, residents, and clients, and this includes women’s health being taken seriously across our organisation.
The leaders of International Women’s Day tell us that:
“Governments, medical bodies, and communities worldwide are taking steps to help improve women’s health outcomes. Quality and accessibility of information and education on women’s health is key. Health and care systems need to be responsive to women’s health and care needs throughout their life. Employers need to focus on and support women’s health matters within the workplace. And more research is needed into better understanding and improving women’s health.”
The work of organisations and communities, along with consistent research, will help to improve women’s health outcomes. It will also help with achieving equity in recognising that every woman’s health circumstance is different and should be catered to individually.
Women’s Empowerment
The mission of Women’s Empowerment is to shine a spotlight on activity uplifting and inspiring women to pursue goals without bias or barrier.
Here are some practical actions from the leaders of International Women’s Day to help women believe in themselves and embrace success:
- Find a private place to reflect
Kris advises that to think about our moments of magic, we should really sit with them and think why they didn’t affect us – is it a case of feeling unworthy of our success, feeling ashamed, or even feeling guilty? - Take better care of ourselves
Self-care can be used as a tool. “Use that tool to help think through what is really on your mind and remember that we create from feeling not from lists, a word or goal. We create from the feeling that comes from it,” suggests Kris. - Create a vision board
Indulging our visions is a sure-fire way to feel amazing, explains Kris. “What makes you feel good to look at and really relish in – that’s where your magic is. Get as many pictures and visuals as you want in front of you to hold that space for you. Because your dreams and what you want to create in this world is so important, worthy and meaningful – so let’s honour those.”
A gender equal society needs empowered women and girls who take control of their lives, make their own decisions, and succeed in their chosen pursuits.
Enjoy some of these empowering quotes from women who’ve made a considerable impact across society.
Amy Schumer, stand-up comedian
“I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong. You will not determine my story — I will.”
Virginia Woolf, author
“There is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.”
Beyoncé, singer-songwriter
“We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.”
Emma Watson, actor & activist
“I think women are scared of feeling powerful and strong and brave sometimes. There’s nothing wrong with being afraid. It’s not the absence of fear, it’s overcoming it and sometimes you just have to blast through and have faith.”
Malala Yousafzai, activist
“I raise up my voice – not so I can shout, but so those without a voice can be heard… we cannot succeed when half of us are held back.”
For more information on International Women’s Day and how you can get involved, please visit https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
