Marching Towards Equality: Celebrating International Women's Day 2024
Celebrating International Women's Day and Promoting Workplace Equality
Every year on March 8th, the world celebrates International Women's Day, a time to highlight the accomplishments of women and to press for greater progress towards gender equality. "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" has been selected by the Canadian government as the theme for International Women's Day in 2024. This theme emphasizes how vital gender equality is to developing inclusive, prosperous, and healthy communities.
Recognizing Challenges for Women in the Workplace In Canada
According to a Statistics Canada study, women were more likely than men to experience verbal abuse in the workplace, which was the most common type of workplace harassment.
The same study found that women in health occupations experienced workplace harassment more than women in other fields, such as management occupations; business, finance, and administrative occupations; natural and applied sciences and related occupations; sales and service occupations; and occupations in education, law, and social, community, and government services. It was also found that among women in all professions, over half reported clients or customers as perpetrators of sexual harassment.
The Importance of Allyship
Active support and advocacy for marginalized groups, including women, is allyship in the workplace. Allies are crucial to creating inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.
Here are practical steps to enhance allyship:
Education and Awareness: Promote training programs and workshops to educate employees about gender biases, harassment, and the importance of allyship.
Amplify Voices: Encourage men and women to speak up against discrimination and support each other in the workplace.
Mentorship and Sponsorship: Establish mentorship programs to empower women and provide them with guidance and opportunities for advancement.
Policy Reforms: Advocate for inclusive policies and practices that address systemic barriers and promote diversity and inclusion.
Intersectional Approach: Recognize the intersecting identities of individuals and address the unique challenges women from diverse backgrounds face.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let’s remember that everyone, everywhere, can inspire inclusion. We can create a world where women thrive by valuing diversity, promoting awareness, and actively supporting one another. Join the global movement and strike the #InspireInclusion pose for IWD 2024 and beyond!
To learn more:
Gender Results Framework: A new data table on workplace harassment
2024 International Women’s Day theme