March 8th is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the accomplishments of women around the world. This year, we are focusing on breaking the bias that inhibits women from achieving their full potential. There are still many barriers that women face in order to achieve parity with men. This blog post will explore some of these barriers and discuss how we can break them down. It will also highlight some recent accomplishments by women in 2021 and show that women are capable of anything despite the obstacles!
Barriers to Success
One of the biggest barriers women face is the gender pay gap. Women are paid less than men for doing the same job, and this disparity increases as women move up the corporate ladder. This pay gap exists in almost every country globally, and it results in women losing out on billions of pounds each year. In order to close the gender pay gap, we need to address the underlying factors that contribute to it. These factors include the prevalence of sexism and discrimination, the lack of women in senior roles, and the prevalence of the motherhood penalty.
Another barrier women face is a lack of access to education and training. This can be due to several factors such as poverty, gender-based violence, and traditional gender roles. Women are often expected to do the majority of the household work and caregiving, which leaves little time for them to pursue an education. In order to overcome this barrier, we need to provide women with access to quality education and training that is relevant to their needs.
Finally, one of the most significant barriers that women face is violence and discrimination. This can take many forms, such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, and gender-based violence. Women often experience these forms of violence at work, in school, and in their communities. In order to end this cycle of violence, we need to put an end to the attitudes and behaviours that condone it.
So What Can We Do?
We can do many things to break the bias against women. We need to start by addressing the root causes of the problem. This includes challenging sexist attitudes and behaviours, promoting gender equality, and providing women with access to education and training. We also need to create safe spaces for women to speak out about their experiences of violence and discrimination.
We can also support women-led organisations that are working to promote gender equality. These organisations provide a space for women to share their stories, learn new skills, and build networks of solidarity. By supporting these organisations, we can help to create a more equitable world for women and girls.
Finally, we can celebrate the accomplishments of women! We can share their stories, amplify their voices, and support their initiatives. When we do this, we show the world that women are powerful and capable of anything!
2021: A Year of Accomplishments by Inspirational Women
Every day, women across the world are accomplishing amazing things. Here are just a few of the inspiring accomplishments by women over the past year:
- In January, Kamala Harris was sworn in as the first female Vice President of the United States.
- In February, Chloé Zhao became the first Asian woman to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Director for her film Nomadland.
- In March, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala became the first woman and the first African to be appointed as Director-General of the World Trade Organization.
- In April, Youn Yuh-Jung became the first South-Korean woman to win an Oscar for her role in the film Minari.
- In May, MJ Rodriguez became the first transgender woman to be nominated for an Emmy Award.
- In June, Robinah Nabbanja was appointed as the first female Prime Minister of Uganda.
- In July, Dutch footballer Vivianne Miedema made history by scoring 4 goals in a single women’s match during the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
- In August, human-rights activist Manjula Pradeep founded the National Council of Women Leaders, bringing together changemakers all over India.
- In September, Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal won gold medals in road racing at the Paralympics, representing their country, Ireland.
- In October, sixteen-year-old Amy Hunter broke records by becoming the world’s youngest centurion, a huge achievement in cricket.
- In November, Nadini Sahabandu won the Global Award for Achievement in technology for her continuous excellence in Information Technology.
- And in December, at only seventeen, motocross champion Tanya Muzinda was named one of the BBC’s 100 Women of the Year. She used her winnings to fund education for 100 girls in Harare, Zimbabwe.
These are just a few of the astounding accomplishments women have made in the past year. As we move into the future, let’s continue to break the bias and celebrate the achievements of women everywhere! Take a look at Aspiring to Include for more resources for women and equality. Alternatively, take a look at our live jobs board for specialist job opportunities!
